• So, as you know we’re back home.
• As I mentioned in my previous post, we both caught some sort of stomach bug on the ship and it just doesn’t want to let go.
• But, it’s turned out to be the best diet ever, so I’m okay with it (I only say this because I’ve finally stopped vomiting). My appetite is shot. Exhibit A: my dinner last night consisted of 3/4 of a tuna fish sandwich. I was so full after eating it I could barely move.
• I really want to post a vacation recap, as well as all of my pictures, but each time I look at my photos I get really sad, because photos are taken with a camera and we had an unfortunate experience with my camera on the way home.
• Picture it: Monday Morning, Bill is SICK and is barely able to pull himself together to get ready to leave for the airport. He’s in charge of his normal suitcase and backpack. I’m in charge of my normal suitcase, carry-on and handbag. I’m also in charge of the camera, which I am not used to being in charge of, which is totally stupid because it is MY CAMERA.
• We hop in a cab at the Hotel Solamar, the doorman makes a comment about how much crap we have, I make a mental note that our cab has a really weird name and off we go to the airport.
• We’re in line to check our bags and I screech, “MY CAMERA!” realizing it’s gone. I immediately call the Kimpton and speak to a really sweet lady who calls all over San Diego looking for my camera. I also call cab companies. I believe that I find THE CAB COMPANY and they are evasive and say a camera has not been turned in.
• Before you think I’m blaming this on someone else, please know that I am not. This is fully my fault. BUT, there’s someone being very dishonest in this situation and to that person I say, KARMA IS A BITCH. And, also, WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
• So, I’m sad and angry. Mostly at myself. And, thank GOD, I thought to upload all the photos off both of my cameras midway through the cruise. So, our engagement photos are safe. But, I really want my camera back. I bought it with money my Grandma gave me the Christmas before she died and it’s special to me.
• So, if you’re in San Diego and you happen to spot a Canon Digital Rebel XTi in a black bag with dark blue polka dots on the flap, IT IS PROBABLY MINE.
• I’m continuing to call San Diego cab companies, and I’ve posted a Craigslist ad in the hopes it will turn up somewhere.
• My awesome boss asked if it was covered under my renters’ insurance, AND IT IS. But, I’m almost too embarrassed to call and turn in a claim.
• Any ideas, dear readers?

On Sunday, September 20th, right as the sun was about to disappear, on a park bench overlooking the ocean in Del Mar, California, the love of my life got down on one knee…and struggled a little bit to get a little box out of his pants pocket.

Guess what was inside?

Ladies, we have a wedding to plan!

(more about vacation later…we’re home now, both recovering from stomach bugs and trying to get unburied from laundry, mail, etc.)

• Please note: this is the 3rd time I’ve tried to post to my blog since Friday. The publish button is pretending it’s the delete button. Screw you, WordPress!
• We’re up for the day, getting ready to watch some football, then lay by the pool, then go shopping, then go to Del Mar for dinner.
• As it turns out, we’re REALLY good at vacationing.
• I took a 3 hour nap yesterday after watching the Huskies kill the Trojans (AWESOME), then woke up and walked what must have been 2 miles around Coronado twice looking for a restaurant that served dinner after 9:30 p.m.
• No luck, BUT, I did eat $18 worth of delicious Spanish cheese and had a flight of Cava. SO, ALL GOOD.
• Also, the Ducks won yesterday. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! (Picture me, making the ‘O’ with my hands)
• Right now, our biggest worry is trying to figure out how to get from the Hertz Rental Car drop off to the cruise ship terminal.
• OH: Yesterday, we witnessed a HIT AND RUN in the Hotel Del parking lot. Do not worry, I took down the guys license plate number and left a nice note on the car saying, “I SAW WHO DID THIS! FOR $100 I WILL TELL YOU THEIR LICENSE PLATE #” Just kidding, I wrote their license plate number on a piece of paper and put it on their windshield.
• Okay, with that we’re off to breakfast. And, NOT the $72.50 brunch in the Crown Room at the Del. (even though it is 20% off today which makes it a total bargain).
• Talk to you guys in a week!

I miss my boy.

He left Thursday for a Vegas trip with his brothers and dad. He arrived to my house at 11:30 last night (his flight home was delayed). He left my house at 5:30 this morning for a business trip. He gets home late Thursday evening. We leave for vacation on Saturday morning. So we were together for 6 hours. Six hours together in an entire week. And, I was asleep for 5 hours and 55 minutes of those 6 hours. I did wake up for 5 minutes to open my front door which I had accidentally dead-bolted.

I know I shouldn’t be sad, because we have 10 entire days together, just the two of us coming up. But, I am. I’m just feeling lonely.

(and I’m sure my sadness has nothing to do with the True Blood season finale on my DVR that I can’t watch until he gets home.)

(but I’m totally watching Mad Men without him. And, Top Chef. And, maybe Entourage)

There have been several times over the past few weeks that I’ve had to take a long hard look at myself and say, “Dear God Woman, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” On one of these occasions, I found myself sitting at my favorite wine bar barely able to lift the glass to my mouth because my arms hurt so badly. On another occasion, I found myself putting a raw chicken leg onto a crab trap.

Dearest readers, what has happened to me?

Adventure 1: Rafting the Deschutes

The girl, soaking wet

Mid-August, we packed up the Saab and headed to Central Oregon to enjoy a rafting trip that I had won earlier in the year at our annual tourism conference. After delicious food and wine, we went to bed in our cozy rental house and woke up way to early to join our guides. This day turned out to be the Best. Day. Ever and also an awesome upper body workout, but only on one arm because I sat on the same side of the boat for most of the day. Maybe it wasn’t my best idea to wear a white tank top, but I love the little ruffle at the shoulder and at least you can see my darling brown halter bikini underneath it. Also, I wore my new favorite hat. It’s my outdoors hat. Or, the hat I wear on Sundays when I don’t want to brush my hair.

The Verdict: I really love being on the water. I also love it when my arms hurt. (Weird) Let’s do something like this again.

Adventure Two: Scappoose Bay Kayaking

The girl, her arms about ready to fall off

The very next weekend, we decided to go kayaking. My boyfriend is a Super Star Kayaker. I say this because a) he’s cute b) he has his own sea kayak and c) this is my blog and I can say whatever I want. Also, he’s cute. I was ready to quit before we even left the house because you have to put the kayak on the TOP OF THE CAR and that thing is heavy. But, I was bribed with the promise of an Egg McMuffin, so off we went. Once we were in the water I was oh so very close to losing my shit within the first ten minutes. But, I am a big girl and not a quitter, so I kept on. For being such a good sport and not quitting or crying, I was rewarded with yummy, yummy dinner at Tabla. (So what if I’m motivated by food.) And, look! There’s my outdoors hat again! It shielded the sun from my ghost-like face and also kept the buggies out of my hair.

The Verdict: So much fun and I want my own kayak, so long as it’s pink.

Adventure Three: Crabbing

The girl, not dressed for the occasion

Just last weekend, we went to the Oregon Coast, to introduce our parents to each other (OMG). The boy had been telling me about this nonsense Crab Hawking for ages and ages. But, I’m an Outdoors Woman, now, so I was game. I secured my Very First Oregon Shellfish License and off we went. Yet again, I was motivated by food. But, this time it was the food we were going to make with our bounty! Crab Stuffed Piquillo Peppers! Corn and Crab Chowder! Well, we caught a MILLION crabs. A MILLION. But, they were all female, or tiny males. So, we kept nothin’. We drowned our sorrows over Rogue Beers and then went out for dinner that night. Boo. But, what I did notice midway through our crabbing adventure was that I matched perfectly. Grey pants, pink Dri-Fit top and PINK AND GREY TEVA TRAIL SHOES. Also, my outdoors hat, a J.Crew corduroy jacket and diamond earrings. What?

The verdict: I will not accept failure, so we shall do this again.

And, there you have it. I’ve no clue what’s happened to me. I’ve agreed to kayak yet again while we’re on vacation NEXT WEEK and after that, who knows? I assure you of this: I will look darling no matter what I do. And, chances are, I’ll be wearing my outdoors hat.

(oh, psst! go over here to learn about a great way to keep homeless families warm this winter)