cruise cruise cruise

Last Thursday, Ryan and I returned from our cruise. Without a doubt, cruising with my sweet Ryan was the best vacation I have ever had!

The trip started out in a high stress way that could only be the best kick-off to the most relaxing 5 days ever. We planned to leave early enough to be at the airport an hour early. After getting a camera from my brother and getting lost in Orlando, we got to the airport and parked the car 16 minutes before our plane was scheduled to depart. We ran through the parking lot, tossed out our shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, brand new sunscreens and face wash, carried on our baggage, ran through the airport and sat down in our seats 2 minutes before the (or a lincoln) to the port, but what did it matter when we were about to get onto the "Enchantment of the Seas" for a week.

Throughout the entire vacation, I was completely relaxed (at least once we got on the ship). All thoughts of work, school and life in general completely disintegrated as soon as we crossed the line between port terminal and ship.

The food was absolutely amazing. We had a wonderful dinner every night, served to us by a series of waiters. There was an appetizer, a main course, wine, breads and dessert every single night. We had frozen yogurt on tap, buffets for breakfast and lunch and snacks whenever we wanted.

The basic run down of each day of vacation went something like this:

10:00-11:00am - roll out of bed, eat breakfast

11:00-4:30 - any of the following: wander around the ship, go on an excursion, go to the casino, watch a show

5ish - watch movies and take a nap with ryan

8:30-11:30 - dinner

11:30 - go to jacuzzi and pool

2ish - end the night with movies and cuddling

One night, Ryan and I laid out on the deck.We both brought books, but Ryan was the only one who did any reading. I laid down and just stared at the stars. The ship was peaceful and the sky was beautiful. Seriously, you haven't seen the moon until you've looked at it shimmering across the ocean in the middle of the night with nothing else visible in the distance for miles.

Coming back to work was a complete nightmare compared to how wonderful the cruise was. Life after the cruise has been quite mundane. It is hard to look forward to five days a week, 7:30-4:00, when there is a life out there of fun and peace. I have never known what it is like to be completely stress free. I made the lethal mistake of checking email and voicemail while we were waiting for our flight. All reality rushed back to me in a flood of stress at killer strength.

Anyway, some pics to enjoy:

Florida on my mind...

In true Daddy’s little girl fashion, I am here on this RV trip for my dad. This trip is the one thing, I believe, that my dad looks forward to every year. He wants the whole family, Jason, Jenn, Nina, Mom and Pop to be on this trip. He wants us to get along, see what nature the US has to offer and to have a fun time together, so much fun, that we all look forward to next year. Unfortunately for my dad, it rarely happens that way and each year, we all grudgingly pile into the van (this year it’s the RV) and get along as best we can.

Traveling with people can be a very difficult thing. You have to know a person well enough to know their limits, be courteous enough to respect those limits and patient enough to allow for your limits to be pushed every now and then. Sometimes you have to give a little more than you want to and look away from things that bother you. The more people you add to your list of traveling companions the more difficult it gets to keep everyone happy.

I reached my limit of patience about 2 days into the trip. I can tell by the insolent, impatient stubbornness that eeks it’s way into my voice and my reactions to my family. Every annoying act causes me to lash out in an irrational, yet unstoppable way. My mother, with her ever constant nagging and pushing, has been the most difficult to bear.

I’ve been trying in vain to find a way to balance the patience and unkindness with peace and friendliness. The obstacle is this, without Ryan, I am at my worst. When I leave him for days on end or on the rare occasion that he leaves me, my nerves become frayed. There is something about being around Ryan that calms me and makes me a nicer person. He helps to bring perspective to situations that would otherwise bring my temper to a hot boil. While its true that he can frustrate me to no end, he can also pinpoint the parts that frustrate me, walk me through them and talk me off the cliff. He also helps with the sexual frustration that has been building since last Friday. As independent and self-sustaining as I’d like to think I am, I really do need to be around Ryan to be at my best.

This morning has been the most difficult so far. No seems to understand that to close the door to the RV, you don’t have to slam it. Every step shakes the whole RV and every sound is heard. People come in (slamming the door behind them) shouting and stomping about at 6:45 in the morning is quite horrible. My mom complained about how hot it was in the RV (after she went for a f*cking run) and cranked up the AC to make it a chilly 65 degrees. My sister started in on how bored she was and my dad simply came quietly into the RV with his coffee to sit on the couch. He didn’t ask me any questions and he didn’t try to get me out of bed. Wide awake, I had no choice but to face the music. I plopped on the headphones, found a relaxing song and drowned it all out. To no avail. “Are you hungry?” “What do you want to do today?” “Are you hot?” “Are you cold?” Headphones do not seem to matter. I am now outside with the music as loud as I can stand, trying to center myself so that I am not an unbearable person for the rest of the day.

I’ve got an entire week to go before I can be back in Gainesville. The RV is getting smaller every day and the boredom grows thick. I have finished the book I was reading when I left and am now about 375 pages into my next book. I have one more book with me and thankfully there is internet. wish me luck.

okie from muskogee

I'm not sure what that song is really about, but every place we've been from tennessee to south dakota has had a sign, a song or something related to it somewhere in the building. It seems to be the theme for the trip.

We have finally arrived in South Dakota. It's been too long since my last shower and too long since my last snuggle with my honey. It's been quite an adventure getting here. The biggest highlight of the trip so far was just after we bumped down a small hill and promptly hard a very harsh metal scraping sound. The car towing hitch had come loose and we were no longer pulling the car in a very safe way, right in front of a green traffic light and a line of cars behind us. My dad and I jumped out to do what we could. We had to line the ball and hitch up, but the chains were still hooked. So, under my sister's direction my dad pulled ever so slightly foward and the next thing I know, the car is moving forward and the RV is moving backward, VERY FAST. I murmurmed a very panicked f*ck and held my ground the best I could. Thankfully, I got the car to stop and my sister got my dad to stop moving, so I didn't get pinned. It wasn't terribly scary, but it very nearly was an emergency situation for me. All my mom could say was, "Jenn! Watch your language!" Thanks, mom.

So we've arrived and now I'm getting ready to go for a swim. peace out.