Away to Sin City

My new BFFs (monster zit I and II) and I are away for three days to Sin City on a company sponsored breakaway. I NEVER go away on these things because pre kids I was too infertile and sad and post kids I am too in love with my kids to want to leave them, but I think its time to have a little ‘me time’.

This is the longest I’ve been apart from my kids (three days) and I have been so anxious about it. Really silly. But then again, I am really silly.

You know what’s silly is that when the Dad goes away; all he has to do is pack his suitcase. When the mom goes away, she has to:

• arrange for someone (granny) to do the school drop off and pick up
• make sure there are enough suppers prepared (thanks Woollies) for 3 nights for the husband, the nanny and the two kids
• make sure there is enough milk and bread for the entire time
• stock up on pet food
• leave a long list of detailed instructions as to what needs to be done in her absence

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, in my next life I am coming back as the Dad.

This trip away is a ‘thank you’ for the team’s performance last year and the entire team is being taken away to Sun City, a resort 2 3 hours outside of Johannesburg. Kind huh. We each get given a bit of spending money. There is entertainment scheduled for the evenings, but the days are free to spend at our leisure. There are various activities to choose from: game drives, golf, gambling, and a list of other things that hold absolutely no interest for me. I will be spending my days sleeping, reading books, catching up on email and doing some writing. I can’t wait! I’ve travelled 1500 km’s to lie on my bed and do NOTHING! Can’t wait.

Of course, besides my outbreak of adult acne, I also have picked up a bit of a cold. Very, very annoying but totally expected as I have been burning the candle at both ends for too long now. The first sign of some time off and the body crashes.

So, you might or might not hear from me within the next few days. If you don’t, you know where I am. Lying on my bed doing NOTHING. I can’t wait.

Comments

[Maritza]

I hab de colb yesterbay, feeling lops better tobay...

njoy ur trip & have a coctail on my behalf!

[BA]

It's definately a lot different for a Mom to leave than a Dad. We're the ones with the lists, and god forbid we forget something, of course it's our fault. All they have to do is get their clothes out that they want to wear. My favorite thing that would make me want to be a Dad is that they have a less of a sense of urgency when it comes to keeping things clean, packing, mowing, etc. It's just easier for them to not feel guilty about sitting around on their asses (not saying that Marko does this, but my husband does). I DEFINATELY want to come back as a Dad in my next life. Or at least a lesbian, so I could have a loving wife to share the responsibilities with :)

My new motto in life is "if I can be spending quality time with my family/kid over cleaning the kitchen or doing laundry, then all those chorse can wait. We're not going to remember cleaning, we're going to remember the good times we had with our kids." You should definately take this vacation as a blessing and a way to reload for your family so you can continue being a fabulous mother :)

[Heather]

Something my sisster emailed me a loooong time ago about the obligations of motherhood...

In my next Life

In this life I'm a woman. In my next life,
I'd like to come back as a bear. When you're a
bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but
sleep for six months.

I could deal with that.

Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat
yourself stupid.

I could deal with that, too

When you're a girl bear, you birth your
children (who are the size of walnuts) while you're
sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute cuddly
cubs.

I could definitely deal with that.

If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean
business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If
your cubs get out of line, you swat them too.

I could deal with that.

If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to
wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have
hairy legs and excess body fat.

Yup...gonna be a bear.

[V]

I hope you really enjoy Sun City. By now you will know who your roomie is if you didn't before. Hope it is someone who doesn't annoy too much!! I thought of you when I shared my teeny tiny room with no door on the bathroom at the Cabanas!! Luckily I had a decent roomie. If you want some peace and quiet make sure you take a stroll through the gardens in front of the Cascades. Beautiful! Our food was horrible on the first night, hope yours is better. And I hope you had a decent bus! Ours going up was awful and the toilet stop.... well, the less said the better. Going back to the airport we had a luxury bus and he stopped at a decent spot. Good luck!!

PS: Best to exchange your Sunbucks at the main Casino for cash as you do not get change if you spend less than R30 on anything!
PS: I really like Heather's idea of being a bear!

[Wobs]

ENJOY!!! Put your feet up and chill with a glass of vino and no interruptions!

[louise]

Enjoy! I am so jealous!!! This is definitely an idea that the company needs to take up in the US!!

[Wyliekat]

Five and a half days without my girl over here. Gonna explode, I think.

[Lindsay]

Have a wonderful time! You so deserve the break and when you come back your husband will appreciate you and everything you do so much more!! Sleep and enjoy it not being broken!

[silene]

Oooh, I am jealous. ENJOY your "me" time, and I will live vicariously (nothing! nothing at all!! it's a dream come true...)

[Dani]

What is it with the zits?? I'm in the process of getting rid of monster zit #1 and have monster zit #2 mocking me at the same time. We already DID the puberty thing. WTF?

I'm considering the Brown Paper Bag Over the Head look. I hear it's all the rage this season.

[Diane Dawson]

Ride the elephants! Ride the elephants!!

We rode the elephants next to Sun City for our honeymoon and it was the experience of a life time.

Hope you have fun!

Diane

[mimi smartypants]

I'm away on a business trip soon, and you know how I'll prepare? I will kiss spouse + child goodbye, and I will pack my suitcase.

Seriously, you are leaving your children with their parent, a competent adult who is paid to look after them, AND you have grandparent help? And you still "have to" stock the house with food, etc etc? I'm sure Marko knows where a grocery store is located...no?

Anyway, have fun.

[Deanna]

Increasingly grateful that my husband is, y'know, able to get up in the morning without my assistance. You really have to do all that for him? What in God's name is your PAID HELP doing all the time? Playing video games with your husband?

[Coral]

Yup, I would just pack and go, what is good for the goose....

Anyway, have a great time, and when you get to OR Tambo airport, think of me, I am just around the corner!

(So if your plane gets delayed, or you get bumped off - that is happening a lot lately...just call)

[Bianca W]

You lucky sausage.

From a slightly green Bianca