Vacation Post #4: aftermath & Re-entry

As much as I wish it weren't true, as much as I wish I could ignore and deny it, as much as I loathe to admit it, the sun has set on our vacation. It was 8 fabulous days of lackadaisical lounging, gluttonous gorging and pilfering pirates! Though Captain Sinbad didn't win the Americas' Sail again this year, it was still a really great time. Some highlights (or lowlights, depending on your point of view) in no particular order are:

• 31 miles of running on the beach
• 2 very over-cooked Black Angus Ribeye steaks
• 4 very over-cooked Black Angus New York Strip steaks
• 9 boneless, skinless chicken breasts grilled Caribbean jerk perfection
• 1 Extreme Pesto Adventure
• 4 cases of beer from Bud Light to Guinness Stout
  
• 3 + cases of very tasty wines (We found a variety of new favorites) and some spirits too!
  
• 3 boxes of cigars on the back porch
  
• Countless hours of sitting doing nothing but listening to the waves crash on the shore
• 1 Engagement announcement - Congratulations to Emilie and Ron!
• 1 Outdoor Symphony concert
  
• Canon fire at sunset
• 3 nights of amateur and professional fireworks
• Pirate talk and "swash buckling" jokes a-plenty
• Quality time with family

Sad, but true. My vacation has come to a close. If the 13 hour drive home didn't prove it, my first day back at the office certainly did. Not that I had a particularly bad day at work, I just have a TON of catching up to do. Alas, there's nothing to be done but to get to it. One thing I did learn is this: When vacationing with friends you may want to have a drink. When vacationing with family, you may want to have several.

Cheers to a very good summer!