I wanted to post pictures after the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game, but we figured we better return our rental car and pack because we had a very early flight out on Friday (6:15 a.m.!).

So I am adding to my gallery today and will post a couple of photos here, too.

I thought the Rose Parade was magnificent! We were seated in the grandstand across from the Norton Simon Museum, which is the same location where the TV cameras are. All of the bands played when they marched by us. It was awesome. Of course, the best band in the parade was the Blue Band! I don't know if I had a favorite float, because they were all so intricately done. I'm glad I had my program to refer back to today when I was saving and renaming the photos, because I never would have remembered what each float was.

We took a free shuttle to the game, which boarded outside of the parking garage we parked in for the day. There were dozens of shuttles filling up and running constantly after the parade, then heading to the Rose Bowl, then returning to fill up and repeat the cycle. That was a well thought-out endeavor. The same system worked after the game to get us back.

The Rose Bowl is so different from Beaver Stadium. There is only a big video screen in the north end zone, which I think is a major drawback. And all of the concessions and rest rooms are outside of the Bowl. You exit through tunnels to get there and then return. They also sell beer in the concessions, and you could tell many of the fans were loving that.

We saw tons of people wearing white for the white-out, which was nice. I loved all of the Penn State pride. I've really come to be part of that in the four years Stephen has been a Penn Stater. I never really understood it before.

While the loss was disappointing, nothing else about the day was for me. I loved every minute. I think one of the highlights was spotting a vendor with a Kodak box walking along one level of the stadium and chasing him down so I could buy more batteries for my camera. I thought I would be OK with my rechargeable ones, but I took so many photos during the parade that I had nothing left for the game. I ended up buying eight and using all of them.

After the game, we caught up with the band when they were parading back to their buses, and Stephen made the whole trip worthwhile when he came out of formation, gave me a kiss and hug and told me he really appreciated me coming. I am getting teary-eyed just reliving that.

So now amid laundry and grocery-list making and "redding up" the house, I am still basking in the glow of my incredible trip to California. It was even better than I dared hope it would be.