my intentions were good

I really did mean to take lots of meaningful, entertaining and illuminating pictures. No excuses, it just didn’t happen. But here are a few select images.

Lessons learned on the road:

1. If you’re going to move from here to there, it really is a good thing to actually cross the terrain between points A and B.

2. While it’s best to traverse from Elko, NV to Salt Lake City, UT fresh and alert, it really doesn’t matter. The soul sucking yellow smoky pall will sap your reserves. Food note: Chinese food in Elko: surprisingly good.

3. Just because a roadside stop reminds you of Bagdad Cafe, it might actually be a scary, scary place.

4. Wyoming: lovely. Driving fast: good (unless you’re a trailer, then you can expect to be dumped by the wind). Geology: excellent. Roadkill: exotic. XXX Adult rest stop: we’ll always wonder. Little America: Had to. And now I’d recommend it. Food note: fine trout, loved the Madonna Inn meets Cowboy decor.

5. Nebraska? Goes. on. forever. You folks have a lot of corn there. And so do you, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

6. Iowa, you were a pleasant surprise. Dug the rolling hills, tidy farms and the hip Iowa City vibe. Who knew? And the pork tenderloin? Just like Dad loved.

7. The word must be out in Ohio, because everyone drives 55 mph. And drinks a lot of pop. Food note: The Bob Evans marketing roped us in, but the food? Meh.
8. Until our dying day, we will be certain that we did in fact spy an runaway Amish woman driving while talking on a cell phone. Uh-huh. You can’t tell us otherwise.

9. Until now, all the Poconos meant to me were punchlines a la Jackie Mason and round honeymooner’s beds. In real life? Pretty nice. Food note: Outstanding Irish pub fare at Siamsa.

10. New Jersey, Connecticut, et al: Where do you people learn to drive? And who’s the clown that designed those expressways with no left turn, no u turn, no hope, no exit? On my list, people.

rhode trip

Every now and then a girl has got to do something out of the ordinary. And so. Dr. Suz, minus dear sweet dad and Things One and Two will be traveling from California to Rhode Island with N. and our distinguished companions, Alexander and Napoleon. The latter of the feline variety. Auspiciously, our venture launches around 0700 hours on 07.07.07.

superstar

To even things out (balancing that trip to the Great Mall of Doll Commerce), I snagged tickets today to see Jesus Christ Superstar in December.  I was about 12 when the cast album came out and in that moony adolescent way, I memorized every word to every song.  I remember pining over some heavy crush, singing “He’s just a man [he was about 4 1/2' tall]… and I’ve had so many men before…”.  I played a clip for Thing One, to a greatly exaggerated rolling of the eyes.

“Mom. Kids are much more mature now.”

Um, what pray tell does she mean by that?

What have I done now?!

Too often I meet a challenge with a question: How hard can it be? I may come to regret this, but internet, here I am. If starting a blog weren’t committment enough (enough to have me committed), I’ll even toss my hat into the NaBloPoMo ‘06 ring and attempt a new post each and every day in November. Hey, I started off the day with NaNoWriMo wherein in I would begin – and end – a novel in 30 days. Hah. Hence the blog. Looks like I’m hedging already!

Who am I? Mom to Thing One and Thing Two, my girls, 12 & 11. Wife to Hub, a sweet guy in a tough guy job. Human mom to one dog, Darby (also known as Favorite Child) and two loony Maine Coon cats. Former high tech exec, then consultant, now, um, well, we’ll figure that out real soon.

Herein we’ll navigate the adventure of parenting two adolescents, figuring out what’s next, and greeting the present with patience and appreciation.