Can't spin it like a helicopter...
Well, I'm back at work (dammit!) in the bay area (fuck yes!) and feeling like I'm back in civilization. My week-long trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was over two days ago, and I can't say that it was the best vacation ever...by any measure of the word. Luckily, today at work is realtively smooth and full, and I should be out of here at the normal time of 4:30. Right now I'm waiting for a certain machine to spit out the right results so I can start a short analysis of two samples. The rest of the day will be spend filtering 13 samples, and finshing up a two-page long report that shouldn't take more than 10 minutes to do. I'm dying to get back in the gym, looking at the all the college-age athletic Southern girls added much-needed fire to my motivation to exercise. Although, considering the amount of "crappy" food I ate during the last week, I don't look like I fell of the wagon at all. Yay for muscle memory, and the small gym at our hotel.
So, as far as the trip as a whole, I'll sum it up by saying this: I couldn't used my PTO hours for something much better. Granted, it was totally free (air fare, food, hotel, entertainment), and I got to kick it with my brother Diego a lot. I really appreciate my godparents for taking us out on all these trips over the years, buying us presents during Xmas, and generally being like our second family in Santa Cruz. In the last two years, I've been able to go to Maui and Alaska and generally party it up. With all this said, it still doensn't mean that I HAVE to have an awesome time. For the majority of our time there, Diego and I were bored out of our minds. I personally felt like I was 10 years old again, waiting for my parents to wake up so they could take me to the park, or buy me a Happy Meal. My godparents are the same age as my parents, but seem to have about 1/3 of the energy. Dad can't really move around too much because of his weight and bad knee, but my mom picks up the slack, and I really like being able to run around with her and go shopping or just sit back and laugh. I also have my younger brother Cruz to add some more energy to the pack. Spending this much time with my godparents made me truly realize how much bad health can prematurely age somebody. Nino would get winded just walking from the elevator to the car, and always seemed to be breathing heavier than a normal resting person. Both of them walk like they're one doctor's appointment away from scooting around in a Rascal, or pushing around a walker. I felt kind of guilty because they wouldn't be able to participate in most of the activities me and Diego did. Go-kart racing...can't fit in the cars. Walking around a mall...needed frequent breaks and a sugary snack every hour on the hour. I managed to drag Diego to the gym two or three times, but I made sure that I went at least four times during our week in SC. Just thinking about the amount of times we ate out, and the portions they're used to eating...I have a lot of iced teas and pre-dinner breadsticks to burn off. When I have kids, I want to be able to run around with them and do things outside. You can only watch so many movies and eat out so many times before it drives you up the wall.
The worse part besides having little to nothing to do in that hole of a town, is that I didn't get to talk to Diego as much as I wanted. The vibe in the air was a constant one of near-confusion and lethargy. We seemed to always be waiting around to get in the car to find something to do, or getting back from a meal out and sitting in front of the TV. The times inbetween weren't filled with very much conversation besides the mundane variety (how's work, how's school, how's the S.O.). I don't get to see my brothers that much, so I wanted to be able to have a great time and come back with some stories to tell. The atmosphere never opened up to where I felt I could slide into a meaningful talk. Sure, we can crack jokes all day until our faces go numb, but then what would be have to look back upon? There was too much down time to motivate anyone to rev the engine, so we all fell into this sluggish funk. On our final full day in Myrtle Beach, we all finally got to go down to see the ocean. Before then, the days had been overcast and rainy. Now I would finally get to see this famed Myrtle Beach that I had heard about. Yeah, right...what a frickin' disappointment. Seabright beach in Santa Cruz is 100% more charming than that strip of sand and hotels. It was like Waikiki beach, but with tons of construction going on, and almost no people. The water didn't have that ocean-y smell, and the water was a slate blue/grey color. Wow, what sight to see. Sitting on my blue towel next to Diego, I felt this apprehensive, anxious feeling. It was the day before we were supposed to leave back to the west coast, and I wasn't able to relax at the BEACH! If it were any of the numerous shitty days at work, the sound of lulling water and the feeling of soft sand would've evaporated all the fiery nerves in my chest. To finally end this story, Myrtle Beach sucks ass, and I would NEVER live in that hole. I'm glad to be back in the city, where shit actually happens and I don't have to follow anyone around.
There was a good part to this weekend, but I'll fill that part in next time. It's time to go home, work out, make some dinner, and chill the F out with my lady...peace
So, as far as the trip as a whole, I'll sum it up by saying this: I couldn't used my PTO hours for something much better. Granted, it was totally free (air fare, food, hotel, entertainment), and I got to kick it with my brother Diego a lot. I really appreciate my godparents for taking us out on all these trips over the years, buying us presents during Xmas, and generally being like our second family in Santa Cruz. In the last two years, I've been able to go to Maui and Alaska and generally party it up. With all this said, it still doensn't mean that I HAVE to have an awesome time. For the majority of our time there, Diego and I were bored out of our minds. I personally felt like I was 10 years old again, waiting for my parents to wake up so they could take me to the park, or buy me a Happy Meal. My godparents are the same age as my parents, but seem to have about 1/3 of the energy. Dad can't really move around too much because of his weight and bad knee, but my mom picks up the slack, and I really like being able to run around with her and go shopping or just sit back and laugh. I also have my younger brother Cruz to add some more energy to the pack. Spending this much time with my godparents made me truly realize how much bad health can prematurely age somebody. Nino would get winded just walking from the elevator to the car, and always seemed to be breathing heavier than a normal resting person. Both of them walk like they're one doctor's appointment away from scooting around in a Rascal, or pushing around a walker. I felt kind of guilty because they wouldn't be able to participate in most of the activities me and Diego did. Go-kart racing...can't fit in the cars. Walking around a mall...needed frequent breaks and a sugary snack every hour on the hour. I managed to drag Diego to the gym two or three times, but I made sure that I went at least four times during our week in SC. Just thinking about the amount of times we ate out, and the portions they're used to eating...I have a lot of iced teas and pre-dinner breadsticks to burn off. When I have kids, I want to be able to run around with them and do things outside. You can only watch so many movies and eat out so many times before it drives you up the wall.
The worse part besides having little to nothing to do in that hole of a town, is that I didn't get to talk to Diego as much as I wanted. The vibe in the air was a constant one of near-confusion and lethargy. We seemed to always be waiting around to get in the car to find something to do, or getting back from a meal out and sitting in front of the TV. The times inbetween weren't filled with very much conversation besides the mundane variety (how's work, how's school, how's the S.O.). I don't get to see my brothers that much, so I wanted to be able to have a great time and come back with some stories to tell. The atmosphere never opened up to where I felt I could slide into a meaningful talk. Sure, we can crack jokes all day until our faces go numb, but then what would be have to look back upon? There was too much down time to motivate anyone to rev the engine, so we all fell into this sluggish funk. On our final full day in Myrtle Beach, we all finally got to go down to see the ocean. Before then, the days had been overcast and rainy. Now I would finally get to see this famed Myrtle Beach that I had heard about. Yeah, right...what a frickin' disappointment. Seabright beach in Santa Cruz is 100% more charming than that strip of sand and hotels. It was like Waikiki beach, but with tons of construction going on, and almost no people. The water didn't have that ocean-y smell, and the water was a slate blue/grey color. Wow, what sight to see. Sitting on my blue towel next to Diego, I felt this apprehensive, anxious feeling. It was the day before we were supposed to leave back to the west coast, and I wasn't able to relax at the BEACH! If it were any of the numerous shitty days at work, the sound of lulling water and the feeling of soft sand would've evaporated all the fiery nerves in my chest. To finally end this story, Myrtle Beach sucks ass, and I would NEVER live in that hole. I'm glad to be back in the city, where shit actually happens and I don't have to follow anyone around.
There was a good part to this weekend, but I'll fill that part in next time. It's time to go home, work out, make some dinner, and chill the F out with my lady...peace