Spring Break 2026

 I do realize I haven't posted very much about the trip we took to St George's Island and the places we visited on the way there.  It's so overwhelming when you don't write it down as it happens, and I was a little bit out of my comfort zone sometimes.  Once you stop travelling, it's hard to get back in the groove.

I don't have time to record it all, but I am looking at some pictures this morning of the Malaga Hotel in Mobile where we stayed for one night.  I could have stayed there much longer, even with the mini shower in my bathroom.  

I'm trying to reimburse Emily and Ryan for my expenses, and it's hard when they won't tell you what they are.  I did stay in my own room 3 nights, so I'm having to do a little research and find out how much I spent.  

I'll have to go back and find out where we stayed in New Orleans.  It had character for sure, but we were all exhausted and got in so late and left so early we didn't have much chance to enjoy it.

But I do remember this place.  The Malaga Hotel.  I sometimes didn't know exactly where we were, but I do know this was on Church Street near Government and close to downtown.  

The inviting room on the first floor, right corner was my room with a little balcony out the front French door.  I think it was called a Historic Suite and part of an original hotel (just overhearing some of the conversation about rooms as we were checking in).  It was perfect for me, and I enjoyed relaxing and being by myself for a little bit. The family stayed on the second floor. 

These are the pictures I took, but this website has a lot of pictures and reviews.

I wasn't the only one tired after a long day of car travel and car games with way too much luggage surrounding us.  We knew - and still carried too much!

 

I have to say the courtyard was my favorite spot.  I may already have these pictures posted, but we enjoyed the fountain and the flowers and just the quiet.  We saw very few people there even though they were pretty full.  

We were impressed by the beds.  Not your usual hotel beds but so very comfortable.  No complaints by me!

The little bathroom was fine, even if a little bit smaller than we're used to.  

We enjoyed exclaiming about the size of the shower - probably smaller than an airplane bathroom.  It takes a little planning, for sure.  Hot water though - which is something we did not have in the New Orleans hotel - not even a little bit in my room.  

I took my book along but read maybe two pages on the plane rides there and two more at each hotel.  Then it was lights out for me!

This looks like the former front entrance before all the additions. My room is there under the stairs.

The next morning, I found a cup of coffee and brought it to the courtyard.  Unfortunately, they only supply the bare necessities of a breakfast, and that's a carafe of already-made coffee.  I was late getting there, so I refused a fresh pot just for me.

 

I did read a few more pages of my book, but I was more interested in walking around looking at the flowers and smelling the fragrant plantings.  I didn't mind that it was a really warm day either!

I found this spooky-looking stairwell in my exploring.  I don't even want to know what's down there.

Emily and I found a few flats of plants over in a corner that we had to resist finding a hose and watering.  Overall, the garden was beautiful, but we worried about those neglected ones.

It was such a nice place, and I wish I thought I would get to go back one day.  I did leave my new phone charger plugged in, something I thought I had trained myself NOT to do.  

Thursday Mah Jongg

 I can't promise this week has been all I wanted, but it's almost over, and there have been good times.  

Yesterday the girls came over for just a small amount of time.  Graysen had a band concert that night and needed to get ready.  Elise and I wanted to go, but it didn't work out.  Emily sent me one video that's funny.  Gray made a face when I showed it to her and said, "We were SO bad!"  I thought they sounded like a beautiful orchestra myself, but I did enjoy the little funnies - the false start that everyone tries really hard to avoid.  It was cute, and they went right ahead and started over.  I'm still trying to find the composer for this short piece that I recognize from a hymn from childhood.  So pretty.  G is the 3rd from the right on the first row.  

I have little faith it will work.  I can play it fine on my phone and in my files, but getting it here is somehow beyond me.  Maybe there will be some Facebook pictures from the school soon.  

She said they were playing Hey, Jude, and when I found out I couldn't go and hear it in person, she promised to play it for me.  

Kate had been begging to play Mah Jongg Wednesday, and we had time for only some quick messy games.  She's getting really good at recognizing what is a good hand and what she doesn't want.  And lucky too. 

I knew getting out today would be good for me, and I had Thursday Mah Jongg to lure me out.  It was a really pretty day when I left with just a few gray clouds appearing as I drove to the Y.  For 2-1/2 hours, we were completely oblivious of the weather or anything else.  I love our group.  We are sticklers for the rules but still add some levity and fun along the way.  I won two games today, which is better than I have been doing.  On my last one, we got to test one of the rules.  We were down to the last maybe 10 tiles, and everyone was giving up hope and thinking we would have a wall game (no winner), but the very tile I needed was discarded, and I called for it.  But so did Sharon across the table. I think it would have given us both a MJ - the details get fuzzy - but I would have had the next turn, so I won by default.  Both of us had already won a game, so it was fine all around.  We are doing so well that even the losers are within one or two tiles every game.  

We've learned we can talk a little bit while we play and tease each other and still usually remember whose turn it was next.  Usually.  Sometimes we sit there with blank stares and have a long discussion of what the last play was.  

I'm so glad the Y gives us one of the nice rooms to play in and furnishes the sets.  On Tuesdays, we have a couple of tables, and I go if it looks like we'll not end up with an extra person or 2.  One group has been playing a lot longer than us, and we're a little intimidated by how fast they are.  We kind of like to sit and savor or frown at how the latest tile has affected our plans, but we got in four games in 2-1/2 hours today.  And learned there is an upscale-sounding store in Bellevue that we need to visit. 

When I got home, Elise said Graysen had come after school and had been doing homework, and Kate had just walked in from her school.  Lots of mac and cheese making and cold drinks, and I even put out a veggie plate with buttered sourdough bread for the girls.  I still seem to be the only one to like hummus.  

Kate made me get right back into MJ since the tiles were still out on the table.  We went through the whole process of building the wall and picking our tiles and then doing the Charleston.  She's getting the idea of the ritual of starting, which is fun for me.  Elise and Graysen steadfastly refuse to participate.  They could make our Charleston so much more exciting if they would.  I don't know what's wrong with them.  Kate did some more drawing and discarding and making a hand, but then she wanted to build walls, and we got pretty silly, making a fence from the Bams, cows from the Dots, and birds of course.  Even a horse and then a giraffe.  Who knew we could be so artistic. 

They headed home at 5:30.  It's always so sad to see them walking up the street and trying not to yell "BE CAREFUL"  They know I'm thinking it.  

Tomorrow is early release from school - Gray at 12:30 and Kate at 1:30.  I do hope they have some interesting plans for the afternoon.  They're usually tired after school and don't want to do much, but they need to get out and enjoy the warmer weather.

Noreen and I are scheduled to take a one-hour class on AI next week.  I do need to get a little understanding of how it works before I get in some sort of trouble with it.  I'm tired of new technology and wish I could just enjoy the things I know without new and potentially dangerous stuff coming at us constantly.  

The BLT I had for supper was exceptional tonight with my Crisp Apple Bloom, an energy drink that I'm obsessed with but have received no energy from yet.  It just tastes good.  Unfortunately, Gray feels the same way and is unhappy about limiting it because of the caffeine in it.  Kate is satisfied with the Capri Suns and has a few pouches every time she's here.  

I did have enough energy to wrestle my duvet into its cover after washing - all by myself - so I guess that's something.