NOTE: I thought i posted this before, and just realized i hadnt. I am not in California anymore, and over a year has past. I am in Vermont now, but I still love my life!

Okay, so I was being sarcastic. But wait until you hear the new adventures I went on. For Labor Day I flew home from Sonora to Saginaw for the long weekend for a family birthday celebration. I flew out at 6:30 a.m. From Sacramento to Chicago for the first part. Or so I thought...

I had checked my GPS earlier when I got to California and it said it was 1hr and 45 min to the airport. Well after working long hours last week my brain was not functioning at it's highest level. Okay, I had a blonde moment. I got out of work at 7 Thursday night, went home and went to bed with the alarm set for 3:15 a.m. I actually got sleep! Woke up, packed a few last minute things, and was in the car by 4a.m. Then the shoe dropped.

I punched in directions to Sacramento airport, and it said 2hrs 5 min, and I would get there at 6:05. Now this would not be bad except I also recheck the plane ticket and it was scheduled to TAKE OFF at 6:25. Which meant I had to be there on the plane buckled in by 6:25. Boarding was starting at 6:05. Now this time frame also didn't include getting stuck behind slow trucks (which I did), parking in the economy lot (which was farthest away from the airport), and getting through security (which of course you have to do).

So my mom's drivers training skills kicked in. Okay, so I actually learned these more from dad than mom. I went a "little" over the limit, but got parked at 5:55. Ran ( and I don't run) with a backpack and shoulder bag across the parking lot and just got the shuttle bus (which usually only comes by every 45 min). Got to the airport and again RAN through to the long tsa line. Got through there and got to my gate with a whole 3 min to spare before final boarding was called.

The day gets better (at least for me). There was a poor young kid in my seat, and he had to move to his actual seat because the whole plane was full. Poor kid got stuck next to the lady with the baby that cried The ENTIRE flight. Only time he would slow,down was when she walked him. Of course she couldn't do this the whole flight because of the seat belt sign, and each time she tried to sit down the kid had to move so she could sit in her seat in the middle. But she did the best she could. That poor kid though. Turns out it was his first flight ever.

Jump ahead a few hours and I am safe and sound in Saginaw, and we are on our way to Saulte Ste Marie. Traffic was decent, and we got checked into the room... With the dog. Now I haven't been in a room with other people or a dog in forever. So needless to say I didn't get much sleep.

First thing I did the next morning was get another room. Such an improvement. And I definitely needed a good nights sleep. Our first day we went to Taucomanen falls. Lower falls were pretty fun. Although really I don't see what the big deal is. I think I see more water fall after a light rain. Lol! Just kidding.

Then we went to the upper falls. (Insert dark clouds and sinister music here). We were supposed to eat first and then see the falls, so I grabbed my license and debit card and put them in my pocket. We went from one end to the other up and down both the 94 steps and the 114 steps to get all the views of the falls. These were really pretty.

Then when we were almost back to the car I realized I did not have my id or debit card!!! (Insert lighting and thunder here.) That intense moment of panic is indescribable. Also the pain today (2 days later) from running (again) back over every inch of walking we had done including ALL the steps! Nothing! No cards anywhere. So I stopped at the Rangers, nothing. Then the restaurants and finally the gift shop. The whole time the fact I have to be on a plane on Monday and no way to do that without my drivers license. The very last place I looked (of course) in the gift shop had it. Apparently a lady found it on the trail and turned both in. PRAISE the LORD!

Then we went to the Oswald's bear ranch. I wish we wouldn't have now. We should have stopped while we were ahead. See we were traveling with the dog, and I had specifically contacted them before hand about if we could take her with us. As you can see below they said yes.

Until we paid the $20 fee to get in. Then the old guy at the gate hollers we have to leave her in the hot car without listening to what I was trying to explain about them saying it was okay. So since she whines and has conniptions if someone isn't right there with her we had to split up to see the thing. Mom and dad stayed until Andy and I were done, then they went. I was disappointed as well with the whole attraction. It was basically a field with a few trees and snubs they had put two rows of chain linked fences around and shoved the Bears into. I have seen better and more realistic environments at local zoos. It was sad. There were places you could stand on platforms and throw apples (you bought there) to them. As you can see the pictures you can take are great too.

Then the end you can pay another $10 for a picture with a baby bear. It was like a circus to watch. The handler was beating a barrel with a stick to call the cub over, but the cub was making it for the door. She went and picked him up and brought him over, but there housing was even more sad than the others. It was the size of a 2 car garage with chain fence all around and no grass. They had a tent cover, and a large tub with water, and that was it.

So that was the end of the first day. Then starts the second day. We saw the Soo Locks, and did the boat tour. Holly got to stay in an outdoor kennel, which was nice and shaded so that was good. Then, as we are pulling out of the dock the captain comes over the speaker to say there is an emergency and we needed to change course. Apparently 2 kayakers had fallen out of there boat, and we needed to go rescue them. The captain explained that they had trained for this for 5 yrs and never had to do it... until now.

By the time we got there (which was pretty quick), the other tour boat was able to haul them onto their boat. But of course we all got the pictures. The funny part was they said not to block the doors. So what does everyone do? Go up front and block the door area.

The rest of the trip was pretty quiet. Okay, my flight from Saginaw to Chicago was early, and I almost missed it even though I was already in the airport, but you know, minor stuff. Just another day in my life when "I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque. "