Having a REALLY productive day?  Yeah, well.  

This site will put a stop to that…

(it’s irresistible really)

Back before CDs, did you ever spend hours making the perfect mixtape for someone?  I know I did.  Or were you ever the recipient of a mixtape, maybe from a boy or girl that you really liked - and you’d listen to it over and over again, probably reading way too much into it?  Oh, angsty youth - how I miss you some days.  This website is really cool - people post old mixtapes and tell the stories behind them.  And you can listen to the whole tape.  My new favorite site of the moment.

Guess it’s time to start talking about something other than the beach.  (You’re welcome)  

How about MOVIES!  I loooove movies.  I don’t so much love going to the theater though - people annoy the holy hell out of me.  However, I will suffer through the whole experience for certain movies.  Kris and I saw Iron Man a few weeks ago, and omigosh it was so good!  I’m a huge Robert Downey Jr. fan now. And if you haven’t already seen it (is it still out?) you MUST stay through the closing credits.  There’s a cool surprise at the end. 

OK, here’s where I lose my “cred”.  I saw Mamma Mia last night.  I know, I know.  But I thought it was FABULOUS.  I love me some musicals, and I heart ABBA too.  I saw this musical on stage a few years ago, so of course I had to see it in the theater.  I will admit - it was over the top, cheesy, embarrassing at times, and Pierce Brosnan can’t sing a lick, but I DON’T CARE.  It was pure escapism, guilty pleasure at its finest.  And no, I didn’t make Kris go with me, but I WILL be torturing him with the (Broadway) soundtrack for the next few weeks.  

I should have made Kris go with me though, because Wednesday night - we’re going to see The Dark Knight.  OK, I want to see this one as much as he does.  (Do I earn back a little respect now?)  But I hope my extreme case of coulrophobia doesn’t prevent me from enjoying this flick.  Nah, I’m not worried - my love for Christian Bale will surely ease my fears.  

**Edit** - I just read that Christian Bale has been arrested for assaulting his mother and sister?  WTH?!?!  OK, I’m reserving judgment until the whole story comes out, but - YIKES!  If this is true, he is SO off my list.  

Well, it’s over.  We head back home today.  I’m so glad we were able to take this trip - it came at just the right time, I think.  We were all in a bit of a summer rut, and being together all week has been amazing.  Not having to worry about work, or cleaning the house, and not having to referee who gets to use the Wii next - getting a break from all that has allowed us to focus on each other more.  We didn’t do anything fancy - just went to the pool and the beach every day.  We saw dolphins swimming right in front of us, dug some holes, built a few castles, jumped a lot of waves, and ate a little too much.  I wouldn’t trade it for anything.  

Here are some pictures of wildlife that the boys thought we needed to take home with us.  Very cute, but staying at the beach.  Also staying at the beach?  All the hermit crabs we’ve seen for sale.

“Albert” - spotted on the Beaufort waterfront

Frog peeping out of our umbrella stand at the pool

Oh, you want more excitement?  Here are our putt-putt pics!

They crack me up.

It was fun - and Coop had 2 holes-in-one!  Ty?  Well… Ty tried real hard.    When we were done, we got ice cream and drove through the old beach trailer park where we used to have a place when I was little.  My brother John is the only one who will care about the following..

It’s still there!  John and I used to walk up here every day while on vacation and buy…

Fun Dip!  Didn’t this used to be called Lik-a-Stik?  Anyhoo…

The yellow one used to be ours.  I love how everybody has painted them bright, kitschy colors.

We’re headed to Fort Macon and Beaufort this afternoon.  The weather has been PERFECT.  I’m so glad we’re here… can you tell?

Oh hi!  Yep, I’m posting again, because apparently I like to bore the living shit out of my friends and family with my vacation photos!

Cute right?  Well it ain’t always rainbows and butterflies people.  About half a second after that last picture was taken they were fighting.  Ya know, the usual - “he poked me” “well he tickled me” “well he looked at me and breathed on me” and blah blah blah etc etc ad infinitum…

But honestly?  There hasn’t been a lot of that behavior on this trip THANK JEBUS.  They’re too busy having fun, and I don’t think any of us want it to end.  But today is Wednesday, and don’t you always feel like after Wednesday the rest of your vacation seems to fly right by?  Maybe it’s just me.  *Sigh*

Better just enjoy it while I can.  Tonight…  PUTT-PUTT!

Yep, we are in fact, the geeks who bring their laptops to the beach.  So while the boys are taking a break from the sun and watching Avatar, I thought I’d post a few pics.  But I won’t rub it in your face that I’m on vacation and you’re not, like a certain someone just did.

~ building drip-drop castles ~ 

~ back and forth - all day long ~

~ running to jump more waves ~

On second thought, maybe I’ll rub it in - just a little bit…