Oops!

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I believe the most important thing about a vacation is to relax and get away.  Then explain to me why after a five-day getaway I am just exhausted?  I know, I know… did I forget I have a chronic illness?  Did I really think a shopping vacation would happen without a lot of pushing through the pain and SLEEP?  Oh well, I did have a good time at least.

We were celebrating my niece turning 30 and so a girl’s trip was necessary.  We shopped the Mall of America in Minnesota enjoyed an adventure in an escape room, saw sharks and fish of all kinds at the mall’s aquarium, and enjoyed some really good food and drink… Margaritaville was by far my favorite!  But one thing in the back of my mind kept bothering me, I was sure I was forgetting something.

Oh, my goodness!  I never posted an “I will be away for a bit” post… I am such a scatterbrained!  So, I am here tonight to apologize for not giving you a heads up at least.  And to tell you I am once again behind and need to try to speed up the catch-up somehow.  So, I am letting you all know if I mark like on your blog it will mean just what it says… I liked your post (and I read it).  If I have a little time here or there I will comment, but I am really far behind again. I appreciate your forgiveness and patience in all of this.  THANKS! And as always (((HUGS)))!

Fish and Frogs

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The pandemic has altered a lot of plans… those for last year certainly and a big portion of this year already.  This could be the family down the street…

Mother – “Your father and I called you all here for an impromptu meeting about our summer vacation.  I know last year you were all disappointed we couldn’t go anywhere because of the pandemic.  This year we may leave our options open.  It will not be anything extravagant but cheap doesn’t have to mean no fun.”

Father – “Your mother and I want you to know we are trying to plan the most bang for our buck with this vacation more so than we normally do.  One option we were thinking about is renting an RV and going to a campground close by.  There could be swimming, fishing, hiking and lots of sitting watching nature.”

Oldest son – “Dad do we really have to?  I was hoping to get a summer job.  A ton of places are hiring.” 

Daughter – “Yeah, and Mrs. Everhart already asked if I could watch Janie this summer while she was back at work half days.”

Youngest son – “Awesome!  Can I catch a frog and keep it?”

… are you planning a vacation this summer with the possibility of being vaccinated by then?

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Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – impromptu

On the Street Where You Live

*Edit note people were not seeing the image on this post I have hopefully fixed the problem… tell me if you can’t see it please. Thanks!

Fandango has chosen to return to a post he did last year.  We are tasked with taking a picture of the view from where we live.  My picture was already in my phone and taken last year in May.  If I were to take new pictures you would see nothing but bare trees still.  But the grass has started to green up.  So pick up your phones and link back to Fandango’s post here .  After all we don’t have anywhere to go these days, but this gives us a visual vacation.  Have fun and stay safe!

This is the view off the front porch of my 100 year old house,  With any luck we can assess the sidewalk cracks this year when we get the driveway redone.

Mumbles … Cash

Well I was hoping to speak to you as a newly achieved millionaire, but the casino was no where near that kind to us.  We had a set amount of cash to lose and only lost half of that… so we may not have been on the positive side by we did alright for a couple of days of fun.  The sound of the slot machines tried to bother my anxiety, but I was able to take my meds with and that got me through being over stimulated and dealing with a crowd.  We even got in on a special promotion and “won” a casserole dish.  (getting excited about a casserole dish, man I live a boring life!)

The special “fantasy suite” was amazing – a rain forest room.  Not sure which I wanted to bring home more the whirlpool tub or the shower with 15 programmable jets.  Going in the middle of the week it was nice and quiet.  We went down for the free breakfast and there was no one else in the lobby or the pool as we walked by.  I think that is the way to escape.

Now I am playing catch up.  Catch up on my sleep (I have napped everyday since we got back) and beginning to catch up on Word Press.  I still need to get to the laundry, but my boyfriend has been repairing the stairs to the basement, so I have stayed out of his way.

So once again bear with me, I will make it to your posts and comments eventually.  I am reading and writing as fast as I can.  (((HUGS)))

 

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – cash

Flying Solo

Sandra was so excited, today was the day.  Today was the day her vacation started.  She was going to travel abroad for a full month.  A part of her was terrified of the trip alone, but the excitement to see far away lands won out as the stronger emotion.  She could hardly contain her excitement as she closed her suitcase and heard the cabbie honk his horn.

At the airport she began to worry about who she would be stuck next to on the overseas trip.  “I hope it is not a noisy kid,” she thought to herself.  Getting on the plane she was a bit apprehensive but when she got to her seat there was no one in the aisle seat yet.

She stored her carry-on overhead and took her window seat.  Just then she sensed someone behind her. Turning in her seat she saw a very handsome man in front of her.  “Maybe his will be a great flight after all,” she thought as she smiled at the man.

 

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – abroad

Hospital Hell In the Dominican Republic — Building The Love Shack

(This is a good example of why you need to be wise about where you vacation…)

 

Things have been pretty quiet here on our blog for the month of February. That’s because we went on a most waited for vacation. Unfortunately, while I was away, I ended up in the hospital. The best way to share this story is to share with you the letter I sent to Air Canada, Expedia.ca […]

via Hospital Hell In the Dominican Republic — Building The Love Shack

Welcome Home

The vacation was over and David was headed home. He was unlocking the door to his apartment and thought he smelled something odd. It was not a pleasant smell, but maybe the neighbors were just cooking some exotic new dish and the odor was only unfamiliar. Then he swung the door open and got a whiff of something strong. Trying not to inhale too deeply he stepped inside and closed the door. The smell was sickening and he had to find its source. He approached the kitchen and found the smell was stronger. Then he realized the gentle ticking of his wall clock could not be heard. He tried the light switch and nothing happened. It was then he realized all the food in his refrigerator had spoiled. He knew he should have had a friend check in on the place while he was gone for a month. He would never go on vacation again without leaving his key with someone. A freezer half-full of meat and groceries wasted, he was glad it hadn’t been fully stocked.

 

Written for Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (FOWC) – whiff

Happy and Grateful – Day 225

Seven months are gone now and surprisingly I am still plugging along with this challenge to post about my happiness and gratitude every day this year.  August brings the state fair here in Iowa and lots of heat and humidity.  It is the time to see the back to school shopping start with kids dreading it and parents loving it.  As I continue my challenge I hope you will take a minute to reflect on your day too.  You can even share your happiness and gratitude here in the comments or on your own blog.  There is good in every day!

Another day to try new things… six word stories.  The extreme of limited words!  I don’t know if I cheated a bit by leading the story with a descriptive title or not, but I got it done I think.  It is on a subject I am passionate about.  I have seen one friends life almost ruined after she drove drunk.  I had a person I graduated with injured badly in a drunk driving accident.  And to this day I am so grateful my ex-husband never did drive when he was drunk… the one part of his alcoholism he seemed to have some control over.

It was another day to stick around home.  I did a little more computer “work” and some photo editing.  I am all ready for my Monochrome Monday post tomorrow.  I did get a package ready to mail out tomorrow (a book my daughter sold on Amazon).  Did some tidying up.  And got to talk to two different friends today – one on the phone and one online.  It was a good day two of vacation and I was happy to be at peace most of the day.

I need to get some rest… have to take my Dad to the clinic tomorrow for a blood draw so I can’t sleep in too late.  Find your happiness and feel your gratitude!  Have a good night/day!

Happy and Grateful – Day 223

Seven months are gone now and surprisingly I am still plugging along with this challenge to post about my happiness and gratitude every day this year.  August brings the state fair here in Iowa and lots of heat and humidity.  It is the time to see the back to school shopping start with kids dreading it and parents loving it.  As I continue my challenge I hope you will take a minute to reflect on your day too.  You can even share your happiness and gratitude here in the comments or on your own blog.  There is good in every day!

I did a little something different today… I attempted a 100 word challenge with the daily prompt.  It made it glaringly obvious how much I babble when I write… 100 words is not much.  My opening paragraph this month for this blog is 101.  I felt I really went nowhere with my little story The Stranger except setting up the scene to start writing.  I don’t know how some of you can do that on a regular basis.  But anyway… I am happy I tried it and I wont completely rule it out in the future.  I just need to learn how to describe in fewer words I guess.

Today started a 10 day vacation for my boyfriend.  Not really doing much during the time off except relaxing.  Would like to make it to the Iowa State Fair but it can be so expensive!  I am sure we will have a little bit of fun over the time off even if we only make it as far as a walk in the park.  I am grateful he has the time off.

279 words and I still have to finish… I guess I never really paid attention to how short or how long the posts were before.  Gee, I hope I don’t bore you with my babbling fingertips!  I will find a way to mute them (at least here) for the night.  Find your happiness, feel your gratitude!  Have a good night/day!

Happy and Grateful – Day 127

May has arrived and I hope it brings lots of Spring cheer with it.  I am in my fifth month now of taking time to acknowledge the things that make me happy and grateful every day… almost half way to my goal of a full year.  If you want to join in on this challenge please add your thoughts in the comments or start your own blog.  There is a lot to be happy and grateful for!

Day two of the vacation and it was another lovely day.  We had an exciting afternoon (insert sarcasm font here)… we took pop cans back for redemption.  The collection here had taken over the closet and was way over due to go back to the store.  We managed to get enough back that it cut our shopping trip down to half price basically.

We did enjoy a little walk though to get our dinner.  I had a gift card from Christmas still for Subway and there is one about a block away, so we had a little time in the fresh air.

So I was happy to find the floor in the closet once again. And grateful for a good meal and a nice walk to get it.

… there was also another heated battle of cards tonight.  This time we played two games of Canasta.  Each won one, so we have to have the tie breaker tomorrow.  Vacation has been alright so far!