Our beautiful pool
It's good to have time away, but it's good to come home, too. I was thinking of getting a laptop, so I could have access to a computer when I'm away from home, but the keyboard is so tiny, and frankly they're a pain to use. I guess you get used to them if you use them regularly. I know that I would not like one for my main computer, and why do I need more than one computer anyway?
We stayed at Eden Condominiums in Perdido Key, FL, just over the Alabama line, in an area that is not quite as congested as Orange Beach, in part, because it is near a national seashore area, which excludes development. The picture shows the main pool, which really was lovely. There were several pools, a baby pool, a wading pool, an indoor heated pool, and a hot tub, in addition to the main pool.
Having the two condos next to each other was convenient, as there was much going back and forth between the two, especially the children. We ate well, with Grandpère and my son-in-law doing the cooking. Those two guys have food on their minds all the day long. As soon as one meal is over, they're planning the next meal. That's fine with me, just so the plan does not include me doing the cooking while I'm on vacation. I'll do breakfast, but that's it.
My son, who is newly divorced, and his two children saw that they could have an enjoyable vacation, even without their ex-wife/mom present. Good for them, because I don't see the parents sharing a vacation any time soon.
The children included boys 13, 11, and two 7 year olds, and one 11 year old girl. The cousins love each other and enjoy their time together. The two young boys played together and the three older ones hung out together.
My son believed that he was too old - 42 - to be attractive to women, however, women are pursuing him as word gets around that he's single again, and I think he's beginning to see that there is life after divorce. What's sad is that many of the women his age seem rather desperate to find a man. My son is in no hurry to move into a serious relationship, which I believe is very wise.
As the title of the post says, we Cajuns passed a good time. The one Italian among us passed a good time, too.
Yea for Mimi!
ReplyDeleteYea for vacations!
Yea for being home!
Missed you tons!
Well, bye gotta go now!
Welcome home! You've been missed far and wide.
ReplyDeleteHad to chuckle at your struggles over the laptop. I'm currently away from home (along with something like 4,500 soccer players from 15 states and their families, all in one city, for 4-6 days) and I decided to take my laptop at the last minute. We've got free wireless at the hotel, but I'm having a heck of time getting on because my daughter simply MUST instant message her best friend and everyone else on her buddy list.
Actually, I don't mind much because I really don't like using it -- for the reasons you mention. I was dying to get one for a long time and was the last one in the office to get one, I just can't make myself use the laptop where I normally work - at home - because the keyboard is simply too uncomfortable (it also is a bit slower than my super-duper mega-memory PC). While it's nice to have the option of a portable, it hasn't been as great as I thought it would be.
Anyway, glad to have you back.
klady
Clumber, adieu. Bon voyage, mon vieux chien.
ReplyDeleteI missed all of you, mes amis. I went cold-turkey off the computer for several days. It was OK for a while, but then I began to yearn for computer contact. I am addicted. I think I need help.
Yea! Mimi's back! The big blogosphere hole is filled.
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a good time. After reading about and imagining life without a laptop attached to my finger tips, I coulnd't breathe and had to take a whiff from my inhaler. I'm feeling better now.
Welcome home!!
ReplyDeleteYour son old at 42???? If I were interested in younger men, I might be looking his way ... (but hopefully not desperately, as those you describe).
Missed you.
I echo the sentiments "welcome home" ... you were missed ... and tell your son he is very wise to go slow ...no serious involvements for at least a year! (so glad he and his children ... and all of you had a good vacation.
ReplyDeleteKlady, 4500 soccer players! That's scary.
ReplyDeleteKJ, sorry I gave you a start there. Please don't stop breathing after reading one of my posts. i'll feel guilty for the rest of my life.
LJ and Serena, I want to laugh at my son, but I can't because he's so serious. I am almost exactly 30 years older than he is, so you see why I think what he says is so funny. There are lots of women out there looking for a decent man. But he comes in a package, with his two precious children, so I hope he will choose carefully when the time is right.
Glad you're back, Grandmère. It hasn't been the same without you.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home, Mimi! Glad to hear about your son. Can't wait to hear what kind of laptop you get - at least that's how it would be for me - think about it a while - ponder on what other uses could be - then go ahead and do it.
ReplyDeleteWe missed you.
It's good to be back, good to wake up in my own bed this morning, good to be chatting again with my online friends. Is "friends" the correct term? The online "communities" are a puzzlement to me when it comes to naming.
ReplyDeleteSo you think the laptop is a foregone conclusion, Share Cropper?
Welcome home, Grandmère. We used to stay at Pensacola Beach, until Katrina. After the first year I had to get a laptop or go crazy.
ReplyDeleteMimi, Mimi, Mimi,
ReplyDeleteat last. It's good to hear about your relaxing trip, full of sun, water, and idleness, I have no doubt, but even better to have you back at last.
Forty two!!? That's not it at all, as you point out, but being a dad.
Missed you, Mimi! Glad you had a nice break at the beach.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a laptop, just don't get a teeny little one. My Toshiba has a 15 inch (diagonal) screen and a pretty good-sized keyboard so that my fingers are not all scrunched together, and I love it; never want to go back to a desktop.
Ormonde, if I find that I'm moving further into crazy territory when I don't have a computer handy, I will surely take action.
ReplyDeleteJohnieb, I read, too: Joanna Trollope's Second Honeymoon and Anita Brookner's Leaving Home, both novels of manners and both of which I enjoyed.
I also caught up with my back issues of The New Yorker, one of which included Günter Grass' extraordinary account of volunteering for the German army during WWII, being assigned to the Waffen SS, and the shame that he experiences today for that period of his life. He was 17 at the time.
Mary Clara, I will keep your advice in mind if I decide to move forward with the laptop.
Thanks to all for the welcome home.
I let my subscription lapse, as I was no longer keeping up, but I shall look for that piece, Mimi; thank you for bringing it to my attention. Painful as it is, I feel more in common with German veterans of WWII than those from the Allies.
ReplyDeleteJohnieb, I'm pleased to oblige.
ReplyDeleteVietnam was a nasty war. All wars are hell, but in my lifetime, Vietnam and Iraq are particularly shameful exercises on our part.
We are all complicit, not just the vets.
As Dom Crossan paraphrases Jesus, "Only the destitute are innocent."
Welcome back to the blogosphere - we missed your thoughtful reflections on life etc.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mimi!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that you had a great time with your family. The pool looks so inviting. And to have meals prepared by two great cooks sounds so wonderful.
My trip to MadPriest land starts on the 13th. I don't like the long plane rides, but it will be lovely to be in England. Our choir will be at Lincoln and Durham Cathedrals for about 10 days. I hope it doesn't rain! Then to Edinburgh and home. I don't have a blog, so no one will miss me...even if I had one, I' m not sure anyone would, ha. Oh and I love your BB&B post.
((((Mimi))) Glad you had a good vacation and glad you are back.
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing about vacation is the first hour or two you are home, and so glad to be there, in a way that escapes you in normal life.
And then, sleeping in your own bed that night is just HEAVEN. Love it.
Susan, have a great trip!
ReplyDeleteTelling you and our other friends helps, cher Mimi, as do your replies.
ReplyDeleteThanks be to God for you all.
Welcome back from one traveller to another. It is always good to have that first night home in one's own bed.
ReplyDeleteA belated "welcome back" to you, Grandmère Mimi! That pool looks mighty inviting. I'm glad you had a good time, and I'm glad the grandkids did, too. 'Cause if they're happy, everybody gets to breathe a sigh of relief. (At least it works that way in my family.)
ReplyDeleteAs for your son...42? Sheesh. I'm 41, and I'm a woman, and I know I'm not too old to be attractive to men. Tell your son he's not even old enough to be considered "distinguished" yet. ;)
Caminante, welcome home to you. I want to read your account of your travels, but I want to set aside a block of time to do it without distractions.
ReplyDeletePJ, I've told my son and told him. He's coming around to see that there are nice women looking for companionship with decent men. I think that's all he's ready for at the moment, which is all to the good.
Welcome back, and glad all went well so well. Clearly you're truly fortunate in your family, though anyone familiar with your blog or with others on which you post, knows that there's far more than simple good luck involved here. Roger
ReplyDeleteRoger, we are blessed. I remember when the tunnel was dark, and I could see no light at all.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back!
ReplyDeleteSo is the beach at Perdido Key, FL as pretty as it is in Destin ? That's the only area in that part of the country I've seen - and it's beautiful! (could barely believe that I was looking at the Gulf ;)
Actually, David, the picture is from Panama City, but the beach where we were looks pretty much the same as Destin and Panama City.
ReplyDelete