So I’m on my three (-ish) hour connection flight from
Washington, D.C. to Houston, where I will then pick up my car and drive about
two hours home. It will be so worth it
though. And right now? Right now I’m watching the Olympics on
directv. Watched my volleyball ladies
beat Serbia (YEAHHHHHHHHHH). Gosh, I
love volleyball… Anywho, I love these
personal directv screens. Especially
during Olympics. It’s made the first
hour fly by. I watched the NBC piece on
the Magnificent Seven at the 1996 Olympics, which I was totally at. I mean I can’t remember half of it because I
was four but still...
Anywho did anyone else notice that when they were talking
about the last vault and how Kerri ended her career with that they were playing
the theme to Dead Island (the zombie video game). If you don’t know what I’m talking about,
here. The best part is actually watching
the literal version. And then
chronological. IT’S SO BAD IT’S GOOD. Love the theme music though, seriously.
So I guess it’s time to wrap up my Nantucket trip.
I AM THE WOMAN FROM
NANTUCKET
CONTINUED
Nantucket was once one of the biggest city’s in
America. It was the whaling capitol of the world--until that became illegal. In the 1920's cranberry harvesting replaced whaling as the major industry on the island. 36% of the island is protected from building development and there's over 82 miles of beach, making it a beautiful place to visit in the summer months. Cars weren't even allowed on the island until 1918. They're super restricted on most things: houses have to have cedar shingles on the sides unless you can prove that historically your house originally had wood planking and fast food chains aren't allowed on the island. My Dad, Karen, and I have vacationed there
for years, but I personally have not been on the island for the past two
summers. I was super anxious to get
back. My dad had warned me that a lot
had changed, but still Nantucket is Nantucket and Nantucket is a world of it’s own.
I flew out of IAH Sunday at 7:30 AM…Yeah that means I left
for the airport at 5:00 AM. And I was
not smart the night before. I went out
with ERad and Skyy and saw a movie.
Ended up okay though because my first flight (Houston to DC) was VERY
empty and I had my row all to myself. My
parent’s are always really good about getting me aisle seats. But when I’m alone? I can sit anywhere and not get
claustrophobic! So I buckled loosely
into the middle seat, leaned over and slept for the three (-ish) hour
flight. AWESOME RIGHT? And of course I get window seat. I say this because my besties and I are
OBSESSED with Bridesmaids. I like to say
that our daily conversations are about 10% Easy A, 15% Mean Girls, and 75%
Bridesmaids (quotes-wise). So can you
say “colonial women churning butter THERE’S SOMETHING THEY’RE NOT TELLING US!”?
So all this time, I’m expecting to have to pave my own way
once I hit the island. The ‘rents and my
sisters were driving and although they drove through the nights from
Minneapolis, they rented a car ferry for like 5:00 PM meaning they wouldn’t be
on the island until 7:00 ish. I was due
at 2:30. But when I arrived at Ronald
Reagan (after exiting security, reentering and navigating the awfully confusing
system of gate 5A…) I called my dad and they were already there. They left the car in Hyannis to be brought
over at 5:00 and just rode a different ferry themselves. Awesome.
So I get on my next flight.
EMPTY AISLE. I curl up next to
the window and work on my speech for the Speaker’s Committee of the Houston
Livestock Show and Rodeo…for a little while.
I fall back asleep. Boo on
me. I got in, called my family, called
my guy, was picked up by my dad, found out that Nantucket has ZERO SERVICE ON
AT&T. Boo, this makes long distance
relationships a little frustrating.
We’re good to go though, me and my guy.
After I had a little meltdown (I’m emotional, y’all). Anyway, after hanging out for a while, Dad
and I went to pick up the car, picked up STUBBY’S! and then went home. Watched some Olympics, caught up, and I went
to sleep.
Here’s the thing about this trip. I couldn’t help but sleep in EVERY
MORNING. This morning was the earliest I
woke up, because I needed to shower and do my hair for family photos. Even then, it was like 9:30 AM. Every other morning? Like 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM… which translated to
Central? Y’all, I’m lazy…BUT IT’S
VACATION TIME SO THAT’S FINE. So
anyway…
First day, I was lazy.
Super lazy. Kinda sad considering
it was such a pretty day. Laid around
all day, occasionally going through boxes and tubs to see if there were any
hidden treasures that I wanted to keep when we sold the house. I got Anthropologie bedding, trinkets and
three books: Nooks and Crannys of Old
New England (from 1901), Gaultier’s Book of Ballads (from the 1800’s) and a
book of Voltaire’s dramatic works. These
are the most gorgeous antique books. I
am one lucky girl. So I claimed those,
ran around the yard with the girls, then went to Met on Main which replaced the
Even Keel (one of my favorite restaurants that closed…read my rant?) It was fine, just not family friendly… We then went to Aunt Leah’s Fudge. Okay so get this, the place used to be open
til like 11:00 PM. We walked up at 9:34
PM and they were locking the door.
Wouldn’t let us in. I was
devastated. Aunt Leah’s Peanut Butter
fudge is what I live for. Alas, I went
home longing and depressed…
Second day was SHOPPING day.
It was also rain day. I was hell
bent on getting a sweater. I have never
had a Nantucket sweater and I have been coming here for years… I’ve evolved a
lot since the last time I was on the island though… I never really wanted one before. But I knew exactly what I wanted this time. So we went to the Salty Dog (again, read the blog) and it disappointed. Then I GOT SOME
FUDGE AJFDJAGKDHGKAJFLD;GYEAH!!! As well
as some décor for the bathroom of my new apartment. BUT MOSTLY FUDGE! Dad and I went to the library to use wifi on
the rainy rainy day, then saw The Amazing Spider-Man (second time if you
recall) at the Dreamland.
Third Day was beach day.
It was supposed to be sun and shine all day long so we loaded the pups,
the girls and our beach gear and we were off.
It was a beautiful day on Cisco Beach.
I had Nantucket Nectars Apple Juice and a yummy Lobster Roll. Perfection.
And I definitely will be tanner after this…just after the sunburn goes
away. I typically don’t burn. But when you fall asleep in the sun, all bets
are off. And I did that twice, so both
sides are toasty. After our lovely day on Cisco beach we went to Cisco
brewery for some R&R, but we forgot leashes for the pups so that was
short-lived. Like “pull up, park, get
out, get in, drive away” short-lived.
That was fine though. The girls
were wet and tired and needing a nap, so much in fact that they fell asleep as
soon as we left the brewery. We went to
Sayles, picked up some lobsters, mussels, and shrimp cocktail and headed home,
giving the munchkins time to nap. The
night was pretty dull after that. I
watched women’s Beach Volleyball. Misty
Mae and Kerri!!! Can’t wait for
tomorrow.
So Fourth Day, Last Day.
Karen’s Birthday! Originally
weather reports said it was supposed to rain all day, but the thing is you
can’t really predict how weather will hit Nantucket. It’s in a weird place and it’s an
ISLAND. Well needless to say, weather
was WRONG. Sun and shine, ladies and
gents. We started with a girl’s day
lunch at the Summerhouse in Sciasconset.
Super pretty, super atmosphere, super pricey. From there we went to the Sconset Market, a
cute little grocery store that sells Nantucket bike baskets. And I got the CUTEST BIKE BASKET. We went into town to get me a backpack
because there was no way that all of my stuff was going to fit coming
back. Once we got home, Karen and I got
ready and Dad drove us three to the Galley.
What a fine place to eat. I’d
only been there once before, but since then they’ve added a beach bar and beach
seating. Like TOES IN THE SAND Beach
Seating. It was a wonderful
evening. And beautiful, not rainy as originally
predicted. But I was beat by the time we
got home so I hit the hay. Which was
good because…
TODAY I woke up early(er than usual) to get pretty. We were taking our annual white beach
photos. We typically do a different
beach each year, but since I wasn’t here last year we used the same beach
twice. And might I say it was
BEAUTIFUL. My favorite beach yet. I want to go there all the time. The water was clear, the sand was cool, the
seaweed was soft. And it wasn’t
busy. AKA: A++.
But wrangling two two-year olds and a couple of headstrong dogs (one of
whom kept swimming away…) takes a lot of time and soon we had to run home,
change clothes and take me to ACK (Nantucket Airport).
The trip was short and sweet, but I would have loved to stay
longer. I love Nantucket so much. It’s so beautiful and relaxing and I can’t
wait for next summer. For now? Well tomorrow I film my last scenes for ‘My
Father Is A Tyrannosaurus Rex’ and the next day Mom, Nevada (my brother) and I
head to Waco to move me in to my FIRST APARTMENT (well, first to have my name
on the lease).
Until next time…
