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Posts Tagged ‘vacation’

Karin thanks the sunshine state

Saturday, June 5th, 2010

laplaya

I have a ton of sand in my hair, I’ve already had two margaritas, and the sun is about to set. Ahhhh, the weekend. And not just the weekend, the weekend in Naples, Florida. Summer is our travel issue at Washington Life and I am lucky enough to get a lot of trips this month. And on this quick jaunt to Naples, I was able to take Craig.

Naples is very Palm Beachy so thank goodness I brought an abundance of pastel clothing and gaudy starfish earrings. With the oil spill, so much of the south is suffering, from Louisiana to Alabama. Not only fishermen and of course the eco-system, but tourism and the economy that is very reliant on tourism. So I am happy to throw on some Lilly Pulitzer and help spread the word that it’s A-okay down here in Florida. I just swam in the Gulf under the stars and it was perfect. The director of sales at our hotel told me that the phones have stopped ringing because people are scared that the oil has hit all of the south. But it’s more contained than many think. Oh, and it’s sea turtle season here. They’re everywhere and oil-free.

And now for a game of tonsil hockey under this amazing white canopy bed. Till tomorrow…

Just the words "Tiki Bar," bring me great joy. The one at La Playa makes me want to whip out the coconut bra and send in my two weeks notice. Ahhh, vacation.

Just the words "Tiki Bar," bring me great joy. The one at La Playa makes me want to whip out the coconut bra and send in my two weeks notice. Ahhh, vacation.

Tags: Alabama, eco-system, Florida, Groveling for boss, Joe Biden, La Playa, La Playa beach and golf resort, louisiana, Noble House, oil spill, tiki bar, turtles, two weeks notice, vacation
Posted in Serious, Sex, Travel, Work | 1 Comment »

Karin thanks the big bad world of baskets

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

basketville

As a tried and true consumer of everything, I wasn’t too worried that I would find a few things to buy in small town Vermont. And I certainly did, but they have erred on the practical side like snowboarding gear, maple syrup, and everything printed with a picture of a covered bridge. You know, must haves. But when I walked out of the snow and through the doors of Basketville in Putney, VT, all that changed.

I have absolutely never in my life seen so many baskets. And I have been known to attend an embarrassing amount of craft fairs. Basketville had baskets for food, clothes, laundry, animals, people, baskets to sit on, baskets to hang from the ceiling, baskets for love letters and hate mail, baskets for every single occasion. If it had been a store full of clothes or food, I would not have been impressed, but a humongous store devoted to one strange item is mighty impressive. Why aren’t there more of this type of store? A whole emporium devoted to paperclips. A warehouse for shoehorns. After Basketville I really see the appeal of product specific shops.

There were some tough decisions to make in Basketville, but I had to make them quick because I was headed to the great outdoors and wearing five pairs of pants. The first decision I made was to follow the strange intoxicating aroma in the fishing basket aisle. It turned out to be a sound choice as my bloodhound nose led me to a counter for Putney Mountain Winery which is made right inside Basketville. Yes, baskets and alcohol, an absolutely genius pairing! I had a few cups of every wine they make, which really helped make my basket buying decisions easier. I went away with a basket that I can actually sit inside of, a picnic basket, and three other just in case baskets. Plus a few bottles of wine to keep the cold out of my bones. Vermont consumerism has started to rival Madison Avenue. Next one stop shop – Santa land, where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. Amazing!

Including craft fairs and Amish communities, I have never ever seen so many baskets. I went bananas. I now have baskets to store things I don't even own.

Including craft fairs and Amish communities, I have never ever seen so many baskets. I went bananas. I now have baskets to store things I don't even own.

Tags: Basketville, crazed consumerism, Putney, vacation, Vermont
Posted in Boyfriend, Travel | No Comments »

Karin thanks the vacation angels

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

toyota

I’m lying in bed alive and well while Craig watches the Nebraska football game. But! Without Durand Toyota of Bellows Falls, VT we would probably be dead, frozen solid, and half eaten by wolves on the shoulder of Route 91. Maybe archeologists would discover us 50,000 years from now like Lucy the prehistoric woman and declare us miracles of science. Thanks to Dennis and Curtis and the wonderful folks at Durand, we will avoid making headlines in 52,009 AD!

It was a morning that started off like any other. I put on five pairs of pants, four pairs of socks, six shirts, two coats, two pairs of gloves, ear warmers, a neck warmer, a hat, a helmet, goggles, and boots. It was after all THREE degrees in Vermont when we woke up for a day of snowboarding. Then, outfitted like a human snowball, Craig rolled me to the car and we got ready to master the slopes. Now I would have thought nothing much was wrong with Craig’s car, but he declared it a state of emergency, something about “no throttle response.” Sounds sexual to me, but Craig assured me it was vehicle related.

The Nebraskan started to panic, flicking on the hazards and driving on the shoulder of the highway. I was busy doing some limbering stretches for my half pipe mastery so I just wanted him to take the car straight to the slopes and leave it to die near the mountain. But no! The car wouldn’t have it, barely puttering to exit five and rolling into the magically placed Durand Toyota.

Now I would never have guessed that the nicest man angels, mangels if you will, worked at a Toyota dealership in Vermont, but what do I know. When we walked into Durand, they immediately assured us they would fix whatever problem our sad car was ailing from and gave us a brand new Prius to use right away so we could make our snowboarding lesson on time. All this while also greeting regular customers who they knew by name, asking about children and ailments and the like. It was amazing to watch.

If we had broken down in my beloved Washington this is not what would have happened. In DC, frowning employees would have told us that our car had two days to live unless they replaced the entire chassis, the wheels, and repainted it. They would also remind us that the master mechanic was out of town and we had to wait two weeks for anything to be done. Thank god this all happened in Vermont.

All snug in our Prius, Craig and I made it to our snowboarding lesson and happily butt planted all day long while seven-year-olds jumped over our limp bodies. I owe my bruises to Durand Toyota – hurrah! Tomorrow, back to the hills!

Tis I! The queen of falling on the left buttock. It really is attractive to have an arse that is half white and half blue.

Assistant Service Manager Dennis Pearce not only gave us a shiny Prius to drive and make sure we got to our snowboarding lesson on time, but he actually cared that we were stranded in 14 layers of clothing and didn't want to thumb it to the ski resort. No one would be this nice in Washington DC. I love Vermont!

Assistant Service Manager Curtis Green kept me in stitches while Craig babbled words I don't understand like "car" and "problem." While we were there a few other customers came in and Curtis knew them all by name! It was like having a car repaired in Friendly-ville.

Assistant Service Manager Curtis Green kept me in stitches while Craig babbled words I don't understand like "car" and "problem." While we were there a few other customers came in and Curtis knew them all by name! It was like having a car repaired in Friendly-ville.

Tis I! The queen of falling on the left buttock. It really is attractive to have an arse that is half white and half blue.

Tis I! The queen of falling on the left buttock. It really is attractive to have an arse that is half white and half blue.

Tags: butt, saviors, snowboarding, Toyota, vacation, Vermont
Posted in Boyfriend, Exercise, Travel | 4 Comments »

Stacey thanks in-laws for a great vacation (and overlooking her many flaws)

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Biggie Letter0044

The second leg of our holiday adventure has begun. We got into Las Vegas last night and are readying ourselves for four days full of gluttony (as if we need more) and gambling.

My in-laws, Rick and Louise, are taking us on the trip. I definitely lucked out with my mother and father-in-law. They are very generous people and extremely easy going. For instance, the last time we visited Las Vegas with them, Grey and I went a little too crazy at the Black Jack table and ended up getting separated (I think we came to the mutual decision we were each other’s “unlucky charm”). Sometime in the wee hours of the morning I called my in-laws’ room, crying about being lost “somewhere in the Luxor” without a room key or my spouse. Without complaint my father-in-law stumbled down in his pajamas and retrieved me, the newest and most intoxicated member of his family. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to hold this idiotic behavior against me and even agreed for another round of Vegas fun with us — even bringing my sister and brother-in-law (although this time we’ll undoubtedly be more tame with a one-year-old in tow!).

So long San Diego! Viva Las Vegas!! (The guy who took this picture cut out Ollie in the stroller -- he also told us to smile and say, " Victoria's Secret!" instead of "Cheese" -- so go figure)

So long San Diego! Viva Las Vegas!! (The guy who took this picture cut out Ollie in the stroller -- he also told us to smile and say, " Victoria's Secret!" instead of "Cheese" -- so go figure)

Tags: Christmas, Holiday, inlaws, Las Vegas, vacation
Posted in Alcohol, Family, Holiday, Husband, Travel | No Comments »