2-15-13

Just a quick note. We are on Zuiderdam and snugly fit into our room. Yesterday was a busy day with a 0600 wakeup for all involved. The kids made it, they hung tough, til dinner time. Then it took an ice cream infusion to keep them awake long enough to finish the day. there is a lot to do to get everyone ready for today. Today is Half Moon Cay day. I have to work, so Sarah and the boys will be mostly on their own. I will post some pictures of the sardine can later. This trip looks to have less internet access and less time to blog. I will still try though. More later.

2-14-13

On the eve of a new grand adventure on a cruise ship...not named Triumph. There is some free floating anxiety present in the room. The wrong kid can't sleep and the insomniac is out in an instant. Press on through the uncertainty and it will likely become more certain. Other than that it has been a nice day. The air is eerie still with darkness in the distance. Behind the darkness is unknown. Let the games begin.

2-13-13

I am glad that certain of my friends can't see me right now.  Being convinced I was a zombie, they would certainly insert large quantities of lead into my brain.

On a side note, my my kids are the stuff of legend.  They didn't have one breakdown.

I had a day of ups and downs.  Waking up to a beautiful morning sky over the Gulf, up.

On the road before 9am, up.

Spotting a large helicopter by the side of the road and stumbling upon the Air Force Armament Museum, way up. There were many cool aircraft on display. As we drove past I saw a SR-71 Blackbird parked out front and yet I somehow still managed to avoid leaving a skid mark as I changed course. For those that don't know, I spent a large chunk of my childhood obsessing over that particular plane. To stand there with one was borderline bucket list. Very cool. A down was finding out I broke my Kindle yesterday. I had put it into my back pocket while carrying luggage up to the room and heard it snap when I bent over to pick up a fallen bag. No external damage, but when I tried to use it today, the display was hosed. Another up was finishing I-10. We decided on a last minute course change that took us to Jacksonville where I-10 turns into I-95. That means that I have now traveled the entire length of I-10, coast to coast. The final down to report tonight is the apparent death of my keyboard for the touchpad. I am typing this on the touchpad touchscreen. It keeps screwing up on me and my patience is flagging after the long drive. More later. Perhaps even some pictures.

2-12-13

Was I talking about discomfort?  Well, I can tell the adventure has officially started because I was uncomfortable for most of the day.  The car is so packed that the day is almost a meditation.  Things are so packed around your feet that they have to stay in almost the same position for the whole day. It was a 12 hour day, about 10 of which were driving.  Sore butt, tight leg muscles and numb brain.

We stopped near Lafayette, Louisiana for lunch and had some decent Creole food.  It was misty and rainy for the entire day.  Not a real fun day driving.

The kids were champs.  Now they are running around the hotel room like coked up spider monkeys. They asked to wake up early tomorrow because the hotel is right on the beach.  I told them if they got up early enough they could go dip their toes in the water of the Gulf of Mexico.  We will see if they retain their enthusiasm.

Day one down.  Another 12 hour road day ahead of us tomorrow.

2-11-13

Interesting thing, plugging back into the 'normal' world.  I mean, I have spent the past week or so living in houses.  Full time full speed internet, cable and/or satellite, large screen TV, big fridge, the whole nine yards.  I was struck by something.

There seems to be a trend, and I think I had to step away a bit to fully see it.  The trend is toward comfort. Sounds good in theory.  I can see the seductive lure too.

It is possible to create a very comfortable life with all of the above accoutrements and more.  You can pay someone to mow your lawn.  You can even get groceries delivered.  You can look online for recipes and grocery lists.  If you have a medical problem, you can get a pill.  You can watch TV and listen to talk radio and even be told what to think.  Hell, if you watch advertising, you can even be told you are inferior if don't do those things. 

The problem as I see it is that they lessen your impact on the world.  People seem to be driven to create a situation where they don't have to do anything.  Isn't that odd?  You work hard so that you don't have to work?  You do stuff so that you don't have to do anything. 

Aside from the obvious paradox there, isn't it just a little bit sad that you don't want to do anything? 

If you don't want to do anything, why are you here?  Why be alive in the first place? 

Nope, I am going to go ahead and choose to do things.  Sometimes they will be stupid things and sometimes I will make mistakes.  Sometimes, hell often, I will be uncomfortable.  That discomfort is a small price to pay to get out into the world and do things.  The seduction of comfort is powerful, but I think it can wait. 

I think there is a part two for this post.