Two Umbrellas....Three Women

I had written an entire blog post about our trip up here but it was so boring I kept falling asleep while I was writing.  I guess now you know how I feel about the drive up here.  Aside from getting to visit friends and family at night it is pretty much a snooze fest!  2400 miles of very familiar roadways, a means to an end.  I am still waiting for Harry Potter's floo powder to be invented so all I need to do is go into the fireplace, state my destination and I will be transported.  Until then or until our sweet dog goes to sweet doggie heaven we are destined to drive.

Some day I'll be leaving one of these trails instead of looking up at them from the road below!

Today was one of those days you just have to shake your head and wonder if you are a crazy person.  It's Friday, and Friday is golf day up here.  We have had some very nice days this week, well, two...OK one and a half,  very nice days.  After a while you just give in to the weather and go about your business.  So I went and played golf today.

Perfect weather for golf....if you are a real Scotia woman!

I channeled my inner Scotia woman today and played golf.  Usually I don't have to call on her until I've been here a while but conditions called for it today.  We began our round and as we mildly complained about how cool the wind felt.  A few holes later when it started to drizzle we were wishing for cool wind instead of wet, cool wind.  We forged ahead and did not mind playing in a little drizzle.  After all, we had been cooped up for a couple of days this week and we were just happy to be outside on the golf course.  The optimism was palatable.  A couple of dry holes and we were happy again....until the rain started.  It was not just a sprinkle, it was rain.  I did not have an umbrella, waterproof shoes or a hat....never again!  I sought shelter under some trees and was joined by my partners.

Two umbrellas....3 women, oops!

It is times like this that one questions their sanity.  We were walking the course and about as far away from the club house as possible.  We waited it out and continued our round.  Why stop now?  We got to the last hole on the first 9 and of course the sun peeked out and taunted us, encouraging us to play the back nine.  I was a bit hesitant...and wet, but said yes. Peer pressure is a bitch.  I joined my friend in her golf cart and we headed out for more.  Before we even teed off it started to rain again.  That was it!  "I'm out!", I said.  I love golf but not this much and I know this jeopardizes my Scotia woman status.  I've only been here for four days, I still have thin southern blood in my veins.  Give me a couple of weeks and I'll have my rain gear and I won't let a little rain keep me off the golf course.

It may keep me off the cart path though.....

I trust my fellow Scotia women finished and stayed dry.  I dedicate this post to you who were braver, better equipped and crazier than me!  All it took was a little rain and the mention of Scotia woman to get my wheels turning.  Instead of playing more wet golf I came home and wrote about it in a nice dry cozy house!

Gratuitous sunset from one of the nicer days this week!

Hunting and Gathering

Our house is full of people hunting, gathering and checking things off their to-do list.  Our Saudi friends are here and they are making a point of eating at as many restaurants as they can while they are in Houston.  They are busy shopping and buying things they can't get in Saudi Arabia.  I think every day they are checking a new item off their Houston bucket list.  They are going to ball games, soccer games, visiting friends, buying baby clothes, having a baby, stocking up on as much stuff as they can fit into their allotted 14 boxes for their trip back to Saudi. They left one home to come back to a familiar place and are taking in all the sights, tastes and activities they can before they have to go back.

No we are not moving!  This all goes back to Saudi with our friends!

I find myself in a similar situation this week.  I know I will be away from home for the next few months and I find myself eating out every day.  I have also been doing a lot of shopping, yes.. it's such a burden.  I won't see any of my favorite stores for three months!  I need to make sure I don't miss any summer styles, because we all know what a trendy gal I am!  I have been playing a lot of golf too.  I want to play as many rounds as possible with my friends before I leave.  I am even willingly playing in the brutal heat and humidity that has taken over Houston.  It is like a daily reminder that my decision to head back to the shore and cooler weather next week is not in vain.  In the meantime, I'm taking in Houston and gathering a few things to bring to the shore.

Our house looks like someone is either moving in or moving out.  Really, we are just a pack of squirrels gathering our nesting materials for our other lives.  There is something to be said for having the conveniences of home...away from home, especially when your home is across the globe and many things we take for granted are not readily available.  Another way to look at it is that part of the joy of being away from home is getting away from the "stuff" back home.  I find myself compromised on this lately.  I used to love going to the shore and living in our bare bones cottage.  Life was so much simpler.  It took about 10 minutes to clean the cottage every day.  There is something to be said about living a simple life without some of the conveniences you have back home.  Lately though, I seem to want my life up there to be just as comfortable as life down here.  I'm sure this is due to the fact that I spend three months instead of only weeks up there.  I am no longer just on vacation, I have relocated my life.  Another reason is that I'm just older and as much as I hate to admit it....I'm not as willing to live the spartan life anymore.  I've gotten old and soft... curses!

Thelma and Louise....heading to dinner!
Girls just want to have fun....

Last week was total indulgence to me!  It felt like that first couple of weeks of summer when you were in high school and you and your friends got together every day and enjoyed your new found freedom and the long sunny days and breezy nights.  I had dinner with girlfriends and sat outside talking for hours.  I played outside all day on the golf course and went to bed every night very tired.  It was the perfect taste of Houston to leave in my mouth until we come back in the fall.