I was just wondering if any of you have a summer vacation planned? We usually take ours in August if we take one. Last year I planned a huge Disney trip for me, hubby, my oldest son and hubby's cousin.......planned it for 6 months......was so excited. It was scheduled for August 12th through the 22nd.
Well.....August rolls around and here comes Hurricane Charley....lol. He was scheduled to hit the same day we planned to drive down. What did we do? We drove anyway...lol. Straight to Orlando. We figured that it would die down quite a bit by the time it got to Orlando so we left early that morning and got there about noon (its a 9 hour drive). We took a nap and got up just in time for the hurricane...lol.
None of us had ever seen a hurricane before because....well.....we don't have them here in Nashville........we got to gainsville and heard all the evacuations......and debated staying overnight there....and then thought 'what the heck...you only live once'......so we went on.
It was the most amazing thing I had ever been through in our life......we were total tourists......not taking precautions at all. We opened the doors of our house and video taped all of it......there were trees snapping in our front yard that we caught on tape....part of the roof blew off the house and we taped that.....the swimming pool cover (it was screened in) was ripped to shreds....yeah we filmed that too....lol. Then the next morning we, again, the tourists that we are.......went around filming everyones houses. It was a disaster. We then went to Walt Disney World and had the time of our lives because the park was EMPTY! It was awesome. Then we left....and there was NO gas, No food, No electricity, No anything...lol. We had 4 days of scorching hot weather, a green swimming pool, no AC, and were like varmits running around searching for food. Nothing was open, there was no ice, and no way to get food. We finally found a Waffle House at 3Am and all they had left was hash browns....so we all stuffed on hash browns. They closed after that....because they were out of food. The next night we found another Waffle House about 30 miles away that had very little food as well. I had never seen anything like it in my life. I felt so sorry for those people. It really was like a war zone.
It made good for all the Disney parks though.....barely anyone there at any of them.
After 5 days there, we drove to Daytone Beach which was barely hit...and had a great time.
Once it was all over........we all agreed that it was the BEST vacation we ever had. It was non-stop excitement and we have all of this footage of the hurricane. On the way home I told my husband that it made me feel guilty that I saw someone elses tragedy as excitement. I had a house to return to......many of them didn't. And then we got home.....so glad to see our home after seeing what a hurricane can do.....and couldn't wait to get inside to our beds to relax.......We opened our door to the most awful stench I had evere known in my life. Come to find out......just before leaving my hubby flipped the breakers off to the stove, hot water heater, etc......and accidentally flipped the breaker to the fridge. Its a side-by-side fridge/freezer and the freezer had about 20 lbs of chicken in it. It was oozing out onto my kitchen floor. The entire house wreaked of rotted chicken. It was then that i realized that karma had paid me back for thinking a hurricane was exciting.......lol
Anyway, where is everyone planning to go this year? We are going to skip this year because of the remodeling....but have decided to go out of the country next year. I have never been on a plane....so I'm a little freaked out. Have any of you ever been to another country? If so, where would you recommend?
I have had the same hours for 30 years. In the last 25 years, I took one week off. If I miss a single day at work, I may not make rent.... Enjoy your vacations, enjoy the options that some do not have.
That was quite a vacation you had Ansy! A couple of gals at work were planning a trip there at the same time and both of them cancelled their trips. I probably wuold have as well.
The end of July I'm going to Cape Cod for a week with my friend who runs the obed. school & her husband. It is a nice relaxing time. Unfortunately I can't bring Farley & Chloe because she's bringing her 4 dogs so Jen & the boys will stay at my house with them. It'll be like a party for Farley & Chloe cuz they love my 2 grandsons!
I have been to Puerto Rico a couple of times - once on vacation & once on business. It has some absolutely gorgeous areas - beautiful beaches & the rain forest is awesome. Old San Juan is beautiful. There are many really depressed areas and some areas that are crime ridden but I think you can find those in most vacation spots. We spent a day on a chartered 50 ft sailboat and it was great.
I'll be spending the rest of my vacation time at my camp with Farley & Chloe. Jen & the boys will probably come & spend some time with me too. Of course, that is contingent on me getting my act together & getting up there & opening it up - that's the only thing that's a pain in the neck! Of course, once I get that done I can go up there on the weekends too so it is well worth the work in the long run.
I haven't been on a summer vacation since..........ummmm...................................2000. That was the summer I spent down in Georgia, working at Winn-Dixie and living with my aunt, uncle, and cousin. That was the best time of my life!! I miss taking vacations!! Haven't even been on our honeymoon yet, and I believe there's gonna be a cold day in Hell before I get one. I'm saving all my tips from this year in a piggy bank at the salon, but I don't think it'll amount to a whole lot- not enough to go on a honeymoon anyway. So, everyone enjoy your vacations!! Think of me and Kittysmom that can't have them.
We all are going to Oklahoma the end of June for my brother's wedding.....yay! (not the brother that lives with us). His wedding is July 4th and it will be fun because our anniversary is July 3rd so we can spend it there. I have never been to Oklahoma for the 4th even though my family makes it a huge day. It will be hard without my dad there but at least we will be able to see the rest of the family.
My fam and Matt went to Key Largo last summer for 10 days....fantastic! This June Matt and I are going ALONE (YAYAYAYAY) to Tennessee to get a chalet or hotel room. You have to be 21 yrs old to get one but his company is paying for us to go, so maybe we can hoodoo them! ha
I won't be going anywhere this summer. I only get one day off a week, and the kennel where I work is a three-person operation, so getting someone to cover for me so that I can have time off isn't really practical. The owner is busy with all of the home care dogs, and the other employee doesn't want to work all day seven days a week. Imagine that. However, I don't have to deal with office politics, so I can't really complain.
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"Thought is an invisible and subtle power that mocks all the efforts of tyranny." Alexis de Tocqueville
Wow...seems like most are not having a vacation this year..I dont think i have had a real vacation in almost 40 years. I remember as a kid when my Dad was alive we went to Est Tawas in the mid part of the State on LAke Huron to vacation and we rented a cabin. It was fun as a kid..but I dont think I have had a real once since. When I was in my 20's I worked 3 jobs (2 full time and 1 weekend job) so if I was off for a week or so at one..I had to work the other ones..And after kids came into the picture...there is never enough money to have a decinet vacation. My Hubby ran in a marathon last year...so we stole away for a day and a half really not even a full weekend..we stayed in Traverse City in the upper left of state..and it was beautiful...kids got to swim in the pool and we really didnt have too much time for much else..but that is how we do things..then we only had 3 dogs to have some one come to the house to watch..now we have more..so it is probably impossable to get some one in...Then we went to Tn to get the Min pins we just thought we had to have..and then went to SC to visit hubbies cousin...so we were only gone 3 nights then...so i guess it is fair to say we have micro minin vacations if at all...I hope those who do vacation have a blast and those who dont have at least the time to relax and enjoy...
Relax?? Yeah right!! LOL. I'm spending my week's paid vacation on moving!! And getting the house the way we want it and such. I'll be starting vacation on Thursday and going till next Thursday. I have one haircut that I need to come in for, go figure. But otherwise, it's packing and moving and situating. fun.
I haven't been on a vacation in years. And I don't have one planned for this year either. But next year me and Brad plan on getting out of town for hopefully a week. We just have to find a babysitter for a week. But I don't think I can leave my kid that long. But I would love to go to Colorado. For some reason I just love it there.
I am going to Honululu, Hawaii and Walt Disney..... I am also planning on going to Rome with my family for one week and my friends/family for the other! You should go somewhere exotic and try some new things!
Summer vacaaaaation, summer vaacccaaaaation. I love it. i love it. i love vacaaaations. i love vacaaaaaations. la i love vacaaaaations. i love vacaaaations. I love them and dont you toooooooo!!!!!
You should go back to the zoo for your vacation, but thats just the suggestion from me & the EMs.
Cozumel IMO is the most gorgeous Mexican City followed by Cabo San Lucas.
Since your husband likes the occasional smokey smoke I suggest Jamaica. Montego Bay to be exact.
Hawaii is nice. IMO Maui has the best hot spots, if you like to party...to relax go to Kauai (sp?). Done both, but it depends on your mood and what kind of vacation you are planning.
If you book now...you could save some money since you aren't planning on going until next year.
I'd love to go to Disney World. But, we arealready in vacation land. Maybe a cabin on the beach or something? Nothing planned yet except the kids in swiming lessons.
Of course, once I get that done I can go up there on the weekends too so it is well worth the work in the long run.
Haven't even been on our honeymoon yet, and I believe there's gonna be a cold day in Hell before I get one. I'm saving all my tips from this year in a piggy bank at the salon, but I don't think it'll amount to a whole lot- not enough to go on a honeymoon anyway. So, everyone enjoy your vacations!! Think of me and Kittysmom that can't have them. 
"Thought is an invisible and subtle power that mocks all the efforts of tyranny." Alexis de Tocqueville
