Vacation of Wounded Knee pt IV: Coming Home
I'd better get this done as I can tell you're all waiting on tenterhooks.
All good things must come to an end, and vacation is no exception; although I must say, this is the first one I've taken where I felt properly rested and more than ready to return to the grindstone. For some reason the days passed so slowly, and every one felt like three.
Our return journey went off mostly hitch-free, except for forgetting to activate the new credit card we planned to rent the car with to drive back to Boston (had to use the rental agent's phone to do it -- she assured me she had seen shadier stuff go down); or screwing up Massachusetts' toll system and using an EZPass lane, which doesn't give you the ticket you have to present on the other end -- I took the first exit in a panic to try to turn around, which wouldn't have let me, but the unexpectedly kindly operator gave me the right ticket and permission to back up and U-turn through the cones in the proper direction ("quick, before someone comes along behind ya"). Thanks, unexpectedly kindly operator man. Another benefit to traveling in the wee morning hours.
So, last batch of photos:
This is the setup Mrs. D is forced to endure: notice the front loading dryer stuck behind a pole, while the top loading washer is free and clear. Mr. D insists it's not possible to reverse them. The plight of living with a Polack, which Tery and I know all too well
Mr. D's stuffed fisher cat. These are fierce weasels, actually mustelids which makes them a cousin of the ferret. They've migrated down from Canada, which explains why we never heard of them growing up and now they're everywhere in New England. My sister's neighbor is forever warning her about letting Yeti out at night, because their woods are crawling with fishers, that kill cats and other small animals (ironically, rarely fish, according to Wiki)
Want to hear a fisher cat scream? They sound almost human, really fecking creepy:
The last day of humidity, and the final toll on my hair. This is WITH my Pantene Smoothing Mousse applied faithfully and generously every damn day
Final thoughts: New England not as humid as I remembered, although my hair obvs tells a different story (and my cereal, which became disgustingly soggy seconds after adding milk; that doesn't happen in Colorado). But most of the trip we were blessed with less than 85-degree weather.
I'm very relieved my brother-in-law never talked politics with me (which I seriously feared), but then we didn't see a whole lot of him with all his hiding at work until bedtime. Although along with Tery's parents' 50th, we celebrated our 20th, and rumor has it a really nice picture of us dancing is being held hostage on Mike's camera, so watch for that coming soon (maybe).
I enjoyed very much using the pool every day, until the last one when it suddenly occurred to me these boys can't go fifteen minutes in a movie theater without peeing -- there was no way in hell they were holding it for two hours in the pool. Eww. Then again, I was probably leaving a trail of dead skin and serosanguineous fluid from my knee, so we were even.
It was also a revelation to me to spend nearly two weeks with family and not want to hurt anyone, which is what happens with my own relatives. It was kind of nice. Is this what family is supposed to feel like?
The only thing nicer than vacation is coming home. To say the cats were happy to see us is kind of an understatement. Here's Tery trying to job hunt.
Turns out optical mice don't work well on cat fur. Given Logan's fascination, she might also be watching a laser pointer presentation
The good news is, despite Logan being a serious hindrance, she enrolled in a personal trainer certification program, and got hired across the street at the 24-Hour Fitness as a desk clerk in the meantime -- pays shite, but comes with a free membership for both of us, so that's awesome.
Also, my first bike ride back in the park had me gasping for air shamefully. Amazing how quickly my lungs got spoiled and greedy for all that sea level oxygen goodness. Well suck it up, body. The Mile High City is no place for wimpy, lazy respiratory systems.
Coming soon: More movie reviews
All good things must come to an end, and vacation is no exception; although I must say, this is the first one I've taken where I felt properly rested and more than ready to return to the grindstone. For some reason the days passed so slowly, and every one felt like three.
Our return journey went off mostly hitch-free, except for forgetting to activate the new credit card we planned to rent the car with to drive back to Boston (had to use the rental agent's phone to do it -- she assured me she had seen shadier stuff go down); or screwing up Massachusetts' toll system and using an EZPass lane, which doesn't give you the ticket you have to present on the other end -- I took the first exit in a panic to try to turn around, which wouldn't have let me, but the unexpectedly kindly operator gave me the right ticket and permission to back up and U-turn through the cones in the proper direction ("quick, before someone comes along behind ya"). Thanks, unexpectedly kindly operator man. Another benefit to traveling in the wee morning hours.
So, last batch of photos:
This is the setup Mrs. D is forced to endure: notice the front loading dryer stuck behind a pole, while the top loading washer is free and clear. Mr. D insists it's not possible to reverse them. The plight of living with a Polack, which Tery and I know all too well
Mr. D's stuffed fisher cat. These are fierce weasels, actually mustelids which makes them a cousin of the ferret. They've migrated down from Canada, which explains why we never heard of them growing up and now they're everywhere in New England. My sister's neighbor is forever warning her about letting Yeti out at night, because their woods are crawling with fishers, that kill cats and other small animals (ironically, rarely fish, according to Wiki)
Want to hear a fisher cat scream? They sound almost human, really fecking creepy:
Click to view The last day of humidity, and the final toll on my hair. This is WITH my Pantene Smoothing Mousse applied faithfully and generously every damn day
Final thoughts: New England not as humid as I remembered, although my hair obvs tells a different story (and my cereal, which became disgustingly soggy seconds after adding milk; that doesn't happen in Colorado). But most of the trip we were blessed with less than 85-degree weather.
I'm very relieved my brother-in-law never talked politics with me (which I seriously feared), but then we didn't see a whole lot of him with all his hiding at work until bedtime. Although along with Tery's parents' 50th, we celebrated our 20th, and rumor has it a really nice picture of us dancing is being held hostage on Mike's camera, so watch for that coming soon (maybe).
I enjoyed very much using the pool every day, until the last one when it suddenly occurred to me these boys can't go fifteen minutes in a movie theater without peeing -- there was no way in hell they were holding it for two hours in the pool. Eww. Then again, I was probably leaving a trail of dead skin and serosanguineous fluid from my knee, so we were even.
It was also a revelation to me to spend nearly two weeks with family and not want to hurt anyone, which is what happens with my own relatives. It was kind of nice. Is this what family is supposed to feel like?
The only thing nicer than vacation is coming home. To say the cats were happy to see us is kind of an understatement. Here's Tery trying to job hunt.
Turns out optical mice don't work well on cat fur. Given Logan's fascination, she might also be watching a laser pointer presentation
The good news is, despite Logan being a serious hindrance, she enrolled in a personal trainer certification program, and got hired across the street at the 24-Hour Fitness as a desk clerk in the meantime -- pays shite, but comes with a free membership for both of us, so that's awesome.
Also, my first bike ride back in the park had me gasping for air shamefully. Amazing how quickly my lungs got spoiled and greedy for all that sea level oxygen goodness. Well suck it up, body. The Mile High City is no place for wimpy, lazy respiratory systems.
Coming soon: More movie reviews