Saturday, June 17, 2000

I'm sorry, but I can't stop laughing about this. You do have a way with words LOL.
posted by Leah on 6/17/2000 11:12:10 PM | link

Oh, I forgot to mention the best part of last night. I fed the seagulls. If you've never done this, you need to. It was so funny. Dean and I were sitting on our motel balcony enjoying the view, when he told me to grab our bag of potato chips. He explained that all I had to do was throw one chip in the air, and the seagulls would come. I did not believe him, but he was right! Not only one came but at least 40 or so of them!! It was hilarious. There I was throwing chips in the air as fast as I could while these seagulls would catch them in mid air or screech at each other fighting over the chip. We had so many flocked around us that we practically stopped traffic. People were stopping to stare. What a scene. One couple even got out their video camera so who knows where that could end up ha-ha. It was a blast!
posted by Leah on 6/17/2000 10:23:10 PM | link

This kitty is just too cute! Love your new design, Kerri. :)
posted by Leah on 6/17/2000 10:07:30 PM | link

LOL you are naughty. I say go for it!
posted by Leah on 6/17/2000 10:04:34 PM | link

Ooh, I see Stephanie has started blogging. Looks like I'll have to update my links again! Great design btw!
posted by Leah on 6/17/2000 10:02:44 PM | link

Ok, it's time to reflect on my vacation. This vacation was one of the worst and yet best in many ways. Let me explain.

The first week was spent in Wisconsin visiting my family. I really enjoyed seeing everyone again. That was the good part. The bad part was I was so stressed out and irritable for the first couple of days, so Dean (my significant other) and I spent a lot of time arguing. We were awful. Then to make matters worse, we didn't argue privately but in front of my poor mom. By the third day, we finally stopped arguing and tried to enjoy ourselves. I don't know what our problem was. I know it takes two to argue so I accept half the blame. I know I was really feeling uptight about the visit because of Jesse's birthday, my birthday (turning 30 and dreading it), and just the memories of being in Wisconsin. So I really wasn't in the best of moods. I know Dean felt a little nervous because we stayed with my mother which was a little uncomfortable for him. We always stay at her house and usually it isn't a problem because she works everyday so we have some privacy. Well this time mom thought it would be neat if she took every other day off to spend with me. Bad idea! I love my mother dearly, but her and I cannot spend a significant amount of time together without eventually arguing. She isn't exactly pleased with some of the choices I'm making in my life and makes no effort to hide her opinions from me. She is also the world's best manipulator. I know she loves me and wants only the best for me, but sometimes she can't understand how I could want something completely different than what she'd want. I think she still has a hard time letting me make my own decisions, which seems ridiculous since I've been living as an adult and on my own since age 16.

So anyway, my mom got so sick of listening to Dean and I argue, that she lost her temper and let Dean have it. She yelled at him right in front of my best friend who had been there visiting. It was awful! When she started yelling, it brought back those childhood memories of her yelling so I just cringed and covered my ears as if I were a child again. She really embarassed Dean, and her actions were uncalled for. She really lost it. She can't comprehend that Dean and I argue and bicker but it's never about anything serious. It's a bad habit we've gotten into. I guess we both love a good debate. Some of our arguements do get out of control, but we learn from them and move on. My mother cannot understand that. I do realize it's totally unfair to put her in that uncomfortable position so Dean and I had both tried apologizing to her for our behavior. She never even let us finish and starting going off on Dean. Needless to say, he was upset then and wanted to go stay in a motel. This really upset me because the next day was my birthday and we were all supposed to go out. I just knew my birthday was ruined. I decided we may as well just go home then since my plans were ruined anyway. I told my mother my plans, and then she decided to apologize to Dean. It was a half hearted attempt. He did accept the apology, and we did stay as planned, but the tension between the two was great.

So I'm not sure if I'll be going back there in September for a visit. I didn't have a very good time so maybe once a year is enough for now. I sometimes feel as if I have to live this far away from mom just so I can have my own life. Pathetic huh?

So this week we drove to Wildwood, NJ on Tuesday. We had plans of walking the boardwalk, riding the rollercoasters, and relaxing by the ocean and pool. Well, we arrived on Tuesday afternoon, and the weather was way too cold to do much of anything. Plus it was lightly raining so that day was shot. The next morning was the same so we drove to Atlantic City and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe and stopped in the casinos. I don't really care for gambling, but it was fun playing the slots for a bit. I burned through $35 in less than a half hour so that was the end of that.

Thursday was designated for rides. We purchased armbands so we could ride anything we wanted for the entire day. All the rides are situated on piers overlooking the ocean so it was really breathtaking. We had only been riding for about an hour and a half or so when one ride did me in. It was one of those rollercoasters that first takes you forward and then backwards. It was awful. I used to be able to handle any ride, but not anymore. I got off this ride and was completely sick and felt faint. I ended up going back to the motel room and lying down for 2 hours and that was all she wrote. I was sick and misserable. I refused to go on anymore rides. I just don't understand why this would happen now as I used to love them. I had gotten sick the last time too but thought maybe it was because I hadn't fully recovered physically from the tornado. I know I'm recovered now so I'm not sure what the problem is. So Dean rode a few coasters without me while I cheered him on. We tried to make the most of it though we both realize I won't want to do the amusement park thing ever again. So our vacations will be different.

Friday was a wonderful day. We got up early, the weather was perfect, and we headed straight for the ocean. We found a nice secluded area of the beach to park our towels and went straight for the ocean. I swore I would not stick my toes in the ocean for fear of some unknown animal killing me, but Dean talked me into it. I was petrified of even walking barefoot in the sand for fear of stepping on something poisonous LOL. We held hands and finally made our way into the water. It was so neat. We ended up collecting some seashells and spent over 2 hours there. It was so relaxing. Then we went back to the motel and spent some time in the pool. It was a wonderful day and we both got a nice sunburn to show for it.

All in all, I learned so much from this vacation. I know that next time I want to spend more time on the ocean and beach relaxing, rather than walking the boardwalk a million times.......and no more rides for me. I've also learned that sometimes you just can't go home. Even after living in PA for 4 years, I sometimes thought of WI as being home. I don't anymore. I am home now where I belong. I have been struggling with homesickness for years, but I don't think I will anymore. I love my family dearly, but enjoy the freedom I have living so far away too. My family has always been so close, but that comes with the price of everyone butting into everyone else's business too. I make my own choices and refuse to be manipulated into doing anything else.

So it's back to the grind for me. I have tons of website work I need to be doing, so I better get at it.
posted by Leah on 6/17/2000 9:45:40 PM | link

I am finally back from vacation. I'm busy catching up on email and unpacking so I'll write more later.
posted by Leah on 6/17/2000 11:50:25 AM | link

Monday, June 12, 2000

I almost have everything done except for the packing. I'll be starting my second week of vacation tomorrow so I won't be around until Saturday. I'm very excited about this portion of my vacation. I plan to relax and have some fun! I might be crawling in the door after riding all those rollercoasters but it will be worth every minute. This will only be the second time in my life I've ever seen the ocean so I'm excited. I am terrified of it though. I have yet to step a toe in the water, and I'm not sure if I'll do it this time either. I just know I'll step on some jellyfish or something. I hope the beach isn't too crowded because then I can spread out my blanket, read a good book, and catch some rays. Well, I have just enought time to surf for a bit so I'll write more on Saturday or Sunday.
posted by Leah on 6/12/2000 8:45:26 PM | link

Oh I hear you! The things I do for my beloved pets. By the way, I love your new redesign!
posted by Leah on 6/12/2000 8:41:13 PM | link

I see you can definitely relate to my welcome home LOL.
posted by Leah on 6/12/2000 8:39:37 PM | link

Thanks Bev, though I'll be leaving again early tomorrow morning until Saturday. :) I really like your new blogger design. That background is fantastic!
posted by Leah on 6/12/2000 4:03:11 PM | link

Thanks Moni! Though I'm only home for today and then I leave again until Saturday for the shore. I feel so sorry for Stinker (my cat) as I'm leaving again, but what can you do. I know she'll be relieved when I'm back home to stay. :)
posted by Leah on 6/12/2000 1:17:53 PM | link

Gee this sounds familiar. I had a "friend" like that once also. Why is it so hard for people to understand that stealing ideas or copying graphics is wrong? I am only home for one day before I leave for the shore, but when I get back I'm going to do some research and start another campaign that deals specifically with this type of copyright infringement. This has got to stop!
posted by Leah on 6/12/2000 1:15:24 PM | link

Alright, so we arrived home last night after driving in rain for most of the 14.5 hours of our trip. I have two cats so we had our Aunt come and feed and water them every other day or so. Well, my one cat pukes everytime she gets nervous so of course I had 5 piles of puke to clean up when I walked in the door. Then the litter box smelled like something had died in there so that needed to be changed right away. Needless to say I spent my first hour home cleaning up puke and crap - scrubbing carpets. Luckily she did most of the damage on the rug...poor baby. She is the cat who survived the tornado so she is really precious to me. So it was the perfect ending to a long day LOL.

On the bright side, Dean purchased 2 end tables and a sofa table from my mother's Amish store for my birthday present so I'm thrilled. I had been using plant stands for end tables for 4 years now. Our living room looks so nice!

My plans for today include vacuuming, laundry (at least 3 loads), dishes, paying bills, and packing for our trip again in the morning. I guess it's going to rain tomorrow so I doubt I'll go on the rollercoasters. At least it should be sunny and nice for the rest of the week.

I have a ton of stuff to do today so I better get at it and stop procrastinating. I'll have to write more details later.
posted by Leah on 6/12/2000 8:15:51 AM | link

Sunday, June 11, 2000

Well, I made it back from WI tonight. It took us 14.5 hours so we are beat. I have a ton of stuff to catch up on tomorrow as we leave again early Tuesday for the shore. I think I'll need a vacation when I get back from my vacation LOL. Anyway, I'll have to post more later if I have the time.
posted by Leah on 6/11/2000 10:17:19 PM | link

Hey Debbie, welcome to bloggerville! Your design is absolutely breathtaking...though of course those are my favorite colors. I just got home from my first week of vacation so I have a ton of stuff to catch up on, but I will add you to my links when I update. :)
posted by Leah on 6/11/2000 10:10:13 PM | link

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