Happy New Year! Welcome to Weekend # 1

What a day makes, I feel so much better! Yay!!

I talked to my sister and it turns out that I did not have food poisoning, I just had a weird case of flu.  My sister's son and all of his cousins were just as sick as I was a few days ago. So, I will take that as a sign that the projectile vomiting was just the cleansing that I needed to get over 2010. The unpleasant experience has gained me a fresh start to this new year!

Starting off this very first weekend of my 52 weekends, I really wanted to go to the Tournament of Roses Parade. Vis a vie the sickness and my lack of wanting to spend the night camping on the street or fighting traffic and parking at 4 am, led me to not making it this year.  However, I had a wonderful day of experiences with a little less hassle.

Here are some cute little band girls from New Hampshire that I met in Santa Monica that had performed in the parade. They said it was a very grueling and long day, but, they were very happy to be in CA and out of the blizzard in the NE.

This first morning of 2011, I got up and did my 20 minute workout (thanks Renee!).  Then I headed out on my little blue and brown beach cruiser "Birdie" towards the beach.  I rode up to the Santa Monica Pier and I decided that I might as well ride one of those rides now.

I decide to ride the famous "Pacific Wheel". I rode along with an awesome young lady, Ashley. What a cool, beautiful, fun-spirited girl! She and her dad had driven from Desert Springs to go the Tournament of Roses. They camped out on the streets all night and watched the parade the next day. Ashley advised me that it was good thinking that I stayed at home given my sickness, as street sleeping when ill is not fun!  She also told me of a cool girl they met that does something called "Couch Surfing".  It is basically vagabonds that travel around and look for people that will take them in for a night to sleep on their couch or a hot shower. The girl they met did a little sleepingbag surfing and shared their Pasadena habitat for the night.

Here's Ashley...

The views from the Pacific Wheel are awesome!  The cost to ride $5 and well worth it.  Somehow. Ashely and I ended up on the one cabin that didn't get turned over with the next riders. So, we rode the trip two times!~

Me on the ride!

Here are some views from the ride...

I said my good-byes to Ashley and her dad and headed back for home. Once I hit Venice Beach, I had to check out the incredible paddle tennis courts.  As I stood watching, Reggie came up to me and asked if I played.  I told him that I did not and that I wanted to learn. Bingo! Impromptu lesson!

Well, Tennis Fans, It is a bit different than tennis. If you ever wanted to hit the ball as hard as you possibly can, here is your chance. You really have to whack the ball every time just to get it over the net.  And, you have to REALLY watch the ball.  I totally whiffed the ball numerous times.  I won't go into all the details but suffice it to say, I am buying a paddle racket. Look for me on Venice Beach!

Here is my new paddle coach, Reggie.

In these early stages of this blog journey, I am already learning that it is not the incredible places and sights you can see, it is the people that make the places and events so memorable.

I dedicate this post to the most eye opening person I have met so far.  A very cool lady, Roxanne. I met her on my flight back to LA after Christmas. What started out as a horrible nuisance ended up being a party in the sky thanks to her!

Roxanne - who had me "belly" laughing all through our long delays, baggage waits, and holiday hassles, you have my card.  I really hope to hear from you and your kind husband, sorry I lost you in baggage claim!

S~