Up and Comming Adventures.

Hello everyone out there, I just wanted to let you all know to keep posted because Colin and I are off on another adventure in 2010. We are lucky enough to be able to go to Australia. We will be touring the country From Feb 3rd to the 28th, so keep posted for more blogging adventures! Hope everyone has had a great fall.

Andrea & Colin

I wish I understood!

I wish I understood the psyche better than I obviously do. Why do people who are Friends and who we spend the majority of there time together suddenly behave in a way that is utterly against a cause that you share? What causes people who are happy and excited for each other to turn on each other and not want the best for one another. Am I so naive to think that we should/could all be in this together for each other and have the ability to laugh, smile, and support each other everyday? I wish I understood, and for this I will pray.

We are fairly boring lately

Hey everyone,

I had originally decided that my blogging days were over with our return to snowy and cold Saskatchewan. But I get a report every week that tells me if people are logging on the blog and apparently there are quite a few of you out there still hoping we have something fun or interesting to tell you. I hate to disappoint an audience however we are fairly boring lately. We are just working lots to try and catch up on our bills and get our selves out of the red from our trip in time for the summer. The most fun we had since we have been back is catching up with our friends and family and of course celebrating my nephew Jagger's birthday. It is sooo hard to believe that he is one year old already. He is so cute and getting his walking down pretty good now! He got tons of toys at his birthday that I think should keep him busy over the summer.

Anyway the snow is rapidly melting (thank goodness) and I can see some grass starting to show through - so I am getting anxious to start playing in my yard. Lets all hope and prey that we don't get any big snowstorms in the next month like last year!

Take care everyone and I will try to put the odd exciting thing on the blog - although very few and far between!

We are home!

Well Hello, we are home, we arrived last night at about 11pm! Our little house was warm and cozy and welcomed us home. I attached some pics of what a truck and trailer look like after traveling thousands of kilometers in the snow and cold. I think our total trip from San Jose was about four thousand kilometers (I don't know what that is in miles - A LOT). We made it through the border with ease!! I start work tomorrow - so reality will hit then, for now I am dilgently unpacking and doing laundry etc.

Brrrrrrrr!

The view from Travis and Stacey's dining room, - in Coeur D' Alene

The pics are backwards - but this is 36 levels of Jenga - We beat the game - thats the best you can do! Seriously read the rules!

The riveting game - it was very intense!


This picture is of what Colin wants his bins to look like!

This is us tucked in at the truck stop for the night. We are sure little hey!


Well we have had a few LONG days of driving - averaging about 10-13hrs /day. That is about as many hours as we can take. It went relatively smooth. I am so amazed that in a matter of a few short hours while heading north you can go from +28 to having the temperature steadily drop into freezing. I watched in horror as the thermometer dropped continually until we finally hit the snow. YUCK!! I am so not mentally prepared for this. Anywho, we spent our first night amongst the semi trucks at a flying J truck stop (its quick and cheap). All I can say is that if we are ever so fortunate to be able to have an experience like this again in our lives we will HAVE A GENERATOR for the trailer; for such things like A/C in Yuma +35, and for flying J truck stops in the snow. We had to let the truck run most of the night so that it would charge our battery enough to keep the fan for the furnace running. It was not that bad just really inconvenient. I must say I was the only creative one in the trailer and used those hand and feet warmers that you use in your snow boot s and mitts, and put them in the bed so it was nice and warm!!!!!!! Colin thought I was nuts and started making fun of me - so I just put them on my side - sucker . . The best part is it was all free which is good for the unemployed.

The next morning we headed off again and within an hour and a half we were on in Idaho falls with a broken down trailer. UGH! Apparently the wheel bearing seized again (this happened about 8months ago) despite Colin faithfully checking and maintaining them on this trip. So thankfully we were able to use our emergency road side assistance who set us up with a shop, who took us immediately and had the tires and bearings fixed in about an hour and a half!!!
I admit it was a shitty thing to have happen but it could have been sooooo much worse. At least we were in a city, only 3miles from the shop, and we caught it early so that they only had to fix the wheel, hubs, and bearings as compared to having replace the entire axle which happened last time!
By about 9pm we arrived at our destination Coeur D' Alene and are visiting our friends for a day. Coeur D' Alene is beautiful and we are having a great time. Our friends live in the woods on the lake - so its a NICE view.
We are leaving for the final 13hr leg of journey in the a.m. and I am a bit sad that our adventure is over but we are leaving with a tone of GREAT experiences and memories that I would not trade for anything in the world.

Heading North now!

Golfing at Parker!
Golfing at Parker!
The river at Yuma! - HOT HOT!

Having shrimp tacos and soup in Algodones Mexico - 30min south of Yuma!

Our parking spot in Yuma at the Casino trying to escape the heat with LOTS OF BEER!!

Well we have enjoyed our last few days in the desert. It was +35 in Yuma and we were dry camping in a casino parking lot - with no power - which means no A/C yikes! We have headed North to Parker and are enjoying it here as well. We have to giggle at all the snowbirds camping in the middle of the desert and I really mean IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. It looks like they have pulled off to the side of the road and just parked where-ever. We have spoken to some of these people and they stay in the middle of the HOT sand for months at a time with no services!

We are not that brave - we hightailed it out of Yuma and found a place with power and water. We have had a few good holes of golf and enjoy listening to the wild donkeys in the hills at night. however today is our last day in the real heat. As tomorrow we start our big travel days (15 and 16hr days) north. We should not be long now! I am anxious to get back to work - and am worrying what action I am missing in Kindersley. Internet is very few and far between and no one seems to have good enough connections for pictures so our blogs will be short and sweet and not as visually appealing as in the past! Take care and see you soon.

The tour of parks!

A lettuce field at Indio
The shields Date farm guy - were we learned about dates and had our first date shake!

The thousands palms Oasis! Colin watching the bubbling water from the fault line and the tiny fish in it.

Thousand Palms oasis with Lorrie and Shelby!

The Thousand Palm Oasis! in the middle of the desert on the fault line.

Shields date factory!

The Zoo!



Sea world, feeding the seals and SHAMU!


After the last few days it is our opinion that they should put a napping place in the parks somewhere so the adults can nap! We are exhausted after our days in the parks and marvel and the children who not only keep up with everything but do laps around the adults . . . dancing non the less!!! the energy is truly amazing . . .sigh . . . remember those days!

Anyway over the last few days we have been taking in all the parks, Universal studios, Disney Land, California adventure, San Diego Zoo . . . and Sea World tomorrow. I imagine that after tomorrow we will be parked out . Not much has changed at Disney since I was there 14 years ago, except some of the paint has faded and it seems MUCH smaller now. But still lots of fun! Universal studios was excellent - my favorite 14years ago was the studio tour and it was my favorite this time as well - I even saw Wisteria lane. They were filming so I just saw the entrance to the street - but could recognize the houses etc!!!

We have also been to Indio (palm springs) to visit some family Friends from home. We went to the thousand palm oasis; an oasis in the desert that grows cuz its on the San Andreas Fault line. the water from the Fault line bubbles up to the surface and then palm trees grow - wolla!!!!!!
We also many crops of veggies and fruit and watched them harvest lettuce. Did you know that dates grow on Palm trees??? They do and it is a very labour intensive crop - we obviously toured an date farm which was very interesting.

So we sit in San Diego enjoying a quiet evening desperately trying to stay awake past 9pm it is only 8 now and we are fading fast!!

Sorry guys - internet today will not allow me to upload pics - will try later!

Hollywood and just hanging out!

Being silly in the gift shop - they suit me don't you think!

The entrance to the Oscars!

Kodak theater . . . with the workers taking down the decorations.

Hollywood walk of fame!

The El Capitan - where we watched a movie, its directly across the street from the Kodak theatre!

The SIGN!

The hummingbirds!

The sunset over Malibu!!

Toasting to a wonderful day!!

Well hello everybody, after last nights Oscar excitement we slept in - we are not used to going to bed after 1:30 am! so we had a lovely breakfast watched the dolphins and headed back out to Hollywood. While there we hit the Kodak theater (official site of the Oscars), Hollywood walk of fame, El Capitan theatre (were we watched a movie) and came back to enjoy champagne in the sunset!!!!

Apparently we are staying in the R.V. resort where Pamela Anderson and Matthew McConaughey has stayed. We also met on of the painters for the set of the t.v. show "medium"!!!

I am telling you all Malibu is the most beautiful and amazing place - I don't ever want to leave! I am unsure if I have ever been so impressed by a city before!

The Zimmers hit the Oscars!!!!!

picture of the crowd at the vanity fair party - we would be standing here in moments!

Sunset strip

The Vanity Fair Party - can you see the blue lights say vanity fair!

Sunset blvd

Our site at malibu beach r.v. park

Malibu beach r.v. resort (off season rate = $30/night)

The Dophins

Well we have started our trek home, we headed to L.A. to do a few tourist things that we had planned on doing in April. We are staying in Malibu at a stunning R.V. resort with an amazing view. Everything is in bloom right now and the air is soooo sweet smelling - hummingbirds everywhere.

We were trying to decide what to do last night once we arrived and were watching T.V.. That's right - watching the Oscars - then realized they were going on only about 40 mins away (okay it may have crossed my mind earlier). So what is a girl to do stuck in Malibu on Oscar night . . . get dressed up and head to Sunset blvd Hollywood OF COURSE! So that's what we did - IT WAS AMAZING!!! We were originally heading to the Kodak theater for a glimpse of the action but a general public person could not get anywhere near the action. Police were everywhere blocking off all the roads. So we drove around for a while soaking up the excitement! THEN . . . we spotted the Vanity Fair after Oscar party!! So we found parking only 5 blocks away and headed in that direction. We got an amazing view point right up front against the barricades holding the public back. To be honest with you I did not think I would see much BUT . . . . we were there approx 4hrs and here is the list of celebrities I not only saw but got to talk to and shake hands with some of them. We got to see most of these stars at least twice, they got out of there cars/limos walked the red carpet went into the party and then again while they left and got back into there cars. The worst part is my camera's battery pack died about 30min into it all - can you believe it?

• Sara Jesica PArker
• Will smith and Jada pinkett smith
• Chevy Chase (got to talk to him, shake his hand and he introduced me to his daughter!)
• Jennifer Anniston and John Mayer
• Nicole Kidman & husband (nicole is more pretty in person than on t.v.)
• Robert Denier
• Mylie Cyrus
• Borat
• Kate beckansale
• Lesli mann & Judd Apatow
• Jason segel (colin brushed sholders with him)
• John Cleese
• Mary Heart (ET host)
• Jessica Alba
• Tyler perry
• Christina Appelgate
• Penelopee Cruz
• Semla Hayek
• Jessica Biele (no justin timberlake)
• John Voit (got to shake hands and speak with him)
• Ben Stiller & wife
• Seth Rogan
• Amy Adams
• Mickey Rourke
• Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal
• Diana Krall
• Anthony Hopkins
• Ron howard
• Vin diesel
• Cheryle Tieggs
• Kate Winslet with her oscar
• cast of high school musical
• Ann hathaway
• Gwen Stephanie & Gavin Rosdale
• Smokey robinson
• Debra messing
• Meryl streep
• Robert downey Jr
• Adriane Brody
• Martin Short
• John Legend
• Christopher walkins
• Heidi Klum & Seal
• Tilda Swinton
• Russel Simons
• Justin Long
• Bill Maher
• Tina Faye

So that about sums up our star sightings. We also saw many many directors, etc all with there oscars. I luckily had a pen and the back of an old reciept to write on in my purse as the star passed us or i never would have remebered them all. It was AMAZING! so much FUN!!

So this morning we woke made some coffee and whent for a walk, we have a perfect view of the ocean - complete with dolphins and even a whale swimming by in a pod!!!! I could not hardle believe my eyes!! After all th time I have spent on or near the damn ocean I FINALLY saw some sea life - and it was free!!!!!!

Home from Cancun

Hello, we are home from Cancun and burned/tanned, exhausted - but had a BLAST. will blog more about it with pics tomorrow - after some sleep. We had a long day of flying today with connections both in Mexico City and Guadalajara.
I guess most everybody knows by now (stupid facebook - sometimes I really hate it) My contract was cancelled last Monday. After over a month worth of work I was "cancelled without cause" . It is all because of the economy the hospital companies are all in dept and can not afford the travellers as we cost the hospital companies about $90/hr. We don't get that in wage but our recruitment agencies do. so they cancelled a huge umber of us - I only know of 2 or 3 left in the hospital I was at. Also just so all future travellers are aware - perhaps Clinical One will not be your agency of choice as they are leaving me high and dry. No compensation no travel expenses nothing - just sorry, good by.

Anyway we will be returning home earlier than expected although we don't know when yet. We are taking this time to finish up all the travelling we wanted to do before we head home, could be several weeks yet.

We are happy and healthy and still enjoying our time. Hope all is well with everyone at home. Thanks for all your comments - I love them.

Off to Cancun!

Just wanting to let you all know that I ended up with some extra time off so we are off to Cancun for 10 days. Hope to blog about our adventures while we are there - if not will fill you in when we return. See ya!!

Our holiday with Jackie - over - LOTS of fun!

This post is just tidbits from Jackie's visit - funny signs etc!!!

Read the sign from The golden Gate Bridge! (you may have to click on the picture to blow it up)

A sign on the beach in San Fran!

We decided this sign was to remind hikers that gravity works here!

Our last evening with Jackie - drinking champaine in the hot tub!

The art of wine tasting! (or trying to be creative with a lot of wine on board)

Jackie being the best tourist of all - taking pictures from the sun roof at a stop light!!!!

Not the best video - but you get the drift!