Meg{Moir}

Wow.  I guess I am just so relaxed from my vacation last week that I am still recovering from it, since here are at Thursday and I’m just now posting about it.  JUST KIDDING!  More like, since we got back I have been so busy that I have barely sat down.  More about that later though

My wonderful 10 day vacation started with a party in honor of Patrick graduating Vet School out in Belmont.  Mom and dad made the drive and we were all treated to a massive appetizer spread followed by fried tilapia, shrimp, hushpuppies, onion rings and okra.  Oh and cake.  Not that there was room for cake.  Because I am the worse blogger in the world, I only took one picture all night with my former roommate, bridesmaid, super great friend Jackie.  Oh and it’s blurry and dark.  Figures.

After church Sunday morning, Patrick and I got on the road to Surfside Beach.  It took about 4 hours, and we arrived in time to make a quick grocery store run and get on the beach with our dogs to walk in the surf while the sun set.

Monday morning we got up, drank our coffee and moseyed on down to the beach.  After getting settled on our beach chairs, the bottom dropped out.  We packed everything up and ran under a gazebo just on the other side of the sand dune.  As summer storms tend to do, the rain passed quickly and we got back on the beach.  I swear, not 5 minutes later, it rained again.  We packed up again and waited it out.  The THIRD time this happened, we decided that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be and headed back up to the villa.  I got a 2 hour nap (it was wonderful) before Patrick woke me up wanting to go to the Outlet Mall up in North Myrtle Beach.  After a quick shower we were off.  I only bought a new beach bag and a pair of compression shorts while Patrick got a button down and polo shirt.  Afterward we headed to Barefoot Landing and walked off our oversized dinner (Outback gift card…yum!).  That’s where we saw these big boys:

There were about a million signs ensuring us that the tigers didn’t actually live there, they only visited for a few hours a day.  For something like $60 bucks you could get your picture taken up close and personal with one (no thanks!) to raise money to save tiger habitat.

Tuesday we tried the beach again but it was just too windy.  We decided to head to a pool off the beach where the wind was cut considerably.  I was happy enough there.  Nice and warm, oh and did I mention the group of European guys in their European bathing suits training to be lifeguards?  Yeah, I was just fine sitting there.  Patrick, however was itching to get back to the beach.  When we trekked back down, we were rewarded with this:  finally, sun!

Oh yeah, and this guy:

 Yep, I was there too, with a turkey sandwich.

 So Tuesday ended up being a good beach day afterall.

Wednesday, however was a different story.  We tried, but it was just too windy and cold.  No worries though, I got another glorious 2 hour nap before we headed to Wal-Mart and bought a puzzle that we worked on (on and off) for the rest of the weekend.

Thursday was by far our best beach day.  It was sunny and warm with a perfect light breeze.  The ocean was just right for swimming and big puffy clouds hung out on the horizon.  It was perfect.

Thursday night we drove down to Murrell’s Inlet to walk around.  We took a few pictures of each other before someone volunteered to get us together.

Very nice.

Friday morning it was time to pack up and head home.  It took us a while to get to the highway due to the beginning of Bike Week, but after that it was pretty smooth sailing. 

Once we were home with the car unpacked, clothes in the washer and the cat satisfied that we were staying, I put my feet up and rested.  I had a big day coming!  Mom got to the house a little later and we headed to bed.

My alarm went off at 5am the next morning and I hopped up.  I’d been awake for a while anyways with a mixture of nerves and excitement.  It was time for my first triathlon.  I won’t say too much about that here except that when I finally get around to writing about it, you can read a full race report here.  Oh, I started another blog about fitness and whatnot, did I tell you?

Here is a picture of me looking ragged, worn out, stinky and very very happy.  I can’t believe I’m sharing it.

There’s no rest for the weary though, and after driving an hour and a half back from Vass, NC, Patrick and I had to shower and get ready for a wedding in Greensboro (an hour and a half in a different direction).  \

No pictures from the wedding (I was too tired to think straight, and my nose was beginning to peel from the beach anyway), but it was a beautiful wedding with a beautiful bride in a beautiful location.  The food was good and the drinks kept coming (although only iced tea for me).  You can’t ask for much more.

Sunday Patrick and I were up again for church followed by a trip to Lowe’s to get supplies.  We began putting up the blue tape and didn’t stop until 8:45 that night.  A little Harry Potter on the couch before passing out in bed. 

Monday it was time to prime!  We started priming the downstairs of our house in the  morning, stopped for a little pool time with friends in late after noon, and put the first coat of paint on the walls Monday night.  Let’s just say I wasn’t too sad at the prospect of going to work and sitting still the next day.

Whew.  That’s quite a wrap-up.  It was an awesome 10 day vacation.  I’d do it again in a heartbeat!  What are your summer plans?