As the saying goes,"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." Or in my case, like my second home. A few days at Grandma's house after our week of vacation was just what I needed. It was an interesting week. The definition for the word vacation is "an extended period of time for pleasure, rest or relaxation." The rest and relaxation part did not apply to our trip. 7 days, 2 flights, 1500 miles of driving, 4 states, 8 baseball games, 2 memorials, 1 museum, 4 universities, 5 hotels...like I said, not much rest or relaxation, but there was pleasure along the way.
As with any vacation, there is always "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". Whenever you put 4 personalities in a car and hotel room together for 7 days and nights, there are bound to be "issues". But let's start with the "Good"....
Everything baseball-related was terrific. We saw 4 major league games, 1 minor league game and 3 College World Series games. Yes, it was a little over-the-top, but it was fun to get to see the different stadiums. The Husband took some great pictures, The Boy is still convinced he wants to be a major league player, and Little One and I now know who has the best concession stands and cotton candy...
We also visited 4 university campuses: U of Texas, U of Oklahoma, TCU and Texas A&M. The Boy liked TCU and Oklahoma. Even Little One could see herself at Oklahoma...a surprisingly pretty and homey-looking campus. The Husband had planned for us to spend 2 days in Austin, but as we drove into the city and past the university football stadium, he said "That is not the main campus...just a satellite campus." The Boy and I looked at each other and shook our heads. "Look at the stadium. Holds at least 50,000" I noted. "Yeah dad, UT is in Austin". Still, The Husband insisted we were wrong....Of course, the next day when we drove to the campus, it turned out we were right. The Husband had to ask at least 5 people, somehow thinking that we had contacted everyone in Austin, and they were trying to fool him......Finally, when we walked into a campus store, he asked the guy behind the counter "Is this the main campus for UT?"....I wish you could have seen the look on the guy's face, surrounded by all of the UT merchandise. The Boy and I left the area in order to burst out laughing...
Later that day, we attended a minor league ball game. It was so much fun, and The Husband actually caught a foul ball. This made him a minor celebrity...and he proceeded to give autographs. He kept waiting for the announcer to praise him for his catch...but alas, it was a minor league game, so there was no announcer....
There is a story about spending hours on a bridge in Austin to see a million bats fly out at dusk. I won't tell the story because The Husband feels I embellish sometimes. I would like to say that I feel this is a myth...we were there from dusk to night time...and I believe we saw 4 pigeons....
The Husband had scheduled several trips to "Drive-Ins, Diners and Dives", but after driving a couple hours out of the way only to find one closed...and being totally disappointed by another...we sort of abandoned that little side-story. We had some really great meals, but The Boy continued his record of the most number of consecutive meals which include a barbecue burger and fries....
Next it was on to Dallas for the JFK museum by the "Grassy Knoll". This was very interesting, although The Boy felt that he already "knew it all from school"...and The Husband had deja-vu and realised he had taken the tour before with an ex-girlfriend. Of course he had no idea who, when or where...but that is normal with The Husband. There were many previous who's, when's and where's.....
Finally, we arrived at our main destination: the College World Series. Clemson, The Huband's alma mater, had made it to the final week...a really nice turn of events since you can't plan on things like that. Unfortunately, the temperature was hovering around 95. But we sat through 3 sweltering games and saw some great baseball. Unfortunately, Clemson lost...but still, it was a great experience.
Let me tip-toe around something for a moment: here is the problem at events such as these. The Husband is always in a hurry. He is also impatient. This does not bode well for any older people, handicapped people...or generally anyone who gets in his way. The Boy and I are just the opposite. We stroll. We get distracted. We apologize for everything. If you mix these two personalities together...you get trouble. Thank goodness for The Boy. He is forever the Mediator. He stays in the middle between me and The Husband and tries to slow him down...and speed me up. It's a thankless job...but he does it well.
Our last city was Kansas City. I love this city, and though we only had a short time there, we enjoyed it. But let me touch on another "issue". The Husband and Boy wanted to watch a ballgame on TV on a Saturday night. (Yes, you understand...after a week of 7 games, they had to watch another on TV). This delayed dinner until 9:00 on Saturday night in a city known for it's dining. Well, off we go at 9:00 to find a place. As previously discussed, The Husband does not like to wait. This means nowhere with a wait of more than....say 20 minutes. So here is what happens....The Husband drops me at the restaurant door (where there is already a line around the building) to ask how long the "wait" is....by the time I get back with the bad news...he has already driven a mile down the street due to traffic. This means that I literally have to sprint to catch the car. This little scenario plays out about 5 times. Finally, I fib and say that the wait is only 20 minutes so that I don't have to sprint anymore. Thankfully, we ended up at a great little Italian place and the wait wasn't too bad.....All's well that ends well...
And so we headed back home, going straight from the airport to another ballgame...The Boy wanted to see his beloved Braves. It was another hot afternoon, but So worth it to see The Boy have such a good time.
So that brings us to the end of the vacation blog. After a brief discussion with The Husband, I was forced to abandon and edit many stories. He feels that I often "create" or "tamper" with stories in the blog. I insist that this is not true. I feel that it is sometimes difficult to see the truth in print...but this is a subject for another day...
On a final note, I do want to say (under duress) that this vacation would not have been possible, except for the amazing sense of direction and driving skills of The Husband. You could drop this man anywhere, and he could find the nearest baseball stadium in 10 minutes. ( Of course, anybody in his way better darn well move out of the way, but anyhow....)
Thanks to The Boy for his sunny attitude...and to Little One for being such a trooper....
It's good to be home.
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Spring Break
It's hard to believe Spring Break is almost here. Yesterday it snowed and today there was still ice. I'm thankful to be heading to the beach this weekend. The weather may not be warm, but I am determined to lie on the beach and read. I may have to wear sweats over my bathing suit, but that's fine with me. I'm armed with several new books and magazines which I have hidden from myself so that there is no temptation to start them before we leave.
The Husband has promised me a peaceful trip. No flat tires, no white trucks, no sick animals....I believe that was the doctor's prescription. Of course the full prescription was a solo trip to Maui, but that will have to wait. As usual, despite my best intentions, no packing has been done. Well, I take that back. I've done 'mental packing', which means I have visualized what I want to bring...but no suitcases have been retrieved and no clothes have been laid out. No matter how many times I tell myself that I will do a little each day...this never seems to happen. So tomorrow will have to be devoted to preparations. Newspapers have to stopped, cats have to be boarded, clothes have to be washed.....Vacation can be a lot of work....
The kids view Spring Break as a break from early-rising and homework (so do I). They love the easy ebb and flow of our days at the beach. They also look forward to spending time with Big Sis and the BIL who will be with us for a few days. This seemed to deter their constant requests for bringing friends along. This means the Big Sis will spend a lot of time in the pool with Little One and the BIL will be playing the Wii...a lot...
The favorite restaurant at the beach is now closed...as is the favorite place to shop, so this trip will have to be a sort of "start over" of sorts. New favorites will have to be found. It's the story of life isn't it?...closings and openings, beginnings and endings...which leads me to say that...
This week I will examine the relevance of the blog. It has actually gone on past it's expiration date. The question is, does it still have a shelf-life? I could go on with these metaphors all day long, but in the end, I have to determine if the 23 minutes a day dedicated to this 'diary' is still worth it. Last year during a writers conference, it was suggested to me by a respected editor that I should blog for a year, edit it, and then turn it in to a book. So here I am a year later...I have the material, I'm ready to edit. But the thought of giving it up completely is disconcerting. I have a group of cyber-friends that I depend on for daily ego-feedback. I have a small group of family and friends who enjoy the updates. There are days that I feel I have nothing left to say...but there are also days that I can't wait to get something down in writing. When you write an article for a paper or magazine...there are so many constraints. Here, there are very few....
So sometime during vacation, I will decide whether this "New Year" of sorts should be a rebirth of something new, a continuation of the same...or an ending...
Until tomorrow....
The Husband has promised me a peaceful trip. No flat tires, no white trucks, no sick animals....I believe that was the doctor's prescription. Of course the full prescription was a solo trip to Maui, but that will have to wait. As usual, despite my best intentions, no packing has been done. Well, I take that back. I've done 'mental packing', which means I have visualized what I want to bring...but no suitcases have been retrieved and no clothes have been laid out. No matter how many times I tell myself that I will do a little each day...this never seems to happen. So tomorrow will have to be devoted to preparations. Newspapers have to stopped, cats have to be boarded, clothes have to be washed.....Vacation can be a lot of work....
The kids view Spring Break as a break from early-rising and homework (so do I). They love the easy ebb and flow of our days at the beach. They also look forward to spending time with Big Sis and the BIL who will be with us for a few days. This seemed to deter their constant requests for bringing friends along. This means the Big Sis will spend a lot of time in the pool with Little One and the BIL will be playing the Wii...a lot...
The favorite restaurant at the beach is now closed...as is the favorite place to shop, so this trip will have to be a sort of "start over" of sorts. New favorites will have to be found. It's the story of life isn't it?...closings and openings, beginnings and endings...which leads me to say that...
This week I will examine the relevance of the blog. It has actually gone on past it's expiration date. The question is, does it still have a shelf-life? I could go on with these metaphors all day long, but in the end, I have to determine if the 23 minutes a day dedicated to this 'diary' is still worth it. Last year during a writers conference, it was suggested to me by a respected editor that I should blog for a year, edit it, and then turn it in to a book. So here I am a year later...I have the material, I'm ready to edit. But the thought of giving it up completely is disconcerting. I have a group of cyber-friends that I depend on for daily ego-feedback. I have a small group of family and friends who enjoy the updates. There are days that I feel I have nothing left to say...but there are also days that I can't wait to get something down in writing. When you write an article for a paper or magazine...there are so many constraints. Here, there are very few....
So sometime during vacation, I will decide whether this "New Year" of sorts should be a rebirth of something new, a continuation of the same...or an ending...
Until tomorrow....
Monday, June 1, 2009
First Official Day Of Summer
It's 8:30 and my house is still quiet on a Monday morning. This is what I about summer. Today is the first official day of summer vacation. Last night was the first official night of summer bedtime. After much negotiation, it was decided that Little One will go to bed at 10 and The Boy at 11. The Boy did not settle on this easily. His negotiation skills have been stellar ever since he was three. If he doesn't become a major league ball player, I think he may have future as a litigator. When the discussion began, I threw out 10:30. "Oh, come on mom...you know I'm never tired. (This, in fact, is true. Score a point for The Boy) I should get at least 12:00." Well that's not happening because an 11 year old cannot stay up later than his parents. So I countered with 10:45. "Mom, the Braves game will only be in the first inning when they are on the coast! Please!" Ok, another valid point. So I made my final offer...11:00. He shook his head as if he had suffered a defeat, but accepted it semi-gracefully, knowing that he once again had pushed me to my limit.
On to something more important. I'd like to announce to all of the fashion followers that the lovely Cole Haan London T-straps that I have drooled over for months finally went on sale for one day. I was furniture shopping a few weeks ago when the sales girl complimented me on my shoes (JCrew animal print heels). I thanked her and complimented her on the sandals she was wearing...Cole Haan sandals. I told her that I was dying for the CH London t-straps...and she said, "I have those and I LOVE them. They are so comfortable!" Well, I told her I was very jealous, but that the price was just too much for me. She suddenly ran to her desk to grab her very expensive blackberry. "I saw them on a one-day sale somewhere today." I told her that I had already reviewed the daily sales from Bloomindale's and Bluefly...and they weren't there. She continued to scroll and read. "Yes! Sak's One-day." And sure enough, when I finished up. I ran home and looked them up...and there they were...and as fate would have it...only 1 pair left...In My Size. I knew this was the universe telling me that I should have them. So I took the plunge and ordered. Let me just announce that they are spectacular. Of course, they are 4 inch heels, which again puts me at about 6'2''...but they are gorgeous...and as the girl said...comfortable. I loved them so much that I went by the furniture store to tell her the good news and thank her. I swear she was as happy as I was. This is the thing about girls who love shoes...there is that bond...
One more item...there is a great blog I found called shelterrific.com. It is full of good recipes and unique home ideas. Another good one is WhoWhatWearDaily.com. Two former fashion editors review clothes trends in a neat way. If you love fashion, this is a good one.
That is it for today. Summer blogs have to be a bit shorter. I hear the steps of the Little One coming down the hall which means my 5 minutes of peace have come to an end...
So until tomorrow, when I will force myself to start a bit earlier...
On to something more important. I'd like to announce to all of the fashion followers that the lovely Cole Haan London T-straps that I have drooled over for months finally went on sale for one day. I was furniture shopping a few weeks ago when the sales girl complimented me on my shoes (JCrew animal print heels). I thanked her and complimented her on the sandals she was wearing...Cole Haan sandals. I told her that I was dying for the CH London t-straps...and she said, "I have those and I LOVE them. They are so comfortable!" Well, I told her I was very jealous, but that the price was just too much for me. She suddenly ran to her desk to grab her very expensive blackberry. "I saw them on a one-day sale somewhere today." I told her that I had already reviewed the daily sales from Bloomindale's and Bluefly...and they weren't there. She continued to scroll and read. "Yes! Sak's One-day." And sure enough, when I finished up. I ran home and looked them up...and there they were...and as fate would have it...only 1 pair left...In My Size. I knew this was the universe telling me that I should have them. So I took the plunge and ordered. Let me just announce that they are spectacular. Of course, they are 4 inch heels, which again puts me at about 6'2''...but they are gorgeous...and as the girl said...comfortable. I loved them so much that I went by the furniture store to tell her the good news and thank her. I swear she was as happy as I was. This is the thing about girls who love shoes...there is that bond...
One more item...there is a great blog I found called shelterrific.com. It is full of good recipes and unique home ideas. Another good one is WhoWhatWearDaily.com. Two former fashion editors review clothes trends in a neat way. If you love fashion, this is a good one.
That is it for today. Summer blogs have to be a bit shorter. I hear the steps of the Little One coming down the hall which means my 5 minutes of peace have come to an end...
So until tomorrow, when I will force myself to start a bit earlier...
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Last Day of School
Tomorrow is the last day of school for the year. I think I am filled with as much excitement and anticipation as the kids. I'm ready for no-pressure mornings and later bedtimes that don't involve the question "Are you sure that you have finished all of your homework?" I'm ready to leave 6th grade math and science behind, because it reminded me of my own weak skills in those areas. I'm ready to leave spelling tests behind for awhile and actually do something besides stress on Thursday nights. I'm ready to stop perusing cookbooks for good lunch box items, knowing in the end that they will ask for the same old things...everyday. But I'm also thankful for what has been a really good year at a really good school.
So a quick recap of some afore-mentioned stuff:
1) The Boy played the role of Thesius in "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream". The play was performed by the entire 6th grade. The drama teacher deserves a lot of credit...it was not only very well-rehearsed, cast and dressed...but it well-acted. It was very entertaining, and while The Boy is probably not headed for a career in acting, he gave a fine performance.
2) Writer's Forum was yesterday. Each 6th grader reads a piece they have written during the year. I hosted the event for the kids, teachers and 100 parents. It is one of those volunteer jobs that you say "yes "to months earlier...and then wonder why you did...But all in all, it went very well. The kids did a great job reading their work. The Boy had written a character sketch on a favorite teacher, and I was surprised at how well-written it was. He surprises me from time to time.
3) Little One had her field trip to the Dairy Farm today. I accompanied her on the trip. Not only was it very interesting....but we got to enjoy ice cream at the end. I was a little concerned when I heard that she had pre-chosen my flavor...but pleasantly surprised when I stepped up and received my strawberry cheesecake..."Well I know you like strawberries and I know you like cheesecake...so I figured it was a good choice".....Excellent choice...
4) The Boy had his field trip to mine gold today. He jumped in the car anxious to show off his treasures...a test-tube full of "gold that is probably worth about $500...I'll put it towards a phone"...I love the way The Boy thinks....
5) I found out this week that an article I had written that was very close to my heart is being published. This was exciting to me on so many levels. I shared the news with Big Sister...and she sent me flowers. This is the lovely thing about Big Sister...she is not only kind , loving and beautiful...but she is thoughtful too. Thanks again Big Sis....
6) Here is the big news of the week...my new cell phone arrived in the mail...yesterday. Can you believe it? One day after I called the company...unbelievable. What a cry-baby I was (refer to previous blog). I ought to call the customer service girl back and apologize...
So that is it for the week. Tomorrow will be honors day for The Boy and Field Day for the girl...so I will take a day Blog Day-off to participate and celebrate...and so...
Until next week...when it will be a new relaxed, zen, summer vacation kind of week...
So a quick recap of some afore-mentioned stuff:
1) The Boy played the role of Thesius in "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream". The play was performed by the entire 6th grade. The drama teacher deserves a lot of credit...it was not only very well-rehearsed, cast and dressed...but it well-acted. It was very entertaining, and while The Boy is probably not headed for a career in acting, he gave a fine performance.
2) Writer's Forum was yesterday. Each 6th grader reads a piece they have written during the year. I hosted the event for the kids, teachers and 100 parents. It is one of those volunteer jobs that you say "yes "to months earlier...and then wonder why you did...But all in all, it went very well. The kids did a great job reading their work. The Boy had written a character sketch on a favorite teacher, and I was surprised at how well-written it was. He surprises me from time to time.
3) Little One had her field trip to the Dairy Farm today. I accompanied her on the trip. Not only was it very interesting....but we got to enjoy ice cream at the end. I was a little concerned when I heard that she had pre-chosen my flavor...but pleasantly surprised when I stepped up and received my strawberry cheesecake..."Well I know you like strawberries and I know you like cheesecake...so I figured it was a good choice".....Excellent choice...
4) The Boy had his field trip to mine gold today. He jumped in the car anxious to show off his treasures...a test-tube full of "gold that is probably worth about $500...I'll put it towards a phone"...I love the way The Boy thinks....
5) I found out this week that an article I had written that was very close to my heart is being published. This was exciting to me on so many levels. I shared the news with Big Sister...and she sent me flowers. This is the lovely thing about Big Sister...she is not only kind , loving and beautiful...but she is thoughtful too. Thanks again Big Sis....
6) Here is the big news of the week...my new cell phone arrived in the mail...yesterday. Can you believe it? One day after I called the company...unbelievable. What a cry-baby I was (refer to previous blog). I ought to call the customer service girl back and apologize...
So that is it for the week. Tomorrow will be honors day for The Boy and Field Day for the girl...so I will take a day Blog Day-off to participate and celebrate...and so...
Until next week...when it will be a new relaxed, zen, summer vacation kind of week...
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Holiday
I'd say as holiday weekends go, it was a mixed bag. It started off with bang. Saturday we grilled out with some good friends, and it was one of those meals that all really came together. Nothing fancy, just some hot dogs, burgers and sides, but it was just all really good. Then we headed to the matinee of Night At The Museum 2. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, but it wasn't the worst either. And the kids enjoyed it, so that made it all worth while.
Unfortunately, around 2:00am, Little One woke me up with those dreaded words: "I feel sick". And oh was she sick. Every half hour for the next 8 hours. At first, I thought she had just had too much to eat, since she devoured a huge meal and then an assortment of every dessert we had, including brownies, cookies and ice cream. But it soon became clear that it was some sort of stomach virus. It's one of those times when you wish you could have it yourself instead. Little One is tough as nails, but the stomach virus knocks her out. She looked at me about 5:30 in the morning and declared "I think I need to die" in her little dramatic way (as anyone who has ever been in the throws of it has declared). Big Sister is now reading and panicking that I am going to reveal her worst story...but I wouldn't dare.
Little One is a lovely patient. Every half hour, she would tap me in bed and say, "Again." We would head to the bathroom where she would let me put her hair into a little pony tail before she knelt down. When she finished, we would clean her up and head back to bed. Now this is the complete opposite of The Boy, who in the same situation, comes and gets me and announces "I threw up." Not only does he never make it to the bathroom, he rarely leaves the bed. Even if I leave the bucket by the bed, he has no luck...and neither do I...
The next day was a long one, as Little One was weak, tired and grumpy...and so was I . But we made it through the day and we also saw every episode of Hannah Montanna ever filmed. At the end of the day, she brought me a little hand-written note that said the following:
Dear Mommy,
I love you. You watched over me threw the night. You are a loving person.
I can't even read it without crying. I put her to bed and she said she felt better, but still weak and dizzy. When I got downstairs and got ready to get into my own bed, her little words went round and round in my mind. I kept thinking about her waking up sick again and trying to maneuver down the 18 stairs to get to me. So I did what I had to. I slept with her again.
The next morning, the stomach virus had subsided, but it had been replaced by a cold and cough. But this was somehow better, and spirits were lifted. The Husband was kind enough to make pancakes, which always starts the day off well. The rest of the day was low key since we still had a recovering Little One, but we did go to the Minor League Baseball game. It was a beautiful evening for baseball, and Little One was excited because they showed her sweet little face on the Big Screen. The Boy got a pack of baseball cards to add to the 6 million that he and dad have at home. All in all.... a good day.
As I said last week, this is the last week of school. Writer's Forum, field trip to the dairy farm, field trip to go gold mining, Field Day at school and Honors Day...a busy week for the younger ones. Meanwhile, Big Sister feels I have been neglecting her in the blog, so a day will be devoted to her. And amazingly enough, Sister 2, who we will call Rebel Without A Cause, has mentioned that she might actually like to be mentioned...this after weeks of declaring that she was not to be....mentioned. So, I will contemplate how to introduce The Rebel....
So until tomorrow, when it's Tuesday already and summer vacation is so close I can touch it...
Unfortunately, around 2:00am, Little One woke me up with those dreaded words: "I feel sick". And oh was she sick. Every half hour for the next 8 hours. At first, I thought she had just had too much to eat, since she devoured a huge meal and then an assortment of every dessert we had, including brownies, cookies and ice cream. But it soon became clear that it was some sort of stomach virus. It's one of those times when you wish you could have it yourself instead. Little One is tough as nails, but the stomach virus knocks her out. She looked at me about 5:30 in the morning and declared "I think I need to die" in her little dramatic way (as anyone who has ever been in the throws of it has declared). Big Sister is now reading and panicking that I am going to reveal her worst story...but I wouldn't dare.
Little One is a lovely patient. Every half hour, she would tap me in bed and say, "Again." We would head to the bathroom where she would let me put her hair into a little pony tail before she knelt down. When she finished, we would clean her up and head back to bed. Now this is the complete opposite of The Boy, who in the same situation, comes and gets me and announces "I threw up." Not only does he never make it to the bathroom, he rarely leaves the bed. Even if I leave the bucket by the bed, he has no luck...and neither do I...
The next day was a long one, as Little One was weak, tired and grumpy...and so was I . But we made it through the day and we also saw every episode of Hannah Montanna ever filmed. At the end of the day, she brought me a little hand-written note that said the following:
Dear Mommy,
I love you. You watched over me threw the night. You are a loving person.
I can't even read it without crying. I put her to bed and she said she felt better, but still weak and dizzy. When I got downstairs and got ready to get into my own bed, her little words went round and round in my mind. I kept thinking about her waking up sick again and trying to maneuver down the 18 stairs to get to me. So I did what I had to. I slept with her again.
The next morning, the stomach virus had subsided, but it had been replaced by a cold and cough. But this was somehow better, and spirits were lifted. The Husband was kind enough to make pancakes, which always starts the day off well. The rest of the day was low key since we still had a recovering Little One, but we did go to the Minor League Baseball game. It was a beautiful evening for baseball, and Little One was excited because they showed her sweet little face on the Big Screen. The Boy got a pack of baseball cards to add to the 6 million that he and dad have at home. All in all.... a good day.
As I said last week, this is the last week of school. Writer's Forum, field trip to the dairy farm, field trip to go gold mining, Field Day at school and Honors Day...a busy week for the younger ones. Meanwhile, Big Sister feels I have been neglecting her in the blog, so a day will be devoted to her. And amazingly enough, Sister 2, who we will call Rebel Without A Cause, has mentioned that she might actually like to be mentioned...this after weeks of declaring that she was not to be....mentioned. So, I will contemplate how to introduce The Rebel....
So until tomorrow, when it's Tuesday already and summer vacation is so close I can touch it...
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Expect the Best, Prepare for the Worst, and Learn to be Surprised
So we're back from the beach. Back to work, back to school, back to the beloved routine. But there is a little unfinished beach business which has to be discussed...
While at the beach, we were staying at what we consider to be our "family" condo. This is where we go to get away. We have several other units that we rent, but this one is for family or friend rental only. A few days before we left, Tony began to drop some hints that one of the nearby units needed some new floors and he was thinking of bringing down one of his workers to start on it. I didn't give it much thought, but I told him it sounded like a good plan to me. On our way in the car last Saturday, he mentioned that Camden (his worker) would be coming on Monday. I asked where he would stay, and he mumbled something about "no big deal, figure something out". Again, I didn't give it any thought.
Monday rolls around and Camden arrives. I've never met him before, but we all go to lunch together and have a nice time. The kids love him, Matt treats him like a big brother, and Gabrielle calls him "Camel" (which is the subject for a different blog). After lunch, Tony pulls me aside and asks me what I think of him. "Very nice." I replied. "So you're comfortable with him?" "Sure" I said, not sensing where the conversation was going. "Good, because I think it makes sense for him to stay with us. I mean, he's going to be working the whole time anyway." Oh, ok. Now look, this is how Tony always works me. He phrases things so that if I disagree with him, I sound like a mean person. And he knows that I do not like to be mean. Camden is standing literally 4 feet away, so not only can I not have a true reaction, but I can't even ask any questions...just how Tony likes it.
So Camden "moves in" for the week. No big deal. There are 4 bedrooms, Matt and Gabrielle sleep together most of the time anyway, so it's not like we are on top of each other. The next morning, I hear the front door open and close, so I get up and tip toe out of my room. I peek out the window and see that Camden has left to go to work, so I relax. No need to change my nightgown or brush my hair. I go over and start to make a cup of coffee, when suddenly I am startled by a door opening. I look up so see a small Mexican man coming out of the room across from Camden's room. He smiles at me, murmurs "Buenos dias" and walks across the room and out the door. Once again, there are many reactions I could have had. I could have screamed, because it would probably scare most people to have a small Mexican man appear in their house. But if I screamed, I would wake up the kids, and that would be tragic to give up an hour of free time on vacation. I could have asked who he was and why he was there, but it seemed rude at the time. (In addition to the fact that he obviously did not speak English.) I could have gone in and asked Tony, but I had a feeling this would not surprise him, and we might have to have a "discussion". So I just decided to let it ride. Workers, small Mexican men...what might be behind door number 3?
Let me clarify something here. I am generally very shy and reserved, and Tony is usually semi-respectful of this. In the past when he has invited work-related people to stay with us, he has always given me the "right of refusal" first. In other words, he asks if I am comfortable enough with someone to have them stay. What has to be taken into consideration with Tony is that he will probably be on his own agenda and feel no responsibility to be "host" to whomever is there. This task usually falls on me, so I take that "right of refusal" very seriously. Now I'm not saying I would have exercised the "right" this time, but the difference was all to do with timing, being put on the spot, and of course, not speaking Spanish.
As it turned out, I met "Peers" later in the day. He was a very sweet man and he was helping Camden do some very difficult work. I only saw him a couple of times the rest of the trip since he was there to work. In the end, I tried to explain to Tony that it is always better to get a heads up on this sort of thing. I mean, I can always make adjustments, but if I'd known that we were having "company" I might have made some different wardrobe choices. You know, left the little nightie at home, or at least thrown in a robe.
Now that I am home, I am able to laugh at this. Our vacations have always been filled with excitement, adventure and turmoil. But that is a subject for another day and another blog.
So until tomorrow...because tomorrow is always my busiest day of the week...
While at the beach, we were staying at what we consider to be our "family" condo. This is where we go to get away. We have several other units that we rent, but this one is for family or friend rental only. A few days before we left, Tony began to drop some hints that one of the nearby units needed some new floors and he was thinking of bringing down one of his workers to start on it. I didn't give it much thought, but I told him it sounded like a good plan to me. On our way in the car last Saturday, he mentioned that Camden (his worker) would be coming on Monday. I asked where he would stay, and he mumbled something about "no big deal, figure something out". Again, I didn't give it any thought.
Monday rolls around and Camden arrives. I've never met him before, but we all go to lunch together and have a nice time. The kids love him, Matt treats him like a big brother, and Gabrielle calls him "Camel" (which is the subject for a different blog). After lunch, Tony pulls me aside and asks me what I think of him. "Very nice." I replied. "So you're comfortable with him?" "Sure" I said, not sensing where the conversation was going. "Good, because I think it makes sense for him to stay with us. I mean, he's going to be working the whole time anyway." Oh, ok. Now look, this is how Tony always works me. He phrases things so that if I disagree with him, I sound like a mean person. And he knows that I do not like to be mean. Camden is standing literally 4 feet away, so not only can I not have a true reaction, but I can't even ask any questions...just how Tony likes it.
So Camden "moves in" for the week. No big deal. There are 4 bedrooms, Matt and Gabrielle sleep together most of the time anyway, so it's not like we are on top of each other. The next morning, I hear the front door open and close, so I get up and tip toe out of my room. I peek out the window and see that Camden has left to go to work, so I relax. No need to change my nightgown or brush my hair. I go over and start to make a cup of coffee, when suddenly I am startled by a door opening. I look up so see a small Mexican man coming out of the room across from Camden's room. He smiles at me, murmurs "Buenos dias" and walks across the room and out the door. Once again, there are many reactions I could have had. I could have screamed, because it would probably scare most people to have a small Mexican man appear in their house. But if I screamed, I would wake up the kids, and that would be tragic to give up an hour of free time on vacation. I could have asked who he was and why he was there, but it seemed rude at the time. (In addition to the fact that he obviously did not speak English.) I could have gone in and asked Tony, but I had a feeling this would not surprise him, and we might have to have a "discussion". So I just decided to let it ride. Workers, small Mexican men...what might be behind door number 3?
Let me clarify something here. I am generally very shy and reserved, and Tony is usually semi-respectful of this. In the past when he has invited work-related people to stay with us, he has always given me the "right of refusal" first. In other words, he asks if I am comfortable enough with someone to have them stay. What has to be taken into consideration with Tony is that he will probably be on his own agenda and feel no responsibility to be "host" to whomever is there. This task usually falls on me, so I take that "right of refusal" very seriously. Now I'm not saying I would have exercised the "right" this time, but the difference was all to do with timing, being put on the spot, and of course, not speaking Spanish.
As it turned out, I met "Peers" later in the day. He was a very sweet man and he was helping Camden do some very difficult work. I only saw him a couple of times the rest of the trip since he was there to work. In the end, I tried to explain to Tony that it is always better to get a heads up on this sort of thing. I mean, I can always make adjustments, but if I'd known that we were having "company" I might have made some different wardrobe choices. You know, left the little nightie at home, or at least thrown in a robe.
Now that I am home, I am able to laugh at this. Our vacations have always been filled with excitement, adventure and turmoil. But that is a subject for another day and another blog.
So until tomorrow...because tomorrow is always my busiest day of the week...
Friday, March 13, 2009
It's All about Lessons Learned
Vacation is winding down. It's been a lovely week. The weather could not have been better. I am in grateful mode today. I said to Tony this morning, with a sigh, "Back to the routine." And he smiled and said, "Yes, but that is good, because you love your routine." And he is right. I create a routine where ever I go. My days are structured and planned, and this is how I like it. But I will miss the slower pace of the days and the ease of expectations. Coffee on the balcony, no book bags to pack, no homework to do...well, you get the picture. But there have been lessons learned this week...
A miracle has happened at the beach this morning. The fishermen are there, but I notice that things are different. NFL 1 is alone. He is wearing shorts and a t-shirt. He is NOT sitting on his cooler. He is chatting with the beach strollers. And I cannot be sure, but I think he caught a fish. Down the beach, the swimsuit boys have shirts on. One of them is sitting today. They are still working hard, but when their bucket was full, they sat down and rested. What to make of all of this? I guess we all have lessons to learn. Maybe NFL 1 decided to work a little harder. Maybe swimsuit boy decided to relax and take it all in. Remember when Forrest Gump said "Jenny taught me to read and I taught her to dangle." We all have something to teach and we all have something to learn.
Next door in the adjoining building, there is a beautiful older lady whom I have seen all week. She must be in her 70's, but she is active and engaged in her life. I see her at the pool, in the workout room and on the beach. She is absolutely stunning, but you can tell that she has lived in Florida for awhile. Her skin has aged faster than she has, a testament to the strong sun. When I was a little girl, my mom covered me in zinc oxide every summer morning before I left for the pool. This was during the time when all of the other girls my age were covering themselves in baby oil so that they could get the best tan possible. I remember my mom said "You will thank me when you are 40". Unfortunately she is not here, but I am thanking her anyway. The first few days I was here, I really wanted a tan, but my lovely neighbor reminded me that the only tan I really want is the one that is only visible when I take my suit off at night. Remember the conversation between Miranda and Carrie in "Sex and the City" when Miranda says "What happened to aging gracefully?" and Carrie replied "It got old". I guess it's all a matter of balance.
Speaking of balance, a friend of mine sent me an e-mail yesterday pointing out the fact that my blogs this week reflect my personality. One day I write about competition, and the next I write about enjoying the moment. She is absolutely correct. These are the opposing sides of ME. I am goal driven. I make lists and cross them off. I am very disciplined. But I am a Libra, so I require balance. I quell my competitive spirit by telling myself that it is the process and not the end that really matters. One of my favorite poems is called Ithaca. It is about a journey to a place called Ithaca, but it reminds you to take your time on the journey, because it is the long trip and all that happens on it that will bring you happiness.
I'm not sure what lessons the kids learned this week. I guess Matt learned that if he pushes Gabrielle in the pool, she will kick him in the shin. I suppose this is the lesson of cause and effect.
So back to reality next week. It has been so much easier to write at the beach. No pressure or self-imposed deadlines. Mark Twain said "Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions." Maybe a picture of the beach above my desk at home will help...
So until next week...back to reality...where there are more lessons to be learned...
A miracle has happened at the beach this morning. The fishermen are there, but I notice that things are different. NFL 1 is alone. He is wearing shorts and a t-shirt. He is NOT sitting on his cooler. He is chatting with the beach strollers. And I cannot be sure, but I think he caught a fish. Down the beach, the swimsuit boys have shirts on. One of them is sitting today. They are still working hard, but when their bucket was full, they sat down and rested. What to make of all of this? I guess we all have lessons to learn. Maybe NFL 1 decided to work a little harder. Maybe swimsuit boy decided to relax and take it all in. Remember when Forrest Gump said "Jenny taught me to read and I taught her to dangle." We all have something to teach and we all have something to learn.
Next door in the adjoining building, there is a beautiful older lady whom I have seen all week. She must be in her 70's, but she is active and engaged in her life. I see her at the pool, in the workout room and on the beach. She is absolutely stunning, but you can tell that she has lived in Florida for awhile. Her skin has aged faster than she has, a testament to the strong sun. When I was a little girl, my mom covered me in zinc oxide every summer morning before I left for the pool. This was during the time when all of the other girls my age were covering themselves in baby oil so that they could get the best tan possible. I remember my mom said "You will thank me when you are 40". Unfortunately she is not here, but I am thanking her anyway. The first few days I was here, I really wanted a tan, but my lovely neighbor reminded me that the only tan I really want is the one that is only visible when I take my suit off at night. Remember the conversation between Miranda and Carrie in "Sex and the City" when Miranda says "What happened to aging gracefully?" and Carrie replied "It got old". I guess it's all a matter of balance.
Speaking of balance, a friend of mine sent me an e-mail yesterday pointing out the fact that my blogs this week reflect my personality. One day I write about competition, and the next I write about enjoying the moment. She is absolutely correct. These are the opposing sides of ME. I am goal driven. I make lists and cross them off. I am very disciplined. But I am a Libra, so I require balance. I quell my competitive spirit by telling myself that it is the process and not the end that really matters. One of my favorite poems is called Ithaca. It is about a journey to a place called Ithaca, but it reminds you to take your time on the journey, because it is the long trip and all that happens on it that will bring you happiness.
I'm not sure what lessons the kids learned this week. I guess Matt learned that if he pushes Gabrielle in the pool, she will kick him in the shin. I suppose this is the lesson of cause and effect.
So back to reality next week. It has been so much easier to write at the beach. No pressure or self-imposed deadlines. Mark Twain said "Work and play are words used to describe the same thing under differing conditions." Maybe a picture of the beach above my desk at home will help...
So until next week...back to reality...where there are more lessons to be learned...
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