99 and Company 2013
Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 12:40 pm
Hi all,
Since I returned to the workforce in 2009, I have fallen down on the trip-reportage. Real Estate is a great job for a mom because of its flexibility and independence but it can be difficult to unplug. For the past several years our vacations have been tied to school vacations which is why we are here on St. John in the middle of April - the absolute worst time for a Realtor to be away. In my area of New England, mid-April is the genesis of the Spring market. Nothing during the rest of the year even compares, so for the past few years my vacation computer time has been all work and no play.
But I miss writing trip reports. They nurture my soul and reading them back years later helps me to remember cherished memories and gets me all verklempt as I marvel at how the boys have changed and grown. This is long and in many cases TMI - too much info. But it is as much for me to read back in years to come during long winters, so scroll ahead and back as needed. I apologize in advance if I abandon this half way through. But I don’t want to.
Cast of Characters:
Moi - Jules - Realtor extraordinairre, my husband Pete and our two wonderful boys - Quinn, a senior in college with a job lined up in this miserable economy thank a merciful God; and Luke, freshman in high school - the most unusually squared away adult in a child's...well since he's taller than all of us now, that's no longer true either...body.
Thursday, April 11
Packed last night in a last minute scramble after a horrifically botched attempt at a do-it-yourself pedicure, after having nothing to eat all day and a martini for dinner. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Remarkably, the result was that, for the first time ever, I packed exactly what I needed. Nothing more, nothing less. Well, maybe more but definitely not less. Good start. But my toes look like shit.
Cab picked us up at 6:00 AM and Q took the T to the airport from his apartment in Boston. All smooth and on time. Arrived in STT at 1:30ish. Love Jet Blue, oh yes I do. All carry-on except for an old lacrosse bag that held snorkle gear and sundries and shoes. Easy-peasy. Asked the cabbie when the next CA ferry leaves and he says 3:15, and we say "Oh great"! LIAR! Dumped in CA, we find out the truth that the next ferry is 5:30. Hop back in another cab and make record time to Red Hook to catch the 3:00. Ahhhh.
We booked late because – I don’t know - we did therefore our favorite unit in Gallows Pt. was unavailable for our entire stay so together with the wonderful Anna at Gallows and Richard Methany who handles many of the units, we managed to finagle a switcheroo after a few days, and so we’ll be starting off in 9C, then eventually moving to 15C.
But that’s not until Saturday. Because, as always, the unreliable American airlines changed our flights from an already inconvenient series of layovers to an almost comical 28 or something hour farce, I decided we are DONE with American. Done, done, done. As I listen to the Band Perry’s new number that is aptly named for my mood. Done! Jet Blue to the rescue - direct from Boston. No more expensive than our original, inconvenient American flight and more leg room- so there!
The only difference was that the flight was on Thursday, April 11 not Saturday the 13th. Luke is a very conscientious student and was worried that his teachers would balk, but really, it was not a difficult sell. So that meant we needed to find a place to stay Thursday and Friday. Someone on Trip Advisor suggested Seashore Allure, of which I had never heard. Looked online - gorgeous, but minimum stay of 5 or 6 days. Pete inquired online and 'lo and behold', they had an opening. He said we are a family of 4, and a 1 bedroom would be fine. As frequent Gallows visitors we are accustomed to the one bedroom unit that sleeps four, with pull out sofas in the great room for the boys. Our deposit was accepted and all seemed cool.
I called from the ferry to let Seashore Allure know we were on our way. When we arrived, a woman was there holding a sign. No smile, but a sign. I introduced myself and said the boys would be along shortly with the bags. Then a really nice guy introduced himself, I think his name was Delbert. I assumed he was the owner, and we chatted and joked around until the guys were able to retrieve the bags from the ferry.
Delbert was collecting another party headed to the resort, and we said good-bye. The woman then said to us - how many people do you have? I told her 4, and she said, “You only booked a 1 bedroom”. No pull out couch, I replied? "No. We’re going to have to put you in a 2 bedroom." Wouldn’t you all be thinking, “Fine, put me in a 2 bedroom, but this was your mistake? My reservation confirmation states that we are a party of 4.” That’s what I was thinking.
To be continued. Photos to follow.
Since I returned to the workforce in 2009, I have fallen down on the trip-reportage. Real Estate is a great job for a mom because of its flexibility and independence but it can be difficult to unplug. For the past several years our vacations have been tied to school vacations which is why we are here on St. John in the middle of April - the absolute worst time for a Realtor to be away. In my area of New England, mid-April is the genesis of the Spring market. Nothing during the rest of the year even compares, so for the past few years my vacation computer time has been all work and no play.
But I miss writing trip reports. They nurture my soul and reading them back years later helps me to remember cherished memories and gets me all verklempt as I marvel at how the boys have changed and grown. This is long and in many cases TMI - too much info. But it is as much for me to read back in years to come during long winters, so scroll ahead and back as needed. I apologize in advance if I abandon this half way through. But I don’t want to.
Cast of Characters:
Moi - Jules - Realtor extraordinairre, my husband Pete and our two wonderful boys - Quinn, a senior in college with a job lined up in this miserable economy thank a merciful God; and Luke, freshman in high school - the most unusually squared away adult in a child's...well since he's taller than all of us now, that's no longer true either...body.
Thursday, April 11
Packed last night in a last minute scramble after a horrifically botched attempt at a do-it-yourself pedicure, after having nothing to eat all day and a martini for dinner. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Remarkably, the result was that, for the first time ever, I packed exactly what I needed. Nothing more, nothing less. Well, maybe more but definitely not less. Good start. But my toes look like shit.
Cab picked us up at 6:00 AM and Q took the T to the airport from his apartment in Boston. All smooth and on time. Arrived in STT at 1:30ish. Love Jet Blue, oh yes I do. All carry-on except for an old lacrosse bag that held snorkle gear and sundries and shoes. Easy-peasy. Asked the cabbie when the next CA ferry leaves and he says 3:15, and we say "Oh great"! LIAR! Dumped in CA, we find out the truth that the next ferry is 5:30. Hop back in another cab and make record time to Red Hook to catch the 3:00. Ahhhh.
We booked late because – I don’t know - we did therefore our favorite unit in Gallows Pt. was unavailable for our entire stay so together with the wonderful Anna at Gallows and Richard Methany who handles many of the units, we managed to finagle a switcheroo after a few days, and so we’ll be starting off in 9C, then eventually moving to 15C.
But that’s not until Saturday. Because, as always, the unreliable American airlines changed our flights from an already inconvenient series of layovers to an almost comical 28 or something hour farce, I decided we are DONE with American. Done, done, done. As I listen to the Band Perry’s new number that is aptly named for my mood. Done! Jet Blue to the rescue - direct from Boston. No more expensive than our original, inconvenient American flight and more leg room- so there!
The only difference was that the flight was on Thursday, April 11 not Saturday the 13th. Luke is a very conscientious student and was worried that his teachers would balk, but really, it was not a difficult sell. So that meant we needed to find a place to stay Thursday and Friday. Someone on Trip Advisor suggested Seashore Allure, of which I had never heard. Looked online - gorgeous, but minimum stay of 5 or 6 days. Pete inquired online and 'lo and behold', they had an opening. He said we are a family of 4, and a 1 bedroom would be fine. As frequent Gallows visitors we are accustomed to the one bedroom unit that sleeps four, with pull out sofas in the great room for the boys. Our deposit was accepted and all seemed cool.
I called from the ferry to let Seashore Allure know we were on our way. When we arrived, a woman was there holding a sign. No smile, but a sign. I introduced myself and said the boys would be along shortly with the bags. Then a really nice guy introduced himself, I think his name was Delbert. I assumed he was the owner, and we chatted and joked around until the guys were able to retrieve the bags from the ferry.
Delbert was collecting another party headed to the resort, and we said good-bye. The woman then said to us - how many people do you have? I told her 4, and she said, “You only booked a 1 bedroom”. No pull out couch, I replied? "No. We’re going to have to put you in a 2 bedroom." Wouldn’t you all be thinking, “Fine, put me in a 2 bedroom, but this was your mistake? My reservation confirmation states that we are a party of 4.” That’s what I was thinking.
To be continued. Photos to follow.
In your favor I hope!
