sometimes you just need to get away from it all

Remember how I have a blog?

No?

Me neither.

But I do. This post is proof positive. And I'm back again.

So--I went to Cancun a few weeks ago. I loved pretty much everything about it.

I loved that turquoise water.

I loved getting a deep tissue massage just because I could.

I really, really loved lounging in the hammock on my deck watching that turquoise water.

I loved waking up early and watching the sun rise over that water:

I loved that I got to enjoy that water for 7 days straight with this chica:

I loved the enormous platters of fresh fruit in the mornings.

I loved my henna tattoo:

I loved my tan:

(it's gone now--but I did have one)

I loved swimming in a cenote and snorkeling

(note to self: develop underwater camera film) and visiting ancient ruins:

I loved these breathtakingly beautiful Mayan babes with their handkerchiefs for a dollar:

I loved reading my books as the sunshine and ocean breeze kissed my skin.

I loved buying trinkets and dishes and beautifully sewn muu-muus just as a good tourist should:

I loved all things lime. Virgin lime daiquiris, lime sorbet, lime in my diet cocola.

I loved the magnificent people watching made so much easier behind sunglasses.

And, OH, how I loved my room:

So you see, it was a very lovable trip. We left happy to have been there:

But I'm also forgetting things.

Like the obnoxiously drunk adolescents whose permissive parents clearly don't understand the dangers of alcohol poisoning.

Or how bartering and bargaining got old.

Or the cocky taxi driver who tried to screw us over.

Or Miguel, one of the entertainers, who physically flirted with me to the point of awkwardness.

(When in a bathing suit, the perimeter of one's personal space grows exponentially.

Let it be officially stated for all.)

I may never forget the funky milk and yogurt.

Or other food concoctions gone awry. Sorry.

But, truth is, I really, really loved my trip.

It was practically perfect in every way.

I should go back sometime soon.

If only for this:

Or this:

(we had a full moon!)

And definitely for this:

But only if she gets to come too:

Oh Cancun, how I miss you!

So Long, Farewell, Awe-vee-der-zane, Goodnight

Tomorrow will be a marathon of a day: 7:30 to 7:30. Ah, parent-teacher conferences, five hours of finding the bright side in every scenario. Wish me luck.


Friday morning I head to Lost Wages for a much needed vacation. Hence the reason I'm not freaking out so much about the conferences.

Annual GIRLS' Trip?

Not so much. You see, our annual girls trip to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho was crashed by boys. That's okay, considering it was Father's Day Weekend and all. :)

I'll have you all know that I didn't have any near-death experiences, though the Sheriff (who reminded me a bit of Volunteer Deputy Shrewt) did drop by at 3 in the morning. Yes, apparently four grown women in their pajamas and a 4-month-old baby are prime suspect for wreaking havoc in the tiny town of Lava. Imagine, if you will, finally finding a comfortable position on the wretched motel mattress after a night of giggling and gossiping with the girls. Only to be rudely awakened by:

BANG. BANG. BANG.
"This is the Sheriff. Open the door or I will have the Hotel Manager do it for me!"

Yes, you guessed it folks. "Room 501" was causing one heck of a ruckus--yelling profanities, throwing furniture off of the balcony (because on the ground floor that's totally our game...totally).

Poor Officer Shrewt, err, the Sheriff. When we opened the door in our jammies, all standing around the door in the glow of his Power Flashlight with scared, wide open eyes (hey--I've never been arrested before), he looked a bit dismayed. Could this possibly be the culprits?

Apparently not, we heard him talking outside with the complaint-maker, reassuring him that, "it's definitely not the ladies in 501. Definitely not."



Other than Friday night's rude awakening, great fun was had by all.

There was, most importantly, this little guy:

We did a whole lotta eating junk food and talking and talking and this activity left my abs and cheeks aching by the end of the weekend:

We played our own version of "Stupid Human Tricks" or something like it.

(Don't ask, just witness the evidence):

Now that you've seen that, you all know you must pretend you never did, right?

I avoided setting foot in THE river altogether. Opting instead to sit in the shade on solid ground watching Its victims pass me by. But there were a few daring victims/souls:


For an annual GIRLS' trip, it was still fun to have our friends' spouses/sons crash in on our party...even if they have their own weird male bonding rituals:

Next year, I think we'll invite officer Shrewt in on the Pretty Panties Pillow Fight. (Okay, that one was for you ladies who were there...you know who you are, you Law Breakers, you).