Motherhood on the Block

by Marinka on August 23, 2010

We took the ferry to Block Island to start our summer vacation yesterday and already I have tons of blog fodder to share with you.

But first things first.  See, I will be changing the name of my blog to reflect that I am now a Block Island resident and will never leave, and I can’t figure out if it should be “Motherhood on the Block” or “Motherhood in the Block”.  On seems right, but it’s Motherhood in NYC.  No matter how great the ESL classes were, I’m still not a native English speaker, so these things are confusing to me.  What do you think?  On or in?

What?  Yes, the reason that I’m never leaving Block Island is that the ferry crossing was so horrific and vomit-enriched that I swore never to get on another ferry ever again.  I’m hoping that Block Island wises up a bit and gets itself landlocked, but I’m nothing if not a realist and that’s why I’ve resigned to spending the rest of my life here.

There are some problems, of course.  Like the fact that we only have our house rented for a week, for an amount that involved mortgaging some of my organs.  But I’ve been reading The Secret online, so I’m sure that the universe is busy building a new house for me as I type.

There are a few more minor points–the kids are supposed to start school in a few weeks, but Young Ladrinka, fellow vomitorium visitor, is already on my side.  Yes, he is willing to sacrifice school in order to support his mother.  I think I can congratulate myself on a job well done.

Husbandrinka thinks that I’m overreacting.  It’s a good thing that we’re not living in Victorian England or something because he’d have me labeled hysterical in no time, and probably have my uterus extracted for good measure.

“Fortunately” Husbandrinka doesn’t get seasick, but “unfortunately” he really dislikes vomit.  Now, you may be thinking that vomit lovers are few and far between, but let me reassure you, he dislikes vomit more than most normal people.  I learned this ten years ago when our daughter had her first stomach virus and I had to spend the night with her, soothing and wiping and cleaning and he had to spend the night sealed in our bedroom, catching up a season’s worth of The Sopranos.  He told me the next morning that the show was really good, but that he’d stayed up way too late watching it, which certainly reassured me because I stayed up way too late dealing with a puking child and knowing that at least one of us had a nice evening was just the salve that I needed, although knowing that he was a bit yawny from watching one too many episodes certainly tempered my happiness.

But during yesterday’s ferry ride, Poseidon avenged me.  Because I got seasick pretty much instantly (although at first I didn’t think anything of it, as I had just started reading Dr. Phil’s Give Yourself a Mental Makeover in O Magazine, and I assumed that nausea was a normal reaction to all things Dr. Phil.  But it wasn’t.)

After I excused myself (by running and screaming WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!) to the ladies’ room, apparently Young Ladrinka got seasick as well, and Husbandrinka had to accompany him to the, shall we say, men’s lounge.

According to Husbandrinka, the men’s lounge was already at near capacity, there was a man in his 60s, who stayed there the entire time (hi! I’m worried that I’m using the word “vomit” too often in this post, so from now on “stay” is going to be code for it!  Wait, don’t leave! The post is almost over! Stay and enjoy it! oh.)  In addition to the older man, there was also a man in his 40s and a teenager.  The teenager didn’t have a stall, so he er.. stayed in the garbage can and that’s when Husbandrinka started to feel unwell himself.  (By the way, I have no idea why Husbandrinka noted and told me the age of all the men that were there.  I can only assume that he’s an undercover Census taker.)

Once I got on terra firma, I vowed never to ferry again.  Which is why we’re sta-, I mean, remaining on Block Island forever.  And which brings me back to my original question- Motherhood on the Block or Motherhood in the Block?

Having a great time, wish you were here!

One year ago ...

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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }

Carolyn Online
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 9:57 am

I’m going with “on” because “in” sounds a little bit like you’ve tunneled down into the Block somewhere and I get clausterphobic imagining you underground like that.

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kiki August 23, 2010 at 10:20 am

my vote is for “on.” i’ve never been to block island, but i checked its various websites and it’s quite the pristine, magical desintation. enjoy!

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Jacquie | After Words
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 10:38 am

I think “Motherhood on the Block” has a nice ring to it….but I promise that when the weather is not stormy, the ferry is lovely.

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Kirsten August 23, 2010 at 10:48 am

Definitely “on” the Block.

But does your rental home have a salad spinner is what I want to know.

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Miss Welcome August 23, 2010 at 11:37 am

Well, since you’re new there, I think your blog should become “New Kids on the Block.”

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Christine August 23, 2010 at 11:53 am

“Mommy from the Block” a la JLo’s “Jenny from the Block”? It gives you more street cred.

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Robin
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 12:32 pm

OMG. Mucous.. Only have a problem with Mucous.. After living in NYC for a few years, people could projectile vomit, and they did, at my on the subway and I would just hold up my umbrella.. that’s when I knew I was a real New Yorker..LOL.. the seasick thing however, SUCKS more than most things. Hope ya’ll have a good week!!

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Peajaye
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 1:17 pm

“Motherhood Stays on the Block”

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anna see August 23, 2010 at 1:37 pm

On baby, On! It sounds tough and just a little bit cool.

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Tess
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 1:48 pm

“On”, for sure.

Or, why don’t you just mortgage the rest of your organs and charter a flight to get you home?

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Marinka August 23, 2010 at 9:11 pm

It’s so hard to get a mortgage these days, you know.

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Awesome dude August 23, 2010 at 1:51 pm

I hope that everybody looses weight.

“Purgatorium” should be a name for the lounges in this outfit.

If you prepare yourself mentally and do not pig out before your trip back, you should be OK.

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the mama bird diaries
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 1:56 pm

Dear Marinka from the block,
I’m thinking that it would be best if you stopped reading while moving (in a car, ferry, etc) and also took some anti-nausea medicine before these ferry rides
Signed, Kelcey from Westchester.

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Kristine
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 2:34 pm

Well now I feel right awful for tweeting you the lyrics to that “John B. Sails” tune. This is no time for humor. So, I’ll tell you that I’ve also been to Block Island & will alert you to the fact that the mail lady likes to tan topless on the beach. Maybe you can use the information for leverage against your hysterectomy.
(I also vote for “on.”)

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Marinka August 23, 2010 at 9:12 pm

I can’t wait to meet the mail lady! It’s very The Postman Always Rights Twice.

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Meg D August 23, 2010 at 4:53 pm

I’m with Kelcey: Dramamine! Then at least you can sleep through the ferry ride and quite possibly the rest of the trip home.

I vote “on”, you’re on an Island…

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Rachael
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm

You could also take Benadryl and pass out. People do that with their dogs who get car sick not that I’m implying you are a dog or anything. When you wake up you’ll be back in NYC.

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Happy Hour Sue August 23, 2010 at 5:52 pm

LOL-ing at the Dramamine and “sleeping” suggestions. If you’ve never experienced a Block Island “rough crossing” you have NO IDEA the Titanic-esque vomit fest we are talkin about. They have T-shirts at the Star Dept Store that say “I survived the Block Island Ferry” with cartoons of people yacking. FYI: the National is one of the only open bars past Sept….and The Oar I think. I stayed one fall after college. 🙂

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Marinka August 23, 2010 at 9:14 pm

I KNOW! I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt that they’re just innocents, but maybe they’re ferry riders and want me blissfully passed out so that they can get the lifeboats.

(The Oar closes at Labor Day. I think I heard a friend tell me about the fabulous “Drink The Oar dry” event they host then.)

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Zee August 23, 2010 at 6:09 pm

Don’t be offended by the fact that your post today almost made me “stay”. I’m sympathetic that way.

(takes a small sip of 7-up)

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alexandra
Twitter:
August 23, 2010 at 6:36 pm

LOL.

Ages of all the fellow vomit—er, STAYers,

bwaahahahahahaha…

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Reiven August 23, 2010 at 6:44 pm

This post was full of hilarity! But my favorite part was “(although at first I didn’t think anything of it, as I had just started reading Dr. Phil’s Give Yourself a Mental Makeover in O Magazine, and I assumed that nausea was a normal reaction to all things Dr. Phil. But it wasn’t.)” LMFAO! And I like Awesome Dude’s suggestion of “Purgatorium” because vomitorium is actually ” a passage situated below or behind a tier of seats in an amphitheater, through which crowds can “spew out” at the end of an event.” Wikipedia. Just so you know…

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Lynda August 23, 2010 at 6:46 pm

Don’t worry you can stay on the block and your son can go to school too! There is a school there.

I love the place !

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Nadine August 23, 2010 at 7:13 pm

Definitely ‘on’ — and when you remain on-island and Husbandrinka goes off-island, I hope you find a place to get your age-appropriate wax job and drink your AK martinis.

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Deb August 23, 2010 at 8:24 pm

*Laugh*

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Miss Cavendish August 23, 2010 at 9:31 pm

How long was the ferry? My trick to staying well is to remain out on deck . . .

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dusty earth mother August 23, 2010 at 10:50 pm

Maybe since you’ve gotten so buff from your Bootcamp, you could swim back.

And Dr. Phil always makes me stay. Always.

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Loukia August 23, 2010 at 11:33 pm

I cannot handle vomit. I can handle floating poo in a bathtub, but not vomit. I just stare until my husband comes to my children’s rescue. It’s just awful, like HOW do you properly pick up vomit? Barf.

Anyway. POOR YOU MARINKA! And this post WAS full of hilarity. You’re awesome.

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Shannon August 24, 2010 at 7:54 pm

Ahhh….it is nice to know that someone else adores Block Island for the same reason that I do- the dreaded ferry ride. Even thought I did not get sea sick, I do remember trying not to be hurled over the edge of a crazily almost- tipped over boat, while protecting myself from the 48 foot swells that were pelting the vessel. Memories. And, for some unknown reason, I continued to take that vacation cruise from hell for another 4 years in a row.

Enjoy your time and may the boat ride back be a little less traumatic.

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Issa
Twitter:
August 25, 2010 at 1:05 pm

I’m going with on. Motherhood on the block. Just because it sounds better.

I don’t think I’ll ever get on a ferry now. Ever.

Maybe you just need to fly home? Is that possible?

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