Day 30 - June 30, 2010

June 30

Last day!  I can’t believe it. 

We had breakfast in the hotel.  Kids were rambunctious.  They were excited to go home.  But first we were going to go the Children’s Museum – they’d been begging after we’d walked past it the day before.  We walked over and I was planning to only stay for an hour….well, they wanted $25 a person!  Serioulsy.  I just couldn’t do it. 

The kids took it well, so we decided to hit the road.  Bellmen helped us load the car and took one last picture for us.  As I pulled out of the hotel, I started crying.  I couldn’t believe it.  I don’t’ know why, either.  I was ready to go home, but I was also said to see it end.  I also couldn’t believe that I’d done it!  4500 miles in 30 days, with four kids.  Crazy.  But I was so proud of us.  I knew I was going to do it every summer, for as long as they’d go with me.

The ride home went by fast (a great audio book also helped the time fly).  As we pulled up to the house, it felt a little weird.  We’d been gone so long.  The house looked amazing.  In no time, the kids were jumping on the couch, Hunter was playing the WII, Cammy had stripped down to a diaper.  Terri came over to greet us and tell us how much she missed us.  We’re back!

Traveled:  Chattanooga, TN to Cumming, GA    136 miles/2 hours

Post Script:

4500 miles, 16 states, 17 pieces of luggage, 14 places to hang our hats, 50 or so meals in restaurants, cities, beaches, zoos, mountains, 10 or so pools…

Day 29 - June 29, 2010

June 29^th

We hit the road nice and early….with me mostly packing the carJ.  We had pleasant drive to Knoxville.  We tried to get Rich to hang with us, but he wanted to go home.  I almost buckled…and went with him, but I really wanted to see the trip through to the end.  Aud threw a fit, because Rich was flying home and she wanted to be on the plane…so that was fun.

I stopped at the bookstore to get a new audio book, even though we technically had only 3 hours of road time left.  Turns out, it was a good one, Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand (I could have kept on goingJ).

Anyway, we got to Chattanooga fairly quickly, no troubles.  I was a little surprised when we got the DoubleTree – our room was tiny.  I don’t know what I was thinking.  I thought it was a suite hotel.  Not.  Very, very small!

We had lunch downtown and then headed to the docks.  I took the kids on a boat ride down the Tennessee River.  I was nervous, to say the least.  Seriously, my nervous with bubbling over, but I really wanted to see if we could do it.  In the end – we did.  Bear didn’t try to jump over-board and the ride was cool.  The boat was a huge motor boat, so at times, we went really fast.

After, we went to the hotel pool.  Fortunately we were the only ones there, although there was a weird moment when one of the hotel’s maids sat with me and got way too personal.  TMI!

The other excitement of the day was when Aud got her hand caught in the elevator door at the hotel.  How she didn’t lose some fingers, I will never know.  She was doing something she shouldn’t (playing with buttons & trying to stop the door so Hunter couldn’t get out), so perhaps a lesson was learned?  Don’t play with elevators.  I did feel terrible for her, she sure was terrified.   The shriek alone, stopped my heart.   Risk Management was called and I had to fill out a report.  But she was fine.

We ordered dinner in the room for our last night.  I was tired, but also sad…our journey was coming to an endL.

Miles traveled:  Rose Hill, VA to Chattanooga, TN    186 miles/3 ½ hours

Hotel:  DoubleTree Hotel, downtown Chattanooga

Silly Band Award:  All of them!

Quote:  Hunter, “I can’t believe this is it!”  after I told Hunter we were at our last hotelL.

Day 28 - June 28, 2010

June 28^th

M&D’s dog, Zoe was running around our room last night about 3:30, which woke up both Rich & I…then he tossed and turned (per the usual), which prevented me from getting back to sleep.  Consequently, I began to think.  Nothing good comes from thinking in the wee hours of the morning.  I hate it.

When I finally do drift back asleep, it is short lived because a damn fly starts buzzing around my head, loudly.  I turn the fan on fast, to keep him away, which works…until the kids start filing in, one, by one.  So, I get up.

The day, weather-wise doesn’t look promising.  It’s hot, humid and overcast.  This doesn’t stop Bear from getting in the kiddie pool, that has to have more foreign objects floating in it than I’ve ever seen.  Gross.  I tried to scoop out as much as I could, but still…gross.

Today we were going to see Mamaw.  Mamaw has tons of knickknacks….talking & singing stuffed animals in particular.  The kids love it.  Rich and I are ready to run for the hills after five minutes….only so many singing frogs you can take. 

Mamaw looks good, the same, actually.  She always has her hair done, always in pajamas and socks.  The only sign, to me, that she’s slowing down is that she didn’t ask us if we wanted to eat every five minutes…and there was no chocolate pie waiting for Rich.

By the time we got back to the grandparents, the skies were dark!  The rain was whirling around in all directions and Ron & Evelyn were heeding all kinds of warnings.  At one point, the wind blew the patios table, chairs and umbrella across the deck so we were told to take cover.  Cover was an alcove under beneath the garage stairs.  The kids took it like troopers….never a dull moment on our road trip…

We had an early dinner, followed by homemade blackberry cobbler…from berries Rich and his mom picked in the morning.  It was so delicious.

Fell asleep watching the College World Series with Hunter.  Go Gamecocks.

Silly Band Award:  All four, for braving the worst of Mother Nature.

Quote of the day:  Ron, after the torrential rain, “To the folks around here, light rains bring peace of mind and general wellbeing.”

Hunter, to mommy, “Yes your majesty, Queen of the childrens.”

Day 27 - June 27, 2010

June 27^th

My back was killing me this morning, when I woke up.  I slept hard, but the mattress was just as hard (and perhaps decades old).  I had to have Rich pull me out of bed, literally.  It took a cup of strong Smith coffee to get me moving. 

At some point during the weekend, without my knowledge, my daughter agreed to go to church with her grandmother…so, although I didn’t want to go, my Catholic guilt got to me.  I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t been since Hunter’s First Communion

St Mary’s is a beautiful little church and the service was nice.  The priest talked about focus and commitment.  (It was so appropriate and really hit home).  If anything this trip has taught me, I’ve lost focus and commitment.  I’m really no longer great at anything…just somewhat good at a lot of meaningless and, sadly, meaningful things.  I’ve given up on a lot of dreams.  That’s so not me.

After we had cupcakes and grape juice in the basement, followed by some playtime on the playground.  When we were done, my calculations concluded we still had time to kill in order to miss Rich, dad, Bear & Hunter’s departure for the party.  So we hung out in Kroger for an hour…I kid you not.

I drove home real slow and watched a cool storm move in over the mountains.  I was beautiful.  At the house, Rich and dad were working on a ceiling fan…so my plan backfired.  And, Rich was lobbying for me to go to the party in his place.  Not gonna happen.  In the end, Rich and mom went, briefly.  Just what in the world is such a big deal about turning 16?  I don’t get it.  When I turned sixteen, the big thing was getting your license, which was gift enough.  I’m not sure if you can even drive anymore, at sixteen.

Dad and I had cocktails while they were at Mamaw’s.  He’s tired.  I feel bad.  He’s had such a rough year, health-wise, and it shows.  I pray that I‘m able to take great care of myself and I avoid pitfall of cruel diseases, and stay vital for my grandchildren.  For Barrett.  I hope.  I pray.

Nice dinner, early to bed.

Silly Band Award:    They were all good.

Quote of the day:   Audrey, after our hour of hiding out,  “Kroger is my new favorite store.  I got makeup, magazines, paper dolls, and they have food too.”

Day 26 - June 26, 2010

June 26

After we stayed up till midnight (again) talking about the early days…meeting Mike…and the small little things that happen to put people in your life that lead you down the path…to your children…yes, we can get deep, in the midnight hours….Rich promised me he wouldn’t crack the whip in the morning.

He was true to his word.  But he felt that the late hour, 10 a.m., when we were packed and loaded….necessitated our skipping breakfast in favor of a sit down lunch…somewhere in the middle of Kentucky.  I agreed, with a concession for coffee…although the troops were not to happy, so I negotiated breakfast bars for them.

The Blue Grass Parkway, in Central Kentucky, is beautiful.  Even I, not much of a nature lover (unless it involves a coastline) marveled at it.  When you look long enough, it really does look like the grass is blue!  We stopped in Danville, KY for lunch at O’Charley’s.  With the exception of Hunter literally running into a waitress, sending one of her food-filled plates flying…it was a peaceful lunch.

                                                                                           

I read on the way, finished The One That I Want, by Allison Winn Scotch.  Loved it.  It really made me think.  I love books that make me think. 

So, before I knew it, we were trudging up the pebble road to Rich’s parents’ house, “Smithberry Farm”.

They had a blow up pool already for Bear and the rest of us just exhaled.  Dinks, dinner, chill.  Nice.

After dinner we, we took a ride around the property and had so much fun.  Even me!  I can’t quite explain it, but the pictures sure do.  After our ride, we had Birthday Cake for Daddy.  Good day!

Miles traveled:  E-town, Ky to Rose Hill, VA    201miles/4 hours

Lodging:  SmithBerry Farm

Silly Band Award:  Barrett

Quote of the Day:  Audrey, “I’m going to write a book someday, all about my brother…it’ll be about fighting. “  Swear. To. God.  History Repeats Itself….

Day 25 - June 25, 2010

June 25^th

We’re getting lazy.  I’m okay with thatJ.  By the time I finally opened my eyes…at 9 a.m., Rich was gone (with the car) so we were kinda stuck.  The continental breakfast would have to do.  We arrived so late, that we had the whole “café” to ourselves.  Hunter and I watched ESPN together (and the thrilling recap of the Red Sox/Rockies overtime game).  A nice, lazy morning.

We got back to the room and I read while the kids watched TV…in no time, Rich knocked on the door, to take us to lunch, at 11…uh-oh.  Lunch?  We went with him, but none of us really ate.

After we dropped him off at work, I took the car for an oil change, followed by a trip to Funtopia Park.  It was hot.  There were only a few other kids there.  We didn’t even last an hour, before their four sweaty heads and red faces asked to go back to the Hotel.  I was planning on showers and then another Barnes & Noble trip, but Rich had given me a cable for internet access (my wireless hasn’t been working) and once I plugged in…I lost track of time.  How sad is that?  I really hadn’t had serious internet time all trip. I felt really bad, but the kids weren’t really complaining either….because they got some serious TV time.  Junkies.

We picked up Rich from the office and headed to Mike and Dana’s for dinner.  Mike and Dana are (were) the owners of the company Rich works for.   Years ago, back in Lauderdale, Mike was a client for ORIS technologies (where Rich and I met).  Eventually, Mike hired Rich away…and moved us to Atlanta.  He was our first Georgia friend and we spent a lot of time together as a threesome in our pre-married days.  Mike was a groomsman in our wedding and met us in Tampa, when we had the big TTTS surgery during my pregnancy with the twins.  He’s a very good friend.  Family.

Early in our marriage there was another new company, which purchased a Kentucky company, owned by Dana.  Mike and Dana fell in love…and the rest is history.  They’ve been very busy growing their company over the years (and Mike moved to Kentucky when they married), so we don’t see them near enough.  They’ve been extremely good to Rich over the years and spending time with them is always fun.

Their home, “Bowerberry Farm” is gorgeous.  The house could easily be featured in any number of design magazines.  Dana has excellent taste.  They also have pool…so the kids, after storming their house and barely saying hello, jumped right in.  They were occupied, so the adults were able to visit.  It was so relaxing…the kids were really good, too.  Mike took them all for ride on “Henry” – his macked-out golf cart – even let them drive.  They were in heaven.

I think we probably overstayed our welcome!  I looked down at my watch, while Camden was sleeping in my lap - and it was 11 p.m.  Time flies when you’re having fun.   We found Mike on his front porch, scratching a sleeping Audrey’s back, holding Barrett on his lap, showing Hunter the stars.  Family.

Silly Band Award:  All four….Miss Dana gave each of the kids their own BAG of silly bands.

Quote of the day:  Camden, “No, I want to stay home, mum.” – when I told him it was time to go to the Bower’s.  Poor guy is thinking of hotel rooms as home.

Camden, “On Monday mum…no, no, on Tuesday.”  - when Miss Dana asked him when he was going to be potty trained.

Day 24 - June 24, 2010

June 24^th

Okay, so I woke up with the worst headache!  I don’t know if it was the birthday drinking, or the intense stress I felt just being in that “condo”.  I dragged myself out of bed….got the kids up and dressed and took Rich to work.  He told me to have a good day, but looked at me with such pity, knowing my day would probably be spent…there.

Oh no it wouldn’t!

I couldn’t take it.  I drove to McDonalds for coffee and food for the kids.  It was close to I65, where all the hotels were:  The Fairfield Inn & Suites, Baymont Inn & Suites, The Ramada Inn, Comfort Suites, Holiday Inn Express, La Quinta, Best Western, Days Inn…hell, even Motel 6 was looking good.  I felt like I was looking at mirage in a desert.  I had to find away…but I didn’t want to just show up, unshowered, looking for a room.

Back in Hell…I couldn’t bring myself to get in the disgusting shower, in order to “clean-up” for my hotel search.  Of course we didn’t have any internet access…no phone book, either.  So I called my brother for help - if this doesn’t show desperation…I don’t know what does!  He went on-line and couldn’t find any rooms, so he started calling hotels for me.  On the third try, he found a hotel that has ONE room available.  It took two seconds for me to say, “Hell Yeah!”  We’d make it work.  The Ramada Inn it was.

It was time to start packing, which took a while.  I managed to make everything fit in our already crowded car…including my cleaning supplies and the seven pillows we’d bought the night before.  I wasn’t leaving them behind.  The Ramada didn’t want us till 3 o’clock, but I wanted to go check it out.  Once bitten, twice shy. 

But first…I was going to get our money back.  Truthfully, I was a little nervous.  Rich had described the “innkeeper”, Gary, as a Boss Hog type.  I also wasn’t sure if he had any kind of agreement with Rich’s company…so a scene might prove to be trouble down the line.  But….we were also talking about a property that should be condemned…and our money, dammit!  On principle alone, I was gonna fight, if I had to.  I really didn’t want to…but I was ready, if need be.

Rich wasn’t off in his description of Gary.  I placed my key on the counter and told him that we’d be checking out early.  He looked at me, like, “whatever.”  Then he looked at the room key and pulled our registration card from his little box , studied it…and then stared back at me.  I took a deep breath (maybe puffed my chest out a little) and stared right back.  It was about a 10 second stare down when he said, “I guess I owe you some money.”  I replied, “I think you do.”  He credited my card….and I left.

The kids and I did our high fives in the car, at this point they’d totally bought into the “dump theory” and Audrey told me that, “So far, Kentucky was the suckiest place we’d been.”  I told her not to give up hope…times were a changing.

At the Ramada (to hear Hunter’s pronunciation…you’d think we were going to a city in the Middle East!).  I pleaded my case to the Front Desk Manager and she had mercy on us - gave us TWO rooms, connecting, at a $79 rate.  I felt like I hit the Jack Pot!  Almost…we couldn’t check in till 3:00p.m.

So we went to the park, Barnes and noble and Subway….and then it rained, so we parked at the hotel and waited.  But eventually….we got everything in and the rooms were more than adequate.  It really felt like the Ritz….perspective!  We all took longs baths and showers and felt reborn!

We picked up Rich and told him our surprise.  He was shocked, but relieved and couldn’t believe that I’d handled all the luggage, on my own.  What does he think I did over the last three weeks? I am woman, dude.  Then I told him I got our money back…now that really surprised himJ - happily!  I was going to tell him an exaggerated tale of how I did that, but thought better of it.

We had dinner at Michael & Janelle’s house.  I finally got to meet their son, cute little Payton.  He’s three months younger than Cammy.  They, surprisingly, got along well.  I thought for sure, Cammy would pout and give ‘tude…but don’t ever underestimate the power of Tom & Jerry.  Janelle and I caught up over drinks while Michael & Rich played pool in the basement.  I was so proud of Barrett…he was so good (even though he pooped there…twice!...really stunk the place up).  But when he started to fall asleep in my arms around 10:00…I called No Joy.

Quote of the day:  Audrey, “Except for all the Colts stuff, it’s a really cool basement.” – reporting on Michael T’s man cave.

Silly Band Award:  Barrett

Lodging:  The Elizabethtown Ramada….heaven!

Day 23 - June 23, 2010

June 23^rd

Richie’s birthday!!!!  I magnanimously let him sleep in while I packed and loaded the car.  How sweet am I?  Also, I really have my own system after 23 days and I didn’t want him messing with it.

Ed was asleep when we left, so coffee and breakfast on the road.  We had a bit of a drive ahead of us, but our last long one.  We stopped for lunch somewhere north of Dayton and south of Cincinnati, I took over driving so that Rich could work.  We rolled into Elizabethtown, KY about 4 o’clock (8 hours).

We made reservations at Pine Valley Golf Resort…a condo where Rich had “lived” in 2003, while working on site at his company.  We’ve stayed there many times over the years.  In fact, the last time I was in E-town, for Rich’s 40^th, I stayed there with the kids.  Well let me tell you, the place is now a DUMP. Oh. My.   God…Disgusting!

Smelled. 

Various walls & doors had holes

Cracked door frame

1/4 inch of scum in the tubs

 Toilets not cleaned

Questionable yellow, streaked stains on the walls (beer, urine?)

Questionable brown stains on the bathroom door

Thick dust on most surfaces, or surfaces not wiped

Sheets that had not been washed.

As I write this, I cannot for the life of me figure out why we didn’t run.  To be honest, we didn’t immediately notice everything.  We had to unload all our stuff, which is a lot.  And the kids were so excited, thought they were at Buckingham Palace ….it’s all about perspective.  Then we started looking around.  We’d booked the condo because of the space: 2 bedrooms, living/dining, a full kitchen and a washer & dryer.  And it was only a $100 a night…trying to save money.  The Fairfield Inn, would have been over $700 for two rooms for three nights (shocking) and they couldn’t guarantee connecting rooms…they were almost sold out (and I again have to ask, like in Columbus, why was this town such a Hot Spot?).

In retrospect, all of the above in no way justifies our snap decision to stick it out, other than the fact we’d had to PREPAY for the room.  Hello?  Red Flag!  I know Richie really didn’t want to load up and then unload again…and it was his birthday, so I wasn’t going to argue.  What we needed was vodka (check) and bleach.  I was off to the store.  I spent $70 on cleaning supplies, laundry stuff and various disinfectants.  When I got back, Rich had already started a load of sheets…and said we were definitely going to have to buy pillows…he shuddered as he told me that.

We spent the next hour scrubbing and washing, but I couldn’t shake the hibbie jibbies.  All the while, the kids are running around lake maniacs….rolling on the floor, chasing each other, laughing…while mommy did her best not to throw up.

We went out for a lackluster Birthday dinner.  I felt so bad for Rich.  He kept asking me if I was okay…I said it would build character.  We got home and put the kids to bad.  Camden was the only one who was truly safe, in a pack and play.  Rich & I then drank some wine…trying to fortify ourselves, neither one actually wanting to lie down and sleep.  We reminisced about when we used to stay here and how little the boys were and how scared we were about the future and what would happen….never envisioning then, that we’d be okay and that Pine Valley would become a dump in seven short years. 

Miles traveled:  Detroit, MI to Elizabethtown, KY  434miles/8 hours

Silly Band Award:  Cammy & Bear

Quote of the day:  Aud, to Cammy – “You want a booger?  Cause I got a booger factory up my nose.”  As a mother, there are no words.
 Cammy – “Ahh…I ripped my diaper.” – nonchalantly, after Hunter sang the Sponge Bob song.

Lodging:  Hell

Day 22 - June 22, 2010

June 22^nd

When we woke up, it was raining (the storm woke me during the night), which scrapped our plans to go to a water park.  So the morning turned lazy and I caught up on writing, downloading pictures and paying bills.  But, sometime during my second cup of coffee, Barrett and Uncle Eggie had a “disagreement.”  Barrett thought that Uncle shouldn’t be using his computer (Ed works from home) because Bear had plans for surfing the net.  When we successfully got Bear away from the computer…he made sure to be loud enough, that Eggie couldn’t talk to clients on the phone.

It was time for Plan B.  Showers and the mall.  Fortunately, Rich took mercy on me and said we could leave Bear behind with him (which ultimately cost him and Eggie quite a bit of work time).  On the way to the Mall, the sun came out…so we tried to keep our visit short.  Then Kelly & I stumbled upon a sale at Lord and Taylor, so we stayed longer than anticipated.   To compound our savings we were hitting up fellow customers for coupons, which made me feel a little juvenile.  (Saved some money, but still. ) In the meantime, the natives made us pay for it, too...with atrocious behavior.  We probably scored coupons because fellow our shoppers wanted us out of the store. 

Once we got home, the kids all hit the hot tub, while the grown-ups had cocktails and appetizers.  Edmund made another fabulous dinner…shrimp on the grill, crab cakes, salmon, grilled vegetables and tomato salad.  Delicious.

It was a quiet day, a quite night.  It was what we all needed after a couple crazy days.  It was nice to end our visit on a peaceful note.  Tomorrow we are Kentucky bound.

Silly Band Award:  Cammy…so sweet today.

Quote of the Day:  Hunter - “I’d like to have a reasonable amount of coke.” – after mommy poured him what was, apparently, not a reasonable amount.

Quote of the Day 2:  Hunter, to Kelly, after she asked him if he was ready for 4^th grade. “I’ve had my challenges in third grade, but I am a master at arithmetic.  I think I’m ready.”

Day 21 - June 21, 2010

June 21^st

Well, everyone seemed to be in a much better place when we all got up this morning.  Thank God.  Typical family drama….just sweep it under the carpet (where it will fester for yearsJ). 

I love my sister-in-law. She absolutely Rocks!  I am so blessed to have Kelly in my life.  Kelly is the most patient, honest & caring person I know.  She is truly nice.  How it is that she didn’t turn and run for the hills when she met all of us, I will never know.

Kelly and I took the kids to the Detroit Zoo.  They were so excited when we got there - told every person whose path they crossed that this was “their first time at the zoo.”  I’m such a bad mom.  I’m just not an animal person. 

The Zoo was cool, but the animals were not cooperating.  It seemed as if every exhibit we went to the animals were passed out asleep or totally OUT OF VIEW.  Audrey was totally bummed because there weren’t any Elephants (apparently the Zoo couldn’t afford to take care of them anymore) and the Lion exhibit was under renovation.

 We ate lunch at the Zoo’s outdoor cafeteria where, surprisingly, peacocks were roaming free.  They actually came up to us at the tables, begging for food.  It was unsettling for me (I’m not a bird person either).

Oh, I did forget to mention that the chimpanzees were cool.  They were in mating season and couldn’t keep their hands off of each other.  It was sweet.  But the kids were much more impressed by the fact that they chimps peed and pooped for them.

After we put in 3 hours, we rode the zoo train and left.  Quick stop for ice-cream and the a few errands.  By the time we got home, Ed and Rich were in excellent moods…yeah!  We hung out on the deck, Kelly and I indulged in some champagne while the kids all played in the yard.  We grilled lobster tails and watch Kid Rock on the CMTs (dvr-ed).  It was all good.

Quote of the day:  “OMG, Gross! – Aud, after the peacocks solicited our table.

Silly Band Award – Four way tie.