Whining and travel
Note: I just finished writing this entry, and it gets a lot more optimistic as it goes along. Don’t be put off by negativity early in the post.
What a butthole of a day (work-wise). Lots and lots of things went wrong, and the normal demands haven’t slowed down any like they’re supposed to after the first week of classes. One reason it was buttholey was that my project co-lead is out dealing with some serious family health issues (which of course makes it ultra-buttholey for them and I shouldn’t complain, because even though work is driving me nuts, at least I have never in my whole life been the subject of an ER visit).
We still haven’t decided where to go on our getaway weekend, or even when we’ll go, but RIGHT NOW is sounding pretty good. Current frontrunners include:
Quebec City and/or Montreal
PROS: All other things being equal, my top choice–I’ve heard it’s like going to Europe without the crappy exchange rate, long flight, or jet-lag. Cool, fairly affordable hotel choices.
CONS: Flights are expensive unless we fly into a U.S. city near the border, rent a car, and drive over. I’d rather not have a car in either of those cities, though. It might be cold come October.
Sedona, Arizona and/or Grand Canyon area
PROS: Cheap flights, cool and affordable hotels, will be warm in the fall.
CONS: This is a vacation we could take with kids, so it doesn’t really have the “adults only” cachet I was wanting for this final trip.
The Northeast (Vermont, Maine, or other places in that area)
PROS: Reasonably priced flights, kids would find it boring, lobsters galore, maybe whale-watching
CONS: Lodging options seem to be largely the cloying B&B type where you have to chit-chat with strangers
Can somebody help me make a decision? I told Denny to decide, but he’s not gotten any further than I have.
—
In other news, the weekend was mostly fun, except I had to spend a few hours handling a work emergency on Saturday. I got to see a lot of family and my parents’ friends (my parents had a party), many of whom were enthusiastic about my abdomen. I think, though I’m not sure, that I felt Bisquito move. From what I understand, it’s easy to confuse fetal movement with gas, but I felt at least one such sensation that wasn’t accompanied by anything noticeably farty or burpy. I guess it will become more obvious as Bisqui grows and fills up the space more.
We also got to hang out with my friend Pam and her 6-month-old twins. That was really fun, because they were very cute and good-natured. Denny practiced holding them and did a very good job, dropping them exactly zero times. Pam even gave us a pack of newborn-size diapers that she had extra.
We also got some nice and totally unsolicited/unexpected gifts, including a front/back baby carrier from Suzy and Joe and a really soft blanket and baby bathrobe from Larry and Lily. It’s fun to imagine a squirmy little human in there.
I’d vote for Montreal and make Denny drive. Can you make him drive from Iowa City? We drove from Iowa to Toronto, but it was for a week stay, and we were young (though the wife was pregnant and enjoying morning sickness at the time).
“Like Europe” can’t be all bad. And the best thing about the Grand Canyon is riding the burros, which I don’t think they let you do anymore.
Last weekend like that, we went to Providence, R.I. Lots of fun, neat shops and homes down at Newport. But it would require a car.
Have you done Seattle yet?
What about Raleigh? We have…..um……BBQ. And hockey.
Ok, we got nothing.
I’d vote for Montreal. The drive might be fun, as you should cherish the time in the car with just the two of you, with no screaming creature facing backward behind you.
I wouldn’t mind renting a car in the NE…I just don’t want to have to deal with a car in the city, what with parking and all.
But we are NOT driving to Montreal. No. I am a flyer, not a driver. Besides, we’re just going for a weekend, and it would eat up the whole trip.
Being from north of the border I’d love to do the Grand Canyon thing. The warmth of the sun and all those lovely shades of reds, browns and oranges.
That being said, Montreal/Quebec City are fun too. Montreal is way more cosmopolitan, (great jazz clubs), no doubt cheaper to fly to, and has the metro to boot. Quebec City on the other hand is more picturesque. Love them both.
And yeah, it’ll be around freezing at night, and in the teens during the day. (I think that’s the high 50’s to 60’s for you)
Have fun!
(and have some GENUINE poutine!)
Hmmmmm, I’ll put in one more vote for Montreal, or as it’s said in French, Moh-hree-alll.
If it perks you up any, your dancing Filipino inmates are on the front page of CNN.com this morning.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/04/dancing.prisoners/index.html
i wouldnt take the kids to sedona. the grand canyon sure, but sedona is not very kid-friendly. actually i dont really remember even seeing any kids there which seems kind of weird now. anyway, sedona is beautiful and the weather is gorgeous, but its kind of a tourist trap and everything is very expensive (like if you want to do any spa things or nice dining).
…i dont really remember even seeing any kids there which seems kind of weird now.
“Soylent Green is PEOPLE!”
My vote is NE. We went there for our honeymoon. I don’t remember having any parking issues. We stayed in quite a few B&Bs and the only one I remember people being overly chatty at breakfast was in Nantucket.
So, I just moved to VA from Phoenix after living there for almost 11 years. Not sure what time of year you’re looking at, but Phoenix/Scottsdale can be a GREAT deal after October 1. You will need to rent a car, but you can stay in a fab resort for cheap. Lots of wonderful restaurants, museums. Sedona is just about an hour away, so a nice day trip. Seriously, if you want to do AZ, let me know and I’ll give you a hand.
I highly recommend the Candleshop Inn in York, Maine. Barbara, the lovely woman who runs the place, is incredible — she teaches 7am yoga, makes delicious breakfast, and runs an impeccable operation. It’s a B & B, yes, but… you’re definitely under no obligation to, uh, chit chat with the other guests. There’s parking behind the house, and you can walk easily to the town and beach. York Beach is lovely, the surrounding scenery is beautiful.
We stopped there on our way to Boston after spending a handful of days in Quebec/Montreal. Driving in Montreal was no big deal (and it’s really an incredible city, if you get a chance to go!) — but driving in the “old city” in Quebec is a nightmare, and parking is even more obnoxious. We spent more to park in Quebec than it cost to stay in our hostel!!
I actually came across this blog searching for recipes for rice noodles — and saw that you made some pad see eiw back in 2006 🙂 If you have that successful noodle recipe handy, I’d love to get my hands on it!
Hey. Actually loved perusing ones own article. It was most definitely educational and effective. I hope you can’t mind me blogging about this article by myself website. Will also be conducting a linkback to this. Love your theme!