Thank You, Hail Storm from Hell

One month ago, we got hit by a horrible hailstorm in our neighborhood.  One of those freak late afternoon, pop-up thunderstorms that produced baseball sized hail for a solid 20-30 minutes.  It destroyed our roof, our gutters, 15 windows on the house, some of the wood on the house and our trees and backyard.

Front of our House after the Storm

Backyard Tree Carnage - there is a patio under all that debris

View of our Street after Storm - Steam is rising from the hail stones

Just a sample of some of the window damage

It also claimed the lives of both of our cars as we do not have a garage or covered carport to protect them.  Our poor vehicles took a beating for the entire storm and our insurance company totaled them out and gave us $30K for both of them.  Steve's poor Nissan Altima didn't even want to start when they came to tow it to the salvage yard a week later.  I theorize that it had lost its will to live. On the bright side, we get a new roof, new windows and two new cars and we have insurance to cover everything. In fact, the deductible on our cars was only $50 and the home deductible is only $1500 so we're in pretty decent shape, all things considered.

Murano Damage - Back windshield totally gone and
 front windshield shattered and sagging in

 We ended up using all of the insurance money to buy my husband a new 2012 silver Subaru Outback (his choice) and I used some of my rainy day savings to put a down payment on my new car and financed the rest.  I decided that I was tired of my "mom-mobile" Murano which I really only bought because Steve had a smaller sedan and I felt we needed something with more room. The Murano is a fine car but it never really did much for me.  Also, I have never gone the European car route and have only driven Japanese cars my whole life.  That is, until I was introduced to the Audi.  I walked into that dealership and they had me at hello.  I was a goner.  I ended up buying a turbo charged, all wheel drive, white Audi A4 with a souped-up trim package and I love it.  I have never been a car person but I have to admit that if this car were a person, I would marry it. It's so fun to drive and I love the European-style handling of it.  I wasn't planning on buying 2 new cars this year but now I really don't regret the situation at all. I am calling it my cougar wagon - all I need to do is find some twenty year old guys to pick up but I really don't want them messing up the interior of my car or annoying me with their stupid chatter so I guess I'll just stick with Steve.

Well, hello there Lover.

So, looking on the bright side of what was a pretty horrific evening back in June, things turned out all right.  Zoom, zoom, cougar wagon coming through!

The Big Easy - July 2012

Just spent 4 nights, 5 days in New Orleans.  Verdict?  Hot and sticky.  We had a great time but the humidity was oppressive, as expected.  At first, I was kind of digging the steamy, sultry vibe that I got from the city during the summer.  Makes me feel like I'm in a Faulkner novel. However, after 2-3 days of pouring sweat walking around the Quarter and the Garden District, the "sultry" feel turned into "just plain gross." On a few days, we looked like we had been swimming as our hair and clothes were drenched in sweat.  Add the general funk and smell of the Quarter to that, and I was one hot mess, minus the hotness.  Thus, the reason why I have photos of only places and not us.  Believe me, I am doing you a favor by sparing you those photos - the shine off my forehead alone would blind you.

We arrived on Saturday around 11am and went straight to the Napoleon House for a Pimm's Cup and a quarter muffaletta.  Always a great way to start a trip in The Big Easy. I love the look and feel of this restaurant, which was originally a house built for Napoleon to live in while in exile from France (he never made it back to live there, though). Obviously, remodeling is not a priority.

Napoleon House

Pimm's Cup from NH

Afterwards, we walked around the Quarter, verifying that our old favorite hang-outs were still alive and kicking.  Our favorite go-to watering holes in the Quarter are The Old Absinthe House on Bourbon, Molly's on Toulouse (total dive bar), Harry's Corner (even worse dive bar), Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and Fritzl's on Bourbon for live European-style jazz music. We walked to Jackson Square and the river as well before having one more drink at The Old Abinsthe House and then heading back to our hotel to check in and clean up for our first fancy-pants dinner.

Helmets hanging from ceiling at Old Absinthe House

Had dinner at Commander's Palace in The Garden District our first night. It was a great meal but not the best I've had in New Orleans.  The best dishes were the turtle soup, which was actually brought to us by accident as we didn't order it and the dessert, a bread pudding souffle with a whiskey sauce.  Our favorite part of the experience there was having a pre-dinner cocktail at their bar, which is a must-do.  They actually bring you through the kitchen, Goodfella's style, before depositing you at a small bar in the back of the kitchen for your drink.  The bartender was hilarious and made a delicious Hemingway martini for me and a Sazerac for Steve (Steve decided he is a Manhattan guy and not a Sazerac man as he doesn't care for licorice flavored things). We ended the night with a late night coffee at Cafe du Monde, always an oldie but goodie.
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CP in the Garden District

The next few days were basically nothing more than sleeping in, an occasional workout at the hotel gym, lunch, walking around, hanging at the hotel's rooftop pool one afternoon, checking out the French Market, taking the streetcar to the Garden District again, late afternoon naps, general shopping and wandering in the Quarter and then plotting for dinner.  Best meals this trip were Mr. B's Bistro for Sunday Jazz Brunch (best BBQ shrimp and shrimp & grits there), Arnaud's for our second fancy-pants dinner and Coop's for a total dive restaurant experience with amazing rabbit Jambalaya and a massive cheeseburger with handcut fries.  We ate well this trip.  We also drank well and a bit too much on two nights.  I wasn't at the top of my game on Monday morning but managed to stage a brilliant come back that evening (and by brilliant, I mean ugly).

Lovely dining room at Arnaud's

Live jazz at Fritzel's

We enjoyed the hotel but it wasn't my favorite place to stay in the Quarter though you can't beat the location.  We stayed at the historic Monteleone Hotel, which is beautiful and has a great bar called The Carousel Bar. The chair seats actually revolve around the bar and they make some great cocktails. They recently remodeled the lobby, the bar and the common areas, which are amazing.  The room was just so-so.  It was small and clean but the closet and storage space for clothes was limited and the wall paper was peeling in the bathroom.  Not just puckered and slightly peeling - a big sheet of it was hanging down like you would expect  to see in a flophouse.  However, our room was at the end of a quiet hallway and we had a nice river view so we decided the wallpaper peeling issue gave the room character and didn't complain.  The rooftop pool and gym were also nice so overall we were happy.  Couldn't beat the location right at Royal and Bienville, too. Just a 2 minute walk to the Old Absinthe House!

Carousel Bar in Monteleone Hotel - the chairs actually spin
around the bar  like a real carousel

View of the Quarter and the Mississippi River from our room

We ended the trip on a bang by going to Acme Oyster House where we pigged out on chargrilled oysters, crawfish puppies, a fried softshell crab poboy and some red beans and rice.  We then walked the Quarter one last time, listened to some kids playing jazz on a street corner and took a 2-hour boat ride down the Mississippi River on the Steamboat Natchez.  Headed back to the hotel (pouring sweat again and smelling gross) to have one last Pimm's Cup at The Carousel Bar before heading to the completely empty airport for a quick flight home on Southwest.  We'll definitely be back to New Orleans again as soon as we can squeeze in a trip!

Street Corner Jazz, NOLA style

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Cabo San Lucas

Recently returned from a 4 day, 3 night trip to Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Cabo San Lucas.  LVP is certainly pricey but we felt it was worth it due to the amazing property, rooms and service.  I have never encountered this level of service anywhere.  We actually had two butlers - a day butler and a night butler.  We had a direct flight to Cabo and were greeted at the airport by hotel staff and picked up in a Mercedes SUV.  We were offered our choice of ice cold waters or Coronas, some Mexican candies and he even handed us an Ipod so we could pick what music we wanted to listen to for the 20-30 minute drive to the hotel.

Steve having a Corona in the Mercedes Taxi

At the hotel we were greeted by name by no less than five staff members who also wished us Happy Anniversary.  Our butler then gave us a tour of the property and took us to the casual restaurant, The Sea Grill, for lunch where we indulged on jalapeno margaritas, guacamole and tacos while looking out at the Sea of Cortez and listening to the waves crash on the beach.

Steve with Margarita

Mel with Margarita

Sea Grill Restaurant - LVP

As we finished our margaritas, the butler came back to escort us to our oceanfront junior suite.  It was easily one of the nicest hotel rooms, if not the nicest, that I have ever stayed in (the Four Seasons Santa Barbara comes very close).  The room was huge - almost 1,000 square feet and had a massive terrace overlooking the adult infinity pool and ocean.  We could hear the waves crashing even when inside with the doors closed.  Of course, it had a massive bathroom with double sinks, jacuzzi tub, separate shower and toilet.  The finishes were beautiful throughout and the attention to detail was amazing.  We also had a wood burning fireplace but it was too warm to use it.

LVP - Suite

LVP - Oceanfront Room Outdoor Terrace

LVP also gives you an aromatherapy choice for your evening turn down each night.  They would also leave little gifts in the room for you as well, including a glass blown heart, some fridge magnets, etc...  We ordered room service a few times and it's over the top.  Even a simple order for 6 coronas on the patio were set up in talavera pottery ice buckets, chilled beer glasses, woven placemats and napkins and a small plate with sliced limes and salt.  Sometimes they would even come back when we didn't call just to see if wanted more limes, more ice or beer.  Not to mention that they would periodically go through the room and "fix" things.  If you left your shoes laying out, when you came back you would find them placed in the closet and perfectly lined up. If you left a single towel unfolded, it would be replaced with a perfectly folded one every time you left the room and returned.  They even refolded my underwear and the sweaty gym clothes I left laying out. The most over the top thing I saw was they looked in the closet at our clothes and then supplied us with a "customized" sewing kit that had the needles on a pincushion already threaded with threads that matched our clothes down to an aqua blue linen shirt and a pink dress.  I mean, really?

Aromatherapy Menu - Notice I did not choose the
"Sensuality" option

Room Service Beers

We had a fantastic meal in their fancy restaurant (which had the uncreative name "The Restaurant").  The food was delicious and described as "Mediterrean Baja Cuisine" but seemed more Baja than anything else.  We had a nice view of sunset past the main pool. More margaritas magically appeared, of course.

Margarita at The Restaurant

View from our table at The Restaurant

The next morning we started the day by calling our butler who would bring complimentary coffee and mini-muffins to our terrace.  Next was a workout at the fitness facility (which was huge and empty), followed by a spa treatment.  We each had an amazing massage at the spa, which started with a foot bath and scrub and you were again given a menu to pick what music you wanted to listen to during your massage (Gregorian chants, sounds of nature, tibetan bowls, etc...).  That was followed by lunch (and margaritas) and then to the pool.  We hung out at the adult infinity pool which was right in front of our room.  Again, the service level was incredible.  I was already spoiled by this point.  As soon as you pick a lounge chair at the pool, someone will come running over to set up your umbrella to give you just the amount of sun and shade you want.  They will even come and adjust it as the sun moves.  They also bring you an ice bucket full of waters and evian spritzers.  Staff will come around periodically to offer you sorbet, drink samples or to clean your sunglasses. They even regulate the pool temperature so it's always about 76 degrees.

LVP Adult Infinity Pools

Steve at Pool

We did do a private tequila tasting that afternoon, which was fun but not really my cup of tea.  As I have said many times before "I don't do shots."  I will, however, drink cocktails, wine and beer.  Tasting tequila was pretty much like doing shots as far as I was concerned, even with the expensive aged sipping tequilas.  It was interesting to learn about all the different tequilas and I now know the differences between reposada and anejo but Steve enjoyed it way more than I did.  Again, the set-up was super nice and included some customized chasers and a ceviche sampler.

LVP Tequila Bar

Tequila Tasting Set-up

Friday night was our 10 year anniversary so we had arranged for a private dinner on their plaza.  It was set-up with a view of the ocean, candles everywhere, a portable Ipod and Bose music player and we had our own private waiter.  Had a fantastic meal while watching the sunset.  At the end, Steve "surprised" me with a lovely Cartier watch that I have been wanting for years.  Okay, I already knew I was getting the watch but he did give it in advance to the butler and had the waiter bring it out in a huge decorated tagine so that was nice.

Me and Steve at our anniversary dinner

View from Anniversary Dinner at LVP

View from dinner table at LVP

Surprise Chocolate Cake at Anniversary Dinner

Cartier Watch Gift

After dinner we came back to the room to find a complimentary bottle of champagne that we enjoyed on our terrace.

Complimentary Champagne

Me enjoying said champagne

Our last day was more of the same.  Coffee on the terrace, a good workout at the gym to sweat out the margaritas and champagne and then laying around the pool all afternoon.  While we never really left the resort to go into town, we did manage to go for some walks along the beach and check out some other resorts.  Quite frankly, when you pay as much as you do for a place like LVP, you want to eek out every bit of value from it.  The beach in front of LVP is not swimmable as the waves are simply too big and we saw jellyfish (aka, Steve's nemesis) but it was pretty look at it.

Cabo Beach with Jose the Horseback Riding Guy

Beautiful Sunset

The last treat was getting to see an incredible fireworks show.  There was actually a small wedding at the hotel on Saturday night and they had fireworks on the beach right in front of our room for the wedding so we got to enjoy those on our last night.  Steve tried to act like he had arranged it -- as if I would fall for that.  I would definitely go back to LVP in a heartbeat.  In fact, I hope we can find time to squeeze in a long weekend there next year.  Personally, three days there was enough for me but I would like to go back and rent a car one day to see the actual town of Cabo.  Plus, the next time we go we would do it a little cheaper and probably just get an oceanview room rather than the pricier oceanfront and would forego some of the additional expenses we incurred for expensive wines, private tequila tasting and the private dinner as those were splurges for the anniversary. Either way, the staff at LVP will bend over backwards for you no matter what.  Look forward to a return trip next year!

10 Year Wedding Anniversary and Cabo San Lucas

Next Friday, May 11, 2012, is the 10-year wedding anniversary for me and Stephen.  I am not the soppy romantic sort (and Lord knows Steve is not either) but I have to say that it has been a wonderful, fabulous, amazing, fun-filled ten years.  Getting married to Steve was the best life decision I ever made and I know that I am very, very lucky to have him as my husband and partner.  Mostly because I am pretty sure there aren't any other men out there who would put up with my big mouth for this long.

Not bad after 10 years

Normally, we celebrate our anniversary with a nice dinner, a card and maybe a small gift.  This year we decided that the Big Ten-O deserved a little more so we are packing our bags for a 3-day weekend trip to Cabo San Lucas.  I chose Las Ventanas al Paraiso because I have heard amazing things about this hotel, the level of service and the amenities.  I would never pick a place this fancy and expensive but this is a splurge trip (frankly, we can't afford to stay there more than 3 days - this place will bleed you dry).  For the price, I have high expectations for this hotel but the photos make it look incredible.

View of Las Ventanas

LVP Spa - Will be getting a massage on Friday

We've booked an ocean front suite (well, all rooms at LVP are suites but we're paying more for "ocean front") and I am keeping my fingers crossed for a free upgrade to an even better room since I have told the hotel staff it's our 10-year anniversary about 30x already.  In my mind, the 10-year anniversary should trump honeymooners.  Hey, I have put in the hours and the blood, sweat and tears whereas they have not, so step aside lovebirds and let me have the upgrade.  With my luck, there will be a convention of "25-Year Anniversary" celebrators and I'll be screwed.  Oh well.  If our ocean front room looks anything like the pictures, I will be thrilled.

Yes!  Bring it on, Mexico.

I also started thinking about gifts for the 10-year anniversary.  I looked up the "traditional" vs. "contemporary" wedding anniversary gifts online and here is what I found (per Ask.com):

Traditional 10 year Wedding Gift:  Tin or Aluminum. The pliability of tin and aluminum is a symbol of how a successful marriage needs to be flexible and durable and how it can be bent without being broken.
My response to the above?  Bullshit.  If my husband gave me some aluminum foil and told me that it represented the durability of our marriage, I would wad it up and throw it at him.  Sounds like a man came up with this gift idea.  "Uhhh...shit, I forgot our anniversary.  Honey, here's some foil."

Don't even think about it

Contemporary 10 Year Gift: Diamonds. A marriage that lasts ten years is as durable and beautiful as a diamond.
My response?  Hells to the yeah on this one.  Bring on the bling.  My new theory is that men came up with the traditional wedding gift list (seriously, paper, wool and cotton as gift ideas?) and women updated the list.

Yes, please.

I have hinted around at a few gift ideas, including a new watch or a nice necklace but I have no idea what I'll get so I will have to post after we get back next week. Of course, just spending time with my husband will be gift enough (okay, stop laughing...if you know me, then I know you're laughing at the immediately preceding sentence).  In all seriousness, though, I am grateful that I have Steve in my life and we have reached this milestone. Besides, he's kind of cute, too.

Steve in Spain

Steve in New Orleans with just your average guy
in a gold bikini top checking out the weather channel behind him

Good times.

Oh yeah, It was my Birthday Last Week

Yes, it was my birthday last week.  Thanks to all the people on facebook that said "Happy Birthday."  Growing up, birthdays were a HUGE deal in our house thanks to my mom.  For her, a birthday was a great excuse to have a party and celebrate.  I still make a pretty big deal about my birthday.  In fact, I refer to April as the "birthday month" because I like to acknowledge that my birthday (April 13) is about to occur, is occurring or recently occurred throughout the entire month.  However, no party this year.  Yea, I know.  Boo-hoo.  I just couldn't get worked up to inviting people over and making a big deal about it.  I had my husband take me out to a nice dinner instead and got a spa gift certificate.  A few friends took me out to lunch this week, too.  In case anyone is wondering how old I am now, the answer is (drumroll), thirty-friggin-seven.  The cartoon below sums up how I feel this year about turning 37:

Scary that I am getting so close to 40 because I do not remotely feel like a 40 year old woman (okay, technically I am not 40 but I am closer to 40 than 30 now so let's not split hairs).  I feel like I should still be in my 20's!  That being said, I am pretty lucky that I seem to be aging well.  At least, I think I am.  People who don't know me are frequently surprised when I tell them how old I am b/c they think I am in my early 30's.  I've even had a few people recently think I was in my late-20's, including some guy in Austin that was trying to pick me up when my husband stepped away.  I was almost tempted to run away with him just because he thought I was 27 or 28 but then thought better of it. 

My biggest anti-aging secret is no sun.  Avoid the sun at all costs.  I love beach vacations but I wear a big hat, over 50 SPF and stay in the shade most of the time (like an old lady, yes).  I also use good moisturizers.  Highly recommend Aveda Hydrating Cremes.  The sun is the enemy to good skin.  I like a tan which is why I will just go get a nice spray tan if I really want one.


Aveda, I love you.  Please protect me.

 My husband's birthday is April 28 and he will also be 37.  Hard to believe but he is actually already starting to get a few grey hairs.  So scary!  If that keeps up then pretty soon he will look like the creepy old guy with the hot, younger wife.  I can live with that. 

Ode to the Caribbean

I love the Caribbean.  We just returned from 10 days in the Virgin Islands - 3 days on St. Thomas (USVI) and 7 days on Jost Van Dyke (BVI). It truly is paradise there, with a few issues and annoyances.  We always fly into St. Thomas and stay at a rented condo on Sapphire Beach for the first 3 nights before taking a ferry to the small island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands where we stay at The Sandcastle Hotel. 



Steve taking a photo from St. Thomas condo




View from St. Thomas condo

 St. Thomas is a major cruise ship destination so it's a rather busy, well-developed island with lots of duty free shopping and nice restaurants and a population of about 60,000 people .  Jost, by contrast, is super tiny and boasts about 300 permanent residents and is nicknamed "the barefoot island" b/c you literally do not need to wear shoes anywhere, which is 100% true.  You'll find no high end restaurants on Jost but you will find plenty of lobster shacks and casual beach bars. Jost has a definite laid-back, get ur drink on vibe.  Best sign we saw on Jost was at Corsair's restaurant, which read "Three Things I Don't Like:  Hot Beer, Cold Women, Assholes."  How true.




Lobster Fest on Jost

 Our days in the Caribbean are pretty seamless and we get on "island time" very quickly.  We usually sleep in until 8:30 or 9am each morning, head to the beach for some reading, maybe go on a hike or walk, lunch, a swim in clear, sapphire gin colored water, a nap, afternoon cocktails, dinner and more cocktails.  It's a pretty good life while it lasts.



Smith Bay - St. Thomas





Sunset on White Bay - Jost


Of course,  even paradise isn't perfect.  A few observations I made during this trip:

1. I hate bugs.  I especially hate microscopic, flying, blood-loving, biting bugs.  That beautiful sugar white sand you see being gently lapped by blue water?  It's filled with demonic blood-suckers called "no-see-ums."  Guess what?  You can't see them but rest assured that they can see you. They love to feed at night when you are distracted by the rum cocktail you're drinking.  Also, apparently my left upper thigh is much tastier than my right upper thigh.  Who knew?  They knew because they destroyed my upper left thigh.  It currently looks like it has a bad case of the chicken pox right now.  Very attractive in a bathing suit, too.
2. It's okay to pee anywhere.  Well, for the men at least.  While sitting at a red light on St. Thomas at a very busy intersection, we watched a rather large islander whip it out and just start peeing on the side of the road. Wow.  I hope he felt a profound sense of freedom in doing that.
3. After 3 days in the Caribbean, I am convinced that 50% of my body weight becomes Cruzan Rum.  I'm not much of a hard liquor drinker but add some fruit juice and an umbrella spearing a pineapple chunk and I am sold.  I had a particularly vicious planter's punch on St. Thomas that knocked me on my ass one night.  It's amazing how smooth it goes down though.
4. Getting a pedicure is pointless if you are coming to the beach.  I got a nice pedi before coming to the islands since I knew I would be in sandals or barefoot the whole time and my feet looked like dragon claws. By Day 4, the pedicure was gone.  I think the combination of bug spray, sand, salt water and suntan lotion form a new chemical compound which is the equivalent of nail polish remover.  So, pedi was a major waste of $40.
5. The people of the islands are what really keep us coming back.  Unfortunately, it seems that every douchebag with a powerboat and stereo system has discovered White Bay Beach on Jost where we stay.  A few years ago, it used to be fairly quiet and lowkey with sail boats coming in during the day but leaving around 4pm.  Now, you can expect 50+ powerboats that pull right up to the beach, moor together and start blaring techno club music and subject you to their "look at how geechy I can be on my expensive boat" show.  That being said, we keep coming back to Jost and The Sandcastle b/c of the amazing staff.  They always take great care of us and we think of them as our Caribbean family when we're there.



Me with the girls - Sana and Shaneek



Caught him!  Steve hugging Sana goodbye

The Caribbean is what you make it.  Some people are not big fans of it b/c they can't get on island time, hate the slow service and the "whatever, mon" attitude of the people that live there.  Sure, there are times I get annoyed while there but then I take another sip of my painkiller drink and move on. We will miss the beach, the humidity, the sun and our friends at The Sandcastle until next year.

Me at top of Jost on Ridge Hike

White Bay - morning of our last day



White Bay at Sunset