We will be going to Orange County in early January.
I like the idea of it being warm when we are in artic weather here.
Hopefully, the weather will be like fall - 70's and high 60's.
But I don't know for certain.
His sisters keep telling me it will be nice. What the hell does nice mean?
Nice to me is low 70's and cool nights with a light jacket.
But nice to them could mean 80's and hot muggy evenings.
But they don't have muggy, do they?
I'm stressing this of all things. I have asked them so many times I give up. Hopefully, I bring the right clothes and the internet doesn't fail me.
We booked our flight a long time ago. I did our hotel recently. I still have to get a car. Gosh, car rentals are expensive. We normally have to get a bigger car so Rick can fit. I mean if we got a compact car Rick would never get his legs in. The hotel was a great deal for 4 days but this car is more than flying and staying.
We are staying in Mission Viejo at the Ayers Suites.
Never heard of this hotel chain but it was close to Dove Canyon where his sister lives.
Hopefully, the hotel will be as nice as their website and travel advisor says it is. The other sister lives on the top of a mountain between Crestline and Lake Arrowhead. Thankfully she is coming down to sea level to stay at the sister in Orange County.
Saying we do not know this area is an understatement.
I have been to Orange county 3 times now and I have a dear dear friend in Mission Viejo who we will be having dinner with the night of our arrival. But to say we know the area would be foolish. Rick has never been to southern CA. When I was there my friend made me do The Grove. I hate shopping but it was very nice.
I stayed in Huntington Beach which of course you know I loved since it was on the water. My hotel overlooked the ocean and I was so happy to be there with the exception that this was all work-related.
All of my trips to Orange County have been work-related.
We are hoping this trip is far better.
His one sister keeps asking what he wants to see. Rick is so not the tourist trap kind of guy. They asked if he wanted to go to Hollywood or LA. That made me laugh and shows how little they know him yet. No, I told him the only thing he would like in LA is to be on the Price Is Right.
He would like to see the family story so to speak. Since he did not grow up with them he just wants to see it all. Where they grew up and where his dad grew up. (Huntington Beach and Long beach) More about family than Disneyland or Hollywood. (yes they actually asked if he wanted to go to Disneyland)
I, of course, am only thinking shallow shit. What will the weather be like? What clothes to bring? I am assuming it will be like our fall weather but who knows? I don't want to pack a lot but this type of thing will stress me out. I may have to check a bag which I never ever do. The ONE time I checked a bag in my entire life, my bag went to Hawaii, I went to Pennsylvania. I'd have preferred it the other way around.
So if any west coasters out there can give me a clue as to the weather I'd appreciate it.
- I know you can't predict precisely but is it normally in the '60s and '70s or warmer?
- Can I lose 50lbs before I get there? Can I grow 5 inches taller?
- Will I stick out without blonde hair and a beautiful tan?
- Will I be able to acquire their up-speak accent in time? (everything ends higher and sounds like a question even though they are making a statement)
18 comments:
You guys have such great sense of humors that you'll fit in fine even if strangers peg your wardrobes and accents for Easterners. Bring clothes you can layer and peel off if needed.
If you've never been to Disneyland you might want reconsider going. Lots of things for adults to do and you might need a break from bonding with the new family in the middle of your visit. A drive down to the San Diego Zoo is worth it, too, if you have the time. But I get that this is a different kind of trip for Rick than sightseeing and I sincerely hope he finds what he's looking for.
I agree Disneyland is not just for kids. You might want to take half a day to see the Hollywood sign.
The family idea is great. I was never into Disneyland or Disney World. That's just me. Have a wonderful week Peg & Rick. See you when you get back with new and fantastic stories. See ya.
Cruisin Paul
Jean, he's been to Disney World which is far bigger and better. I've been to both and once is enough thank you very much! Neither of us are a fan of things like that. Who knows where they will take us. I know there is a day of seeing where his family grew up etc. We are fine staying in Orange County and not going up to LA. He's looking for fun and time with his sisters. A day by the pool sipping champagne is what the one loves to do and I know her brother is the same way.
Barb - No Hollywood sign visit I don't think. Not thrilled about going north to LA if can be avoided. I have been to LA many many times. The hollywood sign is anti-climatic to be honest. Didn't you think?
Paul - agreed we both hate the amusement park/Disney stuff. We don't collect cha-keys and disney stuff as grown adults. I don't get adults who love it and go without children. But everyone has their own joy. Rick would rather go see Alcatraz again than go to Disney. We are weird like that.
You guys will be fine mingling with the Californians, but yes probably a bit of a culture shock. I've been to Hollywood once. It's... different.
It should be fun for Rick to get some family history. And for the record, I'd rather visit Alcatraz than Disneyland too
I would generally say that my summer clothes and winter clothes are not all that different. I light layer a bunch. Good idea to count on pants and a t-shirt or blouse and take a sweater. I live on the coast so my weather is very like HB and I always have a sweater or sweatshirt in the car. If you tend to be very warm blooded, shorts with a sweater usually works.
Bring a jacket just in case we have a rare cold snap but remember our cold snaps usually mean 58 degrees or warmer and we all walk around like we are dying.
You cannot lose 50lbs so enjoy it just as you perfectly are.
Tan and blonde are totally optional
Up speak is left to more the youngish hipster types. You'll be ok.
You'll rock this.
Abby, you get us.😁
Damn Linda 58 is perfection to us.
sweatshirt weather😁
Never been but am anxious to hear your take on it all. Just make it fun as you always do.
California is on my bucket list ... Disneyland, not so much.
I'm a layering kind of girl. I always take shorts and sleeveless because if there is any chance of wearing them I will. I'd rather be sleeveless in 60 degrees than long sleeves in 80. But yes, I too get really aggravated about the weather. I am a tourist trap kind of person but if Rick is not I hope yall speak up. Nothing worse than being drug to something you don't want to see. And, like you say, they don't really know him so they need to be informed.
Oh, one more thing. I guess you considered the use of Uber if the car rental was that expensive. I've only taken Uber when I had doctor's appointments and could not drive home but it is something to consider.
Can't go wrong with t-shirts and hoodies or a light jacket.
You can bring a long sleeved shirt or two... or hey, pick up a couple things while you're there if you're hopelessly inappropriate in your wardrobe choices. :)
You're not loved because of how large or small you are.
Stop worrying about that and just have fun.
Barbara, we've talked about uber but my old dog wants a car for doing things on our own. be it site seeing, shopping, other friends etc.But I'm working on him Barbara😁
I'm 6 hours north so we have different weather but it's hardly EVER muggy in CA. If it is I still don't think it's anything like back east.
Well, we lose the concept of what "Nice" means on the West Coast... here in Arizona if it's not triple digits we tell our Winter Visitors it's NOT HOT... and they spontaneously combust when it's November and they're still sweating! Accents Nationally can be interesting... a Southern drawl is the one that always makes me Smile or cringe. But a good Cajun Accent, fascinates me! I can't be near thick East Coast accents, because even after all these Years of West Coast and International Living, I pick it back up in a heartbeat... why is that?! How great that your Husband located some of his Birth Family and can now connect.
It appears from all comments that I will end up checking a bag. I'm bringing short, jean, hoodies, nice clothes for evenings and long sleeve and short sleeves. I think I can't do that or I'll need shoes for all those as well. Keep ya'll posted.
Bohemian, every state I have lived in has had a fun accent. AFter 2.5 yrs in Ohio I began saying certain words funny. Being in the south for 19 yrs has me sayin' ya'll way too frequently even in writing. But living in Seattle just made me learn to never behave like them or be as rude as them and to smile because resting bitch face isn't very welcoming. :-) And it is so cool that he found his birth family without even looking. He looked for years but got nowhere. Then he did ancestry just to see his nationality and to see if what he was told was true. His sister came up - she had a family tree, he saw a photo of his father and they are twins. His father never knew he existed. Sadly his father has passed at a young age of 51. His birth mother he met in the '80s and it was not pleasant. She too has since passed. It's an incredible story. Me personally would long to be an only child and adopted. It would make more sense why I am that one thing that is not like the others. :-)
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