Six flights in about two weeks. Not bad for someone who dislikes flying as much as I do. The five-hour haul between Seattle and DC was the toughest — my legs and back were uncomfortable throughout (it’s not easy for short people, either, those of you with long legs), and the TV selections were piss-poor and on dim, distant screens. Virgin was by far the best (SEA – SFO), comfy seats and personal satellite TV, plus I ordered those GoPicnic lunchboxes. No one offered free food, not even for the x-country flight. Incredible, huh? So for our trip to the east coast, I came prepared with a huge sack of snacks: cherries, cheese, crackers, hard salami, pickles, dried apples, etc. United can basically suck it.

The trip to Myrtle Beach was great. Weather was hot each day, though humid. I am not used to the humidity though, so to me it was like a week in a relaxing sauna. I loved it. We went to the beach several times; powdery white sand, luminous warm water, plentiful shells, flocks of diving pelicans. Magical. I had real southern fried chicken and sweet tea (it was too sweet). Sis-in-law Alantra gave me a gratis hair trim in her chair at the salon where she works (cut Brian’s poofy hair, too). Took a brief swim in a private pool. Got a little bit of a tan. Felt lots of kicking from the baby. Oh and went to the outlet mall and scored a very nice and deeply discounted Kate Spade diaper bag in pink and orange gingham canvas. It worked nicely as a beach bag, too.

The only crappy part of the trip was the ending — we had to stay the night in Raleigh NC, 250 miles from Myrtle Beach, because our flight to DC the next morning was at 6:20am and that was the only feasible way to do it. So I got a room near the airport. Sadly, this hotel was hosting a “line dancing marathon” that evening. Marathon implies “all night” and sure enough, groups of drunk line dancers sauntered up and down the hall past our 6th floor room for hours on end past midnight, screaming, laughing, and talking as loudly as possible. We had to get up at 4:30 to get our shuttle. I was so pissed. I thought *everyone* knew that when walking around in a hotel late at night, you are to keep your voice to a whisper or not talk at all. I also thought southerners were known for their manners. Apparently NOT. Lesson learned: stick with small boutique hotels that don’t have facilities for hosting giant obnoxious events.

Anyway.

diaper/beach bag

my brother’s dog

Brian and my brother go boogie boarding

Brian getting hair cut

lifeguard

beach after heavy rainstorm