The 12 Year old's Vacation Blog by Amber

What Is This Blog All About?

2011-05-26T12:45:00.000-07:00

In 2007 Amber was 12 years old and a member of the Boyer household. Why is this significant? In the Boyer house, when a youngster turns 12 years old they participate in a fascinating rite of passage--they have to plan the family vacation.

Please note, when we say, "plan," we don't mean that they simply "choose" where the family goes. They PLAN it.

They have to select the destination (with input from the entire family), create and follow a budget, choose all the activities, in short, do everything. When we pull up to a hotel, mom and dad step back and the 12 year old has to register. When we eat a meal, the 12 year old pays the bill and calculates the tip. The 12 year old has to track all expenses and keep a journal.

In addition to having a budget, there are only two rules: 1. You can't go where anyone in the family has ever been before. 2. There needs to be an educational component to the trip.

This blog tells the story of Amber's Vacation in 2007. When she was 12, her favorite TV show was Monk. For her vacation, she decided she was going to take the family to California where she would appear as an extra on the show. She found the number for the talent agency that provides the extras, registered herself as an actor, went to California and in the end she...well...you can read the blog to find out if she got a paying gig as an actor. It's a great story.

It might be best to begin at the earliest blog and work your way forward. Enjoy!

My Final Post Ever for Eternity Maybe

2007-07-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

My Experience of Planning and Implementing the Family Vacation

I found it hard to plan the vacation. Mainly because of all the steps it takes to complete the planning stage. Like the spread sheet or the map. You have to figure out times, dates, and costs. Then you have to figure out how to get from one place to another without using the GPS. I have to use the regular map.

My Favorite Part

The part were my trip is over. The trip was hard and I missed my vacation time not my work time (Nickelodeon doesn't count). besides I learned what a hard job dad has to plan mini vacations to the beach and stuff. I'm just happy to be relaxing. ;D.

My Least Favorite Part

Right before you leave. I think it's because of the thought that the trip would go horribly wrong. Or we would get lost and I couldn't stand the thought of my trip falling apart. In the end it all worked out I was just so stressed.

The Three Most Important Lessons I Learned

Plan Ahead but Be Flexible With Times
Always Have a Backup Plan
Have Fun
If you go by these Lessons your trip can be fun.

How The Experience Will Be Helpful To Me In The Future

I think that it will be helpful on other trips I do because I know how to do every thing now. Though you can never expect whats going to happen. So be flexible and have fun, and in case something doesn't go to plan have a backup plan, it helps.

How The Experience Impacted My Family

I think they had fun. We discussed what to do. It was always a group discussion. I had fun not sure about them but I'm sure they enjoyed it.

What I Would Do If I Could Do It All Over Again

Listen I'm only going to say this once. NEVER AGAIN AM I DOING A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP IT TAKES TOO LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hear me out I thought the trip would take for ever. Its not so bad that I wanted it to be over right?

The Unexpected

A few things that happened that was unexpected. Once we stayed in a cabin when we were supposed to sleep in a tent. We stayed up all night one night. We even skipped Yosemite National Park. Dun Dun DUN Muahahahahahahahaha.

What Went Exactly As Planned

Well everything up to when we met Tracy. Then we got all out of order and mixed up. After San Fran we went totally off schedule.

My Final Thoughts

I thought the trip went better than I thought it would. I made it and now I don't have to worry about it because it's over. =) So bye.

FL

2007-07-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

We are in florida. My trip is over and as I write this I relax in my new memories.

THE END (THE END)

Daisy State Park and Diamond Hunting and A Rat

2007-07-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

We drove to Daisy State park which was wonderful. i loved it. That was just to stay. We pitched our tent. We went to sleep. We got up I made a spider web with the nature directer. You take a black sheet of construction paper and spray hair spray. Then spray the spider web white and put the black paper behind the web and capture it, after that I went to Murfreesburro, were we went diamond hunting. We didn't find anything except an amethyst. Then I went to their water park. It was so hot it felt really nice. Then we went back cooked dinner and slept. I got up the next morning and I went back to the nature center. I did a nature scavenger hunt. Then the directer gave me a painted rock. We left. We found a hotel and saw Ratatouille. I really liked it. We went to sleep at 1 AM.

The All Night Drive

2007-07-02T11:45:00.000-07:00

Today we had a all night drive. Pretty much what it was was we tried finding a place to stay in Denver but they were all full. It was too late to camp. We drove around all night and then we stopped in a parking lot and rested for 2 seconds. Then we watched the sunrise. It was beautiful. Then we had bagels for breakfast. After that we went to the Denver Art Museum, were they make fun of ANIME!!>= p. Then we went to a town in Kansaa that was so small that the hotel we were in we could walk to the restaurant and to the food market.

Drive Away

2007-06-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today we did mostly driving. but we did go to a National Park. Though now that I remember we did go to this Buddha Camp thing and the monk's were doing this sand art. they made beautiful design. I even got a little something there that is a wall hanger thing. It was cool.

We also went to this park were you drive in a shuttle to the trail. It was way to hot for me so I went into a lodge will the rest of my family but dad who by himself went all 90 min. on the shuttle bus.

Las Vegas

2007-06-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

We went to Las Vegas. I HATE it!!!!!!!!! For the same reason why boys LOVE it! THEM STUPID STRIPERS 'N STUFF LIKE THAT IS JUST STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >=(
But after we got to our room we were fine. I swam in this giant outdoor pool, and made a friend. Her name is Lauren(I hope I spelled that right.)

We went to this Star Trek Experience. I went on a ride and had this giant drink that had dry ice in it so it smoked! It was cool. Now my dad gave Colin and Brandon 50 dollars and went into the casino and was kicked out for not being 21.

Nickelodeon

2007-06-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

My dad and I discuss my first professional acting job.

OMG!!!! I was just on Nickelodeon. Okay not just. I will be. I was cast to be on a game show for Nickelodeon!!!! I didn't get slimed but oh well. I did get to "Call" them. You don't really you just go behind a curtain say hi or whatever then pick a number. If you pick a number and slime comes through the nozzle onto the person in the seat you win a prize. I won a MP3 Player. the time I'm airing on July 30th. Then I got to be a contester. I almost got slimed. But number 3 did instead I was number 1. That will air on August 6th.

My mom and dad and brothers wait in
the holding area while I am on the set.

I even got to keep my T-Shirt they give you to wear. It was my first professional job. I get paid $125, won an MP3, and got a free T-Shirt for little air time. It's just a show between a show.

On the way back from the set to the holding area, I Chat with Dinah. She was sitting in chair One and I chose chair one, causing her to be slimed. As a result, we both won an MP3 player. And had a lot of fun! The slime is made mostly of apple sauce.

My Hollywood Adventures

2007-06-22T22:52:00.000-07:00

Our first adventure was at a musical. We went to see Wicked. It was really good. I liked the part when... oh and then... sorry can't tell you . It would ruin the experience. Tough before Wicked we went to the Beach. The water was really warm.

The next day we went to California Adventures and Disneyland. I was brave and I went on a river raft ride. Which had 2 drops. I HATE dropping. We went on some more rides I even went on Pirates that had 2 drops too.

After that day we went to the Contemporary Art Museum. Then we went to the new rat movie Ratatouee premiere. I saw John Lassiter, and Brad Bird. John posed for a pic. for dad and the pic. didn't take.=(

My First Job

2007-06-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

I got a call today. For a part on TV. A game thing with nickelodeon. I start recording on Sat. at 1 PM. It's a game show called Slime Ball. I'm going to get slimed. I have to watch Nick all day so I know as much as I can to win. If you win you go under a giant slime machine. I'm going to have so much fun!

In order to get in this I had to get a special account in a bank. We got the call and we saw the bank and turned into it. We were so lucky it was that bank because that was the only bank besides one other in that town that had the special account we needed. Mary Hanna helped us with all our bank needs.

I called my best friend C.C. to tell, and my reply "...Are you serious?", "Yes", *Scream*. Then I told her I saw Aquamarine, * Super Scream*. Then she had to leave = (. I was just as excited = ).

Warner Bros. Studio

2007-06-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

The magic flying car from Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets.

Okay today we went to Warner Bros. Studio. We toured around. We learned names of sets and stuff. It was about 2 hours. Then we had lunch inside the studio that Ken arranged for us to have. I saw Aquamarine from Aquamarine.

Then guess who I met. Will Hackner. His company created V for VENDETTA!!!! and my dad and Colin snuck into the ADR and met Rick Canelli!

The Winchester House

2007-06-19T01:10:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the Winchester House. It has 160 rooms. It was beautiful. I suggest it. We did the mansion tour and the behind the scenes tour you have to wear a hard hat and for a good reason. The pipes are so low in the basement even the short tour guide hit her head. It's so worth it. I liked it.

Later on we were on the road and we got some groceries. my dad got some tomato soup and the bottom falls off. Soup everywhere. We stop at a car wash so we could get the tomato stain out of the carpet we even get the outside done. I'm glad because I made a friend. Like we share the same intrests like video games and the computer and anime. All I know and remember about him was he's 10.

San Francisco

2007-06-19T01:07:00.000-07:00

Afterwards we went to San Francisco. Were we met Ken and Nick. They go to Dream Homes every couple of summers. They were wonderful, extremely nice.

For lunch my family and Ken went to Massawa which is an African Restaurant. They were very smart in a way that instead of having 7 plates that they needed to wash they only had to wash 1 huge one.

Then we went to Haight Ashbury. It's like a little mini Sixties place. We went into a woman's 60's outfit store. I tried on some stuff there was a 70 dollar shirt that was made there. No one else has it and I LOVED it but I didn't get it because my dad said I couldn't , but my mom promised to make me one just like it.

Then we went to The Golden Gate Bridge. Did you know it's really orange? Well it is. The cable used to connect the bridge are huge they had a sample next to the bridge that you can touch and get a pic. with.

Following that we went to The Millennium Restaurant. The food there was all vegan. It was all gourmet food. I don't really like gourmet but my dish was good. I gave Ken and Nick some rocks I tumbled and polished.

After dinner we went to Lombard street. It was too dark to get a good pic. Lobard is said to be the crookedest street in the world.

Fly Fishing

2007-06-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

Today was the day that I went fly fishing for the first time I caught a Rainbow Trout. It was pretty big. I wanted to try casting but I'm not mentioning any names cough..cough..Dad...cough lost the last lure. Oh well at least I caught one. Right? We also met Dave. After Dave left we went to Tracy's house and we gave him a present that we bought for him in Yellowstone National Park.

Well we headed out into the desert and our car said we had 80 miles of gas on the gauge and we had 20 miles to go all of a sudden the gauge goes down to 0. We go slowly and just make it to the next town and fill up. Then when we pay $86 for gas we find the gas station half a block away sells for like 20 cents cheaper.

The meeting with Tracy Lotz

2007-06-15T23:17:00.001-07:00

My dad and mom met a man named Tracy Lotz. We had a meeting with him in a restaurant called Da Vinci in Hailey, Idaho. He owns Choice One. 10 years ago help my mom and dad start there Dream homes business. Now he has a new idea that my dad thinks will make Dream Homes grow bigger. He was very kind. We will meet with him again tomorrow.

Yellowstone!

2007-06-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

Then we went to Yellowstone National Park. We saw a moose just outside of the park. Then we got the last camping spot available. We pitched our tent made a fire and ate by 11:00 PM, we cleaned up by 1 AM, and got into bed by 2 Am, but I couldn't sleep because it was sooo cold. So really I got to sleep by like 4 AM, but that was okay because we heard a pack of wolfs howling( they sounded so close).

When we woke up we had breakfast. Over a portable cooking stove. Then we started our day. We saw some Buffalo then we went to the mini Grand Canyon, Then we went to Artist Point which is a canyon with a different array of colors, then we went to Tower Fall which is a big waterfall, Then we came to this place with a lot of visitors and a Ranger they were looking up at the woods. We were like what are they looking at and we asked this guy and he said that there was a bear. We filmed and took pictures than left. We had a picnic at the Mammoth Hot Springs. My dad said that it was disappointing. Then we saw some elk after that we went to Old Faithful. Then we got some ice-cream. after that we went to a trail that goes around Old Faithful to some other geysers. Then we went to the tent and cooked a meal and had s'mores . Then got a good nights rest. It was much warmer.

Day Four

2007-06-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

We found a place to sleep in a cabin in a state park. This guy came in at 5 am and talked to my mom he woke my mom and brother (I was sound asleep). The guy who checked us in the night before made a mistake and they wanted to charge us double the amount they charged. Dad talked with them and they did not charge us. We left to go find breakfast. We came to this Pancake house and the waitress named Chantel. She came from a place near Pioneer Village were Maureen's mom lived and she knew Maureen's Mom. Small world!

Then we went to Wounded Knee burial ground. It was kind of sad. We got to go into a gift shop and I got a beautiful necklace. We were in a Native American Reserve.

Then we went to the Badlands and it was amazing. I...I...I can't even explain it. That is a definite must see. Just wait until you see it. I loved the northern route. It was so amazing. We even went off trail all but my mom and we saw a beautiful view. It was wow.

We went to the Rock Shed. That was a place that I got my rock tumbler. I gave the woman one of the rocks I made. She liked it.

Then we went to Mt. Rushmore. To see the light show and we did. Then we went to a trail under Mt. Rushmore.

Day Two and Three

2007-06-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

We start our day with the Henry Doorley Zoo. We went to 4 exhibits The Desert, The night time one (can't think of the name), The Aquarium (that one was AWSOME!!!!), and The Jungle (the monkeys were cute). These were recommended by a friend of mine Maureen Carruthers oh and J Simmons. I also recommend those especially the Aquarium.

After that we went to the Great Arch. it was a walk through tour. You wore headphones and walked stop listen then walk again, it's easy. It was very educational. Any teachers reading perfect field trip. I liked it. We even met Maureen's teacher.

As we were going to the campsite we went to see if this place had any veggie patties and they didn't and they said that the Arbys had a chicken salad and we were like yeah that helps a hole lot...NOT.

There was a big storm coming so we decided not to camp. The storm really scared me because I thought a tornado might come. I always do. Just before we left Judy a woman who is renting our house. Gave us a jade Oxen to keep us safe. Well we were driving fast and as soon as we turn the corner deer come in front of the car. My dad hit the brake and we slowed down to a stop just in front of the deer. When the last one ran by us I could have sworn he skimed the front of the car. It was amazing, but scary.

We than went to Carhenge at 10. It was late at night and the lightning gave it a ghostly glow for the few seconds we could see it like that. We were technically trespassing since it closed at ten and we were there at 10:15 at least.Today we started with House on the the Rock and oh...my...gosh...that was my first reaction to the third tour's first room. It was the carousal room it was beautiful I can't evan describe it. the hole thing was just wow. This is just a note for if you go there, evan if you don't have to go look into the restrooms, they are amazing. There are three tours the first tour takes you to the infinity room were you are in this glass room and you can look down in one section but from there and beyond you cant stand because it has nothing supporting you I mean too much weight and it can collapse. the second tour takes you to an ice-cream shop (I recommend the Blue Moon ice-cream). The third tour takes you to the carousal. All of them are beautiful and tastey. There are two cafes a pizza place and a little restaurant. I recommend the little restaurant. It was cool.

Then we went to Field of Dreams. I played catch with my dad and brother. I love doing that. We were playing catch and the sprinklers went off, but they weren't on us.

Then we headed to Omaha.

Technically Day One

2007-06-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

Today started in Huntington. We took Colin to his ACTs. After we got all set we went to see the Marshall Fountain it was beautiful well to me. It was designed to look like it was made out of nails. We took many pics. Then we went to Spring Hill Cemetery where there were the people that died from the plane crash in TriState airport. you can find out more in this link.

After that we went to the Ferguson Tea- room in Hurricane West Virginia. The tea was delicious and the service was wonderful . There was a small gift shop that had kids tea sets and adult ones that were beautiful hand painted but they were expensive. I got a picture with an expert on tea. I believe her name was Sarah. I got a pretty stirring spoon :p.

Then we drove, drove, drove to the Udupi Cafe, but it was worth it. As a gift Basil at the Udupi Cafe gave me a incense burner and home made candle were you pour oil and put your own wick in the oil, it was very nice. I forgot to mention. The Udupi cafe is an Indian Restaurant and the food there was amazing. It is an all vegetarian Restaurant. We went over the Ohio River and it is Beautiful.

Then we drove all the way to Chicago to see Barack Obama's HQ right well we called them a few months ago. They said that they would be there and we could come up and look around. So we walk to the security desk show him our IDs he calls up like 200000000 times and no one answers. So we didn't go : ( . Though we found out something really cool. We discovered that right next to the HQ is the set to the next new batman movie. so my brother wants to take pictures so we go take pictures and two security officers come and kick us out not one TWO!!!! That was the day they almost arrested Colin Boyer. We still have pictures and film of the new batman set =).

The First Day

2007-06-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

The first day was alright. Rough at the beginning because Dad ask me where to go so I'm like go onto route 460 and then highway 77 then Dad was like how do I go on to 460? He knew too but he was just giving me a hard time. I finally figured it out he meant, say left, right, and straight. He was just being him. We got on the road everything went well. I told him what to look out for so he knew when to get onto a different highway or intersection. I watched a movie two in fact. Just in case you were wondering they were The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and Eyeshield 21 (an anime TV show that Brandon recorded for me). Sorry about the anime thing in the other blog but I love anime, who couldn't?

Our destination for today was Huntington West Virginia. We even drove around Marshall University where Colin is taking his ACT test tomorrow. A sad thing was we lost our USB cord so we can't show you the beautiful West Virgina mountains at sunset. Sorry.

keep checking in. Ciao for now ~Amber

Ready to Leave

2007-06-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Louisa and her mom will be taking care of our pets while we are gone. Lousia is a vet from Australia and will be spending the year at Virginia Tech.

I'm ready to leave I only worry about the rest of my family. they are last minute packing. the day came so fast I think it hit them fast. I will miss Jenny and Metsuki and of course Dragon. Though I will try to have the best vacation I can. We will leave hopefully in about an 1 1/2 hours. I have a rush of emotions nervous, excited, sad, happy. I worked so hard on this trip I hope nothing will go wrong. Yet somehow I know something will go wrong.

Like what if i did something wrong in the travel guide. How I made it was I took info. off the comp. like times, cost, and interesting facts. I put it in order of the way we are driving in a giant binder. With some anime pictures here and there of what I kind of look like. For anyone that has no clue what anime is it's Japanese cartoons. I got my photos on a website called photobucket.com and in the search box you type anime girl (it works with boy too) you can find amazing fan art, and yes it's only fan art but most pics are really good (some are inappropriate for younger kids)just a tip do anime elf girl they are beautiful like this 1 click on the link. http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb236/Lysandra07237/elfgirl.jpg

Stay updated.Ciao for now ~Amber

Today we leave

2007-06-08T11:50:00.001-07:00

In just a few hours we will be leaving for my vacation. I can't wait.

Why, What, and Where

2007-06-07T19:47:00.000-07:00

Why did I do this you ask?

Well...I am a Boyer child and when a Boyer child in my family turns 12 we have to plan a trip. Like Brandon he took us to Southern California, and Colin took us to Mexico. My mom says we where trying to out do each other. Boy was she right.

What am I doing?

I am doing a crosscountry road trip. the main destination is San Francisco, Calif. just higher than where Brandon took us. My favorite detective TV show Monk is filmed there and we found out that they get thier child actors from a place called Kids Management, so my Dad filled out forms with me and signed me up so I could possably be an Extra on Monk (Look out for me :@) I could meet Tony Shaloub ;} *squeal*

Where am I going you ask?

Well here are a few Examples; Barack Obama's headquarters, House on a Rock, Field of Dreams, Mt. Rushmore, Alcatraz, Winchester House, and Crater of Diamonds State Park.

I will be posting Blogs through my Vacation so check in, in a few days.

P.S. a few days before we left a little racoon visited our house. I named him Spikey. Isn't he cute ;) *awww*. Bye.

Here is my family at the Cascades in Virgina

Photo taken by Grammy Boyer