Leaving Home

When people hear our story, they often ask, "How could you rent your house out for a year?  How did you leave your personal belongings? What was it like to leave your home with strangers?"  Short answer: weird.

For the long answer, here's an excerpt from my memoir on our sabbatical year:

The walkthrough was surreal.  Sustaining on shots of 5 Hour Energy and espresso, this is all I remember:

     “Oh my god, they’re here!  Emma, shove this in the sideboard! Wyatt, run this down the stairs!  Anabel, hide this under your bed!  Greg!  Where are you?”

     “I’m hiding more toys in the attic!  It’s five hundred degrees up here and I can’t find my way out…” Loud bangs and cussing came from above. 

Wyatt returned from the basement.  “Go help your dad get out of the attic before he falls through the ceiling!”

The doorbell rang.  Wiping sweat from my eyes, I answered the door with a smile on my face.  “Welcome to our home… your new home now, I guess.” 

This was the weird part.  In our home were our collections, items I had handmade, antiques from both sides of the family.  Walking through it with a complete stranger, and a foreigner no less, I wanted to stop all I had started.  How can I leave my grandmother’s chifferobe and Greg’s grandmother’s pie safe with people we don’t know?  How can I just throw the kids’ baby pictures in the basement and walk away?

Glancing at my wedding china still displayed in the dining room, I spread my arms wide and began showing Aapo around our home.  His English wasn’t great, but his manners were impeccable.  He smiled in every room and seemed genuinely interested in every minute detail my over-caffeinated brain spit out.  His wife, Aino, was still in Finland and wouldn't arrive until next week so he took housekeeping notes for her.  His pen flew across the paper as I rambled on about the vacuum cleaner.  He wrote in Finnish and for all I knew was writing warnings to his wife about the crazy American homeowner.  Being a businessman, he took pictures of any damage in the house.  I understood why this was necessary, but it felt like I was being judged; I’m sure my friends and neighbors had noted the same flaws, but they were kind enough not to take pictures.

Somewhere in the middle of my housekeeping trial, my sister and brother-in-law arrived.  Gail took the kids with her to pick-up Chinese for our dinner and Beau stayed to help finish loading the U-Haul for South Carolina.  They both met Aapo before he left.  It was some relief knowing they would be in town to watch over the house, if needed.

The U-Haul was finally loaded with only the essential fifty-five boxes and the Harley Davidson when I suddenly felt rooted to the spot.  I sluggishly strolled through each room one more time touching each cherished possession that wasn't tucked away in the basement or going with us to Fripp.  My exhaustion made it easier to let them go and entrust them to a stranger's care.  A person can only pack so many boxes in nine days.  We locked up our beloved home for the last time for our sabbatical year, loaded the dog in the car and drove away without a backwards glance.  
I don't think I had ever felt so free in my life.

Making Lemonade

We desperately want to go home.  After thirty-eight days on the road, our family is pooped!  Unfortunately, we have no available home to go to.   Our Fripp vacation home is rented for the summer and the lease on our Canton home doesn't end until July 16.  Our Finnish tenants in Canton offered the possibility of vacating the property early; however, my version of early did not coincide with their work schedule so we have two weeks to fill before we can sleep in our own beds again.  This could have sent us into a homesick depression, but I brainstormed a way to rally the troops:  Disney World!

How can we possibly afford Disney World after a year of expensive travels?  We have two aces up our sleeves:  a Disney points credit card that, thanks to all our travels, has been accumulating points for a while and five unused Disney theme park tickets because vacations have not always gone our way.

Stranded, USA

A couple of years ago, we planned a dream Christmas vacation to Orlando.  Sadly, our holiday soon turned into the vacation from hell.  Our car broke down just outside of Valdosta, Georgia.  While Greg had a mechanic at an all night truck stop check out the problem, Emma started throwing up in the car.  Luckily, the truck stop had showers.  After cleaning her up, I hosed the car down with lysol and crammed all her clothes and the coat I had grabbed to catch her vomit into a trash bag I had stolen from the truck stop waiting room.  (A mother does what she must... don't judge me.)  On our way once more, we made it to Gainesville when the car started making the same noises.  We spent the night in the first motel we could find.  By morning, Emma was feeling great and we discovered Providence had led us to a motel next door to a repair shop and a laundromat.  Greg had the car fixed while I washed the clothes.  By noon, we were finally headed to Disney World.  Unfortunately, the fix was temporary and we were completely stranded on the side of the road less than two hours later and only thirty miles to the Saratoga Springs Disney Resort.  Important Notice: there is a Bermuda Triangle/No Taxi Zone approximately twenty miles from Orlando.  We had our car towed without a problem, but no taxi would come get our family of five sitting on the Florida Turnpike.  Greg and I paced the fence line trying number after number while the kids sat with the luggage and the sun rapidly set.  (If you're traveling the turnpike, look for the crimped fence wire near mile marker 278 to see evidence of Greg's frustration.)  Finally, Greg convinced our Volvo roadside assistance agent (located in Canada) of our exact location and a pimped-out van with shag carpet and velour seats picked us up.  I have never been so happy to see velvet dice hanging from a rearview mirror in my life.  All our troubles magically disappeared as we checked into our one bedroom suite at the Disney Vacation Club resort.  My sister and brother-in-law had sent Emma a birthday surprise from Minnie Mouse and the ticket concierge "magic-ed" our stay by giving us five one-day park tickets.  We had already purchased tickets for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party which we used our first day and were saving our free tickets for the following day.  We had an amazing time in the Magic Kingdom at the Christmas Party and stayed until midnight to watch the snowfall along Main Street, USA.  Everything seemed perfect... At two a.m., Wyatt woke with a 104 degree temperature.  I stayed up all night trying to bring his fever down.  It finally broke around seven a.m. when Emma came down with the same fever.  Needless to say, we never used our free tickets.  We picked up our twice-repaired car (to the tune of $1500) and headed home.

Sick Little Boy Disney Dreaming

After this year is over, we will not be traveling anytime soon...  We can't go home... Why not use those tickets and spend our Disney Dollars?  I thought about this on a rainy night in Scotland and booked three nights at the value resort, All Star Movies, in Disney World while rooms were on sale for twenty percent off.  We had enough reward money to pay for three nights' hotel, one day theme park tickets and one day at a water park.  With our free tickets that gave us three days in the parks- free!  The kids have been such fantastic road scholars this year while traveling and learning around the USA and the UK; Greg and I wanted to take them some place just for fun.  Over pizza in London, we told the kids of our Disney Redux plan and they were thrilled.  The idea of amusement parks in their future immediately cured all homesickness.

So, after three wonderful nights with our cousins, we are headed for three nights in Orlando.  With six nights of our "two weeks till we're home" taken care of- Here's to making lemonade out of life's lemons.  Cheers!

Mountains and Museums in Edinburgh

Our Edinburgh Home

Springing for a Georgian (King George IV era not the state) apartment for our five nights in Edinburgh put quite a strain on our budget.  Built in 1830, our Regent Terrace home has been worth the six hundred pounds with its expansive and romantic windows complete with views of the Queen's Holyrood Park, private rear garden and convenient location, being only a couple of blocks from Princes Street and the Royal Mile.  I think the owner threw in the spine-tingling door creaks and window shakes for free, but after my sleepless night in Helensburgh waiting for the ghost of Mary Meredith to appear, I have controlled my imagination.

With our perfect location paid for, we searched the city for free activities for families.  Our apartment had a amazing view of one: Holyrood Park and the ancient volcanic mountain named Arthur's Seat.  The first thing Wyatt asked when he caught a glimpse of it was, "Can we climb that?"  My first thought, "No way in hell," but climb it we did.

Arthur's Seat

Starting early to get the two hour climb in before the rain, we headed toward the mount.  Wyatt and I argued about the best path up the cliff.  I wanted to take the incline plane pathway much traversed by hikers.  (We had studied simple machines this year so I was proud to apply the term and have the children understand.)  Wyatt preferred a more straightforward route by creating his own path up the mountain's side.   Guess who won the argument?  Thank God for the "Mommy Trump Card!"  I encouraged him to come back one day (without me) and scale the rocky cliff to his heart's content.  "Just please don't make your mother have to spend the day in a foreign emergency room..."

About half way up the path, I started worrying that I would be the patient in the ER visit.  I can't tell how disheartening it is (no pun intended) to have exercised and walked more this past year than ever in my life and still be on the verge of keeling over just going up a hill.  My heart was screaming!  My husband and two youngest kids bounded off ahead as Anabel and I sat on a pile of rock/steps to catch our breath.  Other hikers just stepped over us like we were road kill on their way to the top.

The Trail up the Mountain

Can you see Greg way above?

Out of pity (or sheer embarrassment), Greg hollered down to us that we should take the side trail around the peak and meet them on the other side.  Relieved, we headed around the path until I thought, "Wait a minute.  We have hiked all this way and may never be here again.  I want to see the view of the St. Andrew's ruins and the city of Edinburgh from the peak of Arthur's Seat!"  So we turned around - Anabel complaining the whole way, but still following me - and finished the climb.  It was breathtaking!  (Literally.  I couldn't breathe clearly for five minutes, but... damn it, we did it!)

Our View from the top

Anabel and I triumphantly enjoyed our view and walked down to visit the chapel ruins close up.  It would have been easy to just go around, and maybe I would have if my impressionable 13 year old daughter hadn't been with me.  I think being a parent makes me want to be a better person; and setting a good example and finishing what you started are just two lessons I struggle with daily.  Climbing a mountain did much for our health and our self-esteem.  We were further rewarded for our efforts with a spectacular spotting of over 20 swans swimming below the chapel in St. Margaret's Loch.  Have I mentioned that Anabel loves swans?  She gathered several swan feathers as souvenirs.  We may still make it to the emergency room... what kind of germs do bird feathers carry?

St. Andrew's Chapel Ruins from the Loch

Exercise, teachable moments, ancient ruins, incredible views and swans - all free!

Lady Emma

By the time the inevitable rain arrived, we were snug inside the National Museum of Scotland, also free.  Starting in the Land of Scots exhibit, we traced the history of Scotland and connected the dots from Inverness to Edinburgh, from Mary, Queen of Scots to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites.  With medieval armor and early examples of Christianity in the Highlands, the exhibit told the story of a thousand years of Scottish Clans.  One display reminded me of the Salem Witch Trials with its gruesome implements of torture used during the European witch hunts. Thumb screws or iron gag, anyone?  Once again, the kids gravitated to the hands-on exhibits and tried on costumes, worked trebuchets, and attempted tapestry work.

Similar to our nation's Smithsonian, the museum had many sections: natural life, Egyptian, communication, transportation, and astronomy.  Each section had an interactive part so the kids had a blast.  After our hike that morning, Greg and I were content to sit in the central grand gallery and let the kids play.  I couldn't think of a better way to spend a rainy day in Scotland!

Hours later, we walked home in the rain sipping hot chocolate and coffee.  The perfect end to a fantastic family day! (And our £1 drinks came with a doughnut for only 5 pence more... who could say no to that?  Not me.  Wait.  Could that be why I was huffing and puffing on the mountain?  If I connect the dots... or donuts, as the case maybe...)

Jet Lag Hangover

I am sitting in our cozy kitchen sipping tea and eating a scone while Emma frosts fairy cakes and Anabel shops for books on the Kindle.  Greg naps in the bedroom while Wyatt watches the mind-numbing Ninja Warriors on the "telly" in the sitting room.  Time has slowed as we suffer from a jet lag hangover that has lasted for almost a week.  But I planned it this way.

With plenty of travel experience from this year alone, I know that arriving in a new place gives you a burst of energy.  We turned and burned for two days in London (See London Day 1 and Day 2 blogs) and ran on energy reserves to navigate the British and Scottish rail systems, only to succumb to exhaustion once we were tucked into our apartments in Helensburgh.  

So I planned a seven day stay in one place to rest, relax and get to know the town before we are off to Inverness- where we will undoubtably make history when we spot and capture on film the legendary Nessie.  We will need our rest to handle the press and paparazzi since our photos will upstage the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. (This is our kids' fervent wish!)   After two days at the Loch Ness Lodge, we travel to Edinburgh for a five night stay with much to see in the city centre along the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace.  Then, we return for nine days to our adopted hometown of Helensburgh where we have already been charmed by its delightful people, and will have more time to get to know them.

Our schedule for the past four days has been filled with sweet nothingness... the magic of filling the time with desired occupations not necessities.  This is a first for this year!  With good intentions for rest and rejuvenation during our sabbatical year, we, instead, filled every minute with whirlwind trips, homeschool requirements, rental business responsibilities, and publishing deadlines.  Oh, to be like a character in Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway where we are all "companions in the art of living."  To break our American pattern of needing to either work or be entertained, we have strictly adhered to the following Helensburgh itinerary:  

Sometime between 8 AM and Noon - Wake and enjoy tea and toast.

Sometime between 10 AM and 2 PM - Walk into Helensburgh Central and shop for Dinner

Sometime between  1 PM and 3 PM - Luncheon (Egg and Cress or Liver and Bacon Sandwiches)

Sometime between 2 PM and 5 PM - Nap

Sometime between 3 PM and 6 PM - Walk/ play along the Firth of Clyde

Sometime between 5 PM and 8 PM - Cocktails in the garden

Sometime between 7 PM and 9 PM - Dinner (Leg of Lamb, Cornish Pies, fresh salmon)

Sometime between 8 PM and 11 PM- Knitting by the Telly, Bath and Bed.

I think I could get used to this.

Southern Family Goes to London...

Thanks, Shannon, for the cool pic!

Today is my birthday.  Normally, I would spend it with a fun family outing to the Atlanta Zoo or nearby park enjoying a gorgeous spring day.  This year, it is cloudy with a chance of rain and I am inside planning our last big family field trip to a place that is usually "cloudy with a chance of rain": the United Kingdom.

Planning has taken on a life of its own.  I've learned through traveling the USA with three kids that planning makes or breaks a trip.  Organizing an oversea's adventure has become my full-time job.  But what an exhilarating occupation!  When you get hooked on traveling, just making a reservation can give you a contact high.  I've always enjoyed having something to look forward to and planning a vacation or party is a huge part of that enjoyment.  But nothing beats the real thing.  When we land in London next week, we will be prepared for a once in a lifetime family experience.  All I have to do now is pack...

So my birthday gifts to myself are to spend the afternoon finalizing our tickets, confirming accommodations, packing for UK weather (did I mention it will most likely be cloudy with a chance of rain?) and arranging transportation for London... no "riding on a pony" for this family, and to spend tonight celebrating our trip and the end of our long stay on Fripp Island with our new friends in Beaufort County.  How is it that you can be sad to be leaving and happy to be going at the same time?

Frugal Living

Once upon a time, there lived a woman who could buy everything she needed and some of the stuff she wanted.  She shopped for new clothes for her husband and kids (and even herself if the "right size" fit.) She drank light (to get the "right size" to fit) caramel macchiatos at Starbuck's while searching for the perfect book at Barnes and Noble. She dined in the finest restaurants with waiters who brought her anything she requested and then cleaned up when she was finished.  She drove her own Volvo SUV and frequently downloaded songs on iTunes for her and her children's musical enjoyment while traveling from ballet to baseball, from PTA to ponies.  Life was good in the magical world of paychecks.

When the paychecks ended so did the fairytale.  Sabbatical life has reintroduced me to my dark, frugal side, much to my family's chagrin.  We have ventured through the looking glass and are definitely not in Kansas anymore.  (How many more cliches can I use in one post?  Keep count and I'll send you a coupon for $2 off Folger's coffee since that's all I drink now.)

Thanks, Kelly!

Here are just a few money saving changes we have made this year:

• Who needs new clothes when you aren't going to work and your kids are being home schooled?  Approximate savings: $3000
• Forgo the salon and have a friend cut your kids' hair.  Kelly's expertise was a godsend because I was planning to take a whack at it myself.  Approximate savings: $20 x 3 = $60 or $100 in hats and child size wigs. (Kelly, we'll need you back down for a return visit in 6-8 weeks.)
• Gone are the daily trips to Starbuck's since I switched to Folger's at pennies a cup.  Approximate savings: $3 x 365 = $1095  (No way I spent over a thousand dollars a year on coffee!  Maybe it was just twice a week... but if I add the times I pulled through a window for a Diet Dr. Pepper... Yikes!)
• With Starbuck's went Barnes and Noble, so we have embraced the local library system and are infinitely richer for it.  Approximate savings: $15/book x 40 books a year (very conservative estimate) = $600
• We only dine out extravagantly when we are traveling.  Now a trip to the value menu at Wendy's is a treat.  Approximate savings: $3000 - $50 in change spent cleaning the car (Sadly, no waiters will clean up after you in your car.)

Let's pause a minute.  Did we really spend as much in restaurants as we did on clothes?  Probably why the "right size" didn't fit most of the time. Oh, well, back to the list...

• Sold is the beloved Volvo for a travel fund increase of $14,000.  This also saved us gassing up a second car for a second person on the road at the same time.  We have "carpooled or not gone" all year.  (Does this mean we're a green family?)
• An iTunes download is now a goody that each person must pay for themselves.  This has taught the kids that if they want a song, they better like it enough to pay a dollar for it.
• A final, HUGE savings has been not having kids in every extracurricular or "extra currency needed" activity.  Approximate savings: Dance for two girls = $200/month x 10 months = $2000, Fall and Spring Baseball for one boy = $600, Piano lessons = $88/month x 12 = $1056, Cello lessons = $80 x 12 = $960, and Horseback Riding lessons = $220/month x 10 = $2200. 

Holy Cow!  Kids are expensive!

This year of no paychecks has also taught me how to save on things we couldn't cut out altogether.  I shopped more carefully, even clipping coupons, because I have had time to do so.  Back in the paycheck days, I "ran in" the grocery store.  I shopped for our immediate needs only.  We were so busy we had little time to plan.  This year has reminded me that haste makes waste (Another cliche for those counting) and the expense of traveling with three kids left no room for wasting money.

Here are my two most important money saving travel tips:

One of the benefits of family membership

• Plan, Plan, Plan.  Take the time.  Seriously.  Shopping around is not overrated.  A little work on the web before we leave on a trip has saved us hundreds of dollars.  For example, I have booked cheaper hotel rooms, flights, etc. searching sites like Priceline, Kayak, Fare Compare, etc.  Also, search your travel destination for freebies.  Many cities have free special events if you are in the know. Wink, wink.  Nudge, nudge.  If you have a membership in your hometown, look for reciprocal museums, zoos and aquariums for free or reduced entry.  We are members at Fernbank Museum and Zoo Atlanta and all five of us got in free to the Ben Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and reduced entry to the Monterrey Aquarium.

Local Lupper in Charleston

• Introduce your family to new words: Brunch and Lupper.  This two-meal-a-day concept saved us tons of time and money while traveling.  Basically, this is how it works: Wake and snack* in the room (granola bar, fruit, crackers.)  Sightsee.  Around 11-12 noon have a meal.  It's great to go to a place that serves breakfast all day then the kids don't remember if they had breakfast or lunch.  Sightsee.  Have snack*, if needed.  Around 4-5 have lupper.  Splurge on the city's specialty.  Think global, but eat local.  Talk and enjoy.  The kids won't remember if it was lunch or supper just that it was different...special.  Sightsee; then, back to the room for a light bedtime snack*.   

 *Bring your own snacks.

No new American Girl dolls,
 so Emma has to settle for a makeover.

For the woman in my fairytale, frugal living would be a major bummer.   She would hate the restrictions on her spending and feel it a sacrifice to donate time to researching and planning.  Of course, I'd have to tell her for each so called hardship, there are rewards, tenfold.  Life in paycheck land was great (honestly, I miss the shopping the most), but life in sabbatical land ain't so bad... with a little bit of work.  Ironic, huh?

Wyatt's 11th B-Day

We love this little boy fiercely!  He is strong and funny, yet enigmatic; he is loving and kind, yet aloof.  He is talented and smart, yet incredibly literal.  Our indescribable son turned eleven today and how we survived all the years before his arrival, we have no idea; without a doubt, life is better with him in it.

The Many Talents of Wyatt:

After journeying up the west coast and through the deserts of Nevada and Arizona (seeing the Grand Canyon and Tombstone), his birthday celebration had to be anticlimactic.  However, I hoped to deliver something none of those locales contained: his friends.  I hoped...

One sad reminder that the world was not on our same agenda was trying to schedule visits with friends during the handful of times we have returned to our hometown.  No matter how hard I planned or how early I started, other lives did not bend as easily as ours.  Basketball playoffs were ongoing.  Baseball practices had begun.  Soccer, tennis, golf, recital rehearsals and school functions had continued while we gleefully traveled the country discarding all appointments and "have tos."  This time last year, I remember running from "I have to be at the middle school for a PTA meeting" to "You have to pick up Wyatt from piano and get him to Reinhardt for cello by 5:30."  Believe me, I understand the over scheduled life.  The problem was my ego thought this could be overcome.  In my egocentric way of looking at life this year, I assumed others missed my kids as much as my kids missed them so, of course, they would drop everything to come to Wyatt's birthday party.  Unfortunately for Wyatt, this did not happen.  Life just isn't that easy no matter who misses whom.

Wyatt and Best Friend touching everything in Brookstone

With no one able to make an after school bowling party on his actual birthday, I rearranged the plans and worked with some accommodating parents to meet the needs of all three of our kids.  I drove the family truckster like a woman possessed. (What mother isn't possessed when trying to please her kids?)  I dropped kids, I picked up kids.  I took girls to the American Girl Store and boys to Game Stop.  I bought pizza in food court and sang silly songs to embarrass all.  I got friends back home just in time to make baseball practices and babysitting commitments.  It was a whirlwind Sunday afternoon, but I sincerely thank the parents who understood what those few hours of seeing their close friends meant to our kids and were flexible in letting me cavort all over Alpharetta with their kids.  Just know that I know I owe you.

With the fast paced fun of Sunday behind him, Wyatt was content to sit in the orthodontist's chair on his birthday morning, playing with the controls and making goofy faces in the movable mirror.  Six months until braces!  We spent the rest of the day with family.  Brunch with grandparents, Bobba and Papa, at his favorite breakfast establishment, the Cracker Barrel, which the kids discovered on our travels is a national chain.   Next, it was a game of afternoon bowling followed by a romp through the arcade at Stars and Strikes in Cumming, Georgia.  Finally, we met up with Aunt Mandy, Uncle Shannon and cousins, Hannah, David and Spencer for Wyatt's all time favorite meal: Buffalo Wings at Taco Mac followed by self-serve frozen yogurt.

Did I say he was enigmatic? There's no mystery here.  He sounds like 100% 11 year old boy to me.  Happy Birthday, Wyatt!

Best Laid Plans

On the day we were heading to San Francisco, I woke early singing, Lights, in my head... “When the lights go down in the City and the sun shines on the Bay, OH, I want to be there in my city...” You don’t have to imagine my voice (Click the link above and enjoy); the point is I was feeling great, excited to be returning to that beautiful town.  We were leaving Monterey early in order to have two full days to see the bay city.  

Unfortunately, our youngest was singing a different tune.  Tummy troubles.  

Checked in and Checked OUT

Being sick is never fun, but while traveling it’s the worst.  Luckily, she was feeling better after a little time and toast.  With a small tweak in our plans, we were able to check into our hotel early and tuck her in bed for more rest and recuperation.  Traveling always has its unexpected surprises; you just have to deal with them when they come as best you can.  She requested pizza for lunch which we didn’t let her have, but took as a good sign.  Children rebound so fast.

No name, no sign... just great bread

That evening, with the kids having an early dinner and watching a movie in the room, Greg and I ventured to Tartine Bakery to see if my bread (See my earlier post) was close to the real thing.  The Tartine Bakery is famous for its incredible country bread, but because the owner likes to enjoy life along with his bread, they only bake once a day, ready for purchase at 5 pm Tuesday-Sunday.  Since we arrived on a Sunday and were leaving San Francisco at noon on Tuesday, this was our chance.  The only sign you are near the unmarked bakery is the line of hopeful people stretching around the corner.  The bread usually sells out within an hour... That’s how good it is.  Our friend, Jackie, got there early and scored two loaves.  Ignoring the raindrops beginning to fall, I pulled off a  still warm chunk from my loaf.  Delicious... crunchy and chewy.  The verdict:  mine was pretty darn close.

Bread Beauty

Next, we enjoyed an early dinner, catching up with Jackie at Water Bar near the Bay Bridge close to our hotel.  Thanks again, Jackie, for a wonderful evening!

Oysters for starters...

Greg's entree at Water Bar

Jackie's entree

When we returned to our room, the kids were showered and already in bed, resting up for tomorrow's big sightseeing day in San Francisco.

California Dreaming

Preparing My Palate for California Wineries

On such a winter’s day, I am packing for our 18 day trip to California and America’s Southwest.  We’re flying this time so my packing must be more organized and concise than our other two big getaways this year.  I certainly don’t want a “Canadian Gestapo”-like experience at the airport.  Attempting to learn from my mistakes, I have planned better and actually have reservations for all of our stops.

Here’s Our Itinerary:

February 8- Arrive LAX @ 12:40 via Air Tran and check-in Embassy Suites in El Segundo, CA.  See Marina del Ray and Pacific Ocean.

February 9- Warner Brothers Studio Tour and Hop on/ Hop off Hollywood Tour.

February 10- Pick up SUV from Alamo, Tour Griffiths Observatory then head up Pacific Coast Highway 1 towards Monterey, CA.  Check-in The Lighthouse Inn at Pacific Grove, CA.

February 11- Tour Monterey’s Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf and Aquarium.  Cruise 17 Mile Drive; visit Pebble Beach Golf Course.

February 12- Drive to San Francisco, drop off SUV and check-in Sheraton at Fisherman’s Wharf.

February 13- Sightseeing in San Francisco: Alcatraz, Pier 39, Giradelli Square, Nob Hill, Cable Cars, Chinatown, etc.

February 14- Fly to Las Vegas, NV and check-in New York New York Hotel and Casino.  Valentine’s Day Special Performance of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil.

February 15- Sightseeing in Las Vegas: Bellagio Fountains, Venetian, crazy roller-coasters and, of course, visit Pawn Stars pawn shop.

February 16- Pick up another SUV and head to the Grand Canyon’s Southern Rim via the Hoover Dam.  Maybe tour it?  Check-in Maswik Lodge in the Grand Canyon National Park.

February 17- Watch sunrise over Canyon and hike some trails.

February 18- Head south to Phoenix via Flagstaff, AZ.  Meet our friends, Jackson and Anne, and collapse for a week at her parents’ vacation home.... Spa, anyone?

February 25- Head back to Fripp via Atlanta and home.

Honestly, I’m exhausted after just typing this trip!  If we accomplish half, it will be a miracle.  I guess it’s yet another reason to be glad we didn’t wait for retirement to travel!

Back to packing... Did I forget anything?  

The Witty Poet

I think Greg’s Facebook page poetry answers that question:

Twas’ the night before travel and all through the house

EVERYONE”S stirring especially my spouse.

The suitcases are packed more than we’ll be needing

Just caught one on the shin and now it is bleeding

Better hit the sack now; we’ll be headed out soon.

With enough of our crap to get up to the moon...

If the airlines didn't charge per bag and weight, I might be tempted to bring it all, but I can only get so much into five carry-ons.