Warm(er) memories...

Pup and shadow

Jiggity Jig

I'm home again.

It was a WONDERFUL vacation. In fact, it was kind of like two vacations...

My coworkers came out for the weekend, of course. There were 22 of us, I think, in total, although a few were in and out through the weekend. It was such a good time. We hung out, played in the water, got silly, cooked good food, and generally enjoyed each others' company. We had kids this year, although just a couple, and one of them was the world's cutest baby (he was one of my roommates. The other was his mom). It was nice to have more of a family feel, and there was plenty of drunken wackiness that went on after the kids (and old fogies) were in bed.

The house was a-ma-zing. Huge, well appointed, comfy, oceanfront. Great views. Too many stairs for my messed up knee and ridiculous feet, but that was okay. Just a gorgeous, gorgeous place (which is good, because I've already booked it again for next year).

Monday I drove back with Scott and Mary (with whom I drove out on Friday), dropped them off, picked up the dog and my aunt and uncle, and headed back to the beach. We spent the rest of the week rattling around, just the three (well, four) of us in that gigantic house. We boogie boarded, grilled out, I laid and read in the sand and I napped on the couch. Maggie actually ventured into the water once, and was enjoying it until she got overtaken by a giganamous wave, and then that was the end of that. It was actually pretty adorable.

So now it's back to real life. I have a giant pile of sandy laundry and a weird rash which I think was from someone else's sunscreen I borrowed. But in more exciting news, I have a whole weekend still before I have to go back to work. And tomorrow is May's wedding!

Wordless tranquility

Mags hangs out

First beachiness

Salty goodness

We made it to the beach.

In case you were wondering....

Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!! Beach tomorrow!

Squeeeeee!!!!

Stupid damn hurricane....

*whimper*

Tuesday Fragments

It's been a while since I did the whole "Friday Fragments" thing. But today was sort of all over, so it seemed fitting. Even if it is Tuesday.

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I spent a lot of time on the NOAA website today. I felt better. I now feel worse. The entire Eastern Carolina coast is under a hurricane watch right now. Seriously, if Earl invites himself along to our beach retreat, I'm going to lose my damn mind.
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I actually said the words today, "We had a big argument over Costco." That should just never be uttered.
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Hurricanes always remind me of a particular man from my past, who lived (lives? Who knows) in Hurricane Alley and allegedly threw a hell of a hurricane party. I learned more about hurricane proofing than I ever wanted to from him. Who knew it might actually turn out to be relevant?
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I got my stuff today for the conference I'm going to in New York in October. That made me a little giddy.
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Overheard on my walk in to work the other day (remember - hospital in the middle of a college campus): "I'm not sure this geology class is worth the half hour walk to class. I mean, I pass like fifty rocks on the way there, why not just study those?"
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Corny Joke #1 I heard at the Starbucks at work today: "Skeleton walks into a bar. He orders a beer and a mop."
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Corny Joke #2 I heard at Starbucks today: "Helium walks into a bar. The bartender says, hey, we don't serve inert gasses here! Helium doesn't react."
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Corny co-worker joke I heard today: "I bit into a pumpkin muffin and was like, 'wow, this is fantastic! Oh my gourd!!'"
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TV quote I love du jour: "Broken bodies are easier to mend than broken minds." From NCIS, about PTSD.
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Tomorrow my coffee shop is celebrating its 10 year anniversary. I'm excited about the discount. And wish them another 10.
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The hurricane is going to miss us. The hurricane is going to miss us. The hurricane is going to miss us. 
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I really like my coffee people. I'm a little bummer that after I get back I'm going to have to get to work earlier and not linger so long at the coffee shop in the morning.
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I really need to go to bed. I haven't been getting out of bed so well in the mornings...

All's well that's almost well

So I talked to the beach real estate people today. The previously screwed up beach house reservation? Unscrewed.

Oh, holy cow.

We have the super awesome beach house again. I have it for a WEEK! A weeeeek!!

In just three more days!

Now if I can only get the hurricanes to knock it the heck off....

Sunrise happiness

Beachy dreams

Solitude

First break

Here's to 2010

Every time I blink, I have a tiny dream

(Coco)Nutty

Dawn

Hawaiian training wheels