Sunday, July 18, 2010

Sunday Salon: Week two of Indiana fun



It was another week filled with activity for us in Indiana. First, may I say that I really did not wish to bring Florida's horrific heat and humidity with me, but it appears I did. I have this great app on my iPhone called Weatherbug, where I can get temps, forecasts, radar map, etc. of anywhere in the country. I have been obsessively flipping back and forth between Indiana and Florida, and nine times out of ten, it is hotter and more humid in my current location. This is just WRONG!


So we were off and running in this heat. We took the kids to see Despicable Me, which was a good indoor activity. Totally a cute movie. We picked about 15 pounds of blueberries at a blueberry farm (we probably would have picked more had I not started to whine about melting into a puddle). Then we took off to the south end of the state to visit Holiday World for a few days. I really need to do a separate post on this place. It is a combination amusement park and water park, located in a itty bitty town called Santa Claus - the entire place is decorated for Christmas year-round. We rode roller coasters, water rides, and enjoyed the park's unique feature of free drinks (lemonade, sodas, tea, water), free parking and free sunscreen (Disney needs to take notes). I do believe Wednesday was the hottest day of the year (97 degrees) and probably the busiest day of the year at the park, but suffice it to say that we slept well that night.







































On our way back home Thursday, we took a detour so my parents and kids could see the gorgeous West Baden Springs Resort in French Lick, which my husband and I visited last fall. I want to go back! I also desperately want to read the book "So Cold the River" by Michael Koryta, which takes place at the resort.

On Friday, I reunited with my friends from high school (the ones I cruised with last fall). We stayed in a hotel in Lafayette and had intended to participate in a festival called "Dancing in the Streets", but God gave us a torrential tornado-looking storm. So we stayed in our room and made our own festival. Little bonus? The hotel is right next to a Borders. I had to make "So Cold the River" my own.

So what about the reading? Unfortunately, the audios have been neglected. In the four hour drive down to Holiday World and the four hour drive back, the kids chose to watch movies, so no Lord of the Rings. I wasn't walking my country roads, so no listening to the battle of the virals. But I did finish "The Nobodies Album", which really touched me. Wow, how to review that one? I'll have to wait for an inspired moment. Then I started "One Day" by Dave Nicholls, which is all over the place these days. Call it a British version of When Harry Met Sally (one of my favorite movies), but it is totally enchanting, clever and so much fun. I'm about 25% of the way through, and if the book continues on this same path, it could possibly be a favorite of 2010.

So are you tired listening to me yet? I am. Prepare yourself for more action and adventure next week...now I think I need to go take a nap.







25 comments:

Julie P. said...

Sounds like so much fun. How cool is it that you were able to see the resort in SO COLD THE RIVER?

Melissa said...

I can do heat, but don't like the humidity. I bet the blueberries were awesome though!

Jenny said...

I'm supposed to be getting One Day in the mail and this just reminded me I haven't yet... hmmm! I'll have to look out for it. I really liked The Nobodies Album... looking forward to your review! And the one for So Cold the River... I don't know much about that one but have heard lots of good things about it.

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

Free drinks? What in the world did the lines for the bathroom look like?

I want to read So Cold The River. It must have been fun to see the resort.

JoAnn said...

You guys can fit more into a vacation than anyone I know!

Molly said...

So YOU are the one I can blame for all this horrible heat in the Midwest :) We had the same terrible storm on Friday night here - it was rather frightening for a few minutes there.

Ok --- I have decided that I absolutely have to plan a trip to Indiana - just visit the town of Santa Claus. Christmas year-round is my kind to place.

Tired of listening to you?! Never! I vicariously enjoy all of your adventures.

Marianne said...

Sounds like you are all having a great time. Think cool thoughts!

bermudaonion said...

I want to go to French Lick so bad. You will love So Cold the River!

You seem to pack in so much fun wherever you are!

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Oh, what a fabulous trip! The photos are wonderful, and I can almost taste the blueberries.

Here's my salon:

http://laurel-rainsnowsaccidentallife.blogspot.com/2010/07/sunday-salon-july-18.html

Trisha said...

Wait you aren't enjoying the 95 degrees but feels like 115 with extreme humidity? :) It's pretty crazy here in the summer, and lately we've been getting some serious heat. And I loved Despicable Me! I thought it was such a fun movie.

Alyce said...

I think I would go insane if I had to live in a town named Santa Claus with Christmas decor all year round. Fun to visit of course, but not for every day. :)

Sound like your vacation was a lot of fun!

Jenners said...

Too bad Holiday World didn't have winter like weather too!! That is pretty cool about free drinks and sunscreen. I wish more parks would consider that instead of just gouging you.

And I think you'll end up loving "One Day." I thought it was such a good read.

Carrie K. said...

I just got The Nobodies Album in the mail this week - need. more. time!

Literary Feline said...

Such fun--even with the heat! You lead such an exciting life, Sandy. :-)

The temperatures where I live made a sudden upward spike. They seem to be climbing down a little now, but not by much.

I'm looking forward to your thoughts on Nobodies Album. I really wanted to like that one more than I did. It just didn't work for me as much as I would have liked. At least I did get something out of it and it wasn't a total waste of my time.

I hope you have a great week!

ds said...

At this rate, you are going to need a vacation from your vacation. But I loved the blueberries ("Kerplink, kerplank, kerplunk"--remember Blueberries for Sal?) and the fun of hooking up with old friends. Only you would then have a party in the Borders next door ;)
Hope the weather breaks soon--it is hot as blazes here, too (should I blame your app for that?)

Susan said...

Gawd, the heat has just been oppressive up here! I can't imagine picking teeny-tiny blueberries in it. I'm just thankful I don't live in Oklahoma which has been in the 100's. Try to keep cool!

Serena said...

looks like you are having a great time! It is 90s+ here in DC...its crazy...can we get a break please!

Iliana said...

After all of those adventures you definitely deserved a nap! :)

How is the book going so far? I know I've read one Koryta book but it's been a while. Hope you are enjoying it!

Zibilee said...

That amusement park sounds like a blast, and the blueberry picking sounds awesome to me as well. It sounds like you are having an amazing time out there! I hope you continue to have fun and bring back some great pictures!!

Alice said...

I'll never be tired of you, Sandy! Fun pics! I'm very jealous of my bro and sister's iPhones. I need to get one but not until my current phone "dies"...

Beth F said...

Despite the lack of audios, you are having a great time. And I agree with Julie, how cool that you got to see the resort.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Welcome to my state! I'm an Indy girl and I can confirm, the humidity here is frequently worse than Florida. It's like a wet blanket. The rest of the trip sounds good though.

caite said...

too funny about the hotel being next to a Borders. what luck! ;-)

Darlene said...

How awesome! It sounds like your trip is going so well despite the heat. Hey it's always a good thing to be next to a book store. lol.

I would love to visit a town called Santa Claus. That would be so up my alley!

Kathleen said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip for you and your children. I'd love to do the blueberry picking but would hate that heat and humidity. I'm such a California weather wimp!