Summer is quickly turning in to fall here on the North Coast and as I was lounging outside for a bit this afternoon, I began remembering a few summer vacations as a child. One summer we headed to Northa Carolina's Outer Banks - we'd been there many times with family in the area but this was a 'just us' type of vacation. For a family of 5 (at that point), living on a teacher's salary, I have no idea how my parents managed it. They must have saved forever just to afford it. But it was so much fun.
We stayed in a small hotel, did a lot of freebies - spending time on the beach, seeing the nature preserves and Civil War forts - but boy did I feel like we were living high on the hog. I can't imagine how I would have felt if we could have stayed in this amazing Outer Banks vacation rentals. I probably would have been scarred for life and never been able to set foot in a hotel again! It doesn't take much to turn me into a spoiled brat, let me tell you!
But I've been thinking and thinking about that vacation and (I think) I have the hubster convinced that next spring we need to go East with bebe for a little beach fun. She's at just the right age (3) to enjoy the water, be in awe of the nature preserve and aquarium and turn our small vacation into a wonderful memory. Maybe something that will turn into a yearly thing.
Carolina Designs has done such a wonderful job with the decor of the vacation home and going through a local service means you get a personal touch - and if something isn't up to par you can settle the matter very quickly. Plus, really, wouldn't you rather spend time in a house rather than a small, square room? Yeah, me, too! Told you, spoiled brat here!
So, I'm planning the vaycay and I keep showing the hubster pictures of the place, beaches and sending him to websites about all the things to do...If he's not convinced yet he will be soon!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
I Like Versatile...
As a freelancer, I like versatility. But not just in my writing life. I've found, since going freelance, that I like versatility in all things including my wardrobe. Buying new jeans? I don't go ultra-trendy because I want to be able to wear them forever. Looking for a new computer? I want social network shortcuts, great word processing programs and a good video editor rolled into one. And now that we're living in the Great White North, I also like boots that go from season to season. women's rain boots are a great thing, but I want boots that are great in rain and snow, and that actually make my feet look feminine. Took me a while, but I finally found the perfect pair - and bought 2 extra, just in case!
Got A Massage, Hurt My Face
The hubster and bebe surprised me a few weeks ago with a spa getaway. Actually a family getaway but with a spa day for me. Heaven, I thought. And actually it was very nice. The nail techs did excellent jobs on my toes and fingers and the hot-rock massage was killer.
Once I got a table with a decent massage table face rest. The first table they put me on had a non-existant face rest. Seriously. Non-existant. My cheekbones were resting directly against hard corners. Have no idea what was going on. I laid my head down and said nuh-uh. So they very kindly switched me to a table with full face rest where my cheekbones could be happy.
The staff were very apologetic and never could explain to me why the face rest wasn't in place...
Once I got a table with a decent massage table face rest. The first table they put me on had a non-existant face rest. Seriously. Non-existant. My cheekbones were resting directly against hard corners. Have no idea what was going on. I laid my head down and said nuh-uh. So they very kindly switched me to a table with full face rest where my cheekbones could be happy.
The staff were very apologetic and never could explain to me why the face rest wasn't in place...
Confession: Speed Freak Here
Confession: I love to go fast. The faster the better. The only thing that comes close to that feeling is to watch speed. NASCAR, street racing, Indy Cars...it's all cool. Which is why I have all those little buzzers (radar detector and what not) in my car. And yet I still get pulled over because I don't listen to the telltale beeping until it's a full-blown siren type sound. Not such a good thing.
I'm actually a very safe driver - as long as I can use cruise control; the problem is that I can't tell how fast I'm going unless I have my eyes glued to the spedometer. And that isn't safe. So I employ cruise as much as possible...and keep an eye out the back window.
I'm actually a very safe driver - as long as I can use cruise control; the problem is that I can't tell how fast I'm going unless I have my eyes glued to the spedometer. And that isn't safe. So I employ cruise as much as possible...and keep an eye out the back window.
...So We Went Shopping and Caused An Accident
yes, this really did happen to us.
The hubster and I decided last year we would get one another a big gift. One. Big. Gift. We decided on a treadmill and started shopping all the ads on Thanksgiving to see what was what. We found the one we wanted and decided if it was still in-stock when we got to the store on Black Friday, it was meant to be and we'd buy it. We got to the store at 9:30am and there was one treadmill left. We bought it.
That's the regular part of the story. Here's the silliness.
So, we were shopping with his mom and right after we did our shopping thing were headed 2 hours down the road to see the extended family for the weekend. Needless to say our SUV was loaded with a bags, a suitcase and a couple of gifts we were taking down early. We still thought we had plenty of room because the cargo area is freaking huge. Seriously, we camped out in the cargo area on a nature trip 2 summers ago when a storm brewed up and I couldn't face the muddy tent bottom. Yeah, well, not so much. Once the treadmill was in the cargo area, and the seats were all folded down to accomodate it there was just enough room for the bags. No room for the suitcase. No room for the gifts. So, we loaded the gifts on to his moms lap (in the passenger seat) and then realized I would have nowhere to sit. Being the smart girl I am, I decided I could sit on the teeny-tiny-narrow console between the 2 front seats (after all it was only a 5 mile drive to drop off the treadmill). No worries. What about the suitcase, the hubster asked. We'll just throw it up on the truck rack and it'll be fine. What about bungees to tie it down? Oh, we'll just drive slow (because the bungees were in the backend of our other SUV and they didn't have even 1 tiny package at the sporting goods store). Just drive slow, I said. So we started out. And the hubster remembered to drive slow until we hit our road, at which point he hadn't heard any weird noises from the roof and hit the gas a little harder.
Big mistake. Big. Huge.
We heard a thump, thump, thump looked in the side mirrors and there was our suitcase decorating the middle of the road. Luckily the people driving behind us were keeping their distance and didn't run it over. Pulled to the side of the road, hubster gets out and grabs the case and says what now? We continue as we were, I say, just drive slow - seriously. Drive. Slow. After all I wasn't about to leave the suitcase (or his mom and the suitcase) on the side of the road unattended.
And so commenced the slooooowest drive ever down our road (which has a 55 mph limit) and the longest it has ever taken anyone to traverse the 5 miles from the mall to our house.
We made it all in one piece, no need to call in emergency assistance, and with no other incidents from the not-tied-down suitcase but by the time we reached the house my butt was asleep and I was laughing so hard I actually fell off the console and got my foot stuck behind my MILs legs, which were immovable because of all the stuff on her lap - the gifts, my purse and laptop, her purse and a couple blankets from the cargo area. After I disengaged myself, it was fairly simple to unload the treadmill and get it into the house, thanks to the hubster being inhumanely strong and my amazing directional abilities (no, we need to push it more thiiiis direction).
What did I learn from this trip? 1) Always pay the extra delivery charge when buying a large item. 2) If delivery isn't offered make sure there are 2 or fewer adults in the car and no baggage. 3) Put bungee cords in both SUVs for just such a future emergency.
The hubster and I decided last year we would get one another a big gift. One. Big. Gift. We decided on a treadmill and started shopping all the ads on Thanksgiving to see what was what. We found the one we wanted and decided if it was still in-stock when we got to the store on Black Friday, it was meant to be and we'd buy it. We got to the store at 9:30am and there was one treadmill left. We bought it.
That's the regular part of the story. Here's the silliness.
So, we were shopping with his mom and right after we did our shopping thing were headed 2 hours down the road to see the extended family for the weekend. Needless to say our SUV was loaded with a bags, a suitcase and a couple of gifts we were taking down early. We still thought we had plenty of room because the cargo area is freaking huge. Seriously, we camped out in the cargo area on a nature trip 2 summers ago when a storm brewed up and I couldn't face the muddy tent bottom. Yeah, well, not so much. Once the treadmill was in the cargo area, and the seats were all folded down to accomodate it there was just enough room for the bags. No room for the suitcase. No room for the gifts. So, we loaded the gifts on to his moms lap (in the passenger seat) and then realized I would have nowhere to sit. Being the smart girl I am, I decided I could sit on the teeny-tiny-narrow console between the 2 front seats (after all it was only a 5 mile drive to drop off the treadmill). No worries. What about the suitcase, the hubster asked. We'll just throw it up on the truck rack and it'll be fine. What about bungees to tie it down? Oh, we'll just drive slow (because the bungees were in the backend of our other SUV and they didn't have even 1 tiny package at the sporting goods store). Just drive slow, I said. So we started out. And the hubster remembered to drive slow until we hit our road, at which point he hadn't heard any weird noises from the roof and hit the gas a little harder.
Big mistake. Big. Huge.
We heard a thump, thump, thump looked in the side mirrors and there was our suitcase decorating the middle of the road. Luckily the people driving behind us were keeping their distance and didn't run it over. Pulled to the side of the road, hubster gets out and grabs the case and says what now? We continue as we were, I say, just drive slow - seriously. Drive. Slow. After all I wasn't about to leave the suitcase (or his mom and the suitcase) on the side of the road unattended.
And so commenced the slooooowest drive ever down our road (which has a 55 mph limit) and the longest it has ever taken anyone to traverse the 5 miles from the mall to our house.
We made it all in one piece, no need to call in emergency assistance, and with no other incidents from the not-tied-down suitcase but by the time we reached the house my butt was asleep and I was laughing so hard I actually fell off the console and got my foot stuck behind my MILs legs, which were immovable because of all the stuff on her lap - the gifts, my purse and laptop, her purse and a couple blankets from the cargo area. After I disengaged myself, it was fairly simple to unload the treadmill and get it into the house, thanks to the hubster being inhumanely strong and my amazing directional abilities (no, we need to push it more thiiiis direction).
What did I learn from this trip? 1) Always pay the extra delivery charge when buying a large item. 2) If delivery isn't offered make sure there are 2 or fewer adults in the car and no baggage. 3) Put bungee cords in both SUVs for just such a future emergency.
A Walking Story
In my ongoing quest to better myself (and DH), I started an exercise plan when I became a full-time writer because let's face it, sitting at a computer all day isn't going to burn many calories.
So, every morning we head out the front door and walk to the walking trail or walking track in our town. I invested in merrell shoes several years ago and have to say they are the best walking shoes. Ever. Especially when you're on rougher terrain rather than a treadmill or indoor walking track. Our outdoor track - gravelled in some areas, pavement in others - is about 1/3 of a mile away, great way to start the program. Have I mentioned yet that I live in a muggy, humid area right on the lake? If you're not familiar with the area, let me explain something. It's hot. H O T. And muggy, sometimes I go out on my backporch and can barely get air in my lungs it's so heavy, so the earlier we get on the trail, the easier it is to finish out 2.5 (or more) mile circuit.
I picked up a calorie counter thingie the other day and, according to it, I burned 874 caloried during our jaunt this morning...not a bad start to the day!
So, every morning we head out the front door and walk to the walking trail or walking track in our town. I invested in merrell shoes several years ago and have to say they are the best walking shoes. Ever. Especially when you're on rougher terrain rather than a treadmill or indoor walking track. Our outdoor track - gravelled in some areas, pavement in others - is about 1/3 of a mile away, great way to start the program. Have I mentioned yet that I live in a muggy, humid area right on the lake? If you're not familiar with the area, let me explain something. It's hot. H O T. And muggy, sometimes I go out on my backporch and can barely get air in my lungs it's so heavy, so the earlier we get on the trail, the easier it is to finish out 2.5 (or more) mile circuit.
I picked up a calorie counter thingie the other day and, according to it, I burned 874 caloried during our jaunt this morning...not a bad start to the day!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Fondness of a Memory
Some of the best family vacations that I can remember from my childhood were spent with my family on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I remember lazy afternoons spent out of the sun at aquariums or shopping...late afternoons spent at the beach. Mornings at the beach, a few trips to other attractions like Fort Macon. The smell of toothpaste (used for sunburns), tanning lotion, Solarcaine...it all wraps around my brain and I can almost smell it!
I've been trying to convince the hubster that we should head for the Outer Banks for our own vacation but he is a bit hesitant. To him, ocean means really, really hot and I haven't been able to convince him that yeah, it's hot but it isn't horribly hot. I'll keep trying. Part of my research has been looking at vacation rentals or Outer Banks homes -- you know, should we hit the lottery! -- and I've found some great places at...
I've been trying to convince the hubster that we should head for the Outer Banks for our own vacation but he is a bit hesitant. To him, ocean means really, really hot and I haven't been able to convince him that yeah, it's hot but it isn't horribly hot. I'll keep trying. Part of my research has been looking at vacation rentals or Outer Banks homes -- you know, should we hit the lottery! -- and I've found some great places at...
Monday, August 09, 2010
I Love My Boss...
yeah, feeling a little enamored of my boss today. Why? Because she's going on a cruise with her family in a few months and she's already figured out how to make a little bank on the vay-cay. How? She's going to write about it. She, of course, is me. Since hanging out my freelance writer shingle 4 years ago, I've written about a lot of different things, met a lot of interesting people and had the privilege of doing a little good. But my favorite part of having a home based business is that I work for myself. If I need a little me time, I take a day off...if I'm feeling really productive (like today) I send out a lot of additional queries for things in the future. Hopefully I get some assignments out of my upcoming vay-cay. If not, I know I can sell the pieces once we're home.
If you're thinking about working from home, check out Franchise Gator. They have the best list (my husband's been checking them out because he wants to open a restaurant franchise here), great information and it's all online. No waiting for the mail. Love it!
If you're thinking about working from home, check out Franchise Gator. They have the best list (my husband's been checking them out because he wants to open a restaurant franchise here), great information and it's all online. No waiting for the mail. Love it!
Sunday, August 08, 2010
The Crash, The Crash, The Computer Crash
I've been really diligent about my laptop computer ever since Old Betsy died in the dead of night a few months ago. Don't want to make another mad dash to the superstore in the dead of night! So I'm making sure I back up files, making sure I run a virus scan every 5ish days, even thought I have it set to scan at a standard time each week.
Today in my geeky treks I found a cool website for Windows users (like me) that is going to stay in my favorites. It has all sorts of computer reviews, from basic info to really techy stuff. So my speed...because I know a little tech, but really just enough to be dangerous.
I'm also adding to my favorites a couple of sites that offer computer tune-ups to delete unneeded programs, update software and even uninstall software that you don't need. It isn't a virus scan program, that is something totally different. But, for those of you (like me) who are familiar with the comfortable with tuning up a 'puter on your own, it's a good site.
Today in my geeky treks I found a cool website for Windows users (like me) that is going to stay in my favorites. It has all sorts of computer reviews, from basic info to really techy stuff. So my speed...because I know a little tech, but really just enough to be dangerous.
I'm also adding to my favorites a couple of sites that offer computer tune-ups to delete unneeded programs, update software and even uninstall software that you don't need. It isn't a virus scan program, that is something totally different. But, for those of you (like me) who are familiar with the comfortable with tuning up a 'puter on your own, it's a good site.
Exciting News!
So, I've never been on a cruise ship before...but I'm going now. The hubster, me, bebe and my whole family (mom, brothers/sisters and families) are headed out just after Thanksgiving on a Royal Caribbean cruise through the Western Caribbean. We got a great family rate...so we'll have 8 adults and 6 children. At least the grown-ups aren't out-numbered, right?
We're all really excited...because who doesn't need a tan update by December? I'm also starting to stress just a little. We need to update our passports, bebe needs a new one and with her adoption nothing has been simple. It took six months just to change her social security card and tax time? OMG.
So I'm starting my to-do list early and will be checking it often.
We're all really excited...because who doesn't need a tan update by December? I'm also starting to stress just a little. We need to update our passports, bebe needs a new one and with her adoption nothing has been simple. It took six months just to change her social security card and tax time? OMG.
So I'm starting my to-do list early and will be checking it often.
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