My Best Friend.... My Soul Mate

Many years ago - Dusty and I went on a seven day cruise to Mexico. We were celebrating our three year anniversary... We boarded the ship in San Diego - a cruise line named Commodore Cruises - I don't think they are around any longer... The ship was old and smelly... We drove through one of the worst rain storms in California history to get to the ship - we drove close to 100 miles.. When we arrived at the terminal - I noticed right away that everyone was old... When I say old - I mean going along in their walker and wheelchair old..... I wanted to cry.....

The first night - we sat at a table with four (4) senior citizens - Dusty and I were still in our twenties and had nothing in common with these very nice people... Later that evening - we went out onto the deck so I could smoke a cigarette ( I have since quit). As Dusty and I were chatting outside - we noticed another couple about 100 yards away from us - a couple with dark hair - a couple under the age of 40.... The other couple noticed us at almost the exact time as we did them... We walked towards each other.... The rest of the cruise was hilarious... We had the best time... We hired a taxi driver to give us a tour around Puerto Vallarta - somehow in our enthusiasm a few other young couples found and joined us... In the other ports of call - we found fun and adventure - memories that still make me smile and laugh out loud.....

That first night on deck - I met my best friend in the world.. My soul mate - Now 18 years later - she still is a major part of my life... She is the first person I call to share good and bad news... We started our families at the same time... We had our children around the same time.... We shared in the loss of parents.... We cried together in laughter and in pain.. She's my Vegas buddy... She gets me when few do....

A few years ago - she moved away to Colorado.... My kids and I visited her and the family summer before last - I fell in love with where she lives.. The wildlife, the seasons, the people, the majestic Rocky Mountains within a hours drive.... Since that summer I have dreamed of moving to CO.... Wouldn't it be nice to be neighbors? I miss my friend...

As you know - Dusty was laid off a couple of weeks... hmm - What a great idea to move, don't you think? I've been writing my list of reason on why we should move to CO.... Friends, lots of family, get a bigger house and pay cash - (of course, I've been showing him what we can get on realtor.com).. oh the possibilities..... and I think maybe.... just maybe he might be receptive to the thought.... a girl can dream....

Getting In Shape For The Summer

The Hanging Lakes

Okay - two days ago was the day.... The day that I cut all wheat, sugar, and unhealthy carbs from my diet... Summer is coming up and I am out of shape and ... well, let's just say I'm out of shape.... My goal is to take my girls back up to the Rocky Mountains and stay at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge - if you have not been there - you have got to put it on your list of things to do before you die....

There are some amazing hiking trails - there's one in particular that I want to enjoy... It's called the Hanging Lakes - it's 1000 feet up a very steep incline - but once you make it - it's suppose to be worth it... Here's a link to the trails and pictures too - it'll make you want to go.. The Colorado River runs right through Glenwood - to cross the street - you cross a bridge over the River - it's beautiful... breathtaking....

The Lodge is old - Doc Holiday once stayed there so the rumor goes (there's a hiking trail to his memorial).... The lodge does have one thing that no other lodge or hotel in the world has... The world's largest natural hot spring pool... The pool is open everyday of the year... Last time I was there - we discovered a webcam on their pool slide - my girls and I made a webcam date with the husband.... I called him from my cell and we waved and acted silly for him - we said good bye and jumped into the pool... Unknown to the girls and I - he continued to stalk spy watch us... Later that night we chatted and he asked how the girls liked their ice cream cones..... funny...

I am looking forward to some "mommy and daughters" time again - we have fun and we are making memories... We do enjoy "daddy" time too - maybe the next time...

Kelly's Favorite Vacation Spot #2

Glenwood Spring, Colorado




Last summer my daughters and I took an All Girl road trip... It was awesome.. We could take as many potty breaks as we wanted too.... The girls watched their movies in the back with headphones and I listened to my "chic" books on tape....The hotel room TV only came on to watch "girl friendly" TV... no sports....no wild kingdom.. no Discovery channel, and yes no Jeopardy.... (sorry honey)
One of my favorite stops was Glenwood Springs, Colorado.. If you have not been there.... you gotta to go. We stayed at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge. The Lodge is famous for their hot springs pool - the largest in the world.. The main pool is larger than three football fields and the temperature is 90 degrees year round.. (even in the winter snow) and the "hot" tub which also was huge is around 103 degrees... When you walk into the pool area, you are immediately hit with the smell of sulphur... but that smell either goes away quickly or I just got used to it...
Doc Holiday had heard about the hot springs and believed that they had healing powers.. unfortunately they did not for him and he passed away.. There is a short but nice hike up to his memorial close to the Lodge.
The Lodge itself is really nothing to write home about.. There is no room service, bell captain service, and no restaurant. I thought the staff was very rude and thankfully - once I discovered they were not helpful in anyway whatsoever - I just did things myself... like carry a one hundred pound piece of luggage down two stories all the way to my car.. and a cooler stocked with bottled water.... by MYSELF.... my kids sucked it up and carried their own bags....
We enjoyed going to the Hotel Denver to enjoy our meals at the Brew Pub restaurant. It had great food, great prices, and their french fries for the kids were smiley faces... Loved it.
Down the street from the Lodge is The Adventure Park... now this place is spectacular in every sense of the word... You need to take a gondola up to the top of the mountain (7100 ft up) - I am deathly afraid of heights...but the view was breathtaking... the Colorado River running down the middle of the valley below....words cannot describe.. Up at the top there are several cave tours.. You can take the regular walking tour or you can go deep into the caves with a lighted helmet and crawl through small crevices.. your choice.. We went on a walking tour in the "fairies caves". It's a great place for the kids with many attractions.. bungee jumping, panning for fossils, rock climbing, and many other things..
The restaurant had a panoramic view of the entire valley and the food was your basic hamburgers and hot dogs....at very reasonable prices..
In addition to the Adventure Park - there are some great hiking trails you can take up to lakes and waterfalls.. There is also river rafting half day and full day trips down the rapids on the Colorado River....
One funny story.... before we came to Glenwood Hot Springs - I found a web cam of the pool on the computer. I figured out where it was and made a computer web cam date with my husband. So here we are me and my two girls waving like crazy to a big spiral slide... and people walking by like we were nuts.... the husband loved it!