Year: 2008

So we’re flying out of Destin at 9:30 this morning. I can’t wait to see Caroline but am sad to say goodbye to my life of leisure. Something tells me by 6:30 tonight the sound of waves lulling me into relaxation will be replaced by the sound of a little voice listing the reasons why it’s not time for her to get ready for bed.

Especially because she has spent the last five days being brainwashed by the grandparental system, only to be plunged cold turkey into a world that doesn’t involve a steady stream of donuts with sprinkles and staying up way past bedtime playing Polly Pockets.

Anyway, I have a few items to share. First, if you have sent me an email and I haven’t responded, it’s because I can’t. The high-speed wi-fi (total oxymoron) will not allow me to type more than two words at a time before completely freezing up. And since I usually like to respond to people with a little more than “HI THERE!”, I have to wait until I get home to answer email.

Although a little quirk of mine is that I answer most text messages with a capital “A” because I am not proficient with the text messaging, yet I like people to know that I have received their text.

If someone would buy me a Blackberry Curve, my text issues would be solved forever. In fact, I tried to convince P to take my hot pink Motorola Razor so that I could upgrade, but he said no.

Even when I told him it could pass as light red.

I am so off-topic.

The other thing I’d like to clarify is that I realize many workplaces don’t allow capri pants or trouser jeans even if they have a business casual dress code. When I wrote last Friday’s post I was thinking more along the lines of attire for the She Speaks Conference.

I guess I could have been clearer.

So for those of y’all who work in a bank or sell pharmaceuticals or what have you, do not wear trouser jeans or capris. You may possibly be fired and find yourself shuffling down the street with only a fabulous pair of trouser jeans to sustain you.

Lastly, the book I finished on Sunday was “Traveling Mercies” by Anne Lamott. I don’t know why I hadn’t read it before, especially since I’m such a huge fan of “Bird by Bird”.

Anyway, I loved it. I seriously loved it. It’s a memoir of her spiritual journey and made me laugh one minute and cry the next. I love her perspective on faith because she wasn’t raised in church and didn’t grow up knowing all the right answers. She just knows that she believes in Jesus and that He saved her from what was a very dark place, in spite of the fact that she wasn’t sure she wanted to be saved.

As she recounts her conversion experience, she talks about knowing that Jesus was in the room with her. “I felt him a surely as I feel my dog lying nearby as I write this. And I was appalled. I thought about my life and my brilliant hilarious progressive friends, I thought about what everyone would think of me if I became a Christian, and it seemed an utterly impossible thing that simply could not be allowed to happen. I turned to the wall and said out loud, ‘I would rather die’.”

But a week later, she couldn’t escape His overwhelming presence and finally said out loud, “All right. You can come in.”

That’s just one moment in a book full of moments that really spoke to me about the fullness of God’s mercy and love. Loved it.

And now I guess I better go and figure out a way to make my suitcase weigh less than 60 pounds for the trip home.

I’m totally up for the challenge.

Or I may just throw out anything that can be easily replaced.

P’s pillow may be on that list.

Have I mentioned I’m in Destin?

This is what I did yesterday:

Woke up.

Put on swimsuit.

Sat in lounge chair on beach.

Stared at blue-green water.

Saw porpoises (porpoi?) swimming through waves.

Finished book.

Listened to Dave Barnes on my iPod.

Took a nap.

I don’t want to sound too ambitious, but that’s pretty much my same plan for tomorrow.

We got here late Friday afternoon and headed straight to the wedding rehearsal. It was the shortest, most expensive cab ride I have ever taken in my life.

Kudos to you, oil prices.

After the rehearsal dinner, we arrived at the beach house where we’re staying with four other couples. We sat out on the balcony and listened to the ocean until we were all lulled into a coma-like state and found our way to our respective bedrooms.

On Saturday I learned a few things:

1. Just because you’re not hot on the beach doesn’t mean you’re not getting burned on your back.

2. If you wear a swimsuit that ties in the back and you underestimate your sunscreen needs, you will end up with a perfect, white knot and bow design on your back.

It’s a classy look when you’re attending a wedding that evening.

3. If you decide to make a toast at a rehearsal dinner, it’s not really the most auspicious start to say, “I’m not a public speaker, BUT…” and then proceed to talk for the next thirty minutes.

From five pages worth of notes.

4. Spending four days with some great friends in Destin is not a bad way to pass the time.

5. Crab claws. Hard to eat.

6. When I travel with P, he asks questions about things like how the planes get their fuel and if airlines contract with specific gas companies.

Like I might have the answer.

Umm, gasoline fairies?

7. I totally overpacked. Apparently five pairs of shoes for four days at the beach is excessive.

8. Your child will call and leave you a very weepy message about how much she misses you, causing much guilt and angst.

And then when you call her back and her Bops asks her if she wants to talk to you, she’ll say “Not right now”.

Which would have been nice to know in the midst of all the guilt caused by the earlier message.

9. Everyone sat around last night and watched some movie called “In the Name of The King: A Dungeon Siege”.

It featured Burt Reynolds, Ray Liotta, and Claire Forlani.

Ever heard of it?

That’s what I thought.

10. When I’m on vacation I don’t really write coherent posts that have a point.

Or an effective ending.

Y’all have a great day.

So, I’m in Destin, Florida.

I’m going to be honest. It doesn’t stink.

Except that the high-speed wifi is questionable at best.

Here are a few things I’ve already learned on this vacation.

1. American Airlines charges $50.00 for any bag that weighs over 50 pounds.

2. I had no idea that I could actually lift 60 pounds which is why I felt confident telling P that there was no way our bag was too heavy because if it was then I couldn’t lift it.

3. Good news! I’m freakishly stronger than I realized.

4. Bringing my pillows with me on vacation in an extra suitcase is clearly the most phenomenal decision I’ve ever made.

5. Florida beaches do not look like Texas beaches.

6. This is where I’ll be for the rest of the day.

(This is where y’all should picture a gorgeous blue beach with white sand, complete with lounge chairs and umbrellas. It’s lovely.)

(However, the internet here is the devil and will not let me upload pictures.)

It’s like my being in my very own Corona commercial.