Where to start. Ah yes, maybe I'll tell this vacation story in reverse - ah what the hell. Today is:

Monday, I was not so enthused about going back to work after being on vacation since this past wednesday at my parent's lake house at Smith Mountain Lake. At least it was a slow day at work (suprizingly after being gone almost a week).

Sunday (yesterday) - was an intense day, I woke up early at the Lake house - finished packing and loading the car for the trip home. The plan was to drive back early, get home and take a long bike ride - (afterall, I was to spend Monday night out with my parents for my mom's 63rd birthday - and Sunday was Father's Day) then cook dinner for my parents on Father's Day - grilled Filet Mignon with carmalized mushrooms and onions, steamed veggies, sweet potatos. Then to clean my bike from head to toe for my tuesday eve bike ride with my training partner. What a mess. I went thru an entire can of WD-40 and a roll of paper towels trying to get that bike cleaned. I stripped the entire bike apart - every chain, pully, spoke, gear, everything - sonic cleaned all the greasy parts and put it back together. Then degreased the parts - then added the new grease/oil. Sparkled like crazy. On my bike ride, I did see an amazing thing - a one legged bicyclist. Seriously. This dude was on his bicycle, huffing up a hill (he obviously had toe clips - he was pulling up and pushing down). It was quite impressive. But a few questions came to mind. Like when he stops, obviously he would unclip his foot out...but what if he accidently leaned in the opposite direction. Or what does he do with the other pedal or shoe?

Saturday - Was a Neiceless/Nephewless day. In fact very gratefull after two solid days dealing with several of my nephews (unlike my neices who are always polite and bearable) who happen to suck the entire life, good mood, patience, and then more. This experience re-ifys why I may not have children. (another discussion) This experience is the best form of birth control. Anyhoo, Sat morn - had breakfast with the parents, ran to the store, gassed up (amazing $1.63 a gallon) and then headed to the Smith Mountain State Park for a good bike ride. Unfortunately, the park was small...but it had good long stretches of rolling hill paved roads. So I did 4 laps - which basically amounted to about 28 miles (very hilly). Came back to the lake house and helped my parents for 3 hours hand this really difficult set of huge venetian blinds over a high vestibule. Afterwards, my father and I took a swim at the pool a few blocks away and made fun of the two new mothers who were at the pool in bikinis - who should not have been in bikinis. These women were both about 100lbs overweight - and in string bikinis. Fat gushing over the strings - and to top it all off....the biggest white trash tawk replete with guns and roses and confederate flag tattoos. It was sad. Came home and I cooked dinner - some linguini with tomato, basil, garlic, oregano, grilled chicken - with leftovers from the week (had to clean out fridge). After dinner, sat out on deck with parents, had a few beers and watched the fireflies.

Friday - Woke up way too early. My Father rented a pontoon boat - large lake cruiser for both Thursday and Friday - for cruising the lake, fishing, et al for all the grandchildren, my brothers and my parents. Was a loose knit arrangement. SO basically, we spent the morning on the boat fishing - not catching anything - we had the wrong bait - it was the wrong time of the day - not to mention, my father's fishing gear was completely archaic. Like 30 years old - and unfunctional. Meaning - you could cast out about 10 yards. but could not reel it back in - because the reel was all fucked up. I felt bad - he felt bad. But it was great weather. I was still suffering from a sunburn from the day earlier. We came back to the lake house and dropped my mother off (so she could meet my younger brother and his wife and family) and my father zoomed back to the marina to meet my older brother and a few of his kids (the wife was at home taking care of the eldest daughter because she had strep throat). We met them - and had to leave - the youngest boy spent the entire car ride barfing. He had a 102 fever. Ungood. We took my neice on a quick 15 minute spin around the bay to make her smile. My poor older brother - he took the afternoon off from work, drove with two of three kids down to the lake (hour each way) to fish, and swim at the pool....then drive home. After all this, Father and I came back to the lake house - joined family at pool. Swam - then ate dinner. Kids finally left. I was soo frustrated because of all the children - sucking any fun I was "supposed to have - and relax" on my mini-vacation. I needed to cool off. So I went on a severe quick bike ride. Came back to the house, and had some coffee and a beer on the back deck with the 'rents as we watched the stars, fireflies and talked about how children take the life out of ya.

Thursday - Woke up early - had breakfast with parents and went to marina to rent pontoon boat. Went on a lengthy tour of the lake in the morning - I stoopidly went shirtless - with only minimal sunscreen. Came back in the afternoon for lunch, picked up my younger brother and his two boys - had lunch on the boat and went fishing. It was threatening to storm the entire time but it did not. My younger brother caught two tiny fish. Came back and headed back to the house to change for the pool. Spent the afternoon playing "Marco Polo!" in the pool and getting burnt to a crisp. I cooked dinner for the family that night - Linguini with a spicy white clam sauce. It was well received.

Wednesday - Woke up early for my 5 hour drive down to my parent's lake house at Smith Mountain Lake. I was looking forward to it - the long solitude of a drive (I had a great book on tape) - and the relaxation and time to spend with my family - sun, boating, swimming, cooking, fishing. Got to the lake around 2:30pm - it was about to rain. My father decided to hold off on the boat rental - as it had been raining all week. So we ran a few quick errands - in the rain. Came back to the lake house - went to the pool for a really chilly dip. Came home and prepared dinner - I was impressed. Mom made a turkey the day before. SO we had cranberry sauce and the fixins'.

Overall.....it was a GREAT trip. I am relaxed, tan, feel healthy (look great in my bathingsuit - all this biking has made me kinda look...iono....well fit). Time to put this novel to bed. (photos soon to come).

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