About three years ago, my husband and I went to a wine dinner at a local wine bar. The chef prepared eight different courses all paired with different wines. About half way through the dinner, I thought, "Hey, I could totally do this!" Now I'm not sure if that was logic or the wine talking at the point, but after the dinner was over I became slightly obsessed with doing one myself. Months later, that's exactly what I did. I hosted my very first wine dinner. I had a small group of family and friends over to the house and made them my personal guinea pigs. No one seemed to mind being experimented on...and the food did turn out good if I do say so myself.
It sparked something in me. Over the past years I've done several more at my house, each time for more and more family and friends. And it never fails that at some point someone will ask me, why don't you do this professionally? It was a question I'd asked myself several times. I didn't really know the answer. Maybe it was because I didn't feel as if I were really qualified to put myself out there. After all, I've never been to culinary school. All I know I've learned from doing, watching more cooking shows that I would like to admit...and becoming slightly infatuated with Chef Gordon Ramsey :) Those who know me know that confidence in myself has never been my strong point. I could never really make money doing this, right...well...maybe I could.
A few weeks ago, I got just the confidence boost I needed to finally listen to all my loved ones and put myself out there as a personal chef. I booked a gig! A real paid gig doing exactly what I had been doing for friends for years. I stressed over it for months. Planned everything with painstaking detail, praying that everything would go according to plan. Then an amazing thing happened. The day of the event came...and everything DID go according to plan. It felt incredible. Here I was, in another person's kitchen, preparing a much needed romantic dinner for her and her husband...and they LOVED it. More than that...I LOVED it. For the first time in a long time I felt genuinely proud of myself. And that's all I needed. That little spark lit a huge fire!
I got home and got to work. Now I'm armed with a website, Facebook page, all kinds of goodies and ready to roll. So here we go...fingers crossed...let's see where this takes me!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Breast Cancer "Game"
Let me begin by saying that if this particular blog reaches more than the few of my friends who actually read this, it may upset some people. Sorry if some people take it that way. I know the current readers I have will understand that this simply is an opinion, my opinion, and not set out to hurt anyone in any way. Now, that being said...
Over the past few weeks the latest "installment" of the breast cancer awareness game has been floating around Facebook. I'm not sure what all the other versions of the game have been. One was about bra color, one about where your purse was located, and I'm sure several more I wasn't even aware of. The latest one had women implying they were pregnant using the month and date they were born. Apparently, this game has offended a number of women.
I had never played the game before. Not because I don't want to support breast cancer research, but because I didn't think any of the concepts behind the games were "out there" enough to actually get people talking. This time, I played. I tried to be a responsible "player" of the game. I emailed all the women on my friends list who I thought would care, informing them in advance that I was not pregnant and passing along the email I know so many of us saw. For the guys (all two of them that asked), I explained it to them too. Although it's fun to keep guys guessing and in the dark about certain things, if the point of the game is to spread awareness, then I was going to spread it to everyone. After all, let's not forget that both women and men are affected by breast cancer (both first and second hand). I'm sure not everyone "played" the game as responsibly as I tried to, but I can't control how others veiw opportunities like this, so I'm not even going to try.
Now that the game has been underway for a while, I've noticed that it's getting a lot of back lash from a couple of groups of people. The first group are breast cancer patients and survivors. No, I don't have breast cancer (or any type of cancer for that matter) so I can't personally understand what they go through dealing with this terrible disease. I have had people close to me contract cancer, and continue their fight to this day. The second group are women who have struggled with infertility issues. No, I haven't had to deal with these issues either (knock wood on both counts that it stays that way) so I don't have the same personal feelings that they do. I have known people who have dealt with all sorts of infertility issues and my hat goes off to them for the spirit they have to endure those types of losses.
So here's where I may begin to step on some toes. Those who are upset with the game are mainly upset because they feel that the people playing are being insensitive to what those groups of people have gone or are going through. I've read some pretty intense blogs that make it sound as if this was a thought out, planned, malicious act to rub in the faces these strong women (and men) all the hardships they have to endure. Now I know I can't speak for everyone who played, but I would be willing to bet it all in Vegas that not one person who played this game did it with the intent to hurt anyone. Why would they? The intent was to raise awareness...and if you really think about it, that's EXACTLY what it did. Like it or not, it's definately gotten people talking.
I'm not trying to undermine the feelings of those who were hurt in whatever way by the playing of this game. I'm just offering up another way to look at things. We live in a country where you have the right to have (and say) any opinion you want. It's outlets like Facebook that make it possible to spread thoughts and ideas faster than before. This isn't always a good thing and I don't always like the things people have to say, but they are entitled to their opinion just as much as I am. If we all went through our day walking on eggshells doing everything possible not to offend or upset someone else, well, we might as well not even leave the house. People today are so easily offended, it's impossible to do or say anything without getting under someone's skin. I mean, prayer was taken out of school because one woman was offened by it and the whole thing snowballed. Think of how wonderfully that whole "movement" has turned out...
Because of the negative response this game has gotten, I've learned things about breast cancer and infertility that I never knew. Things I probably would have never learned had it not been for the controversy this game seemed to cause. Do I think that the actual changing of your status update is going to prompt someone to do a breast exam or schedule a mammogram...well, no. But, I do think that hearing about it on television (where it has been mentioned before) and reading about it on the Internet (and it seems to be all over the place) may cause people to take action for their own health. I know I did my breast exam after some of the things I read. So, take a minute and step back from the hurt feelings to realize that it actually may be doing some good. After all, no evil was intended. In my opinion, that should be enough sometimes. Like the way it is happening or not, breast cancer is getting attention because of this game (more specifically the aftermath of playing the game). It's getting attention that many other causes are not. There's not a "game" for every disease, disorder, condition, etc out there. Be glad that somewhere, some one (I'm guessing a woman) had an idea to cause a stir on Facebook to try and draw some attention for a good cause. And, best of all, it worked.
Over the past few weeks the latest "installment" of the breast cancer awareness game has been floating around Facebook. I'm not sure what all the other versions of the game have been. One was about bra color, one about where your purse was located, and I'm sure several more I wasn't even aware of. The latest one had women implying they were pregnant using the month and date they were born. Apparently, this game has offended a number of women.
I had never played the game before. Not because I don't want to support breast cancer research, but because I didn't think any of the concepts behind the games were "out there" enough to actually get people talking. This time, I played. I tried to be a responsible "player" of the game. I emailed all the women on my friends list who I thought would care, informing them in advance that I was not pregnant and passing along the email I know so many of us saw. For the guys (all two of them that asked), I explained it to them too. Although it's fun to keep guys guessing and in the dark about certain things, if the point of the game is to spread awareness, then I was going to spread it to everyone. After all, let's not forget that both women and men are affected by breast cancer (both first and second hand). I'm sure not everyone "played" the game as responsibly as I tried to, but I can't control how others veiw opportunities like this, so I'm not even going to try.
Now that the game has been underway for a while, I've noticed that it's getting a lot of back lash from a couple of groups of people. The first group are breast cancer patients and survivors. No, I don't have breast cancer (or any type of cancer for that matter) so I can't personally understand what they go through dealing with this terrible disease. I have had people close to me contract cancer, and continue their fight to this day. The second group are women who have struggled with infertility issues. No, I haven't had to deal with these issues either (knock wood on both counts that it stays that way) so I don't have the same personal feelings that they do. I have known people who have dealt with all sorts of infertility issues and my hat goes off to them for the spirit they have to endure those types of losses.
So here's where I may begin to step on some toes. Those who are upset with the game are mainly upset because they feel that the people playing are being insensitive to what those groups of people have gone or are going through. I've read some pretty intense blogs that make it sound as if this was a thought out, planned, malicious act to rub in the faces these strong women (and men) all the hardships they have to endure. Now I know I can't speak for everyone who played, but I would be willing to bet it all in Vegas that not one person who played this game did it with the intent to hurt anyone. Why would they? The intent was to raise awareness...and if you really think about it, that's EXACTLY what it did. Like it or not, it's definately gotten people talking.
I'm not trying to undermine the feelings of those who were hurt in whatever way by the playing of this game. I'm just offering up another way to look at things. We live in a country where you have the right to have (and say) any opinion you want. It's outlets like Facebook that make it possible to spread thoughts and ideas faster than before. This isn't always a good thing and I don't always like the things people have to say, but they are entitled to their opinion just as much as I am. If we all went through our day walking on eggshells doing everything possible not to offend or upset someone else, well, we might as well not even leave the house. People today are so easily offended, it's impossible to do or say anything without getting under someone's skin. I mean, prayer was taken out of school because one woman was offened by it and the whole thing snowballed. Think of how wonderfully that whole "movement" has turned out...
Because of the negative response this game has gotten, I've learned things about breast cancer and infertility that I never knew. Things I probably would have never learned had it not been for the controversy this game seemed to cause. Do I think that the actual changing of your status update is going to prompt someone to do a breast exam or schedule a mammogram...well, no. But, I do think that hearing about it on television (where it has been mentioned before) and reading about it on the Internet (and it seems to be all over the place) may cause people to take action for their own health. I know I did my breast exam after some of the things I read. So, take a minute and step back from the hurt feelings to realize that it actually may be doing some good. After all, no evil was intended. In my opinion, that should be enough sometimes. Like the way it is happening or not, breast cancer is getting attention because of this game (more specifically the aftermath of playing the game). It's getting attention that many other causes are not. There's not a "game" for every disease, disorder, condition, etc out there. Be glad that somewhere, some one (I'm guessing a woman) had an idea to cause a stir on Facebook to try and draw some attention for a good cause. And, best of all, it worked.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Don't Think It's Ever Going to be Enough
I'm not really sure how to begin this one. I have so many emotions running through me right now, I'm not even sure I could write them all down and have them make any kind of sense. But I have to try. If I don't get them out of my head I know I'll never sleep. With it being almost 1am already, that's something I need to get to doing tonight.
I guess the best place to start is to say that I love my sister. I love her with all my heart and I wouldn't trade her for the world. I'm not going to go into all the reasons that I needed to say that for the rest of this to make sense. Those who are "following" me know me...and know her for that matter, so the rest should (hopefully) make some sense. I don't know why, but lately the pressure that I've felt my entire life for being the "only one to do ___" has really caught up to me. I don't know if it's because things in my life have slowed down (compared to the roller coaster they used to be) or if it because I now have a daughter that I'm petrified of passing some of the pressure on to. But lately, I've been really feeling it weigh on my shoulders. And it seems to make things that shouldn't bother me as much kill me. I'm never going to have the "traditional" sister relationship that I've always envied from other people. I can't lean on her in a time like this like I wish I could. Part of me is thankful that these are things she will never know of...and part of me is desparate for someone like that to turn to (no matter what time it is).
I have a gorgeous nephew and niece who I see all too little. I care about them more than I can express and think about them everyday. I'm at a loss any more about what to do about this "situation". I don't understand it. I don't know what I could do differently to be a bigger part of their lives, or more importantly, for my daughter to be a bigger part of their lives. They are the only nephew and niece I will ever have, they are the only cousins she will ever have. I don't understand why we can't all be closer. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one that matters to.
I know how this all seems. My sister, the pressure I had growing up and the current situation concerning family don't seem to connect when you look at them from an outsiders point of view. But for me, I keep asking myself, what have I done that isn't good enough this time? Why can't we all be the family we should be? We all live in the same town. I know my door is always open...and I feel like I've pounded on a few lately. No, everybody doesn't always get along. But dammit...we're family and that should be enough. My poor husband keeps asking me what I want him to do. I can't answer him. I don't know what to say. I can't help but shouldering all the blame somehow thinking that one more annoying phone call might be just what it takes for everyone to realize what's really important. For everyone to wake up and see what's really going on. Put aside past differences because life is to precious and to short. To put down all the petty bullshit and just be together. I'm just not sure I have it in me any more. I don't like feeling like that "friend" of the group that no one really wants around but lets hang out with them when they have to just because they don't want to say how they really feel. But the overcoming sadness that I feel every time I hear family things are happening that we hear of last minute, or worse, not at all, kills me more.
I wish I could shake everyone and make them realize the things they could have if they opened their eyes. Things they take for granted that I so desperately want to be a part of. No one seems to care that anything is missing but me. Makes me feel so alone. Like there's something wrong with me for wanting it in the first place. I just wish there was a switch to turn off the feelings. Because it really doesn't matter how many times I hear that it isn't a personal thing against me...it is...deep down it is...whether anyone realizes it or not. It hurts. And it's a hurt that doesn't go away.
I guess the best place to start is to say that I love my sister. I love her with all my heart and I wouldn't trade her for the world. I'm not going to go into all the reasons that I needed to say that for the rest of this to make sense. Those who are "following" me know me...and know her for that matter, so the rest should (hopefully) make some sense. I don't know why, but lately the pressure that I've felt my entire life for being the "only one to do ___" has really caught up to me. I don't know if it's because things in my life have slowed down (compared to the roller coaster they used to be) or if it because I now have a daughter that I'm petrified of passing some of the pressure on to. But lately, I've been really feeling it weigh on my shoulders. And it seems to make things that shouldn't bother me as much kill me. I'm never going to have the "traditional" sister relationship that I've always envied from other people. I can't lean on her in a time like this like I wish I could. Part of me is thankful that these are things she will never know of...and part of me is desparate for someone like that to turn to (no matter what time it is).
I have a gorgeous nephew and niece who I see all too little. I care about them more than I can express and think about them everyday. I'm at a loss any more about what to do about this "situation". I don't understand it. I don't know what I could do differently to be a bigger part of their lives, or more importantly, for my daughter to be a bigger part of their lives. They are the only nephew and niece I will ever have, they are the only cousins she will ever have. I don't understand why we can't all be closer. Sometimes it feels like I'm the only one that matters to.
I know how this all seems. My sister, the pressure I had growing up and the current situation concerning family don't seem to connect when you look at them from an outsiders point of view. But for me, I keep asking myself, what have I done that isn't good enough this time? Why can't we all be the family we should be? We all live in the same town. I know my door is always open...and I feel like I've pounded on a few lately. No, everybody doesn't always get along. But dammit...we're family and that should be enough. My poor husband keeps asking me what I want him to do. I can't answer him. I don't know what to say. I can't help but shouldering all the blame somehow thinking that one more annoying phone call might be just what it takes for everyone to realize what's really important. For everyone to wake up and see what's really going on. Put aside past differences because life is to precious and to short. To put down all the petty bullshit and just be together. I'm just not sure I have it in me any more. I don't like feeling like that "friend" of the group that no one really wants around but lets hang out with them when they have to just because they don't want to say how they really feel. But the overcoming sadness that I feel every time I hear family things are happening that we hear of last minute, or worse, not at all, kills me more.
I wish I could shake everyone and make them realize the things they could have if they opened their eyes. Things they take for granted that I so desperately want to be a part of. No one seems to care that anything is missing but me. Makes me feel so alone. Like there's something wrong with me for wanting it in the first place. I just wish there was a switch to turn off the feelings. Because it really doesn't matter how many times I hear that it isn't a personal thing against me...it is...deep down it is...whether anyone realizes it or not. It hurts. And it's a hurt that doesn't go away.
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Year has Come and Gone...With Only a Few Tears
I guess the best way to start this one is with a little background about me. I've never been a mushy person. Sure, I love when my husband surprises me with flowers or plans a really romantic date night for us. But I've never been one of those girls to tear up at things. My mom used to tell me I had no heart because I was the only woman she ever knew that could watch Steel Magnolias straight through without shedding a tear. Not one...not once. In fact, I can probably count on one hand all the times a movie/TV show/song/etc has made me cry...and they've all been this year. Ever since Lila's been born I can get weepy at just about anything. Especially if it has ANYTHING to do with a cute little baby girl. Yep, my daughter has made me go soft.
Today is my daughter's first birthday. In the past weeks as this day approached, I've been filled with emotions that are very new to me. Yes, I am excited to see this milestone in her life. But I've been very sad about it too. My pregnancy with her was not the easiest thing in the world. Neither was her delivery. I was in labor for three and a half hours before they told me an emergency c-section would be needed to make sure all was well. At 11:03am, she was here, thankfully without any complications or health issues.
Now a year later as I sit and think of all the days that have passed since then, an odd feeling comes over me. It seems like only yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and Tim took her on a tour of her new home. Just yesterday when she was even to small to fill out her newborn clothes. Just yesterday when she would sleep curled up on my chest for hours. Now she crawls around, sometimes to fast to keep up with. She's still so petite she can fit into her 3-6 month pants (but they've turned into cute little high waters), yet she's such a big girl. She doesn't fall asleep on my chest any more, but sometimes she will nuzzle into my neck when she's really tired. So much has changed so fast...still it doesn't seem possible that a year has past...still it doesn't seem possible that there was ever a time that she wasn't with us.
I've been blessed to see these days as they pass. I'll continue to be blessed to see the days in front of us as they go by. I just hope there comes a time that the days pass a little slower. Until then, I'll make sure to slow down my pace a little. To enjoy every moment I can with her as they come. That's one thing I can make sure happens. Happy Birthday baby girl! Momma loves you!!
Today is my daughter's first birthday. In the past weeks as this day approached, I've been filled with emotions that are very new to me. Yes, I am excited to see this milestone in her life. But I've been very sad about it too. My pregnancy with her was not the easiest thing in the world. Neither was her delivery. I was in labor for three and a half hours before they told me an emergency c-section would be needed to make sure all was well. At 11:03am, she was here, thankfully without any complications or health issues.
Now a year later as I sit and think of all the days that have passed since then, an odd feeling comes over me. It seems like only yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and Tim took her on a tour of her new home. Just yesterday when she was even to small to fill out her newborn clothes. Just yesterday when she would sleep curled up on my chest for hours. Now she crawls around, sometimes to fast to keep up with. She's still so petite she can fit into her 3-6 month pants (but they've turned into cute little high waters), yet she's such a big girl. She doesn't fall asleep on my chest any more, but sometimes she will nuzzle into my neck when she's really tired. So much has changed so fast...still it doesn't seem possible that a year has past...still it doesn't seem possible that there was ever a time that she wasn't with us.
I've been blessed to see these days as they pass. I'll continue to be blessed to see the days in front of us as they go by. I just hope there comes a time that the days pass a little slower. Until then, I'll make sure to slow down my pace a little. To enjoy every moment I can with her as they come. That's one thing I can make sure happens. Happy Birthday baby girl! Momma loves you!!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
We're On Vacation! (Part 3) - Home Again...
So the end has come on our week at the beach. Now that we're home and unpacking, I am realizing how fast the week went. When I was younger a week at the beach felt so much longer than a week at home. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was because the pace of life at the beach was calmer and more laid back than it ever was at home. But now, as I'm sorting laundry to wash and putting things away, it really feels as if I just packed up for this trip yesterday. Would be nice to feel like we actually spent that time away from home.
Our last day was one of the best of the week. We took Lila back to the beach and tried to get her to go into the ocean. We should have known the problems we were going to have with the attempt by how much she resisted putting on her life jacket. We got about knee deep into the ocean, trying to put her feet in the water the whole time, before we gave up and let her go back to enjoying digging in the sand and playing in her tide pool. At least we got a few pictures. It's been neat watching her experiment with the sand, water and shells. I hope we have a chance to bring her back to the beach soon. Next year will be quite an experience. She will well be running around by that time!
Tim and I even got in a date night that night. Neither one of us were feeling the leftovers that were available for dinner. So, after we put the baby to bed and grammy in charge of the monitor, we went back up to Castaways for dinner. We even got the same table we've sat at each time we've been. There was a saxophone player providing tunes and entertainment to the crowd. He was pretty good though I did find it strange that a one man act referred to himself as "JP and friends". I wonder if his "friends" were just absent this evening..or if they actually exist.
So now all of us are back home. We're even up one person. My sister came back with us and will be visiting for three weeks. I always enjoying having her around. It's nice to have someone to give me a hand here and there. I do hate that the time at the beach went by so quickly, but it will be good to get back into the swing of things around here.
Our last day was one of the best of the week. We took Lila back to the beach and tried to get her to go into the ocean. We should have known the problems we were going to have with the attempt by how much she resisted putting on her life jacket. We got about knee deep into the ocean, trying to put her feet in the water the whole time, before we gave up and let her go back to enjoying digging in the sand and playing in her tide pool. At least we got a few pictures. It's been neat watching her experiment with the sand, water and shells. I hope we have a chance to bring her back to the beach soon. Next year will be quite an experience. She will well be running around by that time!
Tim and I even got in a date night that night. Neither one of us were feeling the leftovers that were available for dinner. So, after we put the baby to bed and grammy in charge of the monitor, we went back up to Castaways for dinner. We even got the same table we've sat at each time we've been. There was a saxophone player providing tunes and entertainment to the crowd. He was pretty good though I did find it strange that a one man act referred to himself as "JP and friends". I wonder if his "friends" were just absent this evening..or if they actually exist.
So now all of us are back home. We're even up one person. My sister came back with us and will be visiting for three weeks. I always enjoying having her around. It's nice to have someone to give me a hand here and there. I do hate that the time at the beach went by so quickly, but it will be good to get back into the swing of things around here.
Friday, July 15, 2011
We're On Vacation! (Part 2) - Things are a Little Quite Around Here
This is the first time my husband has been able to join us at the beach for the whole week. He's usually so busy with work that he can't make it down. This year, he decided no matter what he was coming with us. It's been nice having him here. I would have hated to have him miss Lila's first real trip to the beach. That being said...
It's been a much different trip this year. By the time I've gotten home from the beach in years past, I'm usually full of stories about the "crazy" things that have happened. Tim's heard them all, so he was ready for the madness that typically ensues at some time or another. But this year...nothing. It's a bit of a Catch 22 really. No one is arguing...which is good. The evenings are a little on the boring side...which is bad. The days seem to be taken up with the beach (as they should be) but a typical night consists of everyone on their respective computers/IPODS/Tablets doing whatever. Just more subdued than a typical trip.
Yesterday was a bit of a family day for us. After catching one two many rays (and forgetting to put sunscreen on my face), we decided to stay out of the sun for an afternoon. Tim and I took the baby up to a little open air pub called Castaways for lunch and a beer. Tim tried a very tasty oatmeal stout he hadn't heard of before, and Lila enjoyed snacking on daddy's chips and mommy's crab dip. After lunch, we ventured over the bridge to check out a few of the local shops. They are the typical shops you find in any beach town, full of every type of souvenir imaginable. We found a small strip that, from the looks of it, seemed to be independently owned shops and not the gigantic Wings you see everywhere. We joked about the store front of the first shop we saw. With "open", "closed" and "sale today" signs all hanging in the window, it was difficult to know which one was currently correct. We found it, closed.
The first shop we went into was a cross between a video store and a dollar store (where everything wasn't a dollar but looked like the stock had stayed put for years). It smelled pretty bad inside. I would have to be very hard pressed to actually buy anything from this one. I'm not sure anything in the store could be trusted unless highly sanitized, several times over. We walked through a surf shop next. Typical t-shirts, shorts, flops and bathing suits. Tim reminisced a bit about his Ed Hurley and Billabong band days. It would be interesting to see him wear some of that stuff again. Not a look I've ever seen on him, but I bet he could still pull it off. The last store in the strip was a little "antique" store. There were some neat older things to look at, though it was more reminiscent of a flea market booth than a traditional antique store. Some special treasures could be found, if that were the thing you were looking for. Interesting to look at none-the-less. The owner of the store was very nice. He gave Lila an otter beanie baby named Seaweed. He told us he gives one to all the kids who come in the store. He finds it keeps them occupied and quite while their parents look around. Smart man.
The rest of the evening was like the rest of them have been, pretty quite. My cousin made chili for dinner, which was good if you could get past the tears that would well up in your eyes from the spice. He was also passing around shots of some liquor called Malot (or something like that) which can only be found in Chicago. It looks, smells and tastes like Listerine. Reminded me of hanging out in my dad's dental office as a kid. Unfortunately, the taste seems to linger with you. One was more than enough for me. After dinner, Tim and I watched a movie while most everyone else went to play putt-putt. A bulb in the TV here must be going bad. While watching a movie, the screen will go from light to dark to nothing. I find it curious that it only seems to do it when a DVD is playing. Too bad it can't fade in and out like that when my grandfather is watching FOX news...haha.
So today is our last day here at the beach. Right now, I'm just waiting on Lila to wake up from her nap so we can take her to the beach one last time. Maybe she'll even let us take her in the ocean. We're at least going to try. Stay tuned to see how well that works out...
It's been a much different trip this year. By the time I've gotten home from the beach in years past, I'm usually full of stories about the "crazy" things that have happened. Tim's heard them all, so he was ready for the madness that typically ensues at some time or another. But this year...nothing. It's a bit of a Catch 22 really. No one is arguing...which is good. The evenings are a little on the boring side...which is bad. The days seem to be taken up with the beach (as they should be) but a typical night consists of everyone on their respective computers/IPODS/Tablets doing whatever. Just more subdued than a typical trip.
Yesterday was a bit of a family day for us. After catching one two many rays (and forgetting to put sunscreen on my face), we decided to stay out of the sun for an afternoon. Tim and I took the baby up to a little open air pub called Castaways for lunch and a beer. Tim tried a very tasty oatmeal stout he hadn't heard of before, and Lila enjoyed snacking on daddy's chips and mommy's crab dip. After lunch, we ventured over the bridge to check out a few of the local shops. They are the typical shops you find in any beach town, full of every type of souvenir imaginable. We found a small strip that, from the looks of it, seemed to be independently owned shops and not the gigantic Wings you see everywhere. We joked about the store front of the first shop we saw. With "open", "closed" and "sale today" signs all hanging in the window, it was difficult to know which one was currently correct. We found it, closed.
The first shop we went into was a cross between a video store and a dollar store (where everything wasn't a dollar but looked like the stock had stayed put for years). It smelled pretty bad inside. I would have to be very hard pressed to actually buy anything from this one. I'm not sure anything in the store could be trusted unless highly sanitized, several times over. We walked through a surf shop next. Typical t-shirts, shorts, flops and bathing suits. Tim reminisced a bit about his Ed Hurley and Billabong band days. It would be interesting to see him wear some of that stuff again. Not a look I've ever seen on him, but I bet he could still pull it off. The last store in the strip was a little "antique" store. There were some neat older things to look at, though it was more reminiscent of a flea market booth than a traditional antique store. Some special treasures could be found, if that were the thing you were looking for. Interesting to look at none-the-less. The owner of the store was very nice. He gave Lila an otter beanie baby named Seaweed. He told us he gives one to all the kids who come in the store. He finds it keeps them occupied and quite while their parents look around. Smart man.
The rest of the evening was like the rest of them have been, pretty quite. My cousin made chili for dinner, which was good if you could get past the tears that would well up in your eyes from the spice. He was also passing around shots of some liquor called Malot (or something like that) which can only be found in Chicago. It looks, smells and tastes like Listerine. Reminded me of hanging out in my dad's dental office as a kid. Unfortunately, the taste seems to linger with you. One was more than enough for me. After dinner, Tim and I watched a movie while most everyone else went to play putt-putt. A bulb in the TV here must be going bad. While watching a movie, the screen will go from light to dark to nothing. I find it curious that it only seems to do it when a DVD is playing. Too bad it can't fade in and out like that when my grandfather is watching FOX news...haha.
So today is our last day here at the beach. Right now, I'm just waiting on Lila to wake up from her nap so we can take her to the beach one last time. Maybe she'll even let us take her in the ocean. We're at least going to try. Stay tuned to see how well that works out...
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
We're On Vacation! (Part 1)
For twenty years now, my family has been going to the beach for a week every summer. We spent many years going to Ocean Isle, which almost started to feel like a second home. Every year sometime between June and July, a big group of us would head to the beach to relax for the week. Typically it was my family (four of us plus a friend I always go to bring), my grandparents, my uncle and his family, my two aunts and their families, a few others here and there...and a partrige in a pear tree. We'd go on walks or bike rides in the morning, hang on the beach for the day, play some mini-golf or a game of pool when the beach got too hot, and take the boat or jet skis out for a run before dinner.
Then, a few years back some crazy lady got her panties in a wad about protecting sea turtles and Ocean Isle outlawed tents on the beach. We went there a few times after that, but missing the shade of my uncle's big beach tent, went on the hunt for another family beach spot. A bit of a silly reason to break with tradition over a comfort as small as a tent, but that's what happened. Last year, everyone went to Wrightsville. I wasn't there. I was pregnant. Very pregnant. Too pregnant to even entertain the idea of being in the car for the time it would take to get to the beach...let alone actually want to step foot on the sand. Guess it wasn't exactly what they were looking for because soon after the trip ended, my mom was
already on the hunt for a new beach. One that everyone liked enough to keep coming back. And this year, we've found Holden Beach.
This is the first time I've ever been to Holden Beach. It seems like a nice enough beach, though not the same as the one I grew to love many years over. The island itself is pretty long, and there's not much on it that's not right off the bridge. The house we've rented is on the west side of the island were most of the homes are privately owned and not rented out. The good end of the deal is that the beach itself is not very crowded. The bad end of the deal is that we are almost as far away from everything as we can be. There's been some debate whether the closest form of civilization (an ice cream shop and general store) is 3 or 5 miles away (depending on how big your tires are...haha...yes, that was part of a REAL discussion)...either way...too far to not need a car.
The house we are renting is actually a duplex. It's been nice having two kitchens. With eighteen people under one roof, it's been an added luxury to feel like we can spread out a little more. It will be even nicer come tomorrow when some people start getting on other people's nerves and there's more places to hide. It's not necessarily the nicest house we've ever stayed in, but it serves all the needed purposes. We've spent some time envying the house behind us that has a swimming pool, volleyball court, basketball and shuffle board. I think we've already researched that one for next year.
It's been an interesting vacation so far. Lila's spent a few days at the beach which has been neat to watch. I was worried how she would react to the ocean. She's not a big fan of cooler water. She wasn't a fan at first, but once she figured out how to dig around in the sand, she was right at home. She spent a long time just running her fingers through the sand, chasing small beach toys through the tide pool waters and sampling how the shells tasted. She is still not used to the waves. She was playing in the sand at one point when a wave came in a barely reached her, just up to her bottom a bit. You would have thought a shark crawled up on the beach next to her. She screamed and started crawling up my legs. It was pricelessly funny! The demented side of my personality wants to set her up again, and this time have a video camera rolling. We'll see if that can be arranged. I'm hoping to try out her new life jacket and get her out in the waves before we leave. We'll see how that goes.
Our second night here, we packed up the whole crew and headed to Ocean Isle to have dinner at the Sugar Shack. (My own personal "Frommer's" tip for you: If you ever find yourself in Ocean Isle, you MUST eat at Sugar Shack. You will not be disappointed!) Sugar Shack is a Jamaican restaurant run by two transplanted yankees from New York. We forgive them for that since the food is so good! My dad had a beautiful salad of mozzarella cheese, basil, and tomatoes on steroids. Some years ago her actually got the owner to tell him where she got her tomatoes. Now, every year, he heads to the little farmer's market down the street and asks for the tomatoes "in the back room". The woman in charges usually just smiles and sells him a few. Lila ate most of my lobster bisque and was very displeased when there was no more left in the bowl. Most of the group chowed down on ribs and shrimp for dinner. Tim and my cousin tested out the goat. I found it to be a bit chewy but good all the same. We all participated in an embarrassing display of "Happy Birthday" for a few patrons before heading back. It was bittersweet being so close to the beach we spent so many good years enjoying. Even though Holden is only one beach north of Holden, it feels like a bit of a hike, but was well worth the trip!
Yesterday a few of the ladies took a day shopping trip to Myrtle Beach before meeting the rest of the group for dinner at Pirate Voyage. The show was pretty entertaining...with PLENTY of food for anyone. I was just thankful that Lila was tolerant of the whole show. With cannons going off and lots of flashing lights, there was no shortage of opportunities for her to show her not so pretty side. She seemed to enjoy most of it though, eatting most of my vegetable soup before watching the pirate performers dive into the water and tumble across the floor. It was QUITE a drive back though. If we do make Holden Beach our new beach of choice, I'm not sure I'll be up for making the treck all the way to Mrytle ever year.
Today I got to do something I haven't done in at least ten years. We took a walk down to the end of the island at low tide and dug for sand dollars. We did this at Ocean Isle for many, many years. Used to be that you could go out a little before low tide, walk out until you were knee to waist deep in water, scoop up some sand and come up with two or three sand dollars on your arm. As the years have gone by, there have been less and less sand dollars. The last year we went, no one could find anything. Probably due to the people that would come out and take them back by the hundreds. Today we found three. It wasn't that successful of an adventure, but it sure brought back some memories to do it again. At least we have something to show for the effort.
So there's the highlights of the trip so far. My goal was to write everyday of the trip (like I did when we were in Ireland), but that hasn't happened so far. Hopefully I can keep up with things a bit more now and write every day for the rest of the trip. Maybe then you won't get the Cliff's notes version...but the whole kit and cabootal.
Then, a few years back some crazy lady got her panties in a wad about protecting sea turtles and Ocean Isle outlawed tents on the beach. We went there a few times after that, but missing the shade of my uncle's big beach tent, went on the hunt for another family beach spot. A bit of a silly reason to break with tradition over a comfort as small as a tent, but that's what happened. Last year, everyone went to Wrightsville. I wasn't there. I was pregnant. Very pregnant. Too pregnant to even entertain the idea of being in the car for the time it would take to get to the beach...let alone actually want to step foot on the sand. Guess it wasn't exactly what they were looking for because soon after the trip ended, my mom was
already on the hunt for a new beach. One that everyone liked enough to keep coming back. And this year, we've found Holden Beach.
This is the first time I've ever been to Holden Beach. It seems like a nice enough beach, though not the same as the one I grew to love many years over. The island itself is pretty long, and there's not much on it that's not right off the bridge. The house we've rented is on the west side of the island were most of the homes are privately owned and not rented out. The good end of the deal is that the beach itself is not very crowded. The bad end of the deal is that we are almost as far away from everything as we can be. There's been some debate whether the closest form of civilization (an ice cream shop and general store) is 3 or 5 miles away (depending on how big your tires are...haha...yes, that was part of a REAL discussion)...either way...too far to not need a car.
The house we are renting is actually a duplex. It's been nice having two kitchens. With eighteen people under one roof, it's been an added luxury to feel like we can spread out a little more. It will be even nicer come tomorrow when some people start getting on other people's nerves and there's more places to hide. It's not necessarily the nicest house we've ever stayed in, but it serves all the needed purposes. We've spent some time envying the house behind us that has a swimming pool, volleyball court, basketball and shuffle board. I think we've already researched that one for next year.
It's been an interesting vacation so far. Lila's spent a few days at the beach which has been neat to watch. I was worried how she would react to the ocean. She's not a big fan of cooler water. She wasn't a fan at first, but once she figured out how to dig around in the sand, she was right at home. She spent a long time just running her fingers through the sand, chasing small beach toys through the tide pool waters and sampling how the shells tasted. She is still not used to the waves. She was playing in the sand at one point when a wave came in a barely reached her, just up to her bottom a bit. You would have thought a shark crawled up on the beach next to her. She screamed and started crawling up my legs. It was pricelessly funny! The demented side of my personality wants to set her up again, and this time have a video camera rolling. We'll see if that can be arranged. I'm hoping to try out her new life jacket and get her out in the waves before we leave. We'll see how that goes.
Our second night here, we packed up the whole crew and headed to Ocean Isle to have dinner at the Sugar Shack. (My own personal "Frommer's" tip for you: If you ever find yourself in Ocean Isle, you MUST eat at Sugar Shack. You will not be disappointed!) Sugar Shack is a Jamaican restaurant run by two transplanted yankees from New York. We forgive them for that since the food is so good! My dad had a beautiful salad of mozzarella cheese, basil, and tomatoes on steroids. Some years ago her actually got the owner to tell him where she got her tomatoes. Now, every year, he heads to the little farmer's market down the street and asks for the tomatoes "in the back room". The woman in charges usually just smiles and sells him a few. Lila ate most of my lobster bisque and was very displeased when there was no more left in the bowl. Most of the group chowed down on ribs and shrimp for dinner. Tim and my cousin tested out the goat. I found it to be a bit chewy but good all the same. We all participated in an embarrassing display of "Happy Birthday" for a few patrons before heading back. It was bittersweet being so close to the beach we spent so many good years enjoying. Even though Holden is only one beach north of Holden, it feels like a bit of a hike, but was well worth the trip!
Yesterday a few of the ladies took a day shopping trip to Myrtle Beach before meeting the rest of the group for dinner at Pirate Voyage. The show was pretty entertaining...with PLENTY of food for anyone. I was just thankful that Lila was tolerant of the whole show. With cannons going off and lots of flashing lights, there was no shortage of opportunities for her to show her not so pretty side. She seemed to enjoy most of it though, eatting most of my vegetable soup before watching the pirate performers dive into the water and tumble across the floor. It was QUITE a drive back though. If we do make Holden Beach our new beach of choice, I'm not sure I'll be up for making the treck all the way to Mrytle ever year.
Today I got to do something I haven't done in at least ten years. We took a walk down to the end of the island at low tide and dug for sand dollars. We did this at Ocean Isle for many, many years. Used to be that you could go out a little before low tide, walk out until you were knee to waist deep in water, scoop up some sand and come up with two or three sand dollars on your arm. As the years have gone by, there have been less and less sand dollars. The last year we went, no one could find anything. Probably due to the people that would come out and take them back by the hundreds. Today we found three. It wasn't that successful of an adventure, but it sure brought back some memories to do it again. At least we have something to show for the effort.
So there's the highlights of the trip so far. My goal was to write everyday of the trip (like I did when we were in Ireland), but that hasn't happened so far. Hopefully I can keep up with things a bit more now and write every day for the rest of the trip. Maybe then you won't get the Cliff's notes version...but the whole kit and cabootal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)