5 posts tagged “travel”

I am still sick.  The weather was horrible (and not in a good way).  But over all, it was a good Christmas.  Per norm, I came home with double what I left with and I enjoyed the company of all my family.

I was getting very annoyed with my mother towards the end of the day though.  I don't know if that was because it was just a long day, because I was still sick or she was being ridiculous.  Either way... the fact is that I was on time with the f'n scalloped potatoes and we don't need the f'n cheesecake.  That's all I need to say about that.

< sarcasm > Traveling with the dog was fun. </ sarcasm >  I don't know exactly what we were thinking when we thought all of us could fit in the cab of the beast.  I mean, it certainly could have been worse, but it wasn't exactly a ride to the park.  Pun intended.  Next time we'll either borrow/rent a car or we'll find a dogsitter.  Either way, we're not going to do that again.

The day started in fog as we headed to mom's.  Spending all morning and the first part of the afternoon there, the best gift (wrapping) was my gift to my best friend (16 years and counting).  I made a bracelet for her and didn't have any jewelry boxes so Frank came up with the brilliant idea of using a DVD case.  We chose one of the dollar sci-fi movies he had picked up for me - "Warriors of the Wasteland".  We hadn't watched it yet but it was only a dollar and was bought purely for MST3King.  So, J is starting to unwrap it and realizing that it's a DVD, closes her eyes until it's completely unwrapped.  Opening her eyes and seeing what it is, she looks up at me with a "What the F" on her lips.  I start laughing and tell her to open it.  Since she moved to sunny FL just visiting with her was gift enough... that, and the look on her face when she saw the DVD cover.  Priceless.

From there we traveled on in a mist to my step-mother's sister's house (soon to be ex-step-mother's... but that's another story) to spend a few hours with them.  Unfortunately we missed a lot of that family since their Christmas started later in the day and we had yet another stop to make before day was done.  I wouldn't trade those few hours for anything though.  Why is it that this Christmas more than any others, the company was what I craved?  Never mind the gifts... I'd give everything back if asked.  But the company?  Never.

Driving in the rain we made our last stop of the day, my aunt's.  I have to admit this is where the day went into the drain, but it still wasn't half as bad as other years have been.  At least I wasn't crying over a phone call.  Or lack thereof.  Mom called about the potatoes... which she forgot in the first place.  I didn't.  Yes, technically we were "late" but when I tell you I'm leaving someplace at 4, have to stop and let the dog out, pick up your potatoes and drive out to your sister's place... we're going to be taking some time to do it all.  What do you know?  Then our gifts didn't exactly knock anyone's socks off and we ended up taking back Grandma's gift.  We'll replace it with something she'll use and I do have to admit that at least she said something and didn't just take it to be nice.  Anyways... the end of the night came with Mom pushing our cheesecake back on us.  I'm trying to say goodbye because it's late, I'm sick, Frank's sick, and we're both tired.  But we must have our cheesecake.  I mean, she was almost frothing at the mouth "My preciouuuuussssssssssssss" about the cheesecake.  Five minutes later we have cheesecake and are all but running out the door.

We head homeward with a wet dog that's whining over all the lights (he loves chasing a flashlight's circle of light - I have stories) but nonetheless happy over the day.  Good food, good company and good gifts all around with few exceptions.  Who could ask for more?

Me.  I still want my phone call.  Call me greedy.

Warning:  do not attempt travel with a hyperactive big dog in a cab of a truck with two full sized adults.

And that's all I have to say for now.  I'm exhausted.  and still sick.

There are too many trips for me to recall every single one - or what we did each time too.  Instead I'll just say this...

Tranquil.

All of my trips up north (whether Traverse City, Sault Ste Marie or somewhere in between) were always relaxed jaunts into a world different from the hustle and bustle of urban (HAHAHA) life.  I can remember washing my hair numerous times in Lake Michigan - even with the water absolutely freezing.  Memories of walking through and over waterfalls.  Glances from people as my mother and I walk through trails hand in hand.  Apparently we were "gay" although how the hell that was the perception of a mother and daughter... who knows.  Searching for polished glass and petosky stones on the beaches and the pride when one or more was found.  Safe and comforting thoughts of the cabin on the beach... the first time I heard Pachebel and the waves were loud enough to almost tune the music out.  Finding the book of constellations and exploring the sky at night just like we had the beach during the day.  Life is slow.  Days stretch into long nights.  The best sleep I ever remember, even though the beds ranged from a cot to an actual bed.  Visiting friends and family for holidays or just because you can.  Sking through the forest, sledding down hills with the family on your heels.  Going on a road trip with your 12 pound kitten and watching him while he sits in grandma's lap as we all sit on the river's edge.  Seeing a small bird attack an eagle while searching for mushrooms with my aunt in the woods behind her cabin.  Crossing both bridges numerous times and laughing at the wind each time.  Fishing.  Sun burns.  Doing over 90 in the truck and getting pulled over.  S'mores.  Skipping stones.  Bonfires.  Life is a highway.

And then I lived up there for three months and realized the glaze vacation puts on it.  Living in a place is very different from just visiting.  You see more then you ever want to see.

I love the desert.  I want to live there someday, and the sooner the better.

But...

I hate Las Vegas.  I'm not a big fan of big cities in the first place, and in that respect, LV is actually pretty small.  (Chicago is sooooo not for me)  To be fair, I was only there for two and a half days.  Most of that was spent running around with a vocal group's (Three Men And A Tenor) tech director.  But I saw enough of the city that while I would like to go back someday to really spend some time there to give it a fighting chance - I know that I could never live there.  Perhaps on the outskirts and never venturing into the main throughfares.  And how crappy is that?  To hate your own city?  Eh.  Not for me, thanks.

But the area... oh the area.  I fell in love.

The weather - at least 110 each day we were there, but bone dry.  And after living in Mi where the summer's can feel like you're sitting in a brick sauna.  The air so thick you feel like you're drowning and any sweat that leaks out sits on your skin like a wart on a toad (only less removable).  Anyways... what I loved about the heat in Las Vegas was that it reminded me of the days I worked back in the kitchen with the grill.  I'd put my arms and hands inches from the bars... burning the hairs off and drawing odd looks from my coworkers.  But I loved the heat.  I couldn't get enough.  So, sitting in a brick oven, not so bad.  Sitting in a brick sauna... not for me.

And the view we had from the hotel!!  Stunning.  Breathtaking.  We stayed at the Mandelay Bay resort and I tell you what... we weren't there long enough for me to really give a yay or nay about the place.  But the view outside our window... I just stood there for a couple of minutes when we first got there, just soaking it in.  The desert leading up to mountains in the distance.  I could easily live there until I die.  Happily.

Would you believe I didn't bet a single penny the entire time?

I hate Florida.  I've been there about three times.  Sure, I'm pretty positive part of the problem with my experience was all personal psychology in my head.  Like the trip down for dad's wedding.

I digress.

This journal is meant to document travel I hope will occur more often in the not too distant future.

My fingers are crossed.

This is meant only to jog my memory (because we all know it's not that great - what did I have for breakfast this morning?) and not really for any public perusal.

next post - Las Vegas