Summer Vaca Part... Done!

So Athene came up with a cool idea that I wish I would have thought of earlier. It involved Yahoo Messenger and a whole lotta fun. Yahoo has evolved it since I've last used it, and let me tell you, it's a far cry from PINE IRC that I first learned to use in college. Bring back memories?

So we've moved our plans to July, to get an extra day of of Mel's vaca.
Bad: Miss July 4 fireworks.
Good: Get to spend my b-day in England.
Bad/Good: No summer school.

I think it balances out.

Summer Vaca... Part 3

So Omouse went online and did some more research. Her theory was that shopping around would be good... so I found a few more potentially (cough) cheaper (cough) places to look at.

Hey, more options are a good thing.

These are basically holiday camps/apartments similar to HavenHolidays
http://www.pontins.com/centres/index.php
http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/
http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.beachside.co.uk

I thought the Beach Side link looked cool.

And here were some links to sites that have Holiday Cottages.
http://www.powells.co.uk
http://www.hoseasons.co.uk
http://www.welcomecottages.com/welu_homepage.html


And here's one that has everything!
http://www.like2stay.co.uk/england.htm

So we've got lots of choices and I think we really need Athene input here.
Where's the best place?
What part of the country are we going to explore?

Do we want to go to a resort type place with lots of kids running about, or more of a secluded cottage close to the beach where we can set our own agenda, but may not have some of the same resources as a resort. (Long sentence... I know) I think there are ups and downs to both.

And, but not least.

The prices in August are horrendous. I could probably swing July - early July? Or should we stay with August? What's the difference in weather?

Okay... enough rambly.

Rain, Rain, Went Away

It has finally stopped raining. It's overcast today, but yesterday was beautiful. I think people in CA are breathing a sigh of relief. Even the guy at the gas station seemed chipper.

A grumpy Normy came home from the vet, after a stop at Mom's while I went to class. He seems to have forgiven me. He slept beside me and let me pet him this morning until Ed got greedy and shoved his head under my fingers.

I'm tired today. It's pretty much my own fault. Last week we were watching the commentary on an episode of Homicide... where one of the actors said that Detective Munch had probably set a record by appearing on the most shows as the same character. He's been on Homicide, multiple Law and Orders, and even an episode of the X-Files. The X-Files? I went and looked up the episode and requested the disk from Netflix and it arrived yesterday.

Lizzie suggested we watch it after Without A Trace (It was 11:00) and I said "Sure. That way I can mail it back tomorrow." As soon as I turned it on, I remembered which one it was... I just didn't realize the guy was Munch. It was the one from Season 5 that explained how the Lone Gunmen were founded and their relationship with Mulder.

I love Munch. He's cool.

Summer Vaca... Part 2

So I've done some more specific research... in two different currencies even.

First, I came to the conclusion that Contiki 13 day trips were not do-able, when Mel only has 9 vacation days. Even when you add weekends, the day the trips start on all ended up going over that limit.

There is an interesting 8 day tour of Tuscany listed. So I investigated approximate costs for each person. Including airfare and assuming a $200 expense for incidentals...

Mel: $2,300
Clare: ($1,535) 815 Pounds
Me: $2,500

Other Option:

England: Assuming airfare and 50 Pounds a day living/traveling/fun money

Mel: $1,780
Clare : ($1000) 500 Pounds
Me: $1,880

So more commenty thingies! What do you think?
Other options?

Summer Vaca Options

Okay, so we keep putting off a decision... and we need to make one. Let's get some input and ideas... so make free with the comments.

Option 1: Mediterranean:

With Contiki - multiple countries, transportation, hotel and some meals covered. Don't have to speak languages to get around.

or Without Contiki - maybe Southern France, Spain, and/or Italy, rent a car or travel by train. Have to arrange own places to stay.

Option 2: Greece:

With Contiki - transportation, hotel and some meals covered. Don't have to speak languages to get around.

Without Contiki - need to figure out own transportation, lodging and hotel. Flights to Greece are somewhat expensive from the US.

Option 3: Southern England

Don't need Contiki but:

Travel by Train - Can get a flex pass to jet about where we need to go. Must find place to stay.

Camper Van - can travel anywhere (if Clare drives hehehe) and stay inside van.

or Haggis Tours - small guided tours that stay in hostels - Cornwall - 4 days, or Scotland 6 days.


So what sounds like the best option to you?

Rough Week

You see, last week my mom hexed me. She sent me the dreaded email - "Things always come in threes!"

I'm getting to the 3x3 point.

As mentioned before... someone stole my cell phone. Then later in the week my pda died. Screen just flickered and then blllphhph. Nothing. It still charges... but it won't turn on. Great.

So if I had to get a new phone and a new pda, I might as well go crazy with Ebay! I got myself a $50 Treo. It's a combo phone/pda.

Then last Tuesday night, I got into my car after choir and it happens again. Nothing. Lights go on, but no engine. Bllphhph - my new word.

I managed to catch the last three men leaving and ask to borrow a cell phone to call AAA, and as soon as I hung up, the men left me alone in the parking lot at 9:15 pm. Now I was within shouting distance of a police station, which they pointed out, but not nice.

Tow truck driver arrives. He's lost his $60 flashlight and can't see into my car, despite the street lamps directly overhead. He spends 20 minutes looking for said flashlight. I finally manage to catch the custodian on his way home and ask him if he has a flashlight. He departs and returns with one and the two spend another 20 minutes poking and prodding and general male grunting behavior trying to fix my engine.

Unsuccessful, he finally decides it must be towed and we leave the parking lot around 10:15. On the ride to my apartment, I get a lecture on how his boss is racist against whites and how his "Iranish" (his word, not mine) speaking boss was mad because the driver knew more than he did. Then tow truck man went into a lecture about tipping your tow truck driver. (Ride from hell.)

Miraculously, there were not one, but two parking spots directly outside my apartment. I left it there overnight and had it towed after work. This driver was cool and had me hooked up and there in less than 20 minutes. Then he drove me home. And when I tried to tip him, he refused. That made me even more mad at skanky tow truck man.

So $500 later, I have a pda, a phone, and a car that function.

Yeah me!

Going to buy a Mini sometime this year.

how cool am I?

Hey look at me! I'm blogging from my cell phone. Spiffy, huh?