Well, here it is! The final chapter of my vacation....almost a month after it's conclusion: The return to reality!
The trip home was fine - we left the shore around 10 am, was home by 11:30 am and I had everything unpacked, washed and ready to go by early evening. I took the following Monday off to have some bounce-time before I got back to work - I didn't want to rush around like a chicken without a head!
I spent the day with Chris and Hubby on Monday...and then headed off for my counseling appointment in the late evening. Counselor was quite impressed with how relaxed I was...but, of course, I told him work loomed ahead, as well as the thyroid scan!
Tuesday morning, 8:30 am: I was greeted to about 300 e-mails...and 2 spam filters so overloaded, it crashed my e-mail! Great start to returning from vacation! On top of it, our system's administrator was on vacation - yeah! So, luckily, our center administrator was able to clear out some of the spam another way so I could read my e-mail again.
Once my e-mail was cleared up...I had to fish through it all to see what was just FYI and fileable, and what had to be addressed for real. By lunch (at least 4 hours of time spent on e-mails alone), I knew the projects I actually had to do - two of which were rush jobs because my center administrator, who was supposed to be monitoring my e-mail never did! So, I ended up working right through my lunch to get the rush jobs done. Par for the course, I suppose.
As I approached 2 pm, I realized I never heard from the hospital about what I needed to do for the thyroid scan and uptake test I was scheduled for Wednesday morning at 8 am. So, I take a minute to call the test center...and guess what?
I am not in the schedule!!
So, after about 5 minutes of @*^%39(&%*%!@%!^$#&&%!*&%*@ ranting and raving, I called my Hubby in tears. All I wanted to do was get this test over with (especially since I had it scheduled about 3 weeks in advance!) and see if part of the reason I had been feeling so crappy was due to a thyroid problem, and here I am encountering yet another speed bump in the road!
Hubby calls the test center - finds out that Dr. McC's staff never faxed over the corresponding bloodwork, which is required to order the radioactive capsule for the test. So, my slot got cancelled. Thanks a lot, dumb asses! Luckily, the lady on the phone was able to get me in for the test on 9/19 (see post on results: The Lo-down on the Thyroid Scan and Uptake...Good News!) - provided, of course, the bloodwork gets sent over.
Hubby then calls Dr. McC's office and rolled some heads yet again with the staff...and this time, they fax over the bloodwork (and the prescription too, since they didn't do that either!). We got a confirming call this was done. So, now I am confirmed for the test!
Finally, it is time to go home...and I am out the door at 4:30 promptly! I can't take anymore stress!
I get home with Chris and we decide to sit outside and wait for Hubby to come home from his first day back to work too. As we sit, Hubby's aunt (Cookoo) waives from across the street as she gets her pizza delivered and goes back inside. A few minutes later, CooKoo and Suzi come across the street to visit...and give us the news of the upcoming wedding and baby! (see post on How my miscarriages have brought forth new life). Not the news I was expecting to hear - especially after a day that had already been so stressful. But, in the long run, this news is what I can actually think back to fondly - it was the news that brought me the peace over my losses I had longed for.
It was one wacky return to work after such a nice vacation... Reality sucks sometimes, doesn't it? Guess that's why it's called vacation.
Showing posts with label Vacation 2006. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation 2006. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Chapter 7: Some sad news to accompany the last night of vacation
After a wonderful - and peaceful - week on vacation, the week was ended with some rather sad news that we were very much not expecting to hear.
To backtrack a bit, Hubby has been friends with SG (to differentiate him and his wife from others we know) for a long time - Hubby and SG were both State investigators for the Division of Gaming Enforcement before Hubby and I got married. He is a very nice guy - and, which is a downfall, his thinking is always black and white. He and his wife (DG) got married in 2000 after about 6 years of dating (they met in college) - a lovely ceremony with an ourdoor reception.
Over the years, we have shared the joys of children being born - and the downers of my struggles with IF and DG's struggles with narcolepsy (which impacted her two pregnancies very badly because she could not take her meds while pregnant, which caused people having to stay with her all of the time and no driving). We saw each other as often as we could...which is hard to do when we live over an hour away from each other!
However, over the past year, our contact with them became less frequent - the occasional phone call came through, and we didn't tell them about the November miscarriage until after the new year, when they finally returned out phone calls.
SG is now a criminal justice investigator and one of the duties of his job is to be on wiretaps. So, his hours have been very crazy (overnights, weekends, etc.) - and he also works a second job with his father so that DG can stay home with the boys. He maybe has one day off every 13 days - which, personally, seems like it could wear a person down very quickly, and the relationships around that person too.
Anyways, SG and DG came over around 9:30 pm Saturday night (NOT what I was expecting since I was in my jammies, no make-up, poneytail and packing!), the night before we were leaving to go home. I noticed right away that SD was very hyper, uncomfortable being there, and quite frankly, looked like he has been in a concentration camp for about 2 years - he is way too thin now. DG looked FANTASTIC! She has lost a considerable amount of weight, was dressed beautifully and was all done up. I couldn't quite get why they looked so different - and why SD was not himself...
So, the boys went into the kitchen to chat about they guy things they always talk about - and I had a chance to talk to DG alone for a bit. So, without beating around the bush, I asked her what was going on. That is when she informed me that this was mostly likely the last time we would see them together again...
...They were most likely getting divorced.
I was in utter shock...until she told me the WHY: He had been having an affair with the woman who is on the wiretap with him for the past 16 months. DG had just found out the week before through the woman's husband (he caught them in the act and called DG immediately)...although she had suspected it for a while.
I am very heartbroken about it - they were such a good fit. Shared so many things in common - interests, views, history. They talked about everything and anything. Out of all of the weddings I have either attended or been in, they were one of the couples I never imagined this would happen to.
So, the plan was that he would go to counseling to try to determine what he wanted to do: leave her and the kids for this other woman (which, BTW, this about her 4th affair...habitual cheater) or stay and try to work it out. He went to the counseling session - he wants to leave and be with this other woman.
Even after a counseling session together the following week, he still has it in his head that he is "in love" with this woman and that he has been very unhappy for a long time. What, what??? Could have fooled us! He and the other woman have "plans" to buy a house together in 2007...
I feel terrible about it - DG is calling me all of the time to try to get things off her chest. She is happy that he is still living in the house right now (in the basement on a twin bed, so for now, they are playing "house" without the "I love you's" and the kiss goodbye - very sure that act is going to confuse the two boys even more than they are now!) and feels that he might change his mind. I think she is setting herself up for a HUGE fall when he finally moves out - and I am scared for her. Sure, he hasn't realized yet that you still have to do normal household chores in a new relationship - and that, if this other woman is going to have custody of her kids, he is going to be assuming a fatherly role to them, whether he wants to or not. The grass is not always greener on the other side, you know! But, he has his blinders on - and she has to do things that are best for her and her children.
One of the big issues for SG - that he is not willing to admit yet - is that there is a family history of bipolar disorder in his family (his father deals with it every day, his grandmother was institutionalized years ago because of it) and based on how he has been acting (including lashing out at this boys, which is so not his style), it seems to many of us (including his family) that this is the path his body is leading down. He has backed away from all of his friends (including my Hubby) and will not speak to his family unless it is on his terms. I am scared for him - but, in the end, you can't force someone into treatment if they don't want to admit there may be a problem.
I know there is nothing I can do to change what is happening other than to be there for DG, and for SG when and if he comes around to us. Do I hope that maybe they can get back together? Absolutely. She wants to try to work it out - she wants to do whatever it takes to get her marriage back for herself and her children. But, she can't do that if he is going in a different direction. And it is sad. This is not the couple I figured would be heading for divorce...
Only goes to show how important keeping communication open between each other is in a marriage!
I know I have been very hard to live with as I mourned my losses and worked through my anger over the past year - but, Hubby has always allowed me my time to work through it, and has always said he was there when I needed him. Our communication has been open, even when I didn't want to talk about it - and it shows now as I am finally bouncing back from my struggles and we are getting back into our "groove".
How I wish SD would just open up to someone...and communicate the real why of he is doing this. Maybe the relationship can never be reconciled, but at least the pain caused by it can be lessened...
Welcome back to reality, I suppose... :(
To backtrack a bit, Hubby has been friends with SG (to differentiate him and his wife from others we know) for a long time - Hubby and SG were both State investigators for the Division of Gaming Enforcement before Hubby and I got married. He is a very nice guy - and, which is a downfall, his thinking is always black and white. He and his wife (DG) got married in 2000 after about 6 years of dating (they met in college) - a lovely ceremony with an ourdoor reception.
Over the years, we have shared the joys of children being born - and the downers of my struggles with IF and DG's struggles with narcolepsy (which impacted her two pregnancies very badly because she could not take her meds while pregnant, which caused people having to stay with her all of the time and no driving). We saw each other as often as we could...which is hard to do when we live over an hour away from each other!
However, over the past year, our contact with them became less frequent - the occasional phone call came through, and we didn't tell them about the November miscarriage until after the new year, when they finally returned out phone calls.
SG is now a criminal justice investigator and one of the duties of his job is to be on wiretaps. So, his hours have been very crazy (overnights, weekends, etc.) - and he also works a second job with his father so that DG can stay home with the boys. He maybe has one day off every 13 days - which, personally, seems like it could wear a person down very quickly, and the relationships around that person too.
Anyways, SG and DG came over around 9:30 pm Saturday night (NOT what I was expecting since I was in my jammies, no make-up, poneytail and packing!), the night before we were leaving to go home. I noticed right away that SD was very hyper, uncomfortable being there, and quite frankly, looked like he has been in a concentration camp for about 2 years - he is way too thin now. DG looked FANTASTIC! She has lost a considerable amount of weight, was dressed beautifully and was all done up. I couldn't quite get why they looked so different - and why SD was not himself...
So, the boys went into the kitchen to chat about they guy things they always talk about - and I had a chance to talk to DG alone for a bit. So, without beating around the bush, I asked her what was going on. That is when she informed me that this was mostly likely the last time we would see them together again...
...They were most likely getting divorced.
I was in utter shock...until she told me the WHY: He had been having an affair with the woman who is on the wiretap with him for the past 16 months. DG had just found out the week before through the woman's husband (he caught them in the act and called DG immediately)...although she had suspected it for a while.
I am very heartbroken about it - they were such a good fit. Shared so many things in common - interests, views, history. They talked about everything and anything. Out of all of the weddings I have either attended or been in, they were one of the couples I never imagined this would happen to.
So, the plan was that he would go to counseling to try to determine what he wanted to do: leave her and the kids for this other woman (which, BTW, this about her 4th affair...habitual cheater) or stay and try to work it out. He went to the counseling session - he wants to leave and be with this other woman.
Even after a counseling session together the following week, he still has it in his head that he is "in love" with this woman and that he has been very unhappy for a long time. What, what??? Could have fooled us! He and the other woman have "plans" to buy a house together in 2007...
I feel terrible about it - DG is calling me all of the time to try to get things off her chest. She is happy that he is still living in the house right now (in the basement on a twin bed, so for now, they are playing "house" without the "I love you's" and the kiss goodbye - very sure that act is going to confuse the two boys even more than they are now!) and feels that he might change his mind. I think she is setting herself up for a HUGE fall when he finally moves out - and I am scared for her. Sure, he hasn't realized yet that you still have to do normal household chores in a new relationship - and that, if this other woman is going to have custody of her kids, he is going to be assuming a fatherly role to them, whether he wants to or not. The grass is not always greener on the other side, you know! But, he has his blinders on - and she has to do things that are best for her and her children.
One of the big issues for SG - that he is not willing to admit yet - is that there is a family history of bipolar disorder in his family (his father deals with it every day, his grandmother was institutionalized years ago because of it) and based on how he has been acting (including lashing out at this boys, which is so not his style), it seems to many of us (including his family) that this is the path his body is leading down. He has backed away from all of his friends (including my Hubby) and will not speak to his family unless it is on his terms. I am scared for him - but, in the end, you can't force someone into treatment if they don't want to admit there may be a problem.
I know there is nothing I can do to change what is happening other than to be there for DG, and for SG when and if he comes around to us. Do I hope that maybe they can get back together? Absolutely. She wants to try to work it out - she wants to do whatever it takes to get her marriage back for herself and her children. But, she can't do that if he is going in a different direction. And it is sad. This is not the couple I figured would be heading for divorce...
Only goes to show how important keeping communication open between each other is in a marriage!
I know I have been very hard to live with as I mourned my losses and worked through my anger over the past year - but, Hubby has always allowed me my time to work through it, and has always said he was there when I needed him. Our communication has been open, even when I didn't want to talk about it - and it shows now as I am finally bouncing back from my struggles and we are getting back into our "groove".
How I wish SD would just open up to someone...and communicate the real why of he is doing this. Maybe the relationship can never be reconciled, but at least the pain caused by it can be lessened...
Welcome back to reality, I suppose... :(
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Chapter 6: Play time and other funny Christopher moments
Here are some pics of playtime and other fun moments... Again, more pics are to come...
Chris atop the Dover Township Emergency Response Team (ERT) unit (Hubby has SOME connections!):
Check me out, SuperCop!
Does this siren work??
Hey! Out of my unit, Kaila!
Chris reading at dinner:
Four generations of "The Men" (my FIL, Grampy, Hubby, Chris and Uncle Tony):
Checkin' out the slides:
Mommy, you're coming with me!
I think I hit my head:
Chris atop the Dover Township Emergency Response Team (ERT) unit (Hubby has SOME connections!):
Check me out, SuperCop!
Does this siren work??
Hey! Out of my unit, Kaila!
Chris reading at dinner:
Four generations of "The Men" (my FIL, Grampy, Hubby, Chris and Uncle Tony):
Checkin' out the slides:
Mommy, you're coming with me!
I think I hit my head:
Chapter 5: Peace found by the ocean
Finally....I have pics from VACATION!! These are not all...but the start.
Although it was a gloomy day, peace was found at the ocean with no one around except for us...and a few bystanders who truly enjoyed watching us play as a family:
The magnitude of the ocean:
Keeping cozy:
What makes life all worthwhile:
Enjoy!
Although it was a gloomy day, peace was found at the ocean with no one around except for us...and a few bystanders who truly enjoyed watching us play as a family:
The magnitude of the ocean:
Keeping cozy:
What makes life all worthwhile:
Enjoy!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Chapter 4: How a two-year-old can scare the crap out of her parents (and hosts!)
Last we left off, Chris was battling his cold...
We had arranged with friends of ours (M&J) to come down Labor Day day and stay overnight with their daughter, Kaila. They arrived around 11 am Monday morning...just in time to see the Dover Township Emergency Response Team (ERT) unit at our house. Not to worry - this was a social visit! The sergeant is a client/friend of Hubby's and he brought the ERT unit over with his liutenant so Chris could take a tour of it (pics to be posted in the next chapter since my MIL is still holding them for randsom!).
Anyways, we had a very nice time with M&J down for the day - unfortunately, we missed boardwalking with them and our other friends who live in the area because Chris decided to take a 3+ hour nap. Oh well...wasn't like he WOULDN'T get to the boardwalk, right?
Monday night was a trip trying to get the kids to go to sleep - they just fed off each other, so we let them play until about 10 pm (which Chris never gets to do!).
Tuesday ended up being rather rainy, so we decided to hit the beach in between showers (pics still held hostage) and when it did rain, stay indoors and play. Chris loved the water - Kaila loved the sand...can you say match made in heaven!
...Then, it was time to pack up and our guests to head home...and here is where the fun begins!
Kaila is a darling little peanut - she is as tiny for her age as Chris is a moose for his. She will be 2 years old in early December, yet she just hit 20 pounds. However, her strong-willed personality (and I mean EXTREMELY stong-willed!) would make you think she was a little brute - not the peanut she really is.
As her parents were gathering up the bags and such, she was "teaching" Chris how to open and close the doors to all of the rooms - except, she wasn't betting on the locks on the doors. Around 6 pm, as she closed the door to the room they stayed in, she flipped the lock and locked herself - and only herself - in the room. She began to scream bloody murder as she realized she couldn't get out of the room - and she was trying!
So, as she screamed from the inside, M, my FIL and Hubby were taking the door handle apart. I was trying to keep J calm, because she was just crying as much as her daughter was. Finally, Hubby got the door handle off on the outside, and pushed the doorhandle off to the inside - but, the lock still wouldn't unlock. Kaila, being the smart cookie, picked up the doorhandle and kept trying to push it back in to try to open the door. Finally, after about a 20 minutes, Hubby got the door opened, and Kaila came rushing out!
Kaila was fine....and much calmer than her mom. But, everyone recovered well...and, after they left, we taped the door locks with duct tape so Chris wouldn't get the same bright idea.
Amazingly, my MIL slept through the entire incident! Not sure how that happened - but, thank goodness she did! Otherwise, I have a feeling we would have been replacing the window screens out of our security deposit!
We had arranged with friends of ours (M&J) to come down Labor Day day and stay overnight with their daughter, Kaila. They arrived around 11 am Monday morning...just in time to see the Dover Township Emergency Response Team (ERT) unit at our house. Not to worry - this was a social visit! The sergeant is a client/friend of Hubby's and he brought the ERT unit over with his liutenant so Chris could take a tour of it (pics to be posted in the next chapter since my MIL is still holding them for randsom!).
Anyways, we had a very nice time with M&J down for the day - unfortunately, we missed boardwalking with them and our other friends who live in the area because Chris decided to take a 3+ hour nap. Oh well...wasn't like he WOULDN'T get to the boardwalk, right?
Monday night was a trip trying to get the kids to go to sleep - they just fed off each other, so we let them play until about 10 pm (which Chris never gets to do!).
Tuesday ended up being rather rainy, so we decided to hit the beach in between showers (pics still held hostage) and when it did rain, stay indoors and play. Chris loved the water - Kaila loved the sand...can you say match made in heaven!
...Then, it was time to pack up and our guests to head home...and here is where the fun begins!
Kaila is a darling little peanut - she is as tiny for her age as Chris is a moose for his. She will be 2 years old in early December, yet she just hit 20 pounds. However, her strong-willed personality (and I mean EXTREMELY stong-willed!) would make you think she was a little brute - not the peanut she really is.
As her parents were gathering up the bags and such, she was "teaching" Chris how to open and close the doors to all of the rooms - except, she wasn't betting on the locks on the doors. Around 6 pm, as she closed the door to the room they stayed in, she flipped the lock and locked herself - and only herself - in the room. She began to scream bloody murder as she realized she couldn't get out of the room - and she was trying!
So, as she screamed from the inside, M, my FIL and Hubby were taking the door handle apart. I was trying to keep J calm, because she was just crying as much as her daughter was. Finally, Hubby got the door handle off on the outside, and pushed the doorhandle off to the inside - but, the lock still wouldn't unlock. Kaila, being the smart cookie, picked up the doorhandle and kept trying to push it back in to try to open the door. Finally, after about a 20 minutes, Hubby got the door opened, and Kaila came rushing out!
Kaila was fine....and much calmer than her mom. But, everyone recovered well...and, after they left, we taped the door locks with duct tape so Chris wouldn't get the same bright idea.
Amazingly, my MIL slept through the entire incident! Not sure how that happened - but, thank goodness she did! Otherwise, I have a feeling we would have been replacing the window screens out of our security deposit!
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Chapter 3: The Boogey-Nose Imp (Christopher, of course!)
...Now, onto Chapter 3 of vacation...which, now, seems like it happened a year ago (damned work!).
My mom calls me Friday to mention that Chris has been sneezing like crazy...which I also had noticed Thursday night. So, I figured, maybe he was just having some allergies again - it certainly was starting to feel fall-like, and when I have an allergy flair-up, so does he.
WRONG!!!
Friday night, someone opened the faucet that is his nose and forgot to turn it off!
Poor thing... He was sneezing, nose running, mild coughing - not quite a good way to begin vacation. But, he is a trooper! He slept like a log Friday night (after aiding him with some Children's Tylenol Cold) and was very chipper Saturday morning (just with a runnign boogey-nose).
After we made it down to the shore through Hurricaine Ernesto, and he (and I) took a 3 hour nap (can you say heavenly...except when I woke up and realized my contacts were sticking to my eyeballs), he just chilled for the day...not much to do when it is pouring rain.
The weather started to clear a bit in the very late afternoon....so we decided, let's take him to The Music Man Ice Cream Shop! The Music Man Shop is an ice cream store where you get seated, order your ice cream and when all of the orders and served, the wait staff presents a half hour performance - We called and made reservations for 5 (the place is VERY busy!) for 6 pm.
When we arrived, we had to wait outside a little bit (they were finishing up a private party), and during that wait, you could see Chris was starting to get a little icky....he was whiny (which is NOT his style), eyes getting red and he just looked tired. Once the party cleared, we went in and got seated...then we could really see he just wasn't feeling good. So, after about 10 minutes of sitting at the table, looking over the menu, I made the decision to take him back to the house and call it a night. We apologized to the wait staff...and they genuinely felt bad that he was feeling so crappy and hoped we would come back when he was feeling better.
My IL's stayed a few minutes and bought take-out ice cream (which, we did give to Chris at home - helps a sore throat, right??), while we got him settled into his jammies. He didn't sleep that well Saturday night - even with the Tylenol. But, once he woke up Sunday morning, he was ready to go again....sleeping it off (as best he could, anyway) did make him feel better.
Of course, there was some residual boogey-issues through Thursday of vacation...but, he felt much better after Saturday. And, amazingly, NO ONE caught that cold!
My mom calls me Friday to mention that Chris has been sneezing like crazy...which I also had noticed Thursday night. So, I figured, maybe he was just having some allergies again - it certainly was starting to feel fall-like, and when I have an allergy flair-up, so does he.
WRONG!!!
Friday night, someone opened the faucet that is his nose and forgot to turn it off!
Poor thing... He was sneezing, nose running, mild coughing - not quite a good way to begin vacation. But, he is a trooper! He slept like a log Friday night (after aiding him with some Children's Tylenol Cold) and was very chipper Saturday morning (just with a runnign boogey-nose).
After we made it down to the shore through Hurricaine Ernesto, and he (and I) took a 3 hour nap (can you say heavenly...except when I woke up and realized my contacts were sticking to my eyeballs), he just chilled for the day...not much to do when it is pouring rain.
The weather started to clear a bit in the very late afternoon....so we decided, let's take him to The Music Man Ice Cream Shop! The Music Man Shop is an ice cream store where you get seated, order your ice cream and when all of the orders and served, the wait staff presents a half hour performance - We called and made reservations for 5 (the place is VERY busy!) for 6 pm.
When we arrived, we had to wait outside a little bit (they were finishing up a private party), and during that wait, you could see Chris was starting to get a little icky....he was whiny (which is NOT his style), eyes getting red and he just looked tired. Once the party cleared, we went in and got seated...then we could really see he just wasn't feeling good. So, after about 10 minutes of sitting at the table, looking over the menu, I made the decision to take him back to the house and call it a night. We apologized to the wait staff...and they genuinely felt bad that he was feeling so crappy and hoped we would come back when he was feeling better.
My IL's stayed a few minutes and bought take-out ice cream (which, we did give to Chris at home - helps a sore throat, right??), while we got him settled into his jammies. He didn't sleep that well Saturday night - even with the Tylenol. But, once he woke up Sunday morning, he was ready to go again....sleeping it off (as best he could, anyway) did make him feel better.
Of course, there was some residual boogey-issues through Thursday of vacation...but, he felt much better after Saturday. And, amazingly, NO ONE caught that cold!
Monday, September 18, 2006
Chapter 2: Escort down the GSP with Hurricane Ernesto
The start of our vacation - after the minor fender-bender involving my carpool buddy's car on the way home from work the day before - was interesting. Not bad, just amusing in some ways.
Of course, there was the requisite packing the night before...and packing....and packing... In the third vacation with Chris in tow, it is getting a little lighter - no swing, bouncer, pack-n-play, etc. to pack! But, there is the HUGE storage tub to pack with all of his fav toys (the tub, BTW, seconds as a bathtub since the house we rent only has showers). I got to do all of it - except for Hubby's stuff. He's a grown-up and can figure out what he needs. Done packing around 11 pm Friday night...not bad!
However, my MIL drove us nuts for 2-3 days prior to the trip because of the reports of Hurricane Ernesto... Rain, more rain... Flooding in the roadways...flooding at the shore. Beach errosion. What are we going to do with the trip down to the shore? I told her, we are going, rain or shine! Just travel slow!
So, Saturday morning, we got up early and did the usual routine: showers, breakfast, etc. DH packed up the Forester (filled to the gills, but at least I could see out the rear-view mirror this year) and we were on our way around 10 am, just behind my IL's, who left about 20 minutes before us... I think this was our BEST packing and loading time EVER.
As we headed south on the Garden State Parkway (GSP), the rain and wind wasn't too bad... Needed the wipers, but it wasn't pouring. Then comes MIL cell phone call #1:
"Be aware there is a tree in the roadway around Exit 135."
Okay...we are approaching Exit 135 (which is approximately Clark, for the NJ folk). No tree...no back-ups, which are bound to happen on the GSP with a tree in the road. I think my MIL took too much Effexor or something.
We called my MIL back... "Where was the tree? There is no tree."
"It was on the side of the road...in the shoulder."
Uh, duh. Like that was going to matter for traffic.
The rain still isn't too bad... Then, we hit the Driscoll Bridge (which, for tri-state area residents, is known as the break between "the city" and "the shore". As we are going over the bidge (which is very elevated and wide), you could feel the car swaying (especially with the "clam" - or storage tub mounted on the roof of the car - decreasing the eurodynamics of the car).
About halfway over the bridge, MIL cell phone call #2 arrives:
"Be aware we just called the troopers."
"Why?" we asked. "Accident?"
"No. But the lawn chairs bungied to the roof of our car just flew off at the end of the bridge. We called for the troopers to pick them up. Watch for them so you don't hit them."
"You didn't stop?" we asked.
"No, figured there was no way to get them back."
We start cracking up at this point... Never, in all the years we have collectively headed to the shore for vacation, have they EVER lost anything off the roof of the car. And, knowing my MIL, I am shocked she didn't make my FIL stop to get them.
As we head in the area where the chairs should have been...none were to be found. Either the troopers were really amitious and picked them up...or someone just stopped and got some free chairs. Personally, I think the aliens took them - who else would stop in heavy rain and wind for old lawn chairs? But, that's just me.
A few miles up the road, we see a 3-pack of paper towels on the shoulder...so, we just HAD to call them to bust on them about the chairs.
"So, we didn't see your chairs," we said.
"No?"
"But, did you lose some papertowels?" we asked.
"Uh, very funny."
The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful - usually, you can expect a few idiots to drive like maniacs (or, like its 80 degrees and sunny), but I guess they stayed home. The rest of the trip was peaceful...with Chris singing his heart out to the Backyardigans CD playing in the stereo.
We arrived at the house around 11:30 am - which is great timing! Usually takes about 1+ hours to get there from the 'hood (or, Irvington). Time to stretch!
The men did the car unpacking....yeah! No wet hair for me! The ladies did the room settling...and the Chris prep for lunch and nap. We were settled in by 12:30 - Chris had lunch, and mommy took a nap with him afterwards...
Not bad for the start of vacation. :)
Of course, there was the requisite packing the night before...and packing....and packing... In the third vacation with Chris in tow, it is getting a little lighter - no swing, bouncer, pack-n-play, etc. to pack! But, there is the HUGE storage tub to pack with all of his fav toys (the tub, BTW, seconds as a bathtub since the house we rent only has showers). I got to do all of it - except for Hubby's stuff. He's a grown-up and can figure out what he needs. Done packing around 11 pm Friday night...not bad!
However, my MIL drove us nuts for 2-3 days prior to the trip because of the reports of Hurricane Ernesto... Rain, more rain... Flooding in the roadways...flooding at the shore. Beach errosion. What are we going to do with the trip down to the shore? I told her, we are going, rain or shine! Just travel slow!
So, Saturday morning, we got up early and did the usual routine: showers, breakfast, etc. DH packed up the Forester (filled to the gills, but at least I could see out the rear-view mirror this year) and we were on our way around 10 am, just behind my IL's, who left about 20 minutes before us... I think this was our BEST packing and loading time EVER.
As we headed south on the Garden State Parkway (GSP), the rain and wind wasn't too bad... Needed the wipers, but it wasn't pouring. Then comes MIL cell phone call #1:
"Be aware there is a tree in the roadway around Exit 135."
Okay...we are approaching Exit 135 (which is approximately Clark, for the NJ folk). No tree...no back-ups, which are bound to happen on the GSP with a tree in the road. I think my MIL took too much Effexor or something.
We called my MIL back... "Where was the tree? There is no tree."
"It was on the side of the road...in the shoulder."
Uh, duh. Like that was going to matter for traffic.
The rain still isn't too bad... Then, we hit the Driscoll Bridge (which, for tri-state area residents, is known as the break between "the city" and "the shore". As we are going over the bidge (which is very elevated and wide), you could feel the car swaying (especially with the "clam" - or storage tub mounted on the roof of the car - decreasing the eurodynamics of the car).
About halfway over the bridge, MIL cell phone call #2 arrives:
"Be aware we just called the troopers."
"Why?" we asked. "Accident?"
"No. But the lawn chairs bungied to the roof of our car just flew off at the end of the bridge. We called for the troopers to pick them up. Watch for them so you don't hit them."
"You didn't stop?" we asked.
"No, figured there was no way to get them back."
We start cracking up at this point... Never, in all the years we have collectively headed to the shore for vacation, have they EVER lost anything off the roof of the car. And, knowing my MIL, I am shocked she didn't make my FIL stop to get them.
As we head in the area where the chairs should have been...none were to be found. Either the troopers were really amitious and picked them up...or someone just stopped and got some free chairs. Personally, I think the aliens took them - who else would stop in heavy rain and wind for old lawn chairs? But, that's just me.
A few miles up the road, we see a 3-pack of paper towels on the shoulder...so, we just HAD to call them to bust on them about the chairs.
"So, we didn't see your chairs," we said.
"No?"
"But, did you lose some papertowels?" we asked.
"Uh, very funny."
The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful - usually, you can expect a few idiots to drive like maniacs (or, like its 80 degrees and sunny), but I guess they stayed home. The rest of the trip was peaceful...with Chris singing his heart out to the Backyardigans CD playing in the stereo.
We arrived at the house around 11:30 am - which is great timing! Usually takes about 1+ hours to get there from the 'hood (or, Irvington). Time to stretch!
The men did the car unpacking....yeah! No wet hair for me! The ladies did the room settling...and the Chris prep for lunch and nap. We were settled in by 12:30 - Chris had lunch, and mommy took a nap with him afterwards...
Not bad for the start of vacation. :)
Friday, September 15, 2006
Vacation Chapter 1: The Psychic visit
The boardwalk psychic visit actually happened on the last full day of vacation...so, this will be out of "time-sequence," if that really matters!
I walk into her "storefront" (really, a larger room followed by a smaller room, separated by a red curtain) and she tells me to sit down...she needs to "clear her mind" (sure thing, since our friend S just had a reading done a few minutes before). After a few seconds, she tells me to come in to the small reading area...
She takes my hands and begins to examine them, front, back, front, back... The first words out of her mouth is that I have a nice, long life-line - I should live well into my 80's. Phew! So, we will have to see what is happening around 2056! Although she didn't mention anything specific about how long I would be married, she did say I was happily married to a supportive man. So, Check #1 for her.
She then beigns to ask me about my mom...
She says my mom is very stressed and sad. Did someone pass recently that she was close to? I replied no. Check subtraction #1. Then, she tells me that I am very different from my brother and sister - I care about people's feelings and minimalize the meaning of "stuff" in my life (meaning, materialistic things), whereas they are "stuff" oriented and everything is always about them. They only "care" about you when it is convenient for them. Check #2 for her! She said they are a great source of stress and sadness for my mom...and that I need to be her rock to get through it. She says my mom is not a well woman (Check #3 for her, since my mom does have several autoimmune diseases, anxiety and stomach problems), and that being her sounding-board will help her to reduce the stress and be well. She also said my mom takes such pleasure in Chris when he is there for the day (Check #4, since I didn't tell her my mom watched him) and that the arrangement is very good for her.
Then she tells me that a move is being planned for the future... I respond yes, but not the very near future - it was in the very early "planning" stages. So, she asks how close my parents and in-laws live to me - and I told her my parents live a town over and my in-laws are around the corner. She tells me to keep that kind of distance - not to move everyone closer. Not because no one gets along - we all do. But, such a close arrangement could cause stress for us (meaning Hubby and I) in the long run. Check #5 for her, since I didn't mention until after she said this that the plan was to try to find a three-family house (or some sort of arrangement like that) to have everyone close. She said, absolutely, don't do it. Humm...
She also says that my job has been stressful lately...that I work with the public and the work I do affects those who attend the events. Check #6, since she didn't ask what I did until after she said that. She said, try to stay out of the politics of the office - it would only cause more stress than I need right now. On that, she is kinda wrong (Check subtraction #2) as the politics of my office have gone away since the departure of my "fav" ex-co-worker (psycho) Maria...but, then again, she could mean the University itself, which in that case, she would be right. So, I will take that at face value for now...and keep it in the back of my mine.
Then, she finally came to the issue I was hoping she would....children.
She asked, you have had several pregnancies, right? Check #7. I responded yes. She asked, several were not successful? Check #8. I responded yes. She asked, how many living children do you have? (Now, as a psychic, she should know that, right? But I will let it slide for now...). I responded 1, out of 4 pregnancies.
She holds my hand and says, "You are meant to have 3 living children. Don't give up, as you have the best care you can get."
Now, this falls in line with what she told my MIL in July, and what she told DH in July and after my reading (he went in after me again). So, maybe that can be true? Only time will tell.
However, what does bother me is that she told S that she will have 3 children as well (although the 3 for her includes her m/c'ed angel in 8/05)... So, children come in 3's to her?
In the end, she got a lot right - way more than I was expecting for $10 and 10 minutes time, and not coming forth with informatin to "aid her" in her reading. But, at the same time, there were generalizations that could be applied to just anyone she meets... Again, only time will tell...but, considering how well the MFM appointment went, maybe she will be right...
I walk into her "storefront" (really, a larger room followed by a smaller room, separated by a red curtain) and she tells me to sit down...she needs to "clear her mind" (sure thing, since our friend S just had a reading done a few minutes before). After a few seconds, she tells me to come in to the small reading area...
She takes my hands and begins to examine them, front, back, front, back... The first words out of her mouth is that I have a nice, long life-line - I should live well into my 80's. Phew! So, we will have to see what is happening around 2056! Although she didn't mention anything specific about how long I would be married, she did say I was happily married to a supportive man. So, Check #1 for her.
She then beigns to ask me about my mom...
She says my mom is very stressed and sad. Did someone pass recently that she was close to? I replied no. Check subtraction #1. Then, she tells me that I am very different from my brother and sister - I care about people's feelings and minimalize the meaning of "stuff" in my life (meaning, materialistic things), whereas they are "stuff" oriented and everything is always about them. They only "care" about you when it is convenient for them. Check #2 for her! She said they are a great source of stress and sadness for my mom...and that I need to be her rock to get through it. She says my mom is not a well woman (Check #3 for her, since my mom does have several autoimmune diseases, anxiety and stomach problems), and that being her sounding-board will help her to reduce the stress and be well. She also said my mom takes such pleasure in Chris when he is there for the day (Check #4, since I didn't tell her my mom watched him) and that the arrangement is very good for her.
Then she tells me that a move is being planned for the future... I respond yes, but not the very near future - it was in the very early "planning" stages. So, she asks how close my parents and in-laws live to me - and I told her my parents live a town over and my in-laws are around the corner. She tells me to keep that kind of distance - not to move everyone closer. Not because no one gets along - we all do. But, such a close arrangement could cause stress for us (meaning Hubby and I) in the long run. Check #5 for her, since I didn't mention until after she said this that the plan was to try to find a three-family house (or some sort of arrangement like that) to have everyone close. She said, absolutely, don't do it. Humm...
She also says that my job has been stressful lately...that I work with the public and the work I do affects those who attend the events. Check #6, since she didn't ask what I did until after she said that. She said, try to stay out of the politics of the office - it would only cause more stress than I need right now. On that, she is kinda wrong (Check subtraction #2) as the politics of my office have gone away since the departure of my "fav" ex-co-worker (psycho) Maria...but, then again, she could mean the University itself, which in that case, she would be right. So, I will take that at face value for now...and keep it in the back of my mine.
Then, she finally came to the issue I was hoping she would....children.
She asked, you have had several pregnancies, right? Check #7. I responded yes. She asked, several were not successful? Check #8. I responded yes. She asked, how many living children do you have? (Now, as a psychic, she should know that, right? But I will let it slide for now...). I responded 1, out of 4 pregnancies.
She holds my hand and says, "You are meant to have 3 living children. Don't give up, as you have the best care you can get."
Now, this falls in line with what she told my MIL in July, and what she told DH in July and after my reading (he went in after me again). So, maybe that can be true? Only time will tell.
However, what does bother me is that she told S that she will have 3 children as well (although the 3 for her includes her m/c'ed angel in 8/05)... So, children come in 3's to her?
In the end, she got a lot right - way more than I was expecting for $10 and 10 minutes time, and not coming forth with informatin to "aid her" in her reading. But, at the same time, there were generalizations that could be applied to just anyone she meets... Again, only time will tell...but, considering how well the MFM appointment went, maybe she will be right...
My amazing vacation....broken into "Chapters"
Since so much went on during vacation (mostly good, some not so good...), I am going to break down the events into "Chapters:"
Chapter 1: The Psychic visit (coming first, since everyone is waiting to hear about the results of it!)
Chapter 2: Escort down the GSP with Hurricane Ernesto
Chapter 3: The Boogey-Nose Imp (Christopher, of course!)
Chapter 4: How a two-year-old can scare the crap out of her parents (and hosts!)
Chapter 5: Peace found by the ocean
Chapter 6: Play time and other funny Christopher moments (pics will be included....which is why this is later in the chapter list!)
Chapter 7: Some sad news to accompany the last night of vacation
Chapter 8: The return to reality - Work, doctor screw ups, unexpected weddings!
I will try to post one or two chapters per day...I hope!
Chapter 1: The Psychic visit (coming first, since everyone is waiting to hear about the results of it!)
Chapter 2: Escort down the GSP with Hurricane Ernesto
Chapter 3: The Boogey-Nose Imp (Christopher, of course!)
Chapter 4: How a two-year-old can scare the crap out of her parents (and hosts!)
Chapter 5: Peace found by the ocean
Chapter 6: Play time and other funny Christopher moments (pics will be included....which is why this is later in the chapter list!)
Chapter 7: Some sad news to accompany the last night of vacation
Chapter 8: The return to reality - Work, doctor screw ups, unexpected weddings!
I will try to post one or two chapters per day...I hope!
Friday, September 01, 2006
We're goin' on a trip... We're goin' on a trip!
We are off tomorrow (with Tropical Storm Ernesto in tow) to the Jersey shore... YEAH! The Subaru Forester will be packed to the gills, but the trip isn't too long.
To start the trip off with a real "bang" - I got to be involved in a minor car accident. Our system administrator's at work (we carpool to save $$$ on the gas) was driving his wife's car and this idiot woman didn't notice were stopped at a red light and she hit us pretty hard. None of us were hurt...but now he has to get his wife's car fixed (which was JUST fixed from another accident).
No more thinking about doctors appointments, tests, losses....nothing. This is to be all rest, relaxation, fun...and a trip to the boardwalk psychic.
So... I will post when I can. But, I am going to enjoy my time with Chris, Hubby and my family.
To start the trip off with a real "bang" - I got to be involved in a minor car accident. Our system administrator's at work (we carpool to save $$$ on the gas) was driving his wife's car and this idiot woman didn't notice were stopped at a red light and she hit us pretty hard. None of us were hurt...but now he has to get his wife's car fixed (which was JUST fixed from another accident).
No more thinking about doctors appointments, tests, losses....nothing. This is to be all rest, relaxation, fun...and a trip to the boardwalk psychic.
So... I will post when I can. But, I am going to enjoy my time with Chris, Hubby and my family.
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