The blog formerly known as "A Shore Thing"

I'm currently retooling this blog formerly known as "A Shore Thing." For many months (probably more like years) I've complained to anyone who will listen about the trials and tribulations of event planning in both my personal life and career. Since my Mom and my husband are tired of listening to me bitch, I thought I'd let the other seven of you know what it's like to plan an event. Along the way, I'll give you some tips on etiquette, fun recipes, and hopefully some really fun party ideas. So what? So let's party.

The Early Bird...got up too early

Last week I asked my vacation group on Facebook, "On vacation, are you an early bird or a night owl?" Turns out I am in a small group of those under the dirty thirty that would rather be in bed around 10 pm and get up around 8 am. I would actually say I am neither a night owl or early bird. I'd like to go to bed around 10 pm and sleep until 10 am. I really think I hit my peak from 11 am to 11:30 am. This vacation I am going to make a real effort to hang with all my morning chicks and night hawks, but I thought, speaking for both early birds and night owls, I could throw downs some helpful hints that you've always wanted to tell each other...(but you were never up at the same time.)

For the early birds...

One of the biggest pet peeves of a night owl is the cheery early bird. Hide your enthusiasm until at least 9 am and you probably will be liked a little better.

EARLY BIRDS - Don't do your "I'm going to fake being quiet, while I make coffee, breakfast, slam the door fifteen times - while we appreciate your manners, were really just keeping our eyes shut while we think of how much you suck. Believe me, the night owls won't offer you the same luxury at 2 am.

Finally, early birds, stop asking when we plan to get down to the beach. We'll get there when we're good and ready.

Now for you night owls...

Eight beers and three shots ago jumping from the top balcony into the pool below wasn't the best idea, but now that you've got some confidence juice running through your veins, you're feeling invincible right? Wrong. The nearest hospital is 30 miles away and I'm sleeping.

Another word to the wise for you night owls...you're real hungry after all that drinkin' right? Best be cleaning up whatever mess you made of the kitchen at 3 am. Early birds don't stand for baloney - especially if they left the kitchen looking impeccable at 9:30 p.m.

Finally, night owls, while you might think that the early birds are noisy, you are waaaaaaaaaaaaay worse. "Was I really that loud?" yes. yes, you were.

Memories are made of this...

Only 10 weeks to go to vacation bliss. I thought I'd spend today's entry discussing my Top Ten OBX memories. As many of you know my memory never EVER fails me. If you remember it differently, you're most likely, probably, most definitely wrong - just ask my husband or my mom. I also thought maybe you old timers, you know the ones that actually camped out on the beaches back in the day might have something to add.

so, here it goes...

10. Finding a real sandollar in the surf - It was only the second time I had been to OBX - I was maybe eight or nine...I think we were still chillin' at the compound. Anyway, we went down to look at the ocean immediately upon arriving. I find this awesome sandollar and some other shells. I brought the sandollar back up to the house to start my collection. Later that week when we were getting ready to leave the sandollar was nowhere to be found. oooooh, mysterious.

9. Watching Pop scale the beach house 2004 - Oh, Pop you're the only 74 year-old man I know that would scale a beach house from the pool deck to the second story deck. It wasn't until all of your daughters' started screaming simultaneously that I began to worry, then I was like forget that, he's fine, he's Pop.

8. Eating stuffed shrimp for the first time. Hey - I was a fat kid, I was affected by yummy food. And this food was yummy enough that I still remember sitting in the Down Under Restaurant (which is now down under the water since several hurricanes have come through) eating my delicious stuffed shrimp.

7. Having Magan play bratty cousin - so I could pick up my 1997 summer romance. Nice work Magan - you should have been an actress!

6. Watching my uncles bring Mommom down to the beach Cleopatra style - on her beach chair, since she wasn't able to walk down herself. All she needed were some grapes and fans.

5. Taking Dexter to the beach for the first time and watching him run in the water. Hilarious.

4. Charades night with the 2008 OBX crew.

3. Bringing Chris to the OBX family vacation in 2004. First morning at 8am he cracked a Heineken - I knew he was a keeper.

2. Summer of 2004 - Tesha is looking for her Vaseline - She finds it and begins to apply to her sunburned face. Little did she know that Brad, Ian, and Tyler had been using it only moments before (and probably for most of the week) to soothe their chaffed nether regions. eeeeeeeewwwwwww.

1. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea - Only my father would create a charade idea about a movie no one has heard of, except him. Thinking he stumped the group, he was schooled by Mommom - she went all out falling on the floor. Obviously, in it to win it.

Of course there are many other great memories - watching Tesha, Gale, and Mom taking tequila shots is forever burned in my brain. Taking day trips to the Lost Colony of Roanoke or the Lighthouse, were fun too. Other memories may be a little too ground breaking to share with the group - Dairy Queen, S-Games, and watching Drew and Brandon sacrifice fish in a stockpot using firecrackers - see I told you, you don't want to know it all.

Looking forward to adding to the list in a few short months. Now if BP can get their act together maybe we'll actually be able to go in the water, and here's hoping most of the marine life hasn't sprouted a third eye.

Ooops, MY Bad, Lean Cusine - A Multi-Part Series

Cartman: Hey Clyde, do you like fishsticks?
Clyde: Yeah, I guess so.
Cartman: So you like fishsticks in your mouth?
Clyde: Sure.
Cartman: What are you? A gay fish!

Today I feasted on Lean Cusine Tortilla Fish. Some of you might be saying frozen fish, really? How good can it be? Well remember fish sticks? THose things were awesome. This is like eating a mexican fish stick, with cheesy rice. I was so excited to eat it, I forgot about my multi-part series until I was half way through my meal. I imagine with meals like this quitting crack would be easier than quitting Lean Cusine's.

Lean Cusine: A Multi-Part Series

File this under the "like I care" series of blog posts, but I felt I as though I have an important story to tell about one of my favorite lunch items: Lean Cusine's. Year's ago, I would feel sorry for the women in the lunchroom feasting on what seemed like a 1/4 portion of what you should really be eating. Then I fell for it. Food that I didn't have to prepare ahead of time, that tastes somewhat edible. Recently though, I sort of been thinking about how good can these processed frozen foods really be? SO, I've decided to wean myself away from my five-day a week habit. As I begin my quest, I thought it only appropriate to pay homage to these tasty frozen meals in what I like to call - Lean Cusine: The Final Days -A Multi-Part Series.

Today on the menu was Lemon Chicken. Lean Cusine recently changed the side for this delightful breast of chicken covered in a tangy lemon sauce from a thick brown rice to a paper thin cup of whole wheat orzo. They've also cut down on the awesome special sauce. OH THE HUMANITY. These changes have left me no choice but to cut the Lemon Chicken out of my rotation.

It's the Little Things

Although these vacation homes really seem to have it all, it's really important to remember a few things that will make vacation so much more enjoyable and easy.

First things first, for all of our gourmet cooks. The brochure that promises a "gourmet" kitchen is about as gourmet as hotdogs and french fries. Last year my attempt at creating a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner during vacation was almost thwarted because of the lack of cooking utensils and pans. The lesson? Pick up or bring from home those cooking items you just can't live without.

Another fact of life: iPods are one of the greatest inventions of our time. Bring your own so you're not stuck listening to what someone else thinks is "cutting-edge country" or "the most influential emo band of our time". If you need to ask about that last part you should definetely bring your own earphones too.

Finally, if we've learned nothing from our vacations, we should always remember that vaseline is important for sun-burned lips, wind-burned cheeks, or just about anywhere if you ask Aunt Tesha. However, communal vaseline is never a good idea: please, PleASe, PLEASE bring your own container...again, just ask Tesha, she learned the hard way.

OBX Dinner Plans Announcement

***UPDATE*** I've just been contacted by Tesha Casale. Tesha has tentatively volunteered Team Casale-Bathurst for a traditional Mexican Fiesta! We wait to hear what will become of team Suehs-Schneck.

By now I've talked to most of you about participating in the Beach Week Dinner plan. Basically, we each host an evening (in teams) for the entire crew at one of our houses. The Beach Week Dinner Plan makes it easier on everyone's wallet and sanity (have you ever tried to reserve a table for 30?).

I received an email from the Suehs family of West Virginia late last week...Team Suehs-Vassel-Suehs-Andrew (Andrew - not sure of his last name, but he's cool as shit.) Anyway, team SVSA will host Roma By The Sea at the Fire Island house on Sunday, July 25th. I'm thinking this is an Italian theme, and I can't wait to see what they come up with.

The Cousler-Diaczok-Cousler-Sigai, or TEAM CDCS, strategized last evening and have decided to host The Hamptons@Carolina. This P-Diddy style party requires everyone to wear white to our diggs on Fire Island on Wednesday, July 28th. Join us to sip cheap champagne and meal on our "deep south" menu including pulled BBQ, mac and cheese, and collard greens!

So, it looks as though we have two nights under our belt...Might I suggest the following team assignments for the Windsurfer's Dream house...

Monday, July 26 - Team Suehs-Schneck (to include - Pop, Donna, Gale, Wayne, Magan, Mike and Tyler.)

Thursday, July 29 - Team Casale-Bathurst (to include - Tesha, Sam, Ian, Brad, Sherrie, Tony, Rowan, and Trent.)

More in depth features to follow...until then...start planning your ultimate party.