Back Home

Drove home last night, and boy was it nice to sleep in my own bed.
It was an uneventful trip home, no traffic problems, no crazy folks
either!

Today was "get lottery ticket" day- 330 million tonight! Can you
imagine getting that much cash? Quit the job, move away, and
be the slug I was always meant to be. I'd have a little farm with
some cows and ponies from Iceland. No cats!

Tomorrow my nephew Seth is going to the park with me. He is
really looking forward to the time with me. It's been a few weeks
since we've done anything, so it will be a good time.

OH! I took pictures of the house............ so I need to figure out
how to upload them!

Family Kingdon

For the first time in probably 40 years I went to Family Kingdom
today. The only real changes were that the southerners that had
worked there have been replaced by Eastern Europeans. The
same is the way things are in Ocean City, Maryland.

Last night was a lunar eclipse. Tonight an incredibly high tide.
There is a tidal creek at the amusement park, which kept getting
higher and higher with ocean water. Too bad I didn't go to
the beach to see what it looked like.

Today was a bum day. Wandered over to the water front in
Murrells Inlet and got some nice fish for lunch, and then
pretty much vegetated the rest of the day. I even took an
afternoon nap! It was nice and quiet- so I took advantage of it.

This time next week, I'll be back at work. Crap.

Abend at the beach

Tonight was spent at the beach. Watching the sun go down.
Watching the moon come up.

The water is like the bathtub. Two foot waves rushing the shore.
Seeing the moon play peek-a-boo with clouds. Further inland
seeing the lightning from the storms of earlier today. I can't
begin to express how incredible it was. Ghost crabs were on
the beach making their best effort to escape capture. My croc's
did a great job catching one. They're hairy little beasts.

Were I to live on the beach, you'd be able to call me Mr. Prune.
I'd be in the water 99.999999999999% of the time.

Be good, be safe!

Not the same!

Last night we went to a "creek front restaurant"- and
I made the ERROR of ordering soft shelled crab. Now,
had I asked about them, I wouldn't have gotten them.
They were finished with white wine and tomatoes. NO
crab taste at all!

My friends children are closer to death than they could
possibly imagine. I think the parents know that too.
If there was some speed tape in the car, someone would
have their mouths taped up.

Yesterday I explored Pauleys Island. You gotta have some
SERIOUS bucks to live out there. However, I can't imagine
a house surviving a hurricane. They are built on stilts, with
an all frame construction, and that combination does not mix
well with 125 m.p.h. wind. Still, it would be incredible to
have a house directly, smack-dab, front-and-center on
the Atlantic Ocean!

If I have to watch any more cartoons on TV, I swear I'll
scream......................

Sandy Toes

When going to the beach tonight, there was an enormous
amount of shell debris there. None of the previous visits
had this amount of "rubble" on the beach. It must be
from the storm. Upon returning home, I had sandy toes.

My little friends come tomorrow. I've gotten things
together for their arrival, things for dinner are put in
place, beverages are iced down, and all the towels are
washed and in place.

On the news today they said the Carolina Low Country
are 14 inches below normal in rain, yet I see overflow
ponds that are full. The 'gators at the park seemed happy
in the water, and the pelicans are on the loose. So it
can't be that bad.

There is a local seafood market that had fish tacos. I
want some.

More tomorrow!!!!!

Spot the Marylander!

Last night I was down at Pawleys Island. The van across from me
had an ez-pass stuck to the windshield. Sure enough: Maryland tags!
I've noticed most of the Maryland tags down here also have an ez-pass
attached somewhere to the car.

It's cool and rainy in Maryland. Not here! Sunny warm and breezy!
Today has been another veg day. Oh, I've been out and around, but
not to the beach. The news claims there are rip currents "from the
storm." What storm?

Tonight's dinner: T-Bone steak, oven roasted baby potatoes, and
glazed carrots. While at Kroger today, I got the fixin's to make a
tasty pot-roast later in the week, when company comes!

Take care, and be good!

Monday!

What did I do today?? Almost nothing! YEAH!!!!!!!!

Wandered up to Belk (they have great boxer shorts),
went to the stone store and ordered a piece of granite
for a pastry board, and went to see Hairspray again.
It was only 6 dollars, and it's a reminder of home.

Being a vegetable isn't too bad. Actually it's well,
WONDERFUL! Being away from work is wonderful,
time away is fantastic! My threats and intimidation
worked wonders for how the place looks. Being the
only child who is really interested in coming here, it
only makes sense. Why the other brothers don't want
to come here is beyond me.

The pool is a minute by foot away, the beach is -3- miles
down the road. (and it's an incredible beach)- so, so, so,
quiet. Better than a hotel, washer dryer, (hello, it's a house!)
and a full kitchen.

Funny turn left out of the development onto 17N, and there
is everything, turn right onto 17, nothing. NOTHING.
It's kind of nice being at the edge of development. Need a
pizza, no problem. It's just as quick to see an alligator.

Be good, and don't miss me!

SUN-day

Friday arrival, Saturday supplies, Sunday relax.

I broke down and bought a Sprint Wireless Broadband card.
The jury is still out. Text, and email are fast, however some
graphics are quite slow to load. I do have to say, that could
be the location I'm in. We'll see. It has just become tedious
dragging to Litchfield every day. Now: I can REALLY veg!

Today was wander up to Myrtle Beach day. Lordy do the
folks drive s-l-o-w down here. It's not called the fast lane
for lack of a better name. I got behind someone today that
should have either been in a parking lot, or dead.

Yes, I have started to relax. I don't think I've worried or
had a care about what's going on at work at all today. It
feels good not to care!

Off to the beach for an evening stroll!

At The Beach

One of my biggest concerns for vacation was internet access.
While I can go to Litchfield Plantation, it's down the road, and
it means getting "cleaned up" to use the facility. Last year
there were no wireless networks here at the condo. This
year there are 4, one of which is non-secured! Guess who
is "borrowing" some access.

Today will be a day of exploration. There are some local places
that need a look-see. I want to go to the beach, and maybe
go to the movies. I stayed in bed until 9am. That hasn't
happened for, what, a year?

Since my last visit here, the place has been painted. They did an
INCREDIBLE job. Each edge is crisp, clean, perfect. It was
worth every penny it cost. There is no doubt while here you're
at the beach. Lots of green in here, being my favorite color, it's
a good thing.

Be good today!

Seven Hours Fifty Minutes Flying Time

That is correct, I made it in under mapquest time.
45 minutes under mapquest time!

There was no traffic around DC, my vehicle was at RIC
in about 2 hours.... unreal.

On my way to Starbucks at Litchfield (free internet,
you know)- saw a 5 car pile up.How this possibly could
happen in a speed zone so slow, I'll never ever know.

The same lady is here at Starbucks that was last year,
and she was just as nice. I paid with a 20 and told her to
keep the change. She couldn't believe it!

Okay- got stuff to do to get ready to be nuts for two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finis: Next stop the "Palmetto State!"

Just home from the last day of work. Another 16 hour day.

Tomorrow, actually today, I blast off for 29576. The car is
loaded/packed the gills. There is a cooler full of goodies, like
lamb hot dogs from Iceland, sausages from Germany, water
from Iceland, and some other "beverages."

Oddly there is not a set schedule, or a time table (yes,
foreign to all of us)- just gonna play it by ear. When I
get there, I get there.

There were a lot of goodbyes today, probably glad to be rid
of me!! I'm certainly glad to be out of there.

I'll post again either tonight, or on Saturday. BE GOOD!

T-Minus One

One day left. One day. It holds the promise of being hideous.
First arrival of the day 0930, last departure of the day 2130.
My replacement said "You've got a 4am departure Friday Morning"
"Uh, no I don't, YOU do." Get a life.

My clothes are packed, and tomorrow will be pack the vehicle day.
Lots of stuff here at work to be loaded in the vehicle, as I kept it
here to keep it safe. I hope I don't forget anything!

Did I mention I feel like crap? Yup, just in time to go away, and I'm
sick. With luck, sleep, and a bit of care, travel will be okay on Friday.
I just told the guy that cleans the office I'm going to Spring Grove for
vacation. Poor Jim: He believed me!

3 Strange Days

Three more days until V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N!

Friday morning, it's down the road for me.
Mapquest says "8 hours and 24 minutes." Uh huh.
I don't see that happening, but we'll see. Last year
travel was on a Saturday, and a total nightmare! The
Washington, DC area was something with luck won't be
quite as bad.

Tomorrow will be a 14 hour day. Oh goodie! There are
things that need to be done, and with luck, I'll get them
done! Supplies need to be ordered, an inventory of the
computers, printers, and fax machines needs to be done.
Not to mention an arrival and departure 13 hours apart!

My first week of vacation will be solo. While the house
is ready, I still have a list of things I want to get for the
place. I plan to go to the park to walk each day, instead
of the Chesapeake Bay, it will be the Atlantic Ocean.

Okay- gotta get up too early, so to bed early!

VACATION

It's getting closer, and closer. Vacation is two weeks away.
Lots to do before leaving, and lots to do when I get there.

The scion is officially a ramp vehicle. It just made sense to
have the inspection done. When we're busy sometimes two
cars are needed, and making deliveries to work is so much
easier. The stickers are purple this cycle. In a few weeks the
new parking stickers come out, they're going to be $396.00
each. I remember when they were $20.00. In the olden days
you got a sticker for your bumper. Things certainly have
changed!

My brothers house is coming along well. They should be able
to have appliances delivered in a couple of weeks. He said he
is looking forward to not having to drag things back and forth.
It will be nice to motor to the other end of the state and have
a place to hang out.

Be good!

August Arrives

Today's question: Where be the rain?

In a little over 2 weeks I go on vacation (although I prefer the
European "holiday"). To say I can't wait is the understatement
of the year. Work Work Work Work- that's all I do, but sooooon
that will stop.

My friends Michelle and Kevin are coming for the second week
of sun and sand. That will give me time to settle in, and do some
of the things I wanted to get done before having company.

Although unofficial, it looks like we won't have any military business
until August of 2008. Lord only knows what they will do with me
for the next 10 months. Whatever.

Okay- almost time for shakey baby to roll in from Ramstein!