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. 

2-something-13

Yup.  I don't actually know the date.  It seems less important and I could easily look it up if needed.  It is nice.  This is my vacation.

We play the waiting game now.  Awaiting the start of the real adventure.

I was thinking today about the benefits of travel.  I think perspective is right there at the top.  It is easy to begin to believe that only the things that are important to you are important.  Especially when your sphere of interaction is small.  When all you know is your neighborhood, that big house on the end of the block is a mansion.

I grew up largely in Oklahoma.  The only mountains I could ever remember were the 'Arbuckle mountains'.  There is a reason I put that in quotes.  They are former mountains that I now know barely qualify as mountains.  I believe a 1000 foot elevation rise is required.  It doesn't count as a mountain when you have seen MT. Hood.

And your own problems can seem small when you get a glimpse of the troubles of the rest of the world.

Everyone needs to get out more.  If you can.

A few thoughts while we wait.

2/3/13

Super Bowl Sunday. 

Or packing day as the case may be.  Today we pack up the suitcases and get ready to leave.  Tomorrow we head to Houston for some family visiting time before we turn back East and head for Fort Lauderdale. 

I have no idea how all this stuff is going to fit in the car. 

I have had a great time hanging out with my sister and the kids have loved her and her animals.  Last night we let Cracker the conure out of his cage and he romped about the kitchen.  It was fun.  One of the downsides has been the lack of cell phone reception.  People call and I don't get it and I try to call to no avail. 

Busy day.  Better stop writing and start packing. 

Oh yeah, I changed the writing forums a little bit.  Check it out.  And... I posted my challenge entry for the month.

2/1/13

Gradually getting things done around here.

Nothing too urgent now.  I finished everything they asked for to get my Oklahoma nursing license.  We got a few chores around the old RV done.  Now we start packing and getting ready to head out to Houston.  It's almost time for the full family adventure.

The calm before the storm so to speak. 

So, not a whole lot to report around here today.  I just wanted to poke my nose in and say hi to no one thinks I left.

Oh yeah, I think the AFO forums are dead.  That's OK though.  I won't put them out of their misery just yet. 

I think they still have a purpose.  I just don't know what it is yet. 

1/28/13

Not too much to report today.  Just falling back into my family.  Good times.  Running errands and get this...I drove a car!  First time in three weeks.  Tomorrow I start working in earnest to get my OK nursing license.  That way I will be able to work and hopefully support us while we are between conracts.

So, instead of filling the page with the pleasantly mundane details of my day.  I will put up a few pictures of Sarah and the boys at the museum of osteology.  They went while I was away. 

Oh yeah.  I updated the website with some pictures of the first cruise.  adventurenickel.com

Then there were the new temporary tattoos.  It fit Michael perfectly.

 And of course, Max too.