This Is What Relaxing Looks like

How many vacations have you taken in your life that have actually resulted in relaxation? Pose that question to me and the answer will be in the single digits. Probably less than 3. But if all goes as planned (or not planned, as the case may be) the number will be increasing by one after this week's trip.



I will grant you that driving for twelve hours with two kids and a pregnant wife does not exactly count as relaxing. So technically speaking, this trip will neither start nor end in a particularly relaxing manner. However, the time between drives is shaping up to be as peaceful as any in recent memory.




Since we arrived Wednesday afternoon, we've done a grand total of absolutely nothing. No planned outings, no big trips into town, and no fancy meals. The girls have been content to play together and create their own fun, and Mandi and I have been usurping wireless internet access and generally just vegging out. One decision I made about this trip, because I was here just 2 weeks ago and had great results birding, is that I'd leave the binoculars behind. That way I wouldn't be tempted to while away the family time in pursuit of the birds. It was definitely the right decision. I've still got some great backyard birds to keep me engaged, and the extra time has been spent doing, well, very little.

Boycott Carowinds Theme Park

Sunday afternoon something very disturbing happened at Carowinds, a popular amusement and water park here in the Charlotte area. Instead of re-writing the story, I will give you a link to our local newspaper and their article regarding the issue. Once you've read it, I hope you'll understand why I'm calling for a boycott of the parks. I don't for a minute think that places like this can stop people from misbehaving, but when it's called to their attention they have a responsibility to their guests to remove the offender swiftly. I personally will not take my family to Carowinds ever again, and I feel that a large outcry from their clientele is the most effective way to get them to enact some changes to their operation. If you would like to let them know how you feel about this situation you should send an email to guestrelations@carowinds.com .