Chubby Girls Just Want to Have Fun...

I thought about titling this "My Summer Vacation" 
but I have it on good authority that said title has been used already.

This is me whale watching.  
We actually did see whales, two or three, they were waaaaaaaay
waaaaay
waaaaay out in the distance.


Ever seen a car being towed?
 Me, too.
But on our whale watching cruise we got to see a submarine being towed.
So much cooler.

I never got to nap on my vacation
The sea lions, every single one we saw, consider napping both job and past-time.

Just like on the Titanic movie!
 The dolphins felt bad that the whales wouldn't give us a close up.
So they did.
I'm in love.

I write romance because I have a hero
Don (codename Da Husband) says we'll go whale watching in Alaska some day.
He makes me smile.

We call this scene: before seasickness hit
 Don's best friend didn't get to see the whales or the dolphins.  
This shot was taken during the first five minutes at sea.
The next three hours and fifty-five minutes, we didn't see him.

It was a cold and windy
 But we didn't care.
Mike (codename Da Son) wants to get closer

This was Da Husband's way of getting closer. 

My favorite thing to do: Read
When I'm not straining to see whales, squinting to make out what my son is pointing to, or squeezing a chubby body into a wet suit (NEVER AGAIN!), I write.
This month I have out a reprint from Barbour.

My favorite thing to do: Write
In December, I have a Harlequin Love Inspired…

In January, I have a Harlequin Heartwarming.  I'm still waiting for the cover.  
It will be gorgeous. They all are.  



And today, I sent my son off to the first day of fifth grade.
FIFTH GRADE!
<sniff>


So, a few questions…
   How close to a whale have you been?
   Is a wet suit attire you feel comfortable in?
   What spectacular thing happened in your life today?  In other words, can you top sending a beautiful boy off to fifth grade?

Comments

  1. Sorry you didn't see any whales up close and personal, Pam, but at least the dolphins and sea lions provided some entertainment.
    Sometimes I feel I need to wear a wet suit at my office...it's always freezing.
    I love the cover on your Christmas Love Inspired book! Wishing your son a terrific first day of the 5th grade!

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    1. Jill, that was the only reason for the wet suit, so we'd be warm in the water. Don says if we'd been in Hawaii, we'd not have needed one. Unfortunately, we don't live near Hawaii and we do live near San Diego.
      I love the cover too.
      Fifth grade, sniff, he's growing up.

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  2. Nice pictures. I don't remember any close-up whale sightings, and I don't think a wet suit is for me. Since my day just started I don't have anything spectacular to report yet but I hope your son has a great day in 5th grade today. Before I read your post I was looking at an online cruise brochure and wondering if it's time to go on another one. We haven't been since 2006. I eagerly anticipate your new Heartwarming cover. ( :

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    1. Laurie,
      Were did you go in 2006? We're thinking about doing an Alaskan cruise someday.
      Go ahead and report something spectacular later on today. Think of it as something to look forward to.

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    2. In 2006 we went on Princess cruise lines to the Caribbean. It was the ship experience that I enjoyed most. It was a very favorable crowd, and there was tea with sweets and savories every day in the early afternoon. Very classy. I'm not a huge fan of some of the Caribbean islands, but nevertheless I enjoyed the trip.
      Still waiting for something spectacular to happen today. ( :

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  3. Pam, I think you are the bravest woman ever to even THINK about putting on a wet suit. You're in my hall of fame. I can't believe it's time for the kids to go back, yet it is. And Fifth Grade--just the mention of it brought back all kinds of memories of my son going off to fifth grade. We had just moved to a new neighborhood....again...bless his heart and new school. I was more terrified than he was. I wish him good luck. I LOVED your photos. I never did the whale watching thing but my husband went to Hawaii and did the learning school thing there for a month. My granddaughter wants to swim with whales and be a marine biologist. She's super into them. AND I just read a novel...not yet published about whales. Is this a sign? Maybe I should go on that boat with you.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. LOL, I had to delete the comment I originally wrote because my cat stepped on my keyboard and the comments was like a yard of white space.
      Here it is again --

      Here's my description of ME putting on a wet suit - putting a watermelon in a glove. Hehehehe. Then, I walked like the little brother from the Christmas story only I was hot instead of cold.

      When your son was in fifth grade did you have to buy ALL the school supplies?

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  4. I've never seen a whale but get very excited about porpoises (or dolphins--I can't tell the difference) at Pensacola. The only wetsuit I'm comfortable in is the birthday one when I get out of the shower.

    It's my grandkids who are growing up too fast for me now, and of all the deicious things in life, they are the best there is.

    Love the pictures, and I always love your posts!

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  5. Thanks Liz :)
    Grandkids… sounds like fun!

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  6. Your pictures are wonderful! How amazing to see the dolphins and sea lions so close. As for whales- I've never seen them in person either, although I watch every documentary on them that I can. Sending your child to school is an amazing experience. So much pride (and a little fear). My daughter, Danielle, returns for her sophomore year in college and she's been stressed out about locking herself into a major- those huge life decisions! Yikes.

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    1. College Yikes. I dream of college for Mike, the little rascal. So far, he wants to be either a policeman or a lego builder. Me, I'll take the lego builder.

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  7. Pam, when I lived in Seattle we went out several times in the Sound and saw Orcas that were migrating from Alaska to warmer water. It was so cool. But I also love the dolphins. My girls did the adopt an Orca thing where they got whale pins and other cool stuff, and we sent in contributions for 4 or 5 years. I can't remember as it's been a while. But your trip looks so fantastic. And it's hard to believe Mike is off to 5th grade already. But he's looking like his daddy. Love your December cover. It will be a bright spot on the book shelf in gloomy winter days.

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    1. I've never been to Seattle, but it's a place I want to visit. Mike has looked like his daddy since birth. So unfair.

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  8. Never saw a real live whale. I sympathize with the friend who got seasick. I can’t go into the open sea in a small boat without losing my insides. Loved the dolphins that followed our large boat when I was in Hawaii. Will never get into a wet suit and my beautiful granddaughter is starting fifth grade today. Glad you had a fun trip on your vacation.

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  9. Marion, that's right, we've got kid/grandkid the same age. It was an awesome vacation. I'm going back next year.

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  11. Trying to type on my phone while sitting by my sister's hospital bed. As I was saying, your son has to get an education even if it breaks his mom's heart to see him growing up so fast. It looks like you had a fabulous trip even if you didn't get up close and personal with the whales.

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  12. Patricia, how I know. And, we supplement his education whenever we can. Aw, anywhere is a vacation when you're with the ones you love.

    I heard your sister is doing better :) Give us an update.

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  13. Pam - congratulations on your handsome boy starting fifth grade, for having survived a family vacation and looking as though you had so much fun, for that cutie of a husband, and for the reprint and the new books coming out. Kudos, Woman! A wet suit is not for me, nor is the open ocean. We do have sea lions all over the river in Astoria, and Cannon Beach, down the coast a little, is often a place to watch migrating whales, but never when we're there. I think they tell each other, " Ron and Muriel are watching; let's hide!" Today is our 47th wedding anniversary and we're both still here, so the day was glorious the moment I opened my eyes. Wishing a great day to everyone!

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    1. 47 years!!!!
      We just celebrated 13 last month. I can't remember living with my DH. I'm coming to Oregon to visit you someday, just wait. I'll make Roz come with me.

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    2. Oh, happy anniversary to you and Ron, Muriel!

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    3. I'd love it if you came to visit. Meanwhile - I know I say this every year - but I'm going to try to figure out a way to make San Diego.

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    4. Happy, happy 47th anniversary Muriel Jensen. I'm coming up on 21 years next month. ( :

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  14. Pam, fun pics! Looks like you have had a wonderful summer. I've been whale watching for both gray whales and sperm whales--amazing experiences. And I will confess to liking a wet suit (but the short kind) as it allows me to stay in the water and snorkel for sooo much longer. But they aren't fun to put on. Congratulations on your new and (re-released) releases! It sure seems a little early to be sending your little one back to school..... Wishing him a wonderful year!

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  15. Howdy Carol, I sure missed seeing you at Nationals. Yes, but I'm a watermelon and you're just a banana hehehehehe

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  16. Pam, your vacation looks fantastic. I've seen orcas, belugas, and a gray whale on different outings in Alaska (I live in Anchorage). The orcas were best, because they were a family, and a baby anything is adorable. Thank goodness for Dramamine, because otherwise I get seasick at the first wave.

    I've never worn a wetsuit; pantyhose are enough of a challenge. And nothing I'll do today will beat sending a child to school. Although getting a visit from my 25-year-old in a couple of days will come close. Thanks for the great photos.

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    1. ha, ha! Love the pantyhose remark. I think you can stop wearing them. All the women around here - working women in offices - go bare-legged. Of course, this isn't the big city.

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    2. Beth, you got to see a baby… so cool.

      Sigh, pantyhose… much better than support hose.

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  17. I got to go whale watching in Hawaii when I was thirteen and LOVED it. I even got to meet a photographer, and he invited my family back to his studio where he gifted me with one of his whale photos. I still have it hanging up by my desk. :) And the title of this post is perfect, Pam! lol! Love it!

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  18. Cerella, you need to share the photo :)

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  19. Your posts always make me smile!! My husband had a deep sea fishing trip go very wrong about 20 years ago (involving a broken boat, large storm, and a Mexican coast guard helicopter that flew over and radioed back to shore with the message "Better start finding their next of kin. These guys are goners.") so needless to say none of our family vacations happen anywhere near the ocean. So sadly, the only aquatic wildlife I've seen are at SeaWorld. Besides, I can't even swing without getting motion sick...imagine me on a boat...yuck! Your husband's poor friend.
    A wetsuit???? yeah. not in a million years.
    Spectacular thing that happened to me today...I got to school and was hugged by 17 kindergarteners telling me how much they missed me this weekend. :) (I'm still fainting over the fact that I only have 17 this year compared to the 25 I've had the last 3 years).

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  20. I think we need to hear more about your husband's deep sea fishing trip.

    LeAnne, don't get me started. Studies show that the ratio of 15 students per teacher creates the best learning atmosphere. So, what do we do in Arizona. Let's double that number and watch our classrooms flounder. I'm so jealous you have 15 students. My son is probably one of 28. I'll know more when he gets home.

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  21. Great photos! Last year I tackled my water fear and went snorkeling for the first time. Loved it and can't wait to go again. Didn't see any whales--saw turtles and fish tho! That said, um, no wetsuit. As my friend Judy would say, that's visual pollution. And I don't think I can top sending the fifth grader off. that's pretty special . Thanks for sharing!

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  22. Well, the fifth grader is home. Trama of the day… he wound up in music instead of PE.
    LOL, and Anna, we agree about wetsuits.

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    1. That is tragic. At least it would have been for my son (who's looking for work as a PE teacher now).

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    2. I might have to make a phone call. Apparently last year, the final week of fourth grade, the students got to choose their electives. I'm sure my son saw the words MUSIC and thought it was a typo for video games. heheheheh

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  23. I love the pictures, Pamela. Thank you for sharing them. Best wishes to your son in fifth grade!

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    1. The moments we gather today are priceless. I wish I had such pictures of my parents when they were younger.

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  24. Loved your photos. The closest I've gotten to a whale or dolphin is at Sea World. My daughter wiggles into a wet suit about once a week to go diving near West Palm Beach...and I really feel for your husband's friend. I'm going on a cruise in November and I already have my patches. Will probably pick up some Dramamine.
    Oh, and your cover is gorgeous! Congrats on 3 books coming out!

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  25. Patricia, Thanks! Your daughter is my new hero.
    One's a reprint :) I like those.

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  26. Hi Pamela,
    Great post! I can not top sending a beautiful boy off to his first day or fifth grade or have I seen a whale (save for an elementary school trip that I don't even remember and Sea World which doesn't really count, bad bad Sea World) but once I did "sea" a HUGE, GIGNORMOUS sea turtle waving to me, I'm so certain that he was waving just to me of course, at the beach. But I would love to "sea" dolphins and of course, whales in their natural environment. Nothing beats that. You books look beautiful and I'll look forward to reading them. :-)

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