Vacation Adventures

Almost 8 hours after we began what is actually only a 4-5 hour drive, we pulled in to the condo complex, and I went to the desk to check in.

The rest of the family had chosen to come to the place first, and shop later, so they were waiting. We checked in, got room key cards, a parking pass, and I committed the parking garage code to memory. Since I don't trust myself after a long day, I also wrote it on a cheat sheet and put that in the glove box.

We grabbed a bellhop cart and two grocery carts kept at the place for the purpose and began unloading. As Sweetie and the kids headed upstairs, and the rest of the family went on to shop for what they needed, I parked and grabbed another cart to get the last few things from the van.

Upstairs, the unit we are staying in is just as I remember. Sweetie is delighted to find a dehumidifier in the room. All shoes on the shoe rack. Suitcases line the walk in closet, and the pop up dirty laundry hamper is set up in there. Toiletries bags to the bathrooms. Groceries put away, and we find we have forgotten eggs and that #2 Son never did get the swimsuit he wanted.

A brief rest, a bite to eat, and #2 Son and I set back out for the much closer small grocery/mall area to take care of those two items. He finds a very cheap suit that will hold him out for a summer (which is fine, he will have outgrown it by next year anyway) and that he is not embarrassed to wear, and in honor of Bigger Girl, for whom we got organic milk and who won't eat any meat she doesn't believe was handled humanely, I actually find organic cage free eggs. She is finding out what I found years ago -- a social conscience can be a PITA, as well as expensive.

Upon leaving the store, those threatening clouds were unleashing their fury. The rain was coming down with such force the umbrella was not much use. I was very proud of #2 Son as he braved the drenching twice. He escorted one lady who had no umbrella to her car, then came back for me. By now he and I both had soaked, cold, wet feet. Makes me very glad for the covered parking garage where we stay.

Between storms, which popped up off and on over the next two hours, the kids went to the jacuzzi and looked around to see if anything has changed much. It hasn't.

Joey is still the head of security, and greeting our old friend was good. Miss Tracy had been greeted when we checked in, and I'm sure we will see other familiar faces over the next couple of days.

All of us called it a night rather early; the ghost crab hunts will have to wait, it's been a long day.


Today is

Aland Island Day, Aland Islands

Donald Duck Day

La Rioja Day

Murcia Day

National Heroes Day, Uganda

National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

St. Aidan of Lindisfarne

Saint Columbia of Iona -- Celtic Christian St. Columba's Day (patron of poets, Ireland)

St. Ephraem's Day (creator of hymns; patron of Syria)


Anniversaries Today:

Nero marries Claudia Octavia, 53


Birthdays Today:

Natalie Portman, 1981
Johnny Depp, 1963
Michael J. Fox, 1961
Dick Vitale, 1940
Jackie Mason, 1928
Les Paul, 1915
Robert Cummings, 1910
Cole Porter, 1891


Today in History:

Roman Emperor Nero commits suicide, 68
Odo of Aquitaine defeats the Moors in the Battle of Toulouse, 721
Jacques Cartier is the first European to discover the Saint Lawrence River, 1534
The Harvard Corporation is established as the first corporation in the Americas, 1650
James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia, 1732
The Congress of Vienna, forerunner of the League of Nations and the UN, ends with much of Europe's borders redrawn and settled, Switzerland's neutrality confirmed, and free navigation guaranteed on many rivers, 1815
Five hundred Mormons leave Iowa City, Iowa and head west for Salt Lake City carrying all their possessions in two-wheeled handcarts, 1856
Alexandra Palace in London burns down after being open for only 16 days, 1873
Alice Huyler Ramsey, a 22-year-old housewife and mother from Hackensack, New Jersey, becomes the first woman to drive across the United States, 1909
Queen Elizabeth II officially opens London Gatwick Airport, 1958
Israel captures the Golan Heights from Syria, 1967