NC so far (photo heavy)

So, we got in the car at 11:30a and started for Nags Head from Richmond. We made pretty good time until we got about, oh, what should be an hour away. From there on in, we inched through traffic for three more hours for a total of 6 looooong hours in the car with two restless parents, and finally, a whiny child who just wanted to see the BEACH already!

We got here and whoa - the house is gorgeous. 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and full waterfront. Hearing the waves at night is very calming. Except for Ryan, who "is scarey" and won't sleep in any bed that I am not in. So much for any "fun" this vacation. A mommy and daddy sandwich makes alone time nearly impossible.

Yesterday we went for a tour of a ship from colonial days and then to the aquarium where Ryan flipped out over sharks, something he's been talking about nonstop for weeks. Seeing them so close was apparently a no-no.

Mark and Chuck attempted to scope out some nightlife last night (or see bikini clad babes in a bar) only to be seriously disappointed in the selection. Awe, poor things.

Today, Mark and I set out early for the grocery store having found out the hard way that we didn't pack enough diaper wipes. Oh, and that not being able to predict your time of the month can make vacation a literal pain in the ass. On the way back, I notice a black SUV following us up the driveway. Apparently Sara was a bad girl and was speeding. Sometimes marrying a cop has its advantages. Thank you Mr. Nice Policeman for letting me off the hook.

We attempted to drive to the northern most part of the island to drive on the beach to see wild horses, and all we ended up with was some very wild men pushing our car out of the sand. I warned Mark our car was not equipped to handle the beach driving. Perhaps he'll listen to me next time, and let me drive.

Mark is currently taking Ryan fishing for the first time, and Mark was like a kid over this. He was way more excited than any grown man should ever be. We'll see how well this goes...

While they fished, I went with Cara and family to check out a lighthouse (already forgot the name - which is, by the way, why I am writing this on vacation instead of waiting until we get back) and then I went for my first ever run on the beach. 30 minutes of beach running is akin to... hmmm, let me think.... HELL. Thankfully, no cameras allowed for this un-pretty sight.

Here I sit in my hotel room...

We made it nine hours to Richmond, VA, en route to the Outer Banks, NC, in the car today without one word of complaint from my favorite 3-year-old. Miraculous, no? Mommy and daddy had more grumblings than little super kitty. Now, granted he had his little imaginary friend "Katie" to accompany him, but still, I am amazed. Portable DVD players are great inventions. We have the rest of our trip, approximately 3 hours with no traffic, to head through tomorrow. Ryan has already started to beg to see "the beach." The concept means nothing to him since he's never really seen one, but, I'm pretty sure he'll be happy with where ever we land semi-permanently. So will I, as, currently, it is 2:14am and I can't sleep. A king size bed with two boys who apparently have no concept of my existence has made sleep impossible. Ugh. I damn well better get lots of naps when we get there.

Oh, I forgot to mention... Mark is running his 4th and 5th marathons this fall, Rochester and NYC, and I am so proud. Really. But he got up at 5:30am to run 8 miles today. Who does that??? He ran 16 yesterday (technically Thursday). I sometimes wonder what is wrong with the man while secretly wishing I had an ounce of his motivation. Know what I have done for exercise in the past week? One yoga class and 8+ hours of driving. No wonder my ass keeps getting bigger.

Look what I'm.... making (Photo Friday)

It was supposed to be look at what I MADE, however, I never finish anything, so... I had to go with two blankets I've been making for, well... forever. One's for my bedroom and one was for a friend's baby, who is 9 months old, so, I think it will be waiting a while longer. Oops. Someone is bound to have a child after I finish it right?

Oh, and as Kristin said, I also made Ryan (well, technically a doctor did, but I carried and birthed him so I will claim credit). He insisted on being in the picture too. But at least I finished him.

Day late 13




Thirteen Things about Sara's Favorite Books 1. Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson. She is probably my favorite author ever. I gave her a chance even though I didn't think I'd like it as her style is pretty different, but with every book I get sucked in so deep I linger over it for days after I am done. This one especially. 2. The Story of O by Pauline Reage. Um, this one just opened some doors in my mind. I will leave it at that... ;) 3. Taming the Beast by Emily Maguire. Ah, yeah, ditto to #2. But also this reminded me so much of my own destructive tendencies, essentially the pursuit of passion, it was freaking mind blowing. 4. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I read this first at 15 and could not get what people saw in it. I re-read it last year and got so much more depth out of it. His character development is superb and I got dragged into his insanity. I lost myself in it completely. I love books that do that. 5. Dry by Augusten Burroughs. Anyone who has ever lived with an alcoholic will get why this memoir is the greatest thing ever. Getting some insight into his mind was gut-wrenching one second and absolutely roll on the floor hilarious the next. My favorite of his many great books. 6. The Tattooed Girl by Joyce Carol Oates. It's set in my hometown (although not really factual) and I just loved how the main character allows himself to get sucked in by a girl who is oddly reminiscent of me at one point. SAD but loved it. 7. A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I read this for a class in college and I have re-read it several times since. It's what made me become at Atwood fan. Love her. 8. Night by Elie Wiesel. Also assigned in college but a perpetual favorite. It's short but so completely moving and life altering it's almost beyond comprehension. He also spoke at my college graduation. Amazing man. 9. The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck. Recommended by a friend and I just love Steinbeck's way of developing his main character and how he cuts to the core of sadness and abject loneliness we can experience even in the presence of others, or sometimes because of it. 10. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. First read in high school this is one I come back to again and again. I can exactly say why, but I love it. Reminds me of what it was to be young and stupid. 11. Little Children by Tom Perotta. Not exactly considered great literature, but I loved it. It was pretty intense and the characters were so real and relate-able that I could not put it down. 12. Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare. Who doesn't love the most tragic love story ever? Again first assigned in high school, but I re-read it every once in a while because I always pick up something I missed before. It probably has two of the best movie adaptations ever (although I prefer the first one). 13. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I love children's stories in general but these made my list because of just how obsessive they made me. A Wrinkle in Time was a close second, but Harry still wins. And the honorable mention goes to Kurt Vonnegut. One of my favorite authors ever but I couldn't pick just one.




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New tattoo!!

I've been wanting this forever. There are a few others I want to get, but, good tattoos are expensive and well, I don't love pain. I do however, LOVE my new tattoo! What is it? Well, I have been doing yoga for the past 8 years. It's the one thing of exercise I adore and do every chance I can. I am also a convert to Buddhist principles (notice I don't call myself one, that would be too conformist - I can see the eye rolling, so stop it!). This is the symbol for OM, or basically for me, a reminder to breathe and live in the moment. It's read left to right when I am looking down at my own arm. It's easily covered by my watch as my job typically frowns on visible tattoos/piercings.
And for those who doubted my freakishly small hands, these are my hands in my three year olds. He can reach the middle of my fingers when he relaxes his hand enough. And, I just wanted a reason to hold his hands.