Another month another day to cover with a theme, finally I wanted an open day. Tuesdays have become about reviews of books, movies, TV shows, and the like. So Wednesday is wide open, anything goes today whatever hits me. It may be something I did sometime ago. It might just be an idea that natters at my mind. Heck it could be a rant on or praise of something I feel worthy. It could just be a photo post, like today. A photo I made or found (with the right licensing) that I like. It’s a wait and see game for us both. Sit back and enjoy whatever comes at you on Wednesdays and let’s both hope it helps us get over the hump toward Friday.
Today is a photo I made in Williamsburg, Virginia July 14, 2013.
For Memorial Day I went down to Tennessee to spend time with my parents. My has gotten into Greene County history and doing posts on Down Home Greeneville on Facebook with a short historical write up about each. While I was there I took her around to make photos. Needless to say I made more than a few of my own.
Then I got home with my camera chips and realized I’d not loaded up all the photos from our trip last July to Williamsburg Virginia and the Norfolk area. I know I’m not done with the cruise pictures. Oh and winter – there’s been a really hard winter in there with shots of it, snow sculptures and such. Any way it turns out I have a few thousand pictures to upload. Okay maybe not multiple thousands but definitely over a thousand. So hold on to your hat for a few photo posts as real life time permits. There will be….
July of last year the trip to the beach, Williamsburg, and Mike’s Navy graduation (that I didn’t get to see due to flight booking, my agent ahem named Mike booked my flight before the ceremony not after)….
Mike enjoying a dessert while on vacation – Oct in OrlandoLife is a beach when on vacation in Virginia in July.The brutal winter here had us all thinking of the tropics.Yes I actually have over 400 photos from Williamsburg.Oh you know there were pet pictures.Holidays in Tennessee.Did I mention it was a nasty winter here? It was and we did all we could to make the best of it. Ice sculpture contests and such.Of course more beading and craft sales…Going about Greene Count Tennessee making pictures with Mom.Yep and more on the cruise adventures.
So over the last three days I caught up on my uploading to Flickr. Yes over 1800 photos uploaded. Raw just off the camera no adjustments images. I’ll improve a few for future posts – maybe if time permits.
Also for my birthday I got a droid tablet (no Apple stuff for this girl) so now I can easily take stacks of comics with me to read. Expect that sometime there will be catch up on those too.
In the meantime you have been warned – photos are coming. Be prepared.
I spent last week in Norfolk Virginia. Mike was graduating from a class he took and I went to join in the festivities. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see the graduation. I had to get back on Friday to get ready for a big craft sale on Sunday. My travel agent Mike who used his mileage for my ticket booked me too close. The good news is it worked out as Mike won awards for his papers and had a special luncheon to go to so I’d been on my own any way – might as well catch a plane.
Over all my flying experience was acceptable and typical of the era. Seats too small tightly packed planes, delays, missed connections due to delays, expensive food ($5 for two boiled eggs!), security searches, kids screaming for an hour on the flight – you know the usual joys of flying. Still let’s concentrate on the positive shall we?
During my layover in Philly there was this strolling band – They came by a few times while I waited and made me smile each time. (my first youtube up-load! This old dog is learning new tricks!) Not bad for my first phone video.
Then I got to Norfolk and went down to the rental car. The man saw that I was adding my spouse and we were military. (psst he looked like Mr. Sulu from Star Trek OH MY! ) He dug through and found a set of keys that was separable by the two large split rings they were on. Which was good when it came time for me to go to the airport and Mike to go to the ceremony. Also he briefed me on how to start a Prius. I’ve never driven a hybrid or a car with keyless start. First off press the break to the floor and while pressing start gently press the gas with the other foot. Also the park isn’t in the gear shift but a button. Finally the gear shift isn’t really a gear shift it’s a switch when you choose a gear it beeps shows on the heads up display what gear you are in and the stick pops back to what we old fogies consider neutral. Still I enjoyed watching the energy display on how I was charging and using the battery/engine.
I got a lot of writing done. I also rested up from the fever. Things are getting better but yep that flu lasts the full two weeks as promised. Still did a few fun things. Went to Colonial Williamsburg from which there will be several photo posts from that. Also one afternoon we went to the beach and just floated in the waves. Again more photo posts from that.
Then the big news was Mike won an award for his papers. I have to say as his editor I am very proud of him! He’s the writer though and all the credit goes to him. I have to say I think the time was a recharging time for me. I enjoyed comic books, getting back into blogging, and quite honestly rest in quiet. I didn’t turn on the TV or radio but enjoyed silence and alone time. Being an introvert (yes I am soundly an introvert by Myers-Briggs unlike some other traits where I’m 50-50 splity. It only means I need alone time to recharge, being with people doesn’t charge me it expends me even if I enjoy it) it was a great recharge time.
Then my travels home. Due to flight delays I missed my connection. Cudos to US Airways for handling so smoothly. Once I got in the terminal they had a new flight booked for me (the next one just a few hours later) and exchanged my boarding pass for my missed flight for my new one. So in a few hours while I relaxed in a very comfy chair at Charlotte airport and read comics (on my phone but more about that later). In the end I got home just fine and in a timely manner.
A great trip that was much needed to get away and rest up. Loved it!
King Neptune of Virginia Beach is their trademark. He stands looking from the sea to the tourists.
Mike is enrolled in this class on-line at the Joint Forces College in Norfolk, Virginia. As part of the course they meet in person for training two different weeks. One was just a few weeks ago in January. When Mike asked me if I was interested in going to Norfolk/Va Beach in January. You KNOW I answered yes with visions of snow piles at the end of the driveway feet tall and having endured winter in Wisconsin since before Thanksgiving dancing in my mind. I accepted my new job with the provision I had that week off to go to the beach.
Well, it didn’t turn out as I envisioned. First off this has been a great winter with less that 30 inches total for the whole season. Heck we even had some warm days in the low 50s in January. Those days happened to be the same time I was in Norfolk during a cold snap where they were – you guessed it in the 50s. No snow on the ground when I left nor when I returned. The real cold rolled in the next week when Norfolk returned to their pleasant highs in the 60s on good days touching 70. Outside my window as I write this sets 11 inches of snow. 8 of which fell while I was at work Thursday night. Even when I plan a get away from Old Man Winter I don’t get away.
However I did turn the trip into a writer’s retreat. In the mornings I made my breakfast and wrote in office there with our our. In the afternoon I enjoyed checking out beading stores and strolling on the beach. I ate good seafood fresh like you can NEVER get in Chicago. I slept in and was productive. So despite meeting my dreams of warming my bones after a Wisconsin below zero winter not being met – I’ll take this mild winter and a relaxingly productive week away any month!
First off I’ll show you our rooms. We stayed on base where Mike could walk to the Joint Forces College. Luckily that left me with the rental car to explore after my morning writer’s retreat.
This is where we stayed. We didn’t go for the one story cottages – not for us we got a room in the duplex housing that had been converted into three rooms with a common kitchen.The little office area with our room where I’d write in the mornings with coffee handy!Main room area with the microwave/fridge where I could make my eggbeaters each morning for breakfast. Bed was VERY comfy, very!Beautiful sunset views looking oceanward from our roomIt was eerie driving down at the tourist area of Virginia Beach it was deserted made me think that zombies were coming!I had the beach to myself most of the time. It was a nice day just needed a wind breaker. I was loving the sun!No kiddies were there to play on the play area things. I swang and watched the surf.What company I did have on occasion were all bundled up like they were expecting an arctic blast. I longed for a time when 50 seems cold enough for a tuke, gloves, and a winter coat. Some day again, some day again!As I said in the header picture King Neptune here watches the tourists a Virginia Beach. He’s something to see. So full of details great and small around all angles. If you ever go there allow time to circle and appreciate the artistic work he is!I love how his face looks grandfatherly but strong. I’d not want him as a foe!One of the tiny octopi around him, there other small sea creatures too! Each rendered with the detail of the giant statue.His concrete base has crashing waves etched into it! So lovely.Don’t miss the schools of various species of fish supporting him. They are rendered perfectly!It was so good to see flowers and greenery growing outside. Loved it. Sat and stared at it just taking it all in…. ahhhThe hotels on the strip were doing their part to make themselves inviting. Stopped and had a cup of coffee here. I was toasty warm with the heaters (the silver dome things) and the fire pits going. The waitress asked me “Where’s your coat?” I said I was from Wisconsin – “Oh well no wonder you sat outside.”Since I had the beach, the restaurant, and all to myself. Here’s a shot of the fancy bathroom at the restaurant I think the heat was set at 75 in there… warm, very warm.Oh well even the walk way over to the parking garage was warm and green.
Mary Louise Eklund 