We’re on the way to Rushmore. We’ve got a solid three hours to go before we get there. Yesterday we stopped for dinner at Famous Daves. The wait was crazy. From as best we could tell it was like one of five restaurants in Sioux Falls. Good food though. JG and I tried Famous Daves in Virginia.
BBQ sauce is on the lesser scale of condiments (but essential in slow cooking or grilling, just not as an afterthought on meat). Ironically enough, of the five sauces at Famous Daves JG and I enjoy the same one best – Sweet and Zesty.
Before dinner JG was listening to the second Mets/Cardinals game – the score was 0-0 when we left for dinner and, from his mom’s voicemail still 0-0 but this time in extra innings. We call MiMi back and she announces the game as it’s happening for us off and on over the next two hours. Ended up being won in the 20th inning – 2-1 Mets.
Amidst all of that I was able to convince JG to let Ju-Ju in the cab after showing him how pathetic she looked shaking in her kennel. The temps had plummeted from the 80s to the 50s.
The Comfort Inn where we wanted to stay didn’t allow for pets and we were too tired to make it to Rapid Falls last night, so JG smuggled Ju-Ju in and out of the room. She is such a good dog. If only the boys were all well-mannered!
The goal today is to make it across the South Dakota, Montana boarder – then either stay in Western Montana or Idaho Monday night. We'll see what happens.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Ju-Ju
Ju-Ju hates me. Every time we let her out of the kennel in the back of the truck she heads straight for the cab of the truck after going potty.
Never, ever has she ridden anywhere else but with me in the cab of the truck. The way she’s looking at me this week breaks my heart. I feel especially bad since I’m sure she was about ready to have a heart attack earlier this week when we were driving through Ohio. We pass an identical-model Dodge Ram then a few minutes later it’s keeping pace with us – I look over and the husband, wife and kid are waving frantically and mouthing “your gate is open.” So, we pull over and sure enough the tail gate was down and the glass door to the topper was wide open. Luckily, everything was packed tight enough we didn’t lose anything. My poor Judy-girl.
Staying to nights outside St. Louis and renting a car to go to Hannibal and to the ball game was a great idea. It gave Ju-Ju a chance to chill all day and we didn’t have the stress of maneuvering the truck and trailer through the fan-fare.
So aside from the Belgian waffles, the other reason we’re staying at the Comfort Inn with dedication this entire trip is to accumulate free nights. The two consecutive nights in Alexandria during renovation week and our two nights in Missouri only count for points as one stay. Good to know. Not every stay is equal in points – so where on earth they get their stay two nights get one free slogan I have no idea.
We dropped the car off at Enterprise on our way out on 70 West this morning. Luckily on the way to the ball game yesterday I asked JG where it was and he pointed out the exit. I’m so glad I asked because when I followed him this morning, I didn’t have room or time to merge ahead of an 18-wheeler so I had to yield and merge after him, completely obstructing my view of JG driving the Chevy Impala. But, I knew the exit and the day was saved.
We ate at Sonic today for lunch. Not nearly as good as I remember. But everyone else seemed to like it. We parked and got Ju-Ju out of her kennel as we ate at the picnic tables. Zachary gave her a bite of chicken from his chicken, bacon, cheese toaster sandwich. She is such a good dog. I lift her on the tailgate and say “get in your kennel” and she does. “What a good baby girl,” I tell her as I give her a treat. I bought a new natural brand that has glucosamine in it. The vet said I can give her that supplement in pill form to ease her arthritis. A new home is a great place to start new habits and when JG and I take our vitamins, the kids take their gummy vitamins then I’ll have Ju-Ju take her supplement. To make it easy I may just put it in a bit of soft food.
I’ve got to go negotiate a stopping point for the night with JG. Soon I hope to get photos posted and some of my writing tightened up for an easier read. I’m kicking myself for not looking into a wireless card for the laptop before we left!
Never, ever has she ridden anywhere else but with me in the cab of the truck. The way she’s looking at me this week breaks my heart. I feel especially bad since I’m sure she was about ready to have a heart attack earlier this week when we were driving through Ohio. We pass an identical-model Dodge Ram then a few minutes later it’s keeping pace with us – I look over and the husband, wife and kid are waving frantically and mouthing “your gate is open.” So, we pull over and sure enough the tail gate was down and the glass door to the topper was wide open. Luckily, everything was packed tight enough we didn’t lose anything. My poor Judy-girl.
Staying to nights outside St. Louis and renting a car to go to Hannibal and to the ball game was a great idea. It gave Ju-Ju a chance to chill all day and we didn’t have the stress of maneuvering the truck and trailer through the fan-fare.
So aside from the Belgian waffles, the other reason we’re staying at the Comfort Inn with dedication this entire trip is to accumulate free nights. The two consecutive nights in Alexandria during renovation week and our two nights in Missouri only count for points as one stay. Good to know. Not every stay is equal in points – so where on earth they get their stay two nights get one free slogan I have no idea.
We dropped the car off at Enterprise on our way out on 70 West this morning. Luckily on the way to the ball game yesterday I asked JG where it was and he pointed out the exit. I’m so glad I asked because when I followed him this morning, I didn’t have room or time to merge ahead of an 18-wheeler so I had to yield and merge after him, completely obstructing my view of JG driving the Chevy Impala. But, I knew the exit and the day was saved.
We ate at Sonic today for lunch. Not nearly as good as I remember. But everyone else seemed to like it. We parked and got Ju-Ju out of her kennel as we ate at the picnic tables. Zachary gave her a bite of chicken from his chicken, bacon, cheese toaster sandwich. She is such a good dog. I lift her on the tailgate and say “get in your kennel” and she does. “What a good baby girl,” I tell her as I give her a treat. I bought a new natural brand that has glucosamine in it. The vet said I can give her that supplement in pill form to ease her arthritis. A new home is a great place to start new habits and when JG and I take our vitamins, the kids take their gummy vitamins then I’ll have Ju-Ju take her supplement. To make it easy I may just put it in a bit of soft food.
I’ve got to go negotiate a stopping point for the night with JG. Soon I hope to get photos posted and some of my writing tightened up for an easier read. I’m kicking myself for not looking into a wireless card for the laptop before we left!
Scalper
Right now we’re just outside Kansas City getting ready to pick up 29 North. Sioux Falls is programmed into the GPS, but I don’t think we’re going to make it that far today. We have an appointment Tuesday afternoon to pick up our keys for the new place at Fairchild. That’s the only thing driving our schedule right now.
So, after Hannibal and the nap yesterday we went back into St. Louis. We hit the waterfront by The Arch and the kids were able to get their flat pennies. And just in time too, we were able to get through the gate they left open although the river tours, gift shop and café were closed. Then we went to Busch Stadium. JG asked a police officer at the corner if there was parking ahead. “Yeah, but it’s expensive.” I’m laughing to myself because the parking, directly across from the stadium, was only $15.
We stood out on the quick walk – and because it was obvious we were from out of town between the Mets jacket and sweatshirt – we had every scalper in the vicinity try to sell us tickets. Now, we’re not ticket snobs, but they didn’t have what we wanted (four seats all together behind home plate) so we made our way to the ticket counter. They must have been desperate to sell – our friend we left on the corner manned by police sought us out and we abruptly ended the conversation with the ticket attendant on the promise of $60/ticket. Our friend brought us to a season ticket holder who had three seats in a row and a seat in front on the aisle of section 153. (11-13 and seat 10).
The seats were FANTASTIC. We knew they were well worth the “face value” the guy was asking ($100/each) but his runner, our friend, only got us out of line by saying $60, so that’s all we were willing to pay. Our advantage: the game was only 20 minutes from starting and the odds of selling four tickets in one shot were dwindling.
We made it through two bags of peanuts, three hot chocolates, two sodas, three hot dogs, chicken fingers and two nachos with cheese without any incident. Edward, although fidgeting, was being very well behaved. But, not still enough for the woman sitting next to him. “You need to sit still,” she says to Edward who is no wearing Dad’s Mets jacket and is trying to get his hands out of the ridiculously long sleeves. She then asks me what grade he’s in. “Kindergarten, he’s only five,” I say. “Oh, I’m a first grade teacher,” then leans in to Edward and says, “do you know what respect is? And what it means to be a good listener?”
Edward’s eyes get big and he turns to me with perfect manners, “Mommy, may I please move seats.”
By this time Zachary has made friends with the woman sitting next to him. She’s a lot younger, a lot cuter and a lot more friendly. She even tells Zachary she’ll even sing the Jose song with him when he gets up to bat.
Now back to poor Edward. Dad rescued him onto his lap, which allowed for dead space between me and the teacher. We have a 20 minute conversation where she’s convinced we’re stationed at Scott AFB and are PCSing to Fairchild AFB. I’ve already told her a few times he went to school in Virginia. Turns out her and her husband have been retired from the Air Force for 18 years. He was a fighter pilot who went to survival school in Fairchild in the 1970s. Now he’s a chiropractor. Anyway, she talked about how it was really hard for her to become a civilian again after her husband retired.
Please don’t take this as slam against military spouses or their sacrifices to our country – but I took offense to her saying *she* had a hard time becoming a civilian. You can’t become something you already are, right? Law enforcement officers and firefighters have a more dangerous job then I do serving in the Air Force. I’m sure we don’t hear their spouses saying it was hard becoming a a civilian again.
Anyway – about the fifth inning the kiss cam came on the big screen and JG switched places with Edward (yeah, I made the mistake of sliding over one and this facilitated the conversation further.) JG kissed me. We weren’t on the screen, but that’s okay. We’re way too cute together for other people to handle anyway ;)
With JG sitting next to me I was finally able to focus on the game. Unfortunately the Mets lost. Cardinals got a grand slam and we left at the end of the eighth inning. 1-4 Cardinals. This morning JG tells me the Mets had scored two more runs at the top of the nineth. “You’re so lucky they didn’t end up winning the game or I’d be angry with you that you made us leave.”
Before we left the retired gentleman and his wife the teacher left. Then I leaned forward to the cool couple who were sitting in front of us and said “did you hear Edward ask me if he could move seats?” They laughed and said they couldn’t believe how she wanted to instill classroom rules at the ballpark. “He wasn’t even doing anything wrong! Poor kid!”
So, after Hannibal and the nap yesterday we went back into St. Louis. We hit the waterfront by The Arch and the kids were able to get their flat pennies. And just in time too, we were able to get through the gate they left open although the river tours, gift shop and café were closed. Then we went to Busch Stadium. JG asked a police officer at the corner if there was parking ahead. “Yeah, but it’s expensive.” I’m laughing to myself because the parking, directly across from the stadium, was only $15.
We stood out on the quick walk – and because it was obvious we were from out of town between the Mets jacket and sweatshirt – we had every scalper in the vicinity try to sell us tickets. Now, we’re not ticket snobs, but they didn’t have what we wanted (four seats all together behind home plate) so we made our way to the ticket counter. They must have been desperate to sell – our friend we left on the corner manned by police sought us out and we abruptly ended the conversation with the ticket attendant on the promise of $60/ticket. Our friend brought us to a season ticket holder who had three seats in a row and a seat in front on the aisle of section 153. (11-13 and seat 10).
The seats were FANTASTIC. We knew they were well worth the “face value” the guy was asking ($100/each) but his runner, our friend, only got us out of line by saying $60, so that’s all we were willing to pay. Our advantage: the game was only 20 minutes from starting and the odds of selling four tickets in one shot were dwindling.
We made it through two bags of peanuts, three hot chocolates, two sodas, three hot dogs, chicken fingers and two nachos with cheese without any incident. Edward, although fidgeting, was being very well behaved. But, not still enough for the woman sitting next to him. “You need to sit still,” she says to Edward who is no wearing Dad’s Mets jacket and is trying to get his hands out of the ridiculously long sleeves. She then asks me what grade he’s in. “Kindergarten, he’s only five,” I say. “Oh, I’m a first grade teacher,” then leans in to Edward and says, “do you know what respect is? And what it means to be a good listener?”
Edward’s eyes get big and he turns to me with perfect manners, “Mommy, may I please move seats.”
By this time Zachary has made friends with the woman sitting next to him. She’s a lot younger, a lot cuter and a lot more friendly. She even tells Zachary she’ll even sing the Jose song with him when he gets up to bat.
Now back to poor Edward. Dad rescued him onto his lap, which allowed for dead space between me and the teacher. We have a 20 minute conversation where she’s convinced we’re stationed at Scott AFB and are PCSing to Fairchild AFB. I’ve already told her a few times he went to school in Virginia. Turns out her and her husband have been retired from the Air Force for 18 years. He was a fighter pilot who went to survival school in Fairchild in the 1970s. Now he’s a chiropractor. Anyway, she talked about how it was really hard for her to become a civilian again after her husband retired.
Please don’t take this as slam against military spouses or their sacrifices to our country – but I took offense to her saying *she* had a hard time becoming a civilian. You can’t become something you already are, right? Law enforcement officers and firefighters have a more dangerous job then I do serving in the Air Force. I’m sure we don’t hear their spouses saying it was hard becoming a a civilian again.
Anyway – about the fifth inning the kiss cam came on the big screen and JG switched places with Edward (yeah, I made the mistake of sliding over one and this facilitated the conversation further.) JG kissed me. We weren’t on the screen, but that’s okay. We’re way too cute together for other people to handle anyway ;)
With JG sitting next to me I was finally able to focus on the game. Unfortunately the Mets lost. Cardinals got a grand slam and we left at the end of the eighth inning. 1-4 Cardinals. This morning JG tells me the Mets had scored two more runs at the top of the nineth. “You’re so lucky they didn’t end up winning the game or I’d be angry with you that you made us leave.”
Before we left the retired gentleman and his wife the teacher left. Then I leaned forward to the cool couple who were sitting in front of us and said “did you hear Edward ask me if he could move seats?” They laughed and said they couldn’t believe how she wanted to instill classroom rules at the ballpark. “He wasn’t even doing anything wrong! Poor kid!”
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Stairs on top of stairs
“It’s always funny when old people curse,” said JG on the drive back to our hotel in O’Fallen, just west of St. Louis today. We visited Mark Twain’s home of Hannibal. The town would be a contractor’s dream if the townsfolk could afford the repairs. There was about a dozen flights of stairs up to a lighthouse running right next to a local’s backyard. JG asked the woman who was tending to her yard what it’s like living next to a tourist attraction. “Well, people say only one of two things: nice view or oh shit more stairs.”
We ate at the Mark Twain Family Restaurant. When I saw they made their own homemade root beer I ordered a float. The root beer was so good. When we asked if they sell it we were ready to purchase two gallons until we realized they package it in used milk gallons and they don’t seal it. The restaurant could make a fortune off their root beer if only they’d invest in a little packaging and marketing.
JG had chili in a bread bowl. JG has a thing for bread bowls in general. As single guy he’d purchase just the bread from Panera and keep a stock of canned soup in the pantry. The chili was actually very good and they showered the entire thing with shredded cheddar. JG’s meal and the root beer were the only things worth writing home about so we’ll move on.
I could not imagine cooking in an 1800s kitchen. You’d have to start the next meal of the day immediately after the one just served. I got a kick out of looking at the kitchen that was attached to the pharmacy across from Mark Twain’;s house.
So we rented a car for this adventure. We figured it was worth the $50 not to lug the truck back and forth. JuJu and Indy are vegging out at the hotel room. Indy really likes her carry case. I put her out on the bed and she tucked herself into the kennel on her own. JG laughed when I put Animal Planet on the TV for them.
OOOOOh. So, good news on our living situation. The privatized housing company said there’s a newly remodeled house for us if we want it. I was thrilled with the floor plan – one story, so that will make life a lot easier for Judy, aka Ju-Ju. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and its own bathroom. The washer and dryer are located downstairs in the basement. There looks to be considerable storage space down there.
(Friends of ours in Spokane said they would take Indy for us – so we’re able to live in housing now.)
With any luck we’ll have a firm mailing address that we can change on the road.
We ate at the Mark Twain Family Restaurant. When I saw they made their own homemade root beer I ordered a float. The root beer was so good. When we asked if they sell it we were ready to purchase two gallons until we realized they package it in used milk gallons and they don’t seal it. The restaurant could make a fortune off their root beer if only they’d invest in a little packaging and marketing.
JG had chili in a bread bowl. JG has a thing for bread bowls in general. As single guy he’d purchase just the bread from Panera and keep a stock of canned soup in the pantry. The chili was actually very good and they showered the entire thing with shredded cheddar. JG’s meal and the root beer were the only things worth writing home about so we’ll move on.
I could not imagine cooking in an 1800s kitchen. You’d have to start the next meal of the day immediately after the one just served. I got a kick out of looking at the kitchen that was attached to the pharmacy across from Mark Twain’;s house.
So we rented a car for this adventure. We figured it was worth the $50 not to lug the truck back and forth. JuJu and Indy are vegging out at the hotel room. Indy really likes her carry case. I put her out on the bed and she tucked herself into the kennel on her own. JG laughed when I put Animal Planet on the TV for them.
OOOOOh. So, good news on our living situation. The privatized housing company said there’s a newly remodeled house for us if we want it. I was thrilled with the floor plan – one story, so that will make life a lot easier for Judy, aka Ju-Ju. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet and its own bathroom. The washer and dryer are located downstairs in the basement. There looks to be considerable storage space down there.
(Friends of ours in Spokane said they would take Indy for us – so we’re able to live in housing now.)
With any luck we’ll have a firm mailing address that we can change on the road.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Superman, Part 2
JG was driving when we were pulled over. The law enforcement officer startled me as he approached the passenger side first. He asked where we were going and I said we were PCSing to Washington State but were on a detour to the Superman museum. He smirked and that's when I knew we weren't getting a ticket.
When he handed JG the warning he said that he knows Superman is important, but we had to slow it down. JG thanked him for the warning and we were off. Speeds were not mentiond purposely as our mothers read this blog. :)
Anyway, the Superman Museum was phenominal. The amount and variety of ***stuff*** could have filled a museum three times that size. We took photos in front of the giant Superman statue. We took photos at the cardboard cutout for Superman and Supergirl. And we indulged at the gift shop. A shot glass for Aunt Julie's collection. A Green Lantern glass for JG. A pink superman logo tank top that JG described as "sexy" and another matching pink superman T-shirt. T-Shirts for the boys and they each picked a toy. We got a magnet for the fridge. JG has comic PJ bottoms that I will steal eventually. Kryptonite rock candy rounded out the shopping trip.
In the truck I discovered a prong on my engagement ring broke clean off. The diamond is secured, but I sure am paranoid and curious how that could have happened.
The plan from there was to drive to Hannibal, Missouri, but to make a quick stop at Air Mobility Command Headquarters to say hello to the public affairs office. We did that then were well on our way then JG saw the exit for The Arch and it was another site-seeing adventure. Needless to say we didn't make it to Hannibal, we're right outside St. Louis.
We tried our best to get the boys flattened souvenier pennies, but the riverboat tours center and cafe was closed and the machines were on the other side of the gate. JG was determined to hop the fence, but luckily I offered another solution. Horse and carriage ride to take us somewhere else that had them. :)
By the end of our ride, JG's allergies kicked in. He's passed out right now - out cold after some Alegra and Sudafed. Edward is out cold too. Zachary is watching King of the Hill. Time to get some rest. Tomorrow it's off to Hannibal then back to St. Louis. Mets are in town.
When he handed JG the warning he said that he knows Superman is important, but we had to slow it down. JG thanked him for the warning and we were off. Speeds were not mentiond purposely as our mothers read this blog. :)
Anyway, the Superman Museum was phenominal. The amount and variety of ***stuff*** could have filled a museum three times that size. We took photos in front of the giant Superman statue. We took photos at the cardboard cutout for Superman and Supergirl. And we indulged at the gift shop. A shot glass for Aunt Julie's collection. A Green Lantern glass for JG. A pink superman logo tank top that JG described as "sexy" and another matching pink superman T-shirt. T-Shirts for the boys and they each picked a toy. We got a magnet for the fridge. JG has comic PJ bottoms that I will steal eventually. Kryptonite rock candy rounded out the shopping trip.
In the truck I discovered a prong on my engagement ring broke clean off. The diamond is secured, but I sure am paranoid and curious how that could have happened.
The plan from there was to drive to Hannibal, Missouri, but to make a quick stop at Air Mobility Command Headquarters to say hello to the public affairs office. We did that then were well on our way then JG saw the exit for The Arch and it was another site-seeing adventure. Needless to say we didn't make it to Hannibal, we're right outside St. Louis.
We tried our best to get the boys flattened souvenier pennies, but the riverboat tours center and cafe was closed and the machines were on the other side of the gate. JG was determined to hop the fence, but luckily I offered another solution. Horse and carriage ride to take us somewhere else that had them. :)
By the end of our ride, JG's allergies kicked in. He's passed out right now - out cold after some Alegra and Sudafed. Edward is out cold too. Zachary is watching King of the Hill. Time to get some rest. Tomorrow it's off to Hannibal then back to St. Louis. Mets are in town.
Up until the Superman Museum ...
So, we just left Effingham, Illinois. Yes, I said Effingham. I think this may be my new G-rated swear word.
I have to say I’m addicted to the Belgian waffles. I think I mentioned this before. What I didn’t mention is that in Virginia I had bad luck with waffles. The week our bathrooms were under renovation we stayed at the Comfort Inn for two nights. Our first morning there I made a few waffles – electrical sparks flying out of the rotating joint. (The hing that opens rotates 180 degrees for even cooking.) The next morning they displayed frozen waffles and a toaster. Then, our last few visits at Silver Diner yielded zero waffles as their waffle maker was broken. So, with bad waffle luck left behind in Virginia, I’m thoroughly enjoying our road trip breakfasts.
We just got on 57 South. We’re on our way to Metropolis. I’m nodding my head yes at the geeks who know this is home to the Superman museum. We’re driving a total of four hours out of the way today to accommodate the landmark. Fittingly, JG is wearing his new Green Lantern T-shirt I bought him during our last trip to his comic shop, Big Planet in Vienna, last weekend. It remains to be seen if he will actually throw away his old one it was meant to replace.
Edward is wearing his “Samurai costume.” It looks like a red cape. It’s really his preschool graduation robe.
So yesterday we were taking note of the Air Force museum’s photojournalist display and realized that their “Air Force News” display needs an update. It’s now called Defense Media Activity. But, it was really cool seeing the bylines of some our colleagues we know personally. Varhegyi, Tudor, Weckerlein, Cooley and Ricardo are just some that I remember.
My favorite photo was then-Tech. Sgt. Cecelio Ricardo of Heroes Hwy, the entry for the wounded to Balad Air Base, Iraq’s tent hospital. His combat camera news team came out to Balad while I was deployed there in 2007. Shortly after they left, I found myself staring up at the highway’s American flag after being flown out of Sather Air Base with a broken leg. And that, is another story for another time.
So, the DSi XL we bought Edward yesterday he tried trading with his brother who has just a DSi. Edward does not adapt well to change. At all. He’s quiet and playing with it now, but I’m not sure how long that’s going to last.
Okay, I have to write down this quote before I forget it – story for next blog entry: “You act like you’ve never been pulled over before.” Followed by: “You act like it happens to you all the time.”
I have to say I’m addicted to the Belgian waffles. I think I mentioned this before. What I didn’t mention is that in Virginia I had bad luck with waffles. The week our bathrooms were under renovation we stayed at the Comfort Inn for two nights. Our first morning there I made a few waffles – electrical sparks flying out of the rotating joint. (The hing that opens rotates 180 degrees for even cooking.) The next morning they displayed frozen waffles and a toaster. Then, our last few visits at Silver Diner yielded zero waffles as their waffle maker was broken. So, with bad waffle luck left behind in Virginia, I’m thoroughly enjoying our road trip breakfasts.
We just got on 57 South. We’re on our way to Metropolis. I’m nodding my head yes at the geeks who know this is home to the Superman museum. We’re driving a total of four hours out of the way today to accommodate the landmark. Fittingly, JG is wearing his new Green Lantern T-shirt I bought him during our last trip to his comic shop, Big Planet in Vienna, last weekend. It remains to be seen if he will actually throw away his old one it was meant to replace.
Edward is wearing his “Samurai costume.” It looks like a red cape. It’s really his preschool graduation robe.
So yesterday we were taking note of the Air Force museum’s photojournalist display and realized that their “Air Force News” display needs an update. It’s now called Defense Media Activity. But, it was really cool seeing the bylines of some our colleagues we know personally. Varhegyi, Tudor, Weckerlein, Cooley and Ricardo are just some that I remember.
My favorite photo was then-Tech. Sgt. Cecelio Ricardo of Heroes Hwy, the entry for the wounded to Balad Air Base, Iraq’s tent hospital. His combat camera news team came out to Balad while I was deployed there in 2007. Shortly after they left, I found myself staring up at the highway’s American flag after being flown out of Sather Air Base with a broken leg. And that, is another story for another time.
So, the DSi XL we bought Edward yesterday he tried trading with his brother who has just a DSi. Edward does not adapt well to change. At all. He’s quiet and playing with it now, but I’m not sure how long that’s going to last.
Okay, I have to write down this quote before I forget it – story for next blog entry: “You act like you’ve never been pulled over before.” Followed by: “You act like it happens to you all the time.”
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Back and forth on travel Day One and Day Two
I’m wearing my SHRUTE FARMS BEETS T-shirt. We’re leaving the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. I’ll have to post this the next time I have wi-fi but a lot has happened since we left Monday and I didn’t want to go too far in this trip without writing.
So we left Monday. Late. Way behind schedule. We’ll just skip over my meltdown about that. It was already going on rush hour traffic when we stopped at the Air Force Memorial one last time.
Speaking of the memorial, at our going way luncheon last week JG’s supervisor, Master Sgt Russell Petcoff, presented an Air Force Memorial paperweight to him. The memorial means a lot to us since we were married there, but especially for JG since he’s been covering the Air Force Memorial since they broke ground to build it about four years ago. This was also where he had his reenlistment.
If Sergeant Petcoff’s name sounds familiar to those of you who follow Air Force glogs, it probably because he’s done some blogging for U.S. Air Force Live.
So, back to Monday. We drove less than two hours into the trip and we stopped for the night at my friend Melissa’s in West Virginia. It had been about six years since we saw each other last. Since then we’ve both divorced and upgraded the caliber men in our life. The boys had a blast playing with her kids. Lelia is just one year older than our Edward, and since she’s a girl Edward was enamored. Zachary and Rudy played much better than when they were three and one.
And when we left West Virginia (skipping the part about the teary goodbye) we it was like we couldn’t leave West Virginia. We weaved in and out of the state two more times on the way to Ohio.
Once in Ohio we saw signs for a Toy and Train museum, but right now they are only open on weekends – would have been nice to know this before exiting the highway. But, it wasn’t all at a loss. They boys posed on a big train car that was in the parking lot.
That’s when I took over driving and made the executive decision to stop for the night at 4 p.m. I gps’d the nearest Comfort Inn (make-your-own Belgian waffles in the morning, don’t jusdge). The had an indoor pool that we enjoyed before dinner at the Olive Garden. JG commented on getting a room on the first floor right next to the side entry door. “This is what happens when you stop for the night early – you get a good room, lots of parking space for the truck and trailer.” To which he replied, “No, that’s what we get for staying in Ohio.” Well, I have all week to prove him wrong
Okay – so it’s very rare I get a bad meal at the Olive Garden. Well, JG ordered one of my favorite chicken dishes for himself – the scampi, so I figured I’d order something he enoyed se we could share with each other. I got the stuffed Chicken Marsala (bacon!) with the garlic mashed potatoes. Well – they were the worst mashed potatoes I’ve ever had out. I ate allt he mushrooms, took a bite of the chicken then sent the plate back.
Now, this morning on the way to Dayton we stopped at Best Buy to get a replacement DS for Edward since the used one he got from his brother at Christmas completely broke broke – first the hinges, then it was unable to charge. Ofcourse it breaks on the way to Melissas, the first hour of the trip.
Also, in the first hour of the trip the alarm went off at he Dulles Toll Road. We gyped them a quarter for the extra axle we had with the trailer.
Okay, so we’re at Best Buy today and JG goes to pay and realizes that he doen’t have his debit card. The last place he used it? Yep. Olive Garden. We put a hold on the card, then called the restauarant and asked them to shred it up.
We had fun at the Air Force museum. The only thing I was excited about seeing was the Hanoi Taxi. I was there when the last C-141 was retired there by the 445th Airlift Wing, AirForce Reserve, years ago.
Second favorite was the four of us crammed into the “photo” booth that makes a drawing.
So, I realized that my favorite thing to do at museums is to watch the videos. I need to file that for later.
In the time I’ve written this we’re now five miles from the Ohio, Indiana boarder. On the list is Scott Air Force Base and Hannibal, Missouri.
So we left Monday. Late. Way behind schedule. We’ll just skip over my meltdown about that. It was already going on rush hour traffic when we stopped at the Air Force Memorial one last time.
Speaking of the memorial, at our going way luncheon last week JG’s supervisor, Master Sgt Russell Petcoff, presented an Air Force Memorial paperweight to him. The memorial means a lot to us since we were married there, but especially for JG since he’s been covering the Air Force Memorial since they broke ground to build it about four years ago. This was also where he had his reenlistment.
If Sergeant Petcoff’s name sounds familiar to those of you who follow Air Force glogs, it probably because he’s done some blogging for U.S. Air Force Live.
So, back to Monday. We drove less than two hours into the trip and we stopped for the night at my friend Melissa’s in West Virginia. It had been about six years since we saw each other last. Since then we’ve both divorced and upgraded the caliber men in our life. The boys had a blast playing with her kids. Lelia is just one year older than our Edward, and since she’s a girl Edward was enamored. Zachary and Rudy played much better than when they were three and one.
And when we left West Virginia (skipping the part about the teary goodbye) we it was like we couldn’t leave West Virginia. We weaved in and out of the state two more times on the way to Ohio.
Once in Ohio we saw signs for a Toy and Train museum, but right now they are only open on weekends – would have been nice to know this before exiting the highway. But, it wasn’t all at a loss. They boys posed on a big train car that was in the parking lot.
That’s when I took over driving and made the executive decision to stop for the night at 4 p.m. I gps’d the nearest Comfort Inn (make-your-own Belgian waffles in the morning, don’t jusdge). The had an indoor pool that we enjoyed before dinner at the Olive Garden. JG commented on getting a room on the first floor right next to the side entry door. “This is what happens when you stop for the night early – you get a good room, lots of parking space for the truck and trailer.” To which he replied, “No, that’s what we get for staying in Ohio.” Well, I have all week to prove him wrong
Okay – so it’s very rare I get a bad meal at the Olive Garden. Well, JG ordered one of my favorite chicken dishes for himself – the scampi, so I figured I’d order something he enoyed se we could share with each other. I got the stuffed Chicken Marsala (bacon!) with the garlic mashed potatoes. Well – they were the worst mashed potatoes I’ve ever had out. I ate allt he mushrooms, took a bite of the chicken then sent the plate back.
Now, this morning on the way to Dayton we stopped at Best Buy to get a replacement DS for Edward since the used one he got from his brother at Christmas completely broke broke – first the hinges, then it was unable to charge. Ofcourse it breaks on the way to Melissas, the first hour of the trip.
Also, in the first hour of the trip the alarm went off at he Dulles Toll Road. We gyped them a quarter for the extra axle we had with the trailer.
Okay, so we’re at Best Buy today and JG goes to pay and realizes that he doen’t have his debit card. The last place he used it? Yep. Olive Garden. We put a hold on the card, then called the restauarant and asked them to shred it up.
We had fun at the Air Force museum. The only thing I was excited about seeing was the Hanoi Taxi. I was there when the last C-141 was retired there by the 445th Airlift Wing, AirForce Reserve, years ago.
Second favorite was the four of us crammed into the “photo” booth that makes a drawing.
So, I realized that my favorite thing to do at museums is to watch the videos. I need to file that for later.
In the time I’ve written this we’re now five miles from the Ohio, Indiana boarder. On the list is Scott Air Force Base and Hannibal, Missouri.
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