On The Road Again ...

We hit the road at 11:00 am from El Paso. Thank you Jim for a fantastically, wonderful and interesting time. You really are one of a kind. It was so evident you missed us from minute one based on the 52 text messages to us on the road and to me at 6:15 this morning. lol. "are ya there yet?" Everyone needs a "Travel Dad". Jimmy you rock!!

The day pics are ones I took while Judy was driving. Judy can drive by day with one finger on auto pilot because for some reason she has one straight clear road in front of her. Once she saw some orange barrels and said look Jules orange barrels. They were practically on the other side of the road? I am like..lol that does not count!!!. haha. The night pics were taken by Judy. Now you see when I am driving at night I am the grand multi-tasker. I am teaching Judy how to text message on my phone, google search, set GPS, Tether to the internet on my lap top and shoot my Canon 30D. All while driving through a maze of cones (first 5 minutes I took over), a SANDSTORM, pouring rain, then Fog for 40 miles in the mountains, thunder, lightning and everything else. Judy drives on auto pilot and I got the DEATH GRIP. My poor white knuckles. lol She struggled a little with the phone because we were getting texts (from Jim) and calls (from Robbie) and others, so if you tried to call me and we hung up on you, thats why. Sorry!!

We arrived in Carlsbad at 11:00pm to a Thelma and Louise Party. Everyone was waiting for the chicks on the road trip from the blog. Over 160 views yesterday. woot. We met up with Robbie and her friends and had quite a few laughs. They went to the store to get the fixins for a dirty martini for me since this dive bar had no olives. lol. and no martini glass. they dug it out of the cellar for me. haha. (just one martini mom). Then the best thing to do is put your host to work lugging your luggage to the fine suite she booked for us (and partying up a storm waiting for us). By the time we got there we got yelled at for talking to loud on the porch,. whoops. Oh well we were excited to see her and we had a lot of stories to tell from 8th grade. Beach day today although it is cold, only 60's but our porch is directly across from the water. nice!! Judy and I have so much and common and get along great but Judy did point out we do have some differences. (mountain pic) lol. FUN FUN FUN (By the end of this trip Judy will be as big a techie geek as I am a cowboy).

YEEEEHA - City Slickers

Judy had her doubts when first I read the DEATH sign, then found myself stepping in mud, and certainly when I could hardly pet the horse. But my friend Lynde pays attention, she voted yes she would ride the horse on facebook, because I said I would try anything once. Autumn was our guide and assured me that I was getting the easiest relaxed horse to ride. CHACHO!! She says, just put your foot in the stirrup and swing your leg up over the top and straddle that saddle. Ehem. ya think so? lol. I finally mounted that horse with the help of some stairs... and let the truth be heard. I was terrified beyond words.

Especially when that horse moved. We spent the first hour in the arena. As I had the guide walk me around with a rope, Judy is flying around the arena on Pegasus, kicking up sand like a champion cowgirl. I finally rode on my own. The second hour we did the trails, 4 of us (Autumn and Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm trotted along side) and a little dog. (see pics). I felt like True Grit. From Stilettos to Stirrups. Who knew? This was truly the Judy day. We went from the saddle to the dance floor for real 2-steppin line dancing fun. Yes we found cowboys and then we became one. Jim even put on the cowboy hat for this occasion. (well a couple of pics anyway). Lori recommended we never leave El Paso without stopping at the famous Chicos Tacos. But Jim still wanted to 2-step. It took our visit to get him to behave like a Texan after living here for 5 years. haha. On the Rickel scale this day ranked a 10. We could not be happier to have had this visit, and to meet Lori, Christine and Candy (Christines friend). Oh and all the friendly cowboys at Whiskey Dicks. Leaving El Paso today and heading to Carlsbad California to visit our good friend Robbie Ash.

The laugh meter is gonna blow!!

Family Day

Today was a family day trip. Jim's friend Laurie joined us on this little adventure to New Mexico. After having lunch at L&J's (the oldest mexican restaurant in El Paso), we went to see the pecan trees. Miles and miles of them. Seems everyone was in the dancing mood as you can see from the photos. Especially Jim, dancing at every stop. Oh and how do you like his new truck. Aint that a cowboy thing to have. lol. But don't put any cowboy hat on JIM. But Judy has boots for every occasion. She is hot SH*T. The 2-steppin foot stomping romp had to happen back at the house because for cripes sake there is nothing open in El Paso on a Tuesday. What is up with that? this is Texas. I am sure the Cadilac Ranch in Southington Connecticut is open right?

Jim's daughter Christine came for Chinese food (haha) and well needless to say this girl can talk! more than Jim! Judy and I sound like Janis Joplin now because we never stop laughing or talking ourselves. We are going to have to start texting soon to recover. Off to horseback riding next, and once again try to 2-step somewhere here in Texas before we head to California in the wee hours. I am so sure Jim is so done with us girls. lol