Part III

I'm usually a load to wake up in the morning, due mostly to the fact that I am a border-line insomniac. I usually fix my lunch, lay out my clothes, and take my shower the night before so I can sleep as long as possible before getting up and throwing myself together and scoot to work. It's a sickness, really. Well, for some reason I kept going to bed early and then waking up between 6 and 6:30. It's amazing how that happens, I was even able to eat breakfast at a leisurely pace. I might have to try and go to sleep early more often, if my body will accept a new schedule of sleep instead of sleep deprivation.

Monday morning we decided to visit the N. Carolina aquarium with Andrew and Amy, as the weather was supposed to be bad that day. Due to the fact that we have a Philly Zoo pass, we found that the aquarium would let us in for free. We tried to shmooze the ticket lady into letting Andrew and Amy in as well, but no dice. I guess it's not true what they say about people in the South being stupid. It's a nice aquarium, right on Manteo Island. It's smaller than I'm used to, but the girls had a blast.

They started out with some of the local wildlife in the swamps and marshes, then moved to local fish and other reptiles. They had an exhibit on hurricanes, specifically Hurricane Irene which tore up the Outer Banks back in 2003. It's always amazing how violent nature can be.


Allison and Ryleigh loved watching me touch the rays in the see and feel part of the trip. We couldn't get the girls to participate, except for when Ryleigh frustrated the mentally challenged guy who was in charge of the starfish part. Ryleigh kept splashing the water, and that guy kept telling her to stop, but Ryleigh wasn't listening.

We brought lunch for everyone, and so we ate on the way to the Outlet Mall that was near our house. There was a storm coming in, and the wind was kicking up. It was mostly looking at a few stores, and killing time before we went back to the house. Ben and Sarah had scheduled the photographer for Monday night's family portrait, but that was cancelled due to the store and wind. So, Monday night we spent playing the Palmer family favorite game "Loaded Questions". We've long since ditched the official instructions, and made up our own set. Officially, you have a board, playing pieces and there's a deck of cards. We've eliminated everything except the cards, and turned the game into a part Roast of the family, and part see who can be the funniest. Having the whole family there just made the game a ton of fun, except when people try to hard. Sometimes, only the truth is funny.

Love to all.