(no subject)

[prog]

Taking two weeks of vacation, starting next week. "Where are you going?" I don't know if I'm going anywhere in particular; I'm just taking a break from ICCB, after finally launching the biological assay data app (and getting some positive feedback, including from people who were giving us a hard time earlier), and then learning that I have something like six weeks of PTO to eat up. Maybe it's a mini-sabbatical, then. At any rate, I've got to take it now, even if I don't particularly feel like "getting away", or else I'll get wrapped up in the next giant project and forget all about time off for another year, if I know me at all.

But... I may go to Portland, actually. In the ten years I lived in Maine, I never really spent any time south of Augusta, and certainly never properly explored Portland, which I've heard many good things about, even from my Boston friends. So: let's be a tourist there for a day or three, hey? Perhaps day trip around to Portsmouth and Bangor; how I love these New England cities, which I see so little of these days. Why would I want to go far away?

And when's the last time I've ever been into Vermont? Hmmmm? I don't think I've ever been to Burlington, certainly never in my adult life. Phooey, maybe I should spend a week just exploring northern New England.

I may also take M's advice and pick up a New England tour book; she and the BF have been nosing around historical sites and the like right here around Boston, the ones less obvious than the USS Constitution or the Freedom Trail. The things are all over the place, apparently.

Comments

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

I lived near Portland for a month last summer, and I also highly recommend it. Take a ferry out to one of the islands, definitely. It's like the Cape, only easier to get there and way cheaper.

[prog.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks.

My parents have also been giving me advice on places to visit (and avoid, since they're my parents... no mom, I won't hang around the docks after dark (seriously, actual mom advice)). I wasn't aware until I mentioned this plan to them that they lived there too, for the first year or two after their marriage! That was interesting to learn. Of course, this means that all their knowledge of Portland is 50 years out of date, but this fact in itself might lead to some interesting adventures.

Hmm... need to pick up a GPS.

Lucky.

[kyroraz.livejournal.com]

Have fun with your day trips, it sounds really cool and I am fairly envious.

However, I wouldn't just pick doing New England only for the rest of eternity. Go west someday, and I ain't talkin' Illinois. I still am exploring Arizona whenever I get a chance, which is just an immense area, but someday I'll sure be ready to tackle other things. Perhaps Quebec or Alaska.

[keimel.livejournal.com]

> ...nosing around historical sites...
> ... The things are all over the place, apparently...

Ewww.. you just stepped in a big pile of history.

Yeah, it's all over the damn place...

Enjoy time off. I might experience similar things here, since I can apparantly accumulate up to 2 months (40 days) of time off before I start being forced to use it or lose it. And with the planned schedule of upgrades/updates, I'll be working too damn much to use it.

Well, enjoy the time off!

[prog.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's exactly the same vacation plan I have. And I figure I've maybe taken two weeks off in the 22 months I've been here.

I don't think I've ever taken a vacation as long as two weeks since... the period between my graduation and my first job, I think, in 1996. (Was about two months.)