I live in one of the most beautiful places around. At my old house, when sitting at the lake on a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainier as you relax by the water and listen to the children playing.

I'm in for imaginary....

I want sushi delivered to my house one night.

Wow, Believer, who needs make believe. That is a fabulous idea. I live between B'more and DC, so there would be LOTS to do. I never really considered taking a tour of the two cities for vacation time. I take for granted where I live.

I think I will take some REAL mini vacations with my son this summer. See the monuments, museums, local amusements parks, and cool eateries and shops.

I do so love the beach, though, so my imaginary vaca will have to be in Hawaii...

How about the NEW AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM at DULLES AIRPORT, SL? That's in my plans and IT'S FREE...

You know what, when I was about 4 or 5 (can't remember) we travelled from Atlanta to DC to see the monuments and the museums. Someone else must have paid for it, for we were low on the dough back then (circa 1976). I remember going to the Air and Space Museum quite vividly.

I was playing around in the Lunar module (LM) with my sister, having fun imagining floating around in space. I got caught up in the moment, and my sister left, without me noticing. I found myself alone, no family around, wandering thru the museum. A guard found me and paged my mom. Meanwhile my Mamaw is frantic looking for me. When I was reunited with my family, we were upstairs. My Mamaw was at the bottom of the escalator, and saw me. She then embarked on her journey UP the DOWN escalator, walking in one spot for lord knows how long. The guards were asking her, very politely, "Maam, please turn around, you are on the DOWN escalator" "Maam, PLEASE turn around"

They eventually reached her on the escalator, turned her around and placed her on the UP escalator.

The entire time this is happening, my cousin is laughing her face off. When my grandmother reached the top, she SLAPPED HER dead across the face. Then the rest of the family burst out laughing. I know it's not funny, necessarily, to strike a child, but it was very funny watching my Mamaw walk-in-place UP the DOWN escalator. I was laughing thru tears--my favorite.

I think this is one of the FEW memories I have of my grandmother showing me love, for she was a very stern woman. It's a doozy at that. Maybe a little too much info for a Wednesday morning.

Washington DC, besides being home of my Skins, is one of the most amazing cities to tour. The history, architecture, etc is beyond what you would think.

Not to mention, those crabs. How I love them.....

I can just smell them now. Would mind having a cold brew along side them.

Mini-vacation starts FRIDAY!

My sisters & I have declared "Sisters Day". We will be lounging by the pool (kids in school), snacking, laughing, and there's talk of margeritas, then a pj party!

Not a week at the beach but definately FUN!

Well, it's my weekend without DS, so I am headed out Saturday evening to a French Pattisserie with some girlfriends for a martini or two, some appies and desserts. It'll be nice to get dolled up and head out with friends.

Sunday, maybe a wee bit of yard work, then float in the pool, then make hot wings for my sis, with WH's recipe. He learned to dredge the wings in cornstarch, instead of flour, and it crisps them up nicely. It's not the lowest fat thing in the world, but you gotta live a little. I eat salads nearly every day. A hot wing or five isn't gonna hurt.

Those superficial birds! Brains the size of a pea. LOL!

I miss the tongue sticking out emoticon.

SL,

I get to DC a few times every year to visit my best friend. We always have so much fun just going to ethnic restaurants and shopping. I love Tysons and all of the great malls there. Even Potamac Mills, but I have to be in the mood for that one. The worst malls there are waaay better than our best malls here, if you can believe that.

I'll be back down that way when I get some $. As long as this D is in progress, any extra cash I have is going to the atty.

Hey Chai!

I haven't spent much time in the DC area lately, mostly B'more. It'll be good to introduce my kid to DC and the monuments, museums, and the spectacular ZOO. I look forward to doing the tour all over again.

I used to skip school (shhhhh, don't tell anyone) and go to the DC Zoo with my friends when I was a senior in high school. Heck, I wasn't smoking, drinking, drugging, so hangin out at the zoo seemed harmless. Afterwards, we would go to some local shop to get a bite to eat. It was like our "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" thing. When the winter turns to spring and those puffy cloud, crisp blue sky days were upon us, we almost couldn't help ourselves. It was too much to ask a young adult to go to school on a day like that.

It will be a TREASURED part of his life. Our boys, now men, are always talking about their trips to DC. Also, their teachers appreciated their contributions to class discussions..."I've been there"..

Today, there is little alternative but to go to the grocery store.

Here are the alternatives:

HarrisTeeter - 2 locations - good selection - lousy prices

Publix - 7 mile drive - good selection - slightly better prices maybe

Kroger - nope, not a choice

Aldi - lousy selection - good prices

Costco - do I really want that many of anything besides sugar snap peas

SaveALot - yuck

Target - no SuperTarget - no produce

Whole Foods - like an amusement park in both selection and price

There are no good choices. When you are used to a passable store being 3 blocks from your house, it's hard to gear up for a 5 mile drive to a different store w/ good selection but higher prices

I know I shouldn't be whining. I KNOW that. I just have a need to whine. Breakfast will be frozen chicken croquettes and nacho pasta.

Well, I learned that Super Walmart has better prices than my REGULAR grocery store...

But the thing is, you have to walk so far to get JUST your grocery shopping done..from the parking lot into the store..then throughout the store to find the GROCERIES...

I end up justifying it to myself.."well, at least, I'm getting some more EXERCISE"...

Then, since I've gone through all of this EFFORT, "why don't I BROWSE around in here for FUN?"

Then, I end up spending MORE than I would have spent at my REGULAR grocery store..

So the next time, I go to my REGULAR grocery store..I come back home fussing about the higher prices and THEN..

Back to WALMART to start the JUSTIFICATION and RATIONALIZATION all over again..

LIFE CAN BE COMPLICATED...and this is just GROCERY SHOPPING (rolling eyes)

It is my quarter and I choose not to spend my quarter with the waltons or at kroger. Nope. I don't go there or do that if there is another reasonable alternative.

What's the matter with the waltons?

Ah, here comes the green monster woman, to have life be this complicated would be AWESOME.

Ok, I feel better now.

Come on, Queenie..ASSUMPTIONS..ASSUMPTIONS...

Just because I've RECOVERED my marriage and only CHOOSE to talk about my GROCERY SHOPPING ISSUES on the GODDESS thread does not mean that I don't have OTHER LIFE PROBLEMS..

So you want to hear me WHINE about my OTHER STUFF that's lots more MAJOR than this?

ETA...If you haven't noticed, I REALLY DON'T LIKE JEALOUSY!!

Queenie, I'm proud of you for pursuing financial support for yourself and your children. I know it's hard.

Been there, done that. While fighting my x to save my marriage, I had to file a petition for support and I got everything I wanted except legal fees. You can do this.

You CAN!!!

WE BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!