Last week I went to the beach with a friend. She was going and taking her 14yo daughter and wanted to invite me and my 13yo daughter. Another 14yo went as well. I didn’t know how the trip would go since this friend is A LOT more talkative than I am. For perspective, let’s just say that most conversations with this individual are one sided with me nodding occasionally. Nice enough people and it was an opportunity to get to know them better and have some time with my teen.

It is important to understand that I do not like riding with other people. However, since we were invited and we were taking a van, it was important for us to all ride together. Maybe this is why God opened the door for us to go on this trip.

Not even an hour down the road the friend was not staying steady in our lane. Before we left I had offered to drive. An hour in, I insisted. Friend had apparently taken her night meds that morning. Oh my. She pulled over and we switch.

It is also important to understand that I do not embark on a journey without viewing maps and studying my route…even when I have a GPS. I didn’t do that this trip.

About thirty minutes into the driver switch friend is out. I’m not talking dozing here, I checked to make sure there was still respiration. To make things even better, the road that we “stay on until we get there” offered a mandatory detour. Great. Joy. Craptastic. I detour and try to follow back to the road. May I point out that without my GPS I am directionally challenged, and I’m not that great even with it. I pull over and start digging through my geocache back for the GPS, car mount, and charger. Friend doesn’t notice. She mumbles something and then is back out. One teen is asleep, friend’s daughter is wondering if we were stopping for ice cream (really?) and my teen is looking at me wide eyed. Fortunately I had asked the address of the house so I could leave it with Djembe. Somehow I was able to recall this piece of info. (Thank you God.)

Addy in, GPS ready, back on the road…twenty minutes later…OMG this road does not exist on my GPS.

Crap.

Blackberry. Google Maps. I’m on the right track and I parallel the route that the GPS wants me to take…granted the GPS shows me driving “off road” but that’s OK. The routes sync up after about an hour and everything was OK, but that was a little stressful. On a quick RR stop I call Jem and confirm my turns then we are on our way. Friend wakes up for the last leg of the journey and slurs a few directions at me. I went with the GPS. FYI, telling someone to take “that” road when the road Y’s with an extra leg is not helpful. Specifics, please.

We made it in one piece. Take the girls to the beach for a little while that late afternoon, then scavenge for dinner. Since friend sort of napped when we returned to the house I do mean scavenge. I made cheese quesadillas.

Day 2.

I don’t sleep well away from home so it was no problem getting up for sunrise. I take my dachshund with me for a short walk. Tiki is not fond of the waves and their noise. You weren’t supposed to walk dogs on the beach there, but it was early and technically I was not walking her…I was carrying her. I was going to deposit my Tiki then go geocaching but the girls wanted to go to the amazing Donut shop, Britt’s. It didn’t open for another hour so I told them to get ready, and went back to the beach for a quick hunt nearby.

Friend is still asleep.

Took girls to Britt’s and had amazing fresh donuts, and found a nearby geocache. After returning to the house we got ready and went down to the beach for a few hours. Friend’s daughter wants to go out as far as possible. In yellow flag (should have been red) conditions I lost cool points and wouldn’t allow it.

Friend is still asleep.

Girls are tired so we return to the house, get comfortable and watch a movie. Somewhere in the middle of the movie friend wakes up and decides Subway would be good for a late lunch. I offer to go pick everything up, but she wants to buy and didn’t have cash. We need to go to the store anyway so I suggested letting the girls hang out while we ran to the store. Good idea, she was game…but was now interested in the movie. After it was over we made our journey and instead of Subway for 5 I suggested just buying a variety of sandwich material and everyone make their own. Cheaper, and it left extra for later. I lost cool points with her daughter, but oh well.

Back at the house we had our 4 PM lunch and then it was time for more beach action, this time with wave boards. Friend stays at the house, and I take the girls…again. We had fun. Yellow flag makes for great waves, but a challenge to keep three girls…ok, one of the three girls…in check about how far out to go. More cool points lost.

I took a lot of great pictures of the girls and really had a good time with my teen and her friends. When we returned to the house friend was in her room asleep. Really? Guess so. It was every man for himself for dinner. After a movie I decide to call it and go to my room to read. It had been a long day, with an early start. About 11 I am turning in when friend knocks on the door. WTH? NOW you decide to wake up and want to chat? I don’t like “chatting” when I’m not wiped out tired! We chat. Sort of.

Sunday reads about the same. I took in the sunrise and a five mile walk on the beach, but was joined by my teen. It was great time spent together. We get back to the house and go back to bed. When I get up friend is up. About 10 AM I decide I’ve had enough TV and take my book down to the beach. I had kid duty yesterday, and I can’t sit inside on a pretty day.

After lunch they want to go to a local discount store. By two they are ready to start the day and we head off to cheap store. It wasn’t my kind of place, but they got to shop a little and do their thing. We all go to the beach that afternoon and enjoy before the stormy weather moves in. We had mediocre mexican food that night and prepared for our early departure the next day. Ready for it. I don’t sleep well away from home and this had been a weird adventure.

I let friend start the drive home. She seemed up to it. After about thirty minutes I told her to pull over, it was time for me to drive. I was perfectly willing to take my teen and all of our stuff out of the vehicle if she refused. Fortunately, she didn’t. I drove us home without issue. The whole way I am thinking about the fact that she wants to make this trip again in a few weeks with her kids, and her husband to follow a few days later. I’m not so sure this is a good idea. In fact, I’m pretty certain that it is not. I know she has a need for her level of pain meds, but whoa.

Appreciate the trip. Glad to have had time with my teen, but it was interesting. Very interesting. I do want to go back because there are several historical areas and tourist things I would like to see. The circumstances will be different next time…I’m just not sure what to do about this adventure.

Geocaching is keeping me sane these days. It is a sense of adventure, and accomplishment. The job hunt is frustrating. I had a contact at one school and the interview went really well, but they chose another candidate. I went on another interview Monday. I wouldn’t mind the school, but it is a middle school and I would rather be in high school. Wednesday I dropped my resume and managed to obtain another interview for next week. Still no offers of a contract. Geocaching, I can experience success and get out to do something. It is good for me. I’m also learning about the area we live in. After two years of being here, it’s time.

I’m hoping. Praying. Sittin’. Watchin’. Waitin’.

In honor of the Fourth I offer the following for my second sepia scenes contribution.

The Washington Monument,taken in April 2010 and manipulated to sepia using Picasa.

Soldier’s Sacrifice, also taken in April 2010 and manipulated to sepia using Picasa. This is one of my favorite memorials in DC.

This photo was taken on a December 2007 trip to DC. It was on this trip that I was able to stand in line for hours and have the honor of viewing the lying in state of President Ford. (Blog post about it here.) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is always a moving experience, but I was truly touched by the single rose placed in memory of a loved one.

This rose was also placed, but I did not like it when manipulated to sepia.

A brief thought, but I will save my full TFA rant for another day. Due to budget cuts, over 500 individuals did not receive contracts for next year. Yet, the district is bringing in 150-250 TFA to teach. These individuals have no teachings experience, did not attend college for education, and statistics show they will be out of education in two years. For them, it is simply a resume boosting opportunity. Don’t get me wrong, all TFA are not bad. In fact, I know two who are rather talented and the profession is lucky to have them. Unfortunately, this organization is taking jobs away from career teachers. That really bothers me. I wouldn’t mind as much if they were dedicated to the profession for ten, even five, years.

I refuse to spend another day keeping vigil at my computer, checking websites for employment postings. We are going to get out for the day. It is time to enjoy a little sun and fun at Carowinds.

Media courtesy of Charlotte Observer

Stay safe, have fun, celebrate!

Sincerely,

Kontan
www.kontansplace.com

Daisy’s parents decide moving to Shell Beach on Mississippi’s gulf coast will be the adventure of a lifetime, bringing them a life of prosperity and ease. Shell Beach was an undiscovered tourist trap, waiting for a fame that never happened. The few tourists who did visit the cafe Daisy’s daddy purchased were not enough to keep it in business. An accidental fire and less than expected insurance money helped prolong the inevitable. Eventually, Daisy’s mother could not take it anymore and ran off to establish herself on the East Coast. Daisy Fay was too attached to her Daddy to leave. Schemer and drunkard that he was, she just did not want to leave him alone. He was never alone. Friend and partner in crime was Jimmy Snow who thought more of Daisy than her Daddy ever did.

Over the years, Daisy encounters many individuals who have a huge impact on her life. Some are positive and some are negative. Her journal tells it like it is and draws you in to cheer her on. You find yourself hoping she will rise above her upbringing and make it out of small town Mississippi to achieve her dreams. Born and raised in the small town south I was able to relate to Daisy’s struggles. Trying to fit in and make friends when your family is not part of the “in” crowd is difficult. Loving your family despite their imperfections is also not easy. Daisy finds her way and it is her positive interactions with others that get her where she wants to be.

Quick assessment: good read that requires minimal effort…perfect for summer.