Friends
I bet from reading this blog, you all think the only friends we have are each other. I admit with the way we are connected it often feels that way … but writing and long distance aside, I do have an every day life that involves carpools, and lunches, and shopping and nonplotmonkey FRIENDS.
This is a story about my local buddies. Last Wednesday - Thursday we took an overnight trip to Mohegan Sun (casino in Connecticut). We didn’t go to gamble, we went to get away for our good friend Julie’s birthday. There were 14 of us who went in different cars. Julie, the birthday girl, Abby, Anna, Sharon, Laurie, Sheryl, old friends of Julie’s, Ilissa, Patty, Laurie (yes, two Laurie’s), Jeanne, Janice and me. I roomed with Anna (my daughter and her daughter are good friends too- not everyone is pictured here … ran short on room). Not all of us had ever spent all that much time together as a group before because life is so hectic, so it was nice to have time. I could have gotten my own room but I like having company, someone to talk to and this worked out great. Laurie and Anna picked me up at 10 AM Wednesday and we hit no traffic, so an hour and a half in the car, one phone call from the school nurse (not my kid, shockingly) and we arrived. We went to check in only to find out that the person who made the reservations for all of us needed to be there in order for us to get our rooms. Since some of the group stopped at outlets on the way, they hadn’t arrived yet.
We decided to eat since we had 3 PM spa treatments. So we had lunch which was fun and by then everyone else had arrived, so we met up with them at check in. Unfortunately our rooms weren’t ready so we went to the spa with our coats and clothes. We’d booked massages. Now here’s the interesting part. I’d had a massage many times before. This was a little different - it was a 50 minute Swedish Massage - with an a la carte menu - head and neck and feet - were each separate charges. I splurged on both. AWESOME. The head included oil for my dry hair and scalp. Yummy! Afterwards, we sat in the sauna and then put our feet in the whirlpool. Then we had to pull our clothes back on over our greasy bodies (yes we could have showered there but didn’t because we still had to walk through the lobby to get our rooms). We finally got settled. We showered and my friend, Ilissa, who used to be my neighbor until she bailed on me and moved a mile away came by to catch up and we talked for an hour. We went to Patty and Jeanne’s room for cocktails before dinner. We gave the birthday girl some fun gifts. 
While talking, we realized there was a foul odor coming from the hallway. 
Of course I didn’t smell it, but eventually on the way down for dinner, I did. I’m a little slow. We thought it was gas (no, the hotel management said, the fire dept. was there and checking) and later thought it was sulfur, then sewage (eew!). A few in our group packed their bags and brought them downstairs, refusing to sleep there. I wasn’t at that point yet, but in my mind, if the odor, which was traveling from floor to floor, continued, I’d rather go home late than move rooms or check into another hotel. 
Dinner was delicious but at some point we decided we had to go up and pack in case it determined that the odor was toxic and the fire dept prevented us from going back up there at all. Meanwhile, someone (I can’t remember who) went and got us room changes to low floors without odors - turns out that when they cleaned a bathtub it didn’t drain and w/all the cleaning stuff it backed up. How that could stink up floors and floors of a hotel, I will never know. Anyway, one of our intrepid group got us upgraded to suites with money off, but I didn’t want to share a king size bed no matter how much I liked my friend Anna! So I got us a regular room with two doubles and we crashed with our clothes on, waiting for luggage to be brought up. Eventually we got some sleep in our pj’s.
I was awakened by my vibrating cell phone the next morning by my daughter. Anna had already heard from hers - photo and all - “how do you like my hair, mom?” I forced myself out of bed to work out - treadmill - and then we had a big group breakfast. It was a this point that I got a call that my oldest daughter was sick and my poor husband, who stayed home to get the girls off to school and had just gotten to work (an hour from home) at 9 AM, had to go pick her up around 10. Welcome to my life, I told him. He didn’t laugh. Can’t say I blame him. I called the doctor and got her an appointment which he took her to (virus and she ended up home for two days plus the weekend).
Still, we laughed and learned a lot about each other (and others) and had a blast. It was great to get away for awhile.
All and all, a memorable experience which our wonderful friend Abby wrote about in a poem:
Julie’s finally 40, and to mark this special date,
14 of us head to Mohegan Sun, to help her celebrate.
Julie brings her nambe and happy hour fare,
but oh we are so nauseous, there’s sewage in the air!
Everyone complains, how can this possibly be?
Please send over a fireman, to explain this tragedy.
We leave dinner to pack, in case we have to leave,
Should we stay to spend the night? Will we be able to breath?
And so to shut us up, we each get a luxury suite,
but never miss a meal, we return to drink and eat.
After all it’s Julie’s birthday, we’re here for a good time,
Never waste steak and fries and perfectly good wine.
We thank our lucky stars, that we woke for the new day,
because who would want to miss a breakfast buffet?
Over large plates of food, we make a lot of noise,
about things we should not be discussing, and complicated sex toys.
BUT, management beware, Patti isnt very happy,
You inconvenienced us all, and your discount is really crappy.
An so, same time next year, we will return to celebrate,
Julie’s 41st, at a very discounted rate.
(Thank you, Abby!)
For writers, who spend much of the day alone in the house working, it’s important to remember how important our friends are! Who has gone away with friends for some me time and lived to tell about it? (Not everyone is lucky enough to smell foul odors …
Oh how fun! And dang, you are all just so gorgeous. I’m glad you got the chance to get away like that.
I’ve never done anything like that with my friends. A lot of the friends I have are not friends with each other, too, so that makes it hard - everyone’s at different places in their lives. But it definitely sounds like something worth doing.
Comment by Stacy ~ — February 13, 2007 @ 7:18 am
many years ago, during college, a group of us went camping at Alexandria Bay (up by the Canadian border). After all the fussing with air mattresses, tents and lawn chairs to sleep on, who was sleeping where, who owed who what, :wallbash:,I slept out by the campfire with my sleeping bag, met the 2 guys across from us (dated on for awhile) and spent the night with them watching the Northern Lights and drinking Jack. The rest of them had a crappy time and I only ever talk to one person who was there. She is still my best friend almost 30 years later. Ew, that makes us almost old.
We have a bus trip going to Mohegan next month, but I can’t go as it is the grandsons’ 2nd b’day.
We are expecting a snow storm starting later today- about 2 feet’s worth of it. We haven’t had any all winter (about 5 inches total) so I shouldn’t complain. But tomorrow is V’day and hubby is out of town. So I hope he gets home safely.
I will still be snickering at everyone up North- since they are up to 80″ and counting.
Comment by ev — February 13, 2007 @ 7:31 am
I don’t ever get away with girlfriends, but hubby and I go away together - mostly to the races. I know, that’s not exactly what you meant, but he works 60 hours every week and only has every 3rd weekend off, so its rare that we have “us” time.
We leave the kids behind, load up the camper and take off with our good friends Jim and Tammy. They’re our racin’ buddies, and we hardly ever go without them. In fact, we just passed up Bristol tickets because they couldn’t go. (I’m really beginning to regret that but I’m trying to forget that I was actually that stupid/loyal - whichever way you want to look at it).
We go to Daytona for Speedweeks every couple of years and spend a week. And boy do we have stories to tell by the time that week is over!!! But…we don’t tell them because…well, most of them we can’t repeat! Some are just plain dumb, some might possibly require jail time!
Ev - good luck with the snow.
Comment by Jodie — February 13, 2007 @ 8:32 am
A few years ago 3 of my friends and I decided to go camping for the night. My friend Eli’s parents had the perfect spot on the river at their farm. We loaded up the SUV(fyi-looked like we were going for a month instead of a day) and headed out. We set up the tents, on the beach, figured out a place for the bathroom(outside), and set up the fire. We looked like Survivor island, but had the best time drinking and drunk dialing our 3 other friends that couldn’t make it. Everything was fine until the sun hit the tents the next morning…it was like a sauna only without the fun. There are 7 of us that are planning a big Vegas trip in 4 years for our 40th birthdays. We have already started the fund and plan to blow it out!!!
Comment by Liza — February 13, 2007 @ 9:55 am
My two very best friends are my sisters, and my mom has a summer house in Conneticut so we usually do a weedend there, and it is always so much fun! One year we brought husbands and children….(3 husbands, 8 children, 2 dogs 2 Grandparents) needless to say we will never do that again lol
Now we go just the three of us, and do a day at the Spa, hit the outlets, mostly just relax and enjoy each other…Wow :lightbulb:now I’m really in the mood to get away.
Comment by Tina Martinesi — February 13, 2007 @ 10:35 am
It sounds like even with the complications you had a wonderful time. I am so jealous. I have never gone away with just my friends, pretty much the same type of situation as Stacy. I have gone a few weekend trips with my mom, grandmother and aunts. They were fun and we really got to know each other better.
Good luck Ev with the snow. They were calling for an ice storm were I am at, but now it apparently is only going to be rain. I would love to a have a great snow storm, not necessarily ice, but I would take what I could get. It does not even feel like winter in Maryland.
Comment by Patty L. — February 13, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Nice pictures
Hope you have a better time next year
Comment by Qua — February 13, 2007 @ 11:01 am
I traveled for years as a brush stroke teacher. My weekends were filled
with good friends on the road together. I do miss those fun times.
We traveled the east coast and tried to stick together for safety sake.
I have some memories that always bring a smile to my face.
EV.. I too am in New England. We have had 2″ this winter. How rare is that?
The next 2 days are looking very interesting. I don’t mind the snow as
long as I can stay home. It’s looking like a good day off. We live on the
water and we have only had ice for a couple of weeks now. That too is
very unusual. It is sure cold. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
!
I am hitting some of the books in my to be read pile. Just finished “The
Scarletti Curse” I enjoyed it very much.:thumbsup2:
Comment by jeannie — February 13, 2007 @ 12:53 pm
That is so great that you had this bonding time. This weekend three of my girlfriends and I got together for the weekend. We had the best time. We got matching tatoos with each of our birthstones on the heart.
Also, we went to a club where the men…….well, what happens at the OG stays at the OG. This is a weekend and group of friends that will forever be a part of my life.
Comment by Debbie — February 13, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
Oh Carly,
How lucky you are to have girlfriends like you do.
I envy you and your friends.:doggie:
Comment by Gigi — February 13, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
I don’t have a group of friends but I do have get togethers with friends usually for the day. I’m single & most of my friends are married or part of a couple & we just don’t usually do overnights! In fact Sunday I got together with a friend of mine that I haven’t seen for about 3 years. We live about 3 & a half hours apart, figured out a place about half way & got together for the day. We had a good time & it was nice to get out of this area. My Mom recently passed away & the change of scenery & doing something just for fun was a good boost. We will have a private service for Mom on February 20 in Oregon where she lived. She was 84 not in good health & just sort of fading away for the last few months. I know she is at peace now & in a much better place.
Take care,
Donna M
Comment by Donna M — February 13, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
Big hugs, Donna!
Comment by Jodie — February 13, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
Sounds like you had a fabulous time, Carly! What a fun way to celebrate a 40th birthday…almost as fun as Vegas.
Comment by Leslie — February 13, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
So I’ve been running around all day and am finally checking in! Any trip any of you have taken gives you a break from every day life and I am all for that! Speaking of a break from every day life, I will be away next week … so I’ll get my Tues blog posted early and you can just miss me while I’m gone.
Comment by Carly — February 13, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
9pm and still no snow!!
but everything is closed for tomorrow. i am still planning on staying put no matter what.
thanks for the good wishes guys. I hope the rest of you in the proposed path are ok too.
Comment by ev — February 13, 2007 @ 10:18 pm
Donna, I’m sorry about your Mom:cry:
Comment by Tina Martinesi — February 14, 2007 @ 12:15 am
Midnight and the snow has started. Now I can curl up and read!!!!
Comment by ev — February 14, 2007 @ 1:35 am
EV only a slight dusting but the wind is fierce.
I called in and will spend the day with a couple of good books.
What a disappointment. Oh well I got my Milk and Bread.
Old New England funny.
hugs EV stay warm.
Comment by jeannie — February 14, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Carly,
I live in Connecticut and when I saw you were at Mohegan Sun.
Glad you had a great time with your friends minus the sewage ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
Comment by Cherylann — February 14, 2007 @ 8:30 pm
Donna I am sorry to hear about your mom
Comment by Cherylann — February 14, 2007 @ 8:30 pm