slidergirl

Lois - you were going to do a river cruise out of Paris, pre-COVID I think. Did that one go away? Just got my Garnet Hill catalog. On the back, is their Everyday T-Shirt dress. Looks like it could have potential for anyone looking for a comfy casual dress for travel.

The Umbria ones does sound good, too. The visit to Deruta would put me in serious financial trouble!! Puglia would be something different - I was thinking of doing Calabria & Puglia by myself. Who knows??? And because I usually base around cities, churches and ruins, basing around food would be a change. Oh man, now you have me thinking about Umbria...

Tomorrow starts the Sundance Film Festival in town. 10 days of traffic jams. If it's anything like it was pre-COVID, my 10 mile drive home will morph into an hour trek. Since I have to drive through Old Town, I have no way to get around it. The one fun thing is to look at the "fashion" while I'm stuck in traffic. I'm in a tizzy about a vacation. I'm thinking now about playing low key this year and doing another domestic road trip. Or maybe a cheap cruise out of the US. There is a food tour to Puglia next year that I'm interested in. Led by Sophia Minchilli (she was Stanley Tucci's guide in Puglia and is Elizabeth Minchilli's daughter). It's a week-long venture through Puglia. Small group. I'd add on a week or two or three of my own somewhere. More to think about. OOTD: black pants and my tan&white striped long sleeve Tshirt. I've got some physical work to do at work today, so nothing "fancy".

Even then you are not "skipping the line." You have a ticket to enter at a specific time. There will be others waiting in line for the same time you have. But, you aren't waiting 90+ minutes to get a ticket and wait in another line. The Breakfast ticket is good if you don't want to be herded through the Museums (you don't have to be part of a group/tour to feel the herding). There used to be a Friday Night at the Museums in the Summer that was excellent. I was literally the only one in the Raphael Room and there were maybe 20 total in the Sistine Chapel. I didn't see it listed now or yet...

After my travels through Europe last Summer, I'll say that Europe is FAR ahead of anywhere for contactless payment. I even got used to using my Wallet on my Apple Phone for tap-and-go payment. But, I always had a hard card with me, just in case I ran into a mom & pop place that didn't have contactless. Would be the prudent thing to do in the Caribbean, I would think.

Melody - I wish I could charge for unruly kids. They were in the lounge late afternoon, watching the football game. OMG. I think they took 10 years off my life with the screaming they did when the 49ers had a good play. I didn't make extra cookies for them, though. They had to do with the 2 dozen I already baked and they gobbled up! I remember the days of working swim meets. Runner, timer, yes indeedy. Taking a "lunch break" at 6:15pm - I brought some turkey jerky that I bought at TJ's. It's soft, chewy and a little spicy. And it's just the Original, not the Teriyaki. Sometimes I just like to have turkey jerky - protein, low fat, decent carbs. We are supposed to have some amount of snow about every other day for the next 2 weeks. HELP!!!! I've already had more snow than I wanted to have.

Lois - would you like to finance a "Send Kat on a Cruise" fund??? 😸 I'm jealous of all your cruising! How was this "lazy" Caribbean cruise? It sounds nicely relaxing. Well, the animals have arrived for the MLK weekend. 5 families who all know each other and each one has probably 4 kids! Went through hot cocoa like rainwater yesterday. They attacked my cookies and then my cheese & salumi plates like vultures on roadkill. I had to pull out my "mean Auntie" a couple of times to keep kids from trying to turn on the convection oven to melt snow, have an indoor snow fight... The parents were all sequestered in one of the units getting drunk. Then, the adults went out to dinner, leaving the kids to their own devices and Domino's pizza. There is one responsible girl that I know from her stays - she was trying her best to keep the herd relatively mellow. At least they all leave on Monday. And I have Monday off!!! Then, next weekend starts the circus known as Sundance... I'm not ready for it! More snow on the horizon starting early this evening. Maybe another foot in 24 hours. Sigh. I'm falling behind on my shoveling. I only did enough to make a space to get my car in and out. OOTD: Something that I can run around herding kids!!! Black yoga pants, a long sleeve Tshirt and my Patagonia vest. Running shoes 😉

I saw that, too!

Another hair-raising drive home from work last night. The primary road was closed again so I had to take the windy way home. Ugh. And, there is another supposed storm coming in from California around Monday, More snow than I've seen in years! Melody - it may be coming your way!! If anyone ever needs a parka for a cold-weather cruise or trip or just at home, look up "the Amazon Coat." A few of my owners have it and even my neighbor has one. They love them. Since I don't own an actual parka, (just my Patagonia down sweater jacket), I took the leap. I got the Orolay brand one *there are 2* in red with the faux fur hood collar (detachable). I love it! Wore it yesterday - I was nice and toasty in the blowing snowstorm. Around $150. OOTD: sweats and a tshirt. Not going anywhere.

It was a white knuckle drive home tonight. It's been dumping snow since about 1pm. They closed the Mine Road (the one I tried and turned around on the other day), so I had no choice but take my least favorite road down. They could have at least plowed that road! Another 5-10mph drive, winding down the hill. It took me 45 minutes for what is normally a 20 minute drive. Melody - it's coming your way!!! OOTD: black stretch pants and my white & black hoodie. After wearing a dress & my boots yesterday, I just wan't inspired.

I'm with Hank on the 3pm nap. I've done that for decades. Gets me able to go out to get dinner at a civilized Roman time rather than the 5-6pm Tourist Special 😉 I used the TimeShifter app this summer to try to get a little help from jetlag. That and flying Delta One so I could sleep a good sleep on my 10 hr flight from home to Paris. It did help.

I'm with Cynthia, but another captive hub for Delta - SLC. I've had my Delta Skymiles card since 1980, when I was traveling for work. But, I've expanded from just that one to an AMEX Plat, thanks to my now-ex. So, depending on what I'm buying and future plans, I do one or the other. I do have all my recurring bill payments on the Delta card for a steady input of miles.

Well, she's trying to find a more inexpensive way to get from Charlotte to ITALY... Thus, the tie-in. 😼

I wouldn't do this, but you can buy a timed ticket from tour companies I believe to enter the Basilica WITH A GUIDE. After deciding at the last moment to go into the Basilica on one Sunny day, I'd definitely go first thing in the morning than waiting hours in the hot, beating sun with NO SHADE to be found!! Just saying...

You say "most of us" - how many of you are in your posse? That could be a determining factor, also.

We get nasty winter potholes in the roads. Maybe 3-4 ft wide and deep enough to swallow half of your tire and really do a number on your axle. It's like playing "dodge the landmines" lately.

Did you guys dock in front of the Sheraton?

Sharon - all that weather is making it's way from CA over the Sierras to Utah. It just isn't quitting this year. It's so sad that we can't capture more of that precipitation - we all need the water desperately to fill out reservoirs. But, too much too fast and it only causes more damage. My car blasted up the mountain today - it felt so good to have the Kat Car (yes, that is it's name) power up the road at 50mph. Brought a smile to my face. Melissa - keep up the good work on attacking your illness. sorry that the weather did not cooperate with your holiday. Melody - your daughter loves to wear leggings, right? She needs to look at the down/alternative mini skirts to put on over the leggings. so very cute and camouflage any "camel toe" and keep the butt warm. Mountain Hardware, Smartwool, and Backcountry have cute ones. We're using them as part of our "uniform" at the Lodge. Amps up the usual leggings & hoodie and gives a little sass. OOTD: black leggings my teal mini skirt (from Mountain Hardware), one of my Woolx hoodies and my weathered tan moto boots. Sassy and fun.

Power issue fixed!!! Luckily it was one of the recall things so that was a "freebie". The service manager texted me at 4:30 and said if I could get there before 6pm I could pick up my car. Luck was on my side, I think. All parts for all the recalls were available and the washer mechinism was there, too. He had a guy work on it all day. It sure wasn't cheap, but everything my car wanted/needed is done (oil, filters, engine flush, stuff like that) for awhile. I bolted down there, turned in my rental car at 4:55 (they close at 5!!), got an Uber to the KIA place and was out the door by 5:30, and home by 6. Phew!! Now I just hope the snow that's coming overnight/tomorrow isn't a mess. OOTE (Outfit of the Evening): Yellow Laguna Surf hoodie, Free People Camo pants, and my Ferrari baseball hat.

Matt, the service manager, told me that. We texted this morning. The tech found that the lack of power issue is covered by one of the recalls. Yay. The tech also quickly found that the, washer mechanism is what is leaking and needs replacement. (I put in a gallon a week ago and got the "low" message on Tuesday). Plus, I told him to go ahead and do all the "little" things that need done for mileage checks. I'm breathing a little easier now. The tech did a whole check and sent me the video - all the hardware is good and no replacement/fixing needed. It's still going to cost a small fortune, but that's cars... Staying in today to do laundry, dishes and miscellaneous. OOTD: joggers and a Tshirt.

Sharon - the pork and sauerkraut is pretty basic. I brown up the pork chops and heat up the sauerkraut. Sometimes I'll add a little apple and apple juice to the sauerkraut. For me, it's plenty, Allow me to give a big sigh of frustration: SIGH... Drove my car down to SLC to the appointment I made 2 weeks ago to figure out why my Sportage is suddenly losing power going uphill. Well, they say they don't have my name on the appointment list!!! UGH!!! The service manager heard me and took over from the mechanic. Turns out he worked with my favorite service manager at my old Audi place. Turns out there are some minor recalls that I never got notice of (happens when you buy used, he said). They'll do those first because one of them may have something to do with my power loss. Then, they'll do a deeper dive if it's still there. Looking at a minimum of $400. Then, I mentioned I'm losing wiper fluid very fast like there's a hole in a tube. He said they'll look at it but it's not an easy thing because of where the lines are to the back washer. Double Ugh. Not going to be done today, maybe not tomorrow, maybe not Friday. Triple Ugh. So, I dial around to find a 4x4/AWD vehicle to rent since it's going to snow again tomorrow and Friday. Good thing I'm in with Hertz - got a VW Tiguan within 30 minutes. It's going to cost but what can I do??? Took out my frustration at Trader Joe's... Pray for my little KIA.. OOTD: leggings, my neat teal insulated and quilted Mountain Hardware mini skirt, a WoolX hoodie, and old boots. The mini skirts are what we all wear over our leggings at work. Adds a little flair to just leggings.

Have a wonderful and relaxing cruise!!! I'm so jelly...

May be a little OT, but: If you are looking for a cute and waterproof pair of tall boots that are comfy enough for me to wear walking around work for 8 hours, look at Sofft Sharnell. Two heel heights (1.5" and 2") and a bunch of colors. I'm one of those who have taken boots with me, not Winter boots, but "fashion" boots that are comfy.

One of my owners got a pair of these for Christmas. But, on hers, the "Hoka" is gold. She said those shoes are just what she wanted.

Hey, the conditions scared the cr@p out of this mountain dweller!!! NEVER saw it like that before.