Gettin' Lucky in Kentucky
So. Vacation was AWESOME!!!
I had one of those "Didn't know how empty my cup was until it was filled" moments. Holy shit I needed the escape. Didn't really know how badly until I had it.
Being with Bernice and the kids all week was great! My usual standoffishness didn't kick in, either, though I got a crash course in what six-year olds can be like (and if memory serves, as it rarely does, I was quite the little shit myself back in those days). They're great kids, really, asides from a touch of sibling rivalry. Bernice was awesome, as always (and not just because of the title of this posting =P She really is a GREAT lady with a heart that's bigger than...well...something really huge).
Carter Caves resort was beautiful. Kentucky really is a beautiful state, and while our lodgings were pretty modern (seriously. The 'cabin' we were in was a miniature house, with full hotel services and everything but its own laundry, pretty much. Anything rustic or with a camping feeling was out, but in all honesty, I didn't care :) ), the area we were in seemed a bit removed from time, and was chalk full of natural beauty. The weather sucked for the first day, but we went into a cave, and pretty much just hung around the resort, mostly. Liam, B's son, got to abuse the TV that day. Eva, B's daughter, and I were completely anti TV. That's not what you go on vacation for! I didn't even care that I was away from computers for a week, asides from one jaunt on the laptop to keep up with my class. As many of you 'prolly know, kids keep you busy! We saw other caves with hybernating bats, we did manage to go fishing (didn't catch a darn thing, but we went for the experience!), went to a kids museum and a candy factory in Lexington, and more.
On the way home, we stopped in Louisville, and we got to go to the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat factory. THAT was awesome. We got to see the factory, rifle through the personal bat stashes of the likes of Ken Griffey Jr. and Paul Konerko, and even try different bats that were modeled for specific players in batting cages (I HAD to try the Babe Ruth model, but it was made after the old hickory bats, which are heavy as Hell. Ruth had to be one strong mofo to hit like he did).
So, all in all, it was my first extended stay with the family, and I loved every second of it. The kids had a way of melting any aggrivation away with their antics. It was wonderful to be with Bernice for all that time. (Yeah yeah, any more sappy and I'll be a maple tree, but I'll just throw squirrels at you then). As for pictures, still working on that bit. I'll have 'em up eventually. I can't wait to do this again! Haven't really slept well since I got home, because as soon as I hit that door it was back to needy aunts, holidays, and friggin jury duty. I think I shall sleep on Wednesday. Still, was worth every second.
I had one of those "Didn't know how empty my cup was until it was filled" moments. Holy shit I needed the escape. Didn't really know how badly until I had it.
Being with Bernice and the kids all week was great! My usual standoffishness didn't kick in, either, though I got a crash course in what six-year olds can be like (and if memory serves, as it rarely does, I was quite the little shit myself back in those days). They're great kids, really, asides from a touch of sibling rivalry. Bernice was awesome, as always (and not just because of the title of this posting =P She really is a GREAT lady with a heart that's bigger than...well...something really huge).
Carter Caves resort was beautiful. Kentucky really is a beautiful state, and while our lodgings were pretty modern (seriously. The 'cabin' we were in was a miniature house, with full hotel services and everything but its own laundry, pretty much. Anything rustic or with a camping feeling was out, but in all honesty, I didn't care :) ), the area we were in seemed a bit removed from time, and was chalk full of natural beauty. The weather sucked for the first day, but we went into a cave, and pretty much just hung around the resort, mostly. Liam, B's son, got to abuse the TV that day. Eva, B's daughter, and I were completely anti TV. That's not what you go on vacation for! I didn't even care that I was away from computers for a week, asides from one jaunt on the laptop to keep up with my class. As many of you 'prolly know, kids keep you busy! We saw other caves with hybernating bats, we did manage to go fishing (didn't catch a darn thing, but we went for the experience!), went to a kids museum and a candy factory in Lexington, and more.
On the way home, we stopped in Louisville, and we got to go to the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat factory. THAT was awesome. We got to see the factory, rifle through the personal bat stashes of the likes of Ken Griffey Jr. and Paul Konerko, and even try different bats that were modeled for specific players in batting cages (I HAD to try the Babe Ruth model, but it was made after the old hickory bats, which are heavy as Hell. Ruth had to be one strong mofo to hit like he did).
So, all in all, it was my first extended stay with the family, and I loved every second of it. The kids had a way of melting any aggrivation away with their antics. It was wonderful to be with Bernice for all that time. (Yeah yeah, any more sappy and I'll be a maple tree, but I'll just throw squirrels at you then). As for pictures, still working on that bit. I'll have 'em up eventually. I can't wait to do this again! Haven't really slept well since I got home, because as soon as I hit that door it was back to needy aunts, holidays, and friggin jury duty. I think I shall sleep on Wednesday. Still, was worth every second.