willow_25 | Entries tagged with vacation

Back from vacation, and not entirely raring to go. I left a fall heat wave in Las Vegas, and came back to a fall cold snap in Connecticut. Not pleasant, I feel like I haven't been warm in forever. I'll have pictures to post soon, depending on how good a job I do in getting all of my electronics working again; instead of charging the things that need to be charged, and setting up the software for my new camera, I have just been going home and falling asleep so far this week.

Also, more books to add to my previous list. One I'd read a while ago and forgot to add to the list before, and one I finished on my trip.

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, by Michael Chabon
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz

Current Mood: lethargic

I got my wish for one more day off after my return from the cruise; it snowed on Monday when I was due to head in late, and bosslady called and told me not to bother, since she was having trouble making it in and had decided to give up. It means losing another vacation day, but most of the trips I have planned for this spring are weekend-ers, so I should be okay with vacation time.

The trip was amazing, until an incident on the flight home that I don't want to get into. I should have some pics in the next week or so; I had to empty my memory card twice, due to the massive backlog of pics and the huge number I took. They're trapped on my laptop at the moment, but I've decided that it's time to pick up that wireless connect card I've been avoiding spending the money on, so I can function fully. It's really past time, actually.

Work has been crazy the past few days, and I'm still not entirely done digging out from the work that was left waiting for me. So, I'll get back to that, and talk to all of you later. Hope everyone has had a safe and healthy couple of weeks.

Current Mood: busy

The date has been set for my winter vacation/cruise/sister-in-law's mom's re-marriage. (She now has one up on my biological mother, this being her family-record fourth husband. Fifth, if you count that she divorced and then re-married the same guy once.) We're going the week after my niece's third birthday; coincidentally, this is the same day as her cousin's (mom's sister's son's) fourth birthday.

Yeah, their whole side of the family is screwed for valentine's day.

So, I'm relieved and excited about this, because for the last few days it has seemed likely that my participation would be nixed. The previous tentative date was during a much more expensive travel window. I am sad to admit that, costs for the trip being higher than expected, I will be sharing a cabin with my Mom (as some of you may remember, the last time I went on a cruise with her we didn't speak for a day and a half of it). This seems like an incredibly bad idea, but then not going at all seems like a far worse one. I really need a vacation.

Also, I started reading a very light book about the 101 most influential "People Who Never Lived". Buffy made the list, as did characters from mythology, literature, folk tales, children's stories, and theatre among other catagories. Go team Buffy! I haven't gotten to that entry yet, but if it's worth it I will brief you all on the contents. Evidently the phrase 'People Who Never Lived' is used to indicate that while some are fictional, others are aggrandized legends based on historical figures, and therefore they are not entirely fictional, despite the fact that the widely known stories about them that influence our lives aren't themselves true. King Arthur, for example. *ducks the virtual rotten tomatoes some people just threw at me*

Current Mood: satisfied

Hi! logging in from mymagritte's brand new computer. Just wanted to say hi. Next week I'll have some pictures; I haven't taken many, but there have been some neat moments. The weather is beautiful here. Oh, and yesterday I took a very long walk around DC, and I went to the U Street Farmer's Market! It was so much fun.

More later, hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Oh, and this morning there was a fabulous segment on CBS Sunday Morning about Arlington National Cemetary, you should check it out online. I started crying.

Stuff has been going on, but much of it has been rather mild on the 'noteworthy' scale. We had a watermain break on the street in front of my building; Monday the street was flooded, and there was only a 1-foot area near a drain where you could hop across the rushing puddle/stream of water onto the sidewalk. They shut down the sidewalk not long after I got through. The next day, they dug the entire street up, and were only cleaning up when I came in today.

I got very pretty flowers from bosslady yesterday (I haven't had the heart to tell her I'm allergic to them, it was so sweet of her), and bossman let me keep some promotional toys he was sent (no cost to him, yet I was pleased - he's a practical gift giver). That was cool. They also let me leave at 4:30 so I could have dinner with my folks, which was cooler.

And other than that...Well, not a heck of a lot. I've read 'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman and 'The No-Asshole Rule' by a guy whose name I can't remember at the moment. Robert something I think; it's on Amazon. The second was a very interesting quick read about management in business organizations and 'building a civilized workplace'. Highly recommended. Started a book called 'The Turning' by Jennifer Armentrout this morning, it seems alright so far; I laughed out loud while reading it, which is usually a good sign.

Oh, and I'm going to be back in DC for a visit over Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully, it will be relaxing and drama-free for me. I need that at the moment.

EDIT: I'M GOING TO SEE GEORGE MICHAEL WITH HAPPYNONOPLACE IN JULY!!!!!!

Apologies to

kazzy_ceefor being a late-birthday-wisher; I hope you had a spectacular day.

mymagritte and

flostonparadiseboth had birthday parties this weekend, and it was good to see people, but I was very, very tired on Sunday. I have no idea how I survived those long, busy party weekends of yester-year.

I got a decent word count finished on the nanowrimo story, which is making me pretty damn happy at the moment. Of course, I had to be the big dork who brings the laptop to a party in order to get stuff done, but it was really worth it, on the whole.

Also:

nomdiplumeis in town for a short visit! It was awesome to see him over the weekend, and we're gonna drag him all about this week and be complete tag-along pests. Well, I guess I should speak for myself. I'm gonna do that stuff.

That's all for now. Back to noveling.

So obviously, my good intentions of getting online during the cruise and keeping up with e-mail and LJ did not pan out. Neither did the 'go to the gym every morning with my brother' plan, although I did make it once alone. The cruise was a blast, though. Even with my family, and all the wackiness that goes along with them. And my bro' will have some great memories to take to Iraq with him. We all had a big pity-party at the airport with lots of crying and hugging, but I'd been expecting it all week, and it was good that we all held off until the last minute.

If you have never gone on a cruise to a hot climate, some tips I learned last week: The waiters are very efficient about bringing you those big fruity drinks in the souvineer glasses. Make them bring you water once in a while too, even if you don't think you're thirsty. Wash your hands more often than you normally would; you're enclosed with close to 3,000 people - germs get around. No matter how well you normally tan, get out of the sun every once in a while, and use sunscreen. If you go with a group, and think you're going to get through a big stack of books in a week, think again. Take the stairs once in a while; even if it's seven or eight flights they're not as far as you think, and drunk people get kind of rude in elevators. Plus, it will help you digest all that free food. Don't do the shore excursions unless you find some 'once in a lifetime' activity like swimming with dolphins - they're expensive, and regimented. If you smoke, there will probably be a cigar bar or smoking lounge indoors, and a smoking area on deck. Try to keep it outside; a small cabin filled with clothes that reek of smoke is nobody's friend.

I'll try to work up a rundown with pictures once I get home, because it really was a great time and I want to share, but I'm tired and playing office catch up today, so I'm signing off for now.

Current Mood: lethargic

Geek Trap.

Have a great week, everyone; I'll be back on LJ next Sunday. Okay, I might get on Wednesday, if I'm seriously going internet crazy.

Current Mood: giddy
Current Location: Sunny Alcove

My alarm was all set for 8 this morning, so I could jump in the shower and dress before 9. I was up at 7:15. Which, it turns out, was not all bad, because I remembered that I forgot to pick up a few things for today when I was stumbling home intoxicated last night (not drunk, just happy). So, between posts I will be running my happy butt over to CVS. Don't worry, I'll bring my phone in case the line is incredibly long, as it sometimes is.

Last night I was out in Adam's Morgan with

happynonoplace and her boy for a quick tour of the crowded street and some drinkin' fun. We meant to do karaoke...Really, we were gonna sing...But I had to leave before 1 so I could come home and sleep. Drat! Funniest thing was the fact that while I was getting there, I spent a good long while on the phone with my family. While standing outside a bar.

So, my brother and his wife, her mother and mother's boyfriend, my parents, my sister-in-law's sister and her boyfriend, and a couple of other odd family friends are going on a cruise the first week in September. This is what my brother decided he wants to do with the 9 days of leave he gets before he is deployed to the green zone in Iraq for 15 months; so of course everyone who could get the time off is going. My sister-in-law squealed 'we're going to Mexico!' in my ear twice last night; she's very cute when she's excited. My brother is planning to spend the entire time drunk, I'm planning to sit by the pool. Who wants to bet we both spend more time in the gym than either of us expects at the moment? We both have a tendency to get self-righteous around one another, so I just know something like that will end up happening.

Both of my roomies will be gone for large portions of the weekend, so for the most part it'll be just me and my computer...And you. Enjoy!

Current Mood: listless
Current Location: Sunny Alcove

The best thing about living in a low-rent section of town; there are four groups of people near my house setting off their own fireworks, whick are pretty impressive for amateur fireworks, and mean that I don't need to fight traffic down to the Mall to get my TNT fix. I'm not super patriotic, and I was perfectly okay with not going to see fireworks tonight, but seeing them from my back yard is SO super-cool I've completely forgotten that whole writing thing I was supposed to be doing.

Or, that could be the alcohol talking. I've been drinking since 10 or 11 this morning. Evidently, my July 4th was not complete without hauling my ass out of bed early to go to brunch at

mymagritte 's house. And, I'm not complaining or anything; the food and company were both awesome; I'm just reporting.

I finally figured out how to get my iPod to work with audio books tonight, which was also pretty made of awesome. Now I can read two books at once on the bus to work! Go, multi-tasking.

It sounds like there's a gang war in my neighborhood, there are so many fireworks going off out there. I'm gonna go out and watch. Check ya' later!

Oh, and Happy Independence Day!!

Current Mood: giddy
Current Location: Loud Alcove

Yeah, I'm still in recovery. There was road-tripping, screaming at the top of my lungs at three concerts, Q&A fun with the adorable James Marsters, and more roller coasters than you could shake a stick at.

Fangoria & James Pics Here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13366&l=69154&id=556046112

The photo-op and autographs went better than I expected, and Other Sarah and I were both given outrageous compliments. I expect lots of people got them, but it still made me giggle a whole hell of a lot. JM was ogling me! Yeah, I need to get over it.

The Q&A was great; not much of interest was actually said, except that I was surprised; JM actually has thoughts. Not that I seriously expected him to be an idiot, but based on past meetings with actors, I kind of did. I was pleasantly surprised that intelligent, well-organized ideas form in his brain. It seriously does make him hotter. And who knew that was possible.

The three of us listened to the Civilized Man CD for the first time on Friday, and weren't terribly impressed. We were much pleased on Saturday, when he sounded better in person. Not awesome, but on key and gravelly and the guitar was decent. At least there was no sucky backup band like on the CD. James has the most amazing stage presence, though, his voice barely mattered. The man is so damn electric, he fills the room with himself. The first show was better (after the first show, we decided to stay for the second), mainly because there was more talking and his adorable grinning. After the concerts Saturday, we spent another night at the hotel in NJ, and left early in the morning for Hershey, PA.

Hershey Park & Nashville Star Concert Pics Here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=13373&l=e9a71&id=556046112

We rode every roller coaster in the park, except one, and two water rides. And, we went to the Nashville Star Concert. Which was good. Kate and I went to the 'Final 4' Concert two years ago when Erica Jo won, and this was better than that one. There were also more original songs performed, which was nice. Joshua seems to be growing on me, like a fungus. I'd be disturbed, but he is kind of cute in person. Not like Zack, though. I'm not generally interested in the big bulky guys, but man, after 3 songs I just wanted to jump him. Hard.

Ahem.

So, I got home a little after one in the morning on Monday, and that evening Kate, Other Sarah, and a couple of others stopped by to watch Spike-centric Buffy and Angel Episodes, before Other Sarah had to hop a plane back to Kansas City, MO.

The major theme of the entire weekend was that everything was better than we expected. From the hotel room to JM's voice, to the roller coasters, and the rental car having satellite radio; all in all things just went swimmingly. We're thinking about doing another convention trip next year; depends on what happens where, and if JM or other BtVS people will be there. Very tempted by the Buffy/Smallville con, except that I hate Smallville, which would cut out a huge part of the Con for me. I seriously couldn't even bring myseelf to watch James on Smallville. Oh, well, evidently it wasn't very good, anyway.

Current Mood: enthralled
Current Location: Sunny Alcove
Current Music: Bad - James Marsters

Sometime in the last couple of days the plumbing in our kitchen went crazy, the weeds on our patio got cut by a mystery gardner, and my room went from 'unpleasantly messy' to 'war zone'. I'm not real sure how any of that happened, because I've been off in my own little world.

I read this book called 'Prep', which really messed with my head, in that it got me thinking a lot about high school, and peer pressure, and teenage culture, and how we perceive those things as adults, and...Well, lots of things. It wasn't a life-changing experience or anything, and I haven't exactly been sobbing over it or working it into lots of conversations, but it took me over for several days, and left me emotionally drained.

I've really been unable to focus on polishing FAA 13 the way I intended to this week. The last time I posted to LJ, I really had to force myself, and it didn't really get better until today. SO, no writing, and no new fic before I leave on vacation. Sorry, to anyone who was interested in some good July 4th reading. I should be back on track by next Thursday when I come back to work, at the latest; I'm hoping Tuesday will be more like it.

In the meantime, I'll be without the computer all weekend, on my ROAD TRIP!! which I will update y'all on when I get back. I hope.

See you soon!

Current Mood: crazy
Current Location: The Front Desk

Writing: Yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of FAA, counting from the first posting date. I planned on having Chapter 13 posted on Sunday for an anniversary thing, but it still does not feel finished to me. Once it does, I'll probably post it here as I did with the last chapter, to get some feedback.

Household goodies: Since Friday I've managed to strew my life all the way across the house and not clean up a damn thing. I mowed the lawn, and installed the new hose, and picked up a few things from my bedroom floor (which I think has some type of fabric-magnet installed under the carpet, as all of my clothes eventually end up on it), and I even managed to do a couple of loads of laundry, so it's not like I was entirely un-productive. Mowing the lawn is going to be an issue unless I get back into lifting weights, though. My muscles are weak, and so get strained more quickly when I'm forced to do manual labor.

Oh, and we got a new dishwasher! It even works! It's all very exciting. I still need to sweep and mop before I leave for the road trip, since I didn't do it over the weekend. And I brought plants home from work last week, that need to go in the ground or into pots soon, before they die entirely.

Road Trip: T-minus 4 days, four hours until the James Marsters concert!!! Yeah, I'm a little excited. JM!! In person!! Singing, with his lips and his cheekbones!!! Also, Hershey Park on the way home, and then a stretch of days to just putter around until after the fireworks Wednesday, when I have to go back to work in the morning.

Current Mood: nerdy
Current Location: The Front Desk

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Quick Update
I'm back...
In non-work news
I'm in DC
Not much to post, just breezing through
An Interesting Weekend
Good Afternoon, all!
As seen on the way to Happy Hour Friday...
Prepared for Blogathon...I hope
Fireworks are Made of Awesome!!!
Best. Weekend. Ever.
The Days All Run Together (In Packs of 7)
Happy Tuesday!

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Entries tagged with vacation

Quick Update

I'm back...

In non-work news

I'm in DC

Not much to post, just breezing through

An Interesting Weekend

Good Afternoon, all!

As seen on the way to Happy Hour Friday...

Prepared for Blogathon...I hope

Fireworks are Made of Awesome!!!

Best. Weekend. Ever.

The Days All Run Together (In Packs of 7)

Happy Tuesday!