Sunday, August 15, 2010

National Lampoon's St. Helena Island Vacation...


As you all know, Andrew and I are on vacation right now. It's been fun having no set agenda and just being able to spend some time together. However, as we were driving today, I told Andrew that too many funny things had happened so far on our "vacation" for me NOT to blog about. So, here they are (in no particular order):

1. We left Columbia on Wednesday. Right as we got onto the interstate (which is 1 mile from our apartment), we hit a huge traffic jam with all the lights and sirens. Let's just say that it took us 45 minutes to get 3 miles away from our apartment, which would normally take about 5 minutes. Ouch.

2. We decided to look for Andrew some cool Crocs on Thursday, which took most of the morning and required driving about an hour to Bluffton. Anyway, we decided to go and eat an early dinner in downtown Beaufort when we got back. Unfortunately, Andrew noticed that my tire was "on the ground" flat as soon as we arrived. One call to AAA, 1.5 hours later, and an order of fried pickles at Luther's...we finally got the spare tire on (which was also sorta flat). It was also a billion degrees outside. Andrew wants me to know that he was the one outside while I was inside eating pickles. What can I say?? Someone had to stay and finish them and pay the bill, right?

3. (Sort of a continuation of #2) We were fortunate in finding a Tire Kingdom just around the corner from where we were. We were unfortunate to find out when we arrived that their night shift workers didn't show up, and we wouldn't be able to have our tire fixed. I just marveled as Andrew offered to pay ANY amount for the mechanic to stay and fix our tire. It worked, and of course, we wound up buying a new tire since the flat tire was unable to be fixed. We also left a pretty hefty tip. Hey, Andrew promised!

4. Andrew has caught two stingrays in the ocean so far. He had to get on his iPhone to research what to do in this situation. First words of caution: "Don't try to be a hero." He had to tell me "no" like a child as I attempted to slide the stingray back into the water. I'm sorry but I just can't watch a helpless creature lay there and suffocate. Andrew reminded me that if I got near it, then we'd be making a trip to the hospital. Andrew wants you to know that both Stingray A and Stingray B were "flopping around and whipping their tails." Yes, they were sort of mean. Andrew cut his line off both times, and they made it safely back into the ocean. I guess that bait just wasn't worth it after all, stingrays.

5 and 6 go together and they involve cash (or our lack thereof):

5. Andrew has a friend who has planted a church in Bluffton, SC, about an hour away from where we're staying. On the way this morning (as we were already running late since about 7 people on the road were going 10 miles UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT), Andrew commented, "I hope we don't need cash today, because I sure did leave it at the house!" (We did have enough for offering...) Andrew and I were planning on going to Hilton Head after church to pick up a chair that we'd purchased previously over the phone from a store who's sister store is located where we're staying in St. Helena Island (confusing, I know). So, we decided just to grab something super quick and cheap on our way to this store. Wendy's was the choice. We placed our order, handed them our credit card, began eating some of our fries, sipping our drinks...and whamm! Wendy's credit card computer thing decides to stop working. As the line piled up behind us in what was a terribly uncomfortable situation, the poor guy didn't know what to do. Long story short--we left with our card and no food as Wendy's quickly declared "cash only" as of that moment. Isn't that ridiculous? At least we got a fry and a sip of coke out of that situation. Andrew's last words in Wendy's were, "Man...I really wanted to eat that burger!" Mine were, "I'm writing a letter!"

6. Keep in mind that we STILL had no cash at this point and you guessed it; we don't own ATM cards either. Just call us super prepared! So, we were still hungry and still on our way to the store to pick up our chair in Sea Pines, Hilton Head, SC.... $5 cash only entry fee!!!!! As we drove up to the gate, Andrew said, "I sure hope they take cards!" What do ya know?? Of course they didn't!!!! So there we sat...an hour away from our house and cash and five minutes away from this store...talk about irony. We tried to smooth talk the officer, but he wasn't buying it. At this point Andrew was livid. So, we decided to go into a nearby Publix to see if we could just write them a check and get cash that way. Still starving, we bought sandwiches from their deli and wrote a check for $20 over the total amount, just to get some stinking cash! It worked. Finally, we were fed, we paid the toll, and we found the store to pick up our chair. After all of this, Andrew was dying to get out of Hilton Head.

7. We've also been here since Wednesday. As of today, our grand total of sun and beach time= (drumroll.................2 hours!) Yes! You guessed it...it's rained the past two days. Of course, we spent the first two sunny days Crocs hunting, tire fixing, grocery shopping, and traveling. Did I mention that our umbrella broke during the first 30 minutes of that 2 hours worth of beach time?? Yep, some 5 year old girl was chasing it down the beach since we were too busy playing a highly competitive game of bocce ball which I was currently losing. That also stinks!

8. We've been super shoppers at a roadside bait/fresh seafood stand for..ummm, every day since we've been here. Andrew likes to get bait there for catching all those sharks and stingrays, and we buy our shrimp and fresh veggies there (that we forget from the store). As were buying for our low country boil on Friday, we picked out a pack of bait, 1.5 lbs of jumbo shrimp and an onion. Our grand total was $15,447.00!!!!!!!!!! The look on the owner's face was awesome (as I'm sure our faces were as well!) I just offered him our car. Not too sure if that would've covered it with the gimp tire and all...Would you believe that we don't have that kind of cash just hanging around??? Hahahaha... funny, funny!!!


Disclaimer: We really are having a good time and even as I type this, we're sitting here laughing about all of it. Please don't think we're complaining, but you gotta admit that these situations are a bit comical. I just felt like I definitely had something to blog about today. After all, we do get to look at things like this every night. Until next time...








Saturday, August 14, 2010

A little time for blogging...



Finally, Andrew and I are spending some much needed time on vacation. Of course, it's raining today, but that's just an opportunity to catch up on some reading, coupon organizing, and blogging. What a busy month it's been!

As most of you probably know by now, my sweet and precious Grandfather passed away on July 13th. I think our family is beginning to adjust, but it has been one of the most difficult times for us. "Grandaddy" (as we refer to him) was one of the greatest men that I've ever known, and we shared a very close relationship--closer than most grandchild/grandparent relationships. I can't count the memories I have of us...taking trips together in his yellow truck with the "I'd rather be hunting" license plate on it or the grey car with dark blue cloth seats (I still remember how good that car smelled!!!!), him letting me play with his hunting beagles at the house, going to eat at Shealy's barbecue in Saluda, watching him in the garden, cutting him a huge piece of cake for dessert, seeing him at church three times a week, or just sitting around and talking to he and Grandmama for hours anytime I was home for a visit from college. I can't keep going with memories, because this post would be much too long, and I'm already crying now. Above all, Grandaddy was the most godly man I've ever known. He had such a strong faith in God that completely directed his relationships with God and with others. Over the days following his death, we were flooded by people who told us stories of his kindness to them. Have gave so much of himself, yet never expected recognition for it. He only pointed others to the only way he was able to love: Jesus. In his last few years, he was only saddened by the fact that he physically couldn't do more for others. In a time where so many people are concerned about only themselves, his desire was to do more for others. He truly set a example for our family that I only pray I can get close to. He was faithful to God, his wife, his family, and his church. We will never know another one like him. Although I consider myself blessed to have had all four grandparents until this year, I will never go a day without missing him or the godly wisdom that just seemed to flow from him. What an honor to have him and love him.

So, after the month of July, it was clear that vacation was important now more than ever. We had rented a house in Beaufort for the month and the Winburns came for the first week. Now, it's our turn until I have to go back to work in almost two weeks. It's hard to believe that summer will be over soon. Andrew keeps dreading it, because we all know how much that boy likes his tan! Oh, he also did something two days ago that he said he'd NEVER do: bought Crocs!!!!!! Oh, the irony...


In all fairness though, the beach in front of the house has a lot of shells on it, and I had already bitten the bullet a few years ago to buy crocs. We didn't have any luck finding camo ones, but maybe he'll like them so much that he'll have two pair one day!!!!

On another note: On Monday, my mom was announced as Greenwood District 52's Teacher of the Year! We are so proud of her, and always have been. Mom has been teaching for close to 30 years, so it's so nice to see her win this award before she retires...hopefully soon!! Congratulations, Mom!!!!!!!

All right, back to a rainy day on vacation. More to come later!!!!!