I Scream 08 – delayed post

I know – I’ve been so bad about updating things lately.

I feel like I’m still catching up from vacation two weeks ago!

But let me share with you one of my favorite things about Cape Cod.  I love this place so much that I will drive 30 minutes just for the experience:

I was so excited about getting my ice cream that I couldn't keep the camera still!

Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville, MA.  They’ve been in the biz for a few generations now.  My uncle remembers going there as a kid. (although, he’s really not that much older than me.)  I found out about this place on Food Network’s Unwrapped program.  When I was staying in nearby Mashpee a few summers back, I drove around Centerville until I found this place.  True to television, the line was out the door and around the building.  (Just look at the pic above for glimpse of the crowd.) But the summer staff kids are PROS!  The line moves at a wicked fast pace, and you never have to wait too long for some great, HOMEMADE ice cream.

The house specialty is their frozen pudding.  But that has raisins in it – so I passed.  I can’t remember what I had the first few summers I stopped by, but I remember that it was good enough to bring me back for more.  My first trip there was to de-stress.  I was on the verge of a vacation management meltdown, and the only thing that could save me was some frozen goodness.  Last year, I took my niece for her first visit.

This year, I met up with my auntie Alicia, uncle Matt, and wicked cool cousins: Ken, Emily, & Stephen.  It was a 1/2 way meeting point between us (perfect!).  It was HIGHLY recommended that I try the Coconut Ice Cream.  And it was worth the drive, let me tell you.  Cool, creamy, with just enough “roughness” in the ice cream to get some of the shredded coconut texture.  Wow.  Thank you, Mercer gang for recommending what is a new favorite.

If you’re ever in Centerville, MA – you simply must make the detour on your way to or from Craigshead beach to check out the place locals go for the best ice cream around.

Recovering from Vacation…

So – yeah! It’s summer!  It took its sweet time, but it finally feels like the warmth is starting to penetrate Michigan.

Of course, I didn’t realize this until I escaped to Cape Cod for a few days.  I loved it – and have so much to share about my great family and friends.  I got to take in some great views, eat some fabulous lobster rolls, and hit one of my favorite ice cream shops.

Oh yeah – and injure myself three ways in the process.  Some people like to relax and rejuvinate themselves while taking time off.  Not me – I like to bring the hurt.    Truthfully, I don’t really like it – it just kind of happens.  I’m pretty unlucky that way.

Day One at the beach:  This happens:

This is not what I meant when I said I wanted lobster....

Just like it does every stinkin year.  You would think I would know better by now.  The front of me wasn’t too bad.  I remembered sunblock on my chest, face and arms.  What I completely forgot (Hello, Captain Obvious,) was my back.  Which is also why I look like I’m molting right now.

 

Next to go was the feet.  I bought some running shoes a few months ago, and went with a slightly different style since I started getting some injuries last year.  I like the shoes, but I have been getting a lot of blisters in them.  I had to walk the last mile of my 6 mile run on Day Two since my arches were in so. much. pain.   Huge blister on each instep.  Which then popped and filled with beach sand on Day Three. 

So now I’m back home and recouperating. 🙂  Took a few days off of running, and am now getting back into the swing of things. 

Although I do miss taking my morning conference calls in this place:

room with a view

I also spent three marathon days of intensive training for my company – hence the hiatus on this site recently.  But I have lots to share, and will be playing catch up over the next few days.

Numero Ocho

8.) I visit Cape Cod just about every year.

beautiful cape cod beach shot

I love vacations! But I guess that’s not too special about me. Everyone loves vacations, right? I just rolled up to my cottage in Cape Cod this morning. This is my third summer in a row here and I. LOVE. IT.

It’s not just the beach (great). Or the sand (yay) or the Sunshine, and the smell of salt water in the air (yummm). It’s also that my parents are here, My aunt & uncle are 4 cottages down, and my great-aunt and great-uncle are right across the street from them. Lots of other family & friends will be invading over the upcoming weeks and crashing at one pad or another.

The Doherty’s are the new Kennedy’s. We have our own flippin’ compound here. 🙂 And I have a feeling that it’s only going to grow in the coming years.

And then there’s the seafood. (Can I get a w00t w00t! for Lobster Rolls?). And the unique architecture. The grassy dunes, and a Dunkin Donuts on every corner. sigh. It really is a piece of heaven….

This is the first year in a long time that I haven’t had a least one girlfriend come out with me. I love traveling with my girls. And it’s not just because I’m chronically single. I really do have great girlfriends.

p.s.: does the title of this post remind anyone else of the movie Dodgeball? ESPN-8, “The Ocho!”

change of plans

In the words of Kelly B’s grandma –  I’ve decided to get off my pity-pot.   It’s about time.

There are still moments each day that I get a little bit blue, but then I just focus on all that is going well in my life right now.

The DSW’s (my fabulous small group)

Family

Friends

Kenya

work

Golf (not playing great, but I always have a great time)

enjoying a nice dinner on a Friday night with some good company.

my health.  (thanks to Joe F – I try not to take it for granted)

 

So there.  As Melissa put it – I seemed like my usual fun self on Saturday night at the big bonfire party.

But just to keep the momentum going, I’m planning a little vacationtherapy.  Hitting the Buick Open this weekend (Saturday am, Sunday afternoon) with a detour to Grand Rapids in between to see my bff Kelly.  Nothing like a some quality girlfriend time to put things in perspective.  I’ve also booked my annual Cape Cod trip this morning.

Lastly, I reserved my time off request for a long weekend overarching black-Saturday as I’m now calling it.  Not sure where I’m going, but I’m getting the heck out of Dodge that weekend.  Any suggestions for a fun, cheap vacation spot are appreciated. 🙂

Still working out a few kinks here and there.  Thanks for your patience in the mean time.

Monday Meme

Here’s a little something I picked up from Supertiff.  I thought it’d be fun to do while I was waiting on hold a few times today.

Here were her directions:

The concept:
1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page of results, pick one image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into Big Huge Lab’s Mosaic Maker to create a mosaic of the picture answers.

The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food? right now?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. What is one word that describes you?
12. What is your flickr name?

 

This is what mine came out looking like.  I tried to keep it a little interesting.  I’ll let you guess on a few for now and maybe explain them later.

Here are the photo descriptions.

 1. High School Cheerleader, 2. Golden Corn !, 3. High School Cheerleader, 4. Verde no Aquarius, 5. feverpitch, 6. Mojito Power, 7. Great Barrier Reef, 8. tiramisu, 9. The “Potty” Room, 10. JESUS, 11. Men I would marry III, 12. Pompon is a… GIRL!

 

Countdown

Is it Friday yet??

I feel like this has been just the longest week so far this year. It doesn’t help that I haven’t been able to even get home before 9:30pm in 4 days. I really need to take a good look at my calendar and start purging.

But I have only 1 day left until I get to see my favorite girl in the world. My niece is in a dance recital this weekend and my parents and I are traveling down to Charlotte to see her. I haven’t seen my sister since January and my niece since Christmas. I am so jones-ing for some time with the goofballs.

They used to live nearby and we were all:

and:

And now that they live 10 hrs away – I have to be a weirdo all by myself.

Well, not entirely. I have managed to recruit a few partners in crime. But it’s not the same. I love my girls and I can’t wait to spend some time with Miss Fabulous herself

Have a great weekend!