We walked across the street to an internet cafe today, but we were told that the internet's broken! I'm not sure when these entries will be posted. We're thinking of tearing ourselves away from the beach tomorrow to explore in town, so we'll see...
Eric is looking tan and handsome, but my DNA is more boggy than beachy.
Such a lovely vacation!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Friday
Friday evening and it feels like this has been our whole life together: swimming, lying in the shade of a palapa, reading.
I've (almost) read two books in our three days here. It feels like one of those never-ending summers from my youth. This morning we were noting our amazement that it's still only June! There's so much more ahead of us...
The beach here is perfect -- water ranging from just-warm-enough to almost-too-warm over a day's time. In the morning the water is glassy, with the occasional slow, long, wave. As the day goes on the water becomes choppier, and wavier. There's nothing threatening about the waves. You can turn your back on them and the worse you'll experience is a small dunking, and a little salt water in your nose. But they're big enough to jump over and play in, which I've been doing for an hour at a stretch.
Some folks love the beach for an hour or two, but if Eric and I have a comfy place to sit (no towels on the sand for us at this stage of the game) and a bit of shade, we love the beach all day long.
Now we're back in our room and showered, resting before heading out to dinner. What a life!
I've (almost) read two books in our three days here. It feels like one of those never-ending summers from my youth. This morning we were noting our amazement that it's still only June! There's so much more ahead of us...
The beach here is perfect -- water ranging from just-warm-enough to almost-too-warm over a day's time. In the morning the water is glassy, with the occasional slow, long, wave. As the day goes on the water becomes choppier, and wavier. There's nothing threatening about the waves. You can turn your back on them and the worse you'll experience is a small dunking, and a little salt water in your nose. But they're big enough to jump over and play in, which I've been doing for an hour at a stretch.
Some folks love the beach for an hour or two, but if Eric and I have a comfy place to sit (no towels on the sand for us at this stage of the game) and a bit of shade, we love the beach all day long.
Now we're back in our room and showered, resting before heading out to dinner. What a life!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
We're here!
(This blog entry was posted after finally finding internet access!)
It's only our first full day here at the Royal Decameron Costas Flamingo but it feels as if we've been on vacation for a long time. Today was a beach day -- we walked a hundred yards to the beach after coffee this morning, and except for a quick lunch we didn't leave until after 4:00 PM.
We've been playing in the low waves for an hour at a time. A bucket of SPF 45 later, I still have the tinest bit of pink to show for my hours in the sun.
So... all is well! The grounds are lovely, our room is clean, the air conditioner works, and the beach rocks.
Yay!
It's only our first full day here at the Royal Decameron Costas Flamingo but it feels as if we've been on vacation for a long time. Today was a beach day -- we walked a hundred yards to the beach after coffee this morning, and except for a quick lunch we didn't leave until after 4:00 PM.
We've been playing in the low waves for an hour at a time. A bucket of SPF 45 later, I still have the tinest bit of pink to show for my hours in the sun.
So... all is well! The grounds are lovely, our room is clean, the air conditioner works, and the beach rocks.
Yay!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Wild Ride
The cab driver who picked us up at 4:00 AM was a speed demon -- 90 mph on 880, and we were at the airport in no time!
Now we're in Phoenix, enjoying the free WiFi and waiting for the 3 hour flight that'll take us to Mexico.
Late last night we finalized our plans to travel to Hawaii after the Oregon Country Fair. We're going to the big island and to Oahu, where we'll get to see Yoko and Luana!
It doesn't feel like a travel day. It feels like the fun's already started.
Now we're in Phoenix, enjoying the free WiFi and waiting for the 3 hour flight that'll take us to Mexico.
Late last night we finalized our plans to travel to Hawaii after the Oregon Country Fair. We're going to the big island and to Oahu, where we'll get to see Yoko and Luana!
It doesn't feel like a travel day. It feels like the fun's already started.
Quickie
Our bags are packed and we're ready to head out the door at 4:00 AM to catch a flight to Mexico. That doesn't leave much time for sleep. Still, I'm happy.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Poetry Alert
Lisa and Tom came to our house yesterday, and we drove together to Corinne's birthday party. Janis met us there, and (aside from missing Pennie) the gang was all there.
It was goodgoodgood to see everyone.
Now I'm anticipating ten days in Mexico, where one sun-soaked, sleepy, day will lead to the next.
Not so long ago I believed I'd never travel outside of the US again. I figured I wouldn't want to be that far from my health care providers, or even be in a plane that long. I just didn't feel good enough. And I didn't mind (so much) being bald on the California coast, but I didn't think it'd be so hot in other parts of the world.
Even when my hair grew back and I started feeling better, I still had the unhealing wound-of-mystery, and it seemed unlikely that I could spend days and days and days in the ocean.
So all of this is gravy. I know to appreciate a bonus when I receive one, because I've felt that my life with Eric has been like winning a cosmic lottery. Even if I'd been lucky (lucky lucky) enough to grow old and cantankerous with Eric -- even if my years with him had far outnumbered my years without him -- I still would have considered that time a prize.
Writer Ray Carver was a worst-case-scenario alcoholic for much of his life. He was the sort of drunk who would drink tall glasses of nyquil when trying to stay off the hooch. But his hard-won sobriety cooincided with meeting the love-of-his-live (writer Tess Gallagher), and each day of his life post-alchohol felt like gravy to him.
He died of lung cancer after ten years of sobriety. I recently read his last poem, and I wanted to share it here, even though I KNOW people don't like poetry. Here it is.
It was goodgoodgood to see everyone.
Now I'm anticipating ten days in Mexico, where one sun-soaked, sleepy, day will lead to the next.
Not so long ago I believed I'd never travel outside of the US again. I figured I wouldn't want to be that far from my health care providers, or even be in a plane that long. I just didn't feel good enough. And I didn't mind (so much) being bald on the California coast, but I didn't think it'd be so hot in other parts of the world.
Even when my hair grew back and I started feeling better, I still had the unhealing wound-of-mystery, and it seemed unlikely that I could spend days and days and days in the ocean.
So all of this is gravy. I know to appreciate a bonus when I receive one, because I've felt that my life with Eric has been like winning a cosmic lottery. Even if I'd been lucky (lucky lucky) enough to grow old and cantankerous with Eric -- even if my years with him had far outnumbered my years without him -- I still would have considered that time a prize.
Writer Ray Carver was a worst-case-scenario alcoholic for much of his life. He was the sort of drunk who would drink tall glasses of nyquil when trying to stay off the hooch. But his hard-won sobriety cooincided with meeting the love-of-his-live (writer Tess Gallagher), and each day of his life post-alchohol felt like gravy to him.
He died of lung cancer after ten years of sobriety. I recently read his last poem, and I wanted to share it here, even though I KNOW people don't like poetry. Here it is.
Late Fragment
And did you get what
you wanted from this life, even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself beloved, to feel myself
beloved on the earth.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Paradise
It's been a very pleasant stay at The Atlantis -- fun gambling, good food, and Eric and Lisa for company... how do you beat that?
I don't want to leave today.
Have to go downstairs and meet Lisa for a final buffet breakfast!
I don't want to leave today.
Have to go downstairs and meet Lisa for a final buffet breakfast!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Bliss
I left work early today. My joy was too great to be contained within the walls of the building. If I hadn't left when I did there might have been an unfortunate accident.
It's summertime with Eric, and that about says it all.
It's summertime with Eric, and that about says it all.
They Mysterious Case of the Missing Posts
There's a ghost in the machine, and my posts to this blog are missing! There I was, happilly typing away and clicking "publish post", naively believing that my posts were posted!
Oh, well. It's not like anything earth shattering was lost in the ether.
Today's the last day of work. Eric's still snoozing, which is a bee you tea full thing. I hope to sleep in tomorrow, although it's difficult to sleep knowing that all of those bells, buzzers, and whistles are sounding on the casino floor.
Eric's mother flew home last night. It was good to see her. I hadn't seen her since before Eric's father passed away. I wasn't well enough to fly to Florida to attend the funeral... something I would never have imagined. She's staying very busy and she misses Bob very much.
I'm off to work soon. I'm anxious to leave work, and I'm not even there yet!
Oh, well. It's not like anything earth shattering was lost in the ether.
Today's the last day of work. Eric's still snoozing, which is a bee you tea full thing. I hope to sleep in tomorrow, although it's difficult to sleep knowing that all of those bells, buzzers, and whistles are sounding on the casino floor.
Eric's mother flew home last night. It was good to see her. I hadn't seen her since before Eric's father passed away. I wasn't well enough to fly to Florida to attend the funeral... something I would never have imagined. She's staying very busy and she misses Bob very much.
I'm off to work soon. I'm anxious to leave work, and I'm not even there yet!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Stuff
It's been a festival of food since Eric's mother arrived -- we've had dinner at Lulu and A Cote, lunches out every day, and Sunday I made my favorite-new-summer-adult-beverage (VodkaStillWorks) and "gravy". Gravy is what Eric's family (and other east-coast types) call tomato sauce cooked with meatballs, sausages, and pork.
At this moment I feel like I'll never be hungry again.
After my final day of work tomorrow, Eric and I are hooking up with Lisa and heading out to the lovely Atlantis Casino Resort & Spa, Every Players Paradise. We'll just be there for two nights, then we're coming home to celebrate Corinne's birthday. On Tuesday we're flying to Mexico for 12 days of sun and swimming. Then we're home for a few days, and off to our annual road trip to the Oregon Country Fair.
I tire easily, but I don't feel sick. I'm not in pain, my nose isn't bleeding, my bones don't hurt, my hair isn't falling out, I have no open wounds on my body, and my finger nails aren't falling off.
What's not to like?
At this moment I feel like I'll never be hungry again.
After my final day of work tomorrow, Eric and I are hooking up with Lisa and heading out to the lovely Atlantis Casino Resort & Spa, Every Players Paradise. We'll just be there for two nights, then we're coming home to celebrate Corinne's birthday. On Tuesday we're flying to Mexico for 12 days of sun and swimming. Then we're home for a few days, and off to our annual road trip to the Oregon Country Fair.
I tire easily, but I don't feel sick. I'm not in pain, my nose isn't bleeding, my bones don't hurt, my hair isn't falling out, I have no open wounds on my body, and my finger nails aren't falling off.
What's not to like?
Monday, June 18, 2007
Yawn
This is the last Monday I'll have to get up & go to work for a while. It's very difficult to leave Eric. Why on earth would I go to work when Eric's home?
This is the third summer that I've worked for a school district. I used to work the whoooole summer while Eric stayed home or gallivanted around. And for a long time -- when I worked much harder, and had more ambition -- I worked six days a week. I worked on Saturdays for several years. I used to start work at 6:00 AM.
Now I'm grousing (really, I'm grousing) about having to work three more days at a job that can only be described as EASY.
Eric used to travel in the summer without me. It never bothered me (aside from missing him). I wanted him to have fun. When he was gone I'd eat Ritz crackers or cheesecake for dinner and sleep with the lights on. I would pine.
It's good to see my mother-in-law. It would have been her 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, and Sunday was Father's Day. She planned this trip to give herself both a celebration and a distraction on those days, having lost her husband just a few months ago.
I'm really dragging my feet now.
The last Monday. Ugh.
This is the third summer that I've worked for a school district. I used to work the whoooole summer while Eric stayed home or gallivanted around. And for a long time -- when I worked much harder, and had more ambition -- I worked six days a week. I worked on Saturdays for several years. I used to start work at 6:00 AM.
Now I'm grousing (really, I'm grousing) about having to work three more days at a job that can only be described as EASY.
Eric used to travel in the summer without me. It never bothered me (aside from missing him). I wanted him to have fun. When he was gone I'd eat Ritz crackers or cheesecake for dinner and sleep with the lights on. I would pine.
It's good to see my mother-in-law. It would have been her 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday, and Sunday was Father's Day. She planned this trip to give herself both a celebration and a distraction on those days, having lost her husband just a few months ago.
I'm really dragging my feet now.
The last Monday. Ugh.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Guest
We've had a houseguest for a few days... my mother-in-law visiting from Florida. It's nice to see her.
Other than that I'm just counting down the last few days of work . Three to go, and boy am I ready!
Other than that I'm just counting down the last few days of work . Three to go, and boy am I ready!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Call for Proposals
I need ideas for books to read this summer... nothing too heavy, and nothing too trashy. It'll be hard to beat last summer's books, which included Christopher Moore's Lamb (laugh-out-loud funny) and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.
I really haven't a clue.
I usually have a stack of books to read, but my stack has dwindled to a goose egg. I got nothin'. I'm not sure how it happened, but here I am -- five work days left in the school year -- and without any idea what to take on the first leg of our summer travels.
I really haven't a clue.
I usually have a stack of books to read, but my stack has dwindled to a goose egg. I got nothin'. I'm not sure how it happened, but here I am -- five work days left in the school year -- and without any idea what to take on the first leg of our summer travels.
If the thought counts, then...?
Someone just came by asking folks to sign a get well card for a woman who works in another department. I've been told that she has stage IV cancer. The picture on the front of the card was a photograph of a dog with sad eyes, long droopy ears, and its tongue hanging out.
The inside read: You'll lick this thing in no time!
I didn't sign it.
The inside read: You'll lick this thing in no time!
I didn't sign it.
Morning
I have to laugh at myself for being so resistant to work right now. It's all I can do to get out of bed in the morning. Once out of bed, there are a half dozen activities around the house that conspire to keep me from getting ready for work. Like this, for instance.
I'm already going to be late. That much is clear.
My heart beats summer... summer... summer
I'm already going to be late. That much is clear.
My heart beats summer... summer... summer
Monday, June 11, 2007
Work
It's bright and sunny on this penultimate Monday of the school year. It's not often that I can work penultimate into a sentence so smoothly.
The weekend went by quickly. I spent much of it in an ArediaFog. Now I'm at work at it's rough going, what with my burning desire to be done with the work year.
It's a truly gorgeous day out there.
The weekend went by quickly. I spent much of it in an ArediaFog. Now I'm at work at it's rough going, what with my burning desire to be done with the work year.
It's a truly gorgeous day out there.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Sidenote
The lyrics to Steely Dan's "My Old School" make much more sense once you realize that Annandale is a prison.
Saturday
I had an infusion of the bone-strengthening drug Aredia yesterday. I might be a little spacey, a little feverish, but six or so weeks out from my last chemotherapy I still can't believe how good I feel.
As always, I don't have to know that I"ll be alive in five years to be happy today. I just need to not feel bad physically now. I'm very good at putting blinders on OR enjoying the moment, depending on how you want to put it.
The Lunch Ladies have been telling stories about their husbands again. They love their husbands -- I assume they do, anyway -- but all of their stories have a punch line about the husband's incompetency, or unwillingness to "go out and DO things", or his messiness, or his desire to take naps, watch sports, or kill things.
Couldn't pay me to be married to one of those fellas. There was never any danger of that, anyway, on accounta none of those fellas would have wanted me!
One woman, who was really warming to her topic of How Things Used To Be Better, reported that her mother used to do house work in a dress w/ stockings and full makeup.
The nostalgia they have for their childhoods in San Leandro, CA is still a mystery to me. I try to drop little reality bombs into the conversation: yeah, but, you weren't allowed to wear pants to school, were you, ladies?
Not to mention that they've managed to blame most of the "demise" of the area on immigrants.
But, anyway... I was talking about husbands.
I don't have any stories with Eric's incompetence or cluelessness as the punchline. To me Eric is (and always has been) the bomb. That's all I meant to say.
As always, I don't have to know that I"ll be alive in five years to be happy today. I just need to not feel bad physically now. I'm very good at putting blinders on OR enjoying the moment, depending on how you want to put it.
The Lunch Ladies have been telling stories about their husbands again. They love their husbands -- I assume they do, anyway -- but all of their stories have a punch line about the husband's incompetency, or unwillingness to "go out and DO things", or his messiness, or his desire to take naps, watch sports, or kill things.
Couldn't pay me to be married to one of those fellas. There was never any danger of that, anyway, on accounta none of those fellas would have wanted me!
One woman, who was really warming to her topic of How Things Used To Be Better, reported that her mother used to do house work in a dress w/ stockings and full makeup.
The nostalgia they have for their childhoods in San Leandro, CA is still a mystery to me. I try to drop little reality bombs into the conversation: yeah, but, you weren't allowed to wear pants to school, were you, ladies?
Not to mention that they've managed to blame most of the "demise" of the area on immigrants.
But, anyway... I was talking about husbands.
I don't have any stories with Eric's incompetence or cluelessness as the punchline. To me Eric is (and always has been) the bomb. That's all I meant to say.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Just a Wednesday
There hasn't been much going on around here lately other than a bad case of senioritus. I'm like a kid who can't concentrate for the last two weeks of school.
Also, I read a short memoir recently wherein the author made a point of distinguishing between the "self revealing and the self indulgent". I hadn't considered that particular tight rope walk before.
There are eleven more work days in the school year and soon I'll start counting the hours!
Also, I read a short memoir recently wherein the author made a point of distinguishing between the "self revealing and the self indulgent". I hadn't considered that particular tight rope walk before.
There are eleven more work days in the school year and soon I'll start counting the hours!
Monday, June 04, 2007
Weekend Update
It was a nice weekend. Nothing much to report except that we've made plans for the first half of our summer vacation -- ten days in Mexico and then a roadtrip to the Oregon Country Fair (an annual event we attend with friends).
Corinne came over yesterday and we did an art project -- a mural in colored pen, glitter glue, feathers, rainbow tissue paper, crayon, sequins, and collage. Eric suggested we glue a chocolate chip cookie to it, but the cookies were too good to paste onto paper. Between Corinne's cookies, Eric's panini, and my VodkaStillWorks (my new summery adult beverage of choice), it was a fine day.
Now I'm at work and there are 13 days left and counting!
Corinne came over yesterday and we did an art project -- a mural in colored pen, glitter glue, feathers, rainbow tissue paper, crayon, sequins, and collage. Eric suggested we glue a chocolate chip cookie to it, but the cookies were too good to paste onto paper. Between Corinne's cookies, Eric's panini, and my VodkaStillWorks (my new summery adult beverage of choice), it was a fine day.
Now I'm at work and there are 13 days left and counting!
Friday, June 01, 2007
Garden Variety Joy and a Can of Corn, Economy Size
Eric and I left work today and stopped at three different stores. After shopping we went out for Chinese food. Then we saw a movie. "Disturbia" was better than we expected -- I clutched Eric's arm and hid my face and held my breath. It was the right movie at the right time, and a whole heap o' fun.
None of these activities are extraordinary, except to me. To me they're magnificent. Any one of 'em wouldn've been impossible a few weeks ago. It feels sooooo good to not feel bad. I wake up in the morning, and I roll out of bed. I stand up and stretch and I smile. I really do! I smile, because I may be tired, but I'm not exhausted.
I'm tired, but I can do things.
Okay, now for the corny(er) part:
The fortune from my fortune cookie read: Love is waiting for you around the corner. I palmed the little slip o' paper, and when we left the restaurant I pressed it into Eric's hand, and told him, "Count to ten and then read this", and then I ran around the corner and waited for him. I heard him laugh when he read the fortune. It was the best part of a good evening.
(And you can stop rolling your eyes now!)
None of these activities are extraordinary, except to me. To me they're magnificent. Any one of 'em wouldn've been impossible a few weeks ago. It feels sooooo good to not feel bad. I wake up in the morning, and I roll out of bed. I stand up and stretch and I smile. I really do! I smile, because I may be tired, but I'm not exhausted.
I'm tired, but I can do things.
Okay, now for the corny(er) part:
The fortune from my fortune cookie read: Love is waiting for you around the corner. I palmed the little slip o' paper, and when we left the restaurant I pressed it into Eric's hand, and told him, "Count to ten and then read this", and then I ran around the corner and waited for him. I heard him laugh when he read the fortune. It was the best part of a good evening.
(And you can stop rolling your eyes now!)
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