Entries Tagged 'Uncategorized' ↓

Mom – 1
Kids – 2
Miles – 2164
Cups of Coffee – 12
Chicken Nuggets – 30

By ten o’clock this morning I’d made my decision. That comes across much more rationally in writing. By ten o’clock this morning I’d broken down in tears because I was scared of hurting my stepmother’s feelings. She strives to be a great and accomodating hostess, but their house is just not child friendly. My father is a hoarder and she loves her knick-knacks.

We’re holed up in a Super 8, which is a step up from the Motel 6 on our first trip through. There’s hot water, a working elevator, and no surprise porn.

This trip has given me a lot of time to think and I hope I retain some of the ideas I have for new topics.

Mom – 1
Kids – 2
Miles – 2101.2
Cups of coffee – 12
Chicken Nuggets – 26

Thank you Connie! If you ever need information Googled while you are stuck in traffic on I-355 outside of Chicago, she’s your gal. I made a terrible error with the toll booths, she researched how I could remit my missed. $0.05 so I don’t end up a fine over a bloody nickel.

Ten hours on the road and we have arrived at my father’s place. The true test of patience begins now. He lives in a small, completely packed and unchildproofed home. I have no idea how I’m going to get through the next 48 hours. Tim has suggested a motel for the second night and I’m truly beginning to think it may be my only vestige of hope.

Mom – 1
Kids – 2
Miles – 1799.8
Cups of Coffee – 1
Chicken Nuggets – 26

It’s cloudy, but no winter weather has been predicted. I really hope noting this doesn’t bite me in the rear again. We’re on our way to Joliet, IL. The kids are looking forward to seeing my father and his wife. Nothing exciting so far today and I hope things don’t change.

Mom – 1
Kids -2 (sleeping!)
Miles – 1650
Cups of Coffee – 10
Chicken Nuggets – 26 (the grandparents struck!)

I’ve enjoyed the past couple of days, catching up on sleep, enjoying great food, and spending time with family and friends. Tomorrow we pack it up and head back to Joliet, IL. If we do need to get a motel, I can assure everyone it will not be a Motel 6.

One aspect of the trip that has puzzled me is how others keep saying, “Wow she’s brave!” I don’t know how to explain my position, but this adventure doesn’t seem to require courage, scads of patience, but not courage exactly. It has been a lesson in trust, allowing some of the people I’ve met to lend a hand. Trust is not my strong suit; giving up control has never been easy. There are times, especially when I’m on my own, where I cannot do it all, at least not in a manner that is safe or in the mode I would like it done. I hope the rest of the trip is a positive expereince.

Blogger ate my last post, so here it is… the short version.

We arrived in S. St. Paul, MN at 11:50am.

Mom – 1
Kids – 2
Miles 1,639.7
Cups of coffee – 7 ~ 140oz
Chicken Nuggets – 16
Wrecks Passed – 12 (To my knowledge only one required medical assistance and that was in SC just past Ridgeville.)

It is so nice to sit and relax, to not hear roadnoise or listen to DJ patter. I wonder if there is a certain enunciation seminar required for all NPR employees. I am fairly certain I can pick out their announcers in approximately three seconds, less during pledge week. I hate pledge week, so of course that’s what time of year it is.

We made it.

I need a nap.

South St. Paul, MN

Mom – 1
Kids – 2
Miles – 1,639.7
Cups of coffee – 7 or 140oz
Chicken Nuggets consumed – 16
Wrecks Passed – 12 (To our knowledge only one required medical assitance and that was in SC)

We left Madison at 8am, it took about two hours to leave the area affected by the storm. 120 miles covered at 15mph would have been a painful ordeal. I am thankful I chose to stop for the night.

I’m worried. I think Aidan is going to be either a politician or preacher. He has succesfully charmed $0.50 out of elderly couples for the gumball machines at various stops. I hope this does not prove to be a pattern.

It’s nice to finally be at our destination. I’ve got our clothes in the washer and I can’t wait to take a hot shower and crawl into some warm jeans straight out of the dryer.

It’s 32 degrees outside. I don’t understand the attraction to this climate.

If you ever happen to be in Joliet, IL and find yourself in the need of a motel, do yourself a favor and ignore the light on at Motel 6. I’m not quite sure why the motel offers the option of “non-smoking” when the entire place reeks like a campus pub, a true dive bar, on a Sunday morning after the last drunk shuffles home.

Since when is hot water considered an optional amenity? I’ve spent most of three days in my car and no, it isn’t something I would consider an option. When checking out, I politely mentioned the matter to the front desk clerk, “Ma’am, I thought you should know that there was no hot water this morning,at best it was tepid.”

“We’re having problems with our hotwater heater.”

Silence on my part. Really, what do you say to that?

Oh and a warning about the free porn preview might have been nice, too. Sometimes you just can’t get a remote away from a three year old fast enough.

Well, we are holed up in a Microtel in Madison, WI. After getting lost around Milwaukee*, it started to rain. The temperature dropped and the rain turned to sleet, followed by snow. Our speed dropped from 65 to a mere 15 miles an hour. Forty-five minutes later I called my husband and we decided a motel room is cheaper than getting towed out of the ditch.

We have 270 miles to go. We’ll get an early start and still salvage some of tomorrow. There will be much more when the kids are unconscious; driving leaves lots of time for the mind to wander.

Connie, I’ll call you when I get into town and we’ll make arrangements.

*I firmly believe some locals removed some of the detour signs. I tried to use the old “As long as I head Northwest I will eventually intersect my needed road.” Ha!
I did stumble upon a nice view of Lake Michigan. Lovely. I stopped at a gas station for directions and a nice lady directed me entirely in the wrong direction. I finally broke down and called my husband who used mapquest to guide me to I-94.

We are just leaving from our pit stop and I see fluffy flakes of snow blowing by. I was hoping the system would dissipate, but looks like we’re out of luck weatherwise. We only have about six hours of driving to do, but I’m anticipating a ten hour trip, with frequent breaks.

Thankfully it’s neither snowing hard enough nor cold enough for it to stick. Let’s hope conditions don’t deteriorate.

Mom – 1
Kids – 2
Miles – 1295.2
cups of coffee – 5.5

My computer is crashing, more updates later