Vacation Update

I am sitting in the public library in Shallotte, NC, this morning, checking em-mail and providing both of my avid blog readers with this stimulating update.

Yes, Stacie, of course Peggy got a "real" tattoo, what else would it be? She wanted to show solidarity with Elliott. HA!

I failed to properly sunscreen my legs yesterday, and got pinker than I care to be, so no beach-going for me (thus the trip off the island and to the library this morning). Tim Hammersmith (Peggy's cousin Teresa's husband) wanted to do some internet surfing and he asked me last night if we could come over here. Of course I jumped at the opportunity.

We have spent much time lounging on the beach, reading books (I am ready to start book #4 today), taking naps at the house, and just generally relaxing. It is everything in a vacation that I had hoped for, and the ability to just chill out for a couple of weeks is a blessing beyond words!

Sunday was rainy, and Emily wanted to go to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum. I said yes before I realized that the museum is in downtown Myrtle Beach. I mean across the street from the Grand Strand. I promised 18 years ago to never venture to downtown Myrtle Beach again, but Emily was not aware of that promise, so we went. Peggy, Ian, Emily and our nephew Bradley. It was downtown Myrtle Beach where we got our tats (yes all of us got tats: Ian, Peggy and I got the same design as Elliott's, while Emily got a crescent moon and star on her belly, and Bradley got a cool looking cross on his arm). We shopped and even found a couple of gag gifts for the beach bingo game (side note - Alvin made up a beach bingo game using the word "BEACH" in place of bingo, and used names, places, and funny things that have happened to us over the 18 years the family has been coming to Sunset Beach...It is obviously a family-only kind of game, because you just wouldn't get the humor of things like Jack-The Crack Man unless you were there with us at the restaurant that year). We toured the museum, and then went to Emily's choice of a place to eat: Fazzolis. We don't have one in Vero, and on the day we drove in to the area for vacation, Emily let it be known that she wanted to eat there. So, Sunday was her day to choose the activities, and it worked out well.

Having read "Refueling Your Faith," "Why Men Hate Going To Church," and "The Treasure Principle," I am now ready (finally) to read John Ortberg's, "Everybody's Normal 'Til You Get To Know Them." I love the time that I get to spend just reading and relaxing. I wish I had a few more days, because I still have two other books I would like to read this year...Probably not gonna make it through them all.

Ian is no longer wearing the "boot" for his ankle. He got a stress fracture last year, and we booted him up. He re-aggravated it at camp two weeks ago, and spent about 10 days in the boot again. Fortunately he seems to be doing okay now.

Peggy is getting tanned and looking good as usual. She has been much more careful than even me this year with the sunscreen (of course the fact that I had absolutely no base tan to start with didn't help), and is enjoying her leisurely days on the beach.

Emily is getting quite dark as well, and avoiding the burn. She does look cute in her pink "bikini" (a two-piece suit that is modest, but very cute).

We miss Elliott, as this is the first time we have ever been here without him. He is doing a third week of C-I-Y Summer Conference at Milligan College this week, and having a blast.

Well, I have other things to take care of before my time expires here in the library. I promise to update when I get home complete with details of stuff that I cannot talk about in this post. All I can say is BOY AM I EVER GLAD THAT I AM ON VACATION!