In case you didn't know it, my family is on spring break. In case you didn't know it, we are in Florida. aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh (that's a sigh of contentment in case you couldn't tell)
The first happy thing about the trip is that we rented a car expressly to make it. Not that we're rolling in extra dough, but to make a long story short our car wasn't up for the ride and when Mr. P.B. (haha, I never realized those were his initials:) didn't get us a car in time he proposed that the directors rent one for us. After all, for a pastor's family, every vacation turns into a ministry opportunity somewhere down the road. It's amazing on how many "vacations" my dad ends up having the church service. . . but such is the life for someone in his line of work. Anyway, the car is of ultimate sweetness. I mean of ultimate sweetness within reasonability (no, Cara, we did not get a Lamborghini!). It's a white 2007 Toyota Sienna with all the technology such a title entails, except for a DVD player. And since my family has almost never owned a car younger than 7 years old, we could hardly get over the delights of discovering every amazing detail . Man, we don't even have to shut the sliding door if we're not inclined to it! Just press a button, and the door magically slides into place. For someone who is accustomed to learning the "art" of closing a broken mini-van door, this new luxury seems almost sacreligious. It just doesn't seem right to not have to expend any muscle energy to close a door, right?
The next happy thing is that we made our trek through the night safely without incident, making the trip in aproximately 21-22 hours, but that included stopping for a big breakfast. :)
We then got to camp out in my Uncle Hudson's condo for a couple of days. Here we got to read, watch TV, walk on the beach, go swimming, or just sit in the sun. And boy did I love this last activity! As a northerner who has just come through a real winter, I felt like I just couldn't get enough warmth and sunshine to fill me up, but I had to just bask in it. So bask I did, usually with a book, soaking in the cool off-shore breezes coming in from the bay just fifteen yards away.
Also as a northerner, I think I got a little too carried away. Sunscreen is sort of an unheard of term in my vocabulary, at least beyond the basic face and shoulders requirements, so as you can imagine, I got my results. Luckily I didn't turn into a lobster back, but I did become decidedly ruddy and just a little sensitive skinned. To the rest of the world I may be a little pink, but that's just because they're blind to my rich tan complexion, or soon-to-be one, that is.(hehe)
The next happy thing is that we got to go to a Red Sox spring training game!!! Wahoo!(this is where you are permitted to turn a ghastly green as you wallow in envy) We picked up Kimberly at the library and then zoomed on down to Sarasota to see if we could purchase the much desired tickets. With no problem we bought them, and before going in, I took the opportunity to slather on some of KJ's sunscreen to protect myself from the fierce Florida sun. I was a little wary of overexposure to the sun beyond what I'd already had, and in all likelihood I'm already going to get sun cancer and die so why make it worse than it has to be? Actually maybe with that outlook I didn't need to put on sunscreen at all because if I'm going to die anyway why bother? But of course even with this optimistic view the possibility has occurred to me that maybe I won't die of skin cancer after all, so I had best be prepared in case I don't. Anyway, if you like irony, it actually turned out that our seats were in the shade, so now that I finally had on sunscreen it didn't do me much over all good.
Well the game was fun, even if we did get crushed (it was that dumb Hanson pitcher). If you want to know more about it, read KJ's blog, or if you've already read it, then there's not much point in me telling you more about it, especially since very soon I shall tire of writing if I try to. Let it suffice to say that we got a pretty good view behind home plate, even if we were at the very top, and it was fun seeing Varitek and Cocoa Crisp (why do I feel like people are talking about what they had for breakfast whenever his name is mentioned?) while trying to take pictures of them.
Another happy thing is that today we went to the flea market. Here we got to wander around admiring people's junk. Well that's not true. If you've been to a flea market you can find some pretty nice newish stuff there. It was fun though, and Craig, Clyde, and I broke a deal with a guy and came away with eight Calvin and Hobbes books (a vast treasure!) and I came away with a pair of blue and silver plastic sunglasses that I only bought because they were cool and cheap.
Also today we made the greatly anticipated stop to the big Good Will that we all love. This is where I might differ from some girls. I'm not one of those people that just loves to go shopping, especially, especially at the mall (though the mall is fun). I may enjoy outlet stores, but since they are usually out of my price range and maybe style and taste, I generally glance through the items and am finished. Of course, on the other hand, outlet malls are practically paradise for my sister. In fact just during this vacation when we've passed outlet malls we've told the invisible Kendra to take a look at the tree on the other side of the road. It doesn't matter that she's hundreds of miles away--we just have to make sure she doesn't catch sight of those outlet malls, or we're all done for. However, despite my not being one largely inclined to extensive clothes shopping, I am particularly partial to second hand stores. In fact, probably half of my wardrobe is second hand. This I got at the Salvation Army, or the Dublin Rummage sale, or the Trinity Free Clothes Giveaway, or Good Will. So I was pleased to be able to come in and peruse the long aisles of strange out-of-style skirts, because you never know when you may find a gem. So, (and since I don't want to bore you) after eliminating countless possibilites, I came away with about two skirts and two shirts, which is quite a triumph since I can be picky. Ah, Goodwill is a good place.
And with that note of good will, I bid you good night, if you will.
