TUESDAY TWO - HAPPY LAST TUESDAY AND LAST DAY OF 2013

(Somewhere in Utah, near Monument Valley - July 2013)

I was about to finish this Tuesday Two post for the last day of 2013 (December 31^st) when my husband asked if we could go to a movie.  He said that we should leave right away to catch the matinee.  We thought we could get the senior discount rate in addition to the reduced fare for the early show.  Being a “dutiful and submissive” wife (yeah right), I stopped blogging and went to the movie with my husband.

(Santa Barbara, California - July 2013)

It costs only $4.00 each ticket for the 4:30 show but we spent $15 for a combo of large popcorn and large strawberry Slurpee.  For a smaller combo, we would only save $1.50.  This is the reason why we have become a society of “supersize” and fighting (losing to) the epidemics of obesity!

What movie did we see?  We saw “Hobbit, the Desolation of Smaug”.  I closed my eyes 2/3 of the time.  Even my husband admitted that there were too many fighting scenes.  Be warned of the ending if you are planning to see the movie – that is all I am going to say ….

(A pair of sea lions having a political debate - California, July 2013)

OK, back to the last day of 2013 – here is looking back at a few major events by the numbers:

33 – My family and I have been living in America for 33 years.  We have come a long way from the first day (January 1980) when we arrived in New York City from the refugee camp in Indonesia.  We are thankful to be living in America and did our best to be productive citizens.

(Benjamin at Elephant Feet, Highway 160 in Arizona - July 2013)

52 – I reached another milestone on my fifty-second birthday.  I am thankful to celebrate one more birthday.  It is not too bad being older when compared to the other option. 

24 – My husband and I celebrated our 24^th Wedding Anniversary.  It has not always been “happily ever” but we weathered the tough times and continue to grow old with each other.

26 – We also celebrated our 26^th Anniversary on July 4^th when we saw each other across the crowded cafeteria at the United Nations and it was “love at first sight”!

(Lovers Rock, Utah - July 2013)

5,150 – Our annual road trip in 2013 was from St. Louis to San Francisco.  It took 12 days and a total of 5,150 miles including visits to Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks, spent a few days in SF, drove along Pacific Coast Highway (Big Sur/CA Route 1), visited Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, and took the long way home thru Hoover Dam (Arizona/Nevada), Monument Valley and Arches National Parks (Utah).

Compared to other years, I would say that 2013 was an uneventful and smooth-riding year.  It was not the best but definitely not the worst.  It was a typical year with many setbacks and challenges.  With the new year, we are ready to move forward, to continue to keep calm and carry on …

BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS (GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT), UTAH

My husband was so excited when we unexpectedly saw the sign “Bonneville Salt Flats”.  After driving thru what seems to be miles after miles, as far as the eyes could see, of salt fields, my husband commented, “I bet this is an area where land speed records were set” – golly, he was right!

The owner of the hotel we stayed took part in the race but we did not have the opportunity to meet him.  There were photos on display in the lobby and historical facts about the area.  We were told that speed racing is major event held each year in Wendover, Utah.  The 2013 Speed Week is scheduled on August 10, and the World Finals is October 1^st which attracts racing fans from around the world.

We saw lot of people walking around in the salt field.  Kids were especially enjoying the activity.  We decided not to go thru the trouble of washing our feet and our shoes.  Besides, it would not be good to have even a grain of salt in Ralphie’s previous Pony since we would be on the road for the next 10 days.

If you don't care about speed records or the history of Bonneville Salt Flats, just take it with a grain of salt!