Heading West to the Islands
It’s been five years since we last flew with kids.
They bring a lot of stuff.
Backpacks, Barbies, iPods, Nintendo DS’, snacks, food, Sony Readers, crayons, paper, blankets, ….
Okay I guess it’s no different than me.
I have my laptop, my iPhone, wallet, earphones, gum, Seabands for hubby, itinerary, phone charger, iGo charger, computer charger. All in my purse.
So multiply all that junk by 5 and we literally just forgot the kitchen sink.
Plus we checked two large suitcases stuffed full.
Even going to Hawaii, all those swimsuits and skimpy 87-degree weather clothes pile up.
San Francisco airport itself is it’s own entity.
Monday morning crowds are astounding, we were well in the city 2 hours before our flight, but after long-term parking, the shuttle, the check-in, security, and finding our gate, we literally walked straight to boarding.
No coffee, no potty break, no breakfast.
Rush. Rush. Rush.
Then on the plane, everyone wants to empty the contents of their bags to “play.”
Unlike Hawaiian, we have to purchase meals on United and my oldest inhaled a sleeve of salami and a turkey and cheese sandwich in 20 minutes.
Suddenly the tween’s appetite has quadrupled.
My son, a nervous nelly like me stresses and take off, then tries his best to go back to sleep, but can’t.
We’ve all been up since 4:45a.m. our patience, shot.
I look around and see a calm beauty with a BRIDE sweatshirt, JUST MARRIED tee, dutifully writing thank-you notes, skimming her Maui itinerary.
Ahh, the relaxation has already hit her, she simply awaits the islands and her honeymoon.
While I perspire with the five of us tired, disheveled, and obviously ravenous.
2 hours into our flight we’ve spent $65.
I think my next purchase will be a MaiTai and a Xanax chaser.
Did I mention I mixed up Eastbound and Westbound flights, so the movie going over was not RIO, but Arthur with Russell Brand?
Yeah, K was pissed.
Never a dull moment, even on vacation!
Happily we arrived to beautiful Oahu. Aloha!
The Many Aromas of Hawaii
I don't have too much time to write.I have to exercise.
I have to get bathing suit ready.
We are heading to Hawaii.
The island of Aloha.
Paradise.
Where you can walk around with no bra and a sarong and call it dressy.
I can smell the hibiscus, the plumeria, the mai tais.
Once before we landed in Kauai, the garden isle.
This time for our 15 year anniversary we will visit the big island.
Volcano island I call it.
Hot molten lava bubbling before your eyes, can you imagine?!
I now smell sulfur dioxide.
*inhale, exhale.*
Black sand beaches.
How 'bout them apples?
And, I thought earthquakes were the wildest thing I've experienced.
Wait, Hawaii has both!
All I know is that my husband and I are already booked for the Volcano Bike Ride and Wine Tasting.
Because those things go well together.
I think the wine is in those backpack hydration kits.
Did I mention we're going alone?
Sans kiddoes?
Sans is a fancy word for without.
With. Out.
For a week.
Kona is where we're headed. The birthplace coffee, probably. I'm not a history buff.
But, mmmm...the smell of coffee. In Paradise.
There's a snorkling cruise and BBQ I've already booked too.
Again, because having a grilled burger is what I always crave after seeing Nemo.
Paradise I tell you.
Par.a.dise.
Homesick.
Bored.Just hanging at the hotel where my hub is attending a work-related conference.
We've swam, and swam, and swam.
We've eaten, and eaten, and eaten.
We've watched TV, used the free wi-fi.
Called maintenance (clogged pipes), housekeeping (not enough TP), switched rooms (ants!), and endured an old shabby hotel amid renovations.
I'm done.
It's been years since i've toodled around these parts, when I was in college. We're close to a ton of stuff but far enough I need a map and directions and don't feel like getting lost.
Our only great meal, last night at Cattlemen's for our anniversary dinner.
The hotel does not have a microwave in the rooms, nor a fridge. Every meal is out to eat and BLEH, i'm ready for home cooked!
My arteries hurt.
Home again tomorrow.
I'm stopping at Safeway, picking up some french bread, pasta, sauce, salad fixin's, and fresh corn.
I'm homesick.
Plus I think the UPS and FedEx guys miss me.
Our cat too.
Things I Learned from our Disneyland Trip, Part One
This week has been a whirlwind of adventure, illness, stress, and fun.So much so, I completely flaked on my very own meme, A Thousand Words Thursday, for the first time in 2 years I didn't put it up, even late.
Anyway.
I learned a lot about my family, about Disneyland, about tourists, this last roadtrip....like.....
**Sleeping in the same room with the kids is something I'm not used to anymore! Talk about sleepless nights. Poor kids were affected by colds and allergies and the midnight sniffing, coughing, and snortling made it hard for a pleasant slumber.
**Dangle "free breakfast" and "Disneyland" over their heads and you can wake up anyone, parent and child alike early in the morning.
**Rain scares tourists at amusement parks.
**Rain also means $19.99 ponchos for die-hards and NO LINES on Pirates of the Carribbean! WOOT.
**Pirates is a ride you can go on twice, at least!
**When you are too short for some rides, lollipops make the hurt go away!
**People who don't use Fast Pass are cah-razy!
**The Indiana Jones ride was my all-time FAVORITE!
**Dumbo is a water-ride when it's pouring down rain and you're flying through the air! And, if you ask K, it was her favorite!
**My oldest does know how to smile....and she and her brother can get along!
.........part 2 coming soon!
