That little forgotten occupancy tax

I was off to San Diego, Ca. this past week-end for a solo adventure to Sea World while my hubby traveled to Idaho for a competition. I have mentioned before that I occasionally travel alone and that it is the hardest thing for me to do but also one of the best things for me to do....it encourages me to be more independent and self confident. If you have never traveled for pleasure alone you can't imagine how different it is...I mean if you don't have a good time who are you going to blame???

I chose to stay at the Dana on Mission Bay because they offer a shuttle back and forth from Sea World as well as a shuttle pick-up and return to the airport. The facility was very nice and I would recommend it but just remember that the price you are quoted on travel web sites like Expedia and etc. don't include taxes. They quote that and you can easily think oh yeah, kind of like sales tax but these are the taxes I paid.
1st night.....$23.52 occupancy tax
$4.48 marketing tourism fee

2nd night....$19.74 occupancy tax
$3.76 marketing tourism fee
$.12 California tourism fee

That totals up to $51.30 in tax! Now if you also want to park your car that will be another $12.00 and the shuttle is $6.00 each way to and from airport and don't forget how expensive food is in at an amusement part so the bottom line........be sure and OVER budget!!
Occupancy tax is standard in most state and here are a few examples
San Diego 10.50%
Portland 11.50%
Denver 13.45%
Austin 15.00%
San Antonio 16.75% and yes Az. but don't know the rate..............
and don't forget that you will have to pay $15.00 for your luggage if you don't carry it on. Is it any wonder that tourism is suffering these days?????



The next big question....... did I have a good time???? YES............
I got sunburned despite my efforts not to and in the dardest places like the top of my head (I wore a visor instead of a hat). I loved the new Cirque de la Mer show



they were right next to us and included a great deal of comedy as well as talent!!!

I happened to watch the Shamu show from the back of the stage (a walkway to and from the show) instead of the front and it was just the best and could really appreciate the size of the whales and my best experience of all............the Penguin Experience tour.

This is a behind the scenes type tour and along with being very educational you are given the opportunity to pet one of these little guys and go into the penguin facility which is about 30 degree's so you don't stay for very long but they are so cute and many waddled up to see us.

The cooler weather was a treat but oh how hard it is to drop back down into this dry desert at 110 degree's and it is a bumpy ride as well:)

Blogville blues

Maybe because it is summertime and people are on vacations or having company or just enjoying the nicer weather but whatever it is, it is mighty quiet in blogville. Many of my favorites haven't blogged in over a month and some I am worried that they have just given it up or that they are ill or worse, after all many of us bloggers aren't spring chickens. One of my favorites simple said they were closing it after two years of daily posting of pictures and I so appreciate the notice rather than just silence. So how about you? Do you notice less postings and etc.?

Diversity

There are several of my favorite bloggers that quilt and I have to tell you that it totally confounds me as to how they have the patience to sit for hours and hours cutting out the little designs and then more hours and hours sewing them together and then making a batting and then a backing and not to mention having to tie it and put a border around it! Yikes the hours involved are too many to number!

This quilt was made by my Grandmother

and I wished I could tell you that I remember her making it or that I remember some of the fabric she used, but I don't. I came very close to ruining it when I washed it in the wash machine.

I recently bought this book

Where the writer shares peoples stories about their quilts. It has been enlightening......like the story of a quilt that was made during the civil war by an engaged young woman who's betrothed died on the battlefield. She made the quilt from her (calico) wedding dress bathed in tears. Even I, in my limited capacity made a quilt of sorts for my Grandson. I bought the patterned quilt squared fabric and after putting the batting and backing sewed around each animal to make them puff out (have to say it was his favorite blanket and he used it until it was in shreds) but to come up with a design and cut it all out and lay it all out??? No way....................

I think that perhaps people have the same thoughts about those of us who craft for charity. It is true you can buy a pair of socks a lot cheaper and with no time invested compared to knitting a pair but there is something about being able to put your hand to something and hopefully it making a difference in someones life. Chipmunknits recently posted information about this new book

I ordered it right away...maybe it will give me some insight into my madness:):)

One of my friends recently shared with me that she loves to cook but hates to eat! Now if that isn't an odd duck but diversity is what makes the world go around ........................

Summertime

Summertime....................

and the living is easy...................................

Fish are jumping ................................

and

the cotton is high..........................

Come on now

and enjoy the wonders of summer................

No matter what it takes!!

Like minded

I have mentioned before that I craft for charity and have done so for a long time but I have mostly just done it on my own. Recently I found a chapter of Newborns in Need about an hour away from me and decided since I had a large amount of things that were ready to be donated (see 25 thing for charity blog) somewhere I would attend one of their monthly meetings. Oh my gosh!! Sitting with a group of women my own age and all with the same passion..............Wonderful. I learned a lot of new things, met some lovely people and came home INSPIRED! Whatever your passion/interest is I encourage you too, to try to find a group of people to bounce idea's off of, encourage you and challenge you. No more Lone Ranger for me.

Ya'll Come

Savannah, Georgia was famous way before Paula Deen but the line to get into her local restaurant is pretty impressive.

We have been to Georgia many times and I have always delighted in the hospitality found there, this trip was not a disappointment. Our first night however, was a little of a shock because we forgot it was Memorial Day week-end and found that being down on River Street was just like being in New Orleans at the Mardi Gras less the beads and parade. People everywhere and open drinking allowed on the street...entertainment all the way up and down the river walk from stilt walking to dancing to juggling and music and a 2 1/2 hour wait for dinner so we opted to grab a couple of bar stools and had a bite there and found a spot to sit and just watched till it got a little too rowdy for us:)

We decided to take the trolley the first day to get our barrings and it was a good choice as we also got a lot of useful information like that moss that is hanging on the trees

Is an airborne plant that also is home to chiggers. They use to stuff their mattresses with it and so came the saying..."Don't let the bed bugs bite".

Everywhere I looked while I was there was a picture moment so trying to figure out what to post is going to be a hard one. If you look at a map of down town Savannah you will not even begin to get an idea of how it is laid out because it is in two tiers...River street on the bottom, the lining of old buildings and the old train rail and rough rocky road...situated right next to the river.

The building across the River is a Convention Center and that on the left was the side veranda of our hotel where wine and appetizers were served every evening.

Up on the main street is the front of these buildings
This is the entrance to the Hotel we stayed at (was originally a cotton exchange building). Notice that there is a open part to the left??

Down below is factor's way...

A cobblestone driveway where they drove the cotton wagons for the people to buy their cotton.

The buyers would stand up on the balcony's of the buildings to get a good view as they came by and make their bid's.

The whole town was a vision of a man from England and he sat down and drew out the layout of the town which included the 22 squares. If you are like me you can't quite figure out what a square is so let me explain. It is like a miniature park and all the houses surround it. These were huge beautiful houses owned by the cotton merchants but when they were built there was not running water or electricity. There is such History here you could spend days and still not get the full impact of it. Of course slavery was a big issue here and the biggest change of all...this is a picture of a picture that reminds us of how it was
and this is a statue with broken chains laying at their feet on the Riverfront celebrating their freedom

One evening included dinner at the "Chart House"

Now this is an OLD building that normally I would not venture into .....but

it was beautiful and the food, fantastic!

The same beautiful rock work was to be found everywhere

our hotel heading to a downstairs bathroom.

There were quaint little shopping area's away from the waterfront that just had to be investigated and more tempting restaurants than we could find meals for...................

We missed the blooming of the wisteria but the whole area was a garden setting

The river is still an active port bringing many large ships loaded with cargo in and out.
What a wonderful time we had and this tune will never be the same to me again.

Side Tracked

Yes, we are home....yes, we had a wonderful time and yes, I have pictures to post, but I am going to veer off here on a few side notes.

I often watch Bill O'Riley and for the most part can find agreement with him but recently he made some comments about the reality program...."John and Kate plus Eight"

First off he declared the children are being exploited and secondly he stated that no one should watch this program....period. Maybe you are familiar with this show and maybe you aren't but it has recently been in the news because of suspected philandering...and adultery allegations. This show has had 10 million viewers and has provided some insight into a loving, Christian family that made a decision to carry to term the six babies that rarely occur in artificial insemination. The brother and sister-in-law that in the past were very much part of the show are now making claims of exploitation and making statements how hurtful it will be for the children to know that the wonderful trips and birthday parties were all for ratings and etc. but how about the fact that the trips that she herself went on with them wouldn't have happened at all without the fact that they were filmed and shown and that both John and Kate say over and over on the show how grateful they are to be able to do all these things with their children and provide them the same opportunities that a small family would have. I guess my biggest gripe here is freedom...........I personally prefer to watch something real instead of a sitcom like Sex in the City that also had 10 million viewers or Star War fantasies that are visions of someones imagination so don't tell me what to watch and don't convict people on hearsay.

Second side note......I think I have mentioned before that our daughter is a staff interpreter for ASU so guess who interpreted for the commencement with speaker President Obama?????

It was an honor, yes, but guess what....he is just a man with a lot of Secret Service around him. Her and team interpreter had to have special badges due to the fact that they would need to move on the stage and to keep the secret service agents from attacking them when they did so.

Escape

Every since I downloaded the update of Explorer 8 I have had nothing but trouble on my web site and patience isn't my best attribute....................

It has made it difficult to see my favorite blogs and takes forever to leave a comment because it insists on asking me if I want to view it with some safety thing grrrrrr. I have turned everything off that I can find and it still does its own thing...well anyhow, enough of that.

May is definitely a month that is ALL about me:)

First it is Mothers Day then...my birthday and then...........our wedding anniversary.

This year is our 42nd and we are heading for Savannah, Ga. to revel in a little southern hospitality.....I'll just leave this darn old computer behind...............................

Home town tourist

So many times we travel to far away places to see (things) and yet not go and see the things that other people come from far and wide to see in our home town. The best time to do this local tourist thing here in the Valley of the Sun, is the summertime. It is when tourist season dips to non existent because of our high heat and the time the prices plummet and the $350.00 and night hotel room at a resort can be as low as $99.00....so hubby and I have committed to take in a few sights each summer. .........................WARNING...these are not sights you would expect to see in the desert of Arizona...........................
Our first stop:
SRP Falls Created from the canal that runs through our valley

Then lunch at the Arcacia Farms Restaurant....... this is one of those girly places but since it was my B-day, hubby consented and said our appetizer............

CRAB AND AVOCADO TOWER
with blue lump crab, diced avocado, gazpacho salsa, diced tomatoes and micro greens
was worth the discomfort he felt among the throng of women.

We chose to spend the evening at the Firesky resort in old town Scottsdale. It is highlighted by all the water features is has......................
In the lobby area

Courtyard

Enjoyed in the early morning hours

If you haven't guessed....water is a big deal here:)

They also have some unique lighting fixtures....

hanging from the ceiling

Free wine tasting was offered from 5:00pm and 6:00 pm and then off to their wonderful restaurant, Taggia, which features Coastal Italian Cuisine. Because we booked a room for the night we were given a certificate for a free appetizer and took the servers suggestion of Burrata.......That is grilled Italian bread with Caponata (chunky salsa like stuff made with eggplant, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes and spices) and Burrata cheese (This is mozzarella cheese before it gets hard).....well, let me tell you........its was sooooooooo good!
Hope you too look at your hometown with tourist eyes sometimes.............................

Challenge

If you have set any goal for yourself you have created a challenge. It could be anything..losing weight, learning to make a really good pie, sewing a skirt, finishing a book, growing a garden and etc.
For me right now.....it is making a baby hat on double pointed knitting needles. I have knitted it and ripped it out over and over and over again but low and behold I think I am finally making some progress. A challenge is good for the soul, after all if you don't fail a few times you will never win. What is your challenge?

Happy Mother's Day

The Images of Mother


4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion..

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about i t?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

FIVE MILLION

My hubby and I recently attended an open house...not just any open house but a five million dollar open house.......five thousand sq. feet, high on a hill in Scottsdale with an unobstructed view of the city, containing four classic cars, bronzes and Indian artifacts that you would expect to see in museums and an awesome collection of the 101 Wild West and not to be left our was a work our room with a mountain view and a theatre with the red curtains and a pop corn machine, a gun room with a beautiful display of collector weapons and wasn't I pleased to see my book displayed on the table...I could go on and on because it was beautifully decorated with wood beams, granite counter tops, fireplaces (many) and etc. but the most outstanding thing????? It was comfortable! You never felt that it was one of those (better not touch) things and in most of the rooms there was a sitting area that enticed you to just sit down and take it all it. My favorite room was the kitchen and yes....at the far end were two small leather swivel chairs in front of a small cozy fireplace.
Note to self.......be sure my home is COMFORTABLE and people want to come and sit a spell...that is what really counts.

See what happens when you mess around

You get a Zorse


A zorse or zebrula is a zebroid, specifically the offspring of a zebra stallion and a horse mare. The rarer reverse pairing is sometimes called a horbra. Like most other hybrids, the zorse is sterile, meaning it cannot go on to reproduce young thus creating a separate Zorse species, completely differentiated from Horses and Zebras altogether is impossible.

Since a zebra is stripped to confuse its lion predator a zorse will only survive in the barnyard.

Whimsical

The definition of whimsical is....Impulsive, erratic, light and spontaneous.
These traits would be far from a description of me and that is why I have been blessed with a granddaughter.
We made several of these the last time we shared our day together and he proudly sits above my computer and reminds me........................................

Into every life there should be a little whimsical!

Tidbits

The expression "three dog night" originated with the Eskimos

and means a very cold night - so cold that you have to bed down with three dogs to keep warm.

This is the band "Three Dog Night" which began in 1968 and continues today. Wonder how they chose their name......any thoughts?

Just go for it!

Nov. 2009 I posted about wishing there was a blog site that encouraged kindness; after much thought, I have decided to go for it!

I have been told that I have a gift of encouragement but I rather think that the old saying "you give what you want to get" is more applicable so I am hoping that you will join me in this new adventure..................Strings

ICE

Following a disaster in London, the Ambulance Service launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" worldwide campaign.
The idea is that you store the word " I C E " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency".
In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them.

For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.
It’s a life saving tidbit for today.

Don't believe in miracles????

You don't believe in miracles???

Well, I am here to re-enforce that they do indeed happen
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We have come from a crying, demanding, grandbaby
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A tall, lean, competitive, team player
What a special treat to go to the game Sat. morning and see my granddaughter's volleyball team giving it their all.