I wish the real world would stop hasseling me.

I have recently returned from my first vacation in two years. My boy Randy, my two very good friends Ber and Di, and myself drove to San Diego and from there went on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera. It was an adventure, and though sometimes complicated trying to please everyone, for me in particular it was the best of both worlds. Randy got to golf and see Tiger play at the Buick Invitational. I got to explore beaches in La Jolla, go to Sea World, and sun bathe at a resort in Ixtapa with the ladies. Perfection. We had three stops on the cruise: Acapulco, Zihuatenejo/Ixtapa, and Manzinillo (Chanel--you were so right, Ixtapa is where its AT).



Heres the highlights:

• Returning to San Diego, an emerald green, beautiful, friendly, coastal city that I adore.


• Rolling down the windows in January


• Spending time with my good friends that in the daily hustle and bustle I don't get to see as much as I like.


• I finally got to touch a dolphin. And yeah.. okay, they sorta do feels like a wet hot dog.

• Having someone to wait on me, clean up after me, and basically taking care of every whim.


• Consuming more guacamole, chocolate melting cake, shrimp, mango strawberry angel food cake trifle, and carbonated beverages then ever before recorded.


• Enjoying four different beautiful beaches.


• Hairy chest contests


• Good natured mockery of kareoke singing Canadians


• Watchhng Di give Mexican booth owners the wagging finger while proclaiming "I don't want no pesos!


• BubuLubu


• Going down more waterslides then I have since the days of Classic Skating


• The term "all inclusive"


• Hearing about multiple snow storms in Utah while enjoying sunny 90 degree weather.

• The sweet tan I have now and the fact that I have escaped almost completely burn and peel free.


• Towell animals. They make me happy.


• Returning to Ocean Park Inn on the boardwalk. My favorite place to stay.

• World Famous Restaurant's lobster bisque ::drools::
  

The Lowlights (or what I like to call "things that make for better stories")

• Watching Ber sleep almost the entire way to California while Di and I tossed and turned ALL night.


• The decor of our first Hotel in Cardiff by the Sea looked like Queen Victoria' s stuffy Aunt Mildred's country estate.




• How you feel after consuming more guacamole, chocolate melting cake, shrimp, trifle and carbonated beverages then ever recorded.


• Mild heat stroke from the 90 degree weather


• Being forced to pay little boys for shoddy merchandise.


• The initial fear of imminent death the first time snorkeling

• Getting smacked in the face by Di's non-conformist paddling tecnique.


• Eating at least one wave at three of those four beautiful beaches


• Bathrooms with no toilet paper... oh and no running water either, Did I forget that?


• Hairy chest contests


• Surprise surprise but when you disenbark from San Diego in January its not warm on the deck till the second day at sea. who knew?

• Having sand... everywhere.


• Being sea sick. Anyone who says you can't feel the boat move LIES.


• Watching Ber smother her daily cheese and ham omelet with maple syrup.

• Lobster bisque does not come with free refills.
• Dolphins are whores. You must pay for their affection.
• Cult owned 7-11's with no bathrooms
• My head has started to peel. I now look like I have chronic dandruff. Great, I did say I almost escaped.
• Have become slug.

It was so fun. I can't wait to get out of here again already!!

For another take on it check out my friend Bers blog here.