No matter how great a vacation has been--and ours was great--it's always good to be home again. When we drove to Breckenridge, we were in a hurry to get there because of a winter storm advisory; when we drove home today, we were in a hurry because of a winter storm advisory. It actually began to snow hard outside Wichita Falls, and Christian did a terrific job of guiding us through what was almost a whiteout. Two days in a car is grueling, almost all of it next to a three-year-old who was as good as you can expect a child that age to be in those circumstances. But still . . . at one point Jacob wailed, "I don't want to be a good boy!" I didn't blame him! I wanted to whine and cry too!
We didn't leave Breckenridge until almost noonMonday, which is 1:00 p.m.Texas. Big breakfast with most of the family at a terrific restaurant. It was good to visit, and as I fought the urge to say we should be on the road, I thought "What for?" If we get to Dumas at 6 p.m. what will we do then? So we lingered, visisted and had a good time. Findally got on the road, skirting Denver and going through the low mountain range to catch Highway 25 at Pueblo. But by the time we crossed the northwest corner of New Mexico and the towns in the Panhandle, we were tired and hungry. Jamie found a steakhouse in Dalhart (GPS systems are great) and we stopped and had a pretty good dinner, even though service was slow. Then on to Dumas, where we all went right to sleep in a really nice Comfort Inn.
Today we caravaned part way, then lost the Frisco Alters at a rest stop. We had Subway sandwiches in Vernon, feeling the pressure to get on home, and then inched along Hwy. 287, finally cutting through Saginaw to avoid the main north-south highway into Fort Worth, which was most likely clogged because of the snow. Arrived at my house about 4:30.
But there were good moments in that trip--last night at dinner I got to visit more with Jamie and 10-year-old Maddie than I had, and she was sweet at the motel, helping me find my room and insert the card to unlock it. Told her this morning I almost called her to ask how to operate the TV, coffee maker, and hair dryer. She's such a sophisticated traveler! And this morning, Jamie, Jordan and I had a good visit over breakfast and some honest talk--one result of which is my New Year resolution is to wear my hearing aids (first I have to unpack the suitcase and get them out, which I haven't done yet!). So it was like the entire vacation--a mixed bag with some really good high points.
I came home to lots of emails (couldn't get my cell phone to connect me for the last two days), lots of mail, and lots of chores--how does one retired person stay so busy? I have made headway tonight, but tomorrow I have a lunch appointment, a haircut, and a necessary grocery trip. Otherwise the day is mine,mine, mine!
Showing posts with label family vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family vacation. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Christmas flurry
I've been a laggard about blogging the last few days. One night I just didn't feel I had that much to say, and last night my computer did it's funny thing again where when I try to restart it, it reloads updates for hours on end. It started it at 1:30 yesterday afternoon and was still doing it when I went to sleep--most frustrating.
It's been a busy week, and I don't know why I scheduled so much for the last week before Christmas vacation. But Wed. I spoke to a book group luncheon (much fun, I think I blogged about it). Wed. night Jay and Susan came for wine and gift exchange. Thursday I spent all morning in the office, trying desperately to wrap up loose ends, and then went to a retirees luncheon--lovely music, good food, a pleasant time. Friday I was out the door at 8:30 to speak to two groups of elementary children at The Montessori Academy in Arlington. The younger ones (grades 1,2 and 3) were wildly enthusiastic, each raising their hands that they wanted to be writers, and we talked mostly about how a book goes from your computer to a published book (isn't it wonderful--even at that age they all work on computers!). They were full of questions, and the 45 minutes flew by; grades 4, 5, and 6 were more restrained--only a few who wanted to write, sporadic questions, with long silences between that left me thinking frantically about what story I could tell them. It wasn't a failure, but it wasn't my grandest moment. However, I was paid handsomely, and by 11 a.m. I was back at the office, again cleaning up last-minute details, and then for a Christmas staff lunch at a local Lebanese restaurant with a terrific buffet. Last night Jordan and Christian and Jacob came for King Ranch casserole that I had cobbled together the night before--Jacob didn't like it, but we all did. Then we went on a tour of lights around the city, which was lots of fun--I haven't done that in years. Jacob mostly enjoyed it, turned a bit whiny, but, hey, it's the holidays--even three-year-olds feel the excitement=stress.
I have decided my problem is that I like my own cooking too much. I've gained 3 lbs. in the last couple of weeks. I really really need to banish chocolate from this house. But Wed. I think I mentioned the lunch hostess cooked Doris casserole from my cookbook--and I ate two helpings, plus I ate dessert. Last night I ate two helpings of King Ranch chicken--I'd been wanting it for a while, and it tasted so good! And there were those chocolate chip bars left from the party that just stared at me until I had to eat two. A bad day for Weight Watchers points.
Today I have tried to be good--ate grilled (notice, not fried) oysters for lunch at the Flying Fish with my dear friend Charles (so glad to see him getting out) and his daughter Marsha. So far I've resisted chocolate. And tonight--ONE serving only of King Ranch, plus a bit of leftover cheese spread and the peas Jacob didn't eat last night. I'm trying to clean out the refrigerator, but that's a disaster for a diet.
Tomorrow I'll make sloppy Joe for the Frisco and Houston Alters, who will all spend the night, and we'll leave at 6:00 a.m. Monday for Colorado. The pet sitter will be at the house, the alarm service is on, and the neighborhood patrol has me on their list so I feel safe about leaving. Yet it's always a wrench for me to be away from home for more than one night. On the other hand, I know I'll enjoy the trip and being with my family. Look for sporadic blog posts.
It's been a busy week, and I don't know why I scheduled so much for the last week before Christmas vacation. But Wed. I spoke to a book group luncheon (much fun, I think I blogged about it). Wed. night Jay and Susan came for wine and gift exchange. Thursday I spent all morning in the office, trying desperately to wrap up loose ends, and then went to a retirees luncheon--lovely music, good food, a pleasant time. Friday I was out the door at 8:30 to speak to two groups of elementary children at The Montessori Academy in Arlington. The younger ones (grades 1,2 and 3) were wildly enthusiastic, each raising their hands that they wanted to be writers, and we talked mostly about how a book goes from your computer to a published book (isn't it wonderful--even at that age they all work on computers!). They were full of questions, and the 45 minutes flew by; grades 4, 5, and 6 were more restrained--only a few who wanted to write, sporadic questions, with long silences between that left me thinking frantically about what story I could tell them. It wasn't a failure, but it wasn't my grandest moment. However, I was paid handsomely, and by 11 a.m. I was back at the office, again cleaning up last-minute details, and then for a Christmas staff lunch at a local Lebanese restaurant with a terrific buffet. Last night Jordan and Christian and Jacob came for King Ranch casserole that I had cobbled together the night before--Jacob didn't like it, but we all did. Then we went on a tour of lights around the city, which was lots of fun--I haven't done that in years. Jacob mostly enjoyed it, turned a bit whiny, but, hey, it's the holidays--even three-year-olds feel the excitement=stress.
I have decided my problem is that I like my own cooking too much. I've gained 3 lbs. in the last couple of weeks. I really really need to banish chocolate from this house. But Wed. I think I mentioned the lunch hostess cooked Doris casserole from my cookbook--and I ate two helpings, plus I ate dessert. Last night I ate two helpings of King Ranch chicken--I'd been wanting it for a while, and it tasted so good! And there were those chocolate chip bars left from the party that just stared at me until I had to eat two. A bad day for Weight Watchers points.
Today I have tried to be good--ate grilled (notice, not fried) oysters for lunch at the Flying Fish with my dear friend Charles (so glad to see him getting out) and his daughter Marsha. So far I've resisted chocolate. And tonight--ONE serving only of King Ranch, plus a bit of leftover cheese spread and the peas Jacob didn't eat last night. I'm trying to clean out the refrigerator, but that's a disaster for a diet.
Tomorrow I'll make sloppy Joe for the Frisco and Houston Alters, who will all spend the night, and we'll leave at 6:00 a.m. Monday for Colorado. The pet sitter will be at the house, the alarm service is on, and the neighborhood patrol has me on their list so I feel safe about leaving. Yet it's always a wrench for me to be away from home for more than one night. On the other hand, I know I'll enjoy the trip and being with my family. Look for sporadic blog posts.
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