About Me

Hello! My name is Shari. Rhymes with "starry." If my name were Cockney rhyming slang, I could be "Starry Diamonds." And my stripping act would probably involve a lot of white leather fringe and a unicorn.

If you'd like to contact me, just leave a comment on any post. I'll reply there eventually.

Or - taking a brave breath - send me a howdy on Facebook. Howdy = message, friend request, light stalking, whatever. I like for people to feel welcome to become my FBF (Facebook Friend) yet not feel pressured to do so. I know the more sensible amongst you like to keep your FBF lists pruned of "people I only know through crash landing at their blah-blah blog via a Google search that seemed more promising at the time."

Where do you live? Your spelling/accent/idiom use is all over the place!

Er, that's tricky. For the next couple of years I'll be back and forth between Texas (to spell Dad a little from the stress of being my mother's caretaker) and Australia (where my Aussie husband received a brilliant teaching job offer, so he returned there to get our international life started). I guess my legal residence will be Fort Worth while I wait for the spouse visa, which means I now need to surrender my Las Vegas driver's license. Nooooo!

Okay, nevermind, where are you from?

"All over." <-- Stock annoying answer.

Slightly less annoying stock answer: "I was raised in the north/midwest by two southern parents. Michigan with a little Illinois and upstate New York, to be specific. Then I spent my early-to-mid adulthood in south Texas, aka nowhere near my many north Texas relatives. Weird. Finally, I adopted Las Vegas as my hometown, and Mike and I lived there for several years before deciding to make things more complicated by straddling the globe." 

So, yeah, I talk a little funny.

How old are you?

I'm 43. Yes, 43. I know I write like I'm 13 and look like I'm 73. (Eight years in the desert plus being too lazy to moisturize.) Average the numbers together and the math works.

Who is Mike?

He's the guy who has to pose for a bunch of photos which then get uploaded with the "long-suffering husband" tag. He's also an English teacher... and honestly, pushing him to become one is probably the best thing I ever did for society while wearing my professional educator hat.

(If I'd also had a cape, maybe I wouldn't have been so eager to quit teaching in the United States. I digress... as usual.)

What is this site about?

Whatever's on my mind, such as...

• Travel (cruises even get their own menu at right)
• Genealogy (especially DNA-based research)
• Pets (all of our hamsters are gone now, though, so...)
• Culture shock from life with an Australian (bound to get worse)
• Crap I collect (stamps, Roman coins, tarot cards, Woot.com t-shirts)
• Games I play (retribution paladin FOR THE HORDE, thanks)
• How much people disappoint me (why save it for Festivus?)
• Rare cooking forays (when not just dreaming of them on Pinterest)
• Not-rare-at-all dining adventures (will food for Yelp)
• Books I wish you would read
• Passionate opinions
• Snapshots
• Idle thoughts

What are 10 facts about you which either provide some context to your babble (good luck with that) or which may make it easy to thoughtlessly judge you without knowing you better?

• My favourite food is Indian (especially as a vegetarian), and second-fave is sandwiches (which my husband doesn't grok at all).
• I'm totally fat.
• I hate both major political parties pretty equally. Voting is always torture.
• Being bad at an activity doesn't keep me from doing it. (My husband endures a lot of singing.)
• Mike and I are childfree by choice. That doesn't mean we hate kids or society or our parents. We're just not parent material.
• Despite my former and future life as a high school English teacher, don't get any illusions about me proofreading or editing here. Catharsis is sloppy.
• Before writing hall passes, I was an IT gal/web developer/jack of many digital-driven trades.
• And then there was the decade-ish when I was a technology columnist for an Actual Print Newspaper.
• I only pay my Mensa dues when I'm feeling insecure. (Being cheerful and fat and not at all self-promoting - at least not when away from this blog - can lead to people assuming that you're dumb.)
• If you're the sort who doesn't do well with dry, hyperbolic, tongue-in-cheek, yet sincerely passionate text, you may just have to trust that I'm nicer than I seem.

All I can add is that this website is just a little personal thing, a diary, a habit, an unpredictable tic, a shady porch you've chosen to stroll past in your walk to somewhere more important. If you aren't satisfied with the view, keep going. If you want to sit down, here's another chair. Let's just prop up our barefoot and under-pedicured feet and talk about that amazing sunset... or is it a sunrise?

(Note: this post was actually written on 5 December 2007 and is updated as the whipping wind of fate requires.)

Comments

[shari clement]

hi shari,
my nanme is shari too.
i live in australia. i like your web page it's funny and interesting.

[Shari]

Hi Shari in Australia - thanks, and it's great to hear from one of those rare Aussies Sharis! :) (Or at least by husband says they're almost unknown in Perth?)

(Bobby, howdy! I don't think I have anything further on Asa, but I'll look. I'm mostly on hiatus from genealogy again; my Ancestry subscription runs out on Thursday, so that will be that until summer at the soonest. Note: Bobby's comment has been temporarily unpublished to avoid some search engine problems.)

[Shari]

HI! My name is also Shari! I am in lame old Iowa though. Funny. Three Shari's wonder how many more will find their way here!

[HEather in PA]

I've been reading your blog for HOW long and I've been saying your name wrong the WHOLE TIME.

Not that you would ever have known that if I hadn't admitted it. Starry Shari. Not Stare-y Shari. Ok. I'll have to practice that.

:)

Oh, did I ever mention my Bachelor's degree was in Art History?

I love sitting on your porch. It's comfy and the view is fantastic.

[Shari]

Wow, you've been saying my name? ;)

A PERSON WITH A DEGREE IN ART HISTORY HAS BEEN SAYING MY NAME!

I will put an extra soft rug out on the porch just for Sherman. :)

[Heather]

aww, heck, it's just a Bachelor's....

:)

Sherm wags thanks and we both hope you're feeling better soon. How about trying some sorbet? or popsicles? No dairy to make you more phlegmy, nice and cool on the sore throat.... and really, it's just frozen liquid so the upchuck factor should be low, right?

O

[Shari]

Hello Shari, I was walking down the street and seen you relaxing on your porch and thought I would join you for a tea. My name is Shari as well, rhymes with stare-y though. I've never been to vegas but I watch the show (Las Vegas) and I love it, thats as close to the action as I can get. I live in the wonderful country of Canada in the beautiful province of Ontario, not far from Niagra Falls, thats where our casinos are haha, been there TONS of times, I think I'd go bankrupt if I lived in vegas, and its a darn good thing that The fall is about a 45 minute drive from me, not worth the gas money to lose more money, just for fun once in awhile. Well thanks for the tea, Take care
Shari from ON

[NIkky]

Hi Shari,
I read ur blog , really interesting . I read it twice. Yu seem so be interesting dude.
~Nikky

[Nikky]

Hav a look @ my blog too, and let me knw how I can make it more interesting and nice.
http://awaitedfriend.blogspot.com/

[shari aslam]

OMG
mi name is shari tooooooo
i have never known anybody with the name of shari in mi entire life that's why i typed in www.shari.com and look wat i found ike 4 peepz with the name shari hey i like experimental cooking and art too. Experimental cooking is fun even though it dosen't always taste nice.

luv ya
shari

[Shari M]

Hi Sharis everywhere!!!
Yes I am indeed another.
I aldo love experimental cooking cant use a recipes to save myself! Boyfriend wants to put camera in my kitchen to be able to write down recipes, Good Luck.
I am formerly a fashion designer but now manage holiday apartment on Manly Beach Sydney Australia.
I have Much better lifestyle now.
Ciao

[sharie]

hello!!! im sharie 2 very nice nme!!! well!!! hehheheh,, lots of things in common!! hmmm,,, i think we can get along well too..
by the way tke care and glad 2 c ur site!!

[shari jenkins]

Hi! Yet another - Shari, that is. I live in Reno, Nv. Not too far from you, but a world of difference. I, like you, love it here. We have less sever weather than Vegas and so much to do.
Anyways, I enjoyed reading your blog, and just wanted to add another "Shari" to your list.
Good wishes to you!

[shari s.]

hi!:) just adding myself to the "shari list".. this is fun.. Btw,my name also rhymes with starry.. take care!

[shari s.]

one more thing in common, I'm also a teacher.. :)

[Shari BB]

It's a Starey-Shari here, since all the other Sharis are dropping by to say hi. I'm from Canmore, Alberta, a lovely mountain town. I have enjoyed your stories about your hammily, the oddities and perks of LV, and your struggles to educate inner city youth. I'm in marketing now, but worked in community newspapers for the first 15 years of my career. I like how you put yourself out there, so bravely, for all to see. I admire that. It's really the only way to be, I think. I have always liked people who are those 'what-you-see-is-what-you-get' kind of folks. I come from those kind of people. Good luck to you, enjoy your hotter-than-Bejesus summer, and know that you have admirers, Sharis and surely many others!

[mcbrecycle]

"the Strip" IS in what you call "las vegas" proper. what the hell are you talking about?
i hate transplants...
-LV native

[Shari]

Sorry to incur your ire (if not actual "hate" - my goodness), but I was referring to the funny fact that the actual city of Las Vegas is north of Sahara, leaving out most of the (popular part of) the Strip.

Obviously the cultural boundaries of Las Vegas are different, but that wasn't my original point. It was just a fun bit of trivia to share that not everyone knows.

That said, the legal boundaries of LV have been important to some of us at times, such as when the city was offering incentives for teachers willing to live in or work in actual Las Vegas.

I hope this clarification helps. I'm sorry that you hate transplants, but some of us are a necessary evil. I was recruited from out of state because there weren't enough local teachers.

Hopefully this, along with a willingness to respect the existing culture of my new hometown (from changing how I pronounce "Nevada" to even caring where the borders of things are), might mitigate your low opinion of me.

[Allie]

Hi Shari!

I'm a huge fan of your blog. I wanted to give you a heads up about a new site, ideeli, that you would enjoy. I actually work for the site, and we sell really great bags and accessories at unbelievable prices. I thought you might want to check it out and see what we've got coming soon, because you (and all of us who read your blog!) should always be in the know about sites like this one. It's members-only, but if you'd like to see what's up on the site, you may use my private code: vip1. Just go to www.ideeli.com to see for yourself :) If you like the site, we'd love you to feature us, and I'd be happy to set up a special invite code for your readers - just let me know!

Best,

Allie

[Shari]

Thanks Allie. Hey, are you related to Emily?

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/12/17/diamonds-were-a-girls-best-friend-now-its-ideeli/#comment-229466

:)

[Jeri]

Shari,

WOW! Apparently, we are related somehow. I've been trying to trace the Montpellier line as well - as Sara Montpellier was my great great grandmother (and also the granddaughter of the Montpellier-Nezat line.) Would love to hear from you and find out your connection.

Best Wishes -

Jeri

[Lauren]

Hi, Shari! I actually found your website in a (thus far) unfruitful quest to find a way to get the delicious Smart Watermelon soda to my little apartment in Michigan. My husband and I will have to console ourselves and our cats for a bit longer, I suppose. It's a neat place you've got here, though, and I'm glad I stopped by.

For the horde!
-Lauren

[Jason]

Hi Shari,
I was reading your very interesting page (and great pictures) of the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. The history there is so interesting, as are the ghost stories. I recall my trip there back in 2003. I have this fear of getting stuck in an elevator, and the members of my "party" decided they really wanted to take the elevator, as old as it is. We did, and we survived, but the waiting for the door to open (which took about 25 seconds after the elevator had reached the floor) about drove me crazy. I took the stairs the rest of the day there.

But the most interesting part comes at the ever-so-popular propeller box. Much like you, this scares the absolute daylights out of me! You put it perfectly when you said something about boat propellers and running gear looking scary underwater, it's so true! I am a boater and own a mid sized twin engine boat. I am afraid to put on goggles and go under the water, the site of the propellers makes me so scared. So you can imagine how nervous I got while looking at the propeller on the Queen Mary. I couldn't even imagine being the guy who's in charge of collecting the change from the bottom, or cleaning that tank. No way!!!!!

Was there a mannequin dummy diver in there when you went? They had a mannequin dressed in a diving suit, complete with a mask, air tank, etc when we were there. That was freaky looking too, but not nearly as bad as that prop! Ewwwwwwwwww!!!!

[Shari G]

Hi Shari
I was wondering if you wanted to sell your domain name shari.com?

[Shari]

Gee - more Shari's in this world. I say my name as S-Hary. but you are right only WE say it correctly.

Love the site and learning more about US - those that call themselves SHARI

and i though there were few of us. I am from New Jersey - but now in a small town in Georiga, USA
Dahlonega.

thanks

shari

[Tobias]

Hi there...
I was just sitting here writing code for a customer's website and looking for some random comment to hide in one of the files (one of way we coders amuse ourselves).

Suddenly I remembered the phrase "Have you found the lost Hawaiians" which was etched around the inside track of one of my sisters Adam and the Ants albums.

We used to puzzle over that question. I think I looked up the phrase on Google a few years ago, but there wasn't much about it.

Anyway, I thought I'd give it another shot, and your blog was right there near the top of Google results.

So I thought I'd say hello.

Hello!

[Shari]

LOL Tobias! Thanks for the howdy. The vinyl whispers of Adam Ant live on!

I used to be in web dev, but I never wrote anything that cool in the HTML/perl/whatever code. I was more the "ARGH! FIX THIS FLIPPIN' KLUDGE LATER" type. Kudos to you for raising the bar of cleverness. :)

You inspired me to poke around the web and I found VinylRemarks.com, but no one has listed the Ants there. Shhhh - I guess the secret handshake of the new wave movement continues...

[Rhonda]

This is your cousin. Would love to hear from you

[Shari]

hello

im called shari also.. but my name doesnt rhyme with starry.
Its said like .. "shar -ree"
Im from Belfast Northern Ireland:)

[Shari]

Lol! another Shari here...and from Nevada too...Winnemucca...and although I am not a teacher I am an aide for Spec Ed at an elementary school...liked your postings...

[Shari]

Wow!!! My name is Shari too,,, I live in Jakarta, Indonesia =)

I enjoy reading your blog, they are entertaining esp during working hours =)

[Ryan]

Hello I am studying for my astronomy 201 final at Rice University in Houston, Texas, and I was wondering if you could tell me the answer to question #2 on this post: http://www.shari.com/2002/04/phys_1412_quiz__1.html

Thank you so much!
-Ryan

[Shari]

Hi Ryan, alas, I don't remember and don't trust my rusty star skills enough to hazard a guess? (But if I did, my gut says one or three.) Sorry!

[Ryan]

It was number 3! Thanks for the help!

[shari]

hi8 my name is shari and i also live in australia didnt think there was many sharis in the world

[Lisa santana]

VirginMary-site


TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN, I LISA SANTANA HAVE UPTO 11.7 ACRES OF LAND FOR SALE OR OTHER IN PUERTO RICO, USA.THIS IS A MUST SEE WITH PRICLESS VEIWS OF THE OCEAN AND MOUNTAINS OVER LOOKING THE TOWN. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR PHOTOS PLEASE EMAIL ME EVEN IF NOT INTERESTED AT LTAKER2419@AOL.COM
YOURS TRUELY ,LISA HERRING (Irish)

[Shari]

Hello Shari!
Yet another "Shari" I say rhymes with "sorry" from So. California. Just stumbled upon your blog and had to say hi. Read a few of your blogs, will come back to read more when I have the time. I too am a Adam and the Ants fan. One of my favorite concerts of all times was Adam and the Ants at the Greek Theatre early 80's. Hello to all the other Shari's out there!

[Stacy]

Hi Shari,

I found your blog while doing a Google search for Carnival Spirit reviews. We're terrible people because we're taking a Thanksgiving cruise and we're abandoning our family. It seems worse because we have such a small family. My husband is an only child and I have one sister. My parents have passed. We only have one kid and she'll be cruising with us for the first time. (Yikes- I hope that goes well!) My daughter will be twelve and she is only half as annoying as the kids you describe in your blog. :-) My husbands parents and my sister are the ones we will be abandoning. But my sister has her own family and I'm planning on asking one of my Aunts to invite my elderly in-laws for Thanksgiving Dinner. So, I'm managing the guilt as best I can.

I hesitated to post because I'm sure I have grammatical errors in my writing that will annoy you. Are you thinking 'if you know you are a terrible writer why don't you do something about it?' I'm lazy. However, I over came my fear and decided to say hi anyway. You are so funny, sarcastic, and smart I can't stop reading your blog!

I had hammies too at one time. I got up to 13. It's been a while since I had one though. We went from hammies to rabbits to cats and now we have two dogs.

Ok I'm rambling.

[Shari]

Stacy, lol - got a big smile from your comments, thanks! Then I took two weeks to reply because I can out-lazy anyone. It's almost a skill.

(For what it's worth, I'm the only person who can make grammatical errors that annoy me. Well I guess multi-million dollar companies can annoy me with bad grammar, too, but only since I wish they'd pay me to find the goofs!)

I think your 12-y-o daughter is at the perfect age to embrace cruising. Old enough to appreciate a little bit of everything, but too young and sweet to throw candy at people or block elevators/stairs - ha! (I know that's the minority, anyway.) I hope you'll pop by after Operation Abandon Family (sorry - totally just teasing) and say how it went. (Or pop by anytime.)

I have to respect anyone who had 13 hamsters. Not only is that, like, a little hamster coven, but you know what it's like to have people repeat the number after you ("THIRTEEN??!!"). I seem to be operating in reverse of your plan: dogs, then cats, then hamsters. I have somehow completely missed the bunny stage, but bunnies are on the list for when we move to The Land Down Under That Doesn't Permit Hamsters. And chickens.

Thanks again for commenting. I'm off to slowly slam out (that doesn't even make sense) another Carnival Splendor post!

[Stacy]

Hi Shari,

I just read your post about your Mom and what you are grateful for. I couldn't post a comment but wanted to tell you that I loved it. Really, don't delete it. My Mom passed away last October and she was only 58. She died of a heart attack and it was sudden. Some people say a sudden death of a loved one is easier than living with knowing your loved one is still here but gone. I think it just SUCKS!

Operation Abandon Family On Thanksgiving is in full swing! A little more than 3 months and I'm sailing on the Spirit. The descriptions of the vegetarian meals you ate sound yummy. I hope they have palenta and stuffed mushrooms! I'm not a veg head but I love my veggies, pasta, and Indian!

Love your blog and wish you would write more often. I know you do it for yourself but you have a Blog Fan in me. :-)

I know, don't tell me, tons of grammatical errors. :->>>

Stacy

[Milad]

Hi Shari:
Are you intrested to sell your domain name(shari.com)?
Regards,
Milad.

[Jo]

I have to tell you that you are an incredibly talented and hysterically comical writer....I have not laughed out loud so much in years....Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading about more of your adventures...Also, you should write a book!!!!My teenaged son and I are booked on a Feb 2012 Carnival cruise and are looking forward to the behind-the-scenes tour......all the best to you and yours....
Jo

[Shari]

Hi Jo - wow, thank you! I'm glad I finished my ice cream before I read your lovely comment or I would've had no excuse to sulk over a bad day at work (and thus no excuse for ice cream) - now I get the best of everything! :)

I hope you have a great time on your cruise and especially on the Behind the Scenes Tour. Take a few big gulps of sea air for me!

(Now off to walk on clouds for a bit. What have you done? I was hoping to have an excuse for chocolate again tomorrow!)

[Shari]

Stacy, if you see this, I just realized that your T-Day Exodus is imminent. (Where did the time go?) Do report back with details!

[Shari]

Hi Shari!
From another Shari in New York! I'm a teacher, too! I like your blog. I stumbled upon you as I randomly typed in my first name. Looking forward to reading more from you.

[Joe]

Hello Shari,

I have commented before, but now it's because I have a question.
So my family and I are booked on the Carnival Spirit and just got off the Inspiration, and well, I think I am about ready to break up with Carnival. Nothing messy, just give them their box of things and be done with it. Anyhow, we are checking out the dry docked version of the Spirit in March, and then calling it quits. However, I just had a revelation...WE HAVE NEVER CRUISED THE SPLENDOR!!!

My question is, is it really that different? I mean I want something new. I don’t exactly know how to explain it, but it goes something like this. In this modern world we live in all I hear about is these new, cool, modern ships. I don't think I have been on one of those. So I was beginning to think it was the line I chose. (8 times on Carnival). However, maybe we just need to try a newer, larger ship? What are your thoughts?

p.s. we have only been on Fantasy class 4x and Spirit 4x

p.p.s. Makes me very nervous to type something to you, due to your kick a** grammar skills.

[Shari]

Hi Joe!

Your question is giving me quite a lot of pause. I'm a big fan of Splendor, but I'm also kind of tired of Carnival, and I'm not as new to cruising as the first time I went on Splendor (with the perspective of coming straight from Elation). Our second trip on Splendor was great fun, but it's probably significant that our next cruise will be on Norwegian.

Even if Splendor were going to Alaska (with her thalasso pool/aroma room - which is what kept me off Spirit for Alaska since competing ships have them and Spirit does not), it's time for a change.

I don't think Splendor is reeeeallly that different. Not different enough for a vet such as yourself, perhaps. I don't think Splendor quite falls under the category of new/modern/cool that people are talking about... which feels weird to type since just four years ago, she was. So maybe I'm jaded. Yes, she has that spa that I'm crazy about, the okayish burrito bar, the Tandoor, the Serenity area, but Dream/Breeze has more, and RC's Oasis and Norwegian's Epic have more than that...

...On the other hand, there are all of those little touches that make me prefer Carnival Splendor (and not just because I like more room to explore). Like, the booths in the buffet area, the spacious Morocco room for Punchliners, the tapas (instead of always sushi), all that pink... ha!

So, hard to say. I love Splendor, and I'm a bit bummed that when we move to Australia, Carnival Spirit is going to be the biggest ship there. (Although I do like Spirit and am looking forward to the new, exotic itineraries down under.) But if you told me that this summer I could be back on Splendor for Alaska or I could stay on with Norwegian Pearl, which has a less impressive thalasso/spa and is 20k less tonnage, I'd still go with Pearl. Maybe I'm just tired of Carnival's (comparatively) limited vegetarian options (even with the new menu) and definitely loooove the idea of not having to book ages in advance to have Your Time Dining, but - despite the urge to press on to Platinum (not sure why) - I'm just ready for something new.

But, ask me again in August. Maybe after Norwegian I'll be running back to Carnival!

P.S. You're silly to be nervous when typing to me - that makes me nervous to type back and try to live up to this imaginary kick-assery. Now I need a cookie. No, don't try to take it back, I'm going to eat a cookie! (Whew - was hoping I'd have an excuse...)

[Joe]

Well, it sounds like you have made up my mind. I just needed to hear that the Splendor was not that different. I mean, if they would have at least thrown in a "cherry on top" store where I could get cheesecake on a stick, yes on a stick, like they have on the Breeze, Liberty, and Magic, maybe I would have reconsidered.

Funny you mentioned the platinum situation. I am right there with you. I mean the fame, the glory, the lording over I could accomplish while embarking V.I.P. style. I want it, I need it. Did I mention free laundry? Well, in the end with their big switch of the past guest recognition program I guess it's a sign to let it go and move on. RCI here I come!

[Vicki]

Hi Shari, just wanted to drop you a line to tell you how much I have enjoyed your trip report to Orlando and Las Vegas. Having bought it for my kindle about a week ago I have been avidly reading it since. We were in WDW in March 2002, shortly after you, and it has been a good trip down memory lane....we are off again in 7 weeks - hence all the Disney reading I can find for Kindle. It was good to see some of your photos from this trip on your website and would like to send you and Mike my best wishes. Thanks for the laughs xx

[Shari]

Hi Vicki - awww, thanks! *high five for Kindle solidarity* I have all of the photos in a set on Flickr, if you're interested: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamsters/sets/476323/

I'm madly jealous that you're going back again. So much new stuff! Have lots and lots of fun for those of us living vicariously!

[Stacy]

Hi Shari,

We had a wonderful time on Carnival Spirit over Thanksgiving Break. Thanks for remembering we were going. I made my in-laws a turkey dinner before we left so that alleviated the guilt a little. However, when I was on the ship and had an umbrella drink in my hand everyone back home was a distant memory. You were right, my 12 year old daughter had a blast. We gave her some freedom on the ship but not too much. The Circle C events went into the wee hours of the night. She had an earlier curfew and complained about it but when she got back to the cabin she was asleep in minutes. There were unruly kids on the cruise. I thought about your reviews when some kids were splashing in the hot tub. The parents just laughed and drank. It was a little annoying but I kept telling myself "vacation is what you make of it. Don't let other people spoil your fun". So it worked, for a minute. Then my husband asked the kids to kindly stop splashing him and they were shocked that a stranger had told them what to do. Or they were shocked that ANYONE told them what to do. They did stop though. Actually, I think they were scared because they got out and jumped in the pool. I gave my husband a high five right in front of the parents! I do have to say there were a lot of children on board do to the fact that it was Thanksgiving break and the majority of them were well behaved.

I just joined Pinterest and I'm obsessed. It's very addicting. I rambled.......again. Please excuse any grammatical errors. I put off writing this because I always thing your going to grade my posts. Just kidding. Grade away..........I'm thinking C- if I'm lucky. Take care.

Stacy

P.S. I loved your post about the dentist. I think it was called "The Place They Called me Dianne". So damn funny!

[Joe]

What? Mono really? What are we going to do about the upcoming cruise to Alaska? I am stressed out for you guys. I have never had mono, but Im not guessing it will help you gallivant through the mountain tops while snapping shots of caribou. I don't mean to cause more stress for you. I just would like you guys to have an awesome time so that I could read some kick ass blog about it. Whew! Now thats off my chest.

[Shari]

LOL. Aw, Joe - you're too kind!

It is/was more of a "mono flare up," not real mono. I mustn't put on airs! Anyway, I'm much better with every day - woot. Soon my husband will stop yelling "HONEY, YOU'RE MOUTHBREATHING!" at me while I sleep. It just makes me feel less dainty, you know.

That said, these stumpy sausage legs were never likely to be running amongst the caribou for the Alaska trip... but since I'm going to rent a long lens, maybe I can still get pics from a comfy, hot chocolate-enhanced distance that will look like I was right there? And the caribou will thank me not to pant my cooties all over their pristine wilderness. ;)

So, did you ever go on the Royal Caribbean cruise? Was it great? I've been looking at their Aussie ships - not too shabby!

[Paul]

Hi Sharri,

I noticed that you have driven the i15 from LA to Las Vegas and you seem to have an eye for the quirky.

I am working on an australian TV project and I was wondering if you could shed some light on the drive for me.

I would LOVE to find some sort of extreme food stop somewhere between the two cities and also a quirky weird pitt stop.

Any advice would be great appreciated.

Cheers

Paul

[Shari]

Hi Paul! HMMmmmm! If only that drive was a bit more quirky - then I wouldn't dread it as much!

Well, the oddest spot (to me) that doesn't get a lot of attention is the ruins of the former Rock-a-Hoola water park in the middle of the desert. (See Wikipedia for the full history and location.) Over the years it has lost its slides, and the enormous Coke fountain drink has faded, but people do explore it sometimes and it seems there is still a lot to look at. I think the current owners are on FB and have a web presence (I forget the URL, though) and probably wouldn't be averse to letting you film there legitimately. (Many people seem to just walk on in. There's no one around for miles.)

The most obvious roadside attraction is the alleged "World's Largest Thermometer" in Baker, a stretch of food stops and petrol stops (with some sort of town beyond, they say, but travelers try not to dwell there) about an hourish-plus outside of Vegas. None of the gas stations advertise their prices, which is your first warning that they know there's no more gas for ages.

The Mad Greek is a traditional stop for food for many people on this route. The strawberry milkshake is one of their signature items, and the one I had here was pretty amazing. The decor outside (statues everywhere) is definitely Greek and definitely a bit mad. However, Mad Greek has since opened up (more sedate) locations in Primm and Las Vegas, so - for me - carefully pulling into the cracked asphalt parking lot in Baker has lost some of its appeal. Usually I just want to get to where I'm going. But Baker does have some old-style motels and a rustic auto repair sign - enough to make me shiver for the poor folks who find themselves needing either at this point in the drive.

Near Barstow there is Peggy Sue's 50's Diner, which looks kind of kitschy, but we've never stopped there. Also near Barstow is the Calico ghost town. I haven't been there since the early 1990s, but it's kind of an odd place. On the one hand, there are genuine things to see from when Calico was a boom mining town - such as a cemetery - but on the other hand, it's owned by Knotts Berry Farms.

I've read that there's a pet cemetery near Yermo, where all cars heading from Vegas to California must stop for vehicle inspection for fruits/veg/contraband, but I've never visited it. (I've also never been stopped for inspection.) Across the road and along the way is some tagging, and nearby in the opposite direction are a bunch of "holy rolling" religious signs done in the style of Burma Shave.

I can't remember exactly where, but there are also some ruins of diners and gas stations along the drive that have looked interesting. I think they are before you get to Barstow (traveling from Vegas), but some might be between Barstow and Victorville. (I'm sure you know about Route 66's nearby course around those locations.)

When I think about the drive, I think about the gun-barrel shot across the desert between Las Vegas and Victorville. I guess because once we fuel up in Victorville and leave the high desert through the El Cajon Pass, it just feels like the outer reaches of the LA freeways to me. Civilization is everywhere, and I no longer have to dread how many hours I might be standing on the side of the road if I had a flat tire. Of course, then you trade isolation/heat/getting stuck behind trucks for the utter madness of LA drivers, lol. They've been trying to create a train link between Las Vegas and Anaheim, and the current (and much-reviled, but it's deeply political to put it mildly) plan is to put a train between Las Vegas and Victorville. As lonely and tiresome as that drive is, I'd rather do it than get off a train only to have to face the California freeway system for another hour at best.

It's frustrating that 15 is the only way to drive from LA to Las Vegas (unless you want to double your time and really see some backroads), and you'd think we'd have some efficient public transportation for such a well-traveled route. (You don't want to be stuck in traffic in the middle of the desert on Fridays eastbound or Sundays westbound!) If I were to be poetic, I'd say that perhaps it's important to purify yourself with a trip through the empty desert before (or after) the excesses of Sin City. ;)

Sorry I can't be more help. Please keep me posted on your project - perhaps I'll be in Oz myself when it airs!

[Tommie Hessler]

I read a post you made on Johnetta Ellis' FindAGrave entry about Emily Scott. She is my Great Great Grandmother. If you have questions left needing answers about the family I may beable to help. My email address is on my FindAGrave profile LaHessler.

[Amy]

Hi Shari! I absolutely love the picture you have posted of the Fort Worth Botanical Garden- my husband proposed to me there from the exact view point from you picture! I was wondering if you would mind if I used it online to create a photo-to-canvas that I could hang in my living room? I would greatly appreciate it : )

[Shari]

Amy - how romantic! By all means, you have my permission. I'm glad you liked the photo. :) -S

[Lyn Brown]

Hi sharni
have booked cabin 7258 leaving on a holiday from Sydney on Tuesday and so great to read your review. can't wait now to experience this great cabin and biggggggg balcony

regards Lyn