A post on the fly ...

I can tell by the water running in the bathroom that Allyson is almost getting ready. I have yet to blow dry my hair so I'm gonna get, "BABIED" in a second. She HATES to wait for me. So this will be quick but I promise to post again this evening if the stars align.

THE WEATHER: We are waiting on a decent snow storm ... if everything works out according to NOAA.GOV then we will enjoy some white stuff for a few days and leave on a warm note. I had hoped to wake to a nice blanket of snow on the ground and was a little pensive about how I was going to negotiate the dog outside in the bag and into the snow. He has yet to use the puppy potty in the snow. To my dismay, it was a warm 32 this morning at 5:30 CMT. I may regret it tomorrow but I was hoping it would be a little colder here during our visit.

We did have a little excitement yesterday morning at about 6 when the fire alarm in our hotel went off. We quickly made our way outside in our PJ's with the duffel over my shoulder. Napoleon was obviously troubled by the obnoxiously loud alarm and was doing what I think were laps around the bag. I can't imagine what the people spilling out of the hotel were thinking about the two crazy girls with the creepy black bag.

HARK, I hear an anxious Allyson wanting me to get off my butt and into the bathroom the fix my hair. We are going exploring today and having lunch with an old friend from high school that I ran into at Borders our first full day in Golden. Imagine that, two Hollister Haybalers in the same Borders 1500 miles from home.

Pilgrimage to the Rocky Mountains

I think this may be the first time that I have "stopped" since, Monday the 20th. All good stuff but intense, to say the least. So, here I sit, in Golden, Co. typing away from the comfort of my Hampton Inn bed. The weather outside is crisp but not too cold. About 20 degrees warmer than home according to reports and I am a happy goose.

The drive was not too bad. Our first day started a little later than we expected, surprise, surprise. We made Ft. Smith, Ar., at 1230 EST. We got checked in and we were both out the instant our heads hit the pillow. Rather uneventful for the most part. Yesterday started about 9, again, and according to Magy we had about 14 hours ahead of us. We reached Wichita just before 2 PM and decided to find something yummy to eat. A quick Google search at the Starbucks just off the interstate revealed a tiny hole in the wall place about 5 miles from where we were. I have just four words to describe Le Monde, OUT OF THIS WORLD. Allyson decided on the lamb shank and I, the gyro. The floor was dirty, the tables were crooked, the plates were chipped but the food was incredible and the tab with under $30 for us both. Can't say enough about it. If you ever find yourself in Wichita, you need to find yourself at La Monde.

This is our first major road trip with Napoleon. He was amazing in the car. I had no idea how much the little monster would add to the drive, like a kid full of wonder but without the incessant, "Are we there yet?". Don't get me wrong, I love to travel with my kids, I really enjoy showing them new things and discovering things as a family but sometimes a girl needs a breather. Truth be told, he slept most the way but he is a great lap warmer and always good for a laugh. He rather enjoyed his bone from Allyson's lunch so you can say he is now an asphalt foodie like his Mama and Son Son. Now for another truth, the hotel doesn't allow pets so we have had to smuggle him in and out twice for "outside" time. I had to clear out my duffel and stuff him inside. (I always get a good chuckle when I unzip the bag and his head pops out ... hysterical. In fact, I'll try to catch it on the flip tonight.) I decided that it was less conspicuous than the zebra print blanket that Carla bought Allyson for this trip. Middle of the night, shuffling along in your slippers, hugging a fuzzy blanket, is believable. Middle of the day, dressed and ready to go out .... not so sneaky. So far, so good. Hopefully he will continue to be cooperative and we will be able to say we weren't thrown out of our room.

Not sure what today holds. Maybe Boulder, maybe not. I can almost promise good food and would bet the farm on good times with great friends. My post tomorrow may be a little late depending on how good of a time.

Life has the most interesting twists and turns

I guess when I think about it, Allyson and I really only "dated" for a short period of time. Trips to Lowes for toggle bolts, picking up the children from school, soccer games and theater rehearsals really is a stretch for dating by it's strictest definition. We spent a great deal of time together considering all the things that needed to be accomplished on a daily.

On one such outing while driving to one of the aforementioned tasks and past the Knight's Inn in Albany, Ally turned to me and in her sultry southern drawl she said, "If you act right, I'll take you to the Knight's Inn." To say that I nearly p'd myself laughing is an understatement. For those of you that are not from the greater Albany area you've all got a Knights Inn. Whether it is called the Cinderella, The Wiebe, or the Hitching Post, they are all the same.

Now the twist ... It's 7 A.M. and Allyson and I are sitting in RM. 202 of the Knights Inn. Voluntarily. Ally is doing hair for a three day Indian wedding and the brides family owns the Inn. I'm having to really watch my tongue and keep the seedy motel jokes to myself. No easy task.

I have never actually attended an Indian wedding but anything that lasts three days has got to be good. Why would you stretch something on so long if it sucked? As I sit and click away at the keys the mother of the bride is having her make-up finished but she is calm and collected as her daughters ask questions about the days events. She doesn't look old enough to be the mother of a bride. Her Saree is absolutely beautiful ... worth every moment of the seven week that was spent in India searching for the perfect ones. Every gown compliments each of the women perfectly. I think most of what I notice is that everyone is happy despite the hour and the fact that seven hundred people are waiting for the days events. SEVEN HUNDRED! The bride is to my left and from where I am sitting I can see the intricate beading and the silk fabric. I'm excited for Ally to finish pinning her curls so I can see her entire gown.

What I find most comforting about this whole experience is the certainty. With thousands of years of tradition on your side I guess it's all pretty much been done. I'm guess this is the first time, at least in this families lineage, that a lesbian and her girlfriend were a part of the mix.

Home at last

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW! What a trip. Literally and metaphorically. I thought this trip would be unforgettable and I was right!

The total miles logged from December 20 thru yesterday, January 5th totalled out at 5972.8. I realize that truckers do it like it's nothing but I'm not a trucker and they don't travel with their whole family ... or maybe they do, in which case I pity them. I don't mean to sound like I didn't enjoy myself, I did. TREMENDOUSLY! It was just plain exhausting.

The kids were great. Joe behaved like a trypical teenager, waking only to eat and use the little boy's room. Alexis was a great sport, reading and keeping herself entertained. There were a few moments when one or both were uncomfortable and a squable started. I found myself looking over my shoulder and saying something so typical like, "When I was a kid there were three of us in the back seat and laying down wasn't an option, stop your whining." Nothing quite like becoming your mother. I'm not certain that there was reasoning behind leaving the dvd players at home but I'm also not sure that it occured to me to pack them so this was a movie free trip with the kids. I feel another Mom moment coming on ... Remember when you were stuck listening to whatever your parents had on the radio and playing travel connect-four with a mint to replace one of the missing piece? DVD's are for sissy!

Our return trip was not quite as food centric and frankly the camera made few appearances. 14-16 hour travel days were not really condusive to snapping pictures and discovering new places to feed our faces. Don't cry for them, Argentina, the kids did not get robbed by any means with a stop at In' n Out, home-cooking at Grandma's, and some of the best bar-b-que I have ever tasted. I bet hot-lunch at school today (I was in no mood to pack lunches) was a big adjustment from the last two weeks.

I guess this concludes our posts from our first official GAYWALD Vacation .. We hope you have enjoyed a peak into our insanity and we look forward to our next adventure and sharing it with you.

I’ve always had the idea in the back of my head that blogging was for people that had something profound to say. HA, guess not! I don’t know that anything of substance has been recorded over the last two weeks but at the very least the writing has entertained Allyson and I and helped to pass the time.

Truth be told, I think Allyson is probably one of the funniest people I have ever met and I’m almost certain that she feels the same way. I think she also finds me mildly amusing. I suppose there is the distinct possibility that she is laughing at me but entertainment is entertainment, right? If I were to be asked for my insight into a relationship and it’s success, I would probably say it is most important to be able to laugh with your “person,” and at yourself. I relate to people through humor and if I spend my time or effort poking fun at you, I like you. I suppose I make fun of people I don’t like either ... I really don’t discriminate. You’ll have to decide which category you fall under.

For those of you just tuning in, Joe and Alexis flew out the Thursday before Allyson and I set out on our leg of the trip. Traveling with the kids is a totally different experience. On our way out, we spent endless hours oohing and ahhing over the beautiful landscape that stretched out in front of us. My 14 and 10 year old really don’t give a damn what’s going on outside the car unless it involves a drive-thru window and whatever is coming out of it. I really can’t complain, the kids are being great given the circumstances and I haven’t had to break out the first-aid kit. BONUS!

We hope to end up in Garland, Texas tonight/early tomorrow morning for a quick visit with Alexis’ paternal Grandparents. There’s somethin’ to chew on ... I’m taking my girlfriend and my kids to my ex-husband’s parents house .... The only thing better would be if HE read this blog!

Alrighty, that’s it for now, kiddies ... it’s time to pay attention to the road. The people behind me are really not sympathetic to all the bobbing and weaving.