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Back from vacation. Very relaxing. Well, except for the day we spent running around Disney (Magic Kingdom). That was fun, but in a hurry-up and cram it all in sort of way. What I want to know is why you cannot buy a cocktail in the Disney Parks. I mean, why call it the Magic Kingdom, the place where dreams come true, if there are no lovely beverages to help you on your way. Really, what are they thinking.

I made it three days in the sun before my sun allergy hit. That's pretty good for me. Sometimes I break out the first day. So, I'm not pasty white. Instead, I'm a light brownish shade of pink. Not to bad for me - even got me some "tan" lines. The day at Disney was mostly overcast (and some thankfully short storms), so no sun-related complications for me then.

Diva, however, managed to give herself sun-poisoning for the second time in two weeks. Yes, I witched at her before (to put on sunscreen) and after (for not doing it), but she is unrepentant. Her shoulders are still ugly and raw-looking almost a week later. Don't know what to do to get through to her. We've talked and talked about all the skin cancer on both sides of our family. And a family friend who is 20 years old is having surgery for skin cancer that they think may have progressed to the lymph nodes on Friday. Diva is not phased. Teenagers really believe they are bullet-proof.

Interestingly, my chest pain disappeared the first morning I woke up at the beach and did not return until the morning we woke up to drive home. I've had it ever since, though not as bad as before. I ate and drank all kinds of bad for me stuff on vacation. If I had a gall bladder issue, you would think I'd have been in agony. Something would have triggered an attack. But, no, it seems only the stress of packing and driving home brought on any discomfort. And, they tell me the gall bladder does not react to stress. But, in the next breath, I am told that I do not follow the textbook rules on any of my health issues. The joys of being a medical conundrum. I have been taking my beta blocker, but have yet to notice any real change with my heart rate. However, yesterday was the first day in five weeks that I have exercised, and I only did weights, no cardio. Tonight I will do a short cardio and lower body weights.

Oh, I decided each day of vacation to explore a new and different cocktail. My only rule was that it had to be something I'd never had before. The two winners were Key Lime Martini (some kind of heaven, I tell you. Not too sweet, nicely tart. Do not ask how many I had. I can't tell you because I lost count!) and the Sandcastle (kahlua, pineapple juice, some kind of rum, grenadine, and something else I can't recall - I need to figure out how to make this!). Also very nice was the Sangria we had at the Spanish restaurant Kay recommended to us. The others were...fine distractions, but not worthy of mention.

I also read FOUR BOOKS!! Yay for my Kindle! Definitely put it through it's paces. Though, the whole instant gratification of being able to download a book and start reading it immediately could be dangerous. I think I'm going to have to give myself a Kindle budget. Thankfully, I have some birthday money and can stock up!

I had hoped to stitch a lot on vacation. I did stitch in the car on the way down. But, the lighting in the condo was so horrid that I could not stitch at night. I have a light I could have brought but I didn't think of it, and as it was, the van was packed tight. So, I have no stitching progress pics to share. Probably won't have any until the weekend when Crabby gets finished. I would have liked to stitch more, but I'll live.

Oh, and the nicest surprise was waiting for me at home. Dana (Thutmosis) RAK'd me with Jean Hilton's Mini Perle!!! I've been lusting after this ever since I saw Melissa's (lissylaine) finished design a few years ago. Never done counted canvas before. I've read through the chart once and can already tell I will need to reread this many, many times before I even attempt to stitch it. I am planning to change the color scheme to autumn tones, which will be fun. Dana is such a sweetheart! Maybe by the time I can make a spot in my rotation for this, we will be able to do it as a SAL together!

MAJOR Mom brag warning (get out your hip boots):

Both DDs ended the school year successfully. DD#2 earned highest GPA in English, math, Spanish, Social Studies, and Science. She won a silver medal for the National Spanish Exam for which she placed 6th in the state. I can't recall her placement on the national math exam precisely, but I know she was second in the region and top 10 nationally in her category. She was also awarded the highest honor in her grade, the Most Christ-like Award. Huge deal. She cried. I cried. Diva cried. Oh, and she was also elected president of the National Junior Honor Society for next year, named cheerleading captain for next year, and elected student council rep for next year.

Diva - thank the heavens above - made the "official" high school volleyball team. This is big. The head coach, who is in the TN Hall of Fame, has been coaching at this school for more than 30 years and her teams are always state champs or runner-up. Girls get cut from this team who would be varsity starters at other schools. Likely, Diva will play on the JV this year, but dress/sit with the varsity. At least, that's what it looks like now. She is THRILLED. As I said, the coach is really hard-core. The girls have to run and condition basically six days a week. And, they have been given strict dietary guidelines geared toward building muscle. Diva is the second fastest runner on the team despite the fact that at 4'10", most of the other girls have legs longer than she is tall! LOL. She also had her fair share of academic success. She won the highest GPA for honors algebra II, and was recognized in the Father Black Society for achieving top 10% academically in the freshman class while being successfully involved in multiple extra-curricular activites. She made Academic Dean's List all four quarters this year (cumulative 95% average or better all classes combined). Her cumultive GPA is 4.74 (honors classes are weighted). And, she will take two AP classes next year, statistics and American government. Statistics is a major coup because the class is Diva, a sophomore boy who is her good friend, and all the rest seniors.

OK, so they may aggravate the hell out of me sometimes, but I really am a proud mom. I have some special DDs.