Let's Pay it Forward!

A bit of pink heaven posted this "Pay it forward" on her blog and I decided to play because it looked like fun! I received a some great goodies and now I want to do that for the first three who tell me they want to play! Below are the rules:


This is how it works: I will send a gift of my choice to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog and ASK to join this "Pay it Forward" exchange. You must make the same pledge on your blog! Please keep the item small so that it can be mailed in a mailing envelope or small box. So, if you want to receive goodies from me and are willing to do the same on your blog, leave a comment and let me know!!! I will need your email and mailing address from each of you so that I can get your goodies out in the mail, (my e-mail is located on my profile). Oh and if you stopped by and you don't want to play, you can still leave me a comment and let me know you were here! You will only be included to play if you say you want to play and you are one of the first three! LET'S PAY IT FORWARD!

With much love,

What's in a List?

Well...Friends life has thrown me a curve ball. And sort of knocked the wind out of me. Oh, no worries I will get back up and dust off my pants and take whatever life throws at me face on!

I just didn't have any creative thoughts running around so I borrowed an idea from a darling friend! CSI Seattle. I thought it evoked emotions in me that I have not felt in a long time. For an example; as in SAVING A LIFE.

I will never forget when I was a transporter and I had my first CODE BLUE. There I was face to face with someone my own age, laying so very still and dying as I looked on. I rememeber everything slowing down and the ER Doc yelling at me to 'get on the chest to start compressions'. I was a robot! I climbed up and started...and then being told I needed hard and deeper compressions. I pumped and pushed harder, trying with all my might to push life back into her!
I was doing compressons for 25 minutes (a very long time) but I didn't and couldn't fail her. Finally, the ER Doc called out 'we have a pulse'! I started to cry....once I let up on the compressions. I remember slipping off the gurney and slumping to the floor with exhaustion and pure happiness that I SAVED my first life.

Take a look and do what CSI has done and make it your own...add one that is not on the list! To make this your own!


Here we present a list. Highlight those tasks that you have accomplished in your life.


01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s nappy
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten tipsy on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse of both the sun and moon
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had/Have amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted a river
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Gotten flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in a Rocky Horror Picture Show
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept 30 hours in a 48 hour time frame
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read “The Iliad”
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
50. Saved someone’s life

and the one to make my own!
151. Have organized a HUGE event!


With much love,

Got Crabs??? Part III

First off, I must apologize on this late entry (I had started to work on it and then I hit a wall with being pooped). I have just got off of 3 days of back to back 12 hour shifts! I was ran into the ground. Whew...so, now 3 days off I blog away! My favorite past time next to scrap booking and doing my altered art.
OK...well on with it, shall we?

Adrien and I were starving by the time we got to Joe's Crab Shack (right on the river walk). We started out with an appetizer of HOT gooey crab spread in one dish and the other was HOT gooey artichoke dip. For the yumminess factor...I had to take pictures of the food! Damn this was so stink 'en good!
Can I just say...we dove right in with no speaking! Lickty split it was devoured! We had also ordered some cooling refreshments as well. Me...a kick-ass Mojito! Adrien a blended Big-Girl Margarita!


We had a fabulous server, her name was Ami! She was on the ball kept my drink filled to the brim and brought out our cardiac specials out...piping hot! Take a look at my platter...or trough more like! I can't say enough about this all shrimp combo. It was packed with about (I swear) 18 butterflied shrimp. There were 3 sections of different flavors; Coconut Shrimp, Peppered Shrimp, Plain ol'Shrimp! It was SHRIMPablous! I mean look at it...do I need to say anymore?!

And here is Ms. Adrien's all Coconut Shrimp dish. She was over the moon with delight!

If you have never been to a Joe's Crab Shack, you are in for a treat! Do not think at any minute this is where you have a 'quiet-romantic-hand-holding' date! So not happening. This is a 'live-wire-get-up-and-move-your-tush' kind of a place! What happens about every 1 1/2 hour the whole place becomes a disco. Where the servers and some customers get out there and dance! Yes...you heard me right! We as customer's get free entertainment! And it is lively with toe-tapping music and the servers know with each song what routine to do! It is fab to see the lights dim and disco balls to start spinning and flashing lights start blinking.


And the smallest customer had to get out there with (his crush...I think more like it) his server (the one in the red) and get his groove on. Little man really did dance as 'no one was watching' free to do what he wanted! All of us adults couldn't keep our eyes off our 'Little' charmer out there getting his groove on.

Joe's Crab Shack is about as famous as this little guy who works for Disney! Can I just say I really do have a love for crabs!

There really is no point for me to try to hide my love, passion for CRABS! I love them and pretty much anything from the ocean! Yes...there I have said it...I adore SEAFOOD! There really is no reason for me to even say that pork,beef,chicken are my favorite! NOT!


***************************************************************


OK! On to some funnier (I so know that is not a word...but I am declaring that it should be) news! I was given an award from one of my blogger friends! Skeeter over at Atomic Zebra! He is just fab in my book! I just want to give you a big ol' Rob hug! Thanks so very much for bestowing with this award! It really has the 'aaaahhhh' factor. It means 'you-really-do-love-my-blog'. *blowing Skeeter a big wet kiss* I will be back to post the rules and list of the 7 choosen! I will be around soon my dear blogger friends to catch up and visit. I have certainly missed you all!


Here's wishing you a Tequila Sunrise kind of day...where ever that is for you!
("Tequila Sunrise" is a song written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, and recorded by the American rock band Eagles. It was the first single from the band's second album Desperado.)


With much love,

All Aboard...Part II

As Adrien and I made our way through the tunnel towards Old Sacramento...something happened along the way! It was almost as if we had stepped back in time. All of sudden we were walking planked walkways. And I could almost picture how people were probably dressed back then.

Once I started my walk back through time...I couldn't help but take a picture of a favorite watering hole. The bar is called 'Fanny Ann's'. Once inside everything is Topsy Turvy and upside down and never right side up! Go there and beware of the bathrooms...it is a hoot! Beer is ice cold and food is A-OK! But the characters who make up that watering hole...priceless!

Here is carriage for the tourists...I personally have only done this once and it was pretty lame. And I felt really badly for those hot, tired horses. But we have had Peta and animal control out there to check things out. And they always walk away with not closing down this Horse and Buggy ride.

Along our path to our final destination (which Adrien still only knew), I saw this fantastic sculpture. I never really have taken the time to stop and admire it. It is really a beautiful piece. It is capturing the Pony Express. Old Sacramento was the last stop for the Pony Express on its long journey. Who knew? Not I...so that was a interesting piece of information learned from our 87 year young Icon friend!

Even our regional transit get into the act in Old Sacramento, looking like an old time trolley from 'them olden days'!

And then it hit me...there I was standing right smack in history! Looking at these hundred year old buildings realizing that at one time there were cowboys and saloon gals and proper ladies and shop keepers, ferry boat captains walking, working these streets way back when. If I stood very still I could almost hear what it must have sounded like back then. The hustle and bustle. Hearing the brass pieces clinking on the horse and buggies and the blow of the whistle from something out in the distance...what was that I wondered. And we pushed on. Getting closer and closer to our final destination.



We finally made it to begin our Mystery Trip! We were here...

I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. I have never been on a steam powered locomotive. And this was a working, traveling museum. I was giddy. We stepped up to purchase our tickets. And history began to unfurl right in front of me. (Adrien buying her ticket)

There were the hustle and bustle on wooden platforms and the whoosh of the engine letting off pressure. And that glorious sound of the whistle being blown.


We set out to go board the train. And when we rounded the corner...there it was in all it's glorious wonder!

The train was just pulling in the station when we were queuing up. And then we started to see all these characters popping out of nowhere....head conductor and platform conductors. These men and women who played these characters are all volunteers for this working museum. At one time in their lives they worked for the railroad. Probably in the capacticy of what they are doing now...enginer,conductor,etc.

We boarded. And found our seats. Adrien and I began to comment on what small spaces there were. And wonder how a proper lady, whose attaire would consist of many, many layers of petticoats and lace,a corset and a bustle. How they with stood a ride of this nature.

With a huge lunge forward, we were off. You could hear the roar of the engine as it geared up with pressure to make the train move. You could hear the arms of the wheels beginning to turn. And you certainly knew you were on the way when the engineer begin to blow the whistle!
I stuck my camera outside the train window as the world was passing by to take some shots of what it must of felt like way back when.


Here the train has uncoupled with main part of train and is doing a maneuver called a 'Round about'.


This is where the train must blow out the sediment that settles on the bottom of the steam tanks. It's like 'blowing your top'. That steam can reach very hot temperatures and that is why they stop under the freeway to blow out the steam. Quite a sight and sound.

While we were waiting for train to recouple with us to take us back to the station. Adrien and I met this wonderful 'young in heart' gentleman. Let me introduce you to my 87 years young friend. This is Mickey! Mickey is an icon on this train. He had been an Engineer for almost 50 something years when he finally retired. Once retired, and once they refurbished this moving museum, he has been coming down to the station and riding in the same seat, same train car since this museum opened. Mickey knows everything there is to know about this Steam Locomotive. He knows every ones names and feels his duty is to wave at EVERYONE. And Mickey did just that. When I needed to take some photos of the other side of the train, he so graciously offered his space. At one point I sat with him and as he told me about the Crocker Art Museum and the stone marker depicting the very last run and ending point for the Pony Express. It was a wonderful day and made even better by meeting my darling new friend...Mickey the Icon of the Sacramento Railroad. So, if you are coming through and want to experience this wonderful trip. Make sure you purchase your ticket and get on the last train car and look for Mickey and tell him that Robyn sent ya!

Well folks this the end of this journey and Mystery Trip. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as me putting it together for you! If you are traveling through or have a undying love for trains as I do. One must really experience this at least once.

Stay tuned I have yet to put up our lunch experience...and what an experience it was. I will tell you all about how we caught 'crabs'! And that is so not a typo. LOL!
With much love,

Come Follow Me...Part I

Well, Blogger Friends...it is that time again. MYSTERY TRIP TIME!!!! The month of August was Adrien's turn to plan out. And what a trip it turned out to be. This trip, as the last one, was in our very own backyard. Which to me is just thrilling. To think there was something here that I had never done and I got to experience it with my best friend. As most of you know, we always have such adventures on our Mystery Trips. We always get to meet such characters in our travels. And if anyone knows me at all, knows that I am always up in some one's grill getting the low down on whatever their story is...lol! With my type of personality it makes for a very interesting trip indeed. And this one was no different. This trip was a woven tapestry of wonderful sights to behold with one's eye, meeting an icon (who was 87 years young) and wondering back into some wonderful history. So, come along friends for this two part series. It will prove to be intriguing and full of wonder!

The trip started out on our regional transit LIGHT RAIL! Can I just say that this keeps getting better and better to ride. One, it saves us on parking fees. Secondly, it makes for relaxing traveling. Thirdly, we get to enjoy our endless chatter with each other. And these Light Rail cars are fully air conditioned that isn't on my dime...yummy!

We disembarked off Light Rail and Adrien lead the way to this Bohemian style coffee & tea house. Isn't that the cutest store front. It is so tiny out in front but once you step inside...it was quite surprisingly spacious. And the best part, it carried fair trade coffee and loose leaf tea (which is proving to be a very rare thing around here in Northern California).

Since, it was already warming up a bit. Adrien and I settled on some Organic Jasmine Iced Tea...it was a burst of flavor in our mouths. Very refreshing! I highly recommend any traveler to seek this hidden gem out.

I should also mention, since I am a huge fan of art. There was art on almost every inch of the walls. All the art from local artists. Some really great pieces to be enjoyed. And lovely seating areas, all cushioned and cozy with pillows and coffee tables filled with all types of newspapers and local flare magazines. Trust me when I say you will spend a fair amount of time in here if you are a local and if traveling through, it is a wonderful place to catch one's breath and plan the next move.

I promise you will not be disappointed with adding this stop into your traveling agenda.
Once we finished up our drinks, we set out. We walked briskly through K street plaza/Mall. Me, a few steps behind Adrien (who knew where our next stop would be), taking in the sights and sounds of our lovely downtown. Here a few pictures of some art that caught my eye along the way. I was thinking if I was in a car I would have never got to enjoy all this lovely art around me!




This carousal is at the end of K street Mall. It evokes for me all the childhood memories of riding this for hours and squealing in delight to pick out 'my' horse!

Once through our open air mall, we came to this beautiful beacon which is the entrance to lead us through the tunnel onward toward Old Sacramento. I have never really stopped to take this piece in...but it just seems to be at home among the tree lined plaza. A truly fantastic piece.


Once past the sculpture, we came to this arch. It indicates where we were headed. This had me very intrigued to say the least. And once we walked past it, we were at the head of the tunnel that would take us under I-5 and on to Old Sacramento. The walls of the tunnel are beautifully decorated with continuous art murals.


And this is where I shall leave you all, until part II of my Mystery Trip. And trust me when I say you will want to come back and take a peek.
With much love,