Life, Fannishness, and Thespic Infatuation

So. Traveled trans-continental non-stop yesterday. Oy!

Had a wonderful time once we got checked into our hotel, though.

The Magic Castle Hotel is a renovated apartment complex build in the 1950s. As a result, our suite is actually a former apartment, complete with kitchenette, modest living/dining area, cute little bathroom, and one bedroom. Perfect for a single person in Hollywood, I'd think.

All the apartments surround a courtyard, the centerpiece of which is the pool, which is open 24/7. (I'm thinking late night swim before we leave.) I can totally see the complex having parties, with everyone's doors open and having a good time.

Went for a dip in the pool yesterday, then got ready for dinner at Yamashiro, up the hill a ways. (The hotel provided free shuttle service.) We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. I discovered a beer that I really like (Pyramid Apricot), and I took the waiter's recommendation and changed my entree order (I ordered the pasta and vegetable dish, he told me how it was totally not as advertised on the menu, and was actually one of only a couple items on the menu that he really didn't like.) I ended up ordering the baby back ribs. Now, the funny thing is--ribs, yams (sweet potatoes), and cornbread is that it's something I could totally get back in Virginia. Heck, it's a Southern staple combination. The difference? The Asian twist to everything. Yes, I ate the ribs with a knife and fork (totally NOT how one eats ribs). They were mighty tasty, and this coming from someone who doesn't eat ribs (because of the whole messy finger food thing). The yams were whipped super-smooth and fluffy. And the cornbread had--get this--a dash of anise in it. As George said, "Why does this remind me of Christmas? Ah! It's anise." And for dessert, I had chocolate souffle cake, and he had a pretty darn amazing ice cream cookie "sandwich."

We then walked down to the farmer's market, but it was dark, and I was tired (jet lag, you know), so we came back to the hotel.

I slept for 8 hours solid for the first time probably since our trip to the Outer Banks two years ago.

As I write this, we are packing up the last of everything.

Yesterday (Friday) consisted of shopping in Duck in the morning (including Scarborough Faire and Scarborough Lane), the ocean (and a nap on the beach) in the afternoon (MiL successfully got her jellyfish kite in the air), and cleaning up the house and one last night time dip in the hot tub.

NieceB and Hubby left around 9:30 - 10:00 pm. Geo's Sister1 and fam (including Nephews & NA's GF) left around 2:00 am (at least, that was their plan. I told them goodbye before I went to bed).

It will be good to get back home, but I don't want to leave. This has been great, and I'm going to miss the ocean quite a lot. It's nice to disconnect from everything except what's going on in your immediate environment, to be aware, but not to be stressed. To spend time together with family, who like each other and have fun together.

Geo and I got up early and went out to wade in the ocean one more time. The sunrise was beautiful, with the sun coming up from behind some clouds, the red-pink peeking through and rays rising from behind. Lovely.

Must go help with the final clean-up of the house and shut down the 'puter. Will be back on-line when we're back in Virginia.

Today is Mother and Daddy's 43rd anniversary.

It rained this morning and this evening, but in between was sunny. We (Geo, NephewB, Mother, Daddy, MiL, and I) spent the day shopping at Timbuck II in Corolla. I spent way too much in Corolla Candles, and I so enjoy the pirate-y apparel at Kitty Hawk Kites. We ate lunch in a little pizza shop that must be owned by an Ohioan, given all the Ohio sports team memorabilia displayed on the walls.

SPN S1 (and the fact that I didn't bring a sweater of any kind) has persuaded me of the benefits of the zip-up hoodie. Probably the most useful of the items I've purchased, it's come in very handy this evening.

Geo and I made chili and homemade ice cream for dinner.

We all went kite flying (or tried to) on the beach after dinner, but there was no updraft to take the kites up where the air currents were.

Spent some time working on my crochet, and watching a few con vids.

Right now I'm sitting in bed listening to the surf.

I got a glimpse of two dolphins this morning! \o/

Spent most of the day out of the sun today. I'm hoping the burn will be better tomorrow. It's not bad; I just didn't want to subject it to another day of sun.

We all had lunch today at Dirty Dick's Crab House. Their slogan is "I got my crabs at Dirty Dick's." Their mascot, a crab, is named Clappy. Do with that as you will.

But the food was good. I don't really like seafood, but the red beans and rice that I had was tasty.

( Fannish goings-on while staying out of the sun )

Our room in the house has an ocean view. I opened the sliding door onto the deck, kept the screen door closed, and went to sleep to the sound of the ocean. For real--not a recording or imitation.

It rained last night. Cloudy and overcast today. I don't think a day at the beach is in store. I've got a Carl Hiaasen book to read, a script to learn, and crochet to keep me busy. (No pictures, as I've already given them, but I gave NieceB and Niece T crochet beach bags for the trip, one on blue variegated and one in orange sherbet variegated.) Also possibly a trip to the grocery, since I don't want to completely free-load off everyone in the house. I want to contribute something to the household and kitchen expenses.

I've also been checking out the con reports and photos coming in from Barcelona. The guys look good. I'm kind of sad to see that Jensen doesn't wear a ring on his right hand anymore, but I'm tickled beyond reason to see the one on his left. And while I think I prefer him clean shaven, the beard he's sporting looks really good, and make him look like . . . himself? . . . if that makes any sense. Like Jensen rather than a character he's played.

Here's hoping for a sunny day on the beach tomorrow.

Getting ready to head out for the Outer Banks. Went two years ago and it was FANTASTIC! Looking forward to some ocean time.

I'm anticipating being on-line from time to time, though.

And fairly wiped out.

The drive back was uneventful. And it was a little difficult to leave the family there. If it weren't for some car trouble we had with Geo's car before we left at the beginning of the week, we might have stayed the extra day.

Today was a trip to Kitty Hawk to the Wright Brothers Memorial. Very interesting to see where all the work in Dayton finally paid off. Also very interesting to see that the hill where they took off from has moved 450 feet to the southwest from where it stood in 1903. The terrain, of course, was all sand at the time, so yes, it did move. The winds and the sand were why the Wrights chose Kitty Hawk for their flights.

(It was also interesting to hear the people around me reading or explaining to their children that the Wrights were from Dayton, OH.)

We ate lunch at Jimmy's Seafood Buffet. Jimmy's Buffet. Get it? The food wasn't great, but it did have that beach bar ambiance. I didn't realize that Geo's side of the fam was so fond of crab legs. Me, not so much, but I was delighted to see all the veggies on the hot bar.

I finished Shirley Jackson's The Haunting today. I'll post more thoroughly in a different entry, but if anyone has read it (and seen the original movie?), I'd kind of like to discuss it. Geo also mentioned watching the remake, since I've read the book now.

Tonight Newphew16 and I watched "In My Time of Dying."

( Cutty-cut for spoilers, just in case )

I spent much of the day inside today, due to being in some pain from my burn. Late this afternoon, Nephew16 and I got a chance to watch some SPN. We watched the pilot, "Hell House," and "Dead Man's Blood."

I think he got a kick out of "Hell House," and I was particularly amused by one comment he made. It was just as Dean discovers that Sam put super glue on the beer bottle. Nephew16 chuckles and says, "Ah, brotherly love." "You speak from experience?" I ask. "Yeah," he replies with another chuckle.

He also asked me how much the season cost, so I'm thinking I've got his Christmas present taken care of. Heh.