Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Today would have been my mother's 82nd birthday! I still miss her like it was yesterday.

R.I.P. Marjorie Frye Ketchmark
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Happy Birthday, Joe!

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Today, July 10th, is my brother's 57th birthday! He is looking great and feeling it, too...he's a lucky guy!!!
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We always come back for more...

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The tradition continues...
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This is one stop we will never forget to go to...

Clarence's for biscuits and gravy, et al, before our drive back to FL. We also go there during the trip sometimes but if we don't go any other time, we won't miss our farewell breakfast the day we go back home!

I have to go back and see how many pictures we have taken in front of Clarence's. And, more importantly, who was lucky enough to be in the pictures (meaning: were able to go to Grandma's and Grandpa's house!!!)

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A meal, fit for a queen...

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Well, I made the roast and used the home grown veggies. The cubed steak was skillet fried in canola oil with a coating of flour, salt and pepper. Then, I put the steaks (6 cubes) in the baking dish while I mixed two packs of onion soup mix with 2 cups of water and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Then I put all of that mixture in the skillet to mix with the drippings from the steak frying. Then, I poured the mixture in the baking dish with the cubed steaks and moved the steaks around to get gravy all over them. I then put a lid on the baking dish and put it in the oven at 375 for 2 hours. I actually had to lower the oven temp after an hour to 350 since it looked like it was really boiling.

The potatoes were all peeled and boiled and then whipped with an electric hand mixer. Kent does those because his turn out so creamy. Everyone loves them at the holidays!!!

The green beans were steamed in the steamer for 25 minutes and tasted great with a little salt and butter added.

The corn was boiled on the stove for 30 minutes. It was the bi-colored corn like Zellwood has this time of year.

Kent made biscuits using the Betty Crocker Buttermilk Biscuit mix from Sam's (Orlando stores don't seem to carry it so we get ours from Johnson City, TN). He has become very proficient at making biscuits and these were the best so far!

We opened a bottle of White Merlot (my favorite at the taste testing in California at the Sutter Home winery) and enjoyed a couple of glasses with dinner. A great combination!!!

Successful meal, happy tummies, nice evening!
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The rarest of Kodak moments...

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Okay, this one is self explanatory...or is it?!!!!

I knew Kent was taking a nap after he drove the whole way to TN (after an all night, 9.5 hour drive), because I had peaked in to see him. What I didn't notice was that when I couldn't find KJ anywhere, he was sleeping on the bed with his dad! I had to get the camera, pronto for this rare photo op. AWWW, isn't that cute?!!!

A pure Kodak moment!
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Why KJ decided to lay down there..well, I guess the invitation of Grandma's soft, comfy bed was too hard to pass up!!! I don't know of anything more soothing and restful than that!
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Almost Heaven, Tennessee...

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Ah, yes, going to grandma and grandpa Bank's home always rewards us with a field of dreams....I mean greens!!! And white...potatoes, that is! Fresh from the garden, picked yesterday. Mmmmmm..ready for a cubed steak roast dinner tomorrow (Monday) night back in FL.
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The garden is abounding with the rewards of Grandpa's sowing. And we reaped abundantly!
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These speak for themselves. Grandma Banks taught Kimmy and I how to string the beans last year. And Kent and I didn't waste any time in getting them ready for tomorrow night's meal!

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Holy cow...or onions...these are humongous!!! They came from a neighbor across the road who has a garden as large as Grandpa Banks' but I didn't get to see it this time. I will have to go over there next time as it has been mentioned as a site to witness!

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I am so looking forward to dinner tomorrow. Never as good as Grandma Banks, but I'm learning!!! :o)
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The crack of dawn...

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Yes, that's when I got up this am. Today is Karl's college orientation (and mine as a UCF parent). It is two days long with the first day being 9 am until 9 pm. Now, I don't know about you but I really don't think that is necessary. But, be it as it is...I will be there with bells on. Especially after the Wolfgang Puck coffee pod that I just made from the last hotel we stayed at. I sure didn't have time to enjoy it there as we were on the go too fast but I'm enjoying it today! :O)
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Good news I like to hear....

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Now this is the kind of news I would like to see on tv...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070627/ap_on_fe_st/odd_pickpocket_pummeled;_ylt=ApS4kgX1tBfAWBs7W20HoMR34T0D

Not all the bring you down stuff!
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The day after the last day of our vacation...

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So, here we are after the 5 hour flight to Chicago!!! It was 2 am when I took these pics. I tried to sleep but there were a couple of "visitors' scoping out the area and specifically our baggage!!! So, needless to say, I couldn't sleep at all. I kept watch and felt more safe not sleeping. We boarded the plane around 5:45 am and were finally on our way home...or were we?!!!
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After boarding the plane and having the cabin door shut, an employee came on the intercom to say that we would be delayed for 10 minutes or so with a technical difficulty. Then he came back to say that it would be a few minutes more, they were checking on something that happened to the plane (yeah, that makes me feel like getting this thing off the ground!!!) Then the flight attendant came on and said that it would be another 15 minutes as they had to write up a "report". A few minutes later, the captain came on and told us that there had been a mishap with the cabin door and the terminal walkway. It had "bent" the cabin door and they had to take measurements and decide whether or not the plane was fit to fly!!! AGH!!! Not what the passengers want to hear. But, it gets better...he went on to say that a plane is like a balloon with pressure and when you try to get it off the ground, any flaw in the balloon (a dent in the cabin door) can cause the balloon to explode!!! WTH...was he thinking? So, we nervously sat for about 5 more minutes and the first guy (who happened to work at the terminal) said that they measured everything and wrote up an incident report and we were free to go. Oh sure, free to go where?!!! He wasn't going to be on the plane!!! I never did get to see the actual dent because they have the door opened before you ever get off of the plane and it is positioned so that you can't see it. But, it was a nerve-racking take-off and landing for everyone on board. The guy on the other side in our row was really having problems. He had his head down towards his knees before we ever got off the ground and then he was walking, pacing and had to be asked to sit down....Note to self, once again, never miss your flight!!!!!
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What to do when you are waiting at an airport....

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Since we had to wait in line for close to an hour and then talked to the representative for half an hour, we left the United check-in around noon (our plane had left at 10:45 am). So, we took a shuttle to the International area of the airport where we were told there were more eating choices and shopping. Of course, we had McDonald's to eat and then after sitting for a while, decided to buy a deck of cards and make good use of the time. Our flight was to leave around 6 pm. (Notice the "International" passengers behind Kent.)
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We finally left the international terminal area at 3:30 and shuttled over to the United terminal to wait some more.... (note to self...don't ever miss your flight!)
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All airports are not created equal...or...

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LAX SUX

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That's right, and you can quote me on that one!!! We got to the airport on the 19th after an hour and 15 minutes trying to go 15 miles! And then having to drop off the van at an off site location (instead of the terminal location that the person on the telephone told Kent we would be able to drop it off at) and wait for a bus to take us to the airport with other people. And of course our terminal was number 7 out of 7 terminals!!! And the other people got off before us and had their bags taken off by the driver...then arriving at curbside service and waiting another 10 minutes and finding out that when it was finally our turn that the 45 minute cut off had indeed cut off!!! They wouldn't take our bags and said that there was nothing we could do...we would miss our flight!!! That was at 10:13 am and our flight left at 10:45!!! So, we waited another half hour in another line and found out that the next available flight would be in the evening arriving in Chicago at midnight and a connecting flight would get us home at 10:30 the next morning! So, what did we do? Well, the next blog entry will show just that. Suffice it to say that we ate lunch in LA and breakfast the next morning in Chicago! Nothing in between...nothing was open!!!
What an end to our fine trip!!! Now, the only thing left to do is laugh and remember why we also got souvenirs from Chicago!................ :O)
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Day 17 - Part 3

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Okay, here is a pic with Kent on a ride. I don't take many pics but I was able to get close enough to get all of them in one car. Karl is on the other side of Teagan. They have video cameras set up in front of you and the sign says to scream all you want, you're on video......hey, they stole my idea!!! This happened to be our last ride.
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Day 17 - Part 2

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We took a lot of pics but I won't have enough time to get them uploaded. Here is one that described how we felt today. This was our second ride and Kent stood back and took pictures as we were coming around to the end.
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PCH Tour 2007 Day 17

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Yet, another theme park. This time it was the Cedar Point Park Knott's Berry Farm. They have the best roller coasters. The first one we went on was Ghostrider. Their old, rickety wooden one. Well, Karl and Teagan were in the front and KJ was second row. Kent and I were behind him and I was all prepared to get out the camera to videotape as we left the "gate". We went up the first incline and as I started to video, the ride just STOPPED!!! And then one of the ride attendants came up the tiny, little stairs all the way to the top...where the five of us were sitting. He came to me and said, "I'm sorry ma'am but you can't videotape. I need to take your camera. WAAAAAAAHHH!!! So, needless to say, I won't have a repeat from last year's Cedar Point ride! Oh, well, I tried!!!
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BTW, I did get my camera back after we got off of the ride.......;O)
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The Final Countdown...

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In less than 48 hours we will be in Oviedo, FL...we are still speaking to each other and smiling for pictures...Today is no exception. We had a great time at Knott's Berry Farm. Pictures to follow when we get back from dinner.

Sierra Sidewinder was the final ride for our trip to CA. It was a wonderful day. Karl and Teagan put Seaworld in second place after today's rides. Te Riptide was the favorite of the day!
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Day 16 - Part 2

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Here we are at the Catalina Casino. It is not open to the public except for tours. We did not take the tour so we weren't able to see the inside. The upper floor which is a large ballroom has a round shape and diameter of almost 200 ft ! (They say it is breathtaking.)
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We took the 50 minute tour which takes you up the mountain to see views below of the town of Avalon. Here is a picture of an area hit by the fire back in May of this year. It was the largest fire on the island in its history. Some areas of the island are still without phone service!!!
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A view of our walk past the casino where there was a band playing outdoors near the beach. These grand palms are beautiful. Everything there was beautiful!!!

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This picture was taken during our tour. The bus driver really knew his way around the island. He was really funny, too. He told us many tidbits of information including history about the Wrigley family.

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Another breathtaking view from our tour. We didnt get out of the open air bus but we sure were able to get some spectacular pics! If you look carefully, you can see our boat just about in the center of the picture.

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PCH Tour 2007 Day 16

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We were able to get some great pictures today of our trip to Catalina Island. It is a beautiful place to visit. These four pictures were taken when we were arriving at the island around 11:30 am. This is an awesome place to visit. The weather was spectacular...around 72 degrees with a very slight wind.
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I called this the Wrigley Casino because the Wrigley Family owned it but it is really called the Catalina Casino. Casino being an Italian word which means "a gathering place" - there has never been any gambling there!
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We took a smaller boat to get to the island but returning home, we took this wonderful catamaran. The ride was very smooth even thought the waves were fairly rough.

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Day 15 - Part 6

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This just in... We captured his picture before we even knew who he was!
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Day 15 - Part 5

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Okay, this was one of two studio tours we took today. Paramount Studios was the first. It was a 2 1/2 hour tour...part walking...part golf cart ride. Our guide was very informative.
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This is one of three benches used at the park in the movie Forrest Gump. One other is in the Smithsonian and the third is in the location where the movie was filmed...Savannah, GA.
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The other studio tour was NBC but we weren't able to take any pictures inside. We were lucky enough to see Jay Leno just before his show started. It starts out here at 4 pm and lasts until 5:15 pm.

The other blogs for today are all of the Daytime Emmys which we were able to get glimpses of the stars entering the Kodak Theatre. I was getting on the elevator when a group of people were getting off...Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck along with other members of their show. All decked out. Too bad I didn't know it or I would have gotten out my camera. I rushed back to the hotel room and ran to the window and saw them walking across the pool area 2 floors below us. The kids saw them, too!

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Day 15 - Part 4

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Ellen DeGeneres and Portia di Rossi arriving at the Daytime Emmy awards. Kent was able to snap a few pics of them.
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