The Steamy Windshield

NEW UPDATE LETS YOU FIX YOUR INSTAGRAM CAPTIONS: WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR THIS?!

Okay, we know this is the epitome ofbeing a "First World Problem," but not being able to go back and edit the captions on your Instagrams has always rubbed us the wrong way. Thankfully, Instagram's latest update fixes this annoying problem.

How many times have you typed out a great caption only to find it went one word too long onto another line? Then, you have to ask yourself if you want to either delete the post or leave it up and have it look weird.

We don't know why it took Instagram so long to offer a simple caption edit to our posts, but at least we won't have that problem anymore.

Type away till your heart is content, post your lovely #foodporn and then go back and fix the caption if you happened to confuse truffles with Ruffles.

There are a few other notable updates in this release as well.

The new People tab offers you new sources of content, and now Instagram's search box offers suggestions for hashtags and users as you are typing.

The Tides Turned

As bitter sweet it is. I stepped away from this business and began working at T-Mobile for almost a year now. It's been something I am doing for myself and making me know personally. What everyone the past few years made me believe of myself. They're wrong and I proved it to myself! It's taking me a while to accept conforming to the corp world. The lack of freedom. Having a normal schedule and not being able to travel. That's been the biggest form of acceptance for me. It goes by the saying. Be careful what you wish for. I'm glad in this case my wish came through!

This past year I have learned a lot about myself. Being bullied as an adult is as bad if not worse as when you're a child. Dealing with a male based industry has taught me many things. I learned that even though a man will profess his undying love and devotion to his mother/wife/girlfriend/ daughter . He is the first one to insult/hurt/offend/ you. By doing this, if you as a woman, have any issues from your past. This brings you straight back to where you didn't want to be. You have to relive all of those feelings of self doubt, self hate, and being totally consumed by all of the negativity. There is no quick fix for this. There is no pill that will diminish the past demons. As a recovering addict of 20+ years I have to go back into my "recovery toolbox " and get back to the basics. Though it stings a bit. It's nothing I can't handle. Just now I don't want to handle, deal with. or be a part of this behavior anymore.

I discovered that men and women aren't that much different.

Men are fake friends, back stabbers, two faced, and more dramatic than any women I know! When a supposed friendship ends. Is when the drama begins.

Men in this business are so shallow and ego driven they can't see outside themselves. Being treated the way I was treated. I began to understand the one thing that held it all together for me. My face, body, and personality is really no concern to anyone. I don't need my flaws told to me. I am not blind and can see more harshly than any other person out there. The mirror has never been a good friend and its been a battle to put this all into a healthy perspective for me.

In a past conversation. I was told something that I have to fall back on. "Stop expecting more out of people than they do for themselves." This meant for me, not to give these men power over my emotions as I have in the past. Though it wasn't easy. I did it. This was of course with the help of my husband. Everyone soon learned that you don't verbally attack this man's wife.

Now that 2013 is behind me I take all I have learned and move on to a new year.

Broken Foot and Spider Bites

We were in North Carolina doing a 3 week run. The first week I was walking towards the door to go outside and slipped and fell in a show room filled with people. This big burly guy came to my ungraceful rescue. Soon our guys began calling me Lurch. I had to drag my foot to walk. A few hours later, my husband and I agreed it was time to go to the ER. I got directions and was getting ready to take myself. One of the store guys was confused about why I was going alone and my husband wasn't taking me. He offered several times to drive me and or follow me. I was getting irritated at this. Not because of his offer, but the fact he offered. What many don't understand about being a car wife. Your pretty much on your own. If your mate works in a dealership. That dealership owns your husband. It's something I had to accept and get used to. I can't say I liked it, but I learned to pick my battles. I am not sure if I learned acceptance while in rehab or just on my own. Either way in this life of the car business I wish other woman would get this memo because woman can't have it both ways. The husband can't win. He works to much and doesn't do enough at home. I have heard it all. I often have felt like I am an alien from another planet because I keep quite a bit to myself and don't feel the need to bitch and complain. Yes, it annoys me that I didn't have a husband home at a normal time of night. Or that he often would stop off to have a few/a lot of drinks before coming home. In fact, I can honestly say, I didn't matter in some ways when it came to his career. So, taking myself to the ER/ Doctors was something I did without asking my husband to go with me. This time I really wished I had been a little less stubborn and asked my husband to take me. Driving was fine because it is my left foot. Parking no big deal, but walking into the ER was a whole other story. Turns out in the midst of ever so not graceful fall. I broke my metatarsal. All the while I am at the hospital my husband is trying to call my phone. No signal. Once I get out to the car my phone explodes with his messages. The first few were pretty calm and as the time went on he hadn't heard from me he got more and more agitated. If someone who doesn't know us/him saw my messages they would have thought he was a complete douche, but believe it or not. This would be his being worried/scared. I know this feeling because I have had it many times with him when he stopped off after work and didn't call or said he was on his way and two hours later not home yet. Driving up to the motel I saw relief on his face once he saw mine. I just laughed to myself. My thought was, "had you come with me, you'd already know", but in all honesty, I don't like him there with me. He is way better at home taking care of me then going with me. Once I got back he helped me get settled and in the morning off to work he went. He called so much checking on me. I finally had to text him I was going to sleep and call when I was awake. He then set up meals on wheels for me. One of the sales guys would make sure I had what I needed. That is the other thing I learned. He has perfected the art of delegation. This is his way of taking care of me third person.

The Second week we go to another part of North Carolina. A few days into the second week we get bit by spiders. This time my husband got it more than me. The pictures I posted is just a few for a visual. His whole body was covered. I let the front desk know and they were so nice to switch rooms for us. The only problem is that I had to do it broken foot and all. Everyone had to go to work. Keep in mind the cleaning girl was right there and was so nice to offer her assistance. After, I was done! Later in the day I was checked on, food brought to me and my pillows were fluffed.

The moral of this is look for the little things in life to count your blessings instead of finding things to complain about. Things could be worse.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11179831/?claim=y97p6ue6hrj">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Some personal pampering

http://bembu.com/detox-bath-recipes

Missing Papa

I don't think people get the sacrifices the staffed event teams make doing the job they do.

Yesterday was Father's Day. Many dads were on the road in a motel. Not with their family. Many men and woman are gone weeks at a time. Sometimes months. Its a little easier for us because I can go with my husband, but then we have a little girl at home missing us. (Granddaughter)

Recently, I decided to work more at home than travel. The decision I made is one not for myself, but more for our family. Throughout my husband's career. I've been a stay at home mom to our kids. Now both have kids and its now decided they want me for their kids. Our granddaughter has lived with us sense she was born with a year apart while we went full time on the road. Her dad has a good job,but not enough to live on their own. Our daughter sells at time for us is considering her options for long term and college. Our son and his wife both work full time now they have her son come with me during the week when he isn't with his other grandmother.
This brings me to a situation where I want to be on the road with my husband, but being raised Catholic and a mother. I suffer with guilt 99% of the time.
Raising our kids in this business you have to be flexible and used to change. Often I've compared our life to the military. Though we never can be compared to a job of a soldier.
We are more like dysfunctional warriors of this imperfect career.

This morning our granddaughter was fussing for her Papa after seeing his picture on my tablet. Doing what I've always done with our kids. I called him. Asking if he had time and telling him why I was calling. I passed the phone to her. She was pathetic sounding. It made her better hearing his voice as it always did her mother. Doesn't make it easy on him sense the majority of his parenting was via telephone.
As the primary parent I had to come up with a way that kept him involved while working 7days a week bell to bell. (Translation-long ass hours and little time off). Enter the phone. I would always give him heads up prior to the kids calling. The rule was if they were in trouble. They called. Not once did I say "wait until your father comes home" if they had something to share they called dad. If they wanted to do something they called dad and he would ask what I said. We also had the "we will see" that meant later and as the kids say it was dad's way of saying no, but didn't want to be the heavy. To lesson his guilt for the long hours I took the roll of the tougher parent. Dad just had to back me up or have to "see what he could do" the whole time we were working together, but it made him feel better not being the bad Guy.

Sadly most woman (not all) aren't that creative and frankly are just plane too bitchy to think past themselves. These woman don't get that the success of their husband lies with them. If your husband knows its being handled at home. He has no worries and can kill it in whatever job he is doing. If he is constantly being nagged and bitched at. There is no way he can work to the best of his ability and who does that hurt? The family. Who gets the blunt of the blame? He does. In this business there is give and take. The family gives and the job takes. It isn't my ideal life at times, but its my life and in order to have some sort of balance and sanity. It was up to me to figure it out. So I did.

Big Dick Bob Syndrome

This picture I saw on a friends Facebook page. I read the caption and instantly I thought, " wow I am so lucky!" I am very lucky because I don't ever have to be in that club. All the years my husband has traveled while I was home with our kids. He always put my mind at ease by late night phone calls telling me how much he loved me. Sadly though a point in my life I was so insecure I didn't get the depth of his love and loyality. Not because of him, but because of what I saw as a car wife.
This business is ego driven and with an ego comes many things. One is cheating on the spouse. I dubbed this the "Big Dick Bob Syndrome" years and years ago. As a car wife seeing how things worked. I became closed off to friendship and had little to no trust of anyone. Yes, at times it was even hard to trust my husband. Not from anything he did. It was more guilt by association. Through his career I met many couples who we socialized with. I was miserable. The wife constantly complained, nagged, and was just never happy. Me, I didn't nag, and if I had a complaint , it was in our own home not with an audience.
If there was a remote chance I did happen to like a wife or two. I didn't get too attached because I knew what shananagans their husband was up to. I kept my distance because I wouldn't have to honor the girl code. I figured it was easier to not have friendships than deal with the drama. Plus at the end if the day. Its just business. Looking back I see how lucky I was and still am to have my husband's love and loyalty. Proof marriage can survive in the car business.

Vegas 2012

First trip to Vegas/ Honeymoon

THE PARIS HOTEL

This is the view upon check in-Stunning!

Loved the rooms- I found this on Photo Bucket because my picture didn't come out, but this was what our room looked like.

This bathroom was elegant.

This was amazing to look up and see. Loved it.

We walked through here to get to the elevator for our room. I loved the whole feel of the decor here.

Le Centeral

Here is where we ate our breakfast and no I couldn't finish this! Again Player's Club comp for another meal.

This is a face of a very hungover husband. Didn't know I took this picture which is even more funny!

Yup and here is me with my hot chocolate....I do believe I was avoiding eye contact with the camera per usual of me.

Though our trip was just a few days. We didn't get to see any shows or really much of anything. We were just enjoying each other's company and the warmth of the sunshine. We roamed around and did take in a few sights hear and there. I didn't really like being on the strip. It just felt gross. We'd have these people slamming these cards of naked women in our face, but couldn't speak English. We were hit up for time share tours with the promise of this or that. Was so annoying. We are in sales and nothing is worse than someone trying to sell us. Yup that is an oxymoron for sure. The one thing that was amazing was us being able to get into Gordon Ramsey's steak house thanks to the Concierge who got us in at 10:15 pm. Yes, so late to eat, but so worth it~

If every restaurant paid attention to serving in the way Gordan Ramsay has. There would never be an unhappy customer. We got seated and my chair was held out. We had a cart with all cuts of beef on it to explain what it was. We ordered and as soon as our glass was empty it was filled. Our plates removed. Our napkins folded when we got up to use the bathroom. Plates never empty. Water was in a bottle not a pitcher. The steak was not as good as LB Steak house in Biloxi. (yes, true story), but the baked mac n cheese had a hint of clam sauce for added flavor. The carrots were the best ever. (Well almost the best. We made some while camping on Grindestone, Ny over the open fire with Lord Calvert and butter. ) Though we spent $250ish it was worth it.

Here is the menu.
Shellfish

Shellfish Platter*
2-3ppl 75 / 80
4-5ppl 145 / 150

tiger prawns, king crab,
oysters, clams, lobster, and
seasonal shellfish served
with:
champagne mignonette, citrus
soy sauce,
cocktail sauce

Half Dozen Oysters*
20 / 21
east and west coast selection
from the Chef

Half Dozen Clams*
15 / 16

Half Maine Lobster*
23 / 25

Half lb Alaskan King
Crab
36 / 38

Shrimp Cocktail
19 / 21
tiger prawns, “flavors” of
cocktail sauce, celery,
espellete

Caviar
red onion, egg, chive, crème
fraiche, pizzelle

Golden Osetra*
290 / 300

Osetra*
190 / 200

Naccarii*
from Chef Ramsay’s trip in ‘08
90 / 100

Price / Non-TR Price
Soups / Salads

Pea Soup 17 / 18
carrot custard, English pea-mint mash, crispy ibérico jamón.

British Ale Onion Soup 16 / 17
boddington’s pub ale, caramelized onion broth,
Welsh rarebit
Caesar Salad* 16 / 17
parmesan cheese, garlic croutons, scotch egg

Spring Vegetable Salad* 19 / 20
fennel seared ahi, pea shoots, asparagus,
candied rhubarb

Market Green Salad 15 / 16
butter lettuce, crisp pancetta, market greens,
shropshire blue cheese, tomato raisins,
green goddess dressing

Appetizers

Herbed Ricotta Raviolo 19 / 20
brown butter, Jamon de bellota Iberico, egg yolk

Fried Blue Point Oysters 19 / 20
herb breadcrumbs, crème fraîche tartar sauce

Hamachi Crudo* 22 / 23
uni, smoked salmon roe, pickled radish, black garlic
purée
Maine Lobster 26 / 28
chorizo stuffed maine lobster, butter poached,
brandied lobster cream sauce, butternut squash

American Kobe Beef Sliders* 17 / 18
sharp English cheddar, caramelized onions,
brioche bun (extra slider 8)

Smoked Beef Tartare* 21 / 22
lemon zest, red onion, capers,
guinness infused mustard seeds, yukon gold herb chips

Kurobuta Pork Belly 18 / 19
cheesy grits, tomato jam, onion pork jus

Seared Foie Gras* 25 / 26
sunchoke purée, Sicilian pistachio streusel,
Harry’s Berry’s Jam

Prime Beef
hand selected by Pat LaFrieda, dry aged for 28 days
minimum in his himalayan salt room
Bone-in New York Strip* 18oz 61 / 63
Filet* 8oz 53 / 55
Bone-in Rib Eye* 24oz 56 / 58
Porterhouse for two* 32oz 98 / 105
Royal Long-Bone Chop for two* 32oz 98 / 105

Kobe
beef marbling score of 9 or higher
American Skirt* 8oz 45 / 48
American Filet* 8oz 77 / 79
American Rib Cap* 8oz 58 / 60
Japanese A5 Kobe* 30 / 32 per ounce

Recommended Accompaniments to your Steaks
demi-roasted bone marrow* 13 / 14
pan seared foie gras* 18 / 19
butter poached lobster tail* 35 / 38
alaskan king crab legs 38 / 40
Chops
Kurobuta Double Pork Chop* 44 / 46
Marcho Farms Veal Chop* 14oz 48 / 50
Duet of Lamb* 46 / 48
shepherd’s pie, lamb chop
Fresh Fish
Wild Pacific Salmon* 39 / 41
Loup de Mer (mediterranean sea bass) 42 / 44
Ahi Tuna* 40 / 42
Alaskan Halibut 45 / 47

Signatures
Roasted Beef Wellington*
For 1 54 /56
For 2 97 / 100
glazed root vegetables,
potato purée, red wine demi glace

Fish and Chips* 42 / 44
loup de mer, truffle chips,
crème fraîche tarter sauce

Beef Short Rib 40 / 42
red wine braised short rib,
potato purée, wild mushrooms

Roasted Chicken Breast* 30 / 32
confit leg, foie gras wild rice,
tikka masala, crispy chicken skin

Fisherman’s Grill* 48 / 50
maine lobster, mussels, scallop, seasonal fish
vadouvan curry aioli
Sides
Roasted Heirloom Carrots
12 / 13
chicken skin, ranch powder,
“hot wing” sauce

Mac & Cheese
12 / 13
blue, cheddar,
parmesan, truffle

Spinach
11 / 12
sautéed or gratinéed
with parmesan cream

Fingerling Potatoes
11 / 12
parmesan, truffle

Potato Puree
11 / 12
yukon gold potato,
crème fraîche

Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
11 / 12
corned bacon

Sautéed Mushrooms
12 /13
garlic chips, scallions, bonito

Haricot Vert
11 / 12
tempura fried, confit
garlic-citrus aïoli

Loaded Baked Potato
11 / 12
smoked gouda béchamel,
sour cream, bacon, chives
Sauces 6

House Made Steak Sauce

Worcestershire Demi-Glace

Béarnaise*

Peppercorn

Bone Marrow

Café De Paris Butter

General Manager – JP Teresi
Executive Chef – Deric Meininge

http://www.parislasvegas.com/restaurants/gordon-ramsay-steak.html#.UaPfIUC1EQg

For sure next time to Vegas we will take in show's and do more shopping.
*a few of these pictures I had to get off Photo Bucket. Some pictures I took didn't come out.

Here are some other pics I took places we didn't get to go to and on the list to do over......Shopping!

This was so beautiful just to walk around and soak in the surroundings.

Pictures of our travels

One of the things I love about traveling is being able to take pictures. I've been trying to figure out my nitch and this is one thing I enjoy.
These pictures are from the north to the west.