I actually saw great airfare to Portugal the other day! I checked their weather and it’s too early for their beaches, but I’d still be down if I can get BG on board. He’s pretty adamant about a beach at the moment.

He needs to double check today how much PTO he has, which will influence the trip. If he doesn’t have a ton of days, it’ll be a short Yucatan beach destination. Which is okay, the beaches are beautiful and I like a swim-up bar as much as the next person, but I feel a little frustrated at the idea of a Mexican vacation in an area lacking in culture. I had a great itinerary planned in my head, going to Oaxaca and then a beach, but I don’t think he’ll have enough days off to pull that trip off and the airfare is already shooting up quickly.

I’ve never been to the Keys! I’d be down for that, too, actually!

I am so sorry about your dog @veritek, sending you hugs.

@copa – I went to Nicaragua last April and it was amazing. There are some resorts if you are just looking to relax, but the cities are really easy to navigate and they are very accommodating to tourists as the industry has taken a hit in the past couple of years due to some political unrest.

Unfortunately I was sick the entire holidays and am still fighting a cough, but on the plus side I didn’t get to indulge much so I was able to fit into my jeans comfortably yesterday 🙂

So sorry @MG and @Ver about your dog.

Our oldest dog (who is 11) isn’t doing so well. I was off the last two weeks and didn’t realize how bad he was until I was home most of the time. The vet said it could be cushings (which I didn’t know pets get). So got to try and get him some help with that.

I was also sick during the holidays – a bad, bad cold. I really hated being sick when I was home from work. That was supposed to be my time (and family time)!

@Copa – that sounds amazing! Our next trip I think will be in June going to the Grand Cayman Islands! Can’t wait to go 🙂

Thanks for the recs! BG has so many hotel points from when he traveled alllll the time for work that we can actually stay for free at a resort on the east side of the island if we want. I’ve read east is the second rainiest side, but even if it weren’t, I’d have no qualms spending a couple nights on another part of the island even if it means paying ourselves.

BG went there for work a few years back and did the helicopter ride, he LOVED it. Once bored me to sleep (literally) with footage of his tour, haha. Even without the recent safety scares, helicopters make me nervous… but I’d consider the tour anyway.

Anxious to get my PTO approved so we can book away! We saw some great airfare that I’m worried will go up if we don’t book soon.

That’s awesome!!! It’s such a wonderful feeling to find a new job after losing one.

I know I’m such a damper, but I wouldn’t put pics of your boyfriend on your desk. Like we were talking about in the other thread, the least info shared about your personal life, the better. I know this woman is your friend, but my strong advice would be to start out sharing nothing but the essentials and only when asked, or if it comes up, like, you say you’re going on a trip and they ask with who. I’m not kidding. You can always show a pic or two on your phone if people ask about your dogs or your boyfriend after you get to know them.

ETA I’m so not trying to be a jerk, it’s just that a boyfriend is part of your personal social life, of which you don’t want to provide any visual in a new job. Date pics belong on your private social media. On your desk, should just be work stuff. Maybe a piece of kids’ artwork, one wedding pic or kid pic or dog pic.

The reasoning behind it is it’s smart to keep your private life private, especially if you previously had a boss who used things you shared against you.