Psycho-Babble Social Thread 611363

Shown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Back home

Posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

Hi, I was out of town for a week, just wanted to say hello to everyone. It was a grand trip, lots of great sights and meals and (eek!) shopping.
I am catching up on reading posts today, but I promise a complete report soon.

ClearSkies

 

Re: Back home » ClearSkies

Posted by Bobby on February 20, 2006, at 10:42:03

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

Welcome back. I need a week like that. Where can I get one?

 

Re: Back home » ClearSkies

Posted by Sabrina0805 on February 20, 2006, at 11:15:55

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

I am so glad you are safe. I have thought of you the whole time!!

What did you buy???!!! Tell us!!!!

Love Sabrina

 

Welcome home :) (nm) » ClearSkies

Posted by Dinah on February 20, 2006, at 13:02:10

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

 

Re: Back home » ClearSkies

Posted by NikkiT2 on February 20, 2006, at 13:18:33

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

Welcome home!!

I'm so pleased you had a lovely time, and look forward to the report :)

Nikki x

 

Re: Back home » ClearSkies

Posted by AuntieMel on February 20, 2006, at 13:38:06

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

Tell me all about it. I missed you.

I had a bit of a rough one last weekend and thought about calling you. I'm ok now, though.

 

Re: Back home » ClearSkies

Posted by Phillipa on February 20, 2006, at 17:17:21

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

Can I have a report too? Did you buy us all a present? Fondly, Phillipa

 

What did you buy for me? LOL (nm) » ClearSkies

Posted by Poet on February 20, 2006, at 17:17:59

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

 

Re: Back home » ClearSkies

Posted by TexasChic on February 20, 2006, at 18:41:57

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

I'm so happy it went well! We missed you, welcome back!

-T

 

How I Spent My Winter Vacation

Posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 20:43:32

In reply to Back home, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 10:26:35

I don't remember ever writing one of these in school and have always wanted to do so:

My holiday was spent in San Diego. My spouse attended a conference and was able to fly me out with him on a free ticket, and use a gazillion hotel points for our stay; the upside to his extensive business travel. He worked Sunday through Thursday. He worked really hard, as he always does. He is now very tired and has a lot of catching up to do.

My sister flew to meet me for a few days. This is a precursor of our planned Grand Trip for this summer, when she and I will drive across country with her old dog. We are in the beginning stages of deciding what route we will take. This is a tedious process as my sister thinks in minute details and I think in mega, general and vague sort-of-not-really plans. I hope that this will strike a delightful balance and that we won't fight every mile of the trip. I am more of an optimist than I ever thought.

We went to the Zoo. It is one of the best zoos I have ever seen. We saw the panda bears, who personify (animalfy??) Cute and Cuddly. The baby was snoozing in a tree. The momma was eating bamboo, and now and then turned to face the people watching her be Incredibly Cute. I took many many many photos and selectively deleted the ones in which her back was to us. I still have about 5 photos that are pretty good.

I communed with the Big Cats, who act like house cats in lots of comforting ways. I made lovey dovey squinty eyes with a panther. I paced along the length of an enclosure with a Snow Leopard. I was assessed as a potential meal (I imagine) by a Siberian Tiger. It was a fantastic experience.

I saw double-humped camels, which I had thought were made up. I saw many animals that looked llike they had been assembled by God using PhotoShop. I saw very large rodents, and very small horses. Very cool.

I bought the t-shirt. And the coffee mug, and the tea towel. All pandas.

We took the aerial trip across the Zoo, and I was terrified the entire time. I never looked over the edge or below. I am sure it was a grand sight.

I went shopping. I bought shoes, comfy ones, even as I admired the towering platforms and strappy sandals on display. I know as Personal Truth that I will never be able to wear such wonderous shoes. I am OK with this fact.

I ate fabulous meals every night. The service was impeccable. The servers fawned over us and I felt like a queen, or a movie star, or a wannabe. I am afraid to step on the bathroom scale. I am also OK with this fact... OK, absolute truth here, I don't want to know, I am in denial.

I saw many surfer dudes and dudettes apparently very happy with risking life and limb in pursuit of the Ultimate Wave. And I thought *I* was crazy. No offense meant.

It was colder than I thought it would be. I ran out of warm clothes, although I resisted buying more of them. I am a realist, and I live in a place that is hot and humid for most of the year. This was a good decision on my part, though I think I smelled rather ripe by the end of the trip. My apologies to those who got too close and inhaled.

I drove on the freeway and found the drivers to be extraordinarily polite. This surprised me to no end, as I spent my early driving years in Boston, where it is a badge of honour to be rude and avoid eye contact with other drivers.

My biggest shopping splurge was on toiletries. I opened every jar and bottle I came across. I bought soaps, bubble bath, shower gel, a gel bath that supposedly turns your bath water into chunks of pudding-consistency material. It is supposed to retain warmth. I will give a full report when I have used this impossible, and not exactly attractive sounding product.

Against my judgement and wishes, my step daughter looked after my cat while we were away, She fed her vast amounts of food, but didn't bother to attend to the litter box. I guess she doesn't think of the input-output equation for cats. I am simmering about this, and it will take quite some time for me to calm down. My cat, incredibly, did not think outside the box, but I can tell that she was perching on the edge by the end of the week. Next time I go out of town for any length of time my pet will be checking into the Kitty Motel.

It's good to be home. I'm glad I don't live where there are so many good looking, slender people. I am relatively young and in shape where I live, as I am surrounded by geriatric people who use walkers and golf carts to get around.

The end.

ClearSkies

 

More that I Remembered About The Trip

Posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 22:11:53

In reply to How I Spent My Winter Vacation, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 20:43:32

I went to the spa in out hotel and had a body wrap treatment using valerian, in a gel form. The application was done using soothing massage, in a dimly lit room with soft music playing. I was wrapped in towels and blankets. including a heated later that encouraged the good stuff to be sucked in by my skin. I emerged with soft skin, all the soreness in my muscles magically gone. I smelled faintly of seaweed, a medium I presume for the valerian essence. The esthstician was of eastern European heritage. Her voice was calm and soothing and some words did not quite have that American sound. I found that strangely soothing. My last spa experience was in Atlanta, at a day spa across from the hotel we were staying at. The slight young girl had strong and gentle hands and she spun the stress right off my face. It hovered above my skin for several seconds and descended with as much force and tenacity as when I had walked ino the salon. I was full of anxiety, expecting - what? Discomfort? Pain? Sudden cool, sudden heat? Feeling too hot or too cool? Anticipating the spa-head of hair that I'd be walking out with. I left that apppointment with a migraine. The experience in San Diego was a welcome and necessary change for me.

On the Sand Diego trip we took a day trip to Ocean Beach, where the Surfers donned their wetsuits and flung themselves into the bracing ocean. The town's main drag consisted of tattoo studios, taco stands, many bars, pawn shops, bikini store, 3-for-the-price-of-1 t-shirts shops, Many forms of introducing caffeine into your system, a hookaa bar, and a multitude of antique stores. This last category drew our rapt attention for no fewer than 4 hours. I collect Wedgewood Jasperware in all colours, Expo'67 memorabilia, 1976 Montreal Olympics memorabilia, and Royal Doulton's Bunnykin series of baby serving ware. The Wedgewood and Royal Doulton are still in production, so I look for pieces that interest me and for which I can get a fair price. I'm fairly good at spotting mistakes and seconds, and it usually comes down to whether I just plain like something or not. We had a lot of fun cruising all the shops and malls looking for the Perfect Piece of the Day.

I drove to a Garden Village store, some 20 miles east of San Diego, where culinary and medicinal herbs are cultivated and grown. Crafts are made from their bounty, and lessons offered for creating charming accessories for the home. They made their own soap in dreamy scents. They had a cat named Autumn who purred upon command. They had a Rhode Island Red rooster named Rocky who preferred to stay inside the shop. It caused the onwer some distress, as the bird produces copious amounts of poop that require constant vigilance on the part of the staff, to avoid sloppy sliding of customers and potential lawsuits for bruised tailbones and whiplash. These animalds were delightful.

If I remember more, I will post it.
ClearSkies

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies

Posted by Deneb on February 20, 2006, at 22:34:52

In reply to More that I Remembered About The Trip, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 22:11:53

Wow! That was a very good description of your adventures! I was almost there.

Thanks so much for writing about your experiences. :-)

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies

Posted by Sabrina0805 on February 20, 2006, at 22:47:53

In reply to More that I Remembered About The Trip, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 22:11:53

The holiday sounds wonderful!! I am so glad that you spoilt yourself!!

Sabrina

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies

Posted by Damos on February 20, 2006, at 23:20:30

In reply to More that I Remembered About The Trip, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 22:11:53

It's so very nice to have back all safe and sound dear CS, so very nice indeed. Missed you.

(((((CS)))))

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip

Posted by NikkiT2 on February 21, 2006, at 0:52:48

In reply to Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies, posted by Damos on February 20, 2006, at 23:20:30

Fabulous!!! Thankyou for involving us in it :)

Nikki

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies

Posted by Dinah on February 21, 2006, at 18:34:56

In reply to More that I Remembered About The Trip, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 22:11:53

The trip sounds great. :)

But I was especially struck with your writing. Have you thought any more of doing something with your writing? Other than delighting us.

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies

Posted by TexasChic on February 21, 2006, at 19:17:05

In reply to More that I Remembered About The Trip, posted by ClearSkies on February 20, 2006, at 22:11:53

Wow-w-w-w! Thanks so much for letting us be a part of your vacation. It sounds absolutely amazing. Going to a spa has always been one of those distant dreams of mine that always seems just a little out of reach. It sounds wonderful. I got a massage once at the Y and it was a weir-r-r--d-d experience. I wrote a story about it but have since lost it.

And the zoo! I've heard the San Diego zoo is incredible.! I've never seen a panda in person. I bet the baby was adorable. I know what you mean about the big cats being like house cats. It makes you realize where our kitties come from.

The whole trip sounds so relaxing and entertaining. Just what you needed and deserved.

I'm glad you're back safe and sound.

-T

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » Dinah

Posted by ClearSkies on February 21, 2006, at 19:19:47

In reply to Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies, posted by Dinah on February 21, 2006, at 18:34:56

> The trip sounds great. :)
>
> But I was especially struck with your writing. Have you thought any more of doing something with your writing? Other than delighting us.


:-)
At the moment I write for my T. She is a very enthusiastic audience, and is a big reason I like to express myself more lately this way. It sure beats the heck out of crying for an hour in her office. Expensive kleenex.

I do write wicked shopping lists, items listed in appearance in the grocery aisles. Kind of a treasure map. I also write things down now when I can't sleep at night. Mostly hoping that by writing them down the items leave my head (they don't). Also have been manic for several weeks now, and I can't reliably remember any brilliant ideas I have unless I scribble something down.
This morning it was "xeriscape".

I save my stuff, though. I have ancient scriptures that date back to the seventh grade.

 

Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » ClearSkies

Posted by Deneb on February 23, 2006, at 0:13:31

In reply to Re: More that I Remembered About The Trip » Dinah, posted by ClearSkies on February 21, 2006, at 19:19:47

I think you write very well ClearSkies! You're very talented.

Deneb


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