On The Road Again

I've got about 2 seconds before Indiana gets out of the shower and demands that we all get on the road, but I didn't want to leave you all hanging on the state of our trip. (Except for Taylor. I'm not talking to her because she called me Grandma.)

Our van is now well again and has behaved admirably, which is more than I can say for some of the males I'm traveling with. Thank you very much for your prayers.

We didn't leave until late afternoon yesterday, so we didn't get as far as we wanted, and we didn't stop until after midnight. Another long day of driving today, capped by meeting Kylee's family. I'm sure we'll make a good impression after being locked up in a moving vehicle together for two days. Good thing it's too soon for her to back out of the wedding!

NOTES:  The inside of the van smelled as much as I thought it would--even though no one played basketball right before we left.

I love my Iphone! It helped me navigate, and it also helped me find a motel after midnight. I would give up a child before I would give up my phone.

After this week, I'd probably give up a child for a lot less.

I forgot. I am giving up a child. He's getting married in three days.

I'm now having a panic attack.

I'm going to go breathe into a paper bag, and then we'll be back on the road.

After we stop at Walmart to pick up a comb because I forgot mine. I have interesting hair today. We also have to get some eyeglasses straightened because of some rough housing in the van yesterday. And I might need to buy more paper bags.

Oops! I heard the shower turn off! Gotta go!

Are We There Yet?! We Haven't Even Started!

We should have left on the Great Wedding Trip this morning, but obviously we haven't because if we had, I wouldn't be blogging right now. I should be finishing the packing and cleaning so that we can leave, but instead I've taken time out to talk to all of my cyber-buddies.

Aren't you special.

I'm not just procrastinating. We can't leave yet. We've hit a few glitches that we're trying to iron out. Like the fact that the van quit running Saturday night. It's a little hard to drive almost 20 hours when you have no vehicle. And I absolutely refuse to make the trip with Indiana, all five boys and the dog in the pickup truck. I'm obstinate that way.

Don't know what's wrong with the van, but we're hoping to hear from the mechanic today that it can be fixed easily and cheaply. Feel free to join in on our fervent prayers. They'd be much appreciated.

Also, the person who was going to come feed our cats while we're gone bailed on me last night about 11:00. I would be upset except it was a family emergency. So now I'm scrambling to find someone else who would love to may daily treks overs here to take care of Dex and Drizzle. And, no, I'm not taking the cats too. The dog is one pet too many for this trip.

And I keep getting grandma comments from people. What is up with that? I'm going to become a mother-in-law, folks, that's all. Yes, I'm aware of what comes next--I've been-there-done-that a few (okay, six) times, remember?--but it doesn't mean it has to come IMMEDIATELY next. Or anytime soon. Let's not rush things, shall we?

It doesn't help that I'm getting the comments from people not much younger than me. While at a graduation party Saturday, one woman was holding her two-month old nephew. Someone asked if it made her want another. Than the questioner turned to me and said something about "we" (including me) were just waiting for grandchildren. I didn't point it out, but I happen to be two years younger than the aunt, thank you very much!

I hate packing. And yet, it's got to be done before we get on the road. So I've got to go finish in the hopes that we will soon get a call from the mechanic that our van is road-worthy.

Instead of packing, I think I'll go color my hair. Maybe that will take care of the grandma comments for a while. Probably not, but it might help me feel better.

When we get back from this trip, I'm going to need a vacation.

Faster Than A Speeding Bullet!

In case you stop in here occasionally, sigh forlornly and wonder whatever happened to the crazy woman who used to post here, I'm still around. But life is moving at the speed of my title, and try as I might, I just never seem to get over here long enough to post.

The last two weeks have included some wonderful houseguests--between their family and ours, we had eight boys between the ages of 17 and 6 and one two-year-old girl who absolutely ruled over the males.

We also had Vacation Bible School. Our pirate theme was heartily embraced by everyone, and I actually had to discourage some from developing that authentic pirate smell. In this picture, Paul hadn't put together his complete costume yet, which is why he looks normal. Trust me, by the time VBS had rolled around he looked just as swashbuckling as the rest of my rogues. We had 120 on Friday, which is the most we've ever had, and there were 15 who accepted Christ during the week, which makes it all worth it. Plus, Nicky won a bike at graduation on Friday night, and he was given a Bible for memorizing the most Bible verses during the week (fifty-two!). Quite a finish for his last year as a student in VBS.

Indiana and I also had a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary somewhere in all that VBS week, but we hardly had time to notice it. That's okay, though, because we had decided well in advance that we were actually going to celebrate later on in the summer when we really had time to enjoy it. It's just as well because on our actual anniversary he was still sporting his pirate beard, which did not endear himself to me at all! (I have no pictures--they were all uploaded to Matt's computer.)

No sooner was VBS overwith than our attention turned to The Wedding. Only nine days until my oldest son marries the love of his life, and only a few days until we leave to begin our trip to the far north for all the festivities. (Since we live in Florida, just about anyplace is Far North!)

We will see lots of friends at the wedding, but three in particular are traveling there just for me. One is going a great distance because she's the closest I have to a sister, and I can't make it through this major point in my life without her. Plus, she has to sew me into my dress, which is a little big. Don't want it falling off during the ceremony!

Two other friends are traveling all the way from Florida ostensibly to attend the wedding, but really to help me with the rehearsal dinner. Bless their hearts, they know I'm out of my league any time I have to do more than bring the ice. Who knows what we'd be eating if they weren't going to be there! True friends, I tell you!

I'll try to blog occasionally on the trip because I'm sure I'll have much to say. In addition to all the wedding happenings, traveling for several days in a van with Indiana Jones, five sons and a dog with an attitude is enough to give anyone a need for an outlet.

Speaking of friends and blogs, I still visit and read most of yours, but for some reason Blogger has not been allowing me to comment. Either that, or my computer's the guilty party. At any rate, I've not been ignoring you, honestly. I've admired every jeweled word you all have written. I've just not been able to add one tarnished word of my own.

One final note:  the week before her wedding, you'd think a girl would be consumed with all of her own details, but my future daughter-in-law has been asking me what I might need her to do before we get there, and if there's anything I'll need help with after we arrive. Kylee's no bridezilla, that's for sure! Definitely a keeper!

Now I just have to finish the fiscal year end stuff at work, finish the packing and the shopping and the wash and the cleaning and the various other ten million details. And then it's--

ROAD TRIP!!

If It Weren't For the Hodgepodge ...

... I'd probably have no posts at all! Life is just rushing by too fast in these busy days of VBS and pre-wedding and trip-planning. But I am taking a moment to pause for Hodgepodge Identification. Click on the link and come on in. The water's fine!

1. Do you and your family enjoy camping? What do you enjoy most/like the least when it comes to family camping? When was the last time you camped?
My family enjoys camping. They are all boys. They love nothing better than to rough it in the wilderness with not even the basic necessities of life. Now me? I like necessities. And quite a few luxuries as well. My idea of roughing it is staying in a Motel 6.

2. Did you attend a summer camp when you were a kid? Is that a happy or not so happy memory?
No summer camp for me. My two older sisters went one year. I heard horror stories about initiation and decided I was too civilized for that kind of behavior. Plus, I liked luxuries when I was a kid, too. An un-airconditioned cabin shared with many strangers was not my idea of a good time.

3. Over the course of your life, what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?
Whether or not I'm doing this thing (life) right or not. I figure I'm running about fifty-fifty.

 4. Which of the seven natural wonders of the world would you most like to see? There are many lists of 'wonders' but this is the standard natural wonder list-Mount Everest, The Great Barrier Reef, The Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, The Harbor of Rio de Janerio, Paricutan Volcano and The Northern Lights.

I've seen the Grand Canyon and the Northern Lights (awesome, both.) I think I'd like to see the Great Barrier Reef and Victoria Falls. I'd like both of those to be part of a terrific vacation package that includes first class travel and five-star accomodations. Hey, I said I like luxuries!

5. What was your first real job?

I worked for an eye doctor who owned a travel agency on the side. I organized airline tickets into numerical order by hand every week, and it wasn't as exciting as it sounds, so don't be jealous.

6. Lemonade or Sweet tea...which do you prefer on a hot summer day?

I do not like iced tea, sweet or not, which is why I can never be a true southerner. (According to a southern friend of mine.) I like lemonade, but I want it fresh squeezed with lots of sweetness, lots of bite and lots if ice. Hmm, kind of like me! : )

7. What is something that always brings a smile to your face?

A comment on my blog. (Not that I'm hinting, or anything.)

8. Insert your own random thought here.

When you say, "It's just that kind of a day," do you usually mean that as a good thing or a bad thing?

A Capital Hodgpodge

I know I haven't posted in over a week, but if you read one or two of my recent posts, you'd realize why. It's not that I haven't thought of you all and had things to share with you. Like things a future mother-in-law has to do to get ready for a wedding, or telling you the story of Indiana Jones and the critter trap, but those delightful stories will have to wait. Right now I've got to participate in the Hodgepodge. I missed it last week, and I'm going through Hodgepodge withdrawal. So here we are:  seven questions and a random thought. Don't forget to comment, because otherwise I would be really sad!

1. Have you ever been to the US capital-Washington DC? If so, what's your favorite site? If not, what would you most like to see on a visit to that city someday in the future? Is it even on your list of places to visit?
I have been to Washington D.C. several times, and I absolutely love it there! The sight I would most like to see would be our elected officials actually accomplishing something worthwhile. (I'm not holding my breath.)

2. When did you last attend a wedding? Are there any weddings on your summer calendar? Were you a summer bride? If you're single, is summer the season of your dream wedding?

I never wanted to be a June bride because that was such a cliche. I wanted to be married in the fall. We picked a September date, but then my sister got engaged and picked an August date. She was going to be moving away and could not afford to travel back a month later for our wedding, so my mother asked us to move our wedding date up. Our 25th anniversary is June 14th.

P.S. After we changed our wedding date, my sister and her fiance broke up, and she didn't end up getting married for two more years. Go figure.

3. What is your favorite way to eat strawberries?
Piled between shortcake and coolwhip.

4. What is one thing you are especially looking forward to this summer?
That would be the wedding of one Matthew Boyd to our future daughter-in-law, Kylee. Only four-and-a-half weeks, people!

Not that I'm excited about it, or anything.

5. Do you use/like the self checker at the grocery store?
I liked them. I used them. But we don't have them around here anymore because no one else knew how to use them. They're like an express lane, people! They're not for checking out with an entire week's worth of groceries! 

6. Share a favorite piece of common sense advice.
Always wear clean underwear. That's good advice whether or not you end up in an automobile accident!

7. Barefoot, flip flops, tennis shoes, sassy sandals-your first choice for summertime?

As my future dil would tell you, your choice of shoes depends on where you're going, what you're wearing, what mood you're in, etc. She is a shoe aficionado. I have to agree. After all, I have these shoes to wear with my pirate costume for Vacation Bible School. But I really wouldn't want to wear them to run out to the store. Or to my son's wedding. : )

8. Insert your own random thought here.

A definition for hodgepodge is a muddle or mess. That would perfectly describe my life right now. I'm living the Hodgepodge!