Back from the Beyond
I’ve been remiss again. Though in my defense I’ve also been really busy. And jetlagged. And sleep-deprived.
Anyway, we are back from the whirlwind trip. It all went well. For those who enjoy more detail, read on:
First Leg:
Early-early Friday morning (the 10th) we caught an Amtrak train and rode down to Baltimore. We were graciously picked up and conveyed to the hotel for ShoreLeave, where we spent the next three days. A good time was had by all. Highlights included:
• Our daughter getting to spend time with one of her buds-and both kids having a sleepover with our son and three other kids around the same age.
• An attendee at the Writing for Novels vs. Anthologies panel (my favorite of the ones I was on, because it was the only practical one) who had been to my Time Management for Writers panel last year, had put much of what glenn_hauman and I said into practice-and was now writing a contracted nonfiction book!
• An excellent dinner at Andy Nelson’s Barbeque with several friends-and hanging out with those same friends at the bar until 3am that night.
• A good meeting with three other writers about a joint project, which produced a much-needed kick in the pants for all concerned.
• Seeing my sister and her husband, who showed up Sunday to have lunch and hang out and then drive us to the airport, where we caught a flight to Miami for:
Second Leg:
We got into Miami Sunday evening and my middle sister met us at the airport, then we all headed to the apartment together. There was a snag involving a busted lock, but fortunately a locksmith sorted it and we finally got in, dropped our bags, and collapsed for a bit before dragging ourselves back out for dinner.
We spent Monday just chilling out, relaxing, wandering around, and going to the beach. Awesome.
My dad and his SO showed up Monday night, and we spent Tuesday all wandering around together, which was great.
Wednesday morning my dad drove jendaby and I to the airport, so we could fly to Vegas for:
Third Leg:
This was arguably the most exciting part of the trip for us-five days in Vegas, just the two of us, with no kids, no work, no schedule. Just a chance to relax and have fun together.
We spent the first two nights at the Monte Carlo, which was nice, and the last three at Bill’s Gambling Hall and Saloon, which was actually far more fun. And we had a great time. Highlights included:
• Two Cirque de Soleil shows! Zumanity, which was very good, and Love (the Beatles-themed one), which was excellent!
• Madame Tussaud’s and a gondola ride at the Venetian
• The vintage car collection at the Imperial Palace
• A last-minute business meeting that seemed to go very well-lots of cautious optimism
• Getting to see a movie together for the first time in ages-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was fun though hardly brilliant
• Lots of gambling-we were careful, and had a daily gambling allotment each. We came home with about a fourth of that intact, which means after figuring in cab fares and some other random cash purchases we probably won back a third or more of what we’d budgeted. Not too shabby!
We flew back Monday evening, getting home just a little past 1am. I returned to work the next morning. That night jendaby and I had pizza (something we don’t do much anymore because of the little man’s allergies) and started catching up on the TV we’d missed, beginning with the last two eps of Torchwood.
We had people over for Movie Night last night, and a few hours after they left my dad and his SO drove up with the wee lad asleep in the back. We got to bed around 3:30. I got up at 7 as usual.
My sister and my daughter fly back up tomorrow afternoon.
Then my dad, his SO, and my sister all leave on Saturday.
Sunday will be the first normal day, with just the four of us at home together, since the 9th. I’m hoping we all spend it napping. :)
Anyway, we are back from the whirlwind trip. It all went well. For those who enjoy more detail, read on:
First Leg:
Early-early Friday morning (the 10th) we caught an Amtrak train and rode down to Baltimore. We were graciously picked up and conveyed to the hotel for ShoreLeave, where we spent the next three days. A good time was had by all. Highlights included:
• Our daughter getting to spend time with one of her buds-and both kids having a sleepover with our son and three other kids around the same age.
• An attendee at the Writing for Novels vs. Anthologies panel (my favorite of the ones I was on, because it was the only practical one) who had been to my Time Management for Writers panel last year, had put much of what glenn_hauman and I said into practice-and was now writing a contracted nonfiction book!
• An excellent dinner at Andy Nelson’s Barbeque with several friends-and hanging out with those same friends at the bar until 3am that night.
• A good meeting with three other writers about a joint project, which produced a much-needed kick in the pants for all concerned.
• Seeing my sister and her husband, who showed up Sunday to have lunch and hang out and then drive us to the airport, where we caught a flight to Miami for:
Second Leg:
We got into Miami Sunday evening and my middle sister met us at the airport, then we all headed to the apartment together. There was a snag involving a busted lock, but fortunately a locksmith sorted it and we finally got in, dropped our bags, and collapsed for a bit before dragging ourselves back out for dinner.
We spent Monday just chilling out, relaxing, wandering around, and going to the beach. Awesome.
My dad and his SO showed up Monday night, and we spent Tuesday all wandering around together, which was great.
Wednesday morning my dad drove jendaby and I to the airport, so we could fly to Vegas for:
Third Leg:
This was arguably the most exciting part of the trip for us-five days in Vegas, just the two of us, with no kids, no work, no schedule. Just a chance to relax and have fun together.
We spent the first two nights at the Monte Carlo, which was nice, and the last three at Bill’s Gambling Hall and Saloon, which was actually far more fun. And we had a great time. Highlights included:
• Two Cirque de Soleil shows! Zumanity, which was very good, and Love (the Beatles-themed one), which was excellent!
• Madame Tussaud’s and a gondola ride at the Venetian
• The vintage car collection at the Imperial Palace
• A last-minute business meeting that seemed to go very well-lots of cautious optimism
• Getting to see a movie together for the first time in ages-Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which was fun though hardly brilliant
• Lots of gambling-we were careful, and had a daily gambling allotment each. We came home with about a fourth of that intact, which means after figuring in cab fares and some other random cash purchases we probably won back a third or more of what we’d budgeted. Not too shabby!
We flew back Monday evening, getting home just a little past 1am. I returned to work the next morning. That night jendaby and I had pizza (something we don’t do much anymore because of the little man’s allergies) and started catching up on the TV we’d missed, beginning with the last two eps of Torchwood.
We had people over for Movie Night last night, and a few hours after they left my dad and his SO drove up with the wee lad asleep in the back. We got to bed around 3:30. I got up at 7 as usual.
My sister and my daughter fly back up tomorrow afternoon.
Then my dad, his SO, and my sister all leave on Saturday.
Sunday will be the first normal day, with just the four of us at home together, since the 9th. I’m hoping we all spend it napping. :)