Homebound Day Eight

Monday - We are sad to go...at least the weather's not nice today so it makes it a little easier to leave. Easy friends are the best. We finish eachother sentences, can laugh about things without saying a word, act silly like we did when we were young, enjoy eachothers kids and their many different personalities. We were sad to say good-bye. Although it was more like see you later. It's only another page in the memory making we have been doing for almost 30 years. "Some day we will grow up and marry best friends"' she said. "And our kids will grow up together and be like cousins" she said. Darned if she wasn't right.

Day Seven

Sunday -

Up and at 'em. Make coffee, set up beach, make breakfast. Pancakes, bacon and sausage for all. Gotta finish up all the food. Kids are good at helping to do that.

Down to the beach alone this morning. Imagine 14 people (we have some more teenage bodies laying around) and I am alone at the beach? Wow. Started the book I brought finally. When you are away with your best friends its hard to really read your book. Its more about talking, dozing and leafing through trashy magazines while talking. So I started my book, but then got distracted by the couple canoodling in front of me. I was wondering if they realized that they were in the middle of a public beach and families were making sand castles not more than 10 feet way? As I thought to myself someone needs to throw ice water on them...the Beach God heard me. The mother of all tides came in and drown them. Everything they had with them almost went out into the ocean. And mind you the water stopped about two feet in front of my "encampment". They were pissed and judging by the dirty look I got from her, didnt appreciate my laughing out loud. So I buried myself in my book as they moved behind me and probably make faces behind my back!

The tide continued and by 12 we had packed it in after our blanket got a soaking. Sleeping teenagers with iPods blasting in their heads did not think it was very funny either. For some reason I did again.

Grandma A and Grandpa J came with lunch after that. G'pa J even joined the I ate a Bug Club before he left.

Me and DH made dinner tonight so MC could chat with his parents. After Chicken Cutlet Parmesan, spaghetti and garlic bread....we left the mess so we could see our last sunset at the dock. Mr. Golden Sun did not disappoint. We took group pictures, oohed and aaahed then we got ice cream (duh). Then one last group dip in the hot tub, yes we allowed kids in with us tonight. And we even serenaded eachother with our new vacation song about food and other things that rhyme with baloney, affectionately now known as the Chic-Mac song. Dancer Girl added some moves we may have a top ten hit on our hands.

All in all we agreed that no one was ready to go home. We could have done ten days. This was one of our favorite trips so far.

P's and the B's FI 2008....Friends Forever....!

Day Six...Crickets anyone?

Saturday ~ Perfect weather again...I cannot believe it.

Babs and Company came out this morning bringing much anticipated bagels. Delicous biscotti made by Kathleen. Yum. Ate breakfast with everyone at the house then spent the day on the beach. Chatting with my pal, catching up on life as the waves break at our feet.

We made them stay for lunch, made again by the hubbys. All the best things...mozzarella sticks, nachos, bagel bites, quesadillas...children descended..food dissappeared. Man that sea air makes kids hungry.

The G's arrived promptly after Babs and Co. departed. ( and yes Kath we did find your bra!!! lol)made the kids' dinner then out with DH, BFF, MC and the G's to Bocce Beach. Again service nothing to write home about though we got a nice table on the outside deck amongst all the action. Then met up with all the kids up to town to listen to the band on the dock. Found them dancing to the music! And holy moly what happened to the quiet??? I think 5000 more people came over on the ferry between Fri. and Sat. Town was HOPPING to say the least. Fun though.

After we got the kids we were on a mission. Eat a cricket. Not me. No can do. I would have thrown up. The candy store will give you a pin as pictured at the top, and take your picture and put it on the wall of fame. So the brave ones were DH, DD, Junior, ( me and Shorty said no thanks), MC, Dancer Girl and Kellster. Ugh. So if you ever happen by that store look for the mugs on the wall. You will never find me there. Maybe the ice cream place will put my picture on the wall for most mint chocolate chip cones?

Day Five

Friday - Up and at 'em early again. So quiet here. I just set up the coffee pot and go sit outside on the deck. I will start breakfast once I hear stirring inside.

After my coffee, I am off to the beach to claim the spot. I kinda got stuck with this job but I think I am enjoying it. I mean climbing up and down those steps 6 times bringing down the chairs and umbrellas to set up reminds me how out of shape I am. But I love to be there alone for awhile. Not many people down there early..too many people in OB stay up late partying so they don't get down to the beach 'til later. Fine by me. I talk with the first lifeguard to arrive for work, since he was wondering what I did wrong to my group to get set up duty every morning. Cute one too. Kind that makes you want to throw yourself into the riptide....just kidding. I digress. A couple walking their dog who runs up to me to say hello shaking his salty wet fur at me, an older man with his trusty metal detector, a jogger or two...and the sound of the waves. Can I ask what is better than dozing to that sound? Mind you I have only gotten up an hour or so ago. I am so relaxed here I barely have a pulse. lol

Mr. & Mrs. T arrive in the late afternoon. Back to the beach again to sit for awhile. Dinner, kids painting their seashells, drinks on the deck..notice a pattern here? Walked the T's to the boat and had yet another ice cream cone run. Have I mentioned that having a mint chocolate chip chocolate sprinkled cone every night can make you a better person? It works, really it does. Bed late tonight as we had to wait for the "boys" to come home at 1 a.m. made friends with a bunch of other kids and were off doing what they do. No I don't want to know so I did not ask.

Day Four

Thursday - Another gorgeous day. I am the first one up again. I can't sleep late but it's ok. I seem to just wake up before 7:00 everyday. Went down to the beach to claim "our spot" again. We have moved closer to the stairs since we have lots of stuff to carry up and down those stairs. Jellyfish again today. They seem to go away later in the day. But they are gross washed up on the shore. ick. Spent the day on the beach with the whole gang. We have quite a set up all of us. No company today.

We went to the Hideaway for dinner; kids stayed home and ordered pizza and watched a movie. Dinner was so good but the service was less that good. Doesn't really matter though. We were not in a hurry. I am in for a rude awakening when the hurrying starts next week. Had the "in" Island drink ~ Rocket Fuel ~ which is a Pina Colada with an Amaretto floater...not impressed. But now I can say I drank one. Who is cooler than me?

Back home into the hot tub again. Too hot tonight. I think we boiled ourselves. I cant wait to sleep in my bed. I like it better than my bed at home. So I step over sleeping teenagers and make my way upstairs to the "parent's section" as Shorty calls it. Another happy beach day.

Day Three

Wednesday - Adults in the hot tub til 1:30 a.m. last night...without any child interruptions..imagine that? Beached it in the morning and the dads came back early to set up lunch for everyone. What will I do when I get back to the mainland and I am required to cook again? lol Had lunch then met the met Master Chef's sister and brood at the dock. Went back to the beach then had a BBQ back here at night. Beach and food...my idea of a good time. The girls arrived on a later ferry...arrived they did. Whew. What is it about girls? They are a whirlwind to say the least. Eldest Daughter brought a friend while Eldest Son's friend is here to sleep too. Good thing kids don't care where they sleep. They are everywhere, but I guess that's the fun of it. After the "brood" went back on the ferry with distruction in their wake...DH,Master Chef,BFF and I went out for drinks. BFF was very stressed out from the visit so we needed alcohol. The most beautiful sunset so far was last night. Takes your breath away. And with the backdrop of home in the background makes it heaven.

Day Two

Tuesday - Another beautiful beach day! 2 for 2 amazing! Up early and down to the beach by 8:00 with Shorty the Shell Hunter and DH. We walked for "towns" collecting shells. Then sat for awhile reading, playing the sand. Parents ventured over for a day trip, their first time here. They loved it. If the Big Guy wins lotto a beach house may be in my future. (keep your fingers crossed). The whole gang hung on the beach for a few hours. Then some went for ice cream, others napped while MC started cooking an early dinner of ribs and chicken, corn and salad. DH made everyone strawberry tequilla daquiris and virgins for the kiddies while they soaked in the hot tub again, along with homemade onion dip and chips (Master Chef again). Took the parents back to the boat to go back to the Mainland. Then we shopped (gotta buy the sweatshirts) had pizza and Shorty played on the playground with the sun setting over the bridge in the background. Who needs the Carribbean when paradise is right in my own backyard? Not me.

Vacation on the Island Day One

Monday - Arrived to beautiful beach day. Even the boxes sent on ahead arrived with no drama as well as the groceries. Seeing as how our stay last year on the Island was full of drama..crappy weather and a "gift" when we got home this time it's so far so good. The house is better than BFF and I remembered. Just perfect. The hubbys were impressed too! After about three hours it looked like we were here for weeks! Checked out "town" and walked on the beach. Started the shell collecting with the little ones. Back to the house for dinner. The Master Chef (from now on lovingly referred to as MC) made his famous skirt steak fajitas. He would give you the recipe but then he would have to kill you. To die for. This all was done while the moms took a nap! Ate too much, fajitas, chips and salsa, two kinds of rice and beans, but we were starving as no one ate much all day, during set up. Kids lounged in the hot tub while we sat and had Coronas on the deck. Little ones passed out early(the couch in the living room's the kind you sit on and instantly fall asleep.) Then all the grownups passed out on it watching the Olympics. lol Everyone's bedrooms are great, comfy beds, tv's, A/C we may never go back to the Mainland!

40 for the last day....

That's it. Now I am officially in my 40's. Tomorrow's the big 4-1.

It's ok though. Some people freak out about being 40ish. I don't. I kinda like it. I think it suits me.

I didn't have a wild 20's decade. It was great...I mean, engaged, married, a baby, bought house had another baby, had great friends, became a stay at home mom all before I was 30. Not too shabby. But I don't have any of those crazy stories about all the wild stuff I did when I was 20something. I had fun don't get me wrong. I guess I have a few stories and maybe scratched an itch or two so to speak. But sometimes I listen to people my age go on and on about how crazy they were when they were 20ish. I think yeah I had a baby by 25...no bar hopping for me.

30's were great times too. I had a new hometown that I loved. (and still do) Another baby, another house. Made some more spectacular new friends. All good. But predictable I suppose. Did what most 30somethings I hung around with did, took care of my kids, made dinners, helped with homework, joined the PTA.

I am just wondering what the 40's will hold. Will it all be predictable? Or will I make things happen. I don't know. Somedays I am ready to take on the world and other days I am just plain tired! ( and all these 40ish aches and pains....grr!) The day before a birthday feels like New Years eve to me. Plans to do things better the coming year. The whole list of "to do's" in my head. I enjoy my actual birthday-day though. Even if it's not a biggie and nothing special is going on. I am a Leo...don't you know it's all about me? lol

But 40's are so far so good. Granted it has only been 365 days in, but good never the less. I may actually have more "stories" from my 40th year than my counterparts do about their entire 20's. (yikes!) Having built in babysitters (see above baby after baby in my 20's...) helps a lot. They get a few bucks and we get to go out and act 20 once in awhile or even go act like grown ups sometimes too! It also helps that I know who I am now, and I am happy where I'm at. It's right about where I thought I would be.

So happy birthday eve to me. Guess I will have to wait and see what my 40's brings.

I am still leaving my summer song on. It makes me feel good. I was not "sipping whiskey out the bottle" in '89, I was planning my engagement party but I still jam to it now and if I want, go buy my own dam whiskey and drink it myself. (ick....not) Ok maybe a bottle of wine in my fancy birthday wine glass then.