Da life.

We just returned from an amazing cruise vacation in the Caribbean. 

And while our bodies are physically back home, our brains are still here:

Me & Eric in Barbados. (I think he looks like a mad scientist in his swim goggles, but that's not important right now.)

I swear, I haven't got one original thought in my head right now. I'll tell you all about it in a day or so.

Getting back to reality after being in such beautiful and relaxing surroundings is kind of hard for me. Not to mention that I've got mountains of laundry to tackle.

So, I'll just be taking my time sorting through photos and reliving the magic to the sound of the spin cycle on my dryer. ;-)

Did you take a vacation this summer? Staycation? Tell me.

Comments

[Cristina Molina]

We took a couple of mini (extended weekend) vacations and then one, week-long vacation to Palm Desert. As my Dad would have said, "Que carajo quieren hacer en el desierto? Hace un calor de..." (You get the drift.)

I actually got off easy this year. My daughter turned 15 on July 4th so we spend July 2 - 9th at the Marriott Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert. She didn't want a big Quinceañera (thank God) and she completely understood that Hawaii was too pricey for us right now. So she picked one of her favorite places and off we went - no dragging friends along, no planning a ridiculously expensive party - just us hanging out, swimming and enjoying family time. Her only requests were to see fireworks and to have Italian food for dinner. The only "extravagant" thing I did was to get an entire section of the pool to sing Happy Birthday to her. It was pretty embarrassing for her, but she also liked it (I know she did).

We just got back after spending Labor Day in the desert. It's not the Caribbean, it's not Atlantis and certainly not Hawaii, but it's close to home and it works. Really it's not where you go, but who you go with that make the vacation a real vacation. I'm blessed to have my little familia and my good friends who joined us on a couple of the weekend getaways. After all, those are the things that matter.

[Debbie Baratti]

We were able to make good on a promise to our grand nephew, Austin FitzGerald, which we made four years ago when he was diagnosed with childhood leukemia at the age of seven. We told him that when he was all well again, and was released from treatment in 2011, we would take him and his Mom and Dad (my brother Fitz' boy, Brendon, and his wife Sandra) on a 4 day/3 nite adventure to the Disneyland Resort, all expenses on us. It was magical and unforgettable. And best of all, Austin indeed now has his cure. Thank you, Jesus, as my Grandma Onie used to say.

That really tops our summer, but all-in-all, it was a truly spectacular one this year if I do say so myself, our best in the past (difficult) ten, hands down. In mid June we were invited to rendezvous for dinner in Temecula with these really cool folks, M/M Darby....know 'em? :o), and enjoyed a long, joyous and unforgetable evening. In late June, my Jim's 40th HS reunion brought all the Old Serra High Gang back to LA, some of whom stayed with us in our home. Many good times and parties, homemade brunches and late night memory-fests were enjoyed. My good girlfriend from Seattle then came and stayed a week with us, and we toured all the architectural wonders of LA, which I did not even know we had! Connie is a Professor of Architectural & Interior Design at a college in Seattle, so that was a real education for me. We also hit the RB&BBailey Circus in August, which I try never to miss, as one of my unrealized childhood dreams was to join the circus and ride the elephants in a plummed headdress. Got my picture taken in a Circus Ringmaster costume and met me a couple of real life Circus Clowns (lucky stiffs, they got to run away with the circus and graduate from Clown College!) And then, inevitably, as these things cannot be avoided, so it's best to make a hoopla about them, we celebrated my 157th birthday at the Acquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, with an afterward wine-sluiced dinner at our favorite truly eccentric Italian bistro in Venice Beach with both daughters and friends. Completely awesome, that! (Goofy photos to be seen on FBook) All this while attempting to find time to, intermittently and on spare weekends, renovate our Temecula home for future use and comfort. Slow goin', but we'll get there, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise.

Now we prepare to celebrate both our girls' September birthdays (Laurie is 30 and Camille is 22). And so it goes, joy and sorrow and hope, triumphs and disappointments. AKA, Life.

That's my back-to-school essay entitled, "How I Spent My Summer". It was a good summer indeed.

[bohemian babushka]

My last vacation is documented on bohemianbabushka.blogspot.com - the title is, "Revel, Relive, Recover" Ya con eso te lo puedes imaginar!!

Glad you enjoyed yourselves!

[Marta V.]

Did not take a summer vacation, but did go to Italy in May for a Wedding and it was FABULOUS. I came back a STRONGER Catholic, that's for sure. Food was AMAZING!!!

[Eric Darby]

So why exactly did you have to pick THAT photo? I won't be winning any GQ model awards any time soon.

[Marta M. Darby]

Cristina,

I love how cleverly you got out of the big quinceañera party while scoring a wonderful vacation for your family. Win-win. =D

Thanks for sharing!

Besos,
Marta

[Maria Soto Robbins]

You both look adorable, Eric! Glad you had a fantastic cruise. Actually, Marta, you've started me thinking that I want to go on a cruise now. We haven't been on one since 2006 and it's long overdue. Thanks for the inspirational post!

[Marta M. Darby]

Debbie,

Clowns and reunions and Disneyland and aquariums. I love your fun-filled-action-packed summer vacation.

I'd give this essay and "A"......but that's not important right now. ;-)

[Marta M. Darby]

Babushka,

I visited your blog and it's quite delightful. I love how you described how easily you slipped back into the Miami mindset. That happens to me, too.

Glad you enjoyed and survived the Miami drivers!

[Marta M. Darby]

Italy?!

Shut up. That is my dream vacation!
I'm pushing for that one for next year - our 20th wedding anniversary.
How fabulous!

Marta

[Marta M. Darby]

I was being creative. I'm going on record as LOVING that photo. I loved how we were so unhurried and unworried about anything. Including having a photo taken while wearing goggles.

I love you MORE. =D

[Marta M. Darby]

Yes, Maria! Do it!

I will be posting more about our adventures in cruise-world. We had such a great time! We're already thinking about next year.....*see previous comment about Italy....

;-)