trippin' part 1: Hello, Baltimore

"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile."

- Simon and Garfunkel

(Note: Be prepared to be overwhelmed with many posts because I have a lot coming.)

So. It was actually very difficult for me to get ready and leave on this trip with Zac. To say I was stressed is a huge understatement. But we arrived at last (after an interesting lifetime-first experience taking a taxi from the airport). And we greeted this lovely view from the 21st floor of the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore and I began to feel somewhat better. Water and trees are immediately soothing to me. Hallelujah.
On Monday, Zac didn't have meetings until the afternoon so we did a little exploring around the Inner Harbour area. And I embarrassed him by taking, and making him take, cheesy touristy photos of each other at every opportunity. I am not ashamed of this.

(that's me on the bench - gazing contentedly at the harbour inlet. ahhhhh, such sweet serenity)

And then that evening, we went paddleboating on the inlet. Yay! Such fun!

I think I smiled the entire time. And I could have just floated along and fallen asleep on our little boat and been completely happy. Have I mentioned I really like water?? yeah. I do.

And then, as dusk fell, little baby crabs started climbing out of the water and up the sides of the wooden piers. Awesome, I say. I think I squealed. :) And I had a poor unsuspecting mother call over her son who had reached down and grabbed a crab so I could take a picture of it. An awful, blurry picture. But picture-proof nonetheless. See? A real live crab! So, there it is.

It was such a strange experience being without my kids, by the way. I took all sorts of pictures of things I just wanted to show them. And I kept having to suppress an impulse to explain to other parents we passed that I had 4 kids of my own! It was weird.

Anyway. The next day was my big adventure day driving down to VA! stay tuned . . . :)