Tuesday Afternoon

Here is a shot of the "laundry room" (I had it moved into the house last year). The Occasional Creek runs beside it. Off in the distance is my car. I am hoping a tree doesn't fall on it.

Hang on, Gutters! Man, if they make it through this I will be impressed. It's iffy at this point. They are sagging in places. Dang. I just had them put up.

That's my house from where the end of my driveway meets the Long and Winding Road across an ocean of snow.

Thanks for all the help, Berk. He watched as I found the garbage can buried in a snow drift, then moved on to uncover the recycle bin. He's not a snow breed (or a working breed, or a hunting breed; he's a useless breed).

Here again is the laundry room. My car is off in the distance. This is taken from the porch.


Today I went into school to work a few hours. What a crock. I was there maybe an hour before I got bored. Kelli came in my room where it was warmer since the sun shines in my windows and heats it up. She was over at the computers with her sunglasses on. She asked me how I liked them. I told her she looked like Jackie O. Sitting at the keyboard, she also looked like Stevie Wonder. :) She's such a cutie.

New-to-me Car and Home at Last

This is Lucas, the salesman at Toyota of Olympia. We were patiently waiting for Bob, the finance man to finish up the paperwork. Word of the day? Stellar- to describe my credit! However, Bob and Lucas would only use it with prompting. I would recommend anyone by a car from Lucas. He gave me his pen.

This is Angie chatting up Lucas, though it looks more like a vice-principal/student conversation. The whole process took quite a while. Angie was trooper. We went from dealership to dealership in the pouring rain to look at other cars so I wouldn't look too desperate when I went to see Lucas. But how do you not look desperate when you walk into the dealership soaking wet, chilled to the bone, and no way to get home if Angie should decide to abort the mission? Angie gave me some good tips: don't give them your keys (didn't have any); don't go inside with the salesman (though she caved like a house of cards at the Honda dealership( I had to pull her away like Odysseus strapped to the mast). Don't tell them how much you want to spend (she told me that after I showed my proverbial cards); we'll walk if they don't take our offer (in the rain????? again???? where?????).

Here's the new car! Garbage cans, damn it! That's my regret! My CR-V could hold three garbage cans and Berkeley in the back for a dump run. It's Berkeley's good day when he gets to go to the dump. He gets a biscuit from the dump lady if he doesn't bark at her. I told Tyler once he would too, but he wasn't excited. Nor did he bark. Now I am back to wandering the halls of school crying ,"Dinner for dump!"

I am so close to home now I can taste it! Angie made the experience fun, as did Lucas. So, buy a car from Lucas and take Angie with you.

This is Tyler back at his house. You have to coax smiles out of him for pictures. Profanities pour right out, though. As you may have read, he proposed to Jesse Christmas Eve. (I suggested he put some time and distance between family festivities with us and inviting her to join the family---time makes one forget.) Anyway...He has liked Jess since grade school. When he was in 5th or sixth grade he wrote her a note "Will you go out with me? Yes No Maybe" complete with the check boxes so popular in grade school. She said yes but by recess has buyer's remorse, and the relationship was over....fast forward to Christmas Eve: he had nesting boxes with pictures in each one. The last and smallest one had the ring in it with a note: "Will you marry me? Yes No Maybe". How sweet is that?

Oops, this is out of order. This is Berkeley after walking out to meet me at the car (I had to park out by the "parking lot" on the Long and Winding Road). Tracy and the dogs came to help me pack things in. Note the snow balls on his legs. That's why he needs boots. See the floor? I refinished those two years ago with a little orbital sander....one day I hope to regain feeling in my right arm.

This is Jess and Tucker at their home. How cute are they? As I write this, I am wrapped in the fleece blanket Jess made me for Christmas. She and Tyler were so thoughtful and generous at Christmas. They got me running shoes for my next marathon; a fleece jacket, for here and the road trip; and ongoing love, kindness, and thoughtfulness. How lucky am I?

Kelly update: Yesterday she had lunch with her new room mate's aunt and some friends. She loves Christina (new room mate); they seem well suited to each other. She and Robby have gone out on the town. She seems so happy. :) Robby is mad that Kelly is now three time zones away, so when I call at 6:30 am, it will be 9:30 for her. Robby realizes he will still receive my six-thirty calls!

I am going into school today to get organized.

:)

Home...Sort Of SeaTac to Olympia

I sit in Tyler and Jessie's computer room writing this. Angie Lang, their friend from high school will be here soon to take me to the Olympia Auto Mall where I will continue my search for a new-to-me car.

But let me back up. In Orlando on Saturday night, my cousin Don drove down from Jacksonville to visit. We had a wonderful time at the hotel and a nice dinner where he entertained us.

I got up the next morning at 5 to catch my plane right downstairs. The flight was uneventful. It was hard leaving my baby who has been so loyal and trustworthy behind. Kelly too. My car, my baby girl...3000 miles away. But the trip made the parting bitter sweet. Had I just put her on a plane and waved goodbye, it would have ripped me apart. But spending the last few days, 24 hours a day with her was a gift. She is wise, strong, resilient, resourceful, and at the same time selfish and impulsive (hmmm...sounds hereditary).

My friend Mike picked me up at the airport. Man, he didn't know what he signed up for when he volunteered to do that. We drove to look at a car for me. I hated it. It had 49 -year -old -failure written all over it. I don't want to be practical. I don't want to be prudent. I don't want to be driving a van. He sensed it. He was nice and said it wasn't a good one anyway.

Then we came here to Olympia where he would try and get Kelly's car to start for me. I called ahead to see if Tyler and Jessie were home. Jessie told me Tyler's dad's family was there doing Christmas. Tyler said come on down, but I could tell he was nervous. I promised him we'd just stay outside and fix the car and I'd be on my way. We dallied on the way down hoping not to disturb. We even grocery shopped. Mike pointed out some nice deals on cat food...helpful. I reminded him I didn't want to buy too much since I wasn't sure just how far my walk home would be.

When we got there, the whole family came out to greet us. They are so nice; but it was so awkward to intrude on their gathering. Denise made me feel better by saying, "You guys are the entertainment."

We couldn't get the car started, so went to the Auto Mall. By this point I was near tears. I was a huge imposition on Mike; I ruined the Christmas for Tyler's family. I told Mike to just put me and my wheelie luggage out and I'd find a ride to Randle. But I think he derived some sick pleasure from this freak show that is my life (he is from Ohio, after all). We shopped for cars. I found several good possiblilties. Today I will wheel and deal. Oh, and best of all? It was fun.

Well, I best get ready. Angie will be here soon.

The trip is over...but being Bobbi goes on...thankfully. I'll wish myself and you all traveling mercies: love the journey; remember God is with you; return home safe and sound.

More from the last leg of the trip...Kansas City to Nashville

Here we are leaving the hotel in Kansas City, MO. I got little sleep since the room was so hot. Robby slept like a baby. We ate our free breakfast: grease on a plate. And I knew Robby would not make it the rest of the way if he said, "I just love these southern accents," one more bleepin' time; we still had at least 4 southern states to go.

Here is the arch from the window. Robby insisted we pull over, but he was outvoted. Kelly said, "Pull of this freeway and I'll bleepin' kill you, Robby." He reminded her again if she touched him it would be a hate crime. I told him to watch it, she has 4 driving demerits in Colorado and nothing to lose.

This is a rest stop in Illinois. Here's where I cried. Kelly got off the phone to her school asking when her student loan would be in her account. It won't be there till 40 days after she starts. That loan was her first and last months rent and living expenses. I panicked. My savings would be tapped (out). I sobbed I would die alone, without a car, eating cat food...all because of her.

I said a few more things, but I can't write them here as I would have Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew, and Nancy Grace all over me. Robby was driving. I looked over at one point and he was tearing up. He said I might as well be talking to him for his dad.

Now here was a treat. This is where we stopped to get gas somewhere in Georgia? Maybe Tennessee? I don't really know. By the way, Illinois, Tennessee, and Georgia a full of fire works places advertised on billboards. I can only imagine in these states children with ten fingers are rare. Also, a lot of Waffle Houses; on one the "W" was burned out so they were known as Affle Houses in the car (for 1000 miles, that joke didn't get old).

We found our way to Nashville, and didn't want to disappoint Tracy and Tyler, so found the Grand ol' Opry. We saw the sign for the Grand Old Opry hotel, and since we didn't have a room, I suggested Robby call them and play Priceline. Ask them for a room for $50 dollars. He did. Then he said, "What about $38?" Kelly said, "Tell them $25 and that's our final offer." We asked what she had said and her intial response to $50, was a smug, "Our rooms go from $175 to $285."

Nashville to Orlando....varoooooooom

"Cooter's Dukes of Hazard Museum"! No joke. This was a stop on our Nashville "Nash-n-Dash" tour. Those of you with Dukes of Hazard t.v. trays or pup tents, you are sitting on gold mines. They are on display at the museum.
Robby and Kelly inside "the bar". This was Robby's reward for being a great traveling companion. The bar tender, whom both of them vied for, laughed and said we were a "creepy" traveling team.
Robby's bar was very nice. The music videos were good, the people nice, and the holiday decorations were wonderful.
Ooops, wrong hotel in Orlando, but they gave us directions to the right one. Do you see a theme? Then when we got to our hotel, I did my usual going to the wrong room and trying my key.
Rob on the railing of our balcony. Below is the terminal for Orlando airport.
Here we are, 26 hours after leaving Kansas City, Missouri; driving all night, and sleeping two hours in a parking lot.

WE MADE IT!!!!!

We are in Orlando!!!!! I get to come home tomorrow! We'll write more this afternoon. Right now we are exhausted. We drove from Kansas City through Illinois, part of Kentucky, to Nashville, to Atlanta, to some place in Florida where we slept in the car from 4:30-6:30....and we just checked into our amazing hotel right in the terminal of the airport. We are going to the rooftop pool to sleep poolside.

Friday Morning...just later...Kansas City, MO

It's 6:11. Our goal was to be on the road by six, but with the room snafus, we scored 3 free breakfasts. We eat only one meal a day; the rest of the time we snack from the care package Tracy sent with us. Like I said, we don't dally much.

Kelly and I finally went to the laundry area at one, and the clothes took another half hour. She texted, I watched the clothes go round, and around, and around... when we finally got to bed, the room was too warm for me to sleep, so I don't know how much sleep I've had.

Our goal today is Nashville by late afternoon. It's 540 miles (thanks, Tracy). That will be our tourist spot, though I am not sure anything could live up to the prairie dog museum. We don't have any hotel reservations for tonight. I threw out to these two about sleeping in the car. Kelly said fine. Robby said, "The car? Are you kidding me?" I'll do what I did at Lake Ozette. Wait till he falls asleep and then pull over. I guess when your sea scout leader at Fort Flaggler is Jeffrey Dahlmer and teaches you to survive on your parents' carcasses, you get a little nervous.

Yesterday's car ride took a turn. It started with the parking ticket. Then when leaving Denver, I tried to compliment Kelly...which was taken as criticism...then Robby tried to explain...which only made it worse...Robby said he was doing what he saw Dr. Phil do; the situation looked more like Jerry Springer. There was a lot of silence.

Then Robby suggested a get to know you game. I have only seen this game played with large groups. It's where you say your name and say you are going on a trip: I am Bobbi and I am going on a trip with Robby and taking Kelly. Then the next person goes, repeating the names, so you learn everyone's name. Ok, Robby, there are three of us. We know each other's names...

Then there was the alphabet game. Kelly and I used to play it with dog breeds. One would start: A-airdale. The other would have to say one. If you couldn't think of one, you took a point. Robby wants to go to med school, so we started with body parts: A-abdomen...it was a slow go, highlighted by Robby's C-catheter.

Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night wondering what the hell have I done? I did that this morning. I am arriving at SeaTac airport Sunday morning at 11: something, and I will have no car. Kelly's is at Tyler's in Olympia; it won't start. Even if I could get it to Randle, there's no way it would make it up the hill to the house...there I'll be with luggage, no way to the house...no car...Maybe my New Year's revolution, revelation, resolution should be to be more responsible, thoughtful, circumspect...

Oops, breakfast is ready in 4 minutes then we are on the road. Have a great day.

Bobbi

Christmas is "the ticket"

Here's the view from our room in Denver. Down below is our car with a $25 parking ticket. "Who'd give a parking ticket on Christmas?"

Kelly having breakfast in the lobby of the hotel while I got coffee. Some guy walked by and told her she had great hair. It made her day: shortlived.

Here is our token picture in the lobby before we leave (and find the parking ticket on the car).

A windy rest stop in Colorado. Robby is facinated with tumble weeds. When Kelly and I were in our restroom, we heard Robby come in, " I am scared. Do you mind if I come in here with you?"

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to you, Kelly! Here's a little gift from the state of Colorado. 4 more demerits and she'll lose her license in Colorado. The cops parting comment was to slow down because the nearest hospital is 40 miles away and they won't airlift unless they know you'll survive. Kelly said he wouldn't call airlift for her. Robby thought he had good chance since he told the officer Merry Christmas. I told them from the back seat, there would be no need for airlift: the chains and first aid kit flying forward would decapitate me, the lap belt would disect me. All that would be left in the seat would be my hips and legs. Robby said he would sew me together for the funeral. (I said I was glad or my tombstone would read "Rest in Pieces". )Kelly said she'd do my hair and makeup...and I'd have big hair. Robby then said they should dress me in a clown suit so my funeral wouldn't be so sad.

Robby and I were bored at a rest stop in Kansas. It was between rest stops Robby was regaling us with stories of survival how if your parents are killed in a car accident and you need to survive, eat your mother's thighs. Kelly said she could live for three weeks before she had to dig into her mom's thighs. He also said something about setting the car on fire, but not to cook me on that one, as there would be carcinogens...I reminded them I'd be easy to handle in my three parts. They could just put my torso in the snow for later.

The spot to my right, was a big puddle. Robby was setting up the timer and rushing to get into the picture. I was hoping he wouldn't notice the puddle. He didn't. But that picture didn't turn out, but the memory is priceless: Robby, forever the camera hound, flew into the picture and with his best model smile pasted on his face said through clinched teeth..."I'm in a wet spot."

Robby took this. It's beautiful. Here it is again for your enjoyment.

Oops, I don't know how to delete. Duplicates of Robby's shots.

Remember I mentioned Robby's delight of tumbleweeds? He was in the backseat on the phone to a friend and was telling him about the tumble weeds being amazing with stickers on them protect them predators. Kelly said tumble weeds don't have predators...When cows attack.

Damn it! Prairie Dog Town was closed! It boasted a cow with six legs and the world's largest prairie dog!!!!!!! For miles there were teaser bilboards taunting us with the critters.
As you can see, we really cover ground, and this is the only tourist attraction we tried to visit.

Mostly we see rest areas. Kansas has their's every 30 miles. Also, Kansas has adult bookstores/gas stations open on Christmas.

Oops, this is out of order. It's 1 am. We arrived at the hotel at 11pm. Our first assigned room had one queen sized bed. This is our second room...looked to us like it hadn't been cleaned. I didn't download all the pictures Robby took of the room. Finally we got a clean room with two double beds and found the laundry room, so Kelly and I are waiting for the dryer. Robby went upstairs.

Damn it, they have pet areas for a reason.

Yes, those are my pajamas. We looked all around the hotel before we found these. I am now in the computer area just off the lobby in the same outfit. :)

Oh, this leg of the trip we tried playing car games...it was an ABC game...it was frustrating.

Good night. More in the morning...or in 4 hours. We want to leave here by six.

A Denver Merry Christmas

I thought Denver was a sure bet for a snowy Christmas. It has dawned bright and sunny this morning. It will make for a nice driving day. Don't get me wrong, snow still thrills me, but when you are road warriors, clear and dry is best. I know all of you back home are growing weary of the snow. Hang in there. Oh, speaking of snow, since I am now in the market for a car (so sad Kelly gets mine with his 5 new shoes), please keep an eye out for a used, AWD, low mile car.

Thank you to all of you who text and call along the way. You don't know how much we enjoy hearing from you. Don't worry, Tracy, we don't allow texting or talking on the phone while driving. Robby is the (self-appointed) car PR person who answers all texts and calls for the driver. When I don't drive and sit in the back, those two get quiet in the front. They listen in on my conversations then critique me. I'm used to it. A couple of years ago walking to the car at the Pass, those two were already sitting in it. Their observation, "You carry your skis like a lesbian," has haunted me ever since. Sometimes, it's not so much critcism as mocking. I'll hang up and one of them will start repeating what I said into the phone. Their defense? We're only trying to help.

This day, I want to scream from the rooftops how lucky I am to have the life I have because of you all. We are on the 33rd floor, so I could, if I wanted to, shout it to Denver. Here are some examples.

Yesterday, just outside of Laramie, there was a message on the phone from Jeff Rashoff, mechanic and friend, asking how the car was doing and how we were doing. How many people would do that? If I were him, I'd change my number and deny knowing us---and I know some of you would too. He's also the one who said he couldn't guarantee Little Black a Honda (remember the children's book by Walter Farley???? That's what Little Black a Honda is named after) could make it to Orlando but he'd come get us. Sorry Jeff, we're past Wyoming...Kansas City here we come!

Suzy Creighton from the coffee shop confessional: sure she sucks at fixing people up (hey, Suzy, define single), but when my car was broken into at Woods Creek last May and my wallet stolen, she came to the school, got my car, vacuumed the broken glass, bought me a new wallet and some gifts, and returned my car to the school. And, she helped me paint my house and forced me to finish it. She had Nick build us scaffolding for the high spots. How nice is that?

When Berkeley got hit by a logging truck, the angels in my life were amazing. Tracy, Darla, Ethan, Danielle...When I had to go to my conference for five days, Danielle and Ethan not only house sat, they cleaned the house, took the dogs for "makeovers", and took care of Berkeley giving him his six medications, blending his food so he could eat it, and even cleaned his bottom braces....amazing.

When Teena moved away and got a duplex so her parents could live next door, Kelli B said she and Steve would add an apartment on for me. (How's that coming along?) Also, Steve is one of the "can-do" men who help out like bringing me my French doors etc. (that didn't fit) Nick Creighton, Mike Elliot are in the same league and all wish their wives had never met me because their wives volunteer them to help me out.

Pass People: Eadie, Louie, Laurie, ski patrol dentist...my second job with more people who make my life rich. Eadie went from being Jill's mom to a dear friend / boss at the Pass. Eadie and Louie are a hoot to work for. Louie lets me pretend I am ongoing employee- of- the -month if- we- had- one. I spend more time with Laurie at the Pass than I do at WPHS. :)

At school is my second family. Elyssa and Shanna so friendly to me in the dist. office and making me laugh, Jim helping me make my gates and encouraging me in my power-tool prowess, Kelli and Trina keeping me company on Sundays...so many lights. And then there is the SSPLC who when I am sad remind me that there is plastic recycling at the dump in Morton. Darlin' Darla, thanks for knowing all my faults and loving me anyway.

Cousin Cris, who bridges family (cousin) and work (Dean of Students) shares my home during the week and is the resident handy-man. And Cris got me a great Christmas gift: a counter-top composter! I know Nick Crieghton, Mike Elliot, Tod Garred, and Steve Bloomstrom breathed a big sigh of relief with this arrangement. It's so nice to have someone to talk to and build the fire and have it going when I get home :) Tracy...there are no words to describe what she means to me. She has sacrificed for me. She is my rock. And if it weren't for Tracy, we'd still be in Boise, Idaho. She is the planner. She loves Berkeley, my children, and me which on any given day is not easy.

Tyler. "Bet you never thought I'd be the good one." He's right. I remember in a weak moment when he was in high school, I said, "I just wish once I didn't have to use Tyler and bitter disappointment in the same sentence." I think it may have been the night the police showed up to the basketball game to arrest Tyler for stealing gas...(just a big misunderstanding, but until it was cleared up...) He has become an amazing man in spite of me. He likes to remind me of the time he broke his arm in PE and I had him wait in my classroom until my meeting was over to take him to the doctor (how was I to know it was broken?) , or the time he dislocated shoulder (again, how was I to know it was dislocated) snowboarding, but I was watching Kelly compete in her only event (shot put) at her only home meet, and told him to ask Mrs. Hornby for an aspirin. Then we went to dinner and he kept whining about his shoulder...then we got home and he asked me to help him off with his shirt...ooops...let's go to the emergency room. Now he is engaged to a beautiful girl, owns a home, is a responsible, respected employee, cares about his aunt, sister (not so much), brother Robby, and mom.

Before I end, this session, with a million more people to mention, I need to mention the Walster's. Chris and I have been divorced for almost 20 years. Together we have two wonderful children. But I still feel like I still have something more: two parents and a sister. We did it: we divorced each other but not the families. And even though our divorce has had some rough patches, I count Chris as a friend. When my parents passed away, his parents were there. When I talk to Pat on the phone or Pat and Ray at their home, it's like nothing has changed. It's a testament to their kindness and love and grace.

Enough for now...more later, there are many still to mention. I am blessed. I wish I could give back half of what I get. Merry Christmas---

Keep up the texts, messages, and blog comments. They keep us going.

Peace on your jouneys and we'll pray for traveling mercies.

Chirstmas Eve---Denver/ Happy Birthday, Kelly

Kelly in the lobby of the Marriot in Ogden. She was having a not-so-great birthday morning. When I asked the man at the table to take our picture, he ignored me. Robby got a kick out of that.
On the side of the road in Utah on our way to the Wyoming border. It was beautiful red rock.
This is our rest stop photo in 7o mph winds outside Laramie, WY.
Kelly and I across the street from the hotel in Denver. Happy 21st, Angel.

Robby is distraught. He commented Kelly had some cajun sauce under her nails from her shrimp. I said we tried to get it out using his fork when he was in the bathroom. He said, "Do you have any idea how much bacteria is under your fingernails?" "Not any more, Robby." He thinks we enjoy tormenting him. We do.


It's Wednesday night, Christmas Eve at 10:30. I am exhausted so I'll keep this short tonight. Just know that it has a been a great trip.

The wind between Red Desert and Laramie was horrible. For the entire trip when we pass a semi on the road we "pray for milk" for fear that it carries some toxic chemical that will burn us. With the 70 mph winds we'd pray for milk and that the trucks stay upright. We passed two that had toppled. After a while Robby came up with a code word: sun flower. If he said the word, it meant a truck was about to topple onto us and Kelly was to take drastic, evasive action. My thought is she'd do the same if I screamed "We're going to die!" from the back seat. But sunflower it was. Robby gets mad if I say "the word" when there is not a direct threat of a truck toppling on us. He said I'd be "just like Little Boy Blue."...I guess leaving my sheep in the meadow and cows in the corn? Or does he have him confused with the boy who cried "sunflower"?

At one point we stopped at a truck stop/rest stop because I wanted a picture. The wind was howling through parking lot blowing right through us. Kelly I used the restroom and raced back to the car to wait, and wait, and wait for Robby. I became worried. I said let's drive around to the bathroom and check on him. She refused. She instead texted him: "Need help?"

They are getting meaner. I only got to listen to my two songs twice. They burn a cd for each leg and won't put my songs on every cd.

I have lost the will to go on tonight.

Merry Christmas and peace on your journeys.

Still Ogden...

Thwarted this time by a clogged shower. The water was still shin deep from my shower last night. The cutest "engineer" ever took a half hour to unclog it. While he was doing that, Kelly was throwing out baseless and cruel accusation about how Robby or I clogged the shower.

The weather today is supposed to be sunny, cold, and clear. Our trip to Denver should be smooth sailing.

Merry Christmas Eve to all.

Christmas Eve Morning...Ogden, Utah

Kelly and Robby taking picutres of themselves in the car. When Robby expressed concern about his teeth, Kelly, being her tactful self, said, "You need to put some braces back on those bad boys."
I put the place and day on here more for myself than anyone. We arrive in the dark to a cold, snowy icy parking lot, I get up and look onto a dark, cold, icy parking lot...So far the prettiest part of the trip was the old highway we took from Twin Falls, Idaho to Wellis, Nevada. We think Salt Lake City would be beautiful if it weren't dark. It was sure pretty in the dark.

The lights at the LDS Temple were beautiful. A light snow was beginning to fall and the whole scene was amazing. There must have been something big happening as there were crowds of people all over the place. Robby became sad, "Everyone here has someone except us. We (I always like the way he says we) are losers who are going to die alone." I reminded him that we are not alone. We have AAA.

He gets that way. He did it the time Robby, Max (exchange student from France) and I went hiking at Lake Ozette. We got a late start; it was a much longer drive than expected; and the wind and rain were like a hurricane. But damn it we were going to hike. When I told Robby to "bring a back pack" silly me expected he would actually pack it with something. No, it was empty. Luckily Max was Mr. Prepared. He had the 10 essentials (must be universal) and then some. I had the ten essentials minus six...anyway, as soon as Robby lost cell service he became down, when the rain was coming at us in sideways sheets, he became despondent. The whole time he mumbled incoherently about wanting someone to camp with...I busied myself finding sea glass! We finished the hike at 9pm in the dark and camping was out since "someone" didn't have a tent, sleeping bag, food, or any common sense.

We drove to Port Angeles where the only hotel with vacancy was "Ruffles." We found out the rooms were full because there was a (and I'm not joking) transvestite festival in town. We ended up sleeping in the car. Robby shivered and whined all night under our coats. "We're going to die"...is all I heard, he became catatonic after awhile. Max slept in the back seat under his sleeping bag. I was in the drivers seat with my sleeping bag.

So, yesterday, on the way out of Boise, Robby was filling out an application to volunteer to work overseas with a humanitarian group. He was asking us to help him rate himself on several items it asked for such as "leadership and cooperation with people from other cultures..." He read one out loud that he said he "didn't get" what it was asking. "Your ability to handle a cultural fox paws you might make in another country." From the back seat, I heard,

"Fox Paws????? Really, Robby, really? It's faux pas you big idiot."

I reminded Kelly (when I could stop laughing long enough to choke the words out) to be nice to Rob.

Undaunted, Rob asked what that was and then blamed me because I hadn't taught him what it meant.

I really have to hand it to Rob. He is so easy-going and willing to learn. He is fun to travel with and handles Kelly and her moods really well. I don't know what I would do without him.

Yesterday, I drove the whole way (eight hours). The drivers seat is the only place in the car where your feet touch the floor. Otherwise your feet are on boxes or luggage. It didn't help that Robby and I were trapped at the mall and shopped. The car itself is packed with all the care of the hold of fishing boat or a New Jersey garbage scow. This total lack of organization resulted in the loss of the Fallout Boy cd. It caused about 150 miles of silence. Robby and Kelly took this opportunity to snap about a million pictures of themselves: he in the front seat, she in the back with their heads together and the camera in the side of my head at Robby's arm's length.

Speaking of music. They let me listen to my two new favorites 3 times yesterday. One is called "I'm not who I was" by Brandon Heath and "I'm Yours" by Jason Moraz. We sing to them at the top of our lungs. Robby fears he will hate them by Orlando. I don't think there's much in the car we won't hate by Orlando...especially each other. But right now the trip is wonderful. Robby and Kelly don't mention that I can't sing, and that's love. Also, I don't sing along when they do their duet "Won't you light my Candle" from Rent. Also, Robby's hip-hop dance class he took where he was trying to impress the instructor and was the only person over 12 and male in the class (I'd pay money for the recital tape) paid off. He emotes and uses his jazz-hands effectively in the front seat when he sings.

The computer says six; the clock says seven. We were going to try and be on the road by 6. I am so excited we get to drive through Wyoming in the daylight. Some day (this summer?) I want to come back here and see this amazing area. Well, Denver awaits.

Peace to you all on your journeys. We'll pray for traveling mercies.

Tyler, it's Christmas eve and I have tears in my eyes. It's the first Christmas I won't be with you in 23 years. Please know how much I love and miss you and how proud I am of the man you have become. I bought you something yesterday and I can't wait to get home and give it to you.
Enjoy Christmas with Jessie and her family, stop by the house (you'll have to hike in) and see Tracy for me. Know that you are loved. Merry Christmas Eve. PS Your sister is 21 today.

Ogden...at last

This is on the highway in Nevada we drove down. Beautiful.
Kelly and Robby outside the Temple in Salt Lake City.
Here they are again. Hmmm, no lightning?
This is a building in the Temple yard.

Robby at the Boise mall, chilling and waiting for Kelly to call and say the car is ready.
Kelly was chosen (sacraficed) to wait for the tow truck driver. She waited over an hour.
We found AAA headquarters in Boise to ask them where they would suggest we have the spare fixed before we headed of to Utah. No sooner had we pulled in the parking lot, we had a flat on a not spare. Oh, and while we were there, we asked what to do when the freeway to Ogden was closed.
Tracy, this was for you before we knew we had a flat and a flat spare. We wanted you to know we appreciated your AAA gift....boy do we.
We left the hotel in Boise at 10 to get an early start. "The best laid plans of mice and men..."


You can see by the pictures that we had a few setbacks on the Boise to Ogden leg. After we discovered the flat in the parking lot of AAA, Robby and I headed to the mall and Kelly waited for the tow truck. Robby's moisturizing mask from the morning had a negative effect and left him what looked like chemical burns; I took pictures of the phenomena in the AAA desk of Sheena, our appointed AAA emissary. Christy was finding us an alternate route since the freeway at the Utah border was closed. More tomorrow morning. I am exhausted. Just know we arrived safely, we are grateful for everyone's love, and Robby got mad when I called him Berkeley.

See ya in the morning.