Babymoon

Shawn’s yearly work party in Orange County came and went.

I called it a Babymoon, since it was a night away from kids, just Shawn and I.

My Mom flew out to watch our kids, and Shawn and I took off for what turned out to be a whirlwind event.  I told Shawn that he just doesn’t know how to function in a stress free, non-chaotic, flying by the seat of your pants environment.

We missed our first flight because Shawn lost track of time…despite me reminding him every 15 minutes or so.

The next flight routed us through Vegas, but had a plane problem so it was delayed.  Two things happened on the plane that will serve entertainment purposes.

1)We were flying standby, so we were the last to board.  We walked to the back of the plane hoping for 2 seats, but didn’t find any.  We stowed out luggage in the last possible overhead bin.  We walked back toward the front, in case we missed 2 seats next to each other but nope, only single seats.  Shawn asked a woman on the aisle:  “Excuse me,  would you mind switching seats so my wife and I could sit next to each other?”  She looked up at him with this look of disgust and said:  “Yes, I actually do mind.”  Shawn didn’t think he heard her right, so he said:  “Are you sure?  It’s just a switch across the aisle.”  Then she got mad.  “YES!  I DO mind, and I will not switch seats for you.  I mind very, VERY much!”  Shawn and I just looked at each other like, well, you don’t see that every day.

We found a nice man who switched seats for us for the 45 minute plane ride.  Oh, but the plane fun doesn’t end there.

2)  As we waited for the passengers to unload so we could walk back and get our bags out of the overhead bin, another woman stopped by Shawn and told him:  “I would have brought you your bags, but you’re wearing a ‘Mitt Romney’ t-shirt, so there’s no way I’m going to help you.  Oh, and he’ll never win.”  Dude…what is up with people?  I thought it was funny and that Vegas is filled with losers, since two crazy women were on this flight.

Once in Vegas, we lined up to check into the leg to Orange County, and sure enough, the lady who was offended by being asked to switch seats was flying there, too.  Just as we began walking down the hall to the plane, she puts her walk into gear and cuts in front of us.  No big deal, we were the first 10 people on the plane.  What was the deal with people today?

Once we arrived in Orange County, we had one hour to get our luggage, get our rental car, drive down to Laguna Beach in rush hour traffic and get dressed for a Black Tie event.  No pressure.  I took this picture just as we headed out the door.  That’s one clear day, to see Catalina that well at 6:00 pm.

We were 15 minutes late to the event, but that was okay.  Due to the rush, I forgot to bring my camera down, and have no pictures of the clothes, which were pretty great, or the food, which was spectacular.  I can say the color of the night—and I did not get them memo on this one—was red.  Lots of gathered layers, high collars and Modbe shirts under what otherwise would have been plunging necklines.  The greatest dress disaster every time is one particular woman who always looks drugged up and high.  Her backless dress, covered in hot pink sequins was the winner of the tacky award.  I, of course, have no room to criticize, as I was wearing a black and white maternity dress I got at Goodwill for $6.00.

The food was prime rib, salmon, 3 kinds of salad, soups, bisques, rolls, tomatoes and mozzarella, asparagus spears, amazing mashed potatoes and a desert bar with about 10 different choices.  And we tried them all.  And I promptly thought my stomach would split open. 

Then the awards ceremony began, and the CEO told everyone not to get up and leave for the bathroom until all the awards were given out since it was rude.  OH……MY…..  I was in trouble.  I waited an hour, and finally told Shawn to tell someone so I could get up and get out of there.  The CEO gets a whisper in his ear and announces:  “Ok, we have some expectant Mom’s who need a bathroom break.  I wont say anymore…except we all know how the bladder in pregnant women is squished and we understand the needs”…blah, blah, blah..I was already running.
 
The rest of the night was spent suffering with heartburn and misery, and I deserved every bit with the way I gorged on that food.

But the next day was a delight!


The weather was perfect, so we headed down to the beach.  Now, the beaches in Southern California do not have clear water…ever. 

But today, the water was crystal clear.  It was about 75 degrees with just enough of a breeze to keep me from roasting.  We sat on the warm sand and watched whales migrate south. 

Soon our friends Spencer and Joy came running along the beach, all “Baywatch” and all.  They even jumped in the ocean for a swim.  It was cold, but not miserably so…at least that’s what they said.

The rest of the day we spent seeing my parents and Shawn's parents.  We had a totally uneventful direct flight back to Phoenix, and came home to discover my Mom had taken care of everyone better than I could have.
 
Lessons learned:  if you are late to your flight, be prepared that no one will want to give up their seat for you, don’t overeat at a buffet, pregnant or not,  don’t wear Political t-shirts if you don’t want to field comments from  people who do not care for your candidate, and above all, never wait for someone to give you permission to go to the bathroom when you are 9 months pregnant.