Amsterdam Shopping-Boutiques and Books and Vinyl, oh my!

On September 25, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Amsterdam, bookstores, Europe, Shopping, Travel, vacation, VinylLeave a comment

Amsterdam is filled with quaint specialty boutiques in all the alleys and cobblestone streets…a shoppers paradise! We love to wander in and out and soak up the quirkiness of it all. So different from the grand, oversized stores in the US, these teeny tiny storefronts are hardly over 100-200 sq. feet–a closet really-but a closet filled with very specialized and focused wares to tempt and delight shoppers. From bead shops to teeth shops to bow ties, they have it all for you in Amsterdam.

The “all things teeth” shop featured every kind of toothbrush, floss, etc. you could imagine with a ferris wheel display in the window. How cool is that??? Next door, a gorgeous house cat calmly watched over the huge assortment of bow ties in every color and pattern, all tied up and ready to be worn.

Boutiques specialize-bow ties, of course, with a house cat guarding at the shop.

Toothbrush boutique with a ferris wheel in the window to showcase the goods.

Moving on to the Toms Store, which was slightly larger and featured a coffee bar as well, I saw a few items for my Christmas list and Thom’s. We love their shoes and can feel good buying from them as they give a pair of shoes for every one that is bought. Great story if you haven’t already read the book that the Toms creator has written about his idea to give back and still run a successful retail business. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone did this?

American Bookstore had multiple floors and an author signing going on when we visited

Toms...love them and their retail concept. Give back and provide quality goods. Sold! — Toms…love them and their retail concept. Give back and provide quality goods. Sold!

Along with the many boutiques, I have never seen so many bookstores–little and big ones–some Dutch only and others, like the American Bookstore, featuring English titles. Rarely have I seen such an immense and impressive collection of books other than perhaps the Strand in NYC. Multiple levels with deep stock in each topic, we were lucky enough to happen upon (as we always seem to do) an author event with a writer by the name of Charles Stross, a British writer of science fiction, Lovecraftian (?) horror and fantasy. He was very articulate and funny–hoping he swings by Elliot Bay Books in Seattle soon! Alas, the luggage will not accommodate one more item so no books were bought unfortunately.

Today we visited the vinyl stores in our neighborhood of Jordaan. There are many in Amsterdam-such a variety that a local magazine had a double spread article detailing the music havens where you can buy vinyl, new and used for $3 to $40 euros. Quite the large assortment to pick from at places like Second Life Music across from our hotel and VelvetMusic and InDeep’n’Dance both on Rozengracht. It hurt to watch Thom thumb through the vast crates of music and know he couldn’t buy any to bring home. Oh well-he has quite collection already so he will live. Harsh but true!

Just make sure you leave enough room in your luggage when you come to Amsterdam so that you can buy some cool jazz or soul vinyl or a stack of books to bring back with you. Of course, if you are needing a unique toothbrush or bow tie, that doesn’t take up quite as much room so shop away I say! There is something for everyone here in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam’s Red Light District

On September 25, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Travel, vacation, walkingLeave a comment

If you want to visit the busiest section of Amsterdam, aim for the Red Light District situated by Central Station and sandwiched between Old Town and Chinatown. Now, you’re not allowed to take photos of the “ladies” but I’ll try to describe our brief tour through there last night around 10 p.m. While there are no signs or billboards directing you there, a single red string of lights on the main canal cutting through it, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, will signal your arrival as will the hordes of horny men packing the streets to check it out.

Moulin Rouge-just one of the "shows" in the Red Light District in Amsterdam — Moulin Rouge-just one of the “shows” in the Red Light District in Amsterdam

So, I’m looking around and not seeing what the big deal is and then I spotted in the lower below ground windows the “ladies” in their lingerie trying to entice men into their lairs. All types and some looking quite bored on their smartphones, the “ladies” just open their private door once they get a live one and in they go for whatever they want (all legal here) in their private room and they discreetly close their red curtain to show they are busy for awhile. Not sure what their rates are but here, in the off season, they didn’t seem to be busy so perhaps you can negotiate a good price. Interestingly, even in the regular part of town, you’ll be walking by commercial shops and look down and see a lady in her finest waiting for a client in the window. We even saw one gal with a feather boa and not much else on who had to be 70 if she was a day. What??? No, I’m not judging.

Cannabis College in the Red Light District..wonder how many credits needed to graduate?

What WAS super busy was the live porn shows with lines around the block of young folks, lots of couples, waiting their turn to see whatever was going on inside-one can only imagine. Once you get through the red light part, you immediately go into the high density weed shops where you can order off a menu depending on your need. Not like in the old days, as Thom would say, when you put a fiver into a hole in the door and out would come a bag for you. I don’t know of such things, being the Hoosier good girl hick that I am, so Thom has to share his NYC stories of bad behavior with me. And, of course, along with the sex and weed going on, the big business in this part of town is the donut/pizza shops that are on every corner like Starbucks in Seattle. I guess you work up an appetite in that part of town quite quickly.

Donuts & Pizza, of course! Red Light District works up an appetite!

In a city where prostitution and weed are legal and the folks don’t go into work until 10 a.m., overall everyone seems pretty darn happy and laid back. Thom, of course, wants to rent a houseboat and move here immediately. Predictable he is!

Life is an adventure and we never know what experiences we will move on to next but I’m certainly open to anything and everything! We love Europe and all it’s quirks and history and cultural differences to the US. I can’t wait to explore more countries while we are still spry enough and able to afford to travel in the style Thom has become accustomed to. Off we go!!

Our European Adventure continues..

On September 24, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, expat, Travel, vacation, walkingLeave a comment

So, I’ll try not to gush too much but OMG do I LOVE EUROPE! I love the history and architecture, the lack of tacky skyscrapers and shiny malls, the friendly folk who love football (soccer to you Americans) and laidback lifestyle. Yes, the coffee shops don’t open until 8 a.m. but since they don’t appear to go to work until 9-10 a.m., that works. Three hour dinner-sure! Keep on drinking and eating with your buddies-no rushing home to get some zzzz’s and be at work by 8 a.m. At our hotel today, around 3 p.m. a hotel employee was seen taking two huge bottles of icy vodka into a meeting room for a group-think it was a bank. Now that’s how you should conduct business! Think up an idea-take a shot to celebrate!

Luxurious elegance in lobby at Hotel Des Indes

We have received such wonderful service to the point where we have to wrestle our bags away from well-meaning hotel staff who want to assist us. We are very self-sufficient and used to wheeling around our own stuff, thank you. Get us museum tickets? Get us football tickets? Change out our cash to Euros? SURE! Our slightly ditzy hotel staff member was changing out some cash for us and doubled what she should have given us. Realizing her error, I handed her back $100 Euros and hopefully she will tell others, giving US tourists a good name for their honesty. Good karma, baby!

Speaking of good karma, how about that Pope flying around DC in that modest Fiat? Love that he is eating with the homeless instead of all those corrupt bickering politicians. You go Father! CNN International is covering all Pope all the time over here. While there are a few shows in English, the street signs here are all in Dutch-even China was easier to get around with signs everywhere that we could read. So far, we just guess and ask for help and everyone is quick to assist. Most people do also speak English which makes it easy to get around. BTW, always carry .50 euro coins with you as the public bathrooms all have attendants collecting money for use. At least they aren’t squats like China-hallelujah!

antique and book market in front of Hotel Des Indes

Today, we finished up our time in The Hague, a truly lovely city which Rick Steves doesn’t even recommend visiting. Rick, come on, don’t be a Hague-hater! I disagree with Steves-lots to enjoy there with the beach nearby and the Peace Palace and museums galore. We loved walking out of the Hotel Des Indes and seeing an antique/book market going on in the square. If only I had a huge container to utilize to send back furniture and paintings!!! I settled for a jazz CD and some antique postcards–my luggage is stuffed as it is. Then it was off to the Mauritshuis Museum to see the Vermeers, Rembrandts and Reubens in a beautiful mansion built in the 1600’s on a pond. So gorgeous and small enough not to overwhelm the senses.

Then, it was off to the train to zip back to Amsterdam for another stay at the Andaz-the best hotel chain around. If you haven’t stayed in one, treat yourself. We were lucky enough to stay for two months at the one in Shanghai as my temporary housing and they are in many cities now. The one in NYC is right by the library. They are small, well designed with unique rooms and the service is the best I have ever experienced. TOTALLY! With free mini-bar in room, free bikes to use (if my shoulder wasn’t hurting so bad), lavish breakfast included and free happy hour, it can’t be beat for amenities. Cheers! Tonight, we’re off to the Red Light District and a jazz club!

utter elegance at musem — utter elegance at museum

Bruges-Medieval Mall

On September 24, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, expat, Food, Travel, vacationLeave a comment

Bruges was always on our “must” destination list if we visited Europe. So, at 6 a.m. yesterday after one hour of sleep (due to insomnia not partying), off we went on a four hour train ride from The Hague to Bruges. Expecting to see a small medieval city with the iconic Bell Tower featured in the movie, In Bruges, we were shocked to turn the corner of the winding brick road into the city and find a commercial boulevard with a Zara, McDonald’s, Claire’s and all the modern stores found in the local mall. REALLY?

Bruges-cobblestone streets, canals, churches, waffles & beer

Now, I’m all for retail stores, which have been my livelihood for years but there is a time and place and Bruges is not where you want to shop for $19.99 fashion at H & M. I guess you can’t blame the locals who want to profit from all the tourism so they can make a living and there can only be so many chocolate, lace, waffle and beer shops to feed our appetites and tacky souvenir needs but still…WTF! I don’t think the best use of a 1767 historic building is to house another Zara.

That being said, parts of Bruges were well preserved and, if you get off the main street, you can find quaint history houses from the 9th century as well as 17 churches (16 Catholic/1 Protestant) to wonder through and lovely bridges over canals for picture-taking. The train station is conveniently located within walking distance of this town which used to be on the sea until it retreated. Global warming may one day make it seaside again-you never know.

The highlight for Thom was walking up the 336 steep steps to the Bell Tower featured in the movie, In Bruges. I guess someone is pushed off the top and lands SPLAT in the square below in the film. Not my kind of movie but whatever-it was an interesting climb up teeny, tiny stairs with only a rope in certain places to cling to. Just like the Great Wall, this is not ADA friendly and if you fall and get hurt, good luck getting back down those stairs ’cause no one is helping you down and there isn’t an elevator. Still, the view was stunning from the top!

336 steps and you are at the top! — 336 steps and you are at the top-grab the rope and pull yourself onward and upward!

I talked Thom into a horse-drawn carriage ride around town. While he has never consented to one of these in NYC, he relented and ended up enjoying the guide’s history lesson as we galloped through the narrow streets. You definitely could imagine days past when horses were the only mode of transportation and, when the final bell of the evening sounded from the tower, the gates to the city were closed to protect against marauders.

We were lucky to arrive on market day in the town square. Munching a sugar-coated waffle as my local snack (YUM!), we rested on the town square steps and wished we could take home the lovely pots of lavender offered for sale. Gorgeous! On the train home, we noticed fields of lavender waiting to be picked. Though a long ride with a stop in Brussels to change trains, the 8 hours of train ride were just another part of the Bruges adventure. Arriving home tired and ready to get a good night’s sleep, we were glad we had finally been “In Bruges”.

Thom talking to the swans that roam the canals

The Hague-surprisingly awesome!

On September 22, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Food, Travel, vacationLeave a comment

I gasped when I entered our room at the Hotel Des Indes. So, we’re staying in The Hague primarily due to my desire to utilize all those wonderful hotel points I’ve accrued from my travels. When you use points, sometimes you get an awesome room and sometimes you don’t. Luckily, this was one of those awesome times. With twenty foot ceilings and a canopied bed, the old world furnishings and world class service made us feel like royalty. SCORE!

Open since 1856, this hotel has been “the” place for politician and celebrities like U2, Prince and the Rolling Stones to stay when visiting this capital of the Netherlands which also hosts the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Classy and stylish, the Hotel Des Indes is the bomb!

In our usual style of just wandering, we first hopped on the tram to see the North Sea to enjoy some beach time but on the way back, we jumped off to see the Peace Palace.

WP_20150922_15_40_05_Pro — The Peace Tree filled with words of hope from international tourists.

I’m so glad we did because the story of how it was founded in the early 1900’s with seed money from Andrew Carnegie was fascinating. The Court was in session so we didn’t get to go in the building but we did take the audio tour on the grounds. We even got to join with international tourists and write out our hopes for peace onto the official Peace Tree outside. Very cool moment for our trip!

Looking forward to going to a tapas restaurant tonight after taking a wrong turn last night and missing it. Never fear, we ended up on a rainy night just finding another place that I had read about on TripAdvisor, Garoeda, that had tasty Indonesian cuisine. Feasting on tempura shrimp, chicken satay and rice, we’ll just go tapas tonight instead. After enjoying the sauna room (hot Damn!) and a refreshing dip in the tiny pool which had jets so you could simulate swimming against a strong current (how cool is that??), we are ready to relax and enjoy an evening on the town in The Hague at Oker’s. Tomorrow, we are off on the train for another adventure to…….

Oh the places we’ll go….

On August 30, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Boise, China, expat, Seattle, Shanghai, Travel, vacationLeave a comment

Yesterday, an awesome person I hired four years ago sent me a picture of herself in that happy moment along with some kind words-she has gone on to quite a career since that time. It made my day. That got me all nostalgic and reminiscing about everything Thom and I have experienced since then and how it has shaped who I have become. Fearless I am after all that we have faced from Seattle to Shanghai and back again!

Patti & I hanging on for dear life in the boat in Beijing

After living apart for a year so I could join a great company when the opportunity presented itself, the family finally joined me here with James going off to Seattle U. and us selling the house we designed in Coeur d’Alene where the kids spent the majority of their childhood years. I still miss that hot tub with a view of the mountains and fireplace in the master–we built a great house. Damn!

Great sadness came when my Dad passed over Labor Day and I still miss him so much. I’m happy that Mom is doing so well living in South Bend and still looking good and playing bridge at 90. They live long in my family! Grandma Hannah made it all the way to 99 still living by herself.

Soon after, I had the great privilege of opening my store and introducing the Black Keys and One Republic at my store concerts-what fun that was to dance backstage. Since then, I’ve seen One Republic play in Shanghai and Orlando and they still rock it. Big perk of my job is seeing great talent over the years at many concerts–Lady Gaga, John Legend, Bon Jovi, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Allen Stone and the list goes on…and on…such talent to enjoy! I have no musical gifts so I appreciate those who are able to entertain us all.

Allen Stone and I hanging out at his private concert for my company. Cool dude!

While we enjoyed Seattle, we embraced our NYC adventure with great enthusiasm. Oh what fun we had while there for the brief six month assignment! Times Square every day for work and LOTS of Broadway plays with weekly trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Christmas in the city took my breath away and the kids came to share it all. I still get to go back occasionally for business and always fill up on the carbs I love so much-$1 bagels and $1 pizza are my guilty pleasures. We still visit the Madison Square Park dog park every time we go to NYC-Izaak spent many happy hours there playing with the other urban pooches. I hope some day to live there again-you never know.

Izaak's favorite place in NYC-Madison Square Dog Park — Izaak’s favorite place in NYC-Madison Square Dog Park

Then, of course, China was the best experience ever. I still stay in touch with my China team and wish I could be there to support them. At times, it seems like a dream that we lived there but I remember the little details so well–our smiling doorman, the fruit lady on the corner, the dancing groups on every corner every evening, our dvd store with the best looking dog in Shanghai hanging out front always. Our jaunts to Vietnam and Hong Kong were so fun and always filled with quirky wonderful moments. My best friend, Patti and her husband got to visit as well as James spending his holidays there. Thom is working on our book that will combine our blog posts and his amazing pictures. Goal is to have ready by end of the year and I encourage (nag!) him daily to finish so we can share with family & friends. We’ll publish on Amazon to help other expats going to China.

Golden retriever that was the house dog at our DVD store in Shanghai

Now, we are back to Seattle as we are meant to be, supporting James while he goes to law school and being in Boise often to see Hannah and Mike and watch our granddaughter, Mia, grow up. As I gaze upon Elliott Bay from our lower Queen Anne home, I am realistic that this is just a temporary stop in our worldwide adventure and that’s okay. I am appreciative and loving it for now. In a few weeks, we will take off to explore Amsterdam. FUN! Our dream one day is to live in 12 different countries in 12 months…don’t know when that will happen but as I look back on the incredible journey the last four years, I know anything is possible if you allow yourself to take risks and I’m all over that! Here’s to the next four years (raising my glass of vino)–may they be filled with great appreciation for all that life can offer. Carpe Diem all!

New and different in NYC

On August 2, 2015August 2, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Food, hotels, New York City, Parks, Shopping, Travel, vacation, walkingLeave a comment

It’s a bit of a challenge for us to do new things when we are in NYC because we have lots of favorite haunts and habits from our prior life here. But this trip, we actually managed to have some never-been-done-before adventures. HALLELEUJAH! From new events to new stores to new walkabouts, we had a fantastic time getting out of our comfort zone and taking that road less travelled. Well, there is no road in crowded NYC that is “less travelled” but you know what I mean.

Stumbling into a NYC outdoor experience, Summer Streets, we got to join the crowd biking/walking/skating down Park Avenue that was closed to all but pedestrian traffic from lower to upper Manhattan. Taxi’s were hating it but we loved it! Very well organized, there were free bikes and rollerblades along the way, water stations, singers to entertain us and all played out on a beautiful sunny day. Free fun for all!

Music along the way celebrating Summer Streets

Our destination on Saturday was my favorite store, Fishs Eddy, but along the way we found a new, first-in-the-US store that I just love. Flying Tiger from Copenhagen is filled with under $10 stuff that you probably don’t need but have to have. I got super cute hostess gifts with a mustache theme for my boss—something about that crazy black curly mustache just makes me smile so hopefully she will find it amusing too especially in the form of mustache scrubbies for the kitchen and potholders to match. Just what ever kitchen needs to make it a happier place!

After buying as much as I could carry and storing it all away in my new canvas “RECYCLE OR DIE” bag (how Seattle!), we were off on the subway to visit Thom’s niece who had a baby and moved from Manhattan to Brooklyn so they could buy a house. And what a beautiful house it was! After visiting with Thom’s sister and brother-in-law too who were in town for the baby’s 1^st birthday, we Ubered it out of there to go to Dumbo to meet up with Thom’s best friend since Kindergarten, Ronnie, and his wife, Andrea.

Our group caught up on our busy lives and walked along the East River and right into a Hindu Lamp Ceremony, called Aarti, complete with make-your-own ceremonial containers that you lite up to signify life and the burning of negative tendencies to purify our hearts and serve others with humility. What a great message to guide our existence! Thoroughly embracing the custom, we watched the containers drift out into the waters and listened to the chanting taking place to honor the ceremony. Cool.

Wood fired pizza joint-cash only and gin-infused lemonades!

Eschewing the long lines at the local popular Brooklyn eating joints, we pooled our cash for a pop-up pizza outlet, no wait, and happily munched on wood fired pizzas and gin-infused lemonade. HAPPINESS IN A GLASS! I was struck by the message of life that the pizza guy was putting out there on the back of his shirt, “Eat Pizza, Make Love”. HELLO! Another great message for all to heed!

Going back to the lovely Grand Hyatt, we enjoyed watching the Mets win (again!), drank wine and relaxed in the Presidential Suite that the hotel was nice enough to upgrade us to. SPOILED ROTTEN, WE ARE!

We appreciate every moment of our blessed lives and don’t expect to be able to visit NYC again, though we can always hope. My work here is done for the foreseeable future and budgets are tight at work. With friends and family here plus our love of this urban wonderland, the connection to NYC is so strong. If the stars align, we hope to live here again some day.

In the meantime, we will continue to expect nothing and appreciate everything! Life is so good.

Waterfalls, wild pigs and zipping through the air with the greatest of ease!

On June 20, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Big Island, Family vacation, vacationLeave a comment

Hannah, James and I after ziplining by this gorgeous waterfall

The day ended well but boy did it start out rough. So bad, in fact, that we wondered if God really wanted us to zipline today at all with the obstacles we faced. I never give up, not now and not ever, and so when the cars stopped ahead of us and then started turning around on the two lane highway as we approached the Hilo side of the island for our big adventure, we groaned and followed the guy driving away who told us that there was an accident and the road would be closed for hours. Damn.

As we beat a hasty retreat north back through Waimea where we had just come from, Hannah got on with spotty cell coverage and, never giving up, talked persistently and politely with our tour group manager several times before they magically found a spot for us in a later outing, which we had to madly drive another two hours on the only other road to get to them. This road being one lane in spots with dead wild pigs lying by the side of the road-okay, only one dead pig but it was BIG! Bleak volcanic fields on either side of the lane, that poor pig didn’t make it out alive but we did, dodging wild drivers in our lane who obviously were new to driving and, with one minute to spare, the rest of our group already on the course, we signed away our lives on the liability release forms that none of us had time to read and, after a bumpy gut-wrenching trip over rutted dirt roads through fields of purple sweet potatoes and apple bananas, , we lined up and got ready to practice.

WP_20150619_14_09_19_Pro (2) — James zipped with style and finesse

Our kind guides, Corey and Phillip, instructed us in the proper way to hurl our bodies down through the forest without killing ourselves. Check. Ready. Set. Go. Since this was an “Eco Adventure”, our knowledgeable guides pointed out the local crops of ginger, pineapple, sweet potatoes, taro, and apple bananas, which we thankfully got to eat right off the trees since we didn’t have time to stop for lunch. Who knew that pineapples grew up on little cute bushes???

Waterfalls everywhere-thankfully didn't rain the day we zipped — Waterfalls everywhere-thankfully didn’t rain the day we zipped

The rest of our group hailed from the great State of Texas which became very apparent when the guides were discussing how locals liked to capture the wild pigs, more prevalent than people on the Big Island, and somehow gun control came up. Our Texas clan proceeded to excitedly share with the Hawaiian guides how easy it was to get “same day” guns in Texas at their local WalMart with very little background checks. No kidding. So happy that Thom didn’t come with us (bad back and all) because he would have never been able to hold his tongue and would have proceeded to throw the guy down the line for his remarks, which most would consider a tad insensitive (and just wrong on so many levels) given the innocent people recently killed in Charleston. Looking at my caring kids who were visibly biting their lips to hold back the opinions on gun control they longed to share, we took our turns and off we went to fly over the gorgeously green forests and valleys filled with waterfalls and rivers. Needless to say, we didn’t mingle with our Texas group much. Thank goodness.

Each of the seven lines got progressively longer until the final BIG one, almost 2/3 of a mile, where we went soaring by a huge waterfall too quickly for me to take it all in. What a fantastic way to experience the beautiful back country of Hawaii that most people never get to see. We are truly blessed. Aloha!

Enjoying Family Time on The Big Island

On June 17, 2015June 17, 2015 By Travels with MelindaIn adventure, Big Island, Family vacation, Hawaii, Travel, vacationLeave a comment

Best thing hands down about the Big Island… not the beaches or the palm trees. Nope, though they are nice and all. The very best most wonderful thing about the Big Island is my family being together again. How often do I get to spend a week in paradise with my grown kids who lead very busy lives??? Well, this is a first in the last few years as they pursued their college degrees–both are now college grads, Hallelujah!!!–and Hannah got married to Mike and gave us the magnificent Mia. How time flies by! With Thom and I moving between Seattle, NYC, Shanghai and back to Seattle and the kids’ busy schedules, we have only connected at the holidays, which are hectic and action-packed.

Thom and Mia exploring the great outdoors

This week the biggest decisions are: pool or beach? Pina Colada or Wine? Yep, that’s pretty much it. I had Facebooked that there was no one more in need of a vacation than me. My daughter countered that she was much more deserving than me, because not only did she work all day but then started Mom duty at night capped off with baby Mia doing her business while taking her bath. Okay, she wins. Hands down.

Getting to Hawaii from Boise and Seattle was no mean feat but after James graduated Sunday from Seattle University, we all took off on Monday, starting with Mia running us around the airport with her newly found walking skills. She was a joy on the flight, taking two naps and playing with all the other babies on the flight. After quaffing free Mai Tai’s (adults only)–thanks Alaska for the free booze–we found our new home for the next week in Kona, otherwise known as the sunny side of the Big Island. With water views from every window of the condo and everyone with their own bed/bath, we were ready to start relaxing. A workaholic, A Type for sure, I haven’t disconnected from work on a vacation in years. This week I unpinned my work email tile from my start screen and ignored the need to check in. They’ll manage without me and maybe even appreciate all I do even more with me not doing it. Maybe. In the meantime, I’m enjoying trying very hard NOT to think about work and concentrate on my lovely family and pool time, which Mia enjoys very much. Glad to see she is taking to the water and will probably be a great swimmer like her Mom.

So far we have walked to the snorkeling beach from our place a few times and had a close encounter with sea turtles, which I like from afar but really, really don’t like touching me in the surf. Icky!! They are large and have snapping, sharp teeth which I don’t want to encounter personally. I swear they were attracted to my sassy red toes–note to self, next time go for beige vs. red for the pedi if going to be in an ocean with animals who can chew. Thom said I screamed loud enough to be a tsnumai warning signal, which is probably a useful skill here on an island where those things happen. I think being called a “siren” is a good thing. Right?

Tomorrow we are off to a new beach in Waimea and later this week we will be zip lining down mountains and across waterfalls. That should be a good tale to tell! Aloha!

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