This month I've decided to post every day. Since I don't have enough original things to write about (hence the desertish nature of my blog lately), I've decided to ask a new question every day this month and hope that I get answers. I have questions; you have answers.
When I took my Neurology Boards recertification test in 2007, I was semi-convinced I wouldn't pass. Like many people, I tend to obsess about important tests prior to the test, then be calm, cool, and collected once it starts. The Neurology Oral Boards were an exception to that rule (I practically cried during part of it). Anyway, TheHusband believed I would pass on the first try, but wasn't above a little positive reinforcement. He told me that if I passed the recertification on the 1st try, we would go to Alaska or Hawaii; if I passed on the 2nd try, we'd get to go to Florida; but if I passed on the 3rd try, we'd be going to Cleveland. In winter. To visit my mother-in-law. Now my MiL is a wonderful woman, but Cleveland in winter is ... not.
Needless to say, with that incentive, I passed (well) on the first try. So I get to pick between Alaska and Hawaii. Which should I pick and why? And which would you rather visit?
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
06 November 2010
07 September 2010
The Curse of Lake Wallenpaupack
Yes, it struck again. I've mentioned that whenever we visit my friends at their house in the Poconos, something bad seems to happen. Even when they come to visit us, badness occurs. I did threaten to leave TheHusband home if we went to the lake house again. This time, he wasn't the problem.
We wanted a low-key, relaxing summer vacation this year. Last summer we went to Great Wolf Lodge right before school started, which was fun but frenetic (add friends with 4 kids and frenetic is definitive). So we tempted fate and stayed at our friends' lake house in the Poconos for a WHOLE WEEK, from 8/21-8/29. I was really tempting fate with a whole week's stay.
Our trip there was mildly annoying, because we left an hour and a half later than planned, forgot the blow-up mattress (thankfully our friends brought theirs), and left the car adapter for the DVD player at home. A Radio Shack along the way didn't have the right tip. So we had a 4 hour car ride with an only child and no obvious method of entertainment (it was dark for almost the whole ride). We survived. And, yes I am fully aware that everyone in my generation (and a million generations before mine) all went on long car trips without such nice methods of entertainment. Yes, yes, I know that. But it does make things so much easier.
The first weekend was nice, although the weather turned against us on Sunday (low 70s and rainy). Seven and four year-olds don't mind going in the lake or hot tub when it's raining. Their parents don't love standing around in the rain quite as much. Later that day, our friends went home and we had almost a whole week of relaxation and fun ahead of us.
It was fun and relaxing. Perhaps a bit more relaxing than expected, as it rained and was cool from Sunday through Wednesday. It was like 500 degrees every day this summer, except that week. Where's the justice in that, eh? We went to 2 different "family fun" places, and ThePinkThing played skee-ball, air hockey, and other arcade games that (of course) promote mental development. TheHusband and I had our usual no-holds-barred, cutthroat game of air hockey, for which I will sacrifice a certain level of back pain. I WON, OF COURSE. We went to a mall to buy some of her school clothes. We drove to NJ to see my grandparents, who live about 2 hours from Lake Wallenpaupack. I even worked one of the days. Not exactly the activities I was expecting for a vacation at the Poconos lake. I figured that our badness this year was the weather. No biggie in the real scheme of things.
Thursday the weather cleared up, although the lake temperature was, um, cool. TheHusband had promised ThePinkThing that he would take her Jet-Skiing, and Thursday was the day. Riding on a Jet-Ski was basically forbidden by SpineDoc for me ("Are you nuts? You had a lumbar fusion a few months ago. You know better than that..."), so I was the cheering section on shore. TPT enjoyed it but got really cold. She also said that she liked going 10 mph better than 40 mph. I wonder what that says about my husband's aquatic driving skills? Friday we went to a very nice beach at the lake. Sunny, nice, cold water, few people, lots of sand, very attentive and hungry ducks. (Did you know that ducks eat ice cream sandwiches? I didn't until that day.)
Friday night (8/27) my friends and their daughters arrived. (Yay, PinkPlaymates! And grown-ups to hang with, too!) Saturday was another beach day. One nice thing about kids of a certain age is that you no longer have to hover over them or watch them every minute.
On the Sunday morning I was silently congratulating myself for surviving the week at Lake Wallenpaupack unscathed. In retrospect, I just should've kept my (internal) piehole shut. TPT and the 7 year-old PinkPlaymate were riding their scooters on the back deck, while the four year-old was alternately begging to join in and whining that the big girls weren't playing with her. The wheel of TPT's scooter must've gotten caught in between the slats of the deck, and she fell over, hitting her face on the edge of the bench. She immediately started crying. She is the kind of kid who cries at the drop of a hat, and I have learned to differentiate the "Wah -- that hurt" cry from the "OMFG WAAAAAAHHHH, a limb is hanging by a thread" kinda cry. She let out one of the latter.
I may have mobility issues, but I can move quickly enough when I need to. She hit her right eye (the eyelid, thank goodness) and the bridge of her nose on a square edge of a bench. She ended up with a laceration on the eyelid and some pretty impressive swelling/bruising of the right eyelid. She may have had a hairline fracture of the bridge of her nose, but if she did, it was asymptomatic and non-displaced.
One other bad thing about this most recent evidence of the Curse was that she had her first day of school on the day after the injury. Poor thing was in a total tizzy about going to school with a black eye -- to the point where she "couldn't fall asleep". Once she got to school, she was fine, but boy it was a chore getting her to go. Note that a swollen eye and bruise on her nose didn't stop her from climbing the street pole, as usual.
A week after the injury, you can't even see it -- the healing power of children. TheHusband has now refused to visit my friends' lake house next summer, in hopes that the Curse of Lake Wallenpaupack may dissipate, if we stay away. He said that if we go to Alaska instead, it might not find us there. I'm game.
We wanted a low-key, relaxing summer vacation this year. Last summer we went to Great Wolf Lodge right before school started, which was fun but frenetic (add friends with 4 kids and frenetic is definitive). So we tempted fate and stayed at our friends' lake house in the Poconos for a WHOLE WEEK, from 8/21-8/29. I was really tempting fate with a whole week's stay.
Our trip there was mildly annoying, because we left an hour and a half later than planned, forgot the blow-up mattress (thankfully our friends brought theirs), and left the car adapter for the DVD player at home. A Radio Shack along the way didn't have the right tip. So we had a 4 hour car ride with an only child and no obvious method of entertainment (it was dark for almost the whole ride). We survived. And, yes I am fully aware that everyone in my generation (and a million generations before mine) all went on long car trips without such nice methods of entertainment. Yes, yes, I know that. But it does make things so much easier.
The first weekend was nice, although the weather turned against us on Sunday (low 70s and rainy). Seven and four year-olds don't mind going in the lake or hot tub when it's raining. Their parents don't love standing around in the rain quite as much. Later that day, our friends went home and we had almost a whole week of relaxation and fun ahead of us.
It was fun and relaxing. Perhaps a bit more relaxing than expected, as it rained and was cool from Sunday through Wednesday. It was like 500 degrees every day this summer, except that week. Where's the justice in that, eh? We went to 2 different "family fun" places, and ThePinkThing played skee-ball, air hockey, and other arcade games that (of course) promote mental development. TheHusband and I had our usual no-holds-barred, cutthroat game of air hockey, for which I will sacrifice a certain level of back pain. I WON, OF COURSE. We went to a mall to buy some of her school clothes. We drove to NJ to see my grandparents, who live about 2 hours from Lake Wallenpaupack. I even worked one of the days. Not exactly the activities I was expecting for a vacation at the Poconos lake. I figured that our badness this year was the weather. No biggie in the real scheme of things.
Thursday the weather cleared up, although the lake temperature was, um, cool. TheHusband had promised ThePinkThing that he would take her Jet-Skiing, and Thursday was the day. Riding on a Jet-Ski was basically forbidden by SpineDoc for me ("Are you nuts? You had a lumbar fusion a few months ago. You know better than that..."), so I was the cheering section on shore. TPT enjoyed it but got really cold. She also said that she liked going 10 mph better than 40 mph. I wonder what that says about my husband's aquatic driving skills? Friday we went to a very nice beach at the lake. Sunny, nice, cold water, few people, lots of sand, very attentive and hungry ducks. (Did you know that ducks eat ice cream sandwiches? I didn't until that day.)Friday night (8/27) my friends and their daughters arrived. (Yay, PinkPlaymates! And grown-ups to hang with, too!) Saturday was another beach day. One nice thing about kids of a certain age is that you no longer have to hover over them or watch them every minute.
On the Sunday morning I was silently congratulating myself for surviving the week at Lake Wallenpaupack unscathed. In retrospect, I just should've kept my (internal) piehole shut. TPT and the 7 year-old PinkPlaymate were riding their scooters on the back deck, while the four year-old was alternately begging to join in and whining that the big girls weren't playing with her. The wheel of TPT's scooter must've gotten caught in between the slats of the deck, and she fell over, hitting her face on the edge of the bench. She immediately started crying. She is the kind of kid who cries at the drop of a hat, and I have learned to differentiate the "Wah -- that hurt" cry from the "OMFG WAAAAAAHHHH, a limb is hanging by a thread" kinda cry. She let out one of the latter.
I may have mobility issues, but I can move quickly enough when I need to. She hit her right eye (the eyelid, thank goodness) and the bridge of her nose on a square edge of a bench. She ended up with a laceration on the eyelid and some pretty impressive swelling/bruising of the right eyelid. She may have had a hairline fracture of the bridge of her nose, but if she did, it was asymptomatic and non-displaced.
One other bad thing about this most recent evidence of the Curse was that she had her first day of school on the day after the injury. Poor thing was in a total tizzy about going to school with a black eye -- to the point where she "couldn't fall asleep". Once she got to school, she was fine, but boy it was a chore getting her to go. Note that a swollen eye and bruise on her nose didn't stop her from climbing the street pole, as usual.
A week after the injury, you can't even see it -- the healing power of children. TheHusband has now refused to visit my friends' lake house next summer, in hopes that the Curse of Lake Wallenpaupack may dissipate, if we stay away. He said that if we go to Alaska instead, it might not find us there. I'm game.
26 December 2009
A stop in Savannah (with bonus)
I enjoy meeting internet friends in Real Life. After all, I met my best friend and my husband online. So far I haven't met an axe murderer, although my parents were half-convinced TheHusband was one before they met him ("he has tattoos!").
This year, I had a Christmas Eve present awaiting me in Savannah -- a meet-up with an internet friend, a fellow member of the sooper seekrit organization, the UCF. This friend prefers to remain anonymous, so I won't spill any info. I will, however, provide the picutre we took of TheHusband, MWT, me, and ThePinkThing.
It was fun, funny, yummy, and I'm sorry that MWT won't be in Savannah on the day we pass back through.
Now it's off to our real vacation. See you in a bit...
This year, I had a Christmas Eve present awaiting me in Savannah -- a meet-up with an internet friend, a fellow member of the sooper seekrit organization, the UCF. This friend prefers to remain anonymous, so I won't spill any info. I will, however, provide the picutre we took of TheHusband, MWT, me, and ThePinkThing.
It was fun, funny, yummy, and I'm sorry that MWT won't be in Savannah on the day we pass back through.
Now it's off to our real vacation. See you in a bit...
23 October 2009
A really nice wife
That's me -- a really nice wife.
One of TheHusband's friends was heading to Rome for business, and called TH for advice about 2 weeks ago. TH lived in southern Italy (Brundisi) for a few years in the mid 80's, when he was in the Navy. He, being the adventurous sort, rented a room with a family instead of living in the barracks. They wanted to learn English, and he wanted to get away from his fellow-sailors. It turned out that they never learned much English, but TH ended up speaking Italian fluently. He went back once in the mid 90's (before we met).
So anyway, back to his friend. The friend was really incredibly freaked out about visiting Italy (hello, it's not Yemen, Somalia, or Afghanistan). I was listening vaguely to TH's side of the conversation and finally said "Why don't you just go and meet up with him in Rome? You'll have a nice adventure and calm down HF." So we looked up flights, and he got a reasonably priced fare. He left last night, with a laptop bag and a moderate-sized shoulder bag (God knows, I can't travel that lightly). He should have landed about 4 hours ago. He gets to stay in Rome for a week, returning next Thursday.
See -- I am a nice wife. But he'd better bring me back a nice present, or maybe I won't be quite so nice... :-)
One of TheHusband's friends was heading to Rome for business, and called TH for advice about 2 weeks ago. TH lived in southern Italy (Brundisi) for a few years in the mid 80's, when he was in the Navy. He, being the adventurous sort, rented a room with a family instead of living in the barracks. They wanted to learn English, and he wanted to get away from his fellow-sailors. It turned out that they never learned much English, but TH ended up speaking Italian fluently. He went back once in the mid 90's (before we met).
So anyway, back to his friend. The friend was really incredibly freaked out about visiting Italy (hello, it's not Yemen, Somalia, or Afghanistan). I was listening vaguely to TH's side of the conversation and finally said "Why don't you just go and meet up with him in Rome? You'll have a nice adventure and calm down HF." So we looked up flights, and he got a reasonably priced fare. He left last night, with a laptop bag and a moderate-sized shoulder bag (God knows, I can't travel that lightly). He should have landed about 4 hours ago. He gets to stay in Rome for a week, returning next Thursday.
See -- I am a nice wife. But he'd better bring me back a nice present, or maybe I won't be quite so nice... :-)
30 August 2009
More From Great Wolf Lodge
We had a very nice time, although 2 full days is about all I can stand.
Our discussion upon arriving at GWL really set the tone for the days we were there...
TheHusband: We're here!
ThePinkThing (gummy-eyed from a nap): We are? Yay!
NeuronDoc: Yes. Let's get out and go check into the room.
TPT: Can we go to the water park now?
ND: After we eat some lunch.
TPT (gets out of the car): Ooh look, Mommy! It's made out of giant Lincoln Logs.
ND (trying not to laugh): They look like Lincoln logs, but really they are fake big tree trunks. And how do you know about Lincoln logs, anyway?
TPT: We learned about them in school and got to play with some.
ND: Really?
TPT: Yes. They're called Lincoln logs because President Lincoln invented them.
ND: Umm, no, they are probably called Lincoln logs because President Lincoln lived in a log cabin when he was little.
TPT: Oh. (pause) Can we go to the water park now?
Lincoln logs were invented by Abraham Lincoln?
We did manage to shove some lunch into her then trundled off to the water park. I really like that they have a family hot tub -- it is large and not as hot as a real hot tub. TPT enjoyed that. She climbed the fort-like thingy in the middle about 25 times to go down the two slides, but what she liked best was the bigger slides that TH took her on. She is not quite 48", but slyly stood on her toes to go on them. After she went on "the big kid slides", the other slides were also-rans. 
We hooked up with my friends and their kids on Thursday, and TPT had a great time playing with the older two boys (ages 7.5 and 6) and the baby girl (1 yr). She spent the least amount of time with the almost 4 year-old, partially because of age and partially because she still hasn't forgiven him for terrorizing her a couple of years ago. The only way he gets anything in a house with two older and bigger brothers is to be very forceful. My little only-child isn't used to that. (This isn't TPT in the picture, but I didn't have my camera with me the 18 times she went across this "path").
TPT enjoyed the evening Clock Tower show the first night but missed it the second night, because we were having fun in the arcade (more on the arcade tomorrow). Doug and the two older boys played MagicQuest -- some sort of computerized D&D-like activity, but TPT really wasn't interested. David (the 6 year-old) was especially pleased at her indifference because she gave her magic wand to him (thus he didn't have to share with his older brother). I splurged and got TPT a manicure-pedicure, both of which she thought were great. She is very ticklish, and she just giggled during the pedicure
We made a point of having rooms next door to each other on the ground floor, which allowed for "back-door" visiting. We even ate dinner on Thursday night on our little patio. It also allowed the grown-ups to hang in our room after the kids were in bed (although Doug kept going in to check on the kids). That kind of hang-out time makes me really sad that they don't live nearby.
My BFF (aka Claudia)
Doug
TheHusband, enjoying a Pepsi
All-in-all, a nice time. Now it's back to school -- tomorrow is day 1 of 1st grade!
Our discussion upon arriving at GWL really set the tone for the days we were there...
TheHusband: We're here!
ThePinkThing (gummy-eyed from a nap): We are? Yay!
NeuronDoc: Yes. Let's get out and go check into the room.
TPT: Can we go to the water park now?
ND: After we eat some lunch.
TPT (gets out of the car): Ooh look, Mommy! It's made out of giant Lincoln Logs.
ND (trying not to laugh): They look like Lincoln logs, but really they are fake big tree trunks. And how do you know about Lincoln logs, anyway?
TPT: We learned about them in school and got to play with some.
ND: Really?
TPT: Yes. They're called Lincoln logs because President Lincoln invented them.
ND: Umm, no, they are probably called Lincoln logs because President Lincoln lived in a log cabin when he was little.
TPT: Oh. (pause) Can we go to the water park now?
Lincoln logs were invented by Abraham Lincoln?
We did manage to shove some lunch into her then trundled off to the water park. I really like that they have a family hot tub -- it is large and not as hot as a real hot tub. TPT enjoyed that. She climbed the fort-like thingy in the middle about 25 times to go down the two slides, but what she liked best was the bigger slides that TH took her on. She is not quite 48", but slyly stood on her toes to go on them. After she went on "the big kid slides", the other slides were also-rans. 
We hooked up with my friends and their kids on Thursday, and TPT had a great time playing with the older two boys (ages 7.5 and 6) and the baby girl (1 yr). She spent the least amount of time with the almost 4 year-old, partially because of age and partially because she still hasn't forgiven him for terrorizing her a couple of years ago. The only way he gets anything in a house with two older and bigger brothers is to be very forceful. My little only-child isn't used to that. (This isn't TPT in the picture, but I didn't have my camera with me the 18 times she went across this "path").
TPT enjoyed the evening Clock Tower show the first night but missed it the second night, because we were having fun in the arcade (more on the arcade tomorrow). Doug and the two older boys played MagicQuest -- some sort of computerized D&D-like activity, but TPT really wasn't interested. David (the 6 year-old) was especially pleased at her indifference because she gave her magic wand to him (thus he didn't have to share with his older brother). I splurged and got TPT a manicure-pedicure, both of which she thought were great. She is very ticklish, and she just giggled during the pedicureWe made a point of having rooms next door to each other on the ground floor, which allowed for "back-door" visiting. We even ate dinner on Thursday night on our little patio. It also allowed the grown-ups to hang in our room after the kids were in bed (although Doug kept going in to check on the kids). That kind of hang-out time makes me really sad that they don't live nearby.
My BFF (aka Claudia) 
Doug (don't ask what he was holding in his hand...)
TheHusband, enjoying a PepsiAll-in-all, a nice time. Now it's back to school -- tomorrow is day 1 of 1st grade!
26 August 2009
Working like a dog to take time off...
I am insanely busy at work, in order to have a couple of days off. Therefore, don't expect to hear any of my wonderful words of wisdom until Monday.
Just in case you were curious -- the days off will be spent at a place guaranteed to make ThePinkThing happy -- Great Wolf Lodge. We've been before and had a great time. I plan to spend a few hours in the hot tub; in fact, my goal is to come out of there a hot, pink raisin. And best of all, this Great Wolf Lodge comes complete with a best friend. Yes, a real best friend. One who usually lives far away but is currently in my time zone (and has been so for like a whole week now without me getting to slap eyes on said best friend). So, hooray for my upcoming long weekend!
Hope yours is nice, too...
Just in case you were curious -- the days off will be spent at a place guaranteed to make ThePinkThing happy -- Great Wolf Lodge. We've been before and had a great time. I plan to spend a few hours in the hot tub; in fact, my goal is to come out of there a hot, pink raisin. And best of all, this Great Wolf Lodge comes complete with a best friend. Yes, a real best friend. One who usually lives far away but is currently in my time zone (and has been so for like a whole week now without me getting to slap eyes on said best friend). So, hooray for my upcoming long weekend!
Hope yours is nice, too...
06 August 2009
Not-A-Vacation
So I am back from my long weekend away. A much-needed mini-vacation. Except it wasn't a vacation. It was a busman's holiday, so to speak -- filled with medical issues.
First the good parts:
We drove up the evil I-95 corridor from MD to NJ, leaving around 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, and arriving around 3:45 pm. I swear that *&^%$-ing drive just gets longer and longer each time. Delaware is an absolute nightmare. The NJ Turnpike (which is an excellent road when there is no traffic) was dreadful for about 7 miles. There was a bonus back-up on the Garden State Parkway, near to our final destination (my grandparents' place). Five hours and 45 minutes to go 230 miles. We did have a nice visit with my grandparents, who I love to pieces.
As we were leaving my grandparents' house, I tripped over a carpet outside the back door. Those who know me know that I trip fairly easily, but I don't often fall down. When I do, it is usually a bad fall. This one was one of those -- one of those falls in slow-motion for me and for the onlookers (which included ThePinkThing). I tried to catch onto the railing but missed, so I went head first down about 3 concrete steps. That fucking hurt. I whacked my arm, belly, and head, and scraped my hands and knees. Thankfully I didn't break anything, but I raised a spectacular set of bruises.
I didn't notice the worst part until Monday, actually. Apparently I landed smash onto a small cyst that is on my belly, at my waistline. On Monday I noticed that it was swollen. By yesterday, it was hurting and today it was red, hot, swollen, and really painful. Yay, an infection. So (never wanting to treat my own self) I dropped by a friend's office. He offered to lance and drain it. I said "No freaking way! How about some nice antibiotics?" So now I am on antibiotics for a giant painful subcutaneous infection on my belly. I am falling apart. The bruises in the picture are 4 days old and healing.
No big deal you say -- it was just a fall, nothing broken, just some bruises, and a small infection. What are you whining about? Why the glum face? Well, I haven't mentioned TheHusband's 9 hour emergency room visit on Monday, have I?
He'd been complaining about belly pain on and off for a few days. On Sunday, I noticed that his potbelly looked bigger than usual, and pointed that out. He agreed. On Monday the pain was a bit worse, but we went to the fair anyway. About 30 minutes into the fair, he was white, sweaty and looked like he was going to pass out. He said that the belly pain was worse and localized in his right lower quadrant. "Crap, that could very well be appendicitis," I thought. He was clearly dehydrated and improved a little after drinking 16 oz of water. We decided to go to the ER anyway, because the belly pain wasn't any better. After much discussion, we decided that B would drive us back to the lake house (~1 hour away), while T would remain with the 3 kids at the fair. We'd pick up our car and drive to the hospital in Scranton where TPT had gotten her stitches. Of course it was a Monday afternoon, so the ER was packed. After about 2.5 hours, TH was taken into a room. Eventually he had a belly CT (yum, drink that contrast now...), which didn't show a surgical abdomen.
So at 11 pm we trekked back to B&T's house. TH's belly is still a little distended and it still hurts (although it is a little better now), but at least he didn't require surgery. It is off to the doctor on Monday for answers.
Thankfully, TPT was clueless about the ER visit. She had a great time at the fair, answered a question correctly at the Census Booth (who was president of the US in 1790?), saw (and petted) a boatload of animals, rode on an elephant(!) and a pony,
and went on about 40,000 carnival rides. A good time was had by all of the kids, which was really the point of the trip to the fair.
But you do see why I need a vacation to recover from my vacation, don't you?
First the good parts:
On Saturday night, I met up with four old friends from sleep-away camp. I haven't seen these "girls" in more than 25 years, and I last went to camp with them in the summer of 1979. Literally a week after I joined Facebook, one of my old camp friends friended me. That was a really pleasant bolt out of the blue. Over the next couple of months, we talked and decided to have a "Real Life" get-together. I must admit that I was a bit nervous. I am no longer 13 or 17 (or whatever I was when we last met up). I am over forty and feel it (and am starting to look it). My adolescent insecurities reared their ugly heads -- what if they thought I was stupid or ugly or boring? What if they all liked each other but not me? Stupid, I know, but events like this really do turn me into a quivering bag of internal insecurities. But (not shockingly) I had an excellent time. 
If you asked me specifically what we talked about, I don't think I could answer you. We talked to some degree about our kids and husbands and parents and siblings. We didn't talk about our jobs or politics or current events. We reminisced about things we did at camp. I either had a much worse time than they did and am suppressing my memories or I just don't dwell too much on the past (which is the most likely reason for my lack of memories). It was an extremely pleasant 3 hours, and we are hoping to get together again, next time with the families.- The other good part was getting to hang out with my best college friends (handily married to each other) at their lake house. They have 2 daughters, one of whom is a few months younger than ThePinkThing (D1). They play together nicely and try to exclude my friends' younger daughter (D2 -- age 3). We love spending time with them. Most of the time. Well, not when we visit them at the lake, actually. Two years ago, TPT and D1 were jumping on their beds, when TPT fell, banging her face on the headboard, causing a laceration above her right eyebrow. That required a trip to the ER and 4 stitches. The next night TPT peed in her bed. When we arrived home, I found a tick in my back, which TH had to remove with tweezers. Not a stellar trip. Last summer, TH lost his glasses in the lake. We had high hopes for this weekend, with a trip to the NJ State Fair (aka the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show) and a trip to a local beach at the lake planned.
We drove up the evil I-95 corridor from MD to NJ, leaving around 10 o'clock on Saturday morning, and arriving around 3:45 pm. I swear that *&^%$-ing drive just gets longer and longer each time. Delaware is an absolute nightmare. The NJ Turnpike (which is an excellent road when there is no traffic) was dreadful for about 7 miles. There was a bonus back-up on the Garden State Parkway, near to our final destination (my grandparents' place). Five hours and 45 minutes to go 230 miles. We did have a nice visit with my grandparents, who I love to pieces.
As we were leaving my grandparents' house, I tripped over a carpet outside the back door. Those who know me know that I trip fairly easily, but I don't often fall down. When I do, it is usually a bad fall. This one was one of those -- one of those falls in slow-motion for me and for the onlookers (which included ThePinkThing). I tried to catch onto the railing but missed, so I went head first down about 3 concrete steps. That fucking hurt. I whacked my arm, belly, and head, and scraped my hands and knees. Thankfully I didn't break anything, but I raised a spectacular set of bruises.
I didn't notice the worst part until Monday, actually. Apparently I landed smash onto a small cyst that is on my belly, at my waistline. On Monday I noticed that it was swollen. By yesterday, it was hurting and today it was red, hot, swollen, and really painful. Yay, an infection. So (never wanting to treat my own self) I dropped by a friend's office. He offered to lance and drain it. I said "No freaking way! How about some nice antibiotics?" So now I am on antibiotics for a giant painful subcutaneous infection on my belly. I am falling apart. The bruises in the picture are 4 days old and healing.No big deal you say -- it was just a fall, nothing broken, just some bruises, and a small infection. What are you whining about? Why the glum face? Well, I haven't mentioned TheHusband's 9 hour emergency room visit on Monday, have I?
He'd been complaining about belly pain on and off for a few days. On Sunday, I noticed that his potbelly looked bigger than usual, and pointed that out. He agreed. On Monday the pain was a bit worse, but we went to the fair anyway. About 30 minutes into the fair, he was white, sweaty and looked like he was going to pass out. He said that the belly pain was worse and localized in his right lower quadrant. "Crap, that could very well be appendicitis," I thought. He was clearly dehydrated and improved a little after drinking 16 oz of water. We decided to go to the ER anyway, because the belly pain wasn't any better. After much discussion, we decided that B would drive us back to the lake house (~1 hour away), while T would remain with the 3 kids at the fair. We'd pick up our car and drive to the hospital in Scranton where TPT had gotten her stitches. Of course it was a Monday afternoon, so the ER was packed. After about 2.5 hours, TH was taken into a room. Eventually he had a belly CT (yum, drink that contrast now...), which didn't show a surgical abdomen.
So at 11 pm we trekked back to B&T's house. TH's belly is still a little distended and it still hurts (although it is a little better now), but at least he didn't require surgery. It is off to the doctor on Monday for answers.Thankfully, TPT was clueless about the ER visit. She had a great time at the fair, answered a question correctly at the Census Booth (who was president of the US in 1790?), saw (and petted) a boatload of animals, rode on an elephant(!) and a pony,
and went on about 40,000 carnival rides. A good time was had by all of the kids, which was really the point of the trip to the fair.But you do see why I need a vacation to recover from my vacation, don't you?
20 July 2009
Space -- the Final Frontier (it really is, you know)
I did see the Apollo 11 Moon Landing. I really did, but I don't remember it. I was a few days shy of 3 years old on July 20, 1969. My parents woke me up and plopped me in front of the TV, but I have no recollection of it. I've seen the pictures -- me sitting in front of a big greenish-looking, very curved TV screen, set in a wooden cabinet.
My equivalent to the moon landing (in my memory) was the first shuttle launch. I watched it on the TV in my parents' bedroom, before school started that day. It was mind-blowing to a science fiction fan like myself -- we were heading out into space in a reusable rocket! I remember thinking "maybe I can take a vacation on the moon, when I'm old, like 40." Unfortunately, I am now over 40, and I can't see touristy-space travel for regular folks during my lifetime. Maybe in TPT's lifetime. I hope she goes to the moon, space stations, Mars, wherever she wants to go. I also remember distinctly when Sally Ride went up in Challenger. At that point, I really wanted to be an astronaut, but knew that would never be (if only because I get seasick on a calm lake, along with specific health reasons). However, my abiding love of science fiction and interest in space has never dimmed.
The closest I've come to space was having the opportunity to watch a real shuttle orbiter launch. One of TheHusband's best friends (and now a good friend of mine) has worked at NASA for years. NASA workers apparently can place their names on a list for shuttle launches -- names are picked in a lottery-like fashion. Well, her name came up in 2000. I was at work in September 2000, when something like the following conversation occurred:
The launch was STS-97, Endeavour's 15th mission, with planned liftoff at around 10 pm on 11/30/2000. We had to be there a few hours in advance to catch the bus from Kennedy Space Center's main parking area to the viewing site. We had special tickets which allowed us onto the grounds of KSC -- the rabble wasn't allowed in -- and these tickets also got us onto the buses.
It was a night launch, which was good and bad. The launch site was well-lit, as was the
area/bleachers where we sat. But we couldn't see the launch area or the shuttle well, as you can see in this picture (the shuttle is the biggest tiny light blob [right-most, bottom]). It was colder than we expected (it's Florida, right?), so we ended up buying one of those mylar space blankets, which kept us warm. The atmosphere in that area was really electric. People were milling around, sitting down, visiting the Apollo/Saturn V Center, taking pictures, chatting.
We climbed up to the second row from the top of the bleachers, figuring to get an unobstructed view (and 4 seats together). We chatted with the people around us. The family sitting behind us was at their 3rd launch -- they still hadn't seen a shuttle actually lift-off, because the previous 2 times they'd come, the launches had been delayed. There was an enormous digital countdown clock (for some reason, I don't have a picture of that), and the actual launch communication between Cape Canaveral and the shuttle itself was broadcast over large speakers. I am not much of a photographer, but I have a little knowledge of film cameras (we bought our first digital camera about 6 months after the launch). I bought high speed film (1000 speed), because I knew a flash would be useless.
Endeavour lifted off on the first try, which was beyond-words-amazing. It actually was bright as day for a few brief seconds...
Unfortunately, since Launch Day was the 1st day of our vacation, everything after it was a bit of a let-down.
One funny coincidence -- I was talking to one of my regular patients about 3 months later, and he had been at the same launch, but along the causeway, about 6 (?) miles away.
My equivalent to the moon landing (in my memory) was the first shuttle launch. I watched it on the TV in my parents' bedroom, before school started that day. It was mind-blowing to a science fiction fan like myself -- we were heading out into space in a reusable rocket! I remember thinking "maybe I can take a vacation on the moon, when I'm old, like 40." Unfortunately, I am now over 40, and I can't see touristy-space travel for regular folks during my lifetime. Maybe in TPT's lifetime. I hope she goes to the moon, space stations, Mars, wherever she wants to go. I also remember distinctly when Sally Ride went up in Challenger. At that point, I really wanted to be an astronaut, but knew that would never be (if only because I get seasick on a calm lake, along with specific health reasons). However, my abiding love of science fiction and interest in space has never dimmed.
The closest I've come to space was having the opportunity to watch a real shuttle orbiter launch. One of TheHusband's best friends (and now a good friend of mine) has worked at NASA for years. NASA workers apparently can place their names on a list for shuttle launches -- names are picked in a lottery-like fashion. Well, her name came up in 2000. I was at work in September 2000, when something like the following conversation occurred:
- (ring, ring)
Neurondoc: Hello?
TheHusband: Hi. I'll be home late tonight.
ND: Okay.
TH: Oh, I talked to C today. She called.
ND: What's up?
TH: She wanted to know if we were interested in coming down with her to see a space shuttle launch. I said it seemed interesting but that I'd have to discuss it with you.
ND (after my jaw hit the desk and my eyes bulged out of their sockets): You didn't say yes?
TH: No. Why? Do you want to go?
ND: YES! YES! How come you didn't tell her yes? What if she asks someone else? I want to go. I'm dying to go!
TH (clearly thinking that his wife has gone off the deep end): Well, how was I supposed to know without talking to you? You always get mad if I make plans without telling you about it first. I'm sure she hasn't asked anyone else yet. She said she'd wait to hear from us first.
ND (irrational, as any wife is allowed to be): This is different. You should've said yes right away!
TH: Then why don't you call C and talk directly to her.
ND: WHAT'S HER NUMBER?
The launch was STS-97, Endeavour's 15th mission, with planned liftoff at around 10 pm on 11/30/2000. We had to be there a few hours in advance to catch the bus from Kennedy Space Center's main parking area to the viewing site. We had special tickets which allowed us onto the grounds of KSC -- the rabble wasn't allowed in -- and these tickets also got us onto the buses.
It was a night launch, which was good and bad. The launch site was well-lit, as was the
area/bleachers where we sat. But we couldn't see the launch area or the shuttle well, as you can see in this picture (the shuttle is the biggest tiny light blob [right-most, bottom]). It was colder than we expected (it's Florida, right?), so we ended up buying one of those mylar space blankets, which kept us warm. The atmosphere in that area was really electric. People were milling around, sitting down, visiting the Apollo/Saturn V Center, taking pictures, chatting.We climbed up to the second row from the top of the bleachers, figuring to get an unobstructed view (and 4 seats together). We chatted with the people around us. The family sitting behind us was at their 3rd launch -- they still hadn't seen a shuttle actually lift-off, because the previous 2 times they'd come, the launches had been delayed. There was an enormous digital countdown clock (for some reason, I don't have a picture of that), and the actual launch communication between Cape Canaveral and the shuttle itself was broadcast over large speakers. I am not much of a photographer, but I have a little knowledge of film cameras (we bought our first digital camera about 6 months after the launch). I bought high speed film (1000 speed), because I knew a flash would be useless.
Endeavour lifted off on the first try, which was beyond-words-amazing. It actually was bright as day for a few brief seconds...
Unfortunately, since Launch Day was the 1st day of our vacation, everything after it was a bit of a let-down.One funny coincidence -- I was talking to one of my regular patients about 3 months later, and he had been at the same launch, but along the causeway, about 6 (?) miles away.
23 June 2009
My long weekend in OH and WV
We went to visit relatives in Ohio this weekend. TheHusband is from the Cleveland area, and all of his family still lives in OH. My cousin, L, met a nice boy from the Cleveland area when they were both living here in DC, moved to Ohio, and got married. So I have my very own set of Ohio relatives (well, I share them with the rest of the family, but you know what I mean). So there was double reason to go to Ohio for a visit.
L had a baby almost 8 months ago, and up until this past weekend, I still hadn't met him. I finally got to meet him on Saturday. He is an adorable, active, busy, drooly 7 month-old boy. One of the most charming things was watching him get so excited when either of his parents came into the room, even after only being away for a few minutes. That arm-waving, big-grinning, drooling, whole-body moving happiness that only babies of a certain age have. Much as I love the fact that I can have a conversation with ThePinkThing now, he made me long for that particular age.
We spent an enjoyable day with my cousins. We had planned to arrive around 10:30, and actually were almost on time. TPT was complaining about visiting L, J, and E, because she wanted to hang with Grammy. (Do you want some cheese with that whine, kid?) After E awoke from his nap, we went out to lunch at a nice place called Yours Truly, which is a local Cleveland chain, I understand. J had to take E on a few walks around the restaurant (remember, I said he is active) and even outside. E discovering his mother sitting on the other side of the glass was rather amusing. That and the baby fingerprints he left on the window... :-) Then we went to a local park, where TPT climbed some giant play structure (mostly out of my line of sight [thank goodness] while being supervised by TH and J) and made friends with some random age-matched girl there attending some other kid's birthday party. I am surprised that TPT didn't attach herself to that party. We all went back to my cousins' house and hung out for a time, then I sent TH and TPT back to Grammy's house.
Little Cousin, meet Big Cousin...
Come on and play...
That generated more whines, because now she didn't want to go back to Grammy's, she wanted to stay at E's house to play with him. But I shuffled them off. After bedtime for baby, the remaining 3 adults ate Turkish food. YUM! And I got a few extra hours of hang-out time with my cousin and her husband -- lucky me.
Sunday was a very busy day with multiple timelines. We got up, gave TH his Father's Day present (the 1st season of Hogan's Heroes) and his cards, including a really annoying Homer Simpson talking one (hee-hee). Then we met my SiL at a Bob Evans in New Philadelphia OH, which was sort of on our way home.
The next stop was one I had been looking forward to for weeks. I got to meet up with Random Michelle, at her house in Morgantown WV. Her place is literally on our way home. She, her husband and her Grandmom were wonderfully welcoming to 3 tired travellers. Michelle fed us homemade pizza and oreos, let TPT stick her nose in various flowers (she had a yellow-stained face even this morning), showed me her book collection (ooooh!) and the cobalt blue KitchenAid mixer that has been a recent topic of conversation. But the best part was the talking. First time meet-ups with "virtual" friends can sometimes not work out, but I never thought that would happen. We yapped and yakked and talked.
I am the Pizza Assistant, says TPT
The Visitors and The Hostess
And began planning the Trollopalooza, which will be happening in September. Yay -- I am looking forward to that meeting even more now. And Michelle has invited us over for pie on our way back from OH post-Thanksgiving. Double yay (as long as I don't have to eat the pumpkin pie...)!
Tomorrow I'll tell you about the other reason we schlepped out to Ohio this past weekend...
Little Cousin, meet Big Cousin...
Come on and play...
That generated more whines, because now she didn't want to go back to Grammy's, she wanted to stay at E's house to play with him. But I shuffled them off. After bedtime for baby, the remaining 3 adults ate Turkish food. YUM! And I got a few extra hours of hang-out time with my cousin and her husband -- lucky me.
Sunday was a very busy day with multiple timelines. We got up, gave TH his Father's Day present (the 1st season of Hogan's Heroes) and his cards, including a really annoying Homer Simpson talking one (hee-hee). Then we met my SiL at a Bob Evans in New Philadelphia OH, which was sort of on our way home.
The next stop was one I had been looking forward to for weeks. I got to meet up with Random Michelle, at her house in Morgantown WV. Her place is literally on our way home. She, her husband and her Grandmom were wonderfully welcoming to 3 tired travellers. Michelle fed us homemade pizza and oreos, let TPT stick her nose in various flowers (she had a yellow-stained face even this morning), showed me her book collection (ooooh!) and the cobalt blue KitchenAid mixer that has been a recent topic of conversation. But the best part was the talking. First time meet-ups with "virtual" friends can sometimes not work out, but I never thought that would happen. We yapped and yakked and talked.
I am the Pizza Assistant, says TPT
The Visitors and The Hostess
And began planning the Trollopalooza, which will be happening in September. Yay -- I am looking forward to that meeting even more now. And Michelle has invited us over for pie on our way back from OH post-Thanksgiving. Double yay (as long as I don't have to eat the pumpkin pie...)!
Tomorrow I'll tell you about the other reason we schlepped out to Ohio this past weekend...
17 June 2009
More Brother Biking Info (because you can't get enough)
The most recent biking information from my brother (who should arrive in Utah at some point today).
Tues 6/9 -- Tribune, KS (47 mi)
Wed 6/10 -- Ordway, CO (119 mi)
Thu 6/11 -- Pueblo, CO (55 mi)
Fri 6/12 -- Pueblo (rest day; he saw Star Trek)
Sat 6/13 -- Howard, CO (94 mi)
Sun 6/14 -- Gunnison, CO (76 mi)
Mon 6/15 -- Placerville, CO (117 mi)
Tue 6/16 -- Dolores, CO (71 mi)
After the mountains, now the desert...
Check out his blog. I uploaded some nice pictures for him last night.
Tues 6/9 -- Tribune, KS (47 mi)
Wed 6/10 -- Ordway, CO (119 mi)
Thu 6/11 -- Pueblo, CO (55 mi)
Fri 6/12 -- Pueblo (rest day; he saw Star Trek)
Sat 6/13 -- Howard, CO (94 mi)
Sun 6/14 -- Gunnison, CO (76 mi)
Mon 6/15 -- Placerville, CO (117 mi)
Tue 6/16 -- Dolores, CO (71 mi)
After the mountains, now the desert...
Check out his blog. I uploaded some nice pictures for him last night.
09 June 2009
Another Brother Biking Update (Updated)
My brother hit the 2000 mile mark today, somewhere in Kansas. He is booking along. I guess he needs to make up some time before he hits western Colorado, where he will have a lot of vertical miles, as well as horizontal ones.
Here is a picture (as he had promised TheHusband) of Alexander, KS (pop'n 75).
I don't think that I have ever been in a town that small. How totally mind-blowing for this person who has never lived anywhere besides the East Coast of the US.
Sun 5/31 -- middle of nowhere, MO (84 miles)
Mon 6/1 -- Houston, MO (101 mi)
Tues, 6/2 -- Houston, MO (rest day)
Wed 6/3 -- Fair Grove, MO (81 mi)
Thu 6/4 -- Pittsburg, KS (102 mi)
Fri 6/5 -- Toronto, KS (102 mi)
Sat 6/6 -- Newton, KS (97 mi)
Sun 6/7 -- Larned, KS (108 mi)
Mon 6/8 -- Scott City, KS (121 mi!!!)
__________________________________
Updated 6/9, 12:38 pm (EDT)
Mountain Time! He's made it to Mountain Time. He's in Greeley Co, KS.
Here is a picture (as he had promised TheHusband) of Alexander, KS (pop'n 75).
I don't think that I have ever been in a town that small. How totally mind-blowing for this person who has never lived anywhere besides the East Coast of the US.
Sun 5/31 -- middle of nowhere, MO (84 miles)
Mon 6/1 -- Houston, MO (101 mi)
Tues, 6/2 -- Houston, MO (rest day)
Wed 6/3 -- Fair Grove, MO (81 mi)
Thu 6/4 -- Pittsburg, KS (102 mi)
Fri 6/5 -- Toronto, KS (102 mi)
Sat 6/6 -- Newton, KS (97 mi)
Sun 6/7 -- Larned, KS (108 mi)
Mon 6/8 -- Scott City, KS (121 mi!!!)
__________________________________
Updated 6/9, 12:38 pm (EDT)
Mountain Time! He's made it to Mountain Time. He's in Greeley Co, KS.
01 June 2009
Brother Biking Update
Got a text from Daniel on Saturday night with more recent locations and mileage. He also sent me some photos to put on his blog, which I have done. TheHusband and I told my brother that we would drop everything or anything to come to his aid east of the Mississippi. Last night, we relinquished that responsibility to Donny, although in reality, I would still drop everything and run... That's what big sisters are for, right? TheHusband is considering meeting him somewhere in Kansas, just because.
Here is the full list of his stops and the mileage. Some of the mileage is exact (i.e., what his bike computer said), and some is estimated (i.e., from his map). I don't know exactly where he stayed last night, though. :-(
Tue, 5/12 -- Occoquan, VA (???)
Wed, 5/13 -- Fredericksburg, VA (55 mi)
Thu, 5/14 -- Powhatan, VA (93 mi)
Fri, 5/15 -- Charlottesville, VA (70 mi)
Sat, 5/16 -- Lexington, VA (88 mi)
Sun, 5/17 -- Catawba, VA (66 mi)
Mon, 5/18 -- Blacksburg, VA (25 mi)
Tue, 5/219 -- Blacksburg, VA (rest day)
Wed, 5/20 -- Sugar Grove, VA (91 mi)
Thu, 5/21 -- Council, VA (83 mi)
Fri, 5/22 -- Hindman, KY (96 mi)
Sat, 5/23 -- Booneville, KY (65 mi)
Sun, 5/24 -- Berea, KY (???)
Mon, 5/25 -- Bardstown KY (98.5 mi)
Tue, 5/26 -- Bardstown, KY (off)
Wed, 5/27 -- Falls of Rough, KY (93 mi)
Thu, 5/28 -- Sebree, KY (74 mi)
Fri, 5/29 -- Eddyville, IL (90 mi)
Sat, 5/30 -- Chester, IL (105 mi)
Sun, 5/31 -- Somewhere in MO (???)
I used Google Maps "Walking" directions option to generate the maps below, so they are not entirely accurate. However, they do show how freaking far he has gone... Click on each to enlarge.
Bethesda, MD to Blacksburg, VA
Blacksburg, VA to Bardstown, KY
Bardstown, KY to Chester, IL
The whole trip (so far) on a topographical map. Virginia is one hilly place.
Here is the full list of his stops and the mileage. Some of the mileage is exact (i.e., what his bike computer said), and some is estimated (i.e., from his map). I don't know exactly where he stayed last night, though. :-(
Tue, 5/12 -- Occoquan, VA (???)
Wed, 5/13 -- Fredericksburg, VA (55 mi)
Thu, 5/14 -- Powhatan, VA (93 mi)
Fri, 5/15 -- Charlottesville, VA (70 mi)
Sat, 5/16 -- Lexington, VA (88 mi)
Sun, 5/17 -- Catawba, VA (66 mi)
Mon, 5/18 -- Blacksburg, VA (25 mi)
Tue, 5/219 -- Blacksburg, VA (rest day)
Wed, 5/20 -- Sugar Grove, VA (91 mi)
Thu, 5/21 -- Council, VA (83 mi)
Fri, 5/22 -- Hindman, KY (96 mi)
Sat, 5/23 -- Booneville, KY (65 mi)
Sun, 5/24 -- Berea, KY (???)
Mon, 5/25 -- Bardstown KY (98.5 mi)
Tue, 5/26 -- Bardstown, KY (off)
Wed, 5/27 -- Falls of Rough, KY (93 mi)
Thu, 5/28 -- Sebree, KY (74 mi)
Fri, 5/29 -- Eddyville, IL (90 mi)
Sat, 5/30 -- Chester, IL (105 mi)
Sun, 5/31 -- Somewhere in MO (???)
I used Google Maps "Walking" directions option to generate the maps below, so they are not entirely accurate. However, they do show how freaking far he has gone... Click on each to enlarge.
Bethesda, MD to Blacksburg, VA
Blacksburg, VA to Bardstown, KY
Bardstown, KY to Chester, IL
The whole trip (so far) on a topographical map. Virginia is one hilly place.
29 May 2009
Far away and with strong legs
My brother is now in another time zone. On Wednesday, he crossed into Central Time and, by the end of that day, he had biked 1,084 miles! Last night, he was in Sebree, KY, and he should make it to Illinois today. Next is Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Nevada, and then California. I hope he can find some time to stop and smell the roses.
If you want to read his travelblog, which is updated when he finds a signal, mosey on over and visit him at Handlebar Confessional. You can even read his description of the scary giant bug story here.
Why, yes, I really don't have anything useful to say today. How did you guess?
If you want to read his travelblog, which is updated when he finds a signal, mosey on over and visit him at Handlebar Confessional. You can even read his description of the scary giant bug story here.
Why, yes, I really don't have anything useful to say today. How did you guess?
23 May 2009
Scary! (updated)
Spoke to my brother tonight. He's made it to Kentucky!
All under the power of his own legs (and the wheels of his bicycle). He didn't have cell access the past couple of days, so this is our first conversation since Monday.
He is camping in Hindman Kentucky, on the grounds of someone's house or the local Historical Society, or perhaps both; I'm not sure. The person whose house it is has lots of cats, and a couple of times during our conversation, I heard my brother tell the cats to "Be quiet out there." Then he says "What is that?" Like I would have a clue what that is... A lynx? A panther? A Bengal tiger? Then he must have looked out of his tent, because he said "Eeeuuw!" rather loudly. When I asked what it was that had been plaguing him, he said it was a large bug. Which was clearly attracted to the light of his cell phone inside the tent. A bug. I'm in Maryland worrying about my brother in Kentucky being eaten by a bug? Humph. Then I heard lots of zipping sounds as he was shoring up the defenses and barricading himself against the giant bug. Hmmm. Maybe he has accidentally gotten onto the set of "Praying Mantis from Outer Space" -- where a giant praying mantis attacks a small town in Kentucky, wreaking tons of havoc and eating up innocent people. No? Probably not.
Anyway... He has ridden from Bethesda, MD to Hindman, KY in 11 days.
_____________________
updated Mon, 5/25, 10:15 am
It has been pointed out to me that I was being unkind in this post. Please understand that I am not dissing my brother. I am a total scaredy cat and can't imagine camping out alone in a tent. I would probably expire of fear. Plus, I don't see the point of sleeping anywhere where there isn't a bed...
All under the power of his own legs (and the wheels of his bicycle). He didn't have cell access the past couple of days, so this is our first conversation since Monday.
He is camping in Hindman Kentucky, on the grounds of someone's house or the local Historical Society, or perhaps both; I'm not sure. The person whose house it is has lots of cats, and a couple of times during our conversation, I heard my brother tell the cats to "Be quiet out there." Then he says "What is that?" Like I would have a clue what that is... A lynx? A panther? A Bengal tiger? Then he must have looked out of his tent, because he said "Eeeuuw!" rather loudly. When I asked what it was that had been plaguing him, he said it was a large bug. Which was clearly attracted to the light of his cell phone inside the tent. A bug. I'm in Maryland worrying about my brother in Kentucky being eaten by a bug? Humph. Then I heard lots of zipping sounds as he was shoring up the defenses and barricading himself against the giant bug. Hmmm. Maybe he has accidentally gotten onto the set of "Praying Mantis from Outer Space" -- where a giant praying mantis attacks a small town in Kentucky, wreaking tons of havoc and eating up innocent people. No? Probably not.
Anyway... He has ridden from Bethesda, MD to Hindman, KY in 11 days.
- Day 1 -- Occoquan, VA
Day 2 -- Fredericksburg, VA
Day 3 -- Powhatan, VA
Day 4 -- Charlottesville, VA
Day 5 -- Lexington, VA
Day 6 -- Catawba, VA
Day 7 -- Blacksburg, VA
Day 8 -- Blacksburg, VA (rest day)
Day 9 -- Sugar Grove, VA
Day 10 -- Council, VA
Day 11 -- Hindman, KY
_____________________
updated Mon, 5/25, 10:15 am
It has been pointed out to me that I was being unkind in this post. Please understand that I am not dissing my brother. I am a total scaredy cat and can't imagine camping out alone in a tent. I would probably expire of fear. Plus, I don't see the point of sleeping anywhere where there isn't a bed...
12 May 2009
So long, be careful...
My brother left my house at 10:05 am (EDT) en route to Los Angeles, by way of the rest of the country.
Best of luck, Brother, and have fun!
(And he'll probably be a slight bit annoyed that I posted this before he did. Tough poopies!)
10 May 2009
A journey of epic proportions
My brother flew in on Friday from LA, which is always an event in my household. ThePinkThing adores her Uncle Danny and would be happy to throw over her parents to move in with him. Every day for the week prior to his arrival, we counted down the days ("4 days until Uncle Danny...").
I picked him up at Dulles Airport, even though I felt as if I had been run over by a large camper. Thankfully, not only was his flight on time, but his luggage arrived. The cell phone lot at Dulles airport is a godsend -- I just sat in my car reading a book (and blowing my nose) until he called me say he was ready. It took me all of 5 minutes to get to the terminal from the lot. We came home to my house, and I tried to nap, but it just wasn't in the cards.
Then we got a call from TheHusband and had to deal with a bike-problem. Bike problem, you ask? Yup, a bike problem. You see, last week my brother shipped his bike here from LA, because he is bicycling back home. Yes, he will be bicycling across the country, beginning at my house, and ending (hopefully) at his.
I am amazed and awed, and (of course) a little nervous, as any older sister should be. I even bought him a useful gadget for the trip -- a solar powered phone charger, which will allow him to more easily remain in contact with the family. He has promised to text me his location fairly frequently (every day?), and I may post maps of his progress on his blog. TheHusband I promised him that he can call on us for anything (hospital, broken bike, jail, etc) east of the Mississippi. His partner is responsible for any problem west of the Mississippi. I may even fly out to Somewhere, Kansas to meet up with him, providing he can give me enough notice and we can plan appropriately around a rest day.
I can't wait to hear all the stories and see his pictures. And I am proud of him.
If you wish to follow his journey, you can find it at Handlebar Confessional...
I picked him up at Dulles Airport, even though I felt as if I had been run over by a large camper. Thankfully, not only was his flight on time, but his luggage arrived. The cell phone lot at Dulles airport is a godsend -- I just sat in my car reading a book (and blowing my nose) until he called me say he was ready. It took me all of 5 minutes to get to the terminal from the lot. We came home to my house, and I tried to nap, but it just wasn't in the cards.
Then we got a call from TheHusband and had to deal with a bike-problem. Bike problem, you ask? Yup, a bike problem. You see, last week my brother shipped his bike here from LA, because he is bicycling back home. Yes, he will be bicycling across the country, beginning at my house, and ending (hopefully) at his.
I am amazed and awed, and (of course) a little nervous, as any older sister should be. I even bought him a useful gadget for the trip -- a solar powered phone charger, which will allow him to more easily remain in contact with the family. He has promised to text me his location fairly frequently (every day?), and I may post maps of his progress on his blog. TheHusband I promised him that he can call on us for anything (hospital, broken bike, jail, etc) east of the Mississippi. His partner is responsible for any problem west of the Mississippi. I may even fly out to Somewhere, Kansas to meet up with him, providing he can give me enough notice and we can plan appropriately around a rest day.
I can't wait to hear all the stories and see his pictures. And I am proud of him.
If you wish to follow his journey, you can find it at Handlebar Confessional...
04 May 2009
Seattle and Whistler
So here are some pics from my recent sojourn to the Left Coast. I got to meet Jeri in Real Life (which was fab), and I have proof. She called me tiny (for which I will forever love her)!
I might be short, but I ain't tiny! :-)
This was the sunset (yes, a sunset in Seattle!) taken from the dock outside the restaurant where Jeri and I ate dinner the first time. She ate oysters. I didn't.
It only rained once the whole time I was there.
These photos were taken in Whistler Village, BC. Instead of doing the touristy thing in Vancouver, we decided to drive to Whistler, because it is a nice drive, and TheHusband likes to drive. I even managed to stay awake almost the whole time, which is unusual for me. The skiing and sliding events in the 2010 Winter Olympics will take place at Whistler. It will be odd to see these places on TV with tons more people...
Notice the difference in behavior. I am normal. He is not. :-P
Here I am looking surprisingly pleasant waiting to cross the border back into the States. It took about 3 minutes to cross into Canada on Wed afternoon and over an hour to cross back around noon on Fri. However, the overhead sign had said 90 minutes, so we felt like we had lucked out.
Yes, it really happened. I went to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle and neither fainted nor puked from fear. Those of you who know me well, know that I have acrophobia -- I am afraid of heights. I understand rationally that the building (walkway, bridge, dam, etc) will not fall down (crash to the earth, break suddenly into pieces) with me on it. Yes, the rational part of my brain understands this perfectly well. However, my hindbrain takes over, and I hyperventilate. And get freaked. But I knew TheHusband would love eating in the sky. So I went (I kept my eyes shut as we were going up in the elevator). And Jeri will attest that I behaved in a quite mannerly fashion. No fainting, puking, or freaking out. I just sat the furthest away from the window and pretended that we were 3 feet off the ground. And it helped that the food was excellent.
Mt. Ranier was really impressive. I want to go visit it someday. They just don't have brooding mountains like that in the DC area....
I might be short, but I ain't tiny! :-)
This was the sunset (yes, a sunset in Seattle!) taken from the dock outside the restaurant where Jeri and I ate dinner the first time. She ate oysters. I didn't.
It only rained once the whole time I was there.
These photos were taken in Whistler Village, BC. Instead of doing the touristy thing in Vancouver, we decided to drive to Whistler, because it is a nice drive, and TheHusband likes to drive. I even managed to stay awake almost the whole time, which is unusual for me. The skiing and sliding events in the 2010 Winter Olympics will take place at Whistler. It will be odd to see these places on TV with tons more people...
Notice the difference in behavior. I am normal. He is not. :-P
Here I am looking surprisingly pleasant waiting to cross the border back into the States. It took about 3 minutes to cross into Canada on Wed afternoon and over an hour to cross back around noon on Fri. However, the overhead sign had said 90 minutes, so we felt like we had lucked out.
Yes, it really happened. I went to the top of the Space Needle in Seattle and neither fainted nor puked from fear. Those of you who know me well, know that I have acrophobia -- I am afraid of heights. I understand rationally that the building (walkway, bridge, dam, etc) will not fall down (crash to the earth, break suddenly into pieces) with me on it. Yes, the rational part of my brain understands this perfectly well. However, my hindbrain takes over, and I hyperventilate. And get freaked. But I knew TheHusband would love eating in the sky. So I went (I kept my eyes shut as we were going up in the elevator). And Jeri will attest that I behaved in a quite mannerly fashion. No fainting, puking, or freaking out. I just sat the furthest away from the window and pretended that we were 3 feet off the ground. And it helped that the food was excellent.
Mt. Ranier was really impressive. I want to go visit it someday. They just don't have brooding mountains like that in the DC area....
03 May 2009
Home now
We arrived home last night in one piece, with all of our luggage. In fact, our suitcases were the 7th and 9th bags onto the baggage claim belt, and the bus to the parking lot arrived just as we were walking up to the bus stop. We made it from airplane door to car door to front door in 1.5 hours, which is a record.
ThePinkThing was waiting for us and totally excited, jumping all around. You can't beat that kind of greeting. It took her about 60 seconds before she asked what presents we had brought. :-)
I am finally wearing clean clothes (yay!). The packing cube was sitting on my dresser when I looked last night.
However, now I have to figure out what my MiL did to our TV (we only have the one TV). There is sound but no picture. And my new coffee maker is broken. (sigh)
Welcome home.
_________________________________
Update 5/3, 9:06 PM
Looks like it was a power spike that fried the TV sometime after my MiL last used it on Friday night. I guess that it isn't her fault. An LG technician will be coming out sometime this week to look at it. However, we went out today and bought a new TV for the basement. We had planned to buy one in a couple of weeks anyway (when we finally have a free weekend), so we just pushed up the timetable a little. Next up is a treadmill to go along with the TV (fry my brain while doing useful exercise)...
ThePinkThing was waiting for us and totally excited, jumping all around. You can't beat that kind of greeting. It took her about 60 seconds before she asked what presents we had brought. :-)
I am finally wearing clean clothes (yay!). The packing cube was sitting on my dresser when I looked last night.
However, now I have to figure out what my MiL did to our TV (we only have the one TV). There is sound but no picture. And my new coffee maker is broken. (sigh)
Welcome home.
_________________________________
Update 5/3, 9:06 PM
Looks like it was a power spike that fried the TV sometime after my MiL last used it on Friday night. I guess that it isn't her fault. An LG technician will be coming out sometime this week to look at it. However, we went out today and bought a new TV for the basement. We had planned to buy one in a couple of weeks anyway (when we finally have a free weekend), so we just pushed up the timetable a little. Next up is a treadmill to go along with the TV (fry my brain while doing useful exercise)...
02 May 2009
Travel
Tonight is my last night on the Left Coast. I am ready to get home. I had a great time. I learned a whole bunch of stuff at the AAN annual meeting that I will be able to apply to my work on a daily basis. I got to meet up with some colleagues who I hadn't seen in years. I even avoided one successfully. I got to visit a really cool city in a state in which I had never been. I did my best to stimulate the local economy by buying a bunch of stuff at Pike Place Market, until TheHusband requested that I leave some stuff for other people. We even drove to Vancouver, because neither of us had ever been there...
One of the best parts was getting to hang out with Jeri in Real Life. Tonight, I even went up to the top of the Space Needle, where Jeri, her sons, TheHusband and I all ate dinner. Those of you who know me well will be shocked that I actually did it, and no, TheHusband did not drug me in order to get me to the top. I am seriously phobic about heights. There are pictures to prove it, which I will post once I return home.
All in all, a great trip. Now I have to get home without catching the swine flu.
One of the best parts was getting to hang out with Jeri in Real Life. Tonight, I even went up to the top of the Space Needle, where Jeri, her sons, TheHusband and I all ate dinner. Those of you who know me well will be shocked that I actually did it, and no, TheHusband did not drug me in order to get me to the top. I am seriously phobic about heights. There are pictures to prove it, which I will post once I return home.
All in all, a great trip. Now I have to get home without catching the swine flu.
30 April 2009
Bad Husband
So I figured I would make things easier for TheHusband, during his travels. He has come out to the Left Coast for a few days. I didn't want to carry the clothes I'd be wearing for the second half of this week, so I packed them carefully in a packing cube, chucked it into his suitcase (along with his brand-spanking-new raincoat), and told him that it was in there. He arrived in Seattle this afternoon, and when I said something about my clothes, he looked totally blankly at me. He then said that he thought that the packing cube was some stuff from a prior trip that I had forgotten to take out, so he didn't bring it. And he literally has no idea where the raincoat was. Or memory of the conversation last Friday. Grrrrr. So now I am out of clean clothes and somewhat annoyed.
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