Chili Powder

Travel Tricks

I'm still in North Carolina- home tomorrow evening! This has been an incredibly tiring trip- I don't think my brain is working at full capacity, so if this post doesn't make sense it is because my brain can't take in out send out any more meaningful information. That and the wine I had tonight to help gain some karaoke courage.

When I am not trying to absorb logic models and strategic plans into my aching brain, I am missing Marcel and Zack. Luckily I have my laptop with me loaded with pictures of my guys. And get this- I found the perfect picture to put on my desktop:

You may have seen this photo before, I took it at a wedding back in September.  Well, I found that when you put this photo on the desktop of my laptop, his picture head ends up being about the same size as his real boy head- and it is like he is IN THE ROOM WITH ME! For real- it is actually a bit creepy. But anyway, the last half of the day I had my laptop at the desk and the Mar-man was chillin' with me.

Back from Baltimore

I'm finally home! My conference in Baltimore was a great learning experience, but exhausting!

I did however experience a few "firsts" while on my trip that I thought I would share...

This trip was:

• Was the longest I have ever been away from Marcel, almost 5 days. 
• The first time going to Cheesecake Factory and not ordering cheesecake...That would be because earlier in the day at the conference they served cheesecake with lunch. But still, I resisted...
• watched multiple episodes of Law and Order in one sitting.
• The first time I ran on a treadmill for 6 miserable miles.
• The first time I prayed for the aut0mobile I was riding in "not to fall apart".  The Supershuttle that I was riding in yesterday was so old/poorly maintained that I swear I could hear loose parts  moving around whenever we went over a bump. I made it to the airport safely, thankfully.
• The first time I realized I would go crazy if I lived in the middle of a city. After 4 days without trees and grass I was ready to get the hell out.
• The first time I heard a sharp dressed woman saying "Rut-Roh" in a Scooby Doo voice when he luggage didn't fit into the overhead compartment.  Just weird.
• The first time I have watched a movie on an airplane.  With all of the flights I have been on for the last 18 years, I have never seen a movie on a plane.

Here are some photos from the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, across the street from my hotel.

Jennifer

The lake at Camp

Vacation Photos

Pictures of the family in Alexandria Bay, New York... Most of the photos were taken at Boldt Castle.

Pooped

Whoo-ee I am still exhausted from this weekend!

Recap:

Friday, Marcel had Field Day at school. The Pre-K kids got together and played games such as 3 legged races, tricycle races, egg races, sack races on the playground. I caught about an hour of it and it was so cute! The kids were all clapping for each other, yelling out encouraging words, cheering. Marcel was very proud that he won the sack race against one of the Pre-K teachers.

A few hours later, we left for San Antonio. We made it there quickly (we beat rush hour) and had time to relax once we got there. Marcel got to check out the pool and watch cable, so he was in heaven.

Saturday morning was the race. It was a great park and a great race course. Later, when I have more energy, I will write up a race report on Brown Socks. 

We drove back to Austin after the race and we all promptly passed out. We awoke in time to head to  a friend's craw-fish boil where we spent the rest of the evening. Marcel refused to eat craw-fish, instead he ate about an entire bag of potato chips and about 10 oreos. He did get a chance to pick up a few of the live craw-fish, which he thought was pretty cool.

Well, we are off again- time to go see "Kicking and Screaming" with Marcel. Marcel is looking forward to seeing "Buddy the Elf" in a movie again.

Change in Plans

Today we were supposed to be finishing up our packing, getting travel books from AAA, and grabbing mucho snacks and drinks for our road trip to Colorado tomorrow. Instead, we are chilling around the house, watching Shrek, wondering what we will do for the next 9 days here in Austin! Why? - On Wednesday, on my way home from work, a very intoxicated driver slammed into the back of my car. My Element held up pretty well against the impact, but my body is pretty sore. Long story- I will write more after the insurance issues are settled.

Anyway, we have had quite a stressful week, and the doctor recommends to stay active, but does not recommend sitting in the car for hours and hours on a road trip. So instead of photos of Palo Duro Canyon, Garden of the Gods, and other beautiful sights, we will be taking photos of our local parks, and the the Texas hill country. Perhaps we will make the Kite festival this week and catch Robots. Perhaps a daytime SXSW show...Who knows!

I had a pretty awful Wednesday night, but also met some very generous and caring people. It is amazing to me how strangers can be so incredibly helpful. They brought me water, offered me a sweater, and hung out with me while I waited for the police to come. Really great people- I am very thankful they were there for me since the girl who hit me left the scene before the police arrived and I really needed those witnesses! It makes it not suck as bad.

Hope to see you soon Taylor and Brandi! We miss you. :(

Jennifer

Austin bus memory

Once in the early 90s I was taking the very packed and quite dense and warm #1 bus through downtown, and we were detoured due to some wreck or spontaneous road construction.  The bus driver announced we would have to take a different route around the roadblock; usually when drivers announce this there is a low-level grousing that takes place - people check their watches, think of their children or their dinner, sigh and moan - and then we accept it and let the driver drive.  But this one time, after the driver announced thusly, this one guy right in the middle of the bus was so put out by the detour that he slapped his knee and yelled "Awww, BALLS!"

That's what I remembered when I saw this picture.  This is exactly how he looked.  Awww, BALLS.