Day 19 - June 19, 2010

June 19^th

Today was gorgeous…perfect temperature, in the 80’s….and the sun shined all day.  Yay!

Despite the tumultuous pre-bedtime events, I had the most incredible night’s sleep.  The bed in Ed & Kelly’s guest room is so comfortable….I always enter a coma-like state.  After a tense breakfast (Edmund was completely ignoring me)…Kelly and I headed to Howell to see Jake and Jesse.

Jesse is Kelly’s niece, but she’s only 5 years younger than Kelly.  Jesse’s cool.  We were pregnant at the same time (Aud) and her second child is only 1 year older than Cammy.  Her husband is a sweetheart and I’ve always enjoyed spending time with them.  They always send us packages, with presents for everyone…for no reason at all!

So they invited us out to their house, which is on a lake, for a boat ride.  I never say “no” to a boat ride!  Bear was so excited, but I was nervous, because he kept trying to jump in the lake, en route to the little island where they usually dock.  Once we docked, everyone got in the chilly (imo) lake water….peace and calm was restored.  We ended up having a really fun time.

Back at their house…the kids had a blast.  Barrett was jumping on the trampoline, naked.  Hunter found a Wii!  Aud was flying on a real tire swing, while Cammy mowed their grass with a bubble mower.  We could have stayed all day…but our phones were starting to ring.  The Cochrans had arrived back at Chez McGrath.

Jan and Jeff have three kids….their son is also on the sepctrum, so we were an interesting crowd.  The sun was shining and the kids were in and out of Ed’s hot tub and their neighbor’s kiddie pool.  Everyone was nice to each other, even with the cocktails flowing (a frozen concoction of Jan’s – Sweet Tea Vodka mixed with ice and crystal light lemonade). 

We put most of the kids in tents in the basement with a movie.  Jan bowed out early which I also really wanted to do.  For the sake of harmony, I had to wait for dinner, which didn’t hit the table till 10 p.m.   During dinner, Cousin Jeffy dropped the first conversational bomb by mentioning that he missed my dad.  That was my ticket out.  I very quickly excused myself….I wasn’t ready to go another round.

Quite of the day:  “Where’s my breakfast?” – Camden, fist on the table, demanding daddy cook faster.

Silly Band Award:  Barrett (although, I think that Auntie Kelly gave out bands to all the kids, from her own personal stash).

Day 18 - June 18, 2010

June 18^th

I got up early – before the kids, to get the car loaded.  When I got back to the room, they were still asleep!  After rollin’ their butts out of bed, we went down for breakfast and were on the road by 8 a.m.

Super easy drive…until we got to the beltway in Detroit.  I have no reason why – but only one lane was open for about 15 miles – and no obvious explanation as to why this was so.  Still, we got to my brother’s by lunch time.

After quick sandwiches, Kelly, Aud and I went out for some “maintenance”.  While Kelly had her hair done and Aud annoyed the salon’s clientele, I got a facial.  We also did some quick shopping for Father’s Day gifts, before hitting the nail salon for mani-pedi’s for three. 

By the time we got home, the sitter was on her way….so I very quickly got ready for dinner out.  We went to a FABULOUS restaurant on Union Lake…gorgeous view.  The menu made my mouth water, simply by reading it.  I had mussels and mushrooms in a cheese sauce for appetizers, while also nibbling on a caprese salad.  For dinner I had a house salad that had white cheddar, carrots, hazelnuts, apples and cranberries…omg!  I also had stuffed artichokes.  It was all so good and (aside from the one lobster on the Cape) the only adult food I’d had in three weeks.  The two bottles of wine we shared didn’t hurt, either. 

On the way home, we stopped for a drink and a wicked storm moved in, with the rain pounding down.  The wind was so bad - things were flying in the air.  Momma was tipsy and we were laughing sooooo hard….it was fun night, despite Mother Nature.

Then the storm came in-doors….thunder and lightning can’t compete when my brother and I fight.  It was bad.  We were all just chit-chatting along when it was like I stumbled on an IUD….Edmund exploded…all my fault, of course.  I say that, because it just always seems to be something I say.  Always.  No matter how careful I am.  But there are two sides to every story, I know that.  I just don’t know what his is, because we never get that far.  Fortunately, I didn’t engage him (in the past I would have started screaming too, and it would’ve gotten hateful and I would’ve packed up and left).  Kelly and Rich were witnesses, so there wouldn’t be two versionsJ…just four…ha,ha.  It’s all so GD embarrassing, that I will not rehash the details.  But man, is he mad at me!  Suffice as to say, it’s exhausting…especially considering we’re staying at his house.  I hope it doesn’t ruin the trip.

Traveled:  Columbus to Detroit 221 miles/3 hrs 40 minutes

Staying at Chez McGrath…nicest place so far

Silly Band Award…I forgot to do it today.

Quote of the day:    Hunter, laughing…”But you’re supposed to love me!”…after daddy told him to get out of the kitchen.

Day 17 - June 17, 2010

June 17^th

Today was a nice day!  Sunny and warm on Ohio, again.  Wow.  Kids and I slept late - 8:30 a.m.  Woo Hoo!  We went down for the free buffet and the kids were good.  Another woo hoo!  Then we went back to the room to get into swim suits.  Pool time!

The hotel has an indoor/outdoor pool that was nice, although I had to keep moving…in and out.  The pool wasn’t too crowded, which is always nice.  The kids swam for about an hour, before the ball players showed up.  Apparently, there’s a big baseball tournament nearby for kids who seem to be between 10 and 14.  Boys everywhere.  Fortunately, in all our encounters with them, they’ve been very polite.

The kids and I went for drive, in search of lunch…and ended up at Subway.  We had trouble at the drive thru (see quote below), but eventually got our sandwiches.  We drove in search of a park, to have a picnic.  But, it turns out we were in a not-so-nice area, so we headed back to the hotel for lunch and showers.

After lunch we went over to Easton, where Kristen works.  It’s a cool area.  We landed at Barnes and Noble for an hour.  Again, kids were awesome.  Pinch me.  After books, trains and cupcakes we went to pick up Madison, Kristen’s daughter.

Madison is gorgeous!  She looks just like Haley Chamblin, but with dark brown hair.  She was very sweet and really helped me with the kids, while we walked around the MASSIVE outside mall in Eatson.  Then we went to Kristen’s office – she works for a plastic surgery center – for my impromptu appointment.  Kristen set up a consultation for me with one of her doctors, to talk about my God-forsaken baggy, under-eyes.  Like the previous doctors I’ve seen…he thinks my face is too thin and I should wait a couple years before I do anything drastic.  But…he was all too happy to tell me I needed botox…everywhere!  My forehead, the bridge of my nose, my crow’s feet and under my eyes.  Good God.  He was ready to whip out his needle right there.  Aging is a beyootch.

We went to dinner at Red Robin and then Kristen came back to the hotel to hang out for a little while.  I miss her.  It seems like yesterday we were two little Miss Lonely Hearts, in our little apartment eating popcorn, drinking white zinfandel and watching Pretty Woman.  Where does time go?

Quote of the day:  Aud, “It’s because he doesn’t speak our language.” – Aud’s explanation to Hunter’s question about why mommy couldn’t understand the guy at the Subway drive-thru.  (He was Indian).  How does she know this stuff?

Cammy, “It’s magic!” – Cammy, while walking through a revolving door.

Lodging:  Still @ Embassy Suites, Westerville, OH

Silly Band Award:  I had to give it to all four.  Cammy & Bear really won, but Frick and Frack did the best they’ve done in well over a week and their big pleading eyes got me.

Day 16 - June 16, 2010

June 16^th

After leaving Pittsburg, we headed for Columbus and the kids fought the whole time.  It was awful.  Oh…news flash…there’s sun in Ohio.  Who would a thought?

Columbus is where my girlfriend Kristen lives.   We met at 18, when we both worked in the Sundry Shop at the Ritz Carlton Naples.  We hit it off right away, eventually becoming roommates for almost two years (until I left for grad school).  Kristen was my best roommate.  I love her like a sister.  She was one of my Bridesmaids and she’s Hunter’s Godmother.  Sadly, we haven’t seen each other for a very long time.  Much too long.

Once we were here…we had nowhere to go.   I was here a week early, due to a last minute itinerary change and Kristen was working, so we couldn’t get into her place.  I tried to entertain the kids with lunch and an outdoor mall…but it was too much.  Back in the car, I made some calls to Rich and Marriott in the hopes of finding cheap accommodations.  No luck…what-so-ever.  I couldn’t drive around for three more hours either, cause someone would get seriously hurt.  They were behaving badly.  Eventually, the Embassy Suites took pity on me, but for just one night!  They’re sold out for tomorrow…not sure what we’ll do, but I will worry about it tomorrow.  The more pressing question:  what in the world is so exciting about Columbus Ohio that so many hotels are sold out?!?!?!?

When Kristen finally got to the hotel…we were in PJ’s, eating room service.  Kristen burst into tears when she saw the kids.  I’m not kidding, honest to God tears.  I was like, “Are you okay?”  It took her all of about 30 seconds to win the kids over…with presents and her sunshine personality. 

She looks fabulous! 

We played with the kids for about an hour before plopping them in front of a movie.  Then we drank wine and talked for 3 hours.  My Kristen hasn’t had an easy time.  She’s a single mom, with a preteen and a SOB of an ex-husband.  She’s killing herself to get ahead, but road blocks pop up all the time.  She’s had some health issues lately, too – neck surgery and many accompanying complications.  The poor thing has had it rough and I think she’s struggled mightily to keep her head up.  I swear, I just want to pick her up, take her home and make everything better.  She deserves a break…a BIG break.  Her dating life, since the divorce, has been a frightening rollercoaster.  I need to find her a mature, financially stable, caring, cute guy who will love her and her daughter.  Anybody? 

Traveled:  Pittsburgh, PA to Columbus, OH  202miles/3 ½ hours

Lodging:  Embassy Suites, Westerville

Silly band: Barrett & Cammy

Quote:  Hunter, giggling, “Oh!  Sorry!  He has issues” – after Barrett stripped down naked in front of the bellman.  Et tu Brute? 

Day 15 - June 15, 2010

June 15th

We’re half way….and I still feel like I can make it.  I think that’s a really good sign!

When we got up this morning, in Adamstown, the sun was shining.   I swear, I couldn’t stop smiling….I think my demeanor is way too related to the amount of sunshine I see.  My smile only faded during a long, thirty minute period in which Hunter was missing one shoe.  One shoe!  It took thirty minutes to find to find the one shoe, in a 300 sq. ft. room.  I kid you not.

Gin & Martha came to see us during breakfast, to say good-bye.  Gin said she’d had fun…I’m not sure if I believe her, but hopefully there was some truth to what she said.

So, we were westbound and down, on the Pennsylvania turnpike.  Ten minutes into the drive, guess what?  Rain.  Followed by hours of dark skies.  I couldn’t freakin’ believe it.  In fact, we would NOT see the sun again all day.

We were stopping in Pittsburg to see my friend Patty.  Patty and I waited tables together at Pier 66 when I was in grad school.  We dated best friends who were both young, immature & twins (but not of each other) and more than likely - alcoholics.  It was fun…for a very short period.  We have no idea where these boys are today (nor care), but Patty & I have stayed friends.  We were married within two months of each other and have seven kids between us (each with a set of identical twins!).  However, the last time we actually saw each other was the summer of 2005, in Michigan.

The drive, after yesterday, was painless.  It took exactly four hours (with two stops) to get to Pittsburgh.  Patty lives in a quaint older neighborhood that really looks like “up north” to me.  I love it.  The streets are winding and hilly, with big full trees.   There’s no entrance with a stone wall labeled “fill-in-the-blank-Ridge” or “St. Something”.  You can smell real grass, which is typically mowed by a teenager who lives in the house.  The homes all have their own character or look.  A real neighborhood where people stay for a lifetime.

Patty’s house is retro cool…a 1960’s brick colonial with its original fixtures and cabinets.  It’s filled with bedrooms, kids & toys.  We immediately felt at home.  So at home, that I finally did laundry…six loads!

We had lunch and took the kids to her pool….which is a swim club kind of deal.  The pool was huge and empty, thank God.  There was also a diving board, which I haven’t seen in years.  Barrett was in heaven jumping off, over and over again.  The lifeguards were really on him about their many rules…which made me tense, but he eventually got into an obedient groove.

After swimming we went back for cocktails and dinner.  The kids got along so well.  Hunter and Payton played like they’d know each other their whole lives.  Camden was in heaven with the new toys and Patty’s girls (twins) were about a year and a half younger than Aud, so she enjoyed her leadership role.  Bear did get to her neighbors pool (!?!?!?!) before we went into serious lockdown.

Patty and I caught up.  She’s happy…I can tell.  She’s a good mom – a content mom.  All the same worries all moms have, just amplified a bit…that hasn’t changed.  Miss Patty has always worried too much.  She’s having a problem with her brother’s wife (who sounds like a nightmare) and she cried about it.  Patty tries too hard to please everyone.  Life is too short.  I seriously think I would tell my sister-in-law to stick it where the sun don’t shine – but that’s just me!  Ah….families!  And…who am I to give advice, right?  Although, I did tell her to kick a little ass.

Her husband Brant got home from work around 9, and we talked till midnight before bedtime.  It was a really nice visit!  And we have clean clothesJ!

Traveled:  Adamstown to Pittsburgh, PA  232miles/4 hours

Stayed:  AT the Browns in Monroeville, PA

Silly Band Award:  Camden

Quote of the Day: 

Day 14 - June 14, 2010

June 14^th

The weather hasn’t changed…yucky.  We hit the road as fast as we could.  I asked Ginny about hammering it to PA, and she was on board.  No time to waste.  The one good thing about leaving with the weather like this is that there was no heavy heart.  We needed to find some sun.

We did not find it in Rhode Island.  My sister Kendall has a summer place in Little Compton.  I’d never been.  The drive was amazing.  Beautiful New England houses with lush yards and amazing gardens.  Most houses had stacked stone fences.  So charming.  And of course…the ocean.  Kendall’s house was about a 100 yards from Sakonnet Harbor.  The view was nice .

I’ve only been around my sister twice before (although we’ve had more than a few phone calls).  I discovered her late in life, on my last trip to Cape Cod.  It is a very long story.  She is my mother’s first daughter, who she gave up for adoption, before she met my dad.  My dad never knew about Kendall.  How’s that for a soap opera?

She has a daughter who is almost five, named Geneva.  She has two other stepchildren, Singny & Roger.  All three children are beautiful and well-behaved.  They in were in for it…The Smithies had arrived.

It was a short visit…we were there less than three hours.  Kendall made us a wonderful lunch and we reminisced again about mom and her having to give Kendall up.  I think it’s a topic both of us can talk to death.  Geneva and Audrey got along well and I felt really bad to have to leave so soon after we got there.  I wasn’t sure how it was going to go…it had been eight years since we’d last seen each other.  Kendall seems very happy and content.

But we had miles to go before we slept.  Specifically….350 miles.  I had a feeling it was going to be a long afternoon and evening!

And it kinda was.  The kids were troopers…not necessarily good, but troopers!  Ginny dove…fast…but she got us to Adamstown by 8:15p.m….safe and sound, so I really can’t & won’t complain.

It’s 10p.m. and all four kids are up and acting like crazy people.  They are playing naked Wipe Out (don’t ask) and even Barrett was laughing.  I probably could have used a drink…but that’d have to wait till Pittsburgh, cause I didn’t know where or how to get one!  No room service at The Black Horse Inn.

Traveled:  Dennis Port, MA to Adamstown, PA  - 465miles/11 hours 45 min (3 hour stop in RI)

Silly Band Award:   Barrett…by a land slide!

Lodging:  Black Forest Inn, Adamstown, PA

Quote of the day:  Hunter, “That’s right sista!” – after mommy told Camden he couldn’t ask me for any treats later because he didn’t share his carrots.

Hunter, “I’m sorry your majesty, I farted.” – after Mommy commented that the car stunk.

Day 13 - June 13, 2010

June 13th

It’s still cold. It’s still raining.  But I still love it here.

I woke to a really bad headache.  I don’t know if it’s the weather or the kids.  I snuck down to the lobby for coffee and curled up with a pile of pamphlets of things to do on the Cape.  They have at least 100 pamphlets, in the event that the weather sucks and you’ve already revisited your past.  The Holiday was on TBS (yeah TBS), which I love.  So it turned out to be a nice Sunday morning…the little ones were hovered around their portable DVD player watching dumb Sponge Bob and I got to watch a classic romantic comedy. 

At least for a little while…after significant whining from the gruesome foursome, I dragged myself away from the movie to take them to Dunkin Donuts.  Unfortunately, when I started the car, the Check Engine Soon light was on….specifically for low tire pressure.  After we hit Dunkin, it took me four gas stations before I could get a tire gage.  All four tires were below 28 lbs (Ginny’s driving, perhaps?)….so I really had to fill them up…in the pouring rain, by myself.  Who needs a man?  (Although, maybe a man just would have done it without a tire gage).

 Then I took the kids to the Chatham Lighthouse and the Nauset Lighthouse.  They weren’t too impressed.  It probably didn’t help that there was so much fog that you really couldn’t see the beach.  Such a very dreary day.  Gin called, while we were heading back to Harwich, to make plans for dinner with Karen & Leslie.  I stopped at George’s Pizza on Main Street for takeout.  George’s was the first pizza I’d ever eaten….and it was in the same place, with the same owners for forty years.  Impressive.  The pizza smelled the same too….scent is amazing in its power to awaken long dormant memories.  I was so excited to eat it.  The first bite, wonderful.  Second bite, marginal.  Third bite….pizza tasted like crap.  Kids wouldn’t eat it either.  So much for the good ole days.

While I was driving the kids around, I was listening to the radio and my imagination was working overtime.  Totally plotted a book….set on the Cape of course.  I got a million stories in my head…I need to quit daydreaming and get to work. 

But that won’t be happening anytime soon.  Back at the hotel the kids were going wild.  Seriously, it was like being in a zoo.  Hunter was trying to watch the NASCAR race, with the volume turned up full blast; Bear was running around like a caged monkey on speed; Aud was chasing Cammy around…loudly…and he was disagreeing with her actions….loudly.  Calgon – take me away!  Today was the day that I seriously asked myself what in the hell was I doing?  Everyone said I was crazy….today, I felt they were right.  I hadn’t planned on constant rain.  Really, it had rained every single day, but two.  Every day.  Eleven freakin days.

After Cammy fell asleep, I took Bear and Aud to the indoor pool in the hopes of burning off some of their energy (Hunter was in engrossed in the NASCAR race).  We were having dinner with Gin, Karen, & Leslie (and because of the rain, dinner in a restaurant, not a cookout in their yard).  I was nervous.

Karen and Leslie live in Hyannis, where I was born.  I took the kids by the hospital where I was born & the Melody Tent where I used to see shows with my mom.  As a result, we were late getting to Karen’s.  We chatted for about 10 minutes before we headed to the harbor for dinner.  The restaurant was called Spanky’s and it was perfect for the kids.  I had lobster and it was delicious.  The kids were pretty good. 

After dinner, we all drove back to Dennis for some ice cream.  It may sound dorky…but when I was envisioning being on the Cape with my kids, I was imaging this:

The kids would be lightly sun burnt and windblown, dressed in crisp pastels with happy smiles glowing on their cherub faces (not even close).  We’d had have dinner at a waterside restaurant (check) and we’d laugh and they’d be exceptionally well behaved (maybe a little bit).  After dinner, as a reward for their good behavior (not really good, but not bad), we’d take a drive to an ice-cream parlor as the sun set (what sun?)  We’d sit outside on the deck (raining) and eat our cool summer treat.  

Today was good as it was gonna getJ.  We ate inside and the place had an electric piano that played nickelodeon tunes.  The kids loved it.  They all danced around the piano, laughing and getting a standing ovation from the other patrons. Sometimes, the real stuff is just better.

Back at the hotel…I dumped Aud with Gin (who had a room so we could leave early in the a.m.)  I packed us up and watched the Celtics game with Hunter.  They won…yeah! 

Tomorrow we’re headed to Rhode Island to see Kendall and then…if Ginny agrees, we’re going to push it to Adamstown.  I want to save on the two hotel rooms we’d need in Connecticut…and cut out the whole luggage/packing thing for such a short stop.  Plus…we are out of clean clothes.  I got to get to Pittsburgh to do some laundry.  It would take me a day and a half to do it all with Gin’s slow washing machine.  Gin….love you, but time is of the essence.

Silly Band:  Hunter, I guess.

Quote:  Cammy, ”Mom, can you stop the shower?  I have to show you something for you.”  - I didn’t stop the shower, but popped my head out to the cutest thing holding a doodle pad with a “drawing” of God knows what.