ok it will be interesting to see where exactly my post will show up. If i did it correctly it
should be in the correct placee. So this is just my test.

Reflections and Recovery

Picked up Fynn on Sunday and headed home to KC. We were both exhausted. Fynn laid down and has barely left this position. I had to work Monday and it was a struggle to stay alert and focused but I did it and actually got some work done! Tuesday was better and Wednesday I ventured out to the store to get some food supplies. Today, Thursday, I feel like a normal person with rest and food and now for the vacation reflections.

All in all it was a great vacation. I never mind the drive either way and always anxious to get to the destination. I did a lot of the driving on the way home, because actually it felt good! I like to drive and could have the seat pushed back a little more then sitting in the passenger side were I felt really cramped so my mom could have a little room behind me. I hope it didn't make anyone mad that I drove so much - maybe Chris, but she did say she had to drive all the time and enjoyed not having to do it all the time, so maybe she could just relax and enjoy the scenery.

Contrary to what many thought, we had a beautiful day for travel. the sky was clear and roads were not too busy. We did not meet the rain until we were about 2 hours from home. It was touch and go as to what roads were passable from time to time because of the flooding in the area. Thank goodness we had Uncle Don on the weather station to help us through!

As you read during the week, I spend lots of time on the beach reading and just enjoying the water, it is my absolute favorite thing to do. Did a little shopping in the evenings with the girls and only cooked a few meals. Sometimes the noise level of the condo was way too much for me to deal with - so I headed for room and closed the door and then the sounds were just right. My mom needed the TV turned up so she could hear, David and Shelly have really load voices and a 3 year old who they talk to non stop. Geri and Chris talked whenever they could get the other two to be quiet for a minute and everyone talked over the TV! it was crazy at times.

We did play evening games as much this year as last, not sure why...more talking I guess or something. The big event was the cakes. On day one Shelly brought us a fabulous cake and we raved about how fabulous it was and it was gone in 24hours. So on day 4 Shelly brought another one that was about 3 times bigger then the one previous and so we had this huge cake that took up half the space in the fridge....no problem now we can eat out more and come home for dessert. It was a ton of fun and everyone left not wanting any cake until next year.

MB Days 4-6

OK, so I took a couple days off. I thought my other two siblings who have blogging accounts to this page would pick up the slack and fill you all in on the festivities. Now to catch you up on my activities...after being asked to find a few rich old men while I was out shopping, I did find two old men in the elevator that looked fairly rich, they were headed to the penthouse level....so I asked them if either of them was rich and wanted to get married, and they laughed so hard I think one of them peed himself. It was quite funny. Later in the afternoon, down to the beach with Chris, the waves and undertow were the strongest they had been since we got here. I decided to give it a try without Geri who has been my "water buddy". Walked out knee deep then turned around to look at the shore and a wave hit me and down I went. I rolled and tumbled (go ahead close your eyes and picture that!) I could not get up. The waves continued to hammer me and I was in various unstable sitting, laying or upside down positions, but never upright and standing. Some lady from the beach came running over to help me, but where was Chris you ask? I finally get upright and struggle to my feet and there is Chris taking pictures of me! Bottom line....should not have gone out there without my "water buddy". Won't do that again.

Other happening, shopping and finding summer bargains. playing games and still only cooked one meal. Rumor has it I am expected to cook tacos for the whole group tonight our last night. I don't think that will tax me too much.

Not ready to leave yet, tomorrow morning 5 am will come too soon. Lots of fun and sun this year, looking forward to next.

gloomy day

Not very much sun out today. I will however go to the beach and the pool as long as it is not raining. Cathy, Chris and myself played a round of hand and foot and of course Cathy won and I can in a close second and Chris pulled up the rear. I'm sure Chris would say she did not win because she had to face the full wall mirror in the living/dining room and had she gotten to be on one of the side chairs she would have done better. But sitting on either side of the end has it's draw backs as well. One side is hot and the other side has the air conditioner vent blowing on you. So I'm not sure that it would have done her any good in any of the 3 chairs but oh well.
Gracie and David and Shelly are coming this afternoon Some sort of pasta Shelly is making which i have had before and is delicious. Then if not raining then a trip to the miniture gof might be in order. Hopefully it won't rain on our golf. We will be getting judi to blog soon. I have had a lot of trouble with passwords and either not remembering them or just not being able to type correctly cause i am now on my thrid password for this blogging thing. So be on the look out cause Judi has been saving up all of her thoughts for the chance to blog.

Hey Lady

Hey, I am just learning this and my teacher failed to mention a few of the basis! Back up a little. I am not sure how to give permission for another to blog, I am looking into it. hang tight and cool off. The heat is getting to our 50+ y/o brains. I am wondering if there is a correlation between brain cell damage and the sun damage. Seems I am loosing brain wattage as my tan gets darker. More later...as I have a job to do, figuring out the permissions thing

Undertowed and Sunbaked

OK, I am getting a little flack for not keeping up on the posts, but in my own defense I was waiting for the "inept" condo mates to get day 1 under their belts. Sign on issues and blogging damages, as you have read, kept me just close but not over the edge on Sunday and Monday. Today I will play ketchup and when I am done you will wish I hadn't bothered...

Weather has been perfect - at least for those of us who adore the bright, hot sunshiny days. Ocean sounds are so beautiful and the smell is shear pleasure, but once you step foot into the water you know there is something ominous and forceful just beyond the sounds and smell. Sunday morning Geri and I headed out for the surf (but first we had to walk through mucky water that Hanna brought to the bottom of our stairs to the ocean) and excitedly stepped into the foamy approaching waves when the undertow grabbed our feet and yanked us into reality. Thinking of some wise advise given to me before leaving for my vacation - I told Geri "walk out and swim in" sure she says, if I can stand up! So we tried repeatedly to get past the crashing cresting waves before loosing our footing and getting laughed at by the other. We made it out where we could bob with the water and get some relief from the sun. Now we just had to figure out how to get on to the shore without loosing our swimming suits! The undercurrent was so strong that when you took a couple steps toward the shore it pulls you back and attempts to suck your bathing suit off with it. Good got the cardio exercise done for the day - whew!

OK, so here is what has been the best part of my the vacation so far, well in sort of an unpleasant happiness, got that concept?

My mother is loosing her hearing and she has to have the TV on blast! and I mean blast. if it is too loud for me and it is making my head hurt, I can't even imaging how awful it is for the others who have 100% of their hearing. BUT - and here's the happy part - at least it wasn't ME that they were all crabbing about!
It took until this morning for anyone - thank you Chris - to figure out how to set the CC (closed captioning) on the TV she is watching in the living room. Wow was that a blessing. We may all get some sleep tonight.

I only cooked one meal so far this year! yeah, not that I mind but I have to eat my own cooking all the time...I want a vacation from that. My sister cooked something and set the smoke alarm off and my brother said "timer when off - you have 5 more minutes of cooking time". Actually, we have lucked out and ordered out a couple nights now and so no one has been burdened with their own cooking!

I am done for today, going shopping with the group, hoping to find some bargains and try to find a coconut head for my son at one of the beachwear stores. Salt water taffy is also on the shopping list. Talk to you all soon. I am also working on updating the slide show......

Myrtle Beach Vacation

Leaving Chicago at 5:30am CST with full knowledge we were driving directly into the hurricane headed for MB last night we luckily did not find the rain and wind until we were about 2 hours from the coast. At about 11:30 EST it started raining hard and blowing, Chris was in the driver seat - white knuckled and at DriverED 101 - the 10 and 2 position. I was in the co-pilot seat watching for standing water on the pavement and trying to keep her from....going over the edge of her sanity. Silence from the two bobbing heads in back of van ensured us we were scaring the crap out of them too!

All in all, we had a great and fun trip knowing that we had David at "homebase", who was on hurricane watch for us and provided periodic updates on the status of the storm. We arrived about 1:30am EST to the condo, unpacked and went bed - to hell with the storm - we were exhausted.

Woke up this morning at 8:30am to a glorious breeze and overcast sky. The sun is trying to come out and the few beach walkers are carring thier bags of washed up treasures carried in with the surf.

Plan today; 1. relax and visit with Grace 2. go grocery shopping for the week 3. find Chris a bathing suit. we learned yesterday that she has had the same suit for the past 15 years ! or something like that - that put a mental picture in my head that needs to be replaced soon!

Thats all for now...