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Vacation day 3: OC for a day

June 19, 2008 at 12:58 am, by Rich Kirkpatrick

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We spent the day in OC.  Well, we slept in until past 9 AM, which was amazing.  Then we took a drive to Huntington Beach, stopped at mall and Peets Coffee on the way, ate lunch, walked around, had a meltdown with the kids, drove back after stopping at Sam Ash music to check out guitars.  We ended up at the hotel bar buying happy hour snacks and pizza for dinner.  The night was topped off with the Disneyland fireworks in full view from our balcony.

For my mom and those who stalk me, here are pics on Facebook and Picasa.

I was one of those dads today.  I almost canceled our vacation for
the second time in three-and-a-half days.  My son melted down and then
I proceeded to lose my temper.  Not a pretty site.  Ouch.

Really, a vacation is needed, but sometimes vacations can be
stressors, too.  Being human means that when you finally unwind, you
see what you have been sitting on come to the top–unmet expectations,
feelings of failure and just fatigue from the grind. My family life
finally has some time to be transparent.  The good and the bad have
been coming out.  This is not comfortable, but perhaps very healthy.

The hope is that by the end of a vacation a renewed sense of ones
values rises to the top.  And, basic rest is good, too.  Until that time, I hope I survive my
vacation.

Have you survived a vacation recently?

Categories Family | Tags:

  • http://profile.typekey.com/tsinclai/ Rogue Trooper

    Rich we don’t have “family vacations” yet – we have “family trips” mainly because neither of us feel we are vacating ;-) our vacations are when Rachelle & I get away for a weekend together WITHOUT the kids. One day we will have a family vacation – but my guess is not for a while
    Tim

  • http://www.kenstherapy.com Ken Storey

    I have found that a vacation should only take up about half of your ‘vacation time’ from work. Take 2 weeks off but only spend 1 week on vacation, the other just spend together around the house or do local things. I have found this relieves much of the vacation stress.

  • http://www.kenstherapy.com Ken Storey

    Well, stay in a hotel a few days. Get away from home, then stay home a few days. Growing up my parents would do this at least once a year. We lived only 25 mins from Disney World, yet we would stay there a few days just get away from home.

    We would ‘play’ tourist, do all the silly local attractions like Disney World and putt putt golf. Then when we went home we would be locals going to city parks, the beach, and nice restaurants more.

    I guess it really matters on whats near you. We were lucky because we have so much to do in Orlando.

  • http://www.calacirian.org sonja

    Heh … musta been the moon. I was “that” mom/wife yesterday and we aren’t even on vacation. Stuff was bubbling up all over and it wasn’t pretty either. We talked it out later … but … I hear you.

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