Thursday, August 27, 2009

Vacation Snapshots - Last Full Day

Well. This hasn't been quite the vacation I envisioned all summer - one of the drawbacks of pooling your vacation into one lump sum. Last year's vacation was virtually rained out, and that was my main concern for this year's vacation. My sister Teri and I were checking out the long range weather forecast every day, and were so happy at the sunny weather that was predicted for our time on the Island.

Never in a million years did I think we would all get sick. Who gets sick on vacation?!!

We've had some good times - as hectic as it is when the whole family gets together, I love it. I love seeing my niece and nephews so I can hug and squeeze them enough to last me until the next summer. I love spending time near the lake and I dearly love going to Victoria - a town I once thought I would move back to when I had finished my stint in Japan. Silly me never saw myself getting married, much less to someone from the East Coast.

Whenever I come to the end of my vacation, I always think about what I want to do differently next time - don't get me wrong, it doesn't stem from a feeling of disatisfaction - but rather simply improvement.

Here goes:

1) Load up on freakin' Airborne before getting on the plane. Okay, maybe there is a bit of disatisfaction here. We flew from Philly through Houston into Vancouver, and there were H1N1 signs everywhere - very Big Brother-ish ("Is your neighbor coughing and sneezing? Please report them to the nearest airline counter." I kid you not.) I thought it was all very paranoid until I got sick three days after being here. Then I remembered the woman who sat behind me who sneezed 15 times in a row and twittered/giggled to herself each time. For the record, we do not have H1N1 - they tested us.



2) Tie-dye the t-shirts when everyone is still here so everyone gets to have Incredible Hulk green hands. Be more careful with the placement of the elastic bands so you don't end up with a starburst over one boob.



3) Do more local things - like pick blackberries (shh! Don't tell my Dad I said that!), cook with local foods, go to local events. It was great being here during blackberry season this year - you could just smell blackberries in the air everywhere. I just liked picking them and popping them into my mouth - do you know how much blackberries cost for a pint in Delaware?!?



4) Spend more time individually with Dharma, Hunter, and William. I did get plenty of time with Dharma this time around because Teri and I were here the longest, but I want to spend more time with Jaime's boys. I grew up with my aunts, uncles and cousins all within a very tight radius, and I feel bad that I only get to see these kids for a few short days every year, because they all change and grow up so fast.

5) Take Willow to the West Coast of the Island. A long time ago when we were still in university, Teri and I went camping on Long Beach on the West Coast of the Island and it was so wild and beautiful. It is a bit of a trek to get out there, but it is so worth it.

6) Go to Victoria not on a Monday so I can actually go to the Beehive Wool Shop when it is open! Why are yarn stores closed on Mondays??! I went to Loom (no website), a yarn store in Whippletree Junction and it just wasn't the same - I always seem to have an off experience when I go there (like when Willow was 4 and the owner demanded I leave Willow outside because she didn't want children in the store.) This time I bought some Fleece Artist merino sock yarn. It was slightly tangled, and I asked it I could have it wound. The clerk looked at me askance and said, "No!" Silly me - I thought she was joking. I teased back, "You do have a swift and winder in here, don't you?" She said, "Yes, but it you want to use it, you will have to buy it!" WTF? I've never been to a LYS where they haven't offered this service if they sell yarn in skeins.

I'm sure there are so many other things - going tubing on the Cowichan River, spend more time walking around Victoria, drive up to Qualicum/Parksville - I would need so much more time to do them all. And win a lottery or two. And encourage the development of Star Trek-style transporters so I don't have to be exposed to other people's germs while traveling. All good things.

8 comments:

Penny Karma, aka the F-Bomb Mom said...

I always seem to get the single-boob starburst.

And who doesn't wind yarn for you?? That's crap!

Kaye said...

Speaking of Japan, t-shirts, and boobs....my favorite t-shirt was one from my brother stationed in Japan. It had Japanese words on it and their translation on the back. Can you guess where the first three letters of the word "Nippon" were placed?

Love the picture of Willow and her cuz at the end! Cute tops!

I can't believe they asked you to report sneezing! Someone call the ACLU--I'm a serial sneezer and I will NOT be singled out! Hahahahahah!

Lisa said...

Jo,
I know there is always so much more you want to do on your holidays!! I wish I had done more hiking and swimming on mine. We were stuck in a rainy lakeside cabin in Saskatchewan for a week (out for a wedding). I am sorry that I missed you again this year. We didn't arrive home from our three week trek until late Saturday night. I tried to call you and left a message at your parent's place. We will have to make a plan to tube the river next year. Willow is so beautiful! (like her mama!)
I am sorry to hear that everyone was sick!! I hope you are feeling better!!
A bientot,
Lisa

Beverly said...

You ever win that lottery, you send some my way, k? I need a long-term vacation too.

Batty said...

Tie-dyeing and blackberries? That alone makes the whole vacation a success.

But... wow. Who gets sick on vacation? Our family always did (well, my sister and me), and Mr. Batty and I. Because you're outside, then you're inside, where it's over-air-conditioned, then you sweat outside, go back inside...
Duh. People get sick during the summer. It shouldn't be a big deal.

Zonda said...

Bummer on getting sick on vacation! Love the shirts and those blueberries look delicious. Glad it didn't rain this year for you! Dumbness on the LYS IMHO.

kemtee said...

They wouldn't wind it? Really? I'm aghast. We never NOT offer to wind it!

Getting sick anytime sux. Getting sick on vacation is ten times worse. I'm just glad you're feeling better.

And Bezzie's on to something: call the cops! I have a sniffle!

Shan said...

I don't darken the door of the loom for that very reason.

Nor of Beehive, as it happens.