Catalina Pics

(# 50) Catalina!

Happy Birthday to me,
Happy Birthday to me,
I made it to 50,
So la ta dee dee.

I did it! I completed my 50 things I've never done before, before I turned 50 (by the skin of my teeth and with the help of my husband :).
We went to Catalina Island this weekend and had a wonderful, romantic time there. I grew up so close and it took me 50 years to get all the way across, (and an hour 15 mins. on a ferry).

I had no idea there were so many things to do on such a little Island. You can swim in the ocean, go Scuba diving, parasailing, horseback riding, golfing, kayaking, rent a row boat, go in a glass bottom boat and hike through a nature perserve, or snorkel or fish just to name a few.

However Tony and I opted for the "Old Fart" adventure package (Hey, I'm allowed, I'm 50 now). Saturday we took the ferry to the Island, then rode the shuttle to the hotel arriving around noon, took the elevator to the third floor where the room was located and then took a nap. Then around 4 we walked down the stairs (not the elevator aren't you proud) went into town and walked around some more, took a bus "historic/scenic" tour, ate dinner and went to the movies, then walked back to the hotel around 9 and went to bed.

The next day,( still tired from our adventures the day before), we put on our swimsuits and decided the beach was a little too far and we already had a great view of it (without all that annoying sand, besides it was really hot too, in the 80's the whole weekend) so we laid out on the balcony and got some sun. After that we had in room massages, from real in room massager trained people too! Then we took a nap. Around 2 we went on a tour of the Island Museum and the Casino (which has no gambling at all, but a really cool dance floor), this was a bit exhausting (the dance floor is 10 stories up) so we stopped in town at a sports bar to watch the rest of the Chargers game and have dinner, then stopped for Ice Cream on the way back to the hotel, then took a nap before Sunday night football with pizza in the room, then went to sleep.

Today was a very busy day, we walked around town and shopped and ate almost all day. (In the course of our 3 days we have between the 2 of us sampled almost every flavor Big Olaf's Ice Parlor has to offer ). We also rented a golf cart and drove around up in the surrounding hills (at break neck speeds of about 30 miles an hour as close to the side of the mountain as he could get, because my husband loves to scare the buhgeebers outta me). We also went on a Submerged boat ride to see fish in the fish preserve, that was cool (and I'm not just talking about the airconditioning either). Then we went down to wait for the Ferry and took a nap on the benches. Then we rode back to Dana Point and slept in the ferry on the way home.

It was beautiful on Catalina, and I hope it dosen't take me 50 years to get back there again.

My wonderful husband , family and friends surprised me with a party at my favorite Italian restaurant tonight and that was the end of a perfect Birthday weekend!

Thank all you for allowing me to share my 50 new things with you over this last year, it was fun and challenging, but I wouldn't go back and change any of it (except for maybe the canoeing trip). But seriously, I appreciate all your help, encouragements and participation in my accomplishing all these new things.

Thank you, Thank You, Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
Love, Sue

Only One to Go

Well, I only have one more new the to do before I turn 50.

I'm feeling very confidant at this point since I have about 4 weeks to accomplish my goal. Wish me luck and I'll let you know what I did, when I figure out what it'll be.

Have a great week everyone! Sue

Brown County and Painted Hills Lake pics

(#49) Brown County Indiana

We went lots of places in Indiana, but touring the countryside of Brown country and listening to all Tony's childhood memories was really great. I wish I'd had a more rural upbringing at times, but then I wouldn't be me. We visited Brown County Park, were Tony's family had reunions and he has many found memories of picnics, horseback rides and the trees changing colors in fall. I climbed to the top of the 100 foot observation tower and saw beautiful scenery in every direction. Tony volunteered to stay on the ground and wave to me (what a trooper :) We drove through an all wooden covered bridge, something I've definately never done before.
We also went to see his Dad's lake house on "Lake Painted Hills" where he spent his teen years. Across the lake from his Dad's house was the pool he life guarded at. The whole area was really beautiful and I can see sometimes why he misses it. The weather was wonderful the whole week, 70's and 80's with low humidity too. But I have to remind him; it will snow there and I'm not made for snow. And " YES" we will visit again in spring, summer or fall, but Indiana will probably not see this California girl in winter if I have much to say about it.

Our entire trip was great, I enjoyed everyone and everything about Indiana.
So "THANK YOU INDIANA" , and hope to see you soon! Sue

(#48) Amish Country

While in Indiana Tony and I went to Northern Indiana to visit his brother Dick and his wife Cindy. They live in Goshen, Indiana and were wonderful hosts, taking us on a tour all around the country side. We went to Shipshewanna, Indiana; were we saw Amish schools, bakeries and quilt shops. We had fun shopping and ate way to much. We even dressed up in traditional Amish clothing and had our picture taken. I could never be Amish, they have very unflattering clothes and really ugly shoes too! But the food was wonderful and the children all seem so innocent in their Amish garb, and the quilts are beautifull too.
Thanks Dick and Cindy for the tour, it was great! Sue

Historic Downtown Indianapolis pics

Indy 500 pics