San Diego Chargers VS Miami Dolphins

San Diego Chargers

San Diego Chargers VS Miami Dolphins

November 6, 2016

Occasionally we get lucky. We entered a drawing for the residents of our neighborhood to win Chargers tickets. We didn't really pay attention to the date of the game when we entered to win.

We ended up going to Virginia to work on our rental house and turn it over to new tenants. Somehow we got lucky and won one of the ticket pairs from the drawing. We were in Virginia when notified. It just happened to work out that we flew home on Friday night, and the game was on Sunday. Three days before my birthday. What a lovely surprise. 

The drawing that we entered was for 2 tickets and $40 in Chargers bucks to spend on food and souvenirs.  We both signed up to be designated drivers, so we got the free soda and spent the free Chargers bucks on other things.

We decided to park at the Mission Valley mall and then take the trolley to the game to avoid all of the parking fees and the traffic. We were going solo and did not know anyone else going so we did not have a group to tailgate with.

We got there early enough to enjoy some of the things that were set up for the tailgate. We took some pictures, and walked all around to check out every thing we could find that was going on. We had a good time. It was definitely warmer outside than what we were expecting.

Our seats were on the visitor side. That time of year, the sun doesn't set for awhile and it was kinda miserable for awhile. But it eventually calmed down and we were able to enjoy the game not melting in the sun. 

During half time, The Chargers were having a Chargers Hall of Fame induction. 

The Chargers won!

Maybe we were their good luck charm!

Our only complaint with the Trolley was the rush after the game. As soon as the game was over, it was like a major rush to get to the trolley. When the trolleys came, they were totally packed. It was miserable. Maybe leaving before the game is over, or waiting for awhile is the best option.

CHILDFREE LIFE

Paris Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada April 2016

Easter Weekend 

Paris Hotel, April 2016

Living a 5 hr drive from Vegas means we visit more than we should. The goal with playing at so many Total Rewards, Caesars Entertainment properties is to stay at every hotel they have in Las Vegas. 

This was our first stay at Paris.  They have renovated since and we have stayed in another type of room since.  I love the hotel theming.  I just love it. Every detail.  From the flooring, to employee uniforms to the signage. What a great theme. 

We had a pretty good view with our room, although we normally spend little time in our hotel rooms.

It was time for the room to be updated.  The carpet was worn and it was clear that it had been awhile since a renovation.  However,  we still had fun, enjoyed our stay and we came back.

Sea World, San Diego, April 2016

We have had Platinum passes with Busch Gardens / Sea World for years. Whenever we have had to go to customer service for an issue and the rep actually realizes how little we pay each month, they are shocked. That tells you exactly how long we have had our passes. 

Before moving to California, We lived in Virginia about 45 minutes from Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and about 50 minutes from Water Country USA in Williamsburg. We would go to Busch Gardens at least 4-6 times a year and Water Country USA 1-3 times a year when we first met. Over the last couple years we lived in Virginia, we reduced the amount of times we were going because we were doing other things. But we kept the passes. Living that close to the parks, it made sense.

Living in Southern California, the only parks nearby are Sea World San Diego and Aquatica in Chula Vista.  We have not visited Aquatica yet. But we try to go to Sea World at least twice a year.

This visit was our first visit of 2016. It was great weather. We went during Sea World's Magic Days. It was the first time that we had been able to go to Sea World during Magic Days. Sea World had a schedule of visiting well known magicians who performed during the month.

When we visited Sea World during Magic Days, We got to see the Magician Rick Thomas. We had seen him on tv. Obviously, the show stage at Sea World is smaller than what he is used to, but he was still able to give a great show!
We really enjoyed the show. 

The theme days and special events at Sea World are truly a don't miss. If you are visiting Sea World, make sure you check out the schedule of special events and plan accordingly.

Strip Side Junior Suite, Flamingo Las Vegas, March 2016

Our Second Stay at the Flamingo, We decided to check out the Junior Suite instead of a regular room. Typically, it doesn't matter if we don't have a huge room or a suite at hotels because we are the type who are only going to be in the room long enough to sleep and shower before we are back out again.

We had a deal, playing at the casino does that, and we ended up getting the Junior Suite at Flamingo for free.  The best part about out suite was that it was right on the front side facing the strip, with HUGE windows looking out on the strip. This would definitely be a good spot for fireworks, or one of the 5ks. 

The only slightly negative thing with the Junior Suite, is with one bed, and a glass wall separating the bathroom, it would have been a little weird with 2 people who were not together or used to seeing each other naked or "on the throne". 

That is the only slightly negative thing I could say. Since my husband and I rarely travel with anyone else, it is always just he and I, the glass wall in the bathroom was not a problem. 

'The Flamingo is probably one of the most well known hotels on the strip for those who know ANYTHING about the history of Las Vegas. We love walking through the hotel and feeling like history is everywhere. The last original section of the hotel has been gone for a long time, but the history remains. 

Have a drink at Bugsy's bar, some say his spirit will have a drink with you. Or maybe those who said that, hit Margaritaville and the Its 5oclock Somewhere Bar first. 

The Blacklight Run, March 2016

The Blacklight Run

March 2016

Sleep Train Amphitheater, Chula Vista, California

The Blacklight run is a night time colorful, glow, 5k. Basic registration included a t shirt, and each person got a bag of the colored powder. 

As with the other similar colorful runs, the powder is completely safe.  The difference with the Blacklight run is that the powder is treated to glow under Blacklight. 

The course was a mix of surfaces. They used some blacktop areas and some grassy areas. The one weird thing about the course was that there was not enough space to set up a full course, so parts of it were just winding back and forth in a small area like going through a roller coaster queue. 

The other item that was kind of weird was there was no music or anything as part of the beginning, there was only a DJ for the "afterparty" after a good quantity of people had gone through the course. So those who went first or were faster had to stand around as long as an hour to wait. 

Barona Casino Resort

We enjoyed our Friday night stay at Barona. We checked in on Friday evening,  March 4 and checked out on Saturday March 5.
We had a king room on the fourth floor on the poolside.  We had a great view of the pool. It was way too cold for me to even dream of getting in the water,  but there were people swimming.
Our room was great and we enjoyed our trip. Too bad I didn't win any money.

My husband did ok, and we ended up enjoying Saturday brunch at Sage before we left. 

The food was excellent and the view was amazing as always.

We can't wait to go back to Barona.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico

Cabo, or Los Cabos is one of those legendary places where you hear about the amazing views, the wonderful people, the excellent food and of course The Partying. Traveling on both coasts of Mexico, I have learned that the culture is deep, beautiful and proud. 

We took and Land and Sea Tour to get acquainted with the area. Of course the highlight of the water part of the tour is getting as close to the Arch as possible. There is a small beach in the arch area, one side of the beach opens to the Sea of Cortez and the other side opens to the Pacific Ocean. Its one of a few crazy places like this in the world where one beach can swim in two bodies of water.

Part of our tour went to a glass blowing factory, a restaurant, shopping, and a few other places with some amazing views along the coast.  I was totally fascinated by the glass blowing process. It honestly seemed though that it was more of a tourist thing, like the factory only existed just as something to do for tourists until we got to a restaurant for our lunch and tequila tasting. Then I saw how all of their bar ware had come from the place we just left. It was quite an interesting lesson in zero waste. The restaurant and bar sends the glass blowing factory their beer bottles to recycle and the glass blowing factory made them amazing bar ware. 

Los Cabos is one of a few places where the old meets the new in this balanced way. Its truly someplace that I would love to spend a long amount of time. Its also in my dreams for retirement. 

Carnival Miracle - Mexican Riviera Cruise - February 2016

We started cruising Carnival in January of 2015. We took our first cruise to the Bahamas, followed by a 2nd cruise to the Bahamas, and then a 3rd cruise to the Western Caribbean all in 2015.

In the process of finalizing the check in procedures for our Western Caribbean cruise, I noticed that due to my husband's regular casino playing, he had several free cruise offers that were what Carnival Classifies as a Premier Cruise. We decided to book the Mexican Riviera Cruise out of Long Beach Premier Event since we would have moved to the west coast by then.

So our cruise in February 2016 was many firsts. It was our first Premier Casino Cruise, Our first cruise out of the West Coast, Our First Cruise on Carnival Miracle and Our First Mexican Riviera Cruise.
Needless to say, we knew before we even boarded that Carnival Miracle was going to be a trip we would never forget.

The Child Free Life

The Child Free Life is not "luck". It is a deliberate choice. I hate it when people say we are "lucky". It makes it sound like they regret their choice to have children. We definitely do not regret our choice not to have children. We have enjoyed an amazing life full of fun and travel due to not children to deal with.