Got back today from Orlando. Michael had two conferences there, and so I decided to take a week off to do absolutely nothing, where I couldn’t be tempted to actually, you know, do something around the house.
Discovered a couple things.
First, there is far more alcohol at a Disney resort than I would have imagined.
Two, Orlando and its environs have some very interesting flora and fauna. I particularly liked the little lizards.
c) Even living and growing up in a college town, I was still shocked by the amount of drinking and (although I didn’t see the end result so I can’t be certain) casual sex. I went to several events with Michael, and at some, alcohol was easier to get than soda or water. (The first conference only had drinking, the second conference had drinking and a surprising number of people looking like they were trying to hook up, regardless of whether they were married or not.) However, living and growing up in a college town, I wasn’t bothered by those things, just surprised to see grown-ups acting like teenagers.
4th, I decided that I really don’t like golf. The second conference was at a resort on a golf course. I went walking in the mornings, before things got hot, and was stunned by the amount of water and fertilizer and manpower used to maintain the courses.
Fifth, places that cater to the rich nickel and dime you like nobody’s business. The Disney resort didn’t have free wireless (WAH!), and the golf resort… jeesh. No fridge in the room (just the wet bar), anything you wanted had to be purchased from the hotel–water was $3 to $5 a bottle, in addition to the room charges, there were also charges for “supplies” that included internet, towels for the pool, etc. Thank goodness all this was covered as part of the conference fee. Unfortunately, meals for me were not, and there was nothing really within walking distances of the hotel (certainly not at noon when temperatures are in the 90s) and so meals were…. not cheap. But at least a the second resort the food was good.
F. I really do have problems with bright light. Most every afternoon I got a headache. And the same thing happened seventeen years ago when I visited my family in Hawaii. So the purchase of high end sunglasses was not a waste of money, and I really now have no desire to go to the beach, since being in the sun for any length of time during the day makes me sick.
Lastly, I had my first massage (being at a resort is good for something). By Jove that my certainly will not be my last massage. That was fantastic.
But for now, I am tired and really glad we’re not going to work tomorrow.
ADDENDUM the First:
Book reviews will go up later. Whenever I feel up to it. Because you know I read plenty while on vacation.
