Road Trippin'! (intro)

It's been amazing......if DH wasn't @ home...I don't know if I'd EVER want to come back. I am totally serious!

I missed a freeway exit tonight, so we ended up staying in WA w/ a friend from highschool tonight. It was VERY gracious of her to offer. Plus...she's letting me use her puter & net access. :D We drove through 2 states today. lol

Our trip started out 4 hours behind schedule...but it was ok. There were quite a few fun adventurous moments on our first leg of the trip & I can't wait to blog them all. The drive up the coast is very beautiful....even if extremely winding. I might have calluses from gripping the steering wheel so tight for 2 days straight. It is AMAZING to see FOREST growing right along side the BEACH!

Here are a few numbers to toss around:
4=hours we left behind schedule on day 1
2=number of tents we brought
1=number of tents we used
65=number of bridges we crossed on day 2
8=hours of driving we did on day 1
12=hours of driving we did on day 2
12 midnight=time we arrived in OR on day 2
5=number of cemetaries we passed before we got to OR

Reenergized & Revised...

Plan that is. A slight change in plans has made things much less hectic & also allowed me to sleep in a @ least an hour longer tomorrow. Which is always a good thing. ;-)

Don't want to post too many details right now for safety reasons...I know I'm pretty liberal on my blog...but you just. never. know. But I'll try to keep you updated w/ tons of pix & stuff wherever I can get service.

My camera died, btw. I think the rain @ LegoLand did it in. The lens won't open. Good thing DH has a nice (& smaller) digital camera that I can use. I'll also be taking his laptop & a few cell phones. lol

A few minor adjsutments to the itinery has made such a world of difference. A 13 hour drive was beginning to look extremely daunting. I changed it up a bit so the initial drive won't be so long.

And then they were off! :D

Feeling discouraged...

I don't know...I can just feel it coming...I am doing my standard 'shut down', feeling overwhelmed, distracted & unable to focus on the necessary tasks.

It's my own fault. I know my routine....I start feeling overwhelmed & then shut down to the point where I don't do anything, thus making myself more overwhelmed.

I only have tomorrow to get everything done that needs to be done before I leave. That is what is getting to me. I have packages to mail, bills to pay, packages to pick up to take w/ me to my aunt's house ect.

Most of the pressing tasks that I need to do are NOT trip related. lol

I still need to create & print a detailed maps for our route. I don't think I will need a camp reservation because I do not believe it will be too crowded right now. lol ;-) I need to pack everyone's clothes, blankets, the tents, air mattress & food & snacks.

I am excited about the trip itself. I believe once I get on the road....all will be fine & I am excited about that part. I had ds find & set up the tents in the back yard. Seeing them makes me excited. We have a really BIG tent! :D I knew it was big but....I haven't seen it for so long...I mean it's REALLY big! lolololol

I don't know if I should aim to leave @ 4am...or later....Decisions, decisions, decisions....

Lego Land

I don't know why none of my slide shows are showing anymore...please click here to view.

Today was the day. We had saved up, recycled & anticipated for months now. Contrary to weather reports, I really didn't believe it would RAIN! We ALL know that rain in CA is usually nothing more than 'drizzle'. Until today!

It was so cold & we were about drenched. The entire park is a wonder land of outdoor amusements & rides designed to cool you off in warm CA weather. When it rains....they close most of the rides down. Bummer!

Needless to day, after a few hours we were so done & I was so disappointed. We didn't do much more than we had when we went 6 years ago. We tried to make the best of it, but it was so cold. We dressed in layers, wearing our jackets & scarves...but it wasn't enough. We finally had to give in & go home.

It was fun for a while. It's ok. BUT I so hope it is not like this for our road trip next week or we'll be S.O.R.R.Y.!!!

1st time for everything

I was on my way home from a last minute grocery trip for tomorrow (Lego Land). DH called me real quick regarding FIL car that is for sale.

As I am hanging up w/ him & am getting ready to make a right turn, I see a couple cars stopped on the side of the road, one is getting a ticket. I think lil E asked: is that a cop? I notice a motorcycle cop behind me w/ a blue light flashing.

I'm like...is he pulling me OVER? I really had no idea, since I've never been pulled over before. SO I make my right turn & I'm like, hmmm? jic I'll turn into this parking lot & pretend like I'm going to the store & see if he follows me.

Yep! He sure did. The ktbunch were dead silent! I was so nervous. I roll down my window & he asks, in a business tone, to see my driver's license. Asks if the car is registered under my name. Yes, & my husbands. Tells me I was going 49 in a 35 zone! EEEEKKKK! Asks me what year my car is...2006? or 2005? 2004? I think.

I'm doing a mental check as to what year I am currently in! I honestly have NO idea how fast I was going. I truly was not paying attention.

He kinda laughs & his tone changes. He asks me if I usually drive down that way. I told him yah, I was just on my way home from the grocery store, we're going on a trip tomorrow. He kinda rolls his eyes & laughs & says, I wish I were going on a trip tomorrow. I'm like: sorry....

He just kept his flashlight on my lisence. Then he nicely said: 'ok, watch your speed please.' & handed me my lisence back.

WHEW!

I said a prayer of thanks for that grace & slowly headed home, I was only a main street away.

Another MIS-adventure?

I'm taking a ROAD TRIP! Which is truly amusing cause I don't really like driving, especially freeways. (which I know is ridiculous in LA) But I am gonna do it, I am.

My cousin is getting married, he lives in OR....so I am going to drive all the way there...WITH the ktbunch in tow. Then I am going to drive further North to see my best friend from Highschool in WA.

The fun part? I will NOT be rushing. We will take our time, pick up an e-friend along the way, stop & camp in the Redwoods, then arrive in OR to spend time w/ my aunt & get ready for my cousin's 'big day'. After that, go visit another e-friend on the way to see my HS friend, then head on back down & continue to take our time, see more sights & camp a night on our way home.

I am thinking the trip will take about 5 nights. Possibly 4.

I remember when I was little, my parents driving up to OR a few times to visit my auntie. One of those times we didn't drive straight through...we took the scenic route & saw the Redwoods. I clearly remember the 'drive-through-tree' & the GIANT statue of Paul Bunyun & his big blue ox.

I am looking forward to creating some of those same memories w/ my ktbunch.

The other things is: adventure, plain & simple. You're never too old for adventure...& if you are, I plan to prove it wrong.

Life IS adventure.

If you're not on an adventure, you must not be living.
Never too old to learn or try something new.

Am I nervous? Sure. AND excited! I've NEVER driven like that before! lol But I won't let fear or anything else keep me from DOING. (that's not a typo, btw) I'm a smart girl, we'll be ok.

Life is for the living.

I've got some planning to do. ;-)

He treats me well.

DH had these sent to me today for my birfday!

(the pix don't do them justice!)

I am sick! :( He is working. :( Weather is gloomy. :(

But the roses.....GORGEOUS! :D

Time for Plan B

He got his NON-acceptance letter today. You can read about it on my KtSkool Bunch Blog.
He didn't get accepted for the Visual Arts Conservatory & is on a waiting list for the Integrated Arts Conservatory.

The Nature Center

Create Your Own

If the slide show does not load click here.

We decided to mix it up a bit w/ our mom's group. We were/are outgrowing the height limit @ the play area @ the mall so this week we went to the local nature center. It was nice.

It was also extra nice since most of our school age children were all on spring break @ the same time. The weather was perfect. Whoever wanted to, made 'nature books'. I am hoping we can hit a different nature center each week.

It was a bit crowded since many other kids were also on spring break & were enjoying the nature center too. We did get to see more 'wildlife' than usual & were caught by surprise by a snake slithering it's way right across the trail.

The dad w/ us said "It's just a gopher snake." To which we responded: "To YOU it's 'just a gopher snake' to us, it's a SNAKE!!!!" lol

We ate a picnic lunch afterwards & then went inside to the touch museaum. They have lots of bones, furs & snake skins to touch. Specimens to check out, animal xrays & lots of other really neat stuff. Best of all, it's free, you just pay $4 for parking. ;) I'm hoping one of these days the ktbunch & I will be up to riding our bikes all the way there.

Seriously!?!

ANOTHER trip to the ER! If I did NOT have pix you probably would NOT believe me! ONLY MY child could get hurt & warrant a trip to the ER while SITTING watching tv!!!!!

I wish the pic wasn't so blurry. Her VERY first trip to the ER EVER was for the same cut in the same place (about 2-2.5 years ago)....but smaller & they put glue. A few weeks ago, @ the mall play area, she hit it on a foam toy & split it open again, but only a little, so I didn't do anything about it. Last night she was laying on the floor playing, somehow slipped & BAM! chin to the hard wood floor & I KNEW this one required a visit to the ER for stitches!!!!!

It was long & DEEP! The doc gave 4 stitches, kept commenting how there's GONNA be scarring---yah I know, I told you, this is the THIRD time it's happened! {sigh}

Urgent care closes @ 8:30 pm...so we had to SIT in the ER waiting room forever.....hours of waiting. I got there around 9:15-9:20pm......got home @ exactly 1:55 AM!

This one went a bit better than the ear....they numbed it BEFORE injecting the numbing syringe...but it still hurt a bit but after that, then not so much. It was momma trauma watching the guy insert the needle & sew it shut---UGH! I FORCED myself to watch as much as I could...figured if SHE had to go through it, least I could do was hold her hand and watch....but SQUEEEEEEEE......it was FREAKY! let me tell you.

SO L is totally beating my boys, combined, in ER/hospital visits!

Oh...funny thing...AS SOON AS IT happened, I thought she was just hurt, not gashed, & then when I saw it, she was crying, I was calm & my first thought was: Where's the CAMERA? lol

Easter 2007

This was taken @ my dad's house. He was asleep. I finished L's dress. We had an egg hunt for the littles & the bigger. lol We did not get up early for church, but we went later in the evening. It was all I could do to finish up L's dress & get myself ready. It was chilly. We had some yummy hamburgers.

Feeling Edgy

Out of sorts. Off. Just not right. Agitated.

Yah, that's pretty much it.

Then I realize...I miss my mom. I'm not really sure what 'missing' feels like, but I do know my edginess is directly related to her not being here right now. She always did the grands Easter baskets. I will be a much happier person Monday. Although 'happy' is really not the accurate word.......... I'd like to skip Easter, altogether. (no offense Lord)

I don't know what sets one day apart from the next, in regards to how I feel about my mom not being here. There is nothing particularly extra special about this weekend compared to say, last Thursday or this next Monday. Each day is a day w/o her in my life.

I know Christ died & rose again every day, so I don't think that is really it. It's just the moments.

What makes one moment more special than the next? What makes one moment more valuable than the one before?

Maybe it's not the moment @ all, but the memory. I remember last Easter. Why didn't I make sure to take a picture w/ her? I was probably annoyed in an eye rolling way, not a mean way, as daughters some times get w/ thier mothers for no good reason, I'm sure.

I remember we went to visit my grandma in the care center. She had on a lovely new outfit mom & I had picked out for her. A combination Easter/birthday outfit. I think it was a blue, tierd skirt, blue shirt & lightweight sweater. It might have been my birthday too cause I remember my Sil gave me a giant bag filled w/ different yarns as a gift....& a solid chocolate bunny. lol

My grandma could barely hold her head up in her wheel chair, it was kinda chilly. We took turns taking pictures w/ her, she looked a bit sad. Then it was time to go. DH was working.

We went back to my parents house, hid eggs for all the littles & took more pictures. I don't know why I didn't take pix w/ my parents.

Today we went to a birthday party for my nephew. I happened to mention how I felt edgy & how my mom always did the baskets. Then my aunt (all were there & I haven't seen them or spent any time w/ them since Christmas, btw, which was not the norm when my mom was alive) said that it's not edginess (for her) but an empty feeling. Then my other aunt asked what we were talking about but neither of us said anything then my first aunt just whispered it.

But why were we whispering? Why did I allow that to happen? I am not usually one to stand down, especially this. Maybe we both felt it was 'not a good time' @ the moment since it was a birthday party. But you know what? When is it ever a good moment? & why wouldn't it be a good moment to state the obvious---we all miss her. No the moment was instead shut down.

whisper. blink. gone. Happy Birthday.

Here we are. I see it now. I knew it anyway. My aunts & grandma have not come over to my dad's house like they used to. It's painfully obvious. My dad has to live there. But they, they can go home, into thier own houses & pretend. It is less real when they are in their own houses. I bet my dad wishes he had that luxury.

I know I do.

I got a hair cut. I got bangs. I have not had bangs for years! I wanted something different.

I read that after a death, there is a time of 'reinvention'. A time when you reinvent yourself as the person WITH OUT that person in thier life. It made sense to me. I'm not the same person I was last year @ this time... I was tired of looking like it.

I don't look so much like my mom now, w/ bangs.

It's hard to look in the mirror sometimes, when all you see, is who you miss.

I think Cancer is the new plague!

My Best friend from highschool called me yesterday. She lives out of state but we keep in touch. She has a son (3yo?) & a 3 mos old daughter.

She is the same age as me, 33.

She has cervical cancer & MUST have a hysterectomy. She will never have children again.

Everywhere I turn...CANCER. Out of the blue. No warning. Severe.

I think we all need to START smoking & drinking & then we won't get it!