Day 6 - July 2, 2013

Day 6 – July 2^nd, 2013

Carlsbad, NM – Las Cruces, NM

255 miles/4 ½ hours

Temperature – high of 85 (it has really cooled off! – I’m chilly, most of the time)

Springhill Suites Las Cruces, Rooms 310/312

Poor Rich got up at 3a.m., so he could get some work done.  I guess this won’t be a true vacation for him, after all.  I took the kids to breakfast when we woke up, so he could work in peace.  Then I loaded the car and we were headed to Carlsbad Caverns.

The caverns are in the middle of nowhere!  But it sure is pretty.  The vistas from the top of the mountain are awesome.  We barely made our tour, as we took so long taking pictures of the view.  The tour group consisted of 55 people and the guide urged us to not be too loud, as voices echo.  Yes, thank you for putting me on the edge, lady.  I was bracing myself for Barrett’s rendition of Rubber Dubbers the whole time.  Little did I know that would be the least of my anxiety.

The caves are amazing.  They were only discovered just over a hundred years ago, which is pretty unreal, considering there’s archeological proof that they are thousands of years old.  The pictures I took don’t do it justice.  The stalagmites in the cave are almost like crystal chandeliers.  It was very cold down there, I was freezing.  We were a mile underground, which I tried not to think about.

At one point on the tour, they turned the lights out – and it was true darkness.  I have no idea how a 16 year old (the age of the man who discovered the Caverns in 1897) would have had the gumption to enter the cave, with just a lantern.  It was during the dark period, that we had “the incident”.   After the lights went out, someone in my family – wasn’t me, I know it wasn’t Cammy, because he was sitting on my lap, wasn’t Bear, because he would have recited his standard comment when this happens, so it was one of the other three, who mortified me.  Based on the snickers, my money is on Hunter or Rich.  Well, we are in complete darkness, and it is very, very quiet – until we hear _______.  Can you guess what the sound was?  Yep.  And they just laughed.  If it hadn’t been totally black with darkness, I would have been able to tell who it was, based on the face.  I literally can’t take them anywhere.

After the caverns, we started our journey to Las Cruces, but then saw a sign that indicated there would be no gas stations for 150 miles – so back to the city of Carlsbad we went….a 50 mile round trip.  Sucked.

The drive southwest, back to Texas, around El Paso, and north to Las Cruces was beautiful.  Well to be honest, parts of El Paso are most definitely not beautiful.  I know you must be sick of my musings about this, but it is truly part of God’s country.  We are so lucky to do this and I am so sad that some people will never see it.  The topography of the country is so varied and so amazing.

In Las Cruces, we just checked in, swam, and then walked to Applebee’s for dinner.  We were tired!

Quote of the Day:

Audrey:  “There is something wrong with this family.”  This after Barrett passed gas at the dinner table, giving his standard tag line, “Did you fart?  Say excuse me.”  Then Camden smelled his butt to verify?!  Then he dramatically fell back on the booth, breathlessly declaring, “Yep.”  Why I’m telling you this, I do not know.

"Get your motor runnin'...."

Wide open spaces!

Day 5 - July 1, 2013

Day 5 – July 1^st

Austin, TX – Carlsbad, NM

477 miles/ 7 hours

Temperature – a Surprisingly, a balmy 75 degrees! ?

Fairfield Inn Carlsbad

Happy July 1^st! Reinforcements have arrivedJ))))!  Wooo-Hooo.

But first, I must start at the beginning.   Bear had a rough night.  He started singing about 2:30 a.m.  Hunter appeared to be awake (although he doesn’t remember this), as well.  I pleaded with Bear to hush and to go back to sleep.  It worked for a little while, but he seemed to rouse me every 20 minutes. I’d had grandiose ideas about hitting the gym at 6.a.m and gave up those aspirations around 4a.m.  Finally, somehow, I was able to coax the wild man into slumber about 4:30.

When the alarm went off at 6 I was NOT happy, but I got up anyway.  Quickly showered, woke the kids, ushered them to a lackluster buffet, loaded up the luggage cart, and got the car.  Then I discovered that we’d (or rather my car) had been BOMBED by birds!  It was revolting.  Apparently this happens quite a bit, because the hotel gave me a voucher for a carwash at the Circle K.  I gratefully took them up on it!  I was also hoping it wasn’t an omen for the day.

Luckily our route, heading SW from Austin, was not heavily traveled on a Monday morning!  It was truly easy getting out of the city.  The drive into the Hill Country of Texas was amazing.  I absolutely loved it.  We drove through the cutest little town, Fredericksburg, TX, and I really wished we’d had the time to stop and explore.  But I was on a mission to pick up daddy!  About a half hour after Fredericksburg we dropped off the grid for a while.  I was literally in the middle of nowhere; I didn’t even have cell service.   Then we made it to I10 and the skies gently opened up.  The rain wasn’t so bad, but the grey overcast was a bummer, because the countryside was amazing and I can’t even imagine what it would’ve looked like under full sun and a crystal blue sky.  Still – the rolling hills, rocks, and mini mountains were unbelievable

Then we exited I10, heading NW on back roads and our surroundings lost their luster.  Very barren and desolate.  Kind of spooky, actually.  We passed through 3 towns and there were zero lunch options.  I kept throwing bags of chips to the back of the car for the kids.

So we made it to Carlsbad and upon first impression, seemed like a one horse town.  I have a review due on Monday and I left the book in Dallas (I know, big screw up), so I googled B& N and found one on the University of NM’s Carlsbad campus.  Dudes – the campus consists of one big building and the B&N was smaller than the student book store at Loyola University, in 1987!  They didn’t have the book.

So we headed to the “airport” to get daddy.  The airport terminal is smaller than our first house.  And this is the text I got from Rich, while on the Airplane:  “For the record…this was the mother of all bad ideas…never again.  F*** me.”  Uh–oh.

The skies in Carlsbad were clear and sunny, so I figured he was over-reacting, but the texts continued.  Richie made it safely, but he sure didn’t look good when we saw him.  But how cool is this?  We were able to greet him on the tarmac?!?!?!  There was no security and the pilot was also the ticket agent.  What a throwback.  Something to be said about small towns.

We brought him to the hotel and had a quick swim.  Then we headed to Chili’s, which appeared to be the top of the line based on my earlier recognizance.  Well Chili’s handed me a buzzer and told me it’d be an hour and a half – on a Monday night!  Wha-wha?  Rich said no.  So we went on the hunt.  Well that’s the thrill of a road trip, we found Shangri-La, in the form of Yellow Brix, the best damn restaurant in Carlsbad.  They had a kids menu that resulted in clean plates, even though Bear’ chicken nuggets were homemade (he usually prefers processed crap).  Rich and I got fancy wine.  He got a fancy fillet and I got a designer salad that rivaled the Bistros of Sonoma.  And we had FUN.  Goes to show, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, I amend my one horse town opinion.

GOOD Day – the gang’s back together!

Quote of the day: 

Hunter, with great exasperation, “This is my worst nightmare.”  After Audrey spit out a piece of my salad that she’d wanted to taste.

The little airport.

Waiting for daddy

I don't think I'd be comfortable on that plane!

WOw - look at his expression - he kissed the ground after this.

 

Daddy being daddy.

 

Day 4 - June 30, 2013

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.

The Texas countryside

 

The George H. W. Bush Library

She sure does look comfortable!

Day 3 - June 29, 2013

Day 3 – June 29, 2013

Allen TX

Temperature 99 degrees

We woke up lazily…it was very quiet with just three of us this morning.  I think Bear was missing Hunter, as I could NOT get him out of bed!  But eventually we did and made it to Barbie’s on time.  We loaded up the kids and headed into the city, to the G.W. Bush Library.

The library is beautiful!  Gorgeous.  It even has a restaurant – a first for us.  Kind of a bummer though, that we had to go through security that would rival the ATL airport.  Poor Georgie – people are still after him.  The place was packed.  Crazy busy.  I couldn’t believe it.  It was hard to get to some of the displays.  I won’t bore you with a blow by blow, but some observations:

Very high tech.  Lots of interactive stuff.

Lots of video footage, which was cool. 

We got to walk THRU the oval office and sit at the desk!  VERY cool.

Lots of focus on the White House and its staff, which I thought was very nice.

A video of the funny, silly Bushisms.

Lots of rude people all over the place – one lady seriously, not accidently, pushed both Bear and Barbie out of her way – on two separate occasions.

Lots of focus on policy, it needs more about Bush pre-presidency and his family.

Needs more focus on the time period and what was going on in the country during his time in office.

The 9-11 section took my breath away.  The have a large part of the Trade Center and a wall, similar to the Vietnam Memorial, with all the names of the victims.  It took me right back.

Well worth the money, time, heat and effort!  Even though I was praising the Ford Library a couple weeks ago – this was my favorite Library so far.  I left with the warm fuzzies about W again.  I didn’t think that was possible.

When we left, there was a big van parked next to Barbie’s car, from some Church of Christ.  Barbie opened her van door and the kids all started piling in.  Not a big deal, but apparently it was to the woman driving the church van.  She lost her marbles.  She was screaming at the kids though the closed window.  What she was saying, I could not tell.  I reacted immaturely, but really thought her tirade was irrational.  I asked her if she was okay (to be fair, my tone was unpleasant).  Her head snap back, and she replied, “Yes, I’m fine.”  Okay then, stop yelling at my kids.  It was ridiculous and not very nice.

It was good prep for our next event – a hockey game.  We grabbed a quick bite and then headed to the ice rink to watch Bobby play.  What a rock star!  The next GretzkyJ.  We got to see him score four goals!  His team won 5-1.  It was fantastic.  I walked out with him, and everyone’s like, “Great game Bob!”  “Way to go Bobby!”  “Way to score, Bob!”  It was like being with a rock star.

Then we hung out at the house and the kids swam, before heading out for authentic Tex Mex.  Food was great, Margaritas were great, company was great!  Back to the hacienda for a night swim and grown up chit-chat with Barbie and Jeff – I love them, I miss them.  Poor Barbie, I talked her ear off for two days, I couldn’t stop. 

But very quickly, like a tornado, I felt that the Smith Storm brewing.  Audie jumped up in the pool, under the waterfall, hitting the top of her head on a rock…big ole egg on her head.  This was followed by drama, which triggered an internal mom debate about whether or not to go to the ER.  She was working it, but Barbie deduced that she was fine, just enjoying my panic.  Barbie was right.  Grown-ups were having deep conversations, followed by over-sharing on my part.  Then Barrett christened Bobby’s bathroom...literally.  Very sorry for the TMI, but he bombed the place out.  There was some collateral damage, involving urine, which resulted in Bear wearing Hunters PJs (too small) sans underwear.  So we had to walk through the hotel lobby, in front of the Miss Texas wannabes…looking like the Clampetts! Time to buzz out of town!  It was Great Allen, TX – till next time!

Quote of the day:  Camden, “Wow, this place glitters like it’s decorated with gold.”  Cammy’s comment about the hotel lobby.  Not sure if it’s the decorations, or the beauty queens.

Bush 43 Library

 

In the Oval Office

Celebrating with Bobby

Dinner

                                                                          Me & Babrie

The whole gang on the Ponderosa

Aud, post bump.  She's fine - swear.

Bear, about to enter the hotel lobby.

 

Day 2 - June 28, 2013

June 28, 2013

Monroe, LA – Allen, TX

310 Miles/4 ½ hours

Temperature: 103 degrees@ 4p.m.!

Marriott Courtyard Allen, Room 706

We had a very, very, very slow morning.  I think our long day wiped everyone out!  We didn’t get up (Barrett was the only exception – started delivering his soliloquies around 6a.m.) till 8!  I had a bag of powered donuts and some hotel coffee and wha-la…breakfast.  After catching up on e-mails, we were headed west on I20 by 9:45.

Drive was okay, until we got to the Dallas area – lots of traffic, made worse by the kid’s excitement and anticipation of reuniting with the Berniers.

We finally go there about 2:30and the kids picked up like they’d been living down the street from each other all along.  Same for the mom’s!  Barbie and I had so much, too much, to catch-up on.  We kept marveling at how easy it was, even with time and distance, to be together again.  I first met Barbie in 2001…when I would constantly walk the twins, in their double stroller, in our old neighborhood, for a mental break (I was in phenomenal shape, let me tell you!).  Her mom was staying with her and stopped me, to mention that she was helping her daughter, who was pregnant with twins and on bed rest – Barbie.  We became very close and she was one of the women who held me up when autism knocked me down.  She, Jen J & LynnAnn were constantly taking me out for much needed Ladies’ Nights.  She and her family moved to Dallas, about 7 years ago.

At one point I snuck away, to check in to the hotel, while Barbie held down the fort.  Well the Courtyard in Allen, which is one of my favorites, was a mad house!  Apparently the Miss Texas pageant starts next week and all the contestants are staying here.  Wow.  The hair, the heels, the skirts, the glitter, the luggage and the mothers, should be interesting!  Think Toddlers and Tiaras – on steroids.  Audrey’s going to have a field day!  I think I need to hang out at the hotel bar tonight, I’m sure I’d gather tons of material for a blog. 

Alas, there was not a luggage cart in sight!  It took four trips to get our stuff to the room.  If this had happened the day before, I probably would have slept in the car.

Back at the Bernier ranch, everyone was in the pool – it was hot, hot, hot!  Seriously, you had to go in the pool because you literally could not stand on the patio without burning your feet.  It’s so cool how all the kids get along.  Barbie made a wonderful dinner and Jeff arrived home about the time her parents dropped by – so it was a party.  Very nice, very relaxing. 

After dinner, I bugged out, with Bear and Cammy – I’d forgotten B’s medicine, and the clock was ticking!  Hunter and Audrey are having a sleep over, so it’s serenely peaceful in the hotel room tonight!  The heat and swimming wore the boys out, and Barrett displayed no effects of not getting his meds on time.  He’s exhausted.  I may even attempt to read tonight.

Texas, here we come!

Yes - they got into the make-up.

Bear Bear in his element.

Brooke - spitting image of her mom, and Aud.

Bobby - best Hockey Hair evah! Adorable!

Yeah, Mr Jeff, mom doesn't serve her brownies like that.

Day 1 - June 27, 2013

Day 1 – June 27, 2013

Cumming, GA – Montgomery, AL – Monroe, LA

206 miles/365 miles = 565miles total

Courtyard Monroe, Room 306

I tried to leave at 6a.m., but ended up leaving at 6:15 and after a quick pit stop for coffee, we “officially” hit the road at 6:30a.m.   I was very tired.  I’d stayed up past midnight printing out maps and other stuff and when I finally got to bed…my mind started racing…

We got to Montgomery at 9:30, which was really good time.  The town seemed every quiet – little did I know that it was actually 8:30 – CENTRAL time zone.  Our first stop was the Alabama State Capitol, which was very tourist friendly.  I actually set off their alarm (with my Latchkey!) and the security just laughed.  After our self-guided tour, I realized why it was so chill – the state legislature and the state senate relocated to a separate building across the street.  Not much important going on in the Capitol, but I sure wished the walls could talk!  TONS of history, with the Confederate War and the events of the civil rights movement during the 1960’s.  We also visited the Confederate War Memorial.

Then we went to the Dexter Baptist Church, where MLK was pastor, but it wasn’t open.  Like I said, very sleepy downtown.  Then it was on to the Hank Williams Museum…where we couldn’t get in at 9:55 – when the hours where clearly listed the doors as 9-5.  Hello, McFly.  This is when I finally realized we were in Central Standard Time zone!  It was funny, because I was flummoxed when the young girl walked up to open the door – totally not apologizing for being an hour late to work!  Thank God I didn’t say anything.  The museum was a quick (and not worth the $22) tour.  It was rather depressing, as I thought HW died in a car crash, little did I know he suffered heart failure, while he slept in the back seat of a car.  Yeah – didn’t help my mood.  To be fair, if you’re a Hank fan, you would love the place.  Lots of stuff.

Next we hit the Rosa Parks Museum and Library.  It was awesome!!!!  I learned so much.  Of course I knew the story of Rosa Parks, but I honestly didn’t know about the 13 months that followed with the bus boycott, bombings and Supreme Court cases.  Fascinating and presented in a way that really kept the kids interested.  Audrey dazzled our guide (we were the only people in her groupJ- again, early) with her Martin Luther King knowledge (while Hunter literally rolled his eyes).  She asked Audrey where she went to school – and then praised the GA school system for their celebration of MLK.   Highly recommend.

Next we drove by the Greyhound bus station, which was the scene of the attack on the Freedom Riders.  Unfortunately, the bus station/museum is only open on Friday & Saturdays, so it was just a drive by.  My first traffic violation on the day as well – I did a U-turn on a one-way street – alerted to my mistake by the security guard who was yelling, “Keep it turning!”  Hunter was thrilled with my ability to do a 360.  Again, I must stress, we were the only people in downtown Montgomery this morning.  I never did discover why.

Then we went to the Civil Rights Memorial and Center.  The memorial was pretty cool, but was obviously under some sort of renovation project.  Then we went into the center and saw a movie about the 40 people who died during a 13 year period, all of whom died while supporting civil rights, or were literally in the wrong place and the wrong time.  So sad, and I don’t think schools quite tell the whole story.  The movie made me cry.  Audrey did too, and Hunter was in shock.   

Good times in Montgomery!  How to pick up the mood?  Visit Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s house!  The “museum” is in the only Montgomery home they lived in as a married couple, and only for six months – the notorious couple never actually owned a home.  They rented a series of luxurious hotel suites and mansions in Europe and America – this I the only home they lived in that’s still in existence.  The museum was very small, but full of treasures.  Unfortunately, the museum is contained in one of the apartments – the house has been subdivided into four – so there’s no real tour.  I really enjoyed talking with the man working there, who was full of tidbits and trivia!  The boys waited out front – I knew they’d not be interested – so we were serenaded by Barrett’s siren’s and Hunter’s reprimands.  Audrey insisted on coming in and interrupted the man constantly.  He called her on it too, not that it helped!

Then we took the long 5 ½ hour drive to Monroe – long and boring – thank God for Jen Lancaster.  I’m listening to her book, The Toa of Martha, which is about the year that she tried to live according to the rules of Martha Stewart.  As always, she’s very funny.  Ironically, the book is also about grief.  She lost her dog while writing it – and I am in NO way comparing my brother to a dog, but she apparently really, really loved this dog and a lot of what she’s written has pierced my heart.  “You cannot run from grief, you cannot deny it, it follows you everywhere.”   Don’t I know it.  Not to worry, though – then she drops a series of F-bombs about the trick-or-treaters that didn’t show up for her full-sized candy bars, and I’m laughing again

Our hotel is adjacent to the interstate, so it’s loud, but clean nonetheless.  It’s close to a mall, so we had lots of dinner options.  The kids were starving, as southwest Alabama offered NO lunch options, other than the gas station variety.  By the time we reached the civilizations of Meridian and Jackson, it was almost dinner time, so we held off.  Needless to say, four out of five plates at Longhorn were all but licked clean.  I was so tired, bone tired, that we went back to the hotel and it was lights out at 9p.m. – there was little argument.

Quote of the day:

Camden:  “Okay, I’m just going to say it – I hate traffic!”  This, after four hours, on the second leg, when we hit a wall of construction traffic, 15 miles east of Vicksburg.

Ready to go!

Alabama State Capitol

Aud & Cammy riding at the back of the bus:)

Dexter Baptist Church

Hanging with Miss Rosa - check out Cammy!

In front of the Civil Rights Memorial

 

Fitzgerald Home 

Road Trip Update

I just want to thank everyone for all the love, kindness and support that you’ve offered me over the last six weeks.  I apologize for going off the grid, but I’m just heart broken.  Rich suggested that I may want to “check-in,” so that’s what I’m doing.   Just a few weeks after the loss of Edmund, our family also lost my Aunt Mimi.  We’ve been pinballing from state to state - not the summer I’d planned.  I cancelled the first half of our road trip, to spend time with family in Michigan.  I’m planning to head out west for part two of our family road trip, meeting up with my cousins.  Some of you have been asking about the Road Warrior trip blog…I’m going to try, but I may not be updating every day, but I’m hoping to check in – trying to get back to “normal” for the kids.  Our travel adventures, thus far, haven’t been the stuff of funny reading.

Please know, I’m very grateful for all my friends and family.  Truly.  I promise I WILL return all your phone calls and e-mails, I just need a little more time.  Thank you so much for the cards, flowers, gifts and memories you’ve shared with me.  I will always cherish them.

On a professional note, I’ll soon have news to share and I have a number of book reviews that have been posted.  I’ve been hesitant with links and updates on my blogs well, because it just doesn’t feel appropriate and my heart hasn’t been in it.  I’m not sure when that will happen, but I know I’ll be back.  If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life is too short. 

Kelly took me, Hunter & Aud to the Red Sox game at Comerica Park Friday night.  Detroit fans rock, they were so gracious.  Uncle Eggie brought home the win for us! – thank goodness.  Perhaps we should have been at the other three games?  Brother, please shine on the Bruins!