Suddenly *Not So* Single Journey

I may regret this.  With the way things have been lately, the constant roller coaster, I maybe should save this for a prime happiness post.  Of course, those of you who know me, and those of you who have been reading me any length of time know that I have the impulse control of a three year old.  So, I guess I might as well tell you what I’m happy about at the moment, even if it means I have to dig deep to come up with something else next week.

Here it is:

I’m California bound.  Yes, I know I told you I was excited about getting invited to the Yahoo! Mother Board Summit at Yahoo! Headquarters.  And I’m pretty sure I mentioned that I was going on their dime.  Yup, they are paying for the flight and the hotel.

I’ll be staying at the Four Seasons.  (Please know that when I say it, I say it with a decidedly nasal tone while I look down my nose at people, just because it makes me giggle.)  You have to understand, I grew up in a town where our fanciest hotel was the Howard Johnson’s…until the Comfort Inn came.  Oh, yeah.  That was the big time, baby.  We even spent one anniversary night there, the year Rachel swallowed the penny…hours after she had it surgically removed.  So, when I get to say that I’m staying at the Four Seasons, I think about how much my life has changed, how much I’ve changed.

Yesterday, I made my reservations for the flight.  I’ll be flying out from Charlotte at 9:40am, arriving in San Francisco just after noon.  It’s a non-stop flight.  I love not having layovers.  I love not having to switch planes.  I love traveling and new experiences and meeting new people and seeing so many cool things.  That’s a lot of happy and love, huh?

And as the date draws nearer…July 15^th and 16^th, for those of you who live out on the west coast and want to meet up…I get more and more excited.  Sure, I’m leaving HIM behind…which isn’t a bad thing.  We need a little time apart once in a while.  (He likes missing me.  And I like having him miss me.)  We talked about what would happen if he went with me.  I wouldn’t meet anyone.  We’d be so wrapped up in each other that I wouldn’t mingle.  And I most certainly wouldn’t be meeting up with my blogger friend, my blog buddy, if you will.  I’m not sure I’m allowed a big reveal.  He’s more private than I am…kind of.  (Although I don’t write about my naked spooning or back yard sexy time…)  I’ll let you know when I know…  Er…Mom, for the record, I sleep every night in long underwear…even in JULY.  We’re not married yet, so we don’t sleep naked or spoon or have sex in the back yard EVER!  (Think she bought it?)

All I can say is that I’m going to have an amazing trip.  I know this.  I can tell.  I’m going to be all easy breezy and carefree.  I’m going to eat sushi!  How do I know?  That’s part of the plan for an evening out with my blog buddy.  And it’s funny.  I feel a little bit like a kid sneaking out of summer camp.  I’m not skipping any sessions or anything, but still…feels weird.

What is there to do in San Francisco ?  I’m dying to find out.  Really.  I can’t wait to see the west coast.  I’m going to have to consult a map.  There may be some way for me to see the ocean.  I’ve never seen the Pacific.  I’ve seen the Atlantic from numerous venues…Cape Cod, Hampton Beach , Myrtle Beach , Miami , The Keys.  I’ve cruised the Caribbean .  I’ve seen the Mediterranean from Nice.  Nope.  I’ve never seen the Pacific.  (I can almost hear the shells, stones, and sea glass calling to me…  Soon, my pretties!)

Well, I have time to plan.  And we all know I live to plan.  Think I can drive the blog buddy crazy by then?  Nah.  We managed to set up a time block and the beginnings of a plan.  Apparently there will be no alcohol involved, even though he CLAIMS to make the best margaritas.  *sniffle*  It’s probably just as well.  I want to remember every moment of this trip.  It may have to last me for quite some time.  Who knows when I’ll get to hop another plane on someone else’s dime?  HE doesn’t count.  All of the dimes are now community dimes, couple dimes, family dimes…OUR dimes.  Mwah ha ha.