not to mention…

On July 19th, I wrote:

Hopefully I won’t a) fall overboard b) catch swine flu or c) vomit the entire time from motion sickness (I got prescription strength motion sickness drug that cost me $50).  If none of those situations occur, I will consider the trip a success.I’ll be back on Saturday… 8 shades darker.  And probably 5 pounds heavier.  I hate getting darker and heavier.

Just for the record, I didn’t fall overboard, catch swine flu OR vomit from motion sickness (those patches were effing great).

While I did return several shades darker, I probably lost a few pounds.  Even though our room was on deck 2 and most of the action took place on decks 4-10, we took the stairs everywhere.  Yes, there were functioning elevators, but Peter and I were too good for them.  We also didn’t eat like maniacs.  That helped too.

So, despite my darker complexion, the trip was a great success.

it’s not a boat.

Just so you know, I had a super fantastic vacation around the Western Caribbean with my friend (yes, friend) Peter.  I think it’s safe to say, that was the most relaxing vacation I’ve ever been on.  Like, 150% stress-free.

So, what happened?

Rather than give you the super long, not-quite-boring story, I’d rather show/tell you in pictures:

Our boat –

It was basically awesome.  There were maybe 2,000 people on the ship, but you wouldn’t know it (unless you spent all your time on Deck 9 where everyone and their mother spent 10 hours tanning or swimming).  There was so much space.

First stop, Key West -

In the beginning, it was a lovely day.  Peter and I walked all over the island, scoped out places to eat key lime pie, found a few cool looking bars (that were closed, unfortunately), and even made it to the Southernmost point in the Continental US -

Then, as we were making our way back to the ship, we got stuck in a pretty major thunder/lightning storm that almost immediately flooded the entire island.  We had to swim (more or less) back to the ship.  It wasn’t pretty.

Next stop, Cozumel -

Luckily, there was no chance of ridiculous storms while we were in Mexico.   So after finding a cab, we made our way to “downtown” Cozumel where we were immediately bombarded with offers for all kinds of free things: jewelry, tequila, beer, margaritas, pins, etc.  People just wouldn’t leave us alone.  I don’t know about Peter, but that was driving me insane.

So, long story short, we found some food (we’re big spenders…)

…discovered the best store in Cozumel

…and ran into a few lizards on the sidewalks.

Then, we were bound for Belize.

We woke up bright (not really, since our room didn’t have a window) and early for a day of scuba in Belize.  Our adventure in Belize took place here -

out there…

and here -

After several attempts to pass my shallow water test with the air tank (removing the air tube, then putting it back in your mouth…), the diving instructor actually let me scuba with the guys in the “deep end”.   I was crazy nervous at first, but I went with it… and I’m so glad I did.

I wasn’t feeling too well afterwards, but I eventually recovered.

On our final day, Peter and I just laid around in the sun.  My arms, legs and face got five shades darker and Peter just turned an out of control shade of red (I couldn’t help but laugh).

Thankfully, by the time Peter and I left the ship, we didn’t hate each other.  I didn’t expect we would, but there may have been some potential out there.  Also, our anti-couple-ness was only mildly awkward throughout our vacation.

Like I said before, it was a gloriously relaxing and stress-free vacation.  I would go on another cruise in a heartbeat.

Not only was it affordable, but I got to go scuba diving (and see a huge stingray underwater), eat delicious food, learn lots of random things about Peter (I’m sure he learned a lot about me too), practice my Spanish, buy tequila from Mexico – in Mexico, run in the rain (not the safest idea), and RELAX.

dear all,

I’m about to embark on a 6-day journey around the Caribbean with my good friend, Peter.  Hooray for Cruising!  Hopefully I won’t a) fall overboard b) catch swine flu or c) vomit the entire time from motion sickness (I got prescription strength motion sickness drug that cost me $50).  If none of those situations occur, I will consider the trip a success.

I’ll be back on Saturday… 8 shades darker.  And probably 5 pounds heavier.  I hate getting darker and heavier.

Anyway, have a great week everyone :)

Love, Deva

dc weekend travel

Last weekend, I got the wonderful opportunity to visit some college friends in the DC metro/Baltimore area.  It was a great trip, minus the bus ride to DC.

My seat partner was less than ideal: not only was he 6′8″ (ish) with huge arm muscles (which inconveniently spilled into my seat), and had an unnecessary thuggish “lean” (causing half is body to be in my seat), he had the world’s cheapest headphones – the ENTIRE doubledecker bus could hear his music.  You can just imagine  how loud that was for me – the person sitting 6″ away from him.  I was really looking forward to listening my OWN ipod, but instead I was blasted with old school Mariah Carey.

That’s right.  Mr. Thug Man was listening to Mariah Carey.  And he was rockin’ out, too – head bobbing and all.

By the time we got to Baltimore – 4 hours later – I was 5 minutes away from punching him in the face screaming at him politely asking him to turn his fucking music down and move 20% of his body mass out of my seat.  Luckily, it never got to that point – he changed seats as soon as people got off the bus.  Of course, I still heard his music from wherever he was sitting, but my own music covered up the muffled Mariah.

And that point was where my wonderful weekend began.

I got to hang out with Patrick and Liz, see Emily, and meet Emily’s bf Evan.  Not only that, but I got to drive (this is a big deal since I never drive in NYC)!  I miss driving a whole lot.

Perhaps the next place I move to will be more of a driving city.

Anyway, the ride back was slightly more pleasant – I got to sit next to Adam, who isn’t large (but tall) and wasn’t listening to Mariah full blast with $1.50 headphones.  Unfortunately, the trip took 1.5 hours longer than expected and I had very little time to get myself together for Monday.

From now on, I will avoid sitting next to men over 6′5″ and 230 pounds with cheap looking headphones and Amtrak on Sunday afternoons.

so little time

I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed lately.  There’s so much I want to get done this summer, but there’s NO time for everything!  There are so many things chillin’ out on my To Do list and I have no idea how they’ll fit into my schedule between now and Labor Day.

Did I mention that I’d like to spend a weekend doing absolutely nothing?  Unfortunately, that may no longer be possible.

Honestly, I love taking the time to visit friends and family, but I don’t function well without taking time for myself.

I guess I’m in a not-so-interesting situation.  I want to visit friends (and have them visit me), but I want to have some time to myself.  Oh – and let’s not forget that apartment of mine that’s in serious need of TLC.

What ever will I do?