Saturday May 28, 2022

We should be waiting at the airport for our flight to Aruba a week from now. I think I have everything, now I just need to figure out what to pack. My new, larger size shorts arrive today. We shall see if I am smarter about only packing what I need (vs filling my bags to the max). A few things I have learned in the past couple of years of travel are:

• A small number of neutral shoes - all flats/sandals go everywhere
• Shorts and skirts can be reworn multiple times (barring spills)
• Tops that are only worn for 2-3 hours in the evening can also be reworn
• 3-4 dresses is plenty and only 1 pair of pants (white)

Yesterday, DS grilled some fabulous swordfish and asparagus. It is one of the best healthy summer meals we have. But Mike bought burgers and dogs for tomorrow- not so healthy.

The weather is quite unpleasant this morning - gray and muggy with possible showers though tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful. If the showers hold up for a while this afternoon we will take a long walk. We might go out early for a drink and dinner at the bar at one of the oceanside restaurants which recently opened. On a holiday weekend it is necessary to go early to stake out a spot.

Not much else to report. Have a safe Saturday!

Your dinner sounds great. Memorial day food, it's not the hamburger and hot dogs that gets me, its the traditional sides. I haven't even thought about what we'll be eating this weekend. How is it I spend so much time thinking about what to make for supper, shopping for food for supper, cooking food for supper, cleaning up after supper...

Rained this morning, I was snuggled in bed while the thunder rumbled. Looks like it's clearing, so I should finish my tea and go buy some plants. :)

I am simply tuckered out. I slept through my first puppy alarm because I forgot to turn up the volume on my phone! Oops! But I fed them an hour later. No harm done. The three littles are gaining weight. Each now has made it back to or past birthweight. Dinah's pups are now a week old and all over a pound. They are thriving.

I'd not even thought about this weekend being Memorial Day or having "holiday" food. Not where my head is.

I have a jury duty call for Wednesday. I am so hoping my group is excused.

I had a lovely steak salad for dinner last night. At least an attempt to eat healthy was made.

Liz, you're a damn gypsy! LOL! You travel more than anyone I know - except my friends who travel for business.

Yikes! Jury duty on top of everything else! I also hope you get dismissed.

I never traveled much on business. Just at a few points in my career and on average maybe only 1-2 times a year. But Mike traveled constantly all over the world so we are kind of meeting in the middle I guess.

I am glad the 3 newer pups are doing well. I am not surprised that you are exhausted. Good luck getting excused from jury duty!

Packing, always a struggle. I try very, very hard to go with only carry on and under the seat bag. I did it for a 15 day trip to Italy, and a 10 day trip to Ireland. Ireland was a little harder, because I needed to bring warmer clothes.

I am tired in a good way. I was at the plant nursery by 9am, and worked in the yard from 10:30am - 2:30pm. Things are starting to shape up. It's nothing fancy, since we have so much shade its a lot of impatients and begonias, but it makes me happy. And I'm trying to dial it back a bit, since I'll be traveling for 4-6 weeks at the beginning of the summer.

So I am sitting on my porch, covered in dirt, drinking an ice cold diet coke. And I am happy. Oh, and a hummingbird stopped to check out my flowers. :)

When I did travel on business I only brought a carry-on. I can make do with that if the trip is less than a week but when I am doing 2+ weeks I need a checked bag partially because of toiletries, but also my increased amount of underwear and clothing. Mostly because I don't like doing laundry while away, though during our January through March travels we did always have our own laundry facilities.

Peps and jury duty made me remember that I've been watching The Staircase on Netflix. Finished it yesterday. 13 episodes, true story (its a documentary) with a lot of crazy twists and turns. I would recommend it if you're looking for something to watch.