Road Warrior Momma: Day 4

Day 4 – June 30,2013

Dallas – College Station – Austin, TX

223miles, 3 hours/110 miles, 2 ½ hours

Temperature, 100 degrees.
SpringHill Suites Austin South, Room 309

Up and out without incident this morning, always a blessing. Absolutely no traffic, another blessing. Not much happening on the Texas interstates and back roads on a scorching Sunday afternoon, at the end of June. Lordy, it’s hot.

All the happenings were in the car and it wasn’t good. To be fair, my patience level is at an all-time low. I’m good when we’re with other people, but when we’re alone, I’m very short with the kids and I feel really bad about it. I guess I still don’t have my mojo back. Thankfully, Rich joins us tomorrow and soon after that we’ll be with my cousin and his family, so that will be a much needed distraction for all.

We got to George Bush’s (41) Presidential Library about 12:30, right after it opened. It was mercifully cool and empty. I thoroughly enjoyed the museum and found it to be tremendously more personal than 43’s. There’s a lot of information about the Bush family, both George & Barbara’s family and siblings, as well as their children. They had life-sized models of the Oval Office, the family living quarters at teh White House, and office at Camp David, and the WHite House Situation Room. Pretty cool. There was also a room devoted to WWII (GHWB is a war hero), and fthe tour inished with a memorial to the Gulf War. There was also a huge chunk of the Berlin Wall. It was worth the side trip to see. Also, the Texas A & M campus is huge – the stadium is mammoth!

We did have one incident. Barrett set off a security alarm in the museum, when he tried to exit through a door clearly marked, in red, “No Exit”. I don’t know if it was the heat, or my deflated mood, but I didn’t even flinch. Hunter flew into protector mode, profusely apologizing to the first security guard on the scene, and giving his stand, “My brother has autism,” disclaimer. Honestly, I took it in stride, but Audrey and Hunter were visibly embarrassed :( . Poor kids. I was also extremely grateful that it didn’t happen yesterday, a W’s. I am certain we would have been escorted out.

Then we hit the road to Austin, for our layover on our way to New Mexico. Our room wasn’t ready, at 4:30, and I was too tired to go do something else. So, we sat in the lobby with our luggage and it worked like magic. “Mrs. Smith, your room is ready.”

We also cleared the hotel pool (indoor – hot, loud) in five minutes. Yes, some things are difficult, but others are quite easy! We had a quick dinner next door at the full service Marriott. Back at the room, baths and a Nick at Night movie. BIG driving day tomorrow!

Quotes of the Day: While watch Look Who’s Talking, Audrey and Hunter were trying to figure out who John Travolta was – remember the movie came out in the mid 1980’s.

Aud: “Hunter, look at the dad, where do I know him from?”

Hunter: “I don’t know, but man he looks like somebody.”

I chimed in about how in the world they would know who Travolta was. They claimed they did. I threw out some movies, they shook their heads, never taking their eyes off the screen.

Hunter: “I know! He’s the old fat dude from Old Dogs!”

Audrey studies the screen. Shocked, she replies, “Noooo way!”

Poor Johnny T.