Vacation... what's that ?

[CrAnIuM]

So .. I've never had a 'vacation'.

Yeah, I've taken time off but usually that was always taken up by home maintenance, taking classes etc ..etc..

And yes, I've been to every continent except Antarctica ( not from lack of trying just did not get approval). And I've been to 39 of the US states.

But these trips were are in line with my military life and while I did do a fair amount of sight seeing I do not qualify them as vacations.


So, the poontang and I are planning a vaca ... We are going to spend a few weeks in Scotland. Neither one of us have been there.

Plan is simply a word to most of you but to me it is a task not to be trifled with. And as such we are TWO years out from this trip.


Money is being set aside ( LOTS of it ) languages will be learned .. and so on.



Any of you guys ever take vacations .. the kind that you plan and look forward to like a fat kid looks forward to his next piece of cake ?

Have a special place you would want to go if money were no object, or of little importance ?



http://www.scotland.org/

[jeepneasy]

I just scheduled a week off to do absolutely nothing ... just ride the motorcycle and rest. But the day before my vacation starts I come down with an ass kicking bout of the flu

[SleepieAce]

Out of pure curiosity, what languages are you learning to go to Scotland? I had a couple flight students who were Scottish, and the language is pretty much the same...you just have to get used to the accent.

I haven't been to all the continents...only three...but I've been to all the states except Alaska. I've been to lots of foreign countries. Planning trips is something that happens to other people. I generally say something like "Why don't we go to Rome next month?" and figure it'll be fine. My wife would get along with you, though. She likes to plan everything.

[CrAnIuM]

Out of pure curiosity, what languages are you learning to go to Scotland? I had a couple flight students who were Scottish, and the language is pretty much the same...you just have to get used to the accent.

I haven't been to all the continents...only three...but I've been to all the states except Alaska. I've been to lots of foreign countries. Planning trips is something that happens to other people. I generally say something like "Why don't we go to Rome next month?" and figure it'll be fine. My wife would get along with you, though. She likes to plan everything.

I want to pick up a few hundred phrases in Gaelic.

I'm aware that it's not spoken by more than a fraction of the country but in all my travels I've realized that its better to get out in the "old parts" of the place and stay away from the tourist traps.

Its more of a novelty for me and not a specific need to converse.

[SleepieAce]

I want to pick up a few hundred phrases in Gaelic.

I'm aware that it's not spoken by more than a fraction of the country but in all my travels I've realized that its better to get out in the "old parts" of the place and stay away from the tourist traps.

Its more of a novelty for me and not a specific need to converse.

Understood. And you'll see a lot more interesting things outside of tourist traps. Conveniently enough, you also tend to avoid most of the pickpockets and such.

[Gravy]

Plenty of vacations! Europe, Fiji, New Zealand, USA, Singapore, etc.

I'll be going to Las Vegas in July 2010!

[Scabman]

Whenever I go on vacation I just buy a travel book about the place and read it on the plane.

Althought, on shorter trips I won't bother with that. On this years office Christmas party we will go to Barcelona, and I have no fucking idea of what to check out, other than Sagrada Familia.


Never been to Scotland myself, but I hear nice things about the place.

[Kill_em_All]

I rarely leave the U.S. when I vaca. I've been to 43 of the 50 states. I think the United States has so much to offer in the area of scenery that it almost doesn't make sense to leave. That, and the fact that I'm a closed-minded cocksucker whose only concern with for other cultures is how to pacify and ultimately enslave them as whores for our oil industry.

I've been to all of the US Virgin Islands except Water Island, and the Grand Cayman in the Atlantic. Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Tampico, and Cancun in Mexico. I've been to Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Chang in Thailand. All over Portugal from Lisbon.

Are we talking about war zones too, here, Prick? Because I've never actually considered humping through the shambles of Sarajevo with a bad case of swamp nuts and a worse case of athlete's foot a "vacation".

[CrAnIuM]

I rarely leave the U.S. when I vaca. I've been to 43 of the 50 states. I think the United States has so much to offer in the area of scenery that it almost doesn't make sense to leave. That, and the fact that I'm a closed-minded cocksucker whose only concern with for other cultures is how to pacify and ultimately enslave them as whores for our oil industry.

I've been to all of the US Virgin Islands except Water Island, and the Grand Cayman in the Atlantic. Cabo San Lucas, Cozumel, Tampico, and Cancun in Mexico. I've been to Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Chang in Thailand. All over Portugal from Lisbon.

Are we talking about war zones too, here, Prick? Because I've never actually considered humping through the shambles of Sarajevo with a bad case of swamp nuts and a worse case of athlete's foot a "vacation".


Yeah I counted all my contingency and combat zones as a " been to" Hell, what better way is it to see some of those shit holes than with a heavy weapons platoon as your 'tour guide'....



But Scotland its gonna be .. and as a non combatant.

We're gonna rent a villa most likely, but the poontang is trying to secure us a wing in some castle ( I forget the name of the place ).

[Kill_em_All]

Yeah I counted all my contingency and combat zones as a " been to" Hell, what better way is it to see some of those shit holes than with a heavy weapons platoon as your 'tour guide'....


Just out of curiosity (and if need be, feel free to fork this) are you still eligible to re-enlist? I only ask because I've been contemplating it.

Have you seen the fucking toys they have now???

Shit, I could join a maintenance division, come in already outranking 90 percent of the unit, and get to drive fucking MRAPs, RG-33's and JLTVs, play with M60's, Saw's . It'd be like fucking camp. Only a camp where you get to blow shit up.

[CrAnIuM]

Just out of curiosity (and if need be, feel free to fork this) are you still eligible to re-enlist? I only ask because I've been contemplating it.

Have you seen the fucking toys they have now???

Shit, I could join a maintenance division, come in already outranking 90 percent of the unit, and get to drive fucking MRAPs, RG-33's and JLTVs, play with M60's, Saw's . It'd be like fucking camp. Only a camp where you get to blow shit up.

I am unable to Reenter Active Service, and Going reserve or NG is also out.

Law prohibits it .. but in the case of National Crisis I 'could' be recalled.

As for toys ... I local gun shop had an Armalite salesman on hand a few days ago .. he brought a literal semi-truck load of all sorts of sexy CQB weapons and semi-auto yumminess. He even had a DOZEN AR-50A1 on hand ... But I was unwilling to pop down the $4000 he wanted for one.

[Kill_em_All]

I am unable to Reenter Active Service, and Going reserve or NG is also out.

Law prohibits it .. but in the case of National Crisis I 'could' be recalled.

As for toys ... I local gun shop had an Armalite salesman on hand a few days ago .. he brought a literal semi-truck load of all sorts of sexy CQB weapons and semi-auto yumminess. He even had a DOZEN AR-50A1 on hand ... But I was unwilling to pop down the $4000 he wanted for one.

I figured Reserve was about the only option, as it's mine as well. About the only thing holding me back from re-enlisting is the idea of going to a desert climate (which if I WERE a reservist, you can bank on being deployed). I could give a fuck less about the IED's, suicide bombers and ice triggered mortar fire. It's the fucking heat that would drive me to potentially lethal behavior.

At 22, maybe. At 32, blow me. It's 58 degrees here right now and my A/C is still on.

[Josie]

I could give a fuck less about the IED's, suicide bombers and ice triggered mortar fire. It's the fucking heat that would drive me to potentially lethal behavior.

.

Pff. At 21, the heat is the biggest thing that comes to mind when I talk to friends over in Afghanistan or Iraq. It's like "how can you even THINK??"

My female friend in the army works in a communications tent though. And the pooters can't get hot. So it's got A/C.

Hell, my little mini bootcamp at lackland (and whatever army base is there too) found me passing out from the heat. And that's just tejas.
____________________

Vacations.....

Never been on one.

Once, when I was preggers with numero uno, my in-laws drove out to some cabin on some river for a weekend. It was hell. One of those bitches and I STILL don't get along from that lil adventure.

[D-Day]

I figured Reserve was about the only option, as it's mine as well. About the only thing holding me back from re-enlisting is the idea of going to a desert climate (which if I WERE a reservist, you can bank on being deployed). I could give a fuck less about the IED's, suicide bombers and ice triggered mortar fire. It's the fucking heat that would drive me to potentially lethal behavior.

At 22, maybe. At 32, blow me. It's 58 degrees here right now and my A/C is still on.
I did 16 years in Army (64B), & it was the P.T. that kept me from retiring, my fucking knees just couldn't take the running any longer.

[Absinthe]

Being on vacation doesn't necessarily mean you have to travel. I had vacation days where I just stayed at home and relaxed.

But, as you (my man) know... I have a three week vacation coming up soon. 5 weeks from now to be exact. I will spend a few days in the North Carolina mountains (Blue Ridge Parkway etc). Maybe I should try to learn a few phrases of the local language???

[CrAnIuM]

Being on vacation doesn't necessarily mean you have to travel. I had vacation days where I just stayed at home and relaxed.

But, as you (my man) know... I have a three week vacation coming up soon. 5 weeks from now to be exact. I will spend a few days in the North Carolina mountains (Blue Ridge Parkway etc). Maybe I should try to learn a few phrases of the local language???

Git own up awtah here = Get out of here.

whatchew looken et? = What are you looking at.


The list is exhaustive.

[Absinthe]

That's a great start. I will start practicing soon...

[Guess Who]

I haven't been on an actual vacation in like five or six years. Now not saying that i don't want to go anywhere. I just don't have the money to travel. If i could visit anywhere i would visit england, germany, italy, and isareal.

[Mamba]

Vacation! It's been years since I went on one. I used to go to France a lot.
However, I haven't had one for quite a fair bit.......... and it's not like living in Spain is a vacation anymore after nearly 9 years...!

I am currently on vacation - at home.

I went to the beach today, and sprinted along the shore - and pulled my thigh muscle.

Yay me.

[Negativecool]

I haven't been on a real "get away vaca" since I was a freshman in high school.

I've seen the ocean, but I've never seen an clear blue ocean, the kind you see on post cards. That's were my first vacation in nearly 14 years will take me.

After I'm done (either by graduation or failure) with school, the poon and I have been planning on taking a full month off, just the two of us. This is because literally the day after we got married she started on her PhD. and I started working towards grad school. We've sorta lost each other along the way. I need a month to see blue oceans and get reacquainted with the poon's poon.

[SlimSkeeter]

Vacation! It's been years since I went on one. I used to go to France a lot.
However, I haven't had one for quite a fair bit.......... and it's not like living in Spain is a vacation anymore after nearly 9 years...!

I am currently on vacation - at home.

I went to the beach today, and sprinted along the shore - and pulled my thigh muscle.

Yay me.

Post pics or it never happened.

[Kill_em_All]

I've seen the ocean, but I've never seen an clear blue ocean, the kind you see on post cards.

There's nothing like it. The water in St. Croix is so clear, you'd swear it's not even there. My first wife and I rented a house boat with a partial glass floor for two weeks and just bounced around between the Virgin Islands for our honeymoon. It was the first time I had ever seen crystal clear ocean water like that before and I swear it'll stick with me forever.

The only other time I've seen water that clear was on Ko Phi Phi Leh Island in Thailand, which was actually a bit cooler than the Virgins. Ko Phi Leh was the main filming location for the movie The Beach. In fact, I would venture to say that it's probably the most beautiful place I've ever been, or a close second to the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

[Jenn]

The last real vacation I took was when my son and I spent 5 weeks in NC(3 days), GA (2 days) ,and Florida a few years back. We went on small little vacations to Florida after that, but that's really it. The husband and I are planning to go to Ireland within the next five years.

[InterStella]

We're gonna rent a villa most likely, but the poontang is trying to secure us a wing in some castle ( I forget the name of the place ).

Erm.... a villa? In Scotterland? You're a funny guy! You'll have a bed and breakfast with square sausage or nothing to eat! Ha.

But... the shortbread is great.


Anyway......


Holidays are fun. I'm going on my third for this year next Thursday!

*look out Mamba... Stella is coming to Malaga!*

Up to now, I've stuck to the warmer parts of Europe because it's cheaper and the flight lengths are very acceptable. But the Euro/Pound ratio is bobbins (and seems to get worse every time I change currency) so we are seriously considering doing "the Florida ting" next year.

I'm already dreading the flight.


When I say my third holiday, none have been mega-expensive trips of a lifetime.... just really good family times. Ten days in Fuerteventura (Canary Islands), one week in Cornwall in a caravan (blah), and the forthcoming 5 days in Malaga.

Breaking the time up. Yeah.

[KommieKat]

so we are seriously considering doing "the Florida ting" next year.



You can bear your tits in Florida. It's the only state in the U.S. that will tolerate it. I use the word tolerate, because if it weren't for the tourism the Europeans bring to Florida, it would be like any other state with coast line, dry and boring like Queen Victoria's flesh clappers.

[SlimSkeeter]

You can bear your tits in Florida. It's the only state in the U.S. that will tolerate it. I use the word tolerate, because if it weren't for the tourism the Europeans bring to Florida, it would be like any other state with coast line, dry and boring like Queen Victoria's flesh clappers.

Mardi Gras...

[GuitarCrazyo]

In a lot of businesses, and especially in upper-middle-level positions, youre often pressured not to take your vacation time. Especially in situations in which youre doing a critical job that cant be done by anyone else, skipping vacations comes more from necessity than choice.

[NiBBler]

In a lot of businesses, and especially in upper-middle-level positions, youre often pressured not to take your vacation time. Especially in situations in which youre doing a critical job that cant be done by anyone else, skipping vacations comes more from necessity than choice.
That is true. It actually becomes a bragging point.

**(towards the end of the year)

Oh so and so only has 10 vacation days left, but I have 21. I just cannot take any time off, I am too important!