I feel somewhat bad that I am not being diligent in updating my blog while I’m on vacation. But really, I’m on vacation, having a wonderful time. Why would I spend any time on the computer that I didn’t have to? Why am I doing it now?
I complain about my flights, leaving at 1:00 in the morning, but I shouldn’t. It means I get to sleep most of the flight and not waste a vacation day traveling.
I didn’t get the room I expected when I arrived. I had requested the same one I had last year. Instead I got upgraded to a villa. Which is nicer, a bit more centrally located, gorgeous view, but no kitchen. Did I really think I would do baking while I was here?
Today (technically yesterday) has been a very good day. Most of it was spent in a haze. I stayed up too late yesterday and was groggy all day. But I’m on vacation, so I have to man up and go and do stuff. Most of the time I am falling into my usual habit of being a facilitator; making sure everyone is having a good time.
What I like about the people I am friends with is the complete lack of judgement. Wait, that came out wrong. While they might have a lack of judgement, they also don’t judge. They are willing to do anything and accept everything.
Last year, we had pony races. I didn’t do well due to circumstances I don’t want to talk about. So this year, I made it personal. Off came the vacation clothes, and on came the running gear. (It was amazing how much nicer it is to walk around in running shoes than the sandals I had been wearing.) To make things more interesting, the steeplechase is done with all the “horses” (inflatable stick ponies) competing at the same time. Jump over the three deck chairs; through the two hoops; around the hedges; back through the same hoops; centre stage to hula-hoop; finally two more hoops before the finish line.
Rightly so, I was favoured to win this year. The difficult part was when I was coming back to the same hoops I had gone through before, the husband-wife team had left a trap. While she was racing, he was blocking the hoops. Well, if they are going to cheat like that, they started it. After the wrestling match pile-up was completed, I was able to sprint off ahead of her and finish.
The bull-roping demonstration was well done.
I’ve been making friends here. Mostly British women with nerdy boyfriends who are absent. I’ve been getting many compliments from the organizers. I feel comfortable and accepted. There are single women here too. It’s nice.
Overheard: “Mi beaver es su beaver.” After I gave a cute stuffed beaver to one of the organizers. I hope they don’t name it Justin.
I was fantastically dressed tonight, and got a lot of compliments. I have stayed up very very late, with very little caffeine. I am still oddly alert, but I blame the large amount of mental stimulus I’ve been having. I escorted multiple women to their rooms. Although the first one was because she was scared of spiders that might be lurking there. In her defence, there are very big spiders here. It is hard to find a big enough glass to try and catch them with.
I should go to bed now. Breakfast ends in six hours.
2013-10-28 4:52