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I am coming off of a few breaks: 12 days off of work, 3 weeks off of derby, and 3 weeks off of school. During the time when I was off of all 3 at once, I had huge plans – you know, all of these things I was going to do around the house, photography that I was going to work on, books I was going to read, shows and movies I was going to watch. I pretty much didn’t do anything I set out to do, but my staycation was amazing anyhow. I did finish one book. And I got caught up on last season’s Grey’s Anatomy. And I bought a new car! The best things were spending time with some family and friends – and mostly B. We laid around a lot. I would say I had my comfy pants on for about 40% of my vacation. Ain’t no shame. It was glorious I tell you. GLORIOUS.
It snowed a few times while I was off – EXCITING! I love the snow, except to drive in it. It’s become pretty bitter here, so my desire to spend time outdoors has depleted. I am, however, reading a book I got for Christmas, Walking Softly in the Wilderness, and it’s gotten me thinking about the Spring and the Summer and maybe doing this backpacking thing for real. Even though I don’t really do the peeing/pooping in the woods thing, or the bugs thing… but I’m always up for a challenge. Going backpacking is kind of a bucket list thing for me because it’s something I never thought I’d do. I like proving myself wrong.
Speaking of bucket list things, I ran my first ever 5k in December! I wasn’t able to train very much for it due to my knee injury, but I did it anyhow, only stopping for about 3 minutes total to walk. I’m proud of myself for finishing! Even though I hated every second of it. Except when it was over. I’ll stick to roller derby, where I can hit people in the middle of my physical pain.
Back in March, B asked me what I wanted to do for my upcoming 30th birthday. We talked through some options, and when she offered to rent a house at the beach where I could invite some friends, it was pretty much a no-brainer. I found an awesome house for rent in Chincoteague, VA (hello, wild ponies anyone?) and friends were selected and rent was paid and all that was left to do was wait.
A little over two weeks ago, we set out on our first full week’s vacation away in almost two years. The house was beautiful, large, and right on the bay (with our own dock and hammock). It was the perfect setting for an actual relaxing vacation The day after we arrived was my birthday, and it was a simple and perfect day. B made my requested breakfast of french toast and bacon (don’t judge, it was my birthday!), and off we went to explore the island with my friend L. We picked up some bunker (crab bait) on the way home before having some sandwiches for lunch, then headed out to the dock to set up the crab traps. I taught L how to crab, as she never had before, complete with cutting and tying the dead bunker. B spent most of her time in the house reading while the two of us were crabbing, alternating laying in the hammock, drinking beer and chatting. It was perfection. Around dinnertime we cleaned up and headed in with our day’s catch. We caught 78 crabs (SERIOUSLY) and 10 of them were keepers. My other friend, LH, arrived, and we all got showers and headed out for a seafood dinner to round out the day. It was spent exactly how I had hoped, without any big party or flashiness, but with so much that I loved.
The whole week was my favorite, really. Every day I had wine or cocktails or beer, even if it was 11 in the morning. I read books. I went to the beach. I saw a lot of nature – wild ponies, all kinds of birds, dolphins, and even a bald eagle. We rented scooters for a day and went mini-golfing one night. We went out for ice cream 5 nights of our trip. I spent an hour in the little local bookstore, leaving with many new finds. I saw the sun set almost every night on the bay. I walked the beach in the black of night, lit only by the moon. I spent quality time with a few good friends, and of course, my girl. I slept in. I recharged. It was all so needed. It was my first time ever visiting Chincoteague, and I fell in love with the island. It was so very laid back and chill – not a lot of hustle and bustle – but still, everything I loved about a beach town.
This vacation re-solidified my need for being (and eventually, living) at the edge of the land, where I can smell the bay breezes and hear the seagulls call out. It’s in my blood. And makes me very happy, as you know.
Life continues to keep me equally busy and entertained. Complaining about anything would be whiney and ungrateful of me, and fluffing things up under a veil of semi-perfection would be oversimplifying and not quite true. For the most part, things are good. I have an itch to write, yet time is hard to come by. (As evidenced by the fact that it’s already the second week of July!)
Vacation was splendid, and I’ll get around to writing about it, because a lot of inspiration happened for me during this time away – a little writing kick that I needed. Isn’t it the worst coming back from a vacation? It’s like, I just want to abandon all responsibility and paint & sell seashells in the Caribbean for the rest of my life. Oh, reality. So cruel.
Wait! Vacation wasn’t entirely splendid because I was a sick little puppy all. week. long. As a matter of fact, I’m still sick. Today would be day number 12 of a swollen sore throat, mucus, and so much coughing I’m sure I’ve broken a rib by now. I tried to be a big girl and take lots of over the counter medicine (hello $40!) and get lots of sleep and cuddles but that doesn’t seem to be stopping this infection, or whatever it is, so off to the doctor I go tomorrow. Boo.
Perhaps the #1 reason I’d like to get rid of this nuisance is because, oh, I don’t know, I’d like to have sex sometime soon! That’s right, I had no fucking sex for my whole vacation. We barely kissed because B was just not having it. I’d get occasional pecks on the lips but most affection I received was given in the form of hugs, spooning, rubs, a massage, and kisses elsewhere. Don’t get me wrong, that was all great, but obviously I’m a host of germs and B doesn’t want to be exchanging much bodily fluids with me. I’m thankful that she was wonderfully understanding and we did have a great time anyway, but still, who wants to be hacking up a lung their whole vacation?? B’s new nickname for me is Hallsie, after the brand of cough drops I’ve been consuming. I’m going to buy their stock next.
/ whiney bitch fest.
I received my offer package in the mail and so now I’ve got some things to do (fingerprints and drug tests) and papers to fill out. We started looking at places to live yesterday – hopefully I can find enough places and make enough appointments for our trip down there this upcoming weekend to be worth it.
Things are starting to move along, and I can hardly believe it.
First day of being back to work after vacation = stupid. But on the plus side: me, my 5th bag of cough drops, and my good friend The Counselor are going to the nail salon tonight to get our toes done (just us, not the cough drops). Yay! Nothing like a little girlfriend time and pretty toes to make a girl feel better.
I am having severe anxiety about grad school, for lots of reasons. I’ve discussed these with B and a few good friends of mine but I’m not interested in divulging into them through written word – I’ve already thought about it enough and I’m trying to actually stop thinking about it.
When I wrote this letter to B one of the things I was referencing was my possible admission to grad school. Now that it’s happened I’m doing the best I can to squeeze in as much fun stuff as possible before the commotion. My last hurrah, until Christmas at least, if you will.
So I went and did something crazy and took a whole week off, the last weekend in August. I had already taken two days for our long weekend in Mehoopany and I thought, you know what, fuck it, let me just take off for all of it. Who cares that by doing so I’d be depleting my vacation time down to about two days or that we really DO NOT have the money to be going anywhere. Who cares, right? If I don’t go now I won’t be able to get a whole week’s worth of veg out time until Christmas and you know how that time of year can go. And also, hopefully B has an official job soon, so she’s not going to be able to take any vacation for a while. So yea, let’s do this.
We’re still going to go to Mehoopany and the cabin for the first part of the week. There will be some kayaking and hiking and some nature time, but also a lot of sex and alone time. It’s the best part about being up there – the seclusion makes you so very much aware of eachother. No distractions.
Then the plan is to head up to a New England state and camp our little hearts out, in a cheap state park of some kind. We don’t know exactly where yet, which we should work on solving asap, I realize. I’ve been dying to take B to Bar Harbor (obviously I love it there, as seen here) but she’s not so thrilled about the drive there – 10 hours. I admit it IS super long, but hello – so worth it. She suggested Vermont or New Hampshire which I know would also be amazing. Either way, we’re going to be all up in nature’s business. And best part? The cost will be minimal. State parks are super cheap – $20 a night at most – and we’ll be cooking almost the whole week. So as long as gas prices don’t jump to $4/gallon we should be having the cheapest vacation evah.
During this trip I’m pledging to be technology-free. Part of this came from this insightful article that B sent me, Outdoors and Out of Reach. The other part is that I really just want to spend time in the present and not worry about who is doing what on facebook or whose ass I’m kicking in my Words with Friends game. And besides, I’ll have enough time on my phone and email and computer when I get back between work and play and photography and school that a break is just the very best thing. I’m actually kind of nervous about it because I’m sure I’m more addicted than I realize but I’ll obviously be fine and probably love the shit out of it.
Make voyages! Attempt them…there’s nothing else. – Tennessee Williams
It has been nothing less than a bit insane since we’ve gotten back from vacation. We even came back a day early AND I took an extra day off before going back to work (granted, it was a day of errands and doctors appointments and food shopping, but still, an extra day off) and it still felt like I needed a bit more time.
Work has been a piece of work. The further along my time is here and the more responsibility I have makes me dread taking off – no matter how much I prepare people and instruct and help them to do the things that need to be done when I’m not here, it doesn’t always seem to work out. It’s good to be busy, but not this busy.
Vacation was quite lovely, although I won’t say it was all wonderful. We ended up vacationing with people who weren’t in the original plan, and they had children, so that wasn’t too fun. But overall we did get to relax and read and swim and catch a lot of sunrays and most importantly have time with each other, so I’m really grateful for it. I’m already looking forward to my next vacation, which is not yet planned, whenever that is. Preferably it’s in Maine (something like this vacation here) and definitely adults only.
And it’s kind of fucked up that I’m thinking about vacation because B still doesn’t have an “official” job, ever since her company went bankrupt back in September. She does really well doing side work (she’s a landscaper) but as you can imagine, that is a very seasonal thing. And we just found out her unemployment has just run out so we’re a little worried. I can’t tell you how many jobs she applies to – people just aren’t calling back. It is such a ridiculously tough economy we are in and there are hundreds of people applying to one job and I just don’t know how people do it.
In non-depressing news, I do believe I forgot to mention that B got me a kayak and a paddle for my birthday, as June was a pretty busy month for her. Can you believe it? It’s amazing and great and wonderful. She also got herself a kayak and a paddle so that we could go paddling together. Plus she got the kayak carrier for the top of her jeep and our launching permits. Crazy, right? We FINALLY went for the first time this past weekend, and besides it being 97 degrees out with death-inducing humidity, it was fun. I am REALLY looking forward to more time on the water. But can we say, seriously – BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!
No, the kayaks didn't come with the people:) Our friends helped B pick them up.
And also, I’m on the verge of almost being done my grad school application. I don’t think it’s the best work I’ve ever written, honestly, but like I mentioned before, maybe a small part of me doesn’t want to get in. Either way, I’m days away from officially submitting it, and I can’t wait to be done with it.
I’m so out of touch with the online world and you blog peeps and my own writing, but it’s been kind of wonderful. Lots of time for being in the present, getting exercise and sun and quality time in with the people I love the most. Hope you all had a fabulous 4th of July weekend! Can you believe we’re a week and a half away from August?!?! Omg!
The world keeps turning, eh?
Ok, so I’m not leaving on a jet plane, but I am leaving. And I have that song in my head.
B and I take off tonight for a 10 hour road trip to the good ‘old south for a much anticipated vacation. Our plans include: swimming in the pool, laying by the pool, reading by the pool, drinking anywhere, going to the beach, eating seafood, lots of sex, reading, and quality time with my bestie and her family.
11 whole days away from work and home with my girl. I’m the luckiest one.
So no blog posts for a while, although I do hope to write when I’m away if the inspiration hits me. And also, maybe I’ll have a post or two set to publish while I’m away, IF I’m productive enough by the time we leave.
Have a lovely and safe holiday all.
Goodbye, New Jersey.
Hello, Myrtle Beach.
A blizzard came on Saturday. Luckily I was able to drive to B’s Friday evening so I had no travel issues. So B got a nice little birthday gift -about 2 feet of snow 
I woke up very early to sex – B kissed me awake – my back, my neck, my ear, my cheek – and I ask you – really, is there a better way to be woken up? When I was awake enough to be coherent she whispered into my ear that she wanted to fuck me with her cock – who, upon hearing that, doesn’t quickly stumble out of their sleepiness? Waking up to sex might only second best to Christmas morning.
B’s choice for breakfast was Shady Maple (my first time there and so good), so we trekked the beginning snow storm and met up with two of her friends in her 4 wheel drive jeep for the long ride. It was slow and slippery, but worth it. The rest of the day was spent shoveling, playing in the snow, being snowed-in in the bedroom, driving in the snow, taking pictures, and eating. The perfect blizzard day.
Sunday: homemade breakfast and dinner, jeep drive, pictures, playing in the snow, seeing friends, and ending the night at Hershey Park’s Candylane with two of my friends and their son from home who met us there.
I’m back in the city and back to work with only 3.5 days to get all of my work done before the holiday break and to finish all of my Christmas stuff. The last thing I should be doing is writing.
Saturday we leave for Tennessee for a week, staying at a condo that is a part of my uncle’s time share program so we were able to stay for practically nothing. It’s in the Smokey Mountains and it has a fireplace and a hot tub and beautiful scenery. I’m excited. I’ve never seen Tennessee and Tennessee has never seen me.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain
The Others Have Spoken