Staycationing 101

Oh Summerness, how I love thee. We spent last weekend tucked away in Deer Valley with friends. It was one of those off-the-diet-hair-in-a-bun all weekend treasures! This time of year the mountains are nothing short of glorious, and you can't beat only 45 minutes in the car to feel like you're a world away. I must have been overly excited to be on vacation because I failed to sleep past 7:00 am on the first morning. Apparently BD was even more pumped because he nearly jumped for joy when I finnnnally started stirring around 6:30 am. Such a vacation no-no.

Friday night we went to the Deer Valley Music Festival and heard The Von Trapp Children with the Utah Symphony. Perched on blankets in the snow park amphitheater we shared a beautiful picnic and I was introduced to cranberry mustard and now I can never go back. Me and cranberry mustard must never be separated again. The Von Trapp's were delightful and fun to sing along in such a pristine Sound-of-Music-y setting. I loved every Dirndl minute of it. 

I smothered little ellejay with no less than 10,000 kisses. The look on her face really says it all. I'm sorry littlemiss, but aunt G has her needs. Someday I will sneak you gum, k? Maybe it's because I adore her mother to no end. Maybe it's because she is a miracle baby that was never meant to be, and yet is. Maybe it's her sweet mohawk. Maybe it's because at 9 months she's oodles of fun and yes, that stinkin' cute. Whatever it is, this littlemiss fills us both with so much hope. She tugs at my heart!

 

The rest of the weekend included a scenic drive to Oakley for lunch and a caramel-Oreo malt at the Road Island Diner, a little baby buffalo {swooooon} and a never-ending rendition of "The Wheels on the Bus" because Leah would cry when mom stopped singing. Oh so cute. Kim had that bus doing things I didn't know buses could do! Superb Mommy skills.

We also spent some time poolside where I somehow managed to unevenly burn the left side of my body to an indelicate crisp. I'm so over being tan. There was nap time, not just for the babe. Come dinner time we ate an elegant meal on the outside patio; I am of the opinion that in the summer it is an absolute treat to dine outdoors. Come bed time I knew we wouldn't have any trouble sleeping in after such a full day. And we didn't. I also didn't want to go home. But we did. Thoughts of chips and salsa at the Loco Lizard certainly helped pry us out of bed and in the right direction. Rough weekend, you see?

P.S. I'm not about to let my passport expire, but I think we're enjoying the staycation thing more than we ever thought possible. If BD were writing this he'd boast "Utah is just a giant playground." My somewhat obvious, unsolicited and non-expert advice is to take advantage of local off-season deals where you can get way more bang for your buck. Oh, and make sure to go with friends, especially if they have a cute baby to munch on. Class dismissed ;).

A few weeks ago

I need to play a bit of catch up. Earlier this month we spent a weekend in Deer Valley: it was a dreamy slice of staycation pie. I particularly love the off season. Not just because the hotel staff is embarrassingly attentive, but because the whole area is nearly deserted and you feel as though you have it all to yourself.

BD already mentioned that we enjoyed a Sunday brunch and two weeks later I'm still thinking about it. I'm telling you, the Glitretend is my most favorite place to eat brunch. The last time we had brunch there was on our first wedding anniversary. Aw, nostalgia. The food is so good you need a cigarette afterwards.

Knox Blox Rainbow Jello Kabobs / Glitretind Restaurant

You shouldn't be surprised to know that my favorite part was the dessert room. I fell in love with these Knox Blox rainbow jello kabobs. I mean really, aren't they perfect? They made my whole weekend. Well actually, big white fluffy robes, a hot tub soak, and dinner with friends also had something to do with it.

Richman's on a Boat: Belizean Cayes, Pics

Okay folks, after much ado I've quickly put together a slide show with the rest of our sailing pictures. Sorry, I know it's a bit of a picture overload from someone else's vacation that most of you blurkers don't really care about. But still, indulge me.
Oh and we stole some pictures from Todd and Tom as well (thanks!). No one else has shared any yet (hint hint). As you can see, we really had a horrible time.

Richman's on a Boat: Belizean Cayes from Gina Duncan on Vimeo.

I had great difficulty with this video. For whatever reason the pictures are rasterized all funny and the captions are disappearing too fast. Suggestions? At this point I'm too tired and exhausted to try to fix it anymore. Sigh.

Richman's on a Boat: Belizean Cayes, Meet the Crew

Ginny Beans, AKA The Mother Dear, is really the unofficial Captain of this mangy crew. Poor thing got her head stuck in a book and only came up for air once or twice. BUT! She's one of two that saw a shark while snorkeling. Bragging rights for life, right?Marci and Rich, known in the exclusive hardcore runners world as "Trail Trekker" and "Paceless," respectively. These two runners/triathletes are non-stop even on vacation. Run, swim, stretch, yoga, repeat. I burned calories just watching them.Tom and Todd, AKA El Capitan and First Mate are no strangers to life on a boat. Must be nice we tease. They are the whole reason we are able to charter in the first place. We use them not only for their charming good looks, but also for their high adventure skills, which are plenty. Brook and Kyle, AKA chef and sous-chef (sometimes vice versa), kept the rest of the mateys fat and happy despite a severe malfunction in kitchen appliances. Diet Coke with a twist of shrimp juice anyone? Anyone?At the caboose, The BD's. First BD, who managed to swim around an entire island by accident and I, who had an affair with a lobster. United we stand as the official losers of "Settlers of Catan" but for what we lack in gaming panache we make up for in sheer cuteness. I think.I'm the youngest, can you tell?

Just in case it's not obvious, my mom is the one in the middle. Sheesh, she just gets more beautiful with age. And no, it's not fair at all. L to R: Brook, me, Mom, Tom, Marci.

Richman's on a Boat: Belizean Cayes, Setting Sail

BD and I have just returned from an incredible vacation with my family to the Belizean Cayes (pronounced "keyes"). We've been planning and saving for this trip ever since our last adventure in 2007. Every two years my family {adults only} sets sail on a big trip together; it's become our thing. This is definitely the way to travel.Going through customs in Belize was a unique experience. It becomes pretty clear pretty fast that you are now on island time. Our arriving destination was San Pedro, Ambergris Caye which is where we would meet up with Tom and Todd coming from Mexico and charter our vessel. Upon several recommendations we ate at Elvi's Kitchen that night. I had the Roasted Garlic Lobster and, not joking, I'm salivating right now just thinking about it. This kicked off my week long obsession with all things lobster. More on that later.
The next morning we began provisioning the boat, which turned out to be more difficult than you'd think. Little did we know that San Pedro markets open and close at their leisure. This made if difficult to get meat from the meat market and bread from the bakery when they are suddenly closed at random. Again, island time. Nonetheless, we were able to stock the boat with enough mangoes, shrimp, and diet coke to last the full week. That afternoon we chartered The Wildflower, a 40 foot catamaran, with {just barely} enough room for all 9 of us.
We pulled away from the dock at about 3:00 pm headed to our first anchorage, Caye Caulker. With about an hour to go before sundown the starboard engine began to fail. Not a good sign on the first day. Our resident diesel mechanic started tinkering and before long it was running again. Whew.At this point, we were happy as clams to be on the water feeling the sea breeze with people we love on an adventure of a lifetime. Look at those sailor smiles and glowing skin. Giddyness slathered in sunblock has sunken in.And will you look at that water.

Springtime in DC

Last weekend I met BD in DC because he was there for work and I couldn't pass up an opportunity to get out of town for a few days. The weather was bright and sunny which was like my own personal dose of happiness. Pale pink blossoms were starting to pop up everywhere. Then, I came home to snow snow and more snow.Even though it was a fast trip we found time to stay up late, sleep in, get lost, eat the best fried shrimp and broiled flounder, catch up with friends, catch up with family, get a speeding ticket, down an entire pint of Haagen Dazs, go shopping in Georgetown, see the Great Falls of the Potomac, be tourists, people watch on the National Mall,loose one of my favorite earrings, visit the National Gallery of Art, walk through the sculpture garden, get my Rothko fix, meet Sundance the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, play with Morse the not-so-puppy anymore, hear unheard family stories, attend my first D.U.P. meeting with my aunt, and basically have the most perfect weekend ever.

{more} Lake Powell 2008

What I loved most about Lake Powell '08

There is no place in the world like Lake Powell. We discovered that the end of September, early October is the best time to be on the lake. Lower temperatures, warmer water, and fewer crowds make for primo conditions. BD and I feel very fortunate to have made new friends along with spending 6 awesome days with our best friends. Life is good. I loved being on the boat {with Chief at the helm} , soaking up the sun {with SPF 55}, lip syncing to awesomely bad pop music {"hey little mama, oh you're a stunner"}, and giggling with my girl friends {about our jiggling parts}.

Tubin' on the weenie thingie! Oh, the laughs we had on this bad boy. Not to mention the bruises and soreness that resulted afterward. All in the name of a good time.
Playing this hard is hard work. If you weren't being pushed in, you were the one pushing in. It's just how it goes. I love this shot of Rach and I. All you see is me pulling her down with me. What you don't see is how she attempted to push me in first. Not. Gonna. Happen. Learning to wake surf was a definite highlight for me! Not only did I get up, I really surfed! Like really. Threw the rope in and everything. It was a proud moment. Wake surfing was every one's favorite lake sport, and everyone got up, including my 2 pregnant chicas! {It's safe, don't hate}.
And as always, it never hurts to be in a beautiful place with my beau. We especially enjoyed early morning sunrise hikes, roasting banana's by the fire, and lots of time on the lake together.
And last but not least, a HUGE thank you to the Wilding's for making it all happen! We're so very grateful to have been along for the adventure. Captain Jeff laid down only one rule for the trip:

1. It's your vacation, do whatever the heck you want! {As long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else's vacation}.
   

If you read my previous post you would know that he was actually the only one who broke his own rule. The Mr. posted some of his favorite "Pal" pics over on his boy blog. Go check 'em out!

Boys Are Mean: A True Story

Once upon a time, in a far away land called "Lake Pal" four beautiful women were peacefully floating on the lake, getting some sun, and chatting it up like only women of this elite kind know how to do.Hey! Can someone take our picture? Smile girls, this one's for the blog!
In the meantime, while the ladies are distracted with the picture taking, a BOY enters the scene on a wave runner. Seems harmless enough. It's a beautiful day, the sun is high in the sky. A perfect time to embark on a personal journey on the lake to perhaps gain some perspective on how wonderful life can be when you're on vacation with dear friends in such a pristine environment.
It was not to be so. The BOY could not resist the great temptation to spoil a seemingly blissful moment of zen for the beautiful ladies. Unknowingly the women continue with their intellectual conversation philosophizing about the mysteries of the universe until...Disaster struck. With seconds to spare, The Sisters in Zion tried to warn one another. But it was too late. An ambush of catastrophic proportions was already underway.
Hundreds of pounds of water violently sprayed on top of them. Even over the roar of the water you could hear evil cackling coming from the BOY on his man toy. As the wave runner fled the scene the ladies were tossed about in the waves like plastic rafts in a mighty tempest. With all their might, mind, and strength they fought to keep from capsizing. Of course, only a BOY could be at the heart of this sort of calamitous siege. So, with tousled hair in their eyes and lake water dripping out their noses, the ladies let him have it. Expletives went flying. The women banded together, he will pay for this, they vowed. HE WILL PAY. But alas he would not pay. The BOY was not yet through inflicting pain and misery on the innocent victims who were merely attempting to enjoy their afternoon float. Picking up on their sarcastic sass and empty threats, the BOY still found it necessary to prove he was in charge. In a matter of seconds the BOY was back and even more full of hysteria. The first counteroffensive had only been the appetizer to his feast. This tyrant would not surrender until his woeful appetite was satisfied in full. He strikes again. For a second time the ladies are jostled amongst the waves and struggle for breath beneath the torrential downpour. Their lives flash before their eyes once again. After some time they recover from the most recent destruction, but it was too late for the one who got away. All of a sudden a second cohort enters the deplorable one-sided combat. Another BOY, we can only assume.
Hey Jeff! You missed one! Look...she's getting away! BOY #2 bellowed from the balcony above, betraying his one true love for the manifested bonds of brotherhood.
BOY #1 responds with another rueful cackle that could be heard all through the canyon lands. Not about to been seen as a compassionate ruler, BOY #1 revs his engine in pursuit of the one who would get away. It doesn't take long for him to spot the helpless victim trying to escape. BOY #1 eyes the target in his cross hair. Lock and load. {Sigh} What can a girl do? Boys will never change.
The end.

Hawaii: Cures What Ails You

Would it be cheesy and over the top to start out this post by yelling "Aloha!" then pretend to wait for your response of the same greeting, then act like your first attempt just wasn't good enough, and yell it at you again? It would? Sweet.

Aloha!
no, no, no, I said...
Alo-ha!

I needed this vacation like you wouldn't believe...like McCain needs a prayer...like my oven needs a cleaning...like I needed a tan. Stresses manifested from all areas of my so-called-life had been tugging at me from even the most unsuspecting places. It was all I could do to pacify those nasty stress monsters with overdoses of Sour Patch Kids knowing that a blissful vacation was on the horizon.When I stepped off the plane in Honolulu, the most amazing thing happened. That one thing I freaked out about? Over it. That other thing I was stressing about? Poof. Gone. And those other little petty things keeping me up at night? Nada. And for that reason, Hawaii is a magical, mystical place with special healing powers that I will forever be grateful for. It is because of Hawaii that BD is still my PerfectDarlingAngelBearClaw and no one else has lost their life due to my unpredictable bouts with craziness. P.S. I might also feel this way about Hawaii because LOST is filmed there. But I'm still iffy on that part. So, thank you Hawaii.

My Hawaii Top Ten
10. Hot malasadas filled with cream. Fat free, calorie free, but only in Hawaii. And if you've heard otherwise, keep it to yourself.9. Contemplating whether to take the golf cart or walk to the beach was the most important decision I would make all day, and all week for that matter. It was incredible to really vacation and really relax. In my world there's a huge difference between a trip and a vacation. Hawaii was meant to be the latter.8. Hawaiian Shave Ice from Matsumoto's. Not to be confused with regular shaved ice, or even a snow cone for that matter. Shave Ice is in a sweet-sugary-sticky world all it's own with ice cream and beans to boot.7. Sand in your toes and in all the places in and around your body that sand shouldn't ever go, but still does. That naughty sand.6. Cliff jumping at Waimea. Or in my case, watching the cliff jumpers at Waimea. Don't judge me, I'm not a baby but someone had to stay back with the kid, who BTW is an actual baby, and I'd rather that someone be me, with my butt safely parked on the beach where it belongs. Crazythrillseekingadventurists...as if it wasn't enough that I allowed myself to swim in shark infested waters (AKA "the ocean"), I didn't see the need to go carelessly flailing my body off a mountain into that same death trap.5. Eating delicious shrimp from a broken down bus on the side of Kam highway, discovering you have a rather unpleasant intolerance for palm oil, paying heavily for eating that delicious shrimp for the next several days.4. Being reminded that I am officially back to "baby hungry." More like carnivorous actually. Sigh. Thanks a lot Nixon, you cute little monkey you. If you need me, I'll be working on my denial routine for the next 6 months. To speed up the process, be a dear and send me pictures of your little brats doing terrible, horrible, no good things to you and your house, preferably with snotty noses and germy hands. My posterity thanks you in advance.3. Living like a rock star better than a rock star for a week. Mahalo to the Murdocks for including us in their summer vacation. Someday, we'll return the favor (translation: we'll never be able to return the favor, but we'll die trying!).2. Sunsets on the beach, holding hands with my beau, and feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated than I ever thought possible.1. Spending 7 days in Hawaii together as the perfect excuse to connect, reconnect, and make incredible memories with dear friends. These two beauties are my old roommates from back in the day, like way back, when it was probalby still cool to say "back in the day." I've since given up on cool, but I still heart them. Possibly even more than I heart Hawaii.