Sand Between My Toes

We just recently returned from a week at Tybee Island, Georgia.  It is what I consider to be one of the most perfect places on the planet.  Laid back as all get-out.  Friendly everywhere you go.  Small enough you don't need to drive much at all.  The scent on the breezes switches between the salt from the sea and the salt-mud of the marshes.  The entire island functions on what they call "Tybee Time"-and it truly does.  We swear days have hours added to them, and each hour moves slower than the last. It is divine.

The first few days of our stay was a deluge of rain and wind, thanks to Tropical Storm Debby.  Yet it wasn't a washout.  The islanders handled her arrival with the same attitude they do any other event-a chance to toast her arrival and pour drinks for everyone around! Cheers!  So we holed up in our lovely cobalt blue Fish Camp Cottage, snuggled under blankets, read books, played cards, drank wine, went on a few wet walks, and crossed our fingers that Debby wouldn't stay with us all week.

Angry, growly ocean. What's a girl to do? 

White wine on the screen porch? Why yes! 

A beach read on the day bed under a handmade blanket? Okay!

And then like magic we went to bed (well that wasn't magic), woke up for our morning walk and heard only the singing of all the birds of Tybee.  No rain.  I hopefully peeked out of our window and saw blue skies and sunshine. We couldn't get our walking shoes on fast enough! To the beach for our sunrise walk.  In the process of her storm and strife, Debby had scrubbed the atmosphere as clean as could be.  No humidity.  Cooler temperatures.  We could actually go to the beach-and get wet from swimming, not rain! I was so excited I considered cartwheels!

Look at how lovely Fish Camp is in her sun-dappled glory! 

The sun was so happy to return to Tybee it was exploding all over the garden at Fish Camp!

This was the vacation of doing nothing.  Quite literally.  After Debby's rains stopped, we moved our reading of books, playing of cards, and drinking of drinks from indoors to outdoors.  The beach umbrella was set up, the bathing suits came out, and we took to the sand.  There was digging to be done, waves to crash into, dolphins to watch, walks to be had, and more sun-filled relaxing to fill up on.

I will save this image for days this winter when I am chilled to the bone.

The view from under my new straw hat. 

Sunburned cheeks didn't keep this treasure seeker down.

In between our relaxing days at the beach, we did leave our little Fish Camp Cottage for a few meals out and one tiny adventure.  We chose Fish Camp for a few reasons.  One-it was adorable as could be.  Two-it was tiny and fit our family just right.  Three-it was within walking distance of our favorite spot to eat in all of Georgia-AJ's Dockside.  I don't even know where to begin when telling you just how much I love AJ's.  From the fact that you sit outside (if you know what is good for you) on a deck or dock.  (don't worry, there are giant fans everywhere) To the realization that the restaurant sits on the back river part of the island, affording you beautiful sunset views in the evening, and salt marsh views all day long.  And the food-oh the food.  I fell in love with crab eating at AJ's for the first time.  They have a sandwich-the crab burger-that could quite possibly be the very thing I request for my last meal.   From the spicy-sweetness of the giant crab cake, to the remoulade sauce that comes with it, and the ohmygoodnessIamdroolingeverywhere-ness of the experience.  Here, just look.  Don't lick the screen though.

I seriously have dreams about this sandwich.

I failed to photograph the delicious homemade Key Lime pie for you-I was in a food coma.  We went two times during our stay-on our first day on the island and on our last.  If there was a way for AJ's to fly me a crab burger to Ohio, I would pay for it.  Mmmmmmm.

My husband and I managed to talk (con) my brother (who went with us for the week) to watch our son for part of a day so we could drive into Savannah for some massages at Savannah Day Spa.  I found it on yelp-it was the top-rated spa (yelp did not disappoint here!) booked a couples massage and we headed in.  If you are ever in the Savannah area, book something, anything, at Savannah Day Spa.  From the moment we walked into their beautiful facility (housed in a old home right on Oglethorpe Avenue) we were made to feel comfortable and at home.  We left feeling relaxed and blissful.  Truly divine!

As a sidenote, the cottage we rented-Fish Camp Cottage-was absolutely adorable.  We used Mermaid Cottages as our rental agent, and they were the best rental company we have ever worked with (and we have used many during our vacationing experiences!).  From our booking, through our many questions, to the fact that they are "on-call" 24 hours if we need anything-the ladies of Mermaid are fantastic! Fish Camp was small (at only 900 square feet) but it lived large.  It was filled with thoughtful touches the owner added-hand crocheted blankets, a well-stocked kitchen, tons of books on shelves throughout the cottage, lots of local art, many movies, not to mention the freshly ground Mermaid Morning Bliss coffee that was waiting for us on the counter.

This vacation was just what the doctor ordered.  I am starting to feel more like myself again.  I wish the doctor would order a course of crab burgers, but that doesn't seem to be in my future.  I'll work on that one.

Anti-Social Me

I am on the cusp of summer vacation.  The weeks stretch out in front of me like a blank canvas.  I always say that this is the very best part of vacation-the very first evening. It is filled with absolute possibility and the clock has only just started ticking.  It is the Friday night of summer.  Well, technically my first day hasn't quite yet arrived-that will come on Tuesday.  Still, it is so close I can see it.  That has to count for something. 

Everyone here is busy tying up lose ends and talking summer plans-who is going where, what teams their kids are on for summer ball, what pools they'll be frequenting, summer camps, fairs and more.  And the inevitable question keeps coming up "when will we get together?"  While I'm sure in July I'll feel differently, but right now I cringe inwardly whenever I hear this question waft into my ears.  By the time I have crossed through the gauntlet otherwise known as May in school-world, all I want to do for a while is sit at home, read books, watch our son play, go for milkshakes on Tuesday nights, and enjoy some family time.  I want to rise in the morning and take my time with my coffee and blogs.  I want to do yoga before sunset.  I want to have time to do things around the house and plan meals.  I want to garden.  During the day.  I want to read my annual Summer favorite-Prodigal Summer.

What I don't want is to rush around to go and see people.  And I feel like such a wretched bitch saying that out loud.  But even as a little girl I vacillated between social butterfly and hermit.  Taking a week off from friends to spend days inside reading books or making up imaginary play with Barbies and GI Joes.  My batteries are just spent and need some recharging.  I don't think this makes me a bad person, but I can't help but feel guilty because I won't tear myself away from my solitary pursuits at home to be social. 

My husband tells me I'm not as hermit-like as I think-mostly because when he gets home from work I like to go places.  But the key is I like to go places with him and our son.  I am a family hermit.  Wanting only to spend time with them. 

Maybe one day the social butterfly part of me will take over completely and I'll want to fill my calendar with plans.  I'll want to join in with the other moms and chat as our kids play.  But for now I'll be content with me and my boy in the backyard after lunches, with only the birds and butterflies as company. 

Spring Break-A List

Because today is the final (week)day of my glorious vacation.  And because I woke up this morning with that heavy feeling that soon I will have to return to the grind of work.  I decided to list all the delicious things that made this week perfection for a Spring Break (even if the weather did not cooperate).

1.  I immediately fell into my summer sleep schedule.  Up late reading.  Sleeping until my boy climbed into bed each morning.  Drowsy mug of coffee to gently prod me into my days.  I am so fortunate that our son is like me-a night owl who likes peace and quiet in the morning.

2.  Reality TV and my DVR.  I don't watch a ton of reality television.  Mostly because I DVR what I do watch, and then get anxiety when I don't have time to catch up on it.  So I'm picky.  I spent the better part of my Monday morning watching what was left on the DVR of my shows.  It was an indulgence in trashy brain candy.  Mmmmmmmmmmm.

3.  Wandering the aisles of Target and never setting foot in the toy department.  I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and needed to snag a few items at Target before grabbing lunch and doing the school pick-up.  I got to browse clothes, jewelery, cosmetics, home goods, electronics...hell, I even spent time staring at a variety of toothpastes without the ever present "mom, mom, mom, MOM!" nagging me to go look at toys.  It was like meditation.

4.  Sitting completely alone in a movie theatre to see Titanic.  Literally, alone.  I went by myself.  And, no one else was there to see the film at 10:15 in the morning.  Private viewing?  Why yes, please.

5.  Relaxed while cooking dinner.  I did not feel rushed like I do after a work day.  I did not feel exhausted.  I had that summertime, lets linger over this meal, the sun won't set for hours kind of feeling.  It was blissful.

So today ends my week.  Tomorrow I have several things on the agenda.  Sunday brings, well that Sunday feeling that I must return to work.  But on the bright side, we are nearing the end of the year.  Two weeks of April, and May always feels like a blink of the eye.  Before I know it I will be doing my annual blog post about graduation and how it makes me weepy.  On deck this week-kindergarten registration for the little man.  Brace yourselves.

Friday Night Feeling

Oh momma, is this lady ever burnt out.

The ashes of my former self are scattered in many directions, blown by the winds of grumpy co-workers, angsty teens, the stretch of this time of year that seems endless between winter break and spring break, the piling up of work on my desk that I swear reproduces overnight, and the looming threat of the end of it all in June and my fears that I will never accomplish what I need to in such a short time.

In short, I need a break.

Luckily, tomorrow begins my spring break.  Nine blissful days away from my office.  Nine days without voice mail.  Without email.  Without master schedule building, schedule changes, state testing, career tech school applications, grants, grade printouts, transcripts, and more.  It is an empty slate of vacation.

And I cannot wait.

The best part of any vacation are the very first moments.  Those seconds when you walk away from responsibility and into relaxation.  It is what I fondly refer to as "The Friday Night" effect of any time off.  You know what I mean...the way you feel on Friday evening when the entire weekend stretches out in front of you, free of work obligations.  I am feeling those exact emotions right this second.  I wish I could bottle that and save the feeling for when I most need it.  On the night before returning to school.  But then again, if I had the power to bottle The Friday Night effect, I wouldn't have to return to work.  I would be a gozillionare. 

Next week I plan to do very little.  Plant seeds in my garden.  Start seeds indoors.  Process some photographs.  Catch up on laundry.  Watch some very girl-centric movies.  Drive my boy to pre-school.  Take a soap-making class.   Cook dinners.  It sounds very delightful-almost summer vacation like. 

But for now, I'm just going to call in for pizza delivery, enjoy Opening Day for several baseball teams, and eat some ice cream.  Because it is my Friday Night of vacation.  Don't tell me otherwise.