Dang you, "find friends"

Wally and I have been planning to go to San Diego for a medical conference for months. It was a pretty simple plan; we blocked off ten days in the office, booked the trip and let everyone know we would be "out of town" for a few days the first week of November. 

We were really looking forward to the break. It's been a hectic year and going away for a few days was the carrot on the end of the proverbial stick. We could manage hectic knowing that we had a little "holiday" to look forward to.

The day of our departure arrived and not any too soon. I was completely burned out and ready for a break. The plan was to stay a couple days in Vancouver, BC for the Canadian ADD meeting and then off to our sunny destination for a few more days.

Everything was working out ust fine. Grayson and Diana assured us they could hold down the fort for a few days and I packed bathing suits and shorts in addition to my boots, jacket and umbrella for the stop in Vancouver. (and it RAINED the whole time we were in Vancouver!)

Sunday afternoon arrived and we repacked and called a cab to drive us to YVR from our lovely seaside downtown Marriot hotel. Sun and fun were just a few hours and one plane ride away.

This is the first thing we saw when we got to YVR! It was a beautiful Hawaiian display in the flower shop and I swear they were pumping the aroma of the islands out of the speaker that was playing sweet Hawaian music. There was nothing else to do....

I was relaxing poolside Monday morning when I got a text message from my son, "How's California?...or should I say, how did your phone get to the HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE?"

"Oh no!" I thought. "I am so busted by the stupid find friends app." But this is what I texted back..."Oh no, my phone's been stolen!"

It was only a matter of time before the entire family of "friends" had discovered my location. Throughout the day I would get incredulous little messages...

"HAWAII???" (from Katie)

"You should turn off your phone if you want to sneak away..." (from Sara)

"I can't believe you went to Hawaii and didn't tell / take me!" (from Diana)

and from my son-in-law, Dylan "You guys went to Hawaii? AWESOME!"

And AWESOME it is. 

the view from my balcony...

"See you next week, Friends!"