The Pitfalls of Returning. . .

So I got back from vacation almost a week ago and man, what an adjustment. I didn't really realize until I'd been working several days that I literally spent my vacation in a vegetative state. . . literally. I read, I slept, I wrote a really long and arduously read blog late one night (sorry about that) and I played with my niece. That sums up the entire week.

Now that I've been a week back in my real life, I've thought of all of the pitfalls of coming home from a vacation like the one I took last week. They are as follows:

• Work. I know, you are shocked that this is first on my list. But work in Mexico consisted of walking up two flights of stairs on my way back from the pool or figuring out that daunting Sudoku puzzle that just didn't seem to come out right. That was all the work that I did for an entire week. Now, there is typing and emails and spreadsheets and oh, I'm exhausted even talking about it. I think I need to lay down.

• Speaking of. . . naps. I basically slept everywhere on vacation: in the chair by the pool, in my bed, on the boat, at the dinner table. . . really, wherever I was tired. Now, I can't seem to fall asleep anywhere - even in my own 'I can't get enough of how soft this is' bed in my own 'it is so nice to have carpet on the floor' house. I tried sneaking into the mother's lounge at work to nap for a minute during lunch. You need a key. I want to sleep bad enough that I'm thinking about a minor criminal offense (stealing said key) just to sleep. Sad? Yeah, I thought so too!

• Did you know that it's easier to work out on the elliptical if it is overlooking a golf course and a lake through a large picture window? Well, it is. Now when I run I just look at the female body builder right in front of me that has a really awkward posture when she runs. It's not the same. There is a lake. . . of sweat.

• I keep waiting for a bar maid to pass my cubicle and ask me what I'll have to drink. It hasn't happened. And when I asked the secretary to get me a pina colada, she said some things that were NOT very nice. Come on people. Where is the service? I was at the pool for an hour and was asked at least three times what I wanted. I've been at work for 5 days and no such thing has happened. What a crock.

• It's not acceptable to go anywhere in your swimming suit. In Mexico, that was completely appropriate attire for any occasion. Apparently it's not part of the "dress code" in the office. Whatever that means.

• Every day in Mexico, I had some form of hot breakfast - french toast, eggs, muffins, bacon, you name it. There were all sorts of good ways to start off your day. Every morning since I've been home I've gone to my kitchen and nada. No person saying "What can I make you?" followed quickly by "It's a pleasure." I'm making my own dang breakfast again. Ladies and Gents, I'd like to introduce you to my Quaker friend. He makes oatmeal. Oh wait, I mean I make oatmeal.

I'm not bitter. . . just sad that it's over. So if anyone is heading out any time soon, let me know. I'd love an invitation. . . and a pina colada.

Overcoming Weird Personal Boundaries

So generally, I would consider myself a "go-getter". . . for the most part. . . ish. Ok, in some things. Man, is this getting vague or what? My point is that on a general basis, I feel like I don't have a lot of boundaries that I haven't conquered (or at least attacked with some decent force) in my life. I feel pretty comfortable with the things that I've done.

What am I getting at? Sidenote: not once have I ever gotten to a point this fast in my writing so why in the WORLD are you expecting me to now? Let me tell you about some of the personal battles that I feel like I've conquered in my life (no laughing now, this is some serious business and in some courts of law considered highly personal :) ):

Carlee vs the Swing set: my brother used to try and get me to lay down under the swing with my arms by my sides and see how close he could get to my face while swinging without actually kicking me. The trick was that if I covered my eyes (as was a natural reaction), I would, inevitably, be kicked. It took a LOT of trust but I finally did it. He passed right over me (the first time) and I was proud.

Carlee vs the Trailer Park Bully: I punched a kid. Knocked him on his rear. But it was for a good cause. He was picking on a smaller, weaker kid. And when he pushed me, I punched him and he cried. . . a lot. I felt bad. But it was the first time in my life when I had to make a choice about what I valued - walk away and let it be (nothing happens to me) or stand up for what I thought was right and risk getting in trouble. I was proud, still am. Maybe I should have called this 'Carlee vs the Moral Dilemma'?

Carlee vs Death: ok, clearly this wasn't a direct fight. No, you didn't miss something. I knew what death meant and how it emotionally effected me at an early age. I had three grandparents die over the course of one year when I was about 10. I've lost close friends in accidents, grandparents after long battles and several pets. I'm no stranger to it and I feel like after all of the practice with it, I understand it and can finally say that I have peace with the process and all that it means.

I could continue (you all know THAT for sure!) but I won't. My point is that in 26 years, I figured that I had run into a lot of the boundaries in my life - physical, spiritual, emotional and mental - that I really had to overcome. I was wrong.

Today I uncovered a pretty strong boundary that I don't even know I was aware of until it was right in my face. It all started at the spa. . .

I've gotten my fare share of pedis and manis and even had a facial last time I was in Mexico so I'm no stranger to the robe and the weird scents and the sheets and such at the spa. It's rather soothing. Today was my first go-round with hydrotherapy (you go from hot to cold to hot to cold, all in some form of water) and I loved it. Today was also my first go round with a full back massage. Enter the issue.

Did you know that in a spa, when they massage your back, they consider your "back" as the area that runs from the bottom of your skull to the bottom of your tailbone and everything in between? (I bet you didn't see this coming, did ya? you thought this was going to be a serious blog!) Well, I didn't know that. So you can imagine my surprise when little Teresa from Mexico pulled the sheet down WAY lower than I thought should would to go to town on my back. Sidenote: I am openly admitting that a 5'2", 110 pound woman completely kicked my trash today. Completely. I feel like I got in a fistfight and lost. Trailer park bully, you have your revenge!!

Anyway, when this happened, I had to keep from audibly saying "Um, do I know you? WHAT are you doing!?" Right then and there, all of my self-image issues rose right into my throat and I realized how uncomfortable I am not being clothed. The severity of this may have some religious ties. . . or it may stem from all of the books I've been reading about Afghanistan and women in burquas. . . but either way, it was a serious, in-your-face phobia! One that in my 26 years I am yet to encounter??? RANDOM!

So, as I laid there and Teresa started rubbing me down ( I know, awkward visual. . . and I'm sorry but that's how I felt, that phrase explains exactly how I felt!), I was completely uncomfortable and tense which completely defeats the purpose of the massage, right? I decided to have a little talk with myself about overcoming my phobia in record time and how being uncomfortable would get me nothing but a painful back rub and wasted spa time provided by my loving parents. What's a girl to do? I'm here, I'm on the bed, I'm not clothed, this lady could CLEARLY beat me up, where do we go from here?

I decided to take control of the situation and do it fast so I wasn't wasting any one's time. I adopted my new favorite saying which is "Carlee, it's only awkward if you let it be." (You can use it too but it won't be as effective if you use my name so you may want to insert your own there.) Guess what? It worked! Granted, it took a few minutes to really settle down but it happened and I made it through! Was it the best thing I've ever done? No. But now I know that next time it could be and that's where the win comes in.

So this overly exerted blog is to issue a challenge: do something that makes you uncomfortable and stretches you just a little bit. You may surprise yourself. I know there are plenty of "Tony Robbins" types out there telling you to do the same and maybe I'm harnessing my inner Tony but I'm telling you that a shock to the system is exactly what I needed to get back on the right path. Even if you "fail" (aka, the outcome isn't exactly what you thought or wanted) or it takes longer than anticipated (like me and my 5 minute freakout today), it's a good thing. Thanks Martha. Oh, and then report back. I want to know what you did (and I need ideas and challenges) and I'll keep you posted on my "brave" moments moving forward.

It's all about Mexico. . . or Olivia.

Hola and Buenos Tardes from beautiful Playa del Carmen. Right now, I am sitting on the balcony of our room and listening to the waves crash against the wall down below. Wanna see? Here you go:




I literally took that two minutes ago so you can see what I'm seeing! Don't you feel like you're right in the action? Ok, maybe my photography isn't THAT good but I tried. Can you see the parasailing going on above the second palm tree from the left? You can't tell but the parachute is a giant yellow smiley face. I guess they think the smiley face is less intrusive to the sharks below? Hahaha. . . just kidding. . . sort of.

Well, so far, the trip has been a-to the-mazing. I've done exactly what I wanted to do which is sleep and sun. . . and sleep in the sun. . . and get in the pool. . . and sleep some more. I don't think that I realized how tired I've gotten lately until I got here and have basically slept for three days. Don't worry though, I have had the energy to get dressed and walk down to the pool before I nap so I'm getting a really sweet sunburn while I'm here! Oh, and I'm doing some great reading between naps - A Thousand Splendid Suns. Love it. For those of you that are aware of the New Year's Resolution, this will be book number 5.


The trip has been so relaxing and a perfect time with my family. They are a blast to vaca with. It's Olivia's first time out of the country and the people of Mexico LOVE her. She's a little flirt and I'd expect nothing less. I got the surprise of my life on day one when I opened our hotel door and she came walkin in like she owned the place. . . that's right, my baby girl has joined the ranks of the walkers! I'm so proud.


Needless to say, we've had a blast having her here. Here are some pics of her adventure so far:

She has pretty much spent most of her time on the cold floor. I don't blame her. . . it's hot here!
I got a flower from the front desk on our arrival. . . she made quick work of that.

This is exactly why I love her. . . this face. . . she's the happiest girl EVER!

Olivia quickly discovered that she is a pool efficianado! She is basically a Phelps in training.

And yes, she attracts some great audiences. . . great, great audiences. :)

Anyway, I figure there are enough pics of the baby to keep the fam happy for a while. I haven't taken too many pics of anything but the view from our room so I'll drop another one in here of what it looks like at sunset:

We've been out shopping and really, literally at the pool 90% of our vacation thus far which means all of my expectations have been met. Nothing too crazy (which is odd for me as anyone who knows me can attest that I am the queen of weird things happening) but that's to be expected when you're sleeping all day. I am having some funny dreams though. . . :) Oh, one weird thing did happen:

I got kissed on the cheek by a drunk, too-old-for-my-mom, Mexican salesman last night so that was an adventure. He was trying to sell my dad some Cuban cigars and trying to sell my mom on the fact that he was going to be the newest member of our family. Note to the audience at large: if you plan on calling my mom "mother-in-law", there are a couple of things you should know: First, you may want to check with me first because there is only one way left into this family and I kind of need to have a say. We're not in the business of arranged marriages (although sometimes I think that might not be a bad idea. Can you see me selling hair braiding and booze in Mexico for a living?) so please include me first. Sidenote: this doesn't mean that I'm picky or really that I'd even refuse the offer under most circumstances, it's just a sign of courtesy for heaven's sake! Let a girl feel like she's important. Second, make sure that you don't have hard tequila/cigar breath when you call my mom "mother-in-law" for the first time. Third, don't hit on me while simulateously trying to sell me a "Foach" purse. That's just a major disadvantage to you because I WILL be distracted by the purse and it will probably win every time. And by "probabaly" win, I mean it WILL win. Final take-home tally? Purse: one. Men: zero. Wah, waaaahhh!

With that, I must bid you adios! More adventures to come. . . I hope. I'll try and do something besides lay by the pool before the next update!