So, you know, market pretty much rocked.
We had the best time. Laughed so much. And while I fully expected to hop back on the computer this morning and tell you about all the shopping I did, I have a startling confession to make, internets:
I did not buy one thing.
I was at a huge indoor merchandise market (wholesale, to boot) with thousands of merchants, millions of wares and more cute handbags than you could shake a stick at, and I did not buy a thing.
I think I’ve lost my shopping mojo, y’all.
Anyhoo, Janie had (and is still having) a great market, and I loved getting to talk to all the people who visited her booth. I have this odd memory tic where I pretty much remember the hometown of everyone I’ve met in my whole life ever (also: their middle names and phone numbers), so I had a great time making connections with complete strangers who wondered why the “blonde” woman was scrutinizing their nametags for hometowns and then WOULDN’T QUIT TALKING, ALREADY about so-and-so who used to live in that town back in 1994, maybe it was 1998, but I’M SURE YOU MUST HAVE MET.
I fear that my rambling is none too charming in real life. Not that it’s charming here, either, but at least here I can pretend.
For the first two days I was in Atlanta I could not resist the hot pink M&Ms that Janie bought for the booth, and I ate them until I was in the beginning stages of a sugar coma and had to stumble down the aisle and ask the girls at one of the food booths if I could please have a bit of one of their gourmet cheese balls, YOU SEE I NEED TO REGULATE MY BLOOD SUGAR.
In fact, I told Janie that I could have pretty much eaten one of those cheese balls like an apple, but unfortunately eating a whole ball of cheese would have left me with more digestive issues than I was willing to address during my stay in the ATL.
So yesterday – after two days of extreme M&M intensity – I held up my hand and turned my head and I rebuked those M&Ms in the strong name of Jesus, oh yes I did. I had to turn away, people. The M&Ms were becoming a bit of a stronghold. Our relationship with each other was no longer healthy.
Inasmuch as one can have a healthy relationship with chocolate, of course.
And here’s the unexpected kicker to my market tale, the bonus round that caught me completely by surprise: Saturday morning my Aunt C. (Mama’s sister) called to say that she, my uncle, and their two granddaughters (Alex’s 3rd cousins if I’m doing my genealogical math correctly) had booked a condo at the beach for the upcoming week, and they would love for Alex and me to join them, schedules permitting, of course.
Now here’s what you need to know about me in relation to the beach: even though I have skin the color of parchment paper, I will slather on some SPF 70 and pack me a hat in a New York minute if there’s a trip to the Gulf on the horizon. The beach – specifically, the white-sand-and-crystal-blue-water variety along the Florida panhandle – is my favorite place in the whole wide world forever and ever amen, and that is why I accepted my aunt’s invitation almost immediately except for the fact that I did, to my credit, check with my husband first.
You see, when it comes to the beach, I don’t want to check with anyone. I just want to hop in the car and drive.
After I’d gotten the go-ahead from the HOH, I left Atlanta yesterday morning and drove to sunny (well, sorta-ish sunny, if this morning is any indication) Florida. About an hour into my trip, the aforementioned HOH called to say that his brother’s condo – the place he and Alex have been staying since Thursday – was also open this week, and his brother said it was ours if we wanted to stay.
[Sidenote: between David’s brother Scott, Brother’s wife Janie, and Sister’s hubby B., I seriously hit the in-laws jackpot. You have no idea. I love them all TO PIECES.]
Anyway, David thought that that if he juggled a few things on his schedule, he could just work from Florida (thank you, Lord, for laptops and wireless internet connections) for a few days and we could have an impromptu family getaway.
SOLD, I said.
Aye, and enthusiastically.
So my aunt, uncle and cousins are about ten minutes down the road. Alex and I are heading their way for a morning-o-swimming in just a few minutes. My cousin Paige and her little boy – along with Paige’s brother B. – are driving down later today, and I anticipate a big week-o-family-fun on the horizon.
I am understandably excited.
And I’ll be back soon with pictures.
After I finish staring at the endless stretches of beautiful blue water, of course.
Priorities, you know.
I am trying really hard not to be jealous as I sit at my desk working. :-(
You are living the dream my friend!!! Have so much fun!
What an awesome getaway! I am seriously of the mindset that the best getaways are the inpromptu, unplanned ones. No stress of trying to get things done before you leave or planning involved. Just flying by the seat of your pants and having a blast. So enjoy yourself. =0)
And like Kelly, I’ll try not to be jealous of your getaway AND your family-time!
Man, I just got back from paradise on Saturday. It is also my favorite place on earth. Have a fabulous time!
Welcome to the sorta-ish sunshine state that I call home! May the beautiful gulf shores embrace you (without those white, sugary sands creeping where the sun don’t shine at all)! :o)
Enjoy your day and your fam!
Love it more than you could know – y’all enjoy enjoy enjoy – we would truly deeply appreciate a few pictures of aforementioned white sandy beaches and sparkling blue waters with perchance The Howard Child frolicking in the waves – but with or without child – beach is all good.
You have hit the jackpot indeed – now all we need to hear about is the food and I’ll be set for my favorite vicarious vacation of the summer! Bless you miz Sassy sunlover.
I’m a newby to reading your blog, but I have to say one of the long list of favorite things about you is the ability to get up and go do just about anything. I love a girl that lives life to its fullest. Have a fun week!
Have a GREAT time, girl!
Impromptu is the way I operate, too…and those are usually the BEST vacations. :)
Sounds like a blast! I am a bit jealous.
I hope you have the most wonderful week! I know you will! Congratulations on all that fun! ! Love ya!
Have a wonderful time. Enjoy the beach and the family!
OOOOHHH!! I am so glad for you, Sophie!! I was sad that you couldn’t be at the beach with D and A last week. I was secretly praying you could go and be with them. And look! I love Destin. a whole bunch!
Have so much fun, just so much fun, JUST SO MUCH FUN Y’all! for your friend Holly, OK? I DO so miss the beach this year.
PS I will give you my hometown, middle name and phone number in San Antonio, OK? Hee hee! I remember things like that, too. And I remember people’s dreams for the future. And I pray for that in their lives.
Would you adopt me please? I will make a great sister to you or Alex (your call – I’m short) if I could go on the beach vacations with you.
Enjoy your sorta sun time!
::sigh::
Glad to hear that Janie has still been busy at market. I am praying big blessings for her!
I am just slightly jealous of all the fun you are having! Hope you have a wonderful time with the fam!
Nothing like an impromptu vacay! Have fun!
Sooooo happy for you, Boo! How thrilling! Have fun!! You inspire me to be more spontaneous.
Funny about the hometowns. I ran into an old college prof at the zoo last week, and it took him a second to remember me, but he remembered my hometown! (he said he remembers everybody’s) He didn’t know my middle name or phone #, but I’m fairly sure he was never privy to that info in the first place.
Can’t wait to see pics!! (do they really make SPF 70 sunscreen?)
Maybe you are in the big “D” which is by far my favorite place on this Earth!!!
And, if you are, I’m completely thrilled for ya. Not jealous at all.
Awesome! Have a great week at the beach!
Lucky you! Have fun!
Oh, yea!!!!! Have fun.
I’m so envious! I haven’t seen the ocean in a few years and I miss it so. Well, you didn’t tell us what city you are in but I’ll share this anyway. If you are in or near Panama City, you should really go to Schooners for Lobster Cakes and Key Lime Pie. Scrumptious!!
That sounds so fun!
Have fun!!! I haven’t been to the FLA panhandle in a few years (we live so far away now) but I love the beaches down there! And the Gulf is so much warmer than the Atlantic…
I’m officially jealous! And I know what you mean about those m and m’s. Gotta love em. And I’ve also considered eating a cheese ball like an apple. Great minds think alike!!!
Have a great time.
Spontaneous beach trips are the BEST THING EVER.
I’m sorry you had to rebuke the M&M’s. I’ll take them for you if it helps.
Can I just say how much I triple love your blog?
Love it, love it, love it!
I hear ya’, girl, on the I’m-as-white-as-a-ghost-but-I’ll-sit-at-the-beach-in-my-SPF 3000. Try being a fair skinned Norwegian in the land of 10,000 lakes! I’ve learned my lesson a time or two.
I for one love your rambling, maybe because I am one too. So glad you get to go to one of my favcrite places and you will be there with extended family and all and you will have a great time. I am a little envious. I would love to go and just sit and watch the waves and the sunrises and sunsets on the gulf. You are a blessed woman and you didn’t have to make reservations etc. Wow…you go girl. Have a great time and post some pictures so we can all sigh with envy…Blessings
are you, say, near panama city beach?? i’m about 5 minutes from the beach. we could meet up and eat m&m’s together!
hee-hee!
enjoy your stay and make sweet memories with your family :)
Having grown up in Florida, I can attest to the whiteness of the beaches and the blueness of the water. It’s good. The wind rustling through the palm trees is the best thing in the world to fall asleep to as well. All that being said, I wouldn’t go back for anything (a part from a direct order from the Lord mind you). I hate the Ho-Hum weather (Hot and Humid), the bugs and the cost of everything.
BTW, I LOVE (and completely understand) your rambling here and I’d love even more to listen to you ramble in person sometime. We could have a southern girl rambling contest!
Beth
I’m on Atkins right now, and you just brought on a HUGE M&M craving. I don’t think I’m going to be able to refuse this one.
I’m totally hung up on the cousins thing. So your Aunt’s children are your first cousins. So your child and your cousins’ children would be second cousins. Where I’m getting confused is wether your Aunt’s grandchildren are your first cousins once removed, or your second cousins once removed. So much for my Anthropology major.
I’d tell you to go buy a lotto ticket, such is your lucky mojo right now. (Hey! That’s what happened to it! It morphed! Must have been the M&Ms.)
But it sounds like you’ve already got everything you need. HAVE FUN!
I could not agree with you more… the beach is a place to breathe… slow down… regain perspective…
Now, if only the gulf was closer to Illinois! : )
Enjoy!
I am officially jealous. HEY…don’t judge, I am also very happy for your blessing!
The “cousins” thing used to drive me crazy too. Then I found this chart
http://stellar-one.com/genealogy/cousins.htm
and I now have one less thing to make my hair curl. Only 2,743,862 more to go.
Is this right? My aunt’s children are my 1st cousins. My 1st cousins’ children are my second cousins. And so my second cousins and my child would be third cousins? Is that right?
My head hurts.
:-)
Ok I just saw you trying to figure the aunt cousin thing –
Here goes – your aunts children are your first cousins
Your first cousins children are your first cousins once removed then their children are your second cousins – does that make sense? :)
Ok back to the beach thing b/c I am starting to sweat with the math stuff
My family and I are heading down to the beach on Thursday (Destin) to be exact and I can hardly WAIT!!
There is nothing like the BEACH!!
Enjoy!
Kim
Your first cousin’s child would be your first cousin once removed. Your first cousin’s child and Alex would be second cousins.
If you look at that chart that I posted, use a grandparent as the common ancestor. It’s easiest that way.
I am with you on skin the color of parchment paper and the SPF 70, and I feel the same way about the Florida Panhandle! I grew up in Georgia going to Panama City, FL (PC) EVERY year and nothing in North or South Carolina can even come close to those beaches!
Nothing is better than an impromptu trip, too! I hope you have a wonderful time of rest and relaxation and I can’t wait to see pictures!
Stay away from the M & Ms!!!
Well. I was gonna set you straight about the cousin issue but you have already been set straight.
So I shall just sit here, jealous, in my jammies I have been wearing all day, waiting for my pizza delivery while you look out at the ocean.
And siiiiiiiiiiigh.
Oooo! Perk up! I just remembered get to go the beach next weekend. Granted, the water will be brown, but a beach is a beach.
Oooohhh! I’m so jealous!! We’re doing the whole big family a tthe beach thing the second week in August and I am sooo excited!! Y’all will have such a blast and that is so great that the kids get to spend time together and get to know each other! We live quite literally 30 seconds from the Pacific Ocean. But we have 4 plane tickets and a retal car in order to spend a week on the Outer Banks with my aunt, all my cousins, their kids (and brand new grandbaby!) and the rest of my immediate family. There will be 22 of us in a ginormous house. We are all sooooo excited! We all get along so fabulously and just have an absolute ball when we do it every few years!
We did the whole “how are your kids related to mine” a few years ago and you’re right, it makes one’s head hurt! With the arrival of the brand new little one a few weeks ago my girls will get to meet their 2nd cousin, once removed (she is my first cousin’s granddaughter, my aunt’s great-granddaughter and my first cousin, twice removed – oy!) As far as we’re concerned she’s just a cute little cousin!
Happy beaching! I ordered a gigantic floppy hat today – I’ll think ofyou when I wear it! :)
Christine
You are seriously having an awesome summer, Boo! What can you do to top all this next summer? Somehow, I just know you will! Have a blast under that hat and SPF.
aaahhhhhhhh….
ME TOOOOOOOO!!! I would pick Destin over any other place in the world! I grew up on a New Jersey beach, but Destin just feeds my soul somehow. That emerald water – Oh, it soothes me just thinking about it! Have fun!
I know this is one hundred levels of crazy, but even though I live AT the beach and can smell the salt air through my windows each day, I haven’t been even ONCE this year. I know. A disgrace. I’m dying to go. Just waiting for that guy of mine to get home, though–two babies would be a little hard to handle at the beach alone.
I love the way you write! I feel like I’m having a conversation with myself, only I’m not southern. Shh…don’t tell anyone. Wish I was at the beach too!
Are you walking on the squeaky sand? Please tell me you are walking on the squeaky sand.
Love Destin, Florida.
Have you ever had dark chocolate M&Ms? They are sooo addicting! I’ve been known to eat a bag (or 2 or 3) at one time by myself… :)
My, my, my. Very fancy. That is SOO great you got to go. Slather up and have a fab time.
:)
HA HA HA! I love that you had rebuke the m&m’s in the name of Jesus. There’s power in that name. Yes, power to remove strongholds. hilarious!
I grew up on the Gulf Coast in the Panhandle. It is a little piece of heaven that is a well kept secret. I have fond memories of going to the National Seashore Park in Navarre late afternoon, grilling out, watching the sunset, then heading over to the sound for crabbing. I remember tying that chicken neck in the basket, dropping it in the water and then waiting for the crab to fall victim. Only once I pulled them up, I was way too cool to touch them and would squeal until someone would come and put it in the bucket! Good times and Great memories! (Sorry this was so long – your mentioning of the sugary white beaches made me a little homesick!)
You know, I live in the panhandle of Florida…yes I do! And I know where the Sonic is…yes I do!
I love beaches. And the panhandle ones are THE best!!!! I’m envious!!! Oh so envious. Destin, where are you???
skin the color of parchment paper!!!!!! ROTFLMBO!!!!!
I’m glad you are having so much fun on your getaway!!! You are cracking me up about the M&M stronghold.
I’m reading you backwards, and all I’ve got is you’ve given me much reason to smile. The beach is a little touch of heaven on earth, and it’s imperative you take a foot family portrait.
You’ll thank me later.
:)
I hope you’re having a fun beach getaway! FL gulf beaches are awesome. We’re at the beach this week, too….it’s raining an awful lot over here!!
Jeannie
How very exciting. Yay! Hope you’re having fun. (Although it’s now Friday, so you might be home or on your way there.)