Ramblings for the End of February 2022

Well nearing the end anyway

I have one more story to write for the Spring Fling but I did write three already. I also have to finish up February flashes.

This past week we took a short jaunt to Solvang, Santa Ynez and the Chumash Casino. I came home with about $800 so not too bad. I thought you might want to see some pictures from our little getaway.

Pastries from our favorite bakery in Solvang, Olsen’s
Flowers in Solvang
More Flowers from Solvang
Wine Tasting in Solvang
We’ve reached the Casino in Santa Ynez now
My strawberry drink, it was called a Russian Rose. It had vodka in it but tasted like a strawberry shake!

My Cesar Salad with anchovies, YUM

My Salmon, note the fancy plating! LOL
A cute machine with a $500 win for the sister, even the Panda’s are excited!
Heading home, a gloomy day in Ventura Harbor
More Ventura Harbor

Next trip is a 5 day one in about a month in Temecula with wine tasting, a resort pool, and Pechanga!

Comments

16 responses to “Ramblings for the End of February 2022”

  1. Kris Avatar

    Yay for Solvang! I know how much you love it there and it looks like you had a great time. I’m so glad you got to enjoy some time away.

    And yay for another trip to Temecula!

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    1. ivansfanfiction Avatar
      ivansfanfiction

      Yes I did, thanks 🙂

      Like

  2. eveningstar10 Avatar
    eveningstar10

    Glad you were able to get away! Yeahhhhh for winning! I never heard of Solvang – sounds Russian… nor Temecula or even Pechanga- which I guess is a game to play?? Gotta Google these. But love your photos! Also the food looks yummy! Now I want a spiked strawberry shake, but it’s only just after 9am here.
    I work midnight to 8am, so morning drinking 🍹🥂is the way to go. Lol!
    ❤️💚🖖😘

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ivansfanfiction Avatar
      ivansfanfiction

      Solvang is a Danish Village, most definitely NOT Russian. I have mentioned it here on the blog numerous times 🙂
      Temecula is a city is So Cal close to San Diego where they do wine tasting and have a Native American Casino called Pechanga, not a “game” no, but a resort with a huge pool and swim up bar. It is where I won $17,000 late last year. I’ve also mentioned these places on here many times.
      I can see now you don’t read my posts LMAO j/k, it’s cool 🙂
      I know you have your own life and problems as do we all!
      PS. The Russian Rose Strawberry drink was delish!

      Like

  3. J Avatar

    Where to begin. Maybe in reverse.

    You DO have a lot of catching up to do after 2 years of practically being locked down in CA.

    I am so jealous it actually IS a sin. A big one.

    To stand and just gaze at all that sky and water at Ventura Harbor – being on the coast is never a gloomy day for me. I love it – probably because it happens so seldom. Galveston and Corpus are no Ventura. Or any other California coastline location. Makes my heart ache to live close to the coast. I’d have to hit a zillion dollar jackpot to do that though. I can’t even afford to get there at this rate!

    That Russian Rose. I’m putting that on my list. It’s gorgeous too. I seem to LOVE pink food/drink best. Except when it’s raspberry.

    That salmon plating? I’d be wearing that in 5 seconds flat. It looks like it’s tottering. Was it? But it looks DELISH! I’ve heard it before that people look at food with different measures. Poorer people measure – is it enough? Middle people – does it taste good? Richer – is it a beautiful presentation? I’m not sure any of that is true – I think all people want it to taste good, be enough, and not be repulsive looking! LOL I think that was written by some jealous person. I remember the first time I ate at an expensive restaurant in Dallas. My dish was expensive, I hate the sauce on it, and afterward went by McDonald’s because I craved something tasty. LOLOL Yeah, that says a lot about me. In my defense, it WAS decades ago, and McDonald’s WAS tastier.

    I’ve never had anchovies. I figure I’ll die having never known what they taste like. It’s ok. I can live….or die….with that decision.

    Pretty flowers – they won’t be here, at the rate our weather is going, for at least another month. I wish I had THIS apartment further south. I wouldn’t have moved here had I understood how different the weather is from just 40 miles further south.

    $800 – bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!! I certainly didn’t make $800 the past 4 days. I’d be a super happy camper!

    In my opinion, you so deserve this. You’ve been through a hell of a lot the past 2 years – as everyone has, I guess. I hope everyone gets to get out now and have some fun!!! I personally might plan another trip to McDonald’s. Though those pastries — I mean, WOW!!!!

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    1. J Avatar

      PS – If I EVER get my hands around the neck of that *&^%*%^ groundhog, it will be its LAST groundhog day. Because there were NO shadows to be found anywhere here on the 2nd. Lying fat rat!

      Like

      1. ivansfanfiction Avatar
        ivansfanfiction

        Poor Punxatawny (no clue how to spell that by the way), LOL

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    2. ivansfanfiction Avatar
      ivansfanfiction

      Ventura beaches are among the most gorgeous for sure. I actually live in Ventura County so we aren’t too far. We can’t see them from my city but we can get there in about 30 minutes or so. The Harbor is a favorite destination for us. We’ve gone out on boats from there for harbor tours and whale watching. It was super crowded this weekend though as I think everyone is anxious to get out and do things. Almost all of our stuff is gone now for restrictions and so people are going crazy LOL, had I the money I definitely would live at the beach but wow is it expensive (and always was but rental and house prices are nuts now)

      The Russian Rose was one of their February drinks for the month. It was quite good. M had a blood orange margarita (it was too sour for me as I tried it), and sister had a Mai Tai. I am not a fan of those but she loves them.

      I took that salmon off the fingerling potatoes underneath it so it never did collapse. It was all good. M had a big giant tomahawk steak thing! Anchovies are not for everyone, even those who like fish. They are very salty. But they are an original ingredient to a Cesar Salad. A lot of places leave them out. In fact, when I ordered the salad, the waitress asked me if I wanted to leave them off and I was like HELLO NO that’s why I want it, LOL

      Yeah I know many other parts are getting bad bad weather. My biggest complaint is our constant wind

      Thank you, I am glad I get to do these things and am very much looking forward to next month’s trip. We do all deserve it. In all these trying times, it’s just too much.

      Like

  4. Jay Avatar
    Jay

    Money, money, money! Money! LOL
    I’m living vicariously through you, Ivan 🙂

    Love all the pictures and congrats on winning some money!
    It looks like you had a lovely time away.

    Thank you for sharing!

    Happy 2.22.22!

    Like

    1. ivansfanfiction Avatar
      ivansfanfiction

      Well I didn’t “win” per se. I went with $1200 and came back with $800 but that’s considered pretty good in the scheme of things lol

      Liked by 1 person

  5. .eveningstar10 Avatar
    .eveningstar10

    Ivan, apparently I fail at Geography class, especially when it comes to name recognition! I recall you talking about trips you took, but don’t recall the names, except you have gone to Moro Lake (spelling?). Lol! Do they even teach Geography anymore? Kids these days never look at maps… just let Mr Google Directions take you on whatever route it feels like, even if the route makes no sense! I’ve used Google directions to go to a house in a nearby town across the Connecticut border. Google had me get off the main road go up through some hills and then back down to the very same main road making a left where there was no traffic light onto the main road. Makes absolutely no sense.And it certainly didn’t save any time. And it certainly didn’t save any time! 🤷🏻‍♀️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ivansfanfiction Avatar
      ivansfanfiction

      Morro Bay lol, not lake, it’s on the ocean 🙂

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  6. eveningstar10 Avatar
    eveningstar10

    Well now I’ve posted a comment twice somehow?!!! I did manage to delete the repetition of the final sentence on the second comment. I have absolutely no idea how my comments allowed me to post it twice. It just suddenly appeared there.
    🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

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    1. ivansfanfiction Avatar
      ivansfanfiction

      I deleted one of your comments, no worries!

      Like

  7. eveningstar10 Avatar
    eveningstar10

    I give up – Do I get at least brownie points for getting Morro almost spelled correctly?
    Morro! Lake / Bay/ body of water. Lol!
    Will there be a fill in the blank section for me to flub up? Maybe I can do some Ivan Madlibs?! Will there be extra credit? Lol!
    🥰😘

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    1. ivansfanfiction Avatar
      ivansfanfiction

      HA HA HA, yes you did know it was a body of water at least 😀

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