Words today, pictures tomorrow

• We picked up the keys to our rental house, drove to the street and couldn't find it ... at least nothing that looked like the photo of the exterior posted online. We pull up to the one we think it is (with scary, yellow peeling paint) and I accidentally drive into the ditch rather than the unmarked driveway. It rained a lot the day before, so the front of the car sinks into the mud and part of the fender pops off.

• The Petite Filet is stressed out (it is her car, after all), but goes up the stairs to see if the keys unlock the door. They don't appear to.

• Permanent residents next door confirmed that it was our particular rental, and helped us pull the car out of the ditch with their pickup. The fender pops back in, and I find two of the three plastic screws right away that help secure it. The next day, I find the last screw. Wah-lah! She's a-fixed!

• The PF calls the rental agency, and they tell her to see if the window closest to the door is unlocked. She pops off the screen and unlocks the door this way. We knew we were not at home any longer. We use the deadbolt only for the rest of the trip, as one of the three keys does move it open.

• The home is really nice on the inside, thankfully. It is also dirty, but that's not unexpected for a house that many other people use on a week-to-week basis.

• We clean up the house, unload the car (which was packed full to the gills) and settle in. We go down to the beach that evening, and the Cutlet loves the waves. We were wondering if he would because he had lost some of his sense of adventure the past few years. I knew it was coming back a little when, on the ferry ride between Galveston and the Bolivar peninsula he wanted to scramble up the steep stairs and peer over the second-level balcony. The Riblet wasn't sure what to think of the beach, but doesn't freak out about the whole sand-and-surf experience.

• We need more supplies than the local supermarket stocks, so we ferry over to Galveston and visit Wal-Mart. Hundreds of people had this same idea, unfortunately, and it's quite an adventure getting through the store.

• We notice a number of what appear to be bees congregating on the inside of the bathroom windows. This is not good. We call on Sunday to report the problem, and an exterminator comes out that evening to spray the knot hole where they are entering. The bees eventually go away.

• I ride my bicycle every day, and the wide shoulder along the highway proves to be pleasant for cruising. I explore other streets to find neat little neighborhoods where we might want to rent a house next time.

• After our regular morning beach time one day, we go to a waterslide, where the Cutlet gets even closer to his former crazy self and has a wonderful time. After about 30 minutes of climbing up the steep hill and sliding down the slide, though, he is over-tired and throws a monkey fit when it's time to leave.

• At first, we wondered what we were going to do with our time. There's not much to do on the peninsula. By the time we were days from leaving, that is what we loved most about the place.

• We ate out only a few times, enjoying the benefits of a full kitchen and our own space. It was also essential (and will be from now on) to have a washer and dryer of our own to use during weeklong trips.

• We visited one of the PF's aunts who lives in Clear Lake. She was our guide and part-time babysitter while we took the Cutlet on rides at the Kemah Boardwalk. A great day, but make sure you fill your wallet: Kemah's not a discount fun haven.

• The beach was nice, not too crowded and good for playing in. On our last full day Wednesday, we spent the most time at the beach. Storms heading that way were churning up the surf, and it was rough. But even when a wave knocked the Cutlet down, he'd get right up for some more fun. Fantastic!

• We bought a kite down there. First time me and the Cutlet tried to fly it on the beach, though, there was no wind. By that afternoon, it was easy as pie to get it into the sky as gusty gales took hold of it quickly. It looks like a fighter jet, btw. Too cool.

• The weather was near perfect while we were there. Storms beforehand kept the temps slightly below average. We had one evening storm that was loud and flashy, but it made us feel snug in the house. Rain was heading our way as we were leaving.

• Six hours to drive down, about 12 hours to get back. Some of it was by design: we had planned to visit our favorite gift shop on Galveston on the way home, as well as eating at the Rainforest Cafe* there. Other things were beyond our control. It took two hours to get on the ferry at Bolivar, and even TxDOT employees were scratching their heads at the delays. Then, it started to rain. It took us two hours to get through Houston, and traffic on I-45 was painfully slower than even we've experienced in the past.

• Bottom line: We'll do it all again someday, but with slightly older children and the experience of the trip making us better prepared. We are even compiling a "beach box" that will contain some of the provisions we'll need to take, along with a shopping list for items necessary for smooth sailing. Once it's done, I can provide the list to anyone planning similar adventures. In brief, take your own sheets, pillows, towels, pots & pans and lots of cleaning supplies (such as Clorox® wipes). You'll thank me later.

*The Rainforest Cafe was fun, but there's one about 12 miles from our house here. The Miller High Life delivery guy would have puked at the menu prices for a hamburger, but it was good. Maybe not $13 good, but oh well.