Friday, June 24, 2011

Back in the Saddle..in my swimsuit

After quite a long hiatus, I am back in the blogging saddle. One would imagine that I am absolutely *bursting* with interesting blog fodder, but I will admit, I am doing a lot of blinking at the screen.

blink.

blink-blink.

I think I may be suffering from "Island-Brain", which causes the afflicted to suffer from bouts of continued laziness, desire to lay by the pool, swimming in place of showering and day-drinking.

The Dominican was a great trip. Very relaxing with a zip lining and surfing excursions (Yes, me too. In fact, I was a natural and will be joining the Rockies Chapter of the USA Surf Team). The kids were their usual level of awesomeness in the face of long travel days, and enjoyed many hours in the pool as well as the all-inclusive room service option.

The Onion family, surfing the baby waves..


Sweet Baboo #1 doing her thang. 
Like real tourists, we Northerners got a little too red in spite of our continued application of SPF 1,000 sunscreen. The Dominican mosquitoes appeared to ENJOY my skin marinated in Deep Woods Off.  We spent some time near some Irish folks, commiserating. We drank a LOT of free drinks by the pool, and on only one occasion did I hover near blackout status. It was pretty warm unless you were by the pool, prompting one moment of after dinner skinny dipping in the pool while Special Agent held my dress and played lookout.

I didn't blog.
I didn't check Facebook.
In fact, I didn't even turn on the phone.

Sweet Baboo #2 refused to cut his hair so he could have the right
surfer look for this excursion. I think he pulled it off, don't you? 
It was both nice and a little strange to unplug entirely. When I woke early, I went for a walk, checked out the flamingos, read my Kindle. As the week wore on, I felt a small amount of anxiety about not being in contact with my family and friends AT ALL, but being cheap about roaming charges won out.

The only time I really cringed that I didn't have the phone camera was when I came across a fellow traveler sitting poolside in a Euro-speedo number, who looked like an elder Zeus with flowing silver mane, a smoldering pipe (you heard me) and giant headphones over his ears. It was a missed opportunity, for certain.

I am sure he is wearing a speedo in this. Add a pipe, some
giant headphones and a lilty  Greek barrage of chatter and
you've got it.
It was interesting that during conversations, no one's phone rang, no one checked their messages. It was relaxing, uninterrupted. Why in the world are we always feeling the need to check in? In the Dominican, we unplugged for a week and you know what happened?

Nothing.

World still spun, work still continued. When we arrived in New York and turned on our phones the messages were not urgent and everyone survived without us for a week. We checked in, but I noticed we didn't have the death grip on the blackberry that we had when we flew out. I see it creeping back in, but I am trying to fight it.

"Island-Brain" isn't all bad.

 So what if I sleep in my swimsuit?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you had fun! How many trys did it take to get a surfing picture of everybody up at the same time, that was a great photo!!

Mandie

Bretthead said...

Welcome back! It's hard to believe the PR world gets along without you, isn't it?

Random Girl said...

Yahoo! You're back! Glad you had a chance to recharge and unplug for a bit...does a mind, body, and soul good to check out once in a while. You didn't miss much around here...unfortunately!

Sandra said...

Congratulations! I guess if I HAD to, I could do it. Then again, it's easy for me to say when we can't even afford to drive to Grand Forks, North Dakota, never mind the Dominican. Glad you had a very decadent vacay! But glad you are back!

Reptiles in the Ice Cream said...

I think baboo #2's hair looks great, just the right touch.

Reptiles in the Ice Cream said...

I missed you. Glad you are back. You missed nothing I am sorry to say.

Danger Boy said...

Oh, how I long for island-brain. When the world is still moving at a relaxed pace, before the mania sets in again...I remember it well.
Welcome back.

DCHY said...

So glad you enjoyed your vacation without your "devices". I have tried to get my wife to relinquish her need to have her Facebook time and/or pager time. Never succeeded. Time for a vacation!

Momma's Soapbox said...

Island brain is a great fog to be in.... It's so hard to put down the iphone....Hard to skip the "morning paper"-ie:Facebook

Glad you had fun!!!

Sweet Lily said...

Wow! You're back! I missed you so much! :(
Wow! You had plenty of fun! I wish I could join you... :(

Mrs. Tuna said...

Vacation??? Color me jealous.

Nicki said...

Well, look at you, being all RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING AND HAVING SUPERFUN VACATIONS. I don't hate you. Nope. No hate here.

Okay, maybe a little.

Elle said...

That is awesome!!! I so need Island-brain right now!!!! I'm going to live vicariously through you, put on my swim suit and lay in the tub with ocean sounds on. I'm making pina coladas as I type....Happy you had fun and only hate you a little. : )