Feeling powerless...

Despite the desire of IRENE to play havoc with our plans, we survived and actually thrived on our vacation.  The storm swung well west of us (sorry Vermont) and pounded the interior of New England much more so than the coastal region.  We certainly did experience the storm and in a very scientific way - feeling each "band" as it swung around the large circular range of activity.  In between each band (dark skies, gusting winds) there were short periods of soft breezes and sunshine.  It was a very manic-depressive type of event.

Power was lost early on...and I'm using Power in the broadest sense.  Our first power lost was feeling powerless when we arrived and found the property manager who was supposed to be the caretaker of the rental home, was in fact, stuck in North Carolina.  His wife kindly handed us the key and informed us she had no concept of how the property should be prepared for the storm, how the hurricane shutters worked, if the outdoor furniture would be dismantled and stored (or should be), and how to work the home generator system.

Hmmm.

After some discussions by phone and email with the property owner, she asked us to please "TEXT" the property manager.  Here is our text series:

Me:  "We are renting the Txxxx house.  We were told you would handle house prep for storm but you are not here!"
Me:  "Your wife said we are on our own.  Have you made plans for furniture, grill, shutters, etc.?"

Him: "Yes"

[see smoke coming from my ears]

Me: "Ok.  Can you share what they are?"

Him: "Why.  If something needs to get done it will."

[see major flames now spouting from my mouth and sparks flying from my eyes]

Me: "That answer is not satisfactory."

....this exchange continued until he finally assured me he had a crew on standby and all would be handled....

Then, no one showed up.  So we packed up the outdoor furniture, overturned the picnic table, figured out how to use (although we didn't deploy them) the hurricane shutters, and inspected the paperwork in the closet on the generator.  We got out our games and lanterns and determined to enjoy our stormy seclusion.

Needless to say, when we became ACTUALLY powerless about one hour into the storm, and the generator kicked on with an unhealthy weaze that slowly and surely became the sound of a battery of machine guns locked inside a metal tank (at about 3AM), I was less than pleased with the property manager. 

When the cops showed up with a noise complaint, we happily provided the property manager's name.  And with the cops came a greater responsiveness.  If we had known that, we would have reported ourselves much earlier.

Our powerless situation continued on our arrival home when we found a pool full of leaves and debris, and a circuit breaker that had blown leaving our kitchen (of all rooms) without power for a week.  That's one way to clean out the fridge!

But, all complaints aside, I would still consider the vacation a rousing success.  The weather was spectacular as soon as IRENE cleared the area, the power was eventually returned, the food was great, the company was even better, and I actually turned off the blackberry by mid-week.

Only 11 months and 3 weeks until we can go back.
Check out hubby's spectacular Cape images here

T-5 days and Counting

Every summer, we return to our favorite place - Cape Cod, with some of our favorite friends - and have a waterfront vacation. This will be our 8th year in a row. For the most part, it has been a smooth ride. A few bumps here and there (I revolted last year and demanded we switch houses after I had reached my ant/mouse/filth limit with the old place), but all in all, it's a good time.

We are currently in the countdown period which we fill with shopping lists (I'm bringing the ketchup and mustard, you bring the bbq sauce...etc.), packing lists (how many suits are you bringing this year? are your beach chairs in good shape?) and of course, weather forecasts. We start with the extended 15 day outlook which usually has little resemblance to actual weather that far out. Today we're looking at the 10-day. It's been slowly improving (Hurricane Bill was a worry). You see, after one particularly bad weather year at the Cape we determined packing five adults, a teenager and a child together into one tiny house was not a good combination if there is no sunny beach to run to. Hubby #2 and I have a pact that if it sucks that bad, we're heading home...we'll leave the rest of the crew there.

While we return to the Cape every year, we've begun to shake it up a bit with the actual rental address. After 6 years at the same place (great Location, not so great accommodations) we selected a new site in 2008. The house was beautiful, well maintained, smelled good, and had no pest issues....believe me a BIG step up in addressing my pet peeves. But had some shortfalls in other issues in layout, privacy, and beach quality. So, onward and upward - we'll try this next address and see what we think.

2009 Cape Rental:

Hubby is VERY ready to go. In fact about two weeks ago he put up a sign on our kitchen door so that every day as we leave, he can cross out the number of days and subtract one. I can't decide if it is normal vacation desire, or the fact that this year Hubby has pieces in a current gallery show at the Cape Cod Art Association. I think he's feeling like a real artist with this acceptance. Of course, I've known it all along.

So T-5 days...can't wait!

Wired Up

Vacations just don't seem to be the same now that everyone is wired up. Almost every morning I awoke to find this at the breakfast table.

O.K. Some of it was blogging and checking the weather...but unplugging from work has a whole different meaning nowadays. It literally means - UNPLUG. The only hope is lack of signal or a dead battery.

Why is it that everyone is made to feel they must be within reach at all times?

I read an article in an old Oprah magazine about a woman who gave up email for 30 days. It was like giving up crack, she said, but after the first jolt of detox, she actually found peace and other ways to communicate. Now, according to her article, she still emails, but she schedules it, chooses it when it is the best communication choice, and then (gasp) sometimes uses the phone, face-to-face, or even a handwritten note, when it is the better medium.

It is our fear of being dispensable? Can our workplace actually get along without us? Will they eliminate our position if they discover they don't need us for 1 week? It wasn't even that long ago that cell phones and email were not a part of the workplace at all...and now...they are electronic leashes that keep us tied to the job 24-7.

Hubby and I admitted that the last day of vacation was the best - when we truly felt relaxed. I wonder if that is a normal wind-down process, coincidence, circumstance, or the effect of the electronic tether. Next year, I may ban the laptops and blackberries from the house and see what happens.

Card Sharks

One of our favorite things at the Cape is playing cards. In the past, it's been adult time - after kids are safely ensconced in front of TV/video, or dozing in their beds we break out the deck and play King Rummy, or Hearts, and rarely Poker. But this year the games of choice seemed to be driven by the 7-year old cutey of our group and we were all about Crazy 8's...and of course...the age old favorite - Old Maid.

It's all about the shuffle you know.

And sometimes you need a little help with sorting the cards, and Daddy's there to cheat...I mean help.

Only two players..."I don't have the old maid...I wonder who does Aunt Wenderina?"


The matches are piling up...

And in the end...someone has to be the old maid.

Don't let that face fool you...she was a good sport...as long as we were willing to play again.

Shuffle up and deal.

We're On Our Way to the Perfect World

This is the phrase Hubby sings in a childlike cartoon voice every year as we head to our annual vacation on Cape Cod. He swears it is sourced from some Hanna Barbera moment with all the characters on some kind of flying ark running around the world on a mission to save the environment. Seems to stir vague memories for me...but I'm not always sure with him.

But I must agree with the sentiment...whether it is the fact that we are on vacation from our stressful work lives, or that we are traveling with some of our best friends in the world, or that we are heading to a place where the light is crystal clear and blue-gold, and the sea is within earshot from every window, or that sun, salt, sand are all washed away in an outdoor shower as the cool sea breeze ripples across your skin. Or maybe it is all of the above. It's time for us to return to the Cape...not just any Cape, but THE Cape - Cape Cod, MA.

This is our 7th year at the Cape with our friends, the 3rd year with the addition of Lula - our favorite Chicagoland resident - but our first in a new house. We decided the ants, mice, and other detrimental factors of our old beach house rental were getting to be too much to take for the money we spent.

As always, you have trade-offs. Our friends got a king-size bed (rather than the twin cots they used to have), but it is in an open loft above the kitchen...which makes for a difficult early morning for them when early risers want coffee. The beach is only steps away - with a much shorter staircase - but it is rocky and tough on the feet. The house is pristine, clean, comfortable, beautiful, but has 6 houses surrounding it within chatting distance and people walk by our windows all day and night in access to the beach.

So - we are doing what any modern professionals would do (jokingly), we're building a spreadsheet of pros and cons, and looking for the perfect house for our perfect world.

In the meantime, we're having fun, as you can see:

If you've got a rocky beach, make rock sculptures...

Making the most of a beautiful bright kitchen.

Close-set houses? We call it a courtyard. Great for sharing a snack with friends.

And kids need so very little to be happy as clams...with clams...

And there's always those quaint shopping locales that give you
as much occasion to photograph as to buy.

And it is only Day Two.

The Perfect World Indeed!

Cape House FOUND!

While all of you were NO HELP whatsoever in my search for the perfect beach house...I found it...yes I did! This is where we are going in August...aren't you jealous????

Yup...these lounge chairs with a beach view are just waiting for me and my book.

And speaking of books...I don't even have to bring my own!

Ocean view bedroom anyone? Oh...and access to a sundeck...no problem!

Cool summer evening? Cozy up to the lovely fireplace!

Last, but not least..."You must be ON the Ocean, dahling"! or else, why bother?

I'm sure the mice and the ants (and the smells) will miss us...but me...not so much.

Seeking the Perfect Beach House

After 7 years of returning to the same little beach shack I'm so totally done. I love Cape Cod, but last year escalated our issues with the little shack from ant infestation to mice infestation. And while the couple who owns the house is lovely and sometimes takes us sailing, it is no longer enough for me to overlook the bathrooms that stink to high heaven, the millions of ants on every surface of the kitchen, the mice and the mousetrap tasks (when I'm paying over $2000/week to be there). There must be other options.

I spent most of my evening on http://www.cyberrentals.com/ filtering through properties that suit all of our needs - must be waterfront (we've been spoiled by that), preferably on Cape Cod Bay side (Nantucket Sound is too rough), and have at least 4 bedrooms that can suit the needs of 5 adults and 2 kids. I found some decent options...but I'm just throwing it out to the blogosphere in case anyone has a rich widow aunt who would love us to stay at her mansion on the beach and just isn't advertising it. If you've got a tip, jot me a comment and I'll get in touch.

In the meantime, Christmas and work are monopolizing my time...so blogging pace has slowed. I'll try to pick it up better next week.

To entice you to keep reading, I'm announcing some future topics that have been rolling around my brain.

A Face Made for Radio
Penguin Craziness
Least Favorite Christmas Gifts - the In-Law Series
Winter Reading List
G'Day Brisbane
New Years Resolutions I Will Attempt...Again
Best Post Titles EVER

...not necessarily in that order.
Stay tuned!

A Sailing We Will Go

Today we joined our Windy Gulch landlord in a sail across the bay. He is an experienced sailor, but we are not, so we trusted in his ability to give direction.

When we got to the boat, I began to learn a little more about Mr. S. and his penchant for cheap fixes. (I already had a bit of a feel for this in the shack). He showed me how he had taken the plastic tops from a non-dairy creamer and a cool whip container to create watertight covers for his gauges. "why pay $100 for this when I can add a little duct tape and caulk and use something for free??"

So, my trust was wavering a little - was this boat held together with duct tape and caulk?

Our first attempt was aborted by a lack of wind, but the 2nd day we had luck with a lovely gusting northerly wind that pushed and pulled us across the bay. Some of the gusts felt like we could tip over, and I had another moment's pause when our captain went below and put on a life vest...but didn't offer us any...but the adventure turned out to be a highlight of our week.

Afterwards we enjoyed cocktails and snacks with Mr. and Mrs. S. on the bench that overlooks the beachwalk back at Windy Gulch and we were reminded why despite all its faults, we continue to return to Windy Gulch each year.

The Mouse is Dead, Long Live the Mouse

Yesterday all of our friends said goodbye to the Cape and left my husband and I on our own in the Windy Gulch beach shack. We experienced a short period of empty nest syndrome, but soon settled into our own routine. Because we were only 2, we moved over to the attached "cottage" (a.k.a. converted garage) where in our first week LH had stayed and had successfully survived having a mousetrap bring a close to the life and career of a small field mouse who had taken up residence.

We had been in the cottage approximately 8 hours and I had given up on any hope of sleep in the torture chamber described in the Windy Gulch property brochure as spacious and airy bedroom. I moved out to the main room which consists of kitchenette, table/chairs, love seat and two twin beds. Lo and behold a small visitor skittered around the edge of the room and then disappeared into a small cupboard in the corner. Hmmm...I know we had emptied the trap of our furry friend...so this either a spirit siting or a relative.

The next morning, as I sipped my juice and watched the rolling surf from the adjacent deck, said Mouse once again made himself known, slowly zig-zagging across the wooden slats seeking a dropped crumb here and there. Whether it was the peace of the ocean surf or the resignation of a beach shack dweller finally accepting my surroundings, in my mind the phrase arose....The Mouse is Dead...Long Live the Mouse.