| Ray of Light |
[Feb. 14th, 2010|06:39 pm] |
As my birthday is approaching, I took some time off from work and arranged to hit the road. By lucky coincidence and schedule-wrangling on her part, D was able to come along, and I think maybe she needed the vacation more than me.
We left Louisville Wednesday morning and wound our way to Chattanooga, for a stop at the Tennessee Aquarium. Several new exhibits since the last time I'd visited, such as a whole lotta jellyfish. I did not know that there was a species of jellies that lives upside-down, resting on the seafloor and getting its nutrients from symbiotic algae. It is a strange world we live in.
Weather started worsening on our way from Chattanooga to Tybee Island. We checked in to our hotel on around noon on Thursday and went exploring. Spent a few hours at Fort Pulaski National Monument. Beachcombing for shells that evening - very nice, but the storm front was coming in, and it was very cool. Earlier that day, we found a Starbuck's with stained-glass windows, and D was very taken with it.
We woke up to rain on Friday, but decided to roam around anyway. Visited the Eighth Air Force Museum, which had a terrific exhibit on WACS pilots. Dinner was at The Distillery in Savannah, where there were great sweet potato fries and we may or may not have split a deep-fried Moon Pie. Back to the hotel to watch the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies, where I made D promise to hit me in the face if I ever sport a neck beard like the Canadian Slam Poet unless I've spent a week camping or something.
The storm hit that night, and it was something to see. 3-4" of snow in Savannah, and quite a bit more to the north, but South Carolina can choke on it. Big waves crashing on the beach below our room, and the wind made for horizontal rain. Seriously, I go to the beach and snow comes along. Next time, a cruise, so I can make the ocean go away or something.
Saturday morning was more beachcombing, then heading for home. D bought a couple of large hermit crabs on our way off of the island, but my search for Tybee Island Bomb Squad stuff came up empty again. We detoured to Little Five Points when passing through Atlanta, stopping at The Vortex for a late lunch. The wings were very good, but I wish I'd followed D's lead and had a cheeseburger instead. We marveled at the fireworks-based economy along I-24 in Tennessee, and stopped for the night in Bowling Green.
More snow between Elizabethtown and Louisville. And I drove through plenty of it on my way back to Lexington. So, I'm home now, and something like 6" of snow is in the offing for the next 24 hours. Heck with it, though. I don't go back to the office until Wednesday, and tomorrow is, of course, the Imperial Holiday, so everyone, please, take the day off and celebrate. I'll be playing with ideas for a Traveller one-off and a few-months-long Blue Planet game.
The trip was good. I'm relaxed, the Element ran and rode very very well, and I had some terrific company. Next getaway is likely to be in April, for Conglomeration. |
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| Vacation |
[Jun. 7th, 2009|08:07 pm] |
So, I went to Florida last week. The original plan for the time off was to go to Diecon again, but my enthusiasm completely evaporated in early May, so I extended my time off from work and decided to head somewhere.
I left Lexington around 4:30 Wednesday morning. Made an impulse side trip to Savannah, Georgia, and Tybee Island, both of which were utterly beautiful, but in totally different ways. Spent a few hours at each place, then pressed on to Daytona Beach and spent the night.
Saw Daytona International Speedway, walked around the beach a bit, then headed south to Kennedy Space Center. Holy ground for a space geek like me. Saw Endeavour out on 39-A. Nice long tour of KSC. The astronaut memorial is beautiful. Drove to West Palm Beach and spent the night.
The Shell convenience store where I refuelled in West Palm Beach had a good-sized wine rack, about 20 varieties on hand, with a recommended pairings list. Man, it's a whole other planet sometimes.
Friday was Key West. Got there around noon. Saw the Hemingway House, the end of US1, and met some fun folks from Maryland. Left Key West around 8 p.m., and decided to try driving straight home. Took 22 hours, but I did it. Stops every four hours or so for fuel and drinks, and one real meal along the way.
Lots and lots of time to think while driving. Made some decisions; now to see if I can stick with them.
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| Safe |
[Dec. 13th, 2008|01:50 am] |
Up way too late, and not especially happy at the moment. See, I've got Monday and Tuesday off from work - and on Friday afternoon, a sore throat started making its presence known. I do not at all want to be sick on these days off, as I have plans to get away for a little while.
The D6 Star Wars game got off to a very good start, and next weekend, I may be joining a Saga Edition game. This may accelerate the looming burnout, though.
Going to bed now. |
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