Since yesterday was the first day of summer, I thought I’d dedicate tonight’s Top Comment Diary to a time honored seasonal tradition experienced by millions of us.
Yes, I’m talking about summer vacations. The yearly ordeal where a great many of us pack up the famdamily for a week’s worth of quality torture time with the people we love most (or mostly love), in a cramped vehicle, RV or a hotel room.
Some of us may have fond memories of them, while others may have memories that compare to Clark Griswold’s misadventures. Still others may relate to family vacations as only Stuart Smalley can.
Since I grew up as a farmkid, I didn’t get a "real" summer vacation until my husband and I married...
My childhood and teenage summers were spent working on the farm. My brother and I were probably the only two kids in our classes who actually missed school during the summer. After nonstop irrigation schedules for the corn and soybeans, changing the sprinkler systems by hand on the alfalfa fields, July wheat harvest, hoeing bean fields, and working with our 4-H calves for the county fair; there was very little time for summer fun, unless you count the water fights that resulted from changing the sprinkler systems.
The only relief from the farm work came on the weekends, when my parents indulged me my love of horses. We would hit the road for a weekend of 4-H horse shows. My parents would sit on the sidelines for two days and watch. It must have been hot and boring for them. But, one of my favorite childhood memories came as result from this family tradition. I remember the first time I won a ribbon; it was for a Pole Bending event, and I won an eighth place ribbon (I don’t remember how many were entered, probably only eight of us). When I came out of the arena after picking up my ribbon, my dad was at the gate, and he plucked me (I was eight) off my horse and planted a big ‘ole wet kiss on my cheek. And since I was eight, I thought that was gross.
Now that my dad is terminally ill from renal cancer, that memory has become even more precious.
Since marrying, my husband and I try to get away at least once a year, and we keep a "Top Ten" list of places to go. This year, since our time together was limited by a deployment schedule, we chose something close to us by going to South Padre for some deep sea fishing on the Gulf.
My husband had a blast, and the high point for him was catching a hammerhead shark. But I’m filing this one under Worst.Vacation.Ever. Let me preface this by saying I have never suffered from sea-sickness (until two weeks ago). We’ve done scuba diving and snorkeling vacations in the Florida Keys and the Mediterranean, as well as a few minor cruises, so I’m used to being on, in, and under the ocean. But those trips were a walk in the park compared to the 8-10 foot swells that crashed over our fishing boat.
I was fine for the two hour cruise out to the fishing site; but when the ship dropped anchor, I lost two days worth of meals. I was so sick that I missed my husband’s big catch. As he was reeling in his shark, I was on the other side of the boat doing my very best Linda Blair/Exorcist impersonation. I paid good money for someone to make me hurl for eight hours straight.
The only positive thing I can say about this experience, is that you know your spouse really, really loves you when, after not seeing you for the past eight months, he sees you at your absolute worst, helps you clean yourself up and actually wants to have sex with you after witnessing disgusting things coming out of just about every hole in your head.
So, visitors to tonight’s TC edition, get your beach chair, slather on your sunscreen, put on your silly straw hat, grab a Margarita, crank up Jimmy Buffett, swap your most memorable vacation stories with us, and waste away with me in Margaritaville while we recognize today’s TOP COMMENTS! (Dramamine not required):
From kath25:
droogie6655321 has a funny story about dogs, Republicans, and change.
From waitingforvizzini:
In Kagro X's Brush up on Contempt of Congress story, Grumpynerd offers this suggestion of a possible sartorial choice for the Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives Wilson (Bill) Livingood should he be called upon to do what we all most fervently wish.
From bronte17:
Hlinko asks the the $2 billion question.
From LithiumCola:
From the diary LA Times Hit Piece on SiCKO and American People:
Mad Kossak nicely sums up the problem with outsourced health insurance in three paragraphs.
SarahLee reminds us not to expect or want stars like Michael Moore to fight all our battles for us.
beobjective explains how big media frames debates to the detriment of . . . well, human beings.
steep rain demonstrates what a right-wing response to civilized heath care proposals would look like. (And then says "Man, I'd troll-rate myself for this sickening exhibition if I was a tu.")
From losthorizon:
OCD thinks he's in a flashback in this thread in thereisnospoon's Round the Clock Lieberman Fundraiser Part X!!! diary.
And my pick for the day:
From Meteor Blade's Forty-Three Years Ago Today diary; Carbide Bit on why it's imperative that we protect the oppressed.
Top Mojo tonight is brought to you by the letters B, S, & C; for the wonderful BeninSC:
Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments and C&J comments:
1 But it would be worse than invading Iraq by Progressive American Patriot - 104
2 That's really funny and all... by RichM - 100
3 Thank you by blueintheface - 95
4 New government org chart by litigatormom - 84
5 I have had an abortion by FLDem5 - 77
6 2 years ago is an eternity by ETinKC - 73
7 Meteor Blades....... by Cronesense - 69
8 I Also Remember by JekyllnHyde - 66
9 Dick Cheney is certifiably by gchaucer2 - 66
10 Distributor trying to limit openings by SarahLee - 66
11 Cheney's NeoCON wold view by deepsouthdoug - 66
12 Risks to persuing Impeachment by bejammin075 - 61
13 I own an "abortion clinic" by SinCityGYN - 61
14 I did see that series and the other ... by Meteor Blades - 60
15 We have come so far by shpilk - 57
16 You Get A REC for Your Volunteer Work by Alegre - 57
17 Friday Hi Day Ho s from Predictor!!! by Predictor - 56
18 I'm right here! by litigatormom - 56
19 Better - we must chop off The DICK by deepsouthdoug - 54
20 This should be required reading by KnowVox - 54
21 The lying by Dems2004 - 53
22 Edwards stands out by Defeat Doolittle - 53
23 Also never forget... by Raybin - 53
24 They don't believe any of this crap by eshafto - 52
25 He is not nuts. by fatbob - 52
26 1984? by Rydra Wrong - 51
27 TGIF by Debbie in ME - 51
28 The caging by groggy - 49
29 MB... by VetGrl - 48
30 Dick him! by Asinus Asinum Fricat - 48
31 Peace by Eddie C - 48
Top Mojo - everything included:
1 Tip Jar by LithiumCola - 296
2 Tips, Flames n/t by Vyan - 243
3 I'll be around.... by cls180 - 238
4 I'm with Keith by bumblebums - 198
5 Tip by Carnacki - 189
6 Tips by okamichan13 - 178
7 this is a tip jar by teacherken - 159
8 Friday Tip Jar..... by Bill in Portland Maine - 151
9 Tips for Elizabeth by m00nchild - 139
10 Tips for the by Geekesque - 132
11 Tip jar by plf515 - 116
12 Tips and whatnot by louisville lisa - 115
13 Thanks for this remembrance. n/t by Rob Cole - 108
14 But it would be worse than invading Iraq by Progressive American Patriot - 104
15 That's really funny and all... by RichM - 100
16 Thank you by blueintheface - 95
17 New government org chart by litigatormom - 84
18 I have had an abortion by FLDem5 - 77
19 2 years ago is an eternity by ETinKC - 73
20 Meteor Blades....... by Cronesense - 69
21 tip jar for free speech by liberalsouth - 67
22 Cheney's NeoCON wold view by deepsouthdoug - 66
23 Dick Cheney is certifiably by gchaucer2 - 66
24 I Also Remember by JekyllnHyde - 66
25 Distributor trying to limit openings by SarahLee - 66
26 Questions answered... by rserven - 66
27 Risks to persuing Impeachment by bejammin075 - 61
28 I own an "abortion clinic" by SinCityGYN - 61
29 I did see that series and the other ... by Meteor Blades - 60
30 We have come so far by shpilk - 57
31 You Get A REC for Your Volunteer Work by Alegre - 57