California Dreamin', April 2007 in San Jose!

My third year in a row, and another great time.  Starting WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 at the ``Nails 2001" salon in Concord (after again this year transforming at Donna's house). Here's Tina working on me.

Donna took this great photo through Tina's flower tree.

I didn't pack light for this trip,,,

First stop was over to Carla's for the I Love It Wednesday Night Dressup (ILI is being renovated), where Jo-An was on hand to fix my makeup.  Even after ten years, I SO need loving artists like Jo-An, Carla and Leona!

And then the photo shoot started.  Jo-An had a Little Red Dress that everybody had to try on and be photo'd by multiple cameras.

Here's Robin, in the LRD and the outfit she came in with...and my gold boots!

Robin again, and other new friend Cami:

Here's Donna!

And three of many pictures of me in the LRD. First time out with the gold sequin boots, which were a lot of fun. (I accidentally left them at Carla's; some of the girls had more photo fun with them later! I'll have to add some of those pictures here.)

Jo-An and Lisah Aubergine did a number.

Here's the outfit I came in with.  Blouse from Marshall's, skirt from JCP, boots from Frederick's.

Here's a wide view of Carla's main gathering room. It's a wonderful resource for the Bay Area girls.

A little dancing and playing around.

THURSDAY MORNING and time for our shopping trip! I organized this and four of us--Donna, Robin, Cami and me--met for breakfast and headed out. First stop was the Pierre Silber showroom, where we all tried on shoes.  (I really like the holographic ones on the right, but Robin didn't buy'em. I got some black patent strappy sandals, though.)

Three minutes up Montague Expressway and we're at the Great Mall of the Bay Area!  This was wonderful; everyone was friendly and helpful towards us.  Check out the Charlotte Russe hot pants on Robin!

And I can't resist $3 shoes that fit!  Got a couple pairs of those, also Charlotte Russe.

We shopped, lunched, and shopped some more!  We were pretty worn out by about 3:00, and didn't even make it down to Valley Fair Mall.  We'll have to do this again!

THURSDAY NIGHT -- the opening CA Dreamin Reception.  (It's easy to see who likes being the center of attention...)

FRIDAY--My only full conference day. I got to meet luncheon speaker Dr. Alice Novic, a TG psychiatrist from LA. We had a good conversation at dinner that night. (Pictures! Someone send me pictures!)

A relaxed, informal photo moment.  Purplish-blue suit was either from Newport News or MetroStyle; shoes from Newport News.

There's my new glasses I got at Great Mall!  Although I like my appearance better without them, it was a real relief not to have contacts in all day Friday.

Friday was Dinner Out night; the largest group went Italian:

Finally, the Friday night Pajama Party!  Since I don't have PJ's, I wore the only thing I brought that I've slept in, my sewed-it-myself black spandex Little Black Dress. But here's Donna getting into her slippers, me at the bar, and me with Cami.

...and that was it for me! Back to the room, a couple of hours soaking and grinding off my nails (as I write this a week later, they're still a mess), and I was back to drab.  But what a wonderful time!  And I've just lived it all over again processing and posting these photos.  Thanks to Donna, Jo-An, Lisah, Robin and anyone I missed who sent pix!