Wrapping up the trip

The trip has been wonderful and we've done a lot since the last blog. Erin's favorite has to be the catamaran cruise that we took yesterday evening over to the cliffs. We jumped off and swam through a few caves while watching people jump off of the cliffs. We also met another couple that Erin adores. They are from Mississippi (the south) which means they are southern :) There is just something about people from the south overall. The north has some exception (Cher and the Wagner Family), but overall is a little more rigid.

We've played tennis, took sailing lessons as well as windsurfing lessons. We spent a lot of time in the water during the windsurfing lessons... We took a yoga class (which I enjoyed and Erin thought was funny) and then received a couples massage. We sat on the beach under a thatched hut and watched the storms roll in and Erin is getting better at sudoku.

The mosquitoes are still on their all out attack on Erin, but she has been putting on more repellent and getting bit a little less. Yesterday we took a Catamaran cruise, a trip Erin loved.

Jamaica has been great and I would most definitely come back some day. The people have been friendly, the pace of life much slower and the weather amazing. Of course the job outlook around here is poor and the overall standard of living in Negril is poor so moving here is not really an option. If you are honeymooning or are just looking for a great vacation spot I'd recommend 'Couples Swept Away' in Negril, Jamaica. Bring plenty of Sunscreen and Mosquito repellent and you will have found a Caribbean paradise :)

Erin has chicken pox?

No, Erin does not have chicken pox, but it looks like it around her ankles since she has been getting eaten up by mosquitos! She now takes daily showers in OFF and is doing a little better. She is a trooper though and has been getting through it. Today's plans included a Nature Tour, a Bike Ride into Negril, Jamaica. Really not much to see as the place was pretty poor and run down. The highlight of the trip is when a bird decided to poop on Erin's leg on the ride back. Here is a picture when she returned with the entertainment cordinator:


We played cards with another couple whose company we've been enjoying since we've been here. We all played Euchre, a card game popular in the mid-west I hear. Erin and I then took a couples massage lesson where we picked up a couple pointers and finished off our activities with an hour and a half tennis lesson, which was a blast. Erin and I are good enough to have a decent volley back and forth and we look forward to playing when we get back to the states.

A visitor to my pillow!

Right now I am sitting at a Staff & Guest talent show and it has been pretty entertaining. I'm sipping back a Leeche Martini, it's new to me and I'm a fan. Well back to the vacation after a few pictures!

Are those fireants?

Last night's private dinner on the beach!

Ganja & the pace of life in Jamaica.

Another wonderful day in Jamaica. Some of the highlights were the room service continental breakfast, orientation @ the resort, beach volleyball, swimming and napping. My favorite moment happened when we were sitting at the Veggie Bar and Erin asks Anika (a-knee-ka) how much Ganja costs. Ganja is weed or Marijuana and is grown all over Jamaica. Anika replied that she does not know because she does not smoke, then she asked Erin if she smoked. I almost rolled over laughing inside. But I held back as they discussed the finer points of law surrounding Ganja possession. That's my wife ;) The second most entertaining moment is when Erin and I decided to set up camp next to a tree covered in fire ants, OUCH! We made it out alive.

Tomorrow's plans include:

• Reggae Dance Class
• Honeymooner's party
• Trip to Margaritaville

The major thing that I notice that is different is the pace of life. Everyone seems so relaxed. Something is slated to start at 6:30, it gets off of the ground roughly 7ish or a little before. Funny because as planned out as I am I really like it.

The drinks here are also very good and Erin and I have been meeting a lot of people that work at the resort. They have some pretty interesting names and Erin and I have been quizzing each other on what names we remember. I think we are up around 10-15 people. Lot's of smiles and lots of "No problem Mon" are everywhere. I think the place is IRIE (eye-ree) - great!

I'm married!!!

So it actually happened. I am now married to Erin Collins Card (official name change to come). So looks like this blog will take on the lives of both of us as time goes on. Right now I am sitting in Negril, Jamaica watching a crab head for the pool and a few lizards catching dinner. I hear the sound of island creatures and lapping waves. It's REALLY NICE! But before talking about Jamaica I'll explain what happened on our way out here. I abbreviated fashion, apparently Erin does not like long blogging during the honeymoon... She's trying to change me already.

So we get married and rush off in our rented getaway car. On the way to Roanoke Erin needs a snack so our first official stop as a newly wed couple is a Stop-In convience store:


The plane we were going to fly out on Sunday broke, so we went to IHOP to make our back-up plans & open some of our wedding cards :


After talking with airlines, travel agents and the resort, we made it to Jamaica and will still have our original length of stay, Monday - Monday. Here are a few pictures:

I think my favorite parts have been when Erin has seen new and exciting things, like houses of the local people! More to come later in the week, but first some rest!

The art of candle making.

Here is how it is done...

http://weddingplanninggroom.blogspot.com/2006/07/making-of-candle.html

Pictures at the other place.

I updated what is coming to be known as "that other blog"

http://weddingplanninggroom.blogspot.com/

The weekend I turned 28

So I am now 28 years old. This past weekend was a good weekend to turn 28, let me explain what all happened:

Friday: Erin, Curt, Betsy and I went to Floyd. We had not made it here in a while and it was the most packed that I had ever seen it. It was good, after such a long week, to see and catch up with some of the regulars, dance and listen to some great bluegrass music. And we even ….. Before I tell you let me explain. Every Friday night in Floyd (Except Christmas & Thanksgiving week Friday’s) a Ham is given out to the person with the correct ticket number. You receive a ticket when you arrive and pay your $3 for admission. Well this Friday we won the Ham!!! Funny thing since it was so crowded and we had been going to Floyd for so long. But it happened. They called out the first number and no one came forward, the second, still no winner. Erin sat there looking at the tickets just waiting. More numbers were called, nothing won… And then number 6….0….2 was called. And when it was Erin nearly flew out of her seat. It reminded me of someone winning the car on the ‘Price is Right’. Hands waving, arms in the air, screaming, it was great!

Saturday: Saturday we moved Erin’s furniture from Roanoke to Blacksburg with the help of her family. It was a quick move (only one trip) so we took the extra time to head to lunch, to the Rockwood (to pick up a borrowed pressure washer) and then to the River. After a little rest at the river we headed to Salem for the Salem Fair. I was excited about going and knew some others would be there, but I did not know who. It turned out to be a really fun group of friends.

We did it all from the Ferris wheel to watching pig racing. The highlight was actually an acrobat show that was really good for a fair. I was surprised. The night ended at an ice cream shop where I was given a country music CD (that I listened to, well part of it) and a Hammer. Before hand I received a nice soft shell from Erin. Can’t wait till it gets cool enough to wear it!

I also received voice mails from both parents, singing Happy Birthday.

Sunday: Church, then we returned some gifts (or tried too, Target was really bad at dealing with us) and purchased some gifts for our guests. After that it was wedding planning for the rest of the evening, you can see what we did here:

http://weddingplanninggroom.blogspot.com/2006/07/less-than-2-weeks-relaxation-plan.html

So All in all a really good weekend to have some fun, relax and be productive. Next weekend is a Dragon’s tooth hike, it’s a rough life…

28 and offering shopping advice?

It's been a while. While other's web pages are undergoing gargantuan changes mine has been going un-updated. Is that a word? What have I been doing? Working, playing ultimate and planning an event of gargantuan proportion. Things are moving along there and I have lots of information to update on the planning of such an event.

In the meantime I am on the eve of turning 28! Now the first 27 years seemed to pretty much fly by and I'll admit that 27 is still fairly young. But I feel that 28 is something different. Not like 30 and adding another decade to one's life, but just something all together different. We'll see where it leads...

This weekend's plans hold moving all of Erin's belongings to my place! Saturday morning we will be moving her from Roanoke to Blacksburg and she gets to spend her last two weeks in Roanoke sleeping on a Coleman inflatable mattress. The things are not that comfortable, but if you put a foam sleeping pad on them watch out, they somehow transform into a night-to-night bed. Ask my roommate Jeff who wanted to sleep downstairs where it is cooler and has been sleeping on a coleman bed for about a month! And one thing I do recommend is memory foam. I don't recall the first time I slept on it, but I wholeheartedly recommend it. It takes a normal bed and turns it into a top of the line hotel bed. That's my shopping advice for the day.

Sunday's plans are to do some undisclosed wedding work and to work out at the Rockwood Manor, I have some bathrooms to finish up! Have a wonderful weekend!