February 15, 2012
February 13, 2012
Connected
So, in case you weren't aware, we recently went on vacation. It would be impossible NOT to be aware if you have visited my blog at all in the last three weeks. It's pretty much all I've talked about. I'm almost done; I promise.
We were staying on a tiny island on the Gulf of Mexico to celebrate our anniversary. We already knew from our experience over our wedding weekend that cell phone service was spotty at best on the island. What we weren't sure of was how well the resort's advertised free wi-fi service would function.
Now, it's no secret I spend a lot of time online. I packed my laptop for the trip expecting to have the opportunity to keep up with my blogging and social media. I have a smart phone, but prefer to use my computer for most things internet-related.
Hubby brought his own laptop. We're not big TV watchers these days. But we did also have my Nook Color and books/magazines to take along so we could get some reading in.
Our first night there, after SB had gone to bed, we were both sitting on the screened porch of our cottage listening to the ocean. Out came the laptops. And we discovered the wi-fi was going to be very unreliable. At best.
Sometimes we could connect. Sometimes we could not. Even when we were connected, the internet was ridiculously slow and would go in and out. It was pointless. I put my laptop away and grabbed a book.
For most of the trip, my laptop was in the room safe. I would get it out daily and try to connect. But if I couldn't, I didn't care. And that's what was funny. I rely every day on being online. One might think I would be stressed about not being able to do so. But I wasn't.
Hubby was. I was so amused by his frustration throughout the vacation over the inability to get online. As much as he likes to tease me about being obsessed with the internet, he has a habit of his own. Online news. Devours it. Day and night. He couldn't get his fix on his trip, and was not unlike an addict suffering from withdrawal.
The lack of internet access enable us to connect on our vacation. Which is, of course, the point. Now, neither hubby nor I allow online time to interfere with family time in our normal life. For both of us, the time spent on our computers is largely when SB is asleep. And, in my case, when she is in preschool or speech therapy.
I enjoyed the opportunity to disconnect. I didn't worry about what I might be missing, or whether or not I would be missed. Sadly, I was unable to get into the book I started. It just wasn't working for me. But I found plenty of opportunity on our trip to relax and unwind.
And have managed to make up for my time away from the internet since we returned home...
We were staying on a tiny island on the Gulf of Mexico to celebrate our anniversary. We already knew from our experience over our wedding weekend that cell phone service was spotty at best on the island. What we weren't sure of was how well the resort's advertised free wi-fi service would function.
Now, it's no secret I spend a lot of time online. I packed my laptop for the trip expecting to have the opportunity to keep up with my blogging and social media. I have a smart phone, but prefer to use my computer for most things internet-related.
Hubby brought his own laptop. We're not big TV watchers these days. But we did also have my Nook Color and books/magazines to take along so we could get some reading in.
Our first night there, after SB had gone to bed, we were both sitting on the screened porch of our cottage listening to the ocean. Out came the laptops. And we discovered the wi-fi was going to be very unreliable. At best.
Sometimes we could connect. Sometimes we could not. Even when we were connected, the internet was ridiculously slow and would go in and out. It was pointless. I put my laptop away and grabbed a book.
For most of the trip, my laptop was in the room safe. I would get it out daily and try to connect. But if I couldn't, I didn't care. And that's what was funny. I rely every day on being online. One might think I would be stressed about not being able to do so. But I wasn't.
Hubby was. I was so amused by his frustration throughout the vacation over the inability to get online. As much as he likes to tease me about being obsessed with the internet, he has a habit of his own. Online news. Devours it. Day and night. He couldn't get his fix on his trip, and was not unlike an addict suffering from withdrawal.
The lack of internet access enable us to connect on our vacation. Which is, of course, the point. Now, neither hubby nor I allow online time to interfere with family time in our normal life. For both of us, the time spent on our computers is largely when SB is asleep. And, in my case, when she is in preschool or speech therapy.
I enjoyed the opportunity to disconnect. I didn't worry about what I might be missing, or whether or not I would be missed. Sadly, I was unable to get into the book I started. It just wasn't working for me. But I found plenty of opportunity on our trip to relax and unwind.
And have managed to make up for my time away from the internet since we returned home...
February 10, 2012
Travel troubles
So far the Ross family does not have the best of luck when it comes to traveling. After this happened last year, we were not too eager to get back on the road. But, we'd had a special anniversary trip planned for months. So we packed up the car.
Once again, the trip was fabulous. And the drive home was decidedly not.
We were preparing to depart Captiva around 9:30 AM. Hubby noted that one rear tire looked low. The tire gauge that used to be in my glove box had mysteriously disappeared. So we said we would stop at the first gas station we came to and check.
By the time we got to one, the tire was almost flat. Hubby had to change it right then and there. But first, of course, we had to unload the carefully packed car so he could get to all the stuff he needed. And then he had to figure out how to get the spare tire out from under the car. Which proved to be complicated.
Once again, the trip was fabulous. And the drive home was decidedly not.
We were preparing to depart Captiva around 9:30 AM. Hubby noted that one rear tire looked low. The tire gauge that used to be in my glove box had mysteriously disappeared. So we said we would stop at the first gas station we came to and check.
By the time we got to one, the tire was almost flat. Hubby had to change it right then and there. But first, of course, we had to unload the carefully packed car so he could get to all the stuff he needed. And then he had to figure out how to get the spare tire out from under the car. Which proved to be complicated.
All I can say is, thank goodness for our iPhones. Mine kept SB entertained while hubby used his to search for help. He called a local dealer for assistance with the spare tire. And located a service station on Sanibel that said they could repair the tire.
When we got there, however, it turned out they could not fix it. There was a large, construction grade staple in it, and they were afraid the tube would be punctured in two places. Hubby got back on his iPhone and located a place in Fort Meyers where we could go.
When we got there, however, it turned out they could not fix it. There was a large, construction grade staple in it, and they were afraid the tube would be punctured in two places. Hubby got back on his iPhone and located a place in Fort Meyers where we could go.
We headed over the causeway right as the sky opened up in a torrential, only-in-Florida-style rain. Which went on for the next few hours, making things that much more fun. Fortunately, the Firestone place in Fort Meyers could fix it, and fast.
Once the repairs were complete and the tire was back on my car, it was close to 1:00. We decided to go to a restaurant to eat before we hit the road. We went to a crab house next door to the Firestone and had a nice lunch. Then got back in the car and drove through major traffic in Fort Meyers to get to the Interstate.
It was 2:15 when we got on I-75. We had a seven hour drive ahead of us.
We were cruising along and making great time when we hit Orlando at rush hour. Yes, rush hour. If you have ever driven through the state of Florida, you know that is the LAST thing you want to do.
Once the repairs were complete and the tire was back on my car, it was close to 1:00. We decided to go to a restaurant to eat before we hit the road. We went to a crab house next door to the Firestone and had a nice lunch. Then got back in the car and drove through major traffic in Fort Meyers to get to the Interstate.
It was 2:15 when we got on I-75. We had a seven hour drive ahead of us.
We were cruising along and making great time when we hit Orlando at rush hour. Yes, rush hour. If you have ever driven through the state of Florida, you know that is the LAST thing you want to do.
This was about the time SB decided she'd had enough. She had been so good up to that point, but she just couldn't take anymore. You know how when a young child is tired you have irrational conversations that go in circles and make you want to hit your head against the wall until you lose consciousness?
Yeah. And then she had a whinefest until she crashed. Slept for about an hour. By the time she woke up it was dark. That caused her to be disoriented, and she freaked out. Nothing we did could calm her.
I spent the remainder of the trip driving on the most dangerous stretch of Interstate in the country in the dark. And rain. Gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. Good times.
There were so many times throughout the day I just wanted to cry. I'm pretty sure hubby did, too. We were both ready to throw our own tantrums. But we held it together. And we all got home safe and sound, albeit late. After a 12 hour day.
There were so many times throughout the day I just wanted to cry. I'm pretty sure hubby did, too. We were both ready to throw our own tantrums. But we held it together. And we all got home safe and sound, albeit late. After a 12 hour day.
We will not be hitting the road again anytime soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
