Ten pounds of shit in a five pound bag
In December 2003, we spent two weeks on the road, visiting family for the holidays. We flew from New Jersey to Portland, from Portland to Dayton, and from Dayton back home to New Jersey.
That was the last time we traveled for the holidays. We are impervious to begging and pleading; if anyone wants to see us during the holidays, they are welcome to visit us right here in our home.
But now, in the middle of the summer, we are about to attempt a similar feat of insanity. Except this time, it’s even more insane because we’ve not only got three times as many kids as we did in 2003, we are going to be IN TWO PLACES AT ONCE.
We are Schrodinger’s cat. Or a subatomic particle.
First, we are flying to Dayton for my grandmother’s going away party. In our family, we don’t have a funeral when people die – we have a cookout, weather permitting. In this case, we had to reschedule for a more temperate time of year. Because July in Dayton is probably about as temperate as it’s going to get.
Then, we are flying back to Denver, and – starting straight from the airport – DRIVING to San Francisco.
In San Francisco, we will meet up with Mayberry Mom and family to eat chocolate and threaten to leave our children at Alcatraz, a la CityMama. We will have a glorious 36 hours together (give or take an hour or two) before Kyle will take Tacy and CJ and drive up the coast, leaving Oliver and me behind to network drink SQUEEEEEEE uncontrollably at BlogHer.
Kyle and the girls will meet his parents somewhere along the Oregon coast to eat chowder and stick their toes in the ocean before proceeding up to Portland for his 20th high school reunion. Once Oliver and I have grown weary of networking drinking SQUEEEEEEEing, we will jet up to Portland in time to attend the high school reunion class picnic on Sunday.
Then, the five of us will get BACK in the car and drive BACK to Denver.
And then we will collapse and sleep for three days straight.
Wish us luck.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Schrodinger’s cat!!!
hahah. i just learned what that was from “The Big Bang Theory episode i watched last night!
alis last blog post..raised right. and straight. and with a warm gun.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
pdx-den … That is NOT a fun drive! But Twin Falls, ID, is decent enough, given it’s a sleepover in the middle of nowhere. We stayed at the Red Lion Canyon Springs, and liked it pretty well actually (not that you were looking for recommendations — but the memory of the drive is still so fresh in my memory).
July 10th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
You’d have to give me some strong medication to do that. Just sayin’.
Safe travels! Good luck hanging on to your sanity.
Heathers last blog post..Thank you
July 10th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
In my version it’s a two-day business trip followed by a 12-hour layover at home followed by the family outbound flight.
Yeah, yours is much more insane.
Can’t wait to see you!!
mayberrys last blog post..Like fine wine and fine art
July 10th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
So, out of curiosity, what high school?
Good luck, quite a big trip ahead. Squeeze some fun in there!
PDX Mamas last blog post..Life is Unfair
July 10th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I drove once from Denver to Portland with my dad. We would alternate choosing the cassette tape to listen to. Being a grown-up he had a wide variety of The Who, Neil Young, Lynard Skynard. I was 8 and had one tape, The Smurfs. And I LOVED it. But he has never forgotten how every other hour he had to listen to the smurfs. I hope your travels are saner.
Catherines last blog post..50 Book Challenge
July 10th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
enjoy the squeeeing. i love that you say squee.
zeghsys last blog post..ma shoes!
July 10th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Oh my gosh. You and Kyle must have the patience of Saints (and I still don’t know what that means, but my mother says it all the time).
I hope all the traveling is smooth and I can’t wait to see you again, in San Francisco this time!
danas last blog post..Go Green With Recycline
July 10th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Oh Holy mother of Joe. I’ll be saying rosaries for you and I’m a non-denominational. Good luck! Say a SQUEEEEE for me please, I’m still bitter I don’t get to be at BlogHer. Sighhhh
Anissa @ Hope4Peytons last blog post..I have evil, winged monkeys and I’m not afraid to use them
July 11th, 2008 at 6:23 am
You are either brave, or crazy, or both. So sad I can’t go to BlogHer…
Amelia Sprouts last blog post..Haiku Friday – Bjorka, Sporka
July 11th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Blast from my past! We drove to California all the time (from Denver) when I was a child. Even in a motorhome once.
Have a fantabulous adventure.
July 11th, 2008 at 9:08 am
It sounds like your trip is going to be crazy-busy, but if you can spare the time, I’d love to feed your family once while you’re up here (I’m ten minutes from Portland)!
July 11th, 2008 at 9:52 am
I think it’s awesome that you can keep all of that straight. The kids are absolutely going to love it. An adventure for sure!
July 11th, 2008 at 11:06 am
That is one crazy itinerary! And well done on the Schrodinger’s Cat mention.
Caras last blog post..A Gnome For All Seasons
July 11th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Good luck! Sounds like you’ll need it.
And I love a person who can reference Schrodinger’s cat. Nice!
caramamas last blog post..That’s a Bad Word?
July 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Dang. Sounds like a great trip (when you are at the THERES). But the getting to the THERES…yikes, good luck with all of that family closeness.
manager moms last blog post..Suck On This, Dilbert
July 14th, 2008 at 11:23 am
May the force be with you!
I love the idea of the going away party.
Kimberlys last blog post..A year without Harry Potter