(Beach Trip, part 1)

Rumors of my Death are Greatly Exaggerated...

...Or yet to be spread at all, but I just know there are a handful of people just chompin' at the bit since it's been over two weeks since I blogged! I don't think it should count, though, considering that I was gone for one of them, without an illegal wireless connection to be had!

Unlike two years ago, Shelly and I were the last ones to arrive two Saturdays ago, since there were no bridge pile-ups, toll back-ups, or other general forms of mayhem afflicting those coming down from Maryland.

As many of you will remember from a blog much earlier in the year, we stayed at Carolina In My Mind. As one or two especially astute people will also remember, I posted a bad link, which took you to the wrong house! Here is a picture of the place we actually stayed:

There it was, in all its welcoming glory! (Although, ironically, I took that one right before we pulled out to come home, which is why it looks somewhat forlorn). Anyway, after a comfy, four-hour drive, Shelly and I were ready to be there, and after turning the air off the "Butt-numbingly cold" setting, we were off to a great week!

Breakfast, Day 1: Sunday started off with a bang. As some will remember, on that exact day last year, in a picturesque and sweltering Southern city named Fuquay Varina, two people were joined in a holy union. No, it was not Scott and Lerissa (good guess, but you forgot to take the word 'holy' into account), but rather Shelly and I. We celebrated the first anniversary of that momentous day in three ways. One: We exchanged presents...

(Do I really look that rough in the morning?)

Two: We got burnt to a crisp on the beach...

And Three: We had dinner at Tale of the Whale, a wonderful little restaurant way down the Banks, near the Manteo island bridge. We splurged, Shelly ordering a set of King Crab legs, and I settling on a full lobster stuffed with crab meat. Neither of us left hungry. The balmy breezes cooperated(nothing like the miserable humidity we've been saddled with this last week), as did a nice, full moon, which rose as if just for us over the ocean after our meal. I left with a heavy heart, knowing that this would be difficult indeed to top next year!

Surprisingly, the week went by without either of us venturing out to eat again, although I did go out two nights later with the aforementioned cousin Scott. Unlike previous years, I was there in an advisory capacity only, and in that spirit I accompanied him to Hooters on Tuesday night. Alas and Alack, I was unable to 'advise' him that leaving a 100% tip would do nothing to improve his chances with our waitress, and he left quite a bit lighter in cash than he came! Shelly, understanding, trusting wife that she is, understood that I only ventured to that house of ill repute and scantily-clad hussies because I don't get to spend much time with my cousin. No, never, never, would I have had any desire to go there had Scott not forced me to go! ;)

Moving on, a lot of things happened, but as is the way of things, vacation time speeds by and things all blur together. I played a great deal of Lego Star Wars with nephew Jackson, who also had a birthday that week, turning five. Here he is, contemplating the sublties of the beach unbrella- just wait 'til he's old enough to lug the thing to and from the beach

I got reacquainted with all of my nieces and nephews, and introduced to a totally new one: Mr. Matthew Spencer! Here he is, getting to know his Aunt Shelly for the very first time.

That overjoyed smile on her face makes my blood run cold.

Ok, it's eleven at night, and I've barely made a dent. We'll have to continue this again later. 'Night everyone!