Tennis Ladies

So back in the day I used to be quite good at tennis. I played in high school, mainly doubles, and we actually got second in state our junior year. Now I have a limpy forehand and a non-existent backhand. I still can serve and volley though!

My social network at that time consisted almost entirely of tennis girls. I have stayed in touch with a few of them and attended one of their weddings last week. It is crazy how much has changed with all of us and yet how we are still so much the same.



And here is Kirsten, my best friend since nursery school. Our favorite activity used to be to go over to her house, curl up on the couch, read books and eat popcorn. Seriously, we wouldn't talk, we'd just read for hours.

Good times.

The Feelin' of the Island

So the photos have arrived. Our home for the week was Man O' War Cay, part of the Abaco island chain in the Bahamas. The island was small, home to about 200 or so people. The island has no real roads, just paths for golf carts. There is a grocery store and a bank or two but not much else. The post office is open for six hours every week. The island is also dry but we brought over our own supply of gin and Kalik beer from Marsh Harbour.

Drew learned how to drive a motor boat and a sailboat. I went out once on the catamaran and worked the jib sheet. I got several gallons of salt water directly in the face and had my butt in Jamie's face the whole time. It was a lot of fun but much more adventurous than Jamie had ever intended.

One day we went to a shoal and we anchored the boat off shore and jumped off into the GORGEOUS water. We played frisbee and messed around while trying to figure the best way to flip someone up out of the water. Check out the height Jamie got! I think this day may have been my favorite day of the trip.
































Here is a view from the top of the lighthouse we visited at Hopetown on Elbow Cay. You can see a rainstorm coming across.We got drenched in the storm but found a bar to hide in and wait out the storm.











Check out this beautiful sunset.

And a final picture of us. Cute, huh?

And We're Back

So the Bahamas were fantastic. As Jamie proclaimed proudly in a confused game of "make your own Scruples", Bahamas vacations are awesome!

We were there for seven wonderful days and it was perfect week of relaxation. I read three whole books while lounging in the hammock, beach and porch. We swam everyday in the crystal clear aquamarine water. We snorkeled, sailed, boated (is that a word?), toured the island on a golf cart, visited Hope Town, played bocce ball, poker (Straight Flush, holla!), boggle, a super fun Peruvian card game and Apples to Apples. We dined on delicious food every night even though some improvisation was needed because the grocery selection was limited.

Drew and I both feel really lucky to have been able to take this vacation and I very appreciative to Jamie and Melissa for their wonderful hospitality. You guys are the best!

We got back late Friday night into Mpls, went to a wedding on Saturday and then rented a 15' Budget truck and drove it back to Chicago Sunday afternoon. I had never rode in a big truck very far before and found it to be loud, noisy, bumpy and loud. But we made it safe and sound and unloaded all the furniture and boxes of childhood stuff (including a t-shirt with a puffy paint diagram of a Euglena, high school yearbooks, tennis trophies and random art projects from elementary school).

My parents came into town yesterday to help out with household projects that range from planting lilies of the valley and rhubarb (my mom and I knocked that out this morning) to power-washing, staining and sealing the deck. They are the best and our house would never get put together without them!

Posts may still be sporadic this week and no pictures until we get the big computer up and running. But don't worry, the Bahamas pics will be up as soon as possible.

Bahamas

Check out Pass the Zaki Sauce for some beautiful pictures of where Drew and I are going on Saturday!

I can't wait!

I Ruined Christmas

So I just want everyone to know that I tried to be as nice as possible to the lady from Comcast (as well as the other 5 people from there that I have talked to). Because really it's not their fault. They didn't make the policy.

During the winter break of my freshman year at Carleton, I worked at Rivertown Traders, a catalog company that was a part of Target Corp. They hired seasonal workers and lucky for me I got a six week break from school and therefore time to make some money. So one day I get a call from a lady who is calling about her order. Everything is computerized, so I look up her stuff and see that one of her things is backordered. I explained to her (in a nice way) what the situation was and gave her an estimated date of arrival. She then proceeded to scream, yell and curse at me because I had personally "ruined her son's Christmas."

Now perhaps I was emotionally fragile at the tender age of 18, but the second I left the building that day I sobbed. My mom picked me up and I remember just crying and crying for what seemed like hours because there was a woman somewhere out in the world that hated me and blamed me for giving her son a horrible Christmas morning. I actually think I would still cry that hard today if it happened. But ever since then I try not to get angry at the people on the end of the phone because I have been in their shoes. But, wow, I now sure do understand that lady's frustration and anger.

So I hope the Comcast people I have spoken to have understood my frustration and reported it through what every channels they have to go through. And I hope they also have not felt at all upset or worried that I was mad at them. I have done my best to clearly express my feelings about their policy and only hope they have heard.