The valley is very crowded, yes, but they try to manage crowds by restricting personal automobile travel and offering a shuttle service. That helps some. I still think people should see the valley at least once – and then go see the rest of the park, where the hiking and scenery is truly stupendous.
Life is good. After the Reunions and then ordination/wedding thing last weekend, I flew to London Monday and Frankfurt Wednesday and home Thursday afternoon. I stopped at my favorite gourmet store (Costco) on the way home on Friday from PT and got wild Copper River salmon. Dinner out last night with old friends, one a former university president. Today, after a bike ride with ShawWife and then a massage, I had fresh mozzarella also courtesy of my favorite gourmet store and heirloom tomatoes for lunch. We were going to talk ShawD out for her 22nd birthday tonight but she wants to invite friends and also to go to a super-expensive restaurant, so we decided to separate the two. So, tomorrow night, we are having the Copper River salmon and asparagus that our local farmer will pick for us tomorrow morning plus a salad with spinach, fresh mozzarella and nectarines.
After a couple of weeks of tough travel, no travel this upcoming week – as I do every year at about this time, I am co-teaching an exec ed seminar at the university where I got my PhD (and began my career as a faculty member).
Good Morning!
We are having a little busier weekend socially than we usually do. On Friday, we attended a neighborhood party in honor of neighbors/friends who are moving. Last night we went to dinner with the same couple and several mutual friends. Today we are hosting 3 couples who are close friends of ours (all of the H’s were college classmates). It just worked out this way.
Hard to say goodbye to our friends. We have been neighbors for 15 years, members of the same church, our D’s are very close friends, etc. They will be back in October for D’s wedding (their D is a bridesmaid). And it is a really good move for them, so I am happy about that. But we will miss them so much.
Through conversations with other friends, I know that in the next several years we will be saying a lot of goodbye’s. People are getting close to retiring and moving on. Most of our friends are (like us) not originally from this area and unless their kids end up here are not likely to stay.
Both your weekends sound fab FG and Shaw.
Even moreso because I spent the day yesterday doing “ladder yoga” painting the batten board on the front of the house. Despite a good amount of post-painting evening floating in the 90-degree pool drinking grand marnier and visiting with a friend, today my knees are still pouting…make that yelling 
Fortunately, i have a massage scheduled today … Strategic planning
Right after church H and I start our 12 day road trip, destination Graduation. I have planned fun stops, etc but whether the trip is a misery or a joy depends on my traveling companion. He gets so upset on vacation when even minor things go wrong and of course, on vacation lots of minor things go wrong. I told him that as long as we don’t miss the graduation, it’s all good.
Hope you have a great road trip, MP, and that your traveling companion behaves! Enjoy the graduation!
Best of luck. Had two nice parties with ShawD yesterday.
Happy (and safe) road tripping and graduation festivities, mp!
OK, H and I are officially reunioned out after 2 in a row. I really enjoyed mine over the weekend – and unlike the last one 5 years ago, we had gorgeous sunny weather. Over the years H has gotten to know quite a few of my classmates – this year he bonded with a guy over sailboats and old sports cars. They even went off campus to check out an MGB-GT for sale at a local dealer. As the years go by, reunions are more fun, IMO. Everyone has this common link, and there’s much less of the cliquishness that existed in school – if that makes sense.
This morning I’m in our urban spot, waiting for the A/C service person to come do the annual inspection, filter change, etc. Then it’s back to the beach – where I’m hoping we’re finally going to get some warm weather and I can actually go to the beach!
Meant to say, best of luck on the trip with your traveling companion. 12 days of driving can be pretty intense. We use audible.com for audiobooks for long driving trips.
Safe and happy travels, mp.
cbb- We found the same thing attending H’s reunions, people are much friendlier as the years go by.
Driving in heavy rain in Missouri. It hardly seems fair since we just survived six weeks of rain at home.
So how come at a $75 a night Best Western I get free wifi but it costs $12.95 at posh hotel?
mp, have never understood that logic in pricing wifi. If you can, please keep driving west: maybe the rain follows you …
You also usually get breakfast at the cheaper hotels, but pay $$at nicer ones.
Hope you’ve escaped the rain by now, MP. No need to send it our way; we’ve had plenty.
I wish my husband like salmon, Shawbridge. Sigh.
Absolutely gorgeous day here today after a mixed bag of a weekend that had crummy thunderstorms/rain at dinnertime both days. I feel bad that H had to head back to work today while I got out for a good walk.
Right, Cq, we also had free breakfast, free parking, a microwave and a fridge.
Hotel amenities and pricing is indeed a mystery!
Hoping you are having a good road trip missypie!
Today is H and my 36th wedding anniversary. We will have a low key celebration and go out for dinner.
Should be 90 degrees here this afternoon!
NM, I recalled that we have same wedding anniversary - 31 years here. I’m in New Mexico this week so we’ll need to wait to celebrate. A friend from before we moved is also celebrating her anniversary today in NYC, but I won’t see them since I’m out of town.
Happy Anniversary cq!!! Wishing you many more years of love and happiness!
Happy anniversary, NM & c_q!
We are gearing up for our 35th next spring…and starting to plan a barge cruise in France. I finally found a really good site that has great info on the different choices, and now we have to pick one since they only accommodate 4-6 couples.
Happy Anniversary, NM and c_q!
Our 35th is next month. We are just going to a b and b near Shenandoah National Park-a place my older son recommended! A barge cruise in France sounds great, arabrab.
We are going to Cape May for a week in a few days-my sons and sister are coming (and older son’s girlfriend will come also for a couple of days).