Trace!

I hardly ever sleep before we go on a trip. Usually because I am the one who packs for everybody and I'm up all night trying to find matching shoes, sweatshirts, sunglasses, clothes, toothbrushes, entertainment etc... This time I only had myself to get ready but I was leaving everybody so I sill had things to get in order. Jade was leaving for Disneyland around 5am, and I went to bed after she left. I slept for about an hour and got up to get myself showered and out the door. The train station was more crowded than expected but I made it through the line and was the last suitcase to load, all others had to ride with their owners. As we start to walk out towards the train, I noticed that something wasn't right with my right foot, something felt weird. I pulled over to check it out and found that my shoe (my favorite shoes) had decided that this would be the time to fall apart. My suitcase had just passed by and been loaded on the train and I had a 2 inch flip flop style sandal that was now doing some serious flipping and flopping. I had to drag my foot onto the train. Up about 4-5 rows were some older grandparents who were riding with their 3-4 year old grandson. I say older because our parents are grandparents and they don't talk as loud as these ones did. I thought about moving but the though of having to drag my foot past all the rows of people made me decide to try my headphones instead. Even with my headphones in and the volume turned up all the way, I could still hear them talking CONSTANTLY and LOUDLY. To make matters worse, they couldn't understand a lot of what their grandson was saying so they made really loud guesses and kept telling him how they couldn't understand him and he would repeat it and they'd guess again etc.... OH MY GOSH!!!!

I did enjoy a nice 45 minute nap. I will probably be hard of hearing earlier in my life now, due to having the volume on my headphones turned up for so long....to try to block out their voices...and I will ride the train with my grandkids and talk really loud!!

I had fun people watching. I watched a movie, read a little and like I said, I took a little nap too.

After a 3+ hour train ride, my cousin Lorna picked me up in Sacramento and we climbed into her 1965 Convertible Mustang and headed for the Konocti Resort up in Clearlake/Kelseyville. Even with my hair pulled up and back, my hair had knots whipped into the ends as we drove "topless" (lol!) but I didn't mind. The view from Lorna's car compared with my Big Suburban was quite different and I found myself just staring out into the beauty of it, taking in the trees and birds, especially the Hawks, and the different scenery.

I took a few pictures just by holding up my camera...

Lorna bought me a cowboy hat.

We ate dinner at the pre-show BBQ, good food. There was an opening act. A cover band of sorts. I can't remember who they were. I didn't care for them.

BUT THEN....
TRACE ADKINS!!!

When the lights are down low

And you nibble on my neck

I can't be held responsible

For what might happen next

No telling what I'll do

When I get you in my hands

With a woman like you

I'm a dangerous man

Yeah I'm a dangerous man

The week before the concert my cousin actually talked to Trace on the phone, when the radio station was interviewing him. They told Trace that one of his fans was with them and that she had a question for him....which she didn't....but she asked him if he would sing Dangerous Man to her at the concert in Konocti. So when it was time for him to sing Dangerous Man, he told everybody that it was for Lorna in Folsom. She screamed (a lot) and ran up to the stage where Trace looked right at her and kissed her fingers!! It was too funny, she was so excited she was telling everyone "Hi I'm Lorna, Trace sang Dangerous Man to me...Lorna".
It was a lot of fun. We went to the "after" party but I was so tired from only sleeping an hour and 45 minutes in the last 36 hours that I headed back to the room, I called home and went to sleep.
The next morning we drove "topless" back to Sacramento. We had lunch with my cousin Grace (Lorna's daughter) and her boyfriend Eric at On the Border. I ordered a simple bean and cheese burrito and they brought me huge plate with a burrito that would of fed 1/2 my family! Good to see Grace and her cute/cool new haircut and get to meet the guy she might marry! :)
Lorna had made plans for us Saturday night but was keeping it a surprise. We relaxed at her apartment for a little while and then her friend Allen came and picked us up. We drove to Dixon, who was having their Country Fair and went to the Fair. Turns out Jo Dee Messina was performing there that night and we had tickets!! Very cool surprise!!
While we were going through the exhibits I got a phone call from home. Naissa's ear had been hurting and Jim didn't know what to do, whether he should take her to the emergency room or what. It was Saturday night and the walk in clinics were closed. Naissa was in pain and crying a lot. He took her to Children's Hospital where the doctor found there was a tear in her ear drum. He said her ear was not infected but it was caused from an injury. Turns out that Isaac had slammed her into a shopping cart earlier and that's when her ear started hurting. Hmmmm.....

It all worked out and Jim did fine and I got to see Jo Dee Messina and I even bought myself a shirt that says "My Give A Damn's Busted"!!

My train left Sacramento at 6:35am and I was home by 9:45am, just in time for Mother's Day. The ride home was the best. I watched another movie and read a little and got a few calls wishing me a Happy Mother's Day! I had purposely sat next to a young mom with 2 little ones, thinking that I wouldn't miss my stop because they would keep me from sleeping through it. But they were amazing, they were quiet and sweet and yes, they did talk and they did play and eat but the mom was so in tune to them that she met their needs before they even voiced them. I was so impressed.....and jealous!! lol!!

I'm thinking of taking the train somewhere....it doesn't really matter where....I'll just get back on and come back after I get there....just so I can relax! It was only $45 round trip! It cost me about $110 to fill my gas tank up last week so that seems like a cheap way to get some ME time! lol!