I’M HOME!
… from Aruba where I was vacationing for a week. We had fun, sun, good food, and better company. We’ve been going to the Hyatt for the last four years with the same family (as an aside: they are in the dedication of Hot Property coming in June). This year, there were half a dozen families from my neighborhood and my kids’ schools on vacation in the same hotel. Maybe more. It was great to walk the beach and see familiar faces and share laughs. 
Many, many laughs. It started on the plane ride there.
Unfortunately, my husband got sick. A cough like I’ve never heard and he was really miserable for a lot of the trip. 
Not that you can tell from this picture. But at least he got to recuperate in warm weather. 
Once a day the Aloe Man came by with aloe for your sunburn. 
I never saw my youngest daughter during the day until the pictures were uploaded. She spent all day in the water with her friends, on the beach, in the water. 
I missed the dogs and they missed us.
BUT NOW I’M HOME.
To catch you all up, I’m working on Lucky Streak for next year and promotion for Hot Property in June. That means a book trailer/video and bookmarks and more. I’ll keep you posted as I know more.
I missed the jungle while I was away.
Anything huge happen in my absence?
Aruba has been my dream trip since…2001. One day I will get there, but your pictures are inspiring. Sorry your dh wasn’t feeling well, but resting on an island doesn’t sound too bad.
Anything big? Hmmm, in a coup, all the authors overthrew BadBarb and she’s in a porta-potty with pictures of Clay Aiken (or so she thinks) plastered everywhere - she has to use them for toilet paper. Kidding, just kidding BB.
Have a happy Monday! (I know, it’s a stretch….)
Comment by Stacy ~ — February 25, 2008 @ 7:00 am
Serves Badbarb right for not chiming in here at Plotmonkeys nearly enough.
Carly, glad you had fun! As you know, my one and only trip to Aruba was awful, so I’m very glad you continue to have a good time every year!
Comment by Julie Leto — February 25, 2008 @ 9:42 am
We haven’t been to Aruba, although I would willing be dragged back to St. Martin’s anytime. I wouldn’t even drag my heels on the way.
BB hasn’t run out of clay paper yet???
Comment by ev — February 25, 2008 @ 10:09 am
Not much here, just getting over sickenesses….I finally sent the boys back to school on Wednesday (after 8 days of the four of us being sick at some point, three antibiotics for two kids, long story). GLad you had fun!
Comment by katie — February 25, 2008 @ 10:21 am
OH Stacy, you made my morning with that Bad BArb comment. As Julie said, serves her right. Maybe if she came around more, one of us monkeys would aid and abet her escape!
Katie, I hope everyone stays healthy. I’m really dizzy this morning. Can’t figure out why. Ugh.
Comment by Carly — February 25, 2008 @ 10:38 am
Good morning Plotmonkeys and Jungle Babes,
Carly, glad to hear you’re back home safe from your vacation and it sounds like you had a good time. So sorry your husband got sick. I don’t envy you going to Aruba. I’m not a tropical weather kind of person. I can feel the humidity just looking at the pics. But hey, I live in Colorado so I’m really spoiled with this dry climate.
Take care all and have a magnificent Monday,’
Cher
Comment by Cher — February 25, 2008 @ 10:46 am
I HATE humidity. But something happens in Aruba. It’s really miraculous. You relax and just don’t care. It’s like a slice of heaven!
Comment by Carly — February 25, 2008 @ 10:49 am
Welcome back Carly! I’ve never been to Aruba, but the pictures make it look like a great place to relax. Glad y’all had such a great time.
Comment by Liza — February 25, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I want to take ya…Bermuda, Bahama, come on pretty mama…..
Now I have the Cocktail song in my head.
Glad you had a great vacation! Love the pics. Beach and water…my favorite vacation spot! Welcome back.
Comment by Jaci Burton — February 25, 2008 @ 11:40 am
Jaci, now we ALL have that Cocktail song in our heads!
Thanks!
Actually, I like that song! Beach Boys, baby.
Cher, I don’t remember Aruba being humid…but then, since my skin cracks and bleeds when I go to Colorado, being part fish, apparently, I’m not one to judge! Aruba is, however, very windy. Wind surfing capitol of the world, I think. The breeze offsets the humidity. Of course, I didn’t like Aruba, so there you go!
Comment by Julie Leto — February 25, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Carly, Aruba looks wonderful. I am so jealous. I would love to be somewhere warm, with sand. Welcome back, the other monkeys did a wonderful job covering for you, but we all missed you.
Comment by Patty L. — February 25, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
Carly, I guess I would have to experience it to believe you kind of forget about the humidity. Julie, I think I would be with you on not really liking it there. I’m surprised though since you live in Florida.
We’re going to Florida the end of March for a week to visit my mother-in-law in Boca. I hope, hope, hope it isn’t too hot and humid then. But at least we won’t be going in July like last time. Aaack! It was so hot and humid you had to push the air out of your way.
Cher
Comment by Cher — February 25, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
I love most tropical islands, Cher! I’m a big fan of the Virgin Islands, I love Mexico and adore Puerto Rico. But Aruba was a bad trip for me…I found the natives very rude toward Americans (probably just my experience) and I was sick and trying to get prescription medication and the people at the hotel were rude…it was just a bad trip. I was also bored because I’m not a “lie on the beach for hours” kind of person. I like to go see stuff and there wasn’t much to see where we were. That’s why I loved Puerto Rico so much…I could go horseback riding on the beach (probably the only physical activity you can get out of me on a beach) and go to the rainforest and go to Old San Juan…it was just fabulous.
One day, I’ll go back to Aruba with Carly so she can show me all the fun I missed the first time around, LOL!
Comment by Julie Leto — February 25, 2008 @ 1:59 pm
oh my gosh looks so fun got to go somewhere fun in teh sun.
Comment by kim h — February 25, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Uh, JUlie? We lay on the beach and do nothing except read. From 9 AM - at elast 4 PM. NOTHING but relax. Not your thing, even with me. Despite the Natalie HOlloway situation, it is the best place on earth. I feel my kids are safe. The security guards are everywhere even before Natalie disappeared. It’s just amazing. I’m so happy we can give this to the girls.
A vacation they’ll remember year after year.
Comment by Carly — February 25, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
I’ve never been anywhere tropical but Hawaii would be my first choice! There is a lot to see & do plus you can spend time on the beach in the sun. Julie, I’m with you, I can’t lay in the sun for hours my skin is to fair & I hate the humdity! My only experience with humidity was in Michigan in the summer, I was not dry for 2 & 1/2 weeks & I didn’t like it!!
Carly, welcome back. I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed your trip. I hope the sun soaked out your DH illness. No fun being sick away from home.
Everyone have a good day. We have a week of sunshine after a rainy, stormy weekend! Yea!!
Comment by Donna M — February 25, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Julie, I’m not a sit around or lie on the beach kind of person either. I want to go out and see stuff too. As much as I love to read, I couldn’t sit on a beach from 9 to 4 everyday. I need to be doing.
Cher
Comment by Cher — February 25, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Carly: Go lie down and get some rest…hopefully, you won’t get this flu (it is the worst flu in a LONG time). What’s even worse, is when you all have it at staggering times and you all can’t do anything.
Fortunately, we are all back in the saddle…
Plus, my Girl Scout cookies came today YUM-O! Hubby won’t like that I overbought, but it’s for a good cause 
My class is also over (whoo hoo). Now, I have do do another…
Comment by katie — February 25, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
Welcome back Carly, sounds and looks like you had a great vacation. Anywhere on a beach is a fab vacation in my book. I love the water, the sand, and the do what you want or don’t want to do atmosphere.
So am I going to the beach in a few weeks? Nope, going to Scottsdale, AZ to see my daughter and SIL. It’s beautiful there though, just not the beach.
Comment by Vicki — February 25, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Welcome home, Carly! I’m glad you had such a great time. I’d love to visit Aruba sometime. I love the beach, love sitting around all day reading, love the water. Do they have yummy tropical drinks there too?
And Stacy, you are too funny!
Comment by Robin — February 25, 2008 @ 4:23 pm
Welcome back, Carly!
Comment by Estella — February 25, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
Carly, I could take it from about 9 to 12. After that, I’m done and have to go do! That’s why I liked Oahu so much better than Maui. Oahu had so much stuff to do. Maui is for the lying on the beach or the sports. Or driving the road to Hana, whichmade me
.
I like lying on the beach and reading…I do! I just can’t do it all day!
Comment by Julie Leto — February 25, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Right now, I would really like to give reading on the beach a try from 9-4, as long as I’m under an umbrella for part of the time. I think I could pull it off for maybe a day and then would have to read part of the day and explore the rest of the day.
Comment by Liza — February 25, 2008 @ 6:11 pm
Welcome back Carly! Sounds like you had a great time. We missed you. Your pictures make me want to be there!
Comment by Michelle J. in NJ — February 25, 2008 @ 9:46 pm
Welcome back to the mainland! Glad you had such a fun trip and made it back home safely. The pictures look great!
Comment by Caryn — February 25, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
Welcome back to the real world, Carly
Comment by Gigi — February 25, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
Welcome back Carly…I am glad you had a wonderful time with friends and family…it is good to have you back though…sorry to hear that your hubby was sick…seems like he was able to take a load off though…big thumbs up in the pic…I have never been to Aruba, but I was born in the tropics…Jamaica baby…loved living and growing up there…I went to Hawaii as a delayed graduation trip (5 or 6 years later) and my bday trip…met up with four friends and had a blast…we stayed in Oahu on Waikiki beach…it was a great experience…sorry to hear that you aren’t feeling up to snuff…make sure you rest up…the flu is going around like katie said…it is running through my school right now…so take care of yourself…it is interesting how you need a rest from your vaca…
An aside…I have been meaning to ask this question since Cindy Myers’ visit to the jungle…
Has anyone ever heard of or visited Crested Butte? It sounds interesting…maybe one day I will brave the cold and visit…
Talk to you all later…I need to go check on the boys and catch some zzzzzs myself…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment by Paula R. — February 25, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
Welcome home Carly! Loved seeing the pics…so sorry Phil wasn’t feeling well, but it looked like you all had a great time just the same.
We’ve never been to Aruba. I’ve heard such varying reactions to it–very hit or miss–that we’ve never taken the chance.
My dream Caribbean vacation is Petite St. Vincent. Oh, heaven…
Comment by Leslie — February 26, 2008 @ 12:12 am
:cold: Aruba sounds good.
I have been busy, working at the store and have been working on closets.
hehe
Julie, Carly,Janelle and Leslie better be
Comment by BadBarb — February 26, 2008 @ 8:53 pm