Feb 5, 2008 | Life, Photos, Travel |
There are times when I miss Hawaii. Like now, when it's overcast and drizzly again. Oh, it's not too bad here, really. It's supposed to be 73 today, and that's much better than a few other places I can think of. Not complaining about the temp. Not even really complaining about the drizzle. It's good writing weather.
But, dang, sometimes I want to see the ocean again. I want to sit on the beach with a book and dig my toes in the sand. I want to feel that hot Hawaiian sun beating down on my sunscreened skin. Did I really used to live there? Were those pictures just routine everyday things in Hawaii? Unfortunately, yes, they were. Not unfortunately when I was there, but unfortunately now when I'm not. *sigh*
So now I have to settle for looking at my pictures and remembering the sunshine, trade winds, and warmth. It was great while it lasted, though I'm not unhappy with my move to Alabama. No, Alabama has its pluses. One of which is a much lower cost of living. It's nice not to have to contemplate paying half your monthly income for a house.
Still, if I could just afford a condo there, and the time to go stay in it for a month or so at a time, that'd be awesome. 🙂 Beach breaks are necessary from time to time.
When I lived in Hawaii, I loved seeing the beach and the ocean, but I didn't love hanging out there so much. Seems nutty, huh? But sand is annoying, and the sun is hot, and after a while you just want a cool drink and some AC. A couple of hours at the beach and I was done. Many of my Hawaii friends don't go to the beach much at all. If you aren't a water sport person, it gets old. If you like to surf or sail or windsurf or dive, it makes more sense to head for the water. Otherwise, it's just fun to enjoy it from the vantage of a beachside bar or restaurant. 🙂
So what about you? Any favorite beach spots? Or do you prefer something else? Enjoy the virtual beach break!
Jan 2, 2008 | Books, Life, Photos, Travel, Writing |
I forgot how much I enjoyed 80+ degree temps at Christmas. Alabama isn't bad in the winter, but it was in the 30s last night when we drove to my parents' house for dinner. Brrr! To think that just last week, I was wearing a bathing suit…..
Here's a pic of Nassau. Doesn't that look inviting? No one warned me about the Straw Market. In consequence, I wasn't prepared. I didn't take enough cash off the ship and only managed to buy two purses instead of the 5 or so I would have liked to buy.
Some people don't like the hassle of bargaining with merchants. Some people don't like the close quarters of the market. But I loved it. I have no problem saying no and no problem walking away. Therefore, I think my designer knockoffs were a bargain.
Next stop was St. Thomas on Christmas day. Isn't it gorgeous? Reminded me of a cross between Hawaii and the Amalfi coast in Italy. I would definitely love to spend some time in the USVI. It's much closer than Hawaii, and just as lovely.
Finally, here we are with the famous coconut monkey cups. Yes, they are tacky tourist tchotchke. They are over priced. But I teased my hubby one too many times about getting sloshed on coconut monkey drinks. So he went to the bar and bought two (with margaritas inside) just to shut me up, I think. 🙂
All in all, the cruise was fun. The difficulties I imagined in traveling with both sets of parents were just that — my imagination. Everyone got along fabulously. No one felt pressured to do anything they didn't want to do. We spent whole days doing nothing. When the ladies wanted to go shopping, we went. When the men wanted to lounge around doing nothing, they did it.
I think I will cruise again. I enjoyed being waited on, enjoyed lounging around reading books. I tried the casino, but wasn't hooked. After I lost $50 in the slots, I was cured of any desire to keep trying. I also went to an art auction, but I set my number on the table, face down, and put my sunglasses on top to keep me out of trouble. It worked, thank God. Not so much for others, though. Someone in the room spent eleven grand on four Peter Max prints. PRINTS, not oils, not one-of-a-kind paintings. Then there were the Rembrandt woodcuts for 15K. No one bought them.
I only read two books on board (though I took about 10), but they were both very good. I finally read J.R. Ward's Dark Lover. Yeah, I'm hooked, and I don't even like vampires that much. It's her characterization. Fabulous. I had some quibbles with the story, but not enough to make me stop. That's good writing, when you get mad at the characters but are too interested in their story to stop reading.
I also read Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study. Another winner. Great book, and now I have to buy the sequel in trade paperback because I can't wait for mass market. I took along a J.D. Robb, but didn't get to it. Hubby read it, and he was hooked, but ultimately didn't like it. Too much romance for him. Still, Nora had him turning those pages.
What did you do over the holidays? Get everything you wanted for Christmas? Make any new resolutions? I have to think about mine. I purposely didn't take a computer or Alphie on the cruise because I wanted time away from writing, so now I'm getting my brain back into gear and thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. If you've figured out your goals, please share!
Dec 20, 2007 | Travel, Writing |
I'm gone until the New Year. Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Let's hope for great writing in 2008, and the strength and perseverance needed to get that elusive contract. 🙂
See y'all on the flip side!
Dec 14, 2007 | General, Travel |
I will be aboard a ship heading for the Caribbean. I have to ask myself why, after 3 years of living in Hawaii, I'm going on a tropical vacation instead of doing something I've never done before.
I've been to warm places in the winter. I've lived the island lifestyle. So why go back to the tropics just a little over a year since I left them?
I dunno. Seemed like the thing to do at the time. 🙂
This will only be my second cruise, and I'm ambivalent. The first one was okay, nothing spectacular. You're onboard a floating hotel with a couple-thousand other people. You eat, sleep, drink, and breathe the unique atmosphere that a cruise experience provides. This isn't authentic travel, like driving across a foreign country alone or backpacking through Europe. This is luxury travel, no matter whether you have the cheapest room in the belly of the ship or the penthouse. You are taken care of, catered to. I'm not sure I enjoy that non-stop for a week. (Weird huh?)
So I'm trying it again, just to see how I feel this time. I thought about swearing off cruising the last time, but that wasn't fair. This is the second chance, though I doubt the cruise industry will miss me if I decide I prefer a different mode of travel, one that allows me to explore a country rather than float into and out of it without experiencing the authenticity of the place.
Are there any vacation experiences you prefer? If you've cruised, do you like it or are you ambivalent like me? (Oh, I will enjoy myself — last time, we tried to do too much; this time we're vegging by the pool with books and umbrella drinks, which should help a lot.) What's the one must-have item you take with you when you travel?
Oct 26, 2007 | 70 Days of Sweat, Photos, Travel, Writing |
I'm off for a fabulous weekend of talking, eating, and drinking with my fellow Heart of Dixie chapter members. We've rented an inn in the Tennessee mountains and today we descend en masse to take over the place.
Tonight is fun and games, tomorrow I get a table massage, and tomorrow night is our 1920s themed Murder Mystery Dinner party. I'm playing a gambler, which isn't nearly as exciting as being a flapper, but that's okay. I'm a terrible actress no matter which way you cut it. 🙂
Lessee, Wednesday, I wrote 1377 words. Yesterday, not so good. Too much washing and packing to do. 🙁 I only got 497 words done. I'm not sure how today, or this weekend, will pan out. I'm taking the laptop, but just look at that picture. Do you really think I'm going to get anything done? 🙂
See y'all on Monday!
Edited: picture deleted
There are times when I miss Hawaii. Like now, when it's overcast and drizzly again. Oh, it's not too bad here, really. It's supposed to be 73 today, and that's much better than a few other places I can think of. Not complaining about the temp. Not even really complaining about the drizzle. It's good writing weather.
