Oooo - a camera!  Now we expect LOTS of pictures from you!

Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip. 

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

I got back on the first, and I'm trying to catch up on things before I take off again to visit the family.  It is my niece's 2nd birthday next week.  

Airport Security

One of the things I needed to get done this week was renew my state ID.  It expired in October, and I only found out recently when I tried to use my credit card at Michael's.  Anyway, this didn't pose a problem at the airport going to my destination - they just asked to see my Social Security card.  But coming back, I went through a ticket line (got the ticket) the security line (was denied and sent to another line), went through another ticket line (where my ID was scrutinized and my ticket was signatured and was told to go through the High Security line.)  In the high security line, I went through a metal detector, they x-rayed my carry-ons, stuck me in a telephone booth-sized chamber where puffs of air were blown on me then analyzed for chemicals, then I sat in front of a table where two security guys hand checked my carry-ons, swabbed my phone to check for chemicals, then sent me on my way.  

Though the ordeal was long, I still ended up getting out the same time my boyfriend got out of the regular security line.  It was interesting to see the process, but I don't want to go through that again this weekend which is why I renewed my ID yesterday.

Oh, I did have a jewelry roll with hair sticks, small scissors, and a crochet needle in my carry-ons, which went through with no problems.  Neither the sticks in my hair or the rods in my back set off the alarm.

Hotel Woes

The water at the hotel made my hair very squeaky and tangly!  I also couldn't seem to get all the shampoo/conditioner out - my hair made that "you still have stuff in it" noise.  The water seemed to evaporate quickly too, as it dried a lot faster than it does at home.  But it doesn't seem to have gotten damaged - I washed at home when we got back, and it was back to normal.  

The hotel creaked really bad - granted there were winds, but I'm sure there are higher buildings in windier cities that don't creak.  I requested another room, and they said the whole building creaked.  They sent up ear plugs instead.  When asked to be compensated for lack of sleep or money back so I can get another hotel, they would not honor that as "everyone had the same problem last night".  The ear plugs also gave me a rash in each ear.  

I took a video of the noise if you want to hear - I've also sent a complaint to the main company, along with this clip.  BTW, it's the Grand Hyatt in San Francisco.  Travellers beware!

http://www.eccentricus.net/hyatt_noise2c.wmv

The Trip

Aside from the hotel and bad weather, we did have a good time.  We went to The Winchester Mystery House, had tea at The Imperial Tea Court, went to Alcatraz, Chinatown, Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, watched King Kong at the Sony Metreon, visited Sanrio which is now in a boring mall store instead of the two-story building it used to be in.

I also got suckered into buying two pieces of pearl jewelry because you are able to pick your own oyster.  The lady had already affixed it to a pendant setting then said she would let me pick another one for free and it happened to be a matching pearl!  They are shades of pink.  It didn't occur to me until later to buy just the pearls (and not the settings) so I can have them made into hair sticks.  GAH  Another girl got a bluish pearl out of her oyster.  It was so pretty!!

Pictures

Trip pics will probably not be up until next week.  But I do have up:

A cherry-colored calendar frame.  And an Amy Brown 2006 calendar I had to get from eBay because it was a limited printing and every place was sold out
http://www.loopfree.net/gallery/album67/abi

A Wonderland teapot that my friend got me for Christmas
http://www.loopfree.net/gallery/album67/abj

Now, off to catch up with reading posts!  

Thank you, Anais! 

I just got done catching up with journal entries.  A few people mentioned books - I'm currently reading "Society of Mind" by Marvin Minsky.  My niece found my Amazon wish list.  How crafty of her! 

Here is the description:

glad your back khrome. its nice to getaway.

Thanks Beesan, CurlyGirl, and Juri!  

My niece's party this weekend was great.  Got to spend time with the immediate family.  I was actually relaxed by the end of it.  I need to go visit more often.  As it is, I only go there once or twice a year.

Hair trends in San Diego - BSL, lightened, hilights, layered back, long layered side-swept bangs.  Back parts always worn in front of the shoulders.  Like Paula Abdul in this pic



Nice, but too much product in it. 

Hair

My tape measure says it grew half an inch, but my roots look like they haven't budged.  

The local news said to "expect more chlorine in the water for the next 6 days".  The city is conducting tests or something.  Supposedly it is "safe to drink".  (I wouldn't drink it before these tests.  HA)  I hope this doesn't screw up my hair or my skin (more than it already is, I mean.)

Oh yeah, when I was down in SD my mom scrutinized my hair and said I need to put hair spray to keep the flyaways down.  I didn't even know where to start.  How do you explain to someone what good hair care is, when their idea of good hair care is permanents and big rollers!  LOL

Cynde

I like your new avatar  Very happy looking, Cute 

Absofreakinlutly Beautiful!!  Keep up the good work     

GORGEOUS HAIR KHROME.