it's paaaaay daaaaaaaayyyyyy
Plus I was finally handed the bonus they should've given me 2 months ago (because I told him I HAD to get it before the end of the month because of my mom's upcoming visit). It wasn't as much as I'd hoped, but it'll do. I won't complain....much....*grin*
Anyway, it's payday, which means I was finally able to call the Grand Canyon Railway and make our reservations for the train up to the Grand Canyon. *bounce* It's odd, I've become significantly more spontaneous with trips for the most part, but this one is mapped out due to time constraints - like, down to the fact that we have to stop by the train shop in ABQ right after I pick her up from the airport *wince* because otherwise they won't be open on the days when we get back and before she leaves.
And - that right after that stop I'm taking her to the lower tram terminal for dinner at the restaurant there - so she can watch a good ole NM sunset from a nice perch. The next morning we up and take off for a meander through AZ to the train motel car *grin*.
I think we'll drive through the Petrified Wood National Forest (http://www.nps.gov/pefo). That'll give her a neat view of the SW - plus it's one of the places I've always intended to drive through on my way to or from Phoenix but have never done. Since fiscally it makes sense to renew my national parks pass anyway it'll be "free". If I don't renew it'd be $12 for that plus $32 for both of us via train into the Canyon. That's $44 - a year pass is $80 now so I may as well go about it this way and then have the pass. Might be incentive to get down to Carlsbad Caverns NP finally!
I'm really looking forward to her visit - mostly because I can't wait to treat her to what will hopefully be an utterly awesome and completely surprising week visit! To be able to give her back even this tiny bit for all that she's given to me in my life *squishy*
The only other reservation I have to debate about is whether or not to get train tickets for the Santa Fe train for mother's day. We'll have a very late drive (esp. for her with the time change) coming back from AZ, but the train on Sunday doesn't depart until 2 I believe. A mother's day special train. :)
YAY
Anyway, it's payday, which means I was finally able to call the Grand Canyon Railway and make our reservations for the train up to the Grand Canyon. *bounce* It's odd, I've become significantly more spontaneous with trips for the most part, but this one is mapped out due to time constraints - like, down to the fact that we have to stop by the train shop in ABQ right after I pick her up from the airport *wince* because otherwise they won't be open on the days when we get back and before she leaves.
And - that right after that stop I'm taking her to the lower tram terminal for dinner at the restaurant there - so she can watch a good ole NM sunset from a nice perch. The next morning we up and take off for a meander through AZ to the train motel car *grin*.
I think we'll drive through the Petrified Wood National Forest (http://www.nps.gov/pefo). That'll give her a neat view of the SW - plus it's one of the places I've always intended to drive through on my way to or from Phoenix but have never done. Since fiscally it makes sense to renew my national parks pass anyway it'll be "free". If I don't renew it'd be $12 for that plus $32 for both of us via train into the Canyon. That's $44 - a year pass is $80 now so I may as well go about it this way and then have the pass. Might be incentive to get down to Carlsbad Caverns NP finally!
I'm really looking forward to her visit - mostly because I can't wait to treat her to what will hopefully be an utterly awesome and completely surprising week visit! To be able to give her back even this tiny bit for all that she's given to me in my life *squishy*
The only other reservation I have to debate about is whether or not to get train tickets for the Santa Fe train for mother's day. We'll have a very late drive (esp. for her with the time change) coming back from AZ, but the train on Sunday doesn't depart until 2 I believe. A mother's day special train. :)
YAY