Monday, February 15, 2010

Shades of Red

You know how New England people tend to retire to Florida? Nah, I'm retiring to Arizona. This place is AMAZING. Sedona is beautiful. It's so beautiful that I feel like it's fake. I feel it people cannot truly live surrounded by this red rock. Can they?

As I mentioned in my last post, I was pretty exhausted when I woke up at 5 am Arizona time. I considered skipping my work out but I thought it may make me feel better. I know some people use vacations as an excuse to fall off the healthy bandwagon for a bit, but I actually love to exercise on vacation because I actually have time. Plus, when I am eating out multiple times a day, my stomach is happier if I have worked out a bit. Oh, and also, look at the view from my elliptical machine...

Just look past the orange umbrellas haha. Since we have a microwave in our room I decided to make my own oatmeal for breakfast. I figured it would save money and make my stomach happy all early in the morning. I actually brought a knife and a peeler for my apple, but I did not bring a bowl so I had to get creative...

Yup, I split my oatmeal between the two cups they gave us in the hotel room haha. What can I say? When you have a stomach like mine you learn to do ridiculous things to make it happy.

Post-breakfast Eric and I headed out for a round of golf. It's no secret that golf is NOT my favorite sport. First of all, any sport where I have to "dress up" is not a sport in my mind. Also, 18 holes can easily occupy most of your day and I am not a fan of things that take too long- that's why I teach kindergarten, we switch subjects every half an hour.

Fortunately, Eric and I compromised and we went to a 9 hole Par 3, aka Golf for Kelly. Nice and quick, with short holes I can manage (par 5's can easily take me several shots to even get close to the green). Plus, I can't complain with this view while playing golf...



Also I happened to be playing well today which always adds to my happiness. I had an audience of people watching me at the first hole so I thought for sure I'd hit it 2 feet in front of me. I managed to crush it and get some surprised compliments from the serious golfers around. Nice.

Unfortunately my putting, which is normally my strong suit, was not quite on target today but I blame it on the fact that I was using my sister's putter- yes Caroline I had to borrow your clubs, mine are at the Cape. I'm taking very good care of them and I'm thinking you will not be missing them in Boston right now? Oh and also, your 7 iron rocks.

Anyway, in the afternoon we got really touristy and took a Pink Jeep Tour. Basically it's a 4 wheel drive tour through the red rocks...

They even let me drive...

Haha, maybe not...

Sure, I'm a good driver, but you don't do this everyday...

This was amazing and we got to see so much of the red rocks and really go up into them. Plus our driver was a local so he told us a lot about the area and what to do tomorrow on our way to the Grand Canyon.

We finished the day with some Mexican food with a view...

Yes, everything in Sedona has a view. The place was called Oaxaca and was located right near our Pink Jeep Tour drop off in Uptown Sedona.

Eric got Chimichanga...

and I was boring and got a chicken sandwich. Truthfully I've never been a Mexican food person because I don't like cheese, which really limits my selection. I know Arizona is big on Mexican food so I am going to try to get more creative as the trip continues :)


I have to say though, it was a great chicken sandwich.

Tomorrow I'm headed for the Grand Canyon and I think my internet access is going to be limited until Thursday. I am still planning to blog but I won't be able to do photo recaps of the trip because I do not think I'll have internet on my own computer. I am planning to do at least 1 post answering questions that I have been asked on my Ask Anything page. Please visit it and ask some questions so you can get some answers, anything you want to know :)

I am actually keeping up with your blogs with the help of my Blackberry but I may not comment because it takes so long. I promise I'll be back to my normal commenting self in a few days!


21 comments:

  1. Gorgeous!! I love Arizona, too... especially Northern Arizona. :) Sounds like you are having a spectacular time and enjoying your time with your sweetie.

    Have fun at the Grand Canyon! I look forward to your pictures.

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  2. I'm ready to retire there NOW! As you know, this east coast weather has got to stop asap. Actually, you don't know, since you're in Arizona right now. Well, I can tell you it's snowing here in CT as I type this, and we're supposed to get 2-5 inches. I hate winter. Have fun, and don't get too warm. Yes, I'm jealous!

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  3. That jeep tour looks like so much fun - I love that the jeep was pink! So perfect for you!

    Enjoy the grand canyon - I have never been and I have been to visit my friend about 4 times? Kind of sad that we have never made it there - we'll get there eventually!

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  4. that looks so beautiful; you are reminding me of a trip my family took when i was 5. dad was in the navy and his station was changed from glenview, by chicago, to san diego. the parents bought a travel-trailor and we drive cross-country. we stopped in missouri to see relatives, we stopped at the grand canyon, saw the redwood forest, the petrified forest, i remember red rocks at some point too :) i remember in the redwood forest there was a tree with an arch at the bottom and you could drive through it as a tourist thing. my parents tried because we kids wanted them too so badly! they unhooked the trailor from the van (with four kids going cross country they needed a van) and tried, but ended up with asking people behind us to back up and let us out of line because the big extra side mirror for seeing the trailor was the extra bit of wideness that meant our vehicle could not fit through the tree :)
    those are great pictures, thanks for sharing!

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  5. Looks like such a fun time! Be glad you're out of this snow! :)

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  6. How beautiful!!!!! I've been to Arizona a couple times actually, but I'll admit those times were drunken and not very sober. Why? I was either visitng friends i college OR watching OSU get their butts kicked by Florida in the NAtional Championship.

    Nick is a great golfer and always wants me to golf, but I couldn't agree with oyu MORE about dressing up (blah!) and how long it takes. During the summer he plays 18 holes with his buddies and I know he'll be gone literally ALL DAY. What the heck?! No thanks! Glad you compromised on 9 holes.

    You look great in the pink jeep!!! I bet that was so fun, driving through the rocks. I'm glad you are enjoying your vacation Kelly. You deserve it!

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  7. Breathtaking!! I love that pink jeep :) Enjoy the rest of your trip!

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  8. Sounds like you're having a wonderful time! It sure looks beautiful. I LOVE that pink jeep - too fun!

    Keep up the exercise!

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  9. OH my goodness it looks fabulous! My mom and step dad went to Sedona for their anniversary one year and I remember them saying how gorgeous and peaceful it was. So glad you are having a nice time! :)

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  10. Beautiful photos Kelly! Enjoy the rest of your vacation :)

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  11. I've never been to AZ, but I really want to go. Yours photos are beautiful!

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  12. Don't worry about keeping up and commenting on my blog! Enjoy your time down there! :)

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  13. haha yeahhh not so much missing my golf clubs here seeing as its SNOWING. Then again, even if it were 80 degrees and sunny I wouldn't be missing my golf clubs...
    and I LOVE my 7 too! haha

    ps. your oatmeal bowl looks about how I spent my disney trip.. until I ran out of oatmeal

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  14. Looks awesome! And I LOVE the pink jeep!!

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  15. Looks like you're having a wonderful vacation! Your pink jeep tour looks so fun! I'm glad you guys are enjoying yourselves and hopefully getting some much-needed R&R in :-)

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  16. Hahaha, of course you would take a tour in a pink jeep ;) Arizona looks gorgeous! I've always wanted to go hiking there. And I'm with you while working out on vacation. I find I digest all the heavy restaurant food SO much better when I start my day with a good workout :)

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  17. Yes Arizona is amazing, looks like you are having a blast! It was only 50 in FL today so you made the right choice ;-)

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  18. I can't believe you were at a Mexican restaurant and got a chicken sandwich. Oh vey. ha.. I LOVE Mexican food and Arizona has GOOD Mexican food. I am jealous and you are not taking advantage.. ahhh.

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  19. Looks like a great weekend! I love the pictures.

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  20. A pink Jeep? How cool is THAT?!?!
    And the food looks so yummy! Glad y'all are having a great time!

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