American and O'Hare and me - the Devil's Triangle

Remember when I swore I'd never fly American Airlines EVER AGAIN? Well, apparently I didn't.

My new job (still at the same firm, but a teaching position) requires me to travel every other week to Chicago*. We have a training center right at O'Hare. So I HAVE to fly to O'Hare and Delta doesn't go there direct. So, do I take a 50 min direct flight on American, or do I take four hours of my life to fly through Detroit (and that damn creepy tunnel)?

You know what I did. I booked my first two trips on American. Now at some point in the last couple of months, American tried to woo me away from Delta with Platinum status. Didn't work. But it is handy now that I have a flight. Priority boarding and free checked bags. w00t!

And here I am on trip number one. Canceled. In a 112 degree airport. With no power outlets. And a dead phone battery. And some really bad-fellow-traveler-behavior.

They told us at the departure time they'd have an update in 20 minutes on our mechanical issue. Then in 18 minutes, the board just changed to cancelled. Nice move, jerks.

I was really nice to a gate agent, so I got a hotel and $19 in food vouchers. I was also miraculously booked on the 9:40am flight, even though she told the kids in front of me everything was oversold until 4:50pm. I guess that's what Platinum status gets ya. Or not. The lady who just sat next to me was told since it was due to weather, they couldn't give her a hotel or food. Whaaaaaaaaa?

Now I'm waiting for them to pull my bag (when do I EVER check a bag? NEVER. Except this time. Gaah! It was free though), which will take an hour. Luckily, I packed an extra day of meds (seriously. If you've been following Facebook this week, you know I've been battling unusual migraines). I also have my Reeboks, which will be necessary since the hotel shuttle is a mile walk through this place. And pajama pants. I might just wear those tomorrow. On the plane.

Speaking of tomorrow. I have a web-based class at 11. Meaning, I'm TEACHING a web-based class at 11. I arrive at Evansville Regional at 10:45. Gonna be close.

American, O'Hare, and the Devil. Bastards.


*Yep, I said every OTHER week. I'll have day trips here and there, plus the occasional week in Orlando at Disney World (teehee) but mostly I'll be HOME EVERY OTHER WEEK Can I get a hallelujah?

Yes, I am rich.

People who only know me through the internet, especially on Facebook, see my posts about business trips each week. If that's how you know me, you must have an odd picture of my life. I complain about flight delays and that creepy tunnel at the Detroit airport, worship Starbucks skinny vanilla lattes, and make connecting flights like OJ Simpson (by running through an airport, not knifing my spouse, for those of you younger folks). I'm always angling for First Class, and I do enjoy a Bloody Mary. I'm only a couple of segments away from Diamond Medallion, the top tier Delta frequent flier program, where I'll have complementary access to the Sky Club lounge with free wi-fi, drinks, and snacks. I also stay in top-level hotel rooms - Westin, Hilton, Marriott - and frequent their lounges with free breakfast, snacks, and drinks. Most folks I work with have never stayed in a Best Western, Holiday Inn or Motel 6. I'm actually just a few stays away from getting an SPG (Westin brand) Ambassador - an individual assigned to me to manage my hotel reservations and make all my travel problems go away. Next week in Atlanta, I have a suite at the W Midtown, with a parlor, living room, and bedroom. Pretty chic, eh?

I've also been to some really cool places -- DC, LA, Seattle, Chicago, Sacramento, last week it was New York City. On Monday night, our Partner joined us and took us to dinner. In the eight weeks we've been on the project, I've only seen him once, so he wanted to get together with the team. We went to a very expensive restaurant, Jean Georges in the Trump Tower, and had a seven course meal, beginning with Champagne and caviar and ending with petite fours and cappuccino. It was outrageously expensive, but he'd won a contest and had extra money in his 'connectivity' budget. We were the lucky recipients. Wow. Small town girl made it big, huh?
Next week, Mike and I are headed to Jamaica to stay at an all-inclusive resort (our third year in a row) for 8 nights. (Note to thieves, the house will not be unattended and the new puppy eats anything in sight, so don't even think about it). For Aly's birthday, Mike and Aly spent several days sightseeing in NYC. We like to take weekend trips to go shopping. We have seven(!) animals and two cars. We live in a huge house. Aly goes to private school.

Man, I must be rich, right?

Well, remember this.
Every week from 5am Monday to 10pm Thursday (at least), I am away from my husband, my teen daughter, chemistry homework, drama, and angst, my son, my nieces' and nephews' recitals/ball games/etc, my mom's chemo treatments, my dad's job search, my kitty, my other animals, my friends and family (and favorite cousin), my scrapbook buddies, my hubby's play rehearsals, my waterbed, my electric toothbrush, and the list goes on. Sometimes I have to travel on Sunday and/or Friday, like I did to California. And all that travel isn't Bloody Marys and lattes. Have you ever tried to eat healthy in an airport? Have you tried to dress nicely for a client meeting, but then cram yourself (and your purse, computer, mouse, phone, power adapters, headset, notebook, and office supplies) into a 17" wide seat with less than an arm's length to the seat in front of you? Do you like sitting within inches of a complete stranger for hours at a time? Can you plan your wardrobe for the week down to the earrings and not forget anything? How long does one of those TSA-friendly travel toothpaste tubes last? Do you want to spend breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your co-workers three days a week? Can you sleep on a different bed every week? Can you sleep at all without your own pillow? You might think I'm lucky to stay in fancy hotels and travel every week. I count myself lucky if I am home on Friday.

On Fridays, I usually am at home, but I have to work a full day, often on calls for hours at a time. But I also have to schedule doctor visits and dental appointments on those days (which is tough, since my family doc is off on Fridays). Over the weekend I take care of the pharmacy refills, shopping (at thrift stores), errands, and seeing friends and family (showers, parties, weddings, birthdays). Gosh, I should find a local job. Yes, I've tried that. With interviews on Fridays between conference calls and other errands. But it is hard to find a job at en executive level in healthcare, and I've never found anyone who can match the salary or the perks -- We go on vacation via the hundreds of thousands of airline miles and hotel points. I buy gift cards for Christmas with my employer's 'stay healthy' rewards. I get a 23% discount on our cell phone bill. I'm reimbursed for any out of pocket travel expenses (never more than $50 or so per week) and my mileage to the airport. My firm also pays me for sick time for family members, so I don't 'lose time' when I can go to a doctor's appointment with my mom.

We have what we have because we have scrimped and saved to pay off our bills. We don't have credit cards. We have what we have because I sacrifice time away from "life" to do my job. And I can only do the job I do because my husband, between driving my daughter to school, cooking, shopping, writing and directing plays, volunteering his time, walking the dogs, and keeping the couch from being eaten by the puppy, supports me in my job. Others may think he's got it easy, but his job is harder than mine. Every day he tells me I'm a rock star. He encourages me to shine. He helps me work out my problems. He reminds me that someday, we'll leave this crazy life and live in a little cabin in the woods with our animals.

We couldn't have what we have if I didn't work so hard. And I couldn't work so hard if I didn't have him.

And so, yes. I am rich.

Headed to an OK place

Some of you know my work on my current project has been winding down and I've been looking for another project. I've made so many calls to folks, I started to feel unloved when none of them were panning out. Then it came, a project with over-utilization, uber-high priority, working with the people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Unfortunately, it meant I would be deployed for 30 days at a time, with four days home before another 30 days out. Rewarding work, but a little tough on the family.

I shared this with our church family, asking for prayer as Mike went it alone with a house full of animals (three dogs, three cats and a monkey -- Zak moved back home). Two lessons here. (A) if you want to see God laugh, tell him your plans; and (2) never underestimate the praying power of a ladies church group.

On Friday I received a call from my Partner, letting me know someone I had TWICE contacted, begging for work, had just called her (the Partner), asking for help with a couple of projects she needed staffed. "Would you like Tonya?" "Oh em GEE! I can have Tonya?" "Yes" "Yes" Yay. But get this. By the time I called the Director on Monday, and we connected Tuesday, she was screaming with excitement, and relief. The current Manager on a very high-profile project at a multi-hospital system (actually one featured on one of our national calls -- for 30,000 employees) had resigned Monday. She needed me desperately to join the team, spend next week with Matthew, and then lead two of the workstreams. Could I make my travel reservations ASAP?

So, I'll be going to an actual OK place. OK as in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City. I don't have many details now other than the two things I'll manage (and the additional work I will assist with closing down) are EXACTLY what I've been doing the last eight years, so there is no learning curve, no scariness, and only opportunity to show another part of the firm how I'm a rockstar. I'll be traveling every week, but home weekends, and definitely home for the holidays (which wasn't so sure with the Hurricane Sandy thing).

Many thanks to those ladies who prayed for God's will instead of "my plan" and to God be the glory for moving those chess pieces around to put me in the place He wants me to be.

Oh, and since this isn't a government project, all of my expenses go on the AMEX card, no paper reports and we're having a Christmas party with the client on Wednesday night.

Now, I'm off to pack. :)

Jamaica Day 6-7: Winding Down

By Friday, we were nearly worn out. My notes talk about food and napping. I did get a scrub and wrap at the spa Friday morning. My skin has never felt so smooth. We went on a private 7am snorkel trip Saturday. Not my idea. But it was fun.

The guide actually went in the water with us and I'm hoping my one-use underwater camera shots turn out. Friday night was an early night in, as was Saturday.

Regarding the resort, Sandals Whitehouse, we loved it. It was generally an older crowd, even the bride on Sunday night was in her 40s. There was a smattering of folks in their 20s, most likely rebooked from Ocho Rios, which was closed due to Hurricane Sandy.

The resort was definitely upscale, from the lobby to the staff. The entertainment was great, both the local entertainment staff as well as the acts they brought in.

If you are looking for a large resort with a great beach and entertainment, this is the right place. And we are going back next December! We aren't doing the concierge room, as we didn't feel it was worth the extra cost. Really the only time we saw the guy was on our last night, when he brought us a dessert plate and expected a tip. The housecleaning staff, though, did deserve a tip, and saved the best towel-animal creation for last.

Thursday: The Children of Jamaica

After breakfast, we went on an excursion. No, we didn't go ziplining or trek through the jungle. We took a 10 minute van ride to a local school to read to the children.  The Sandals Foundation recently built a school building for an infant school (ages 3-6) which had been in operation for over thirty years without a permanent building. This is the school we visited.

All children in Jamaica go to school from the age of three. These schools are run by the government, and supplies are severely limited. We colored with a handful of crayons for each table, read well-worn books to the children, used flashcards from the US with unfamiliar pictures (T is for .... [a picture of a tent] ... the children shouted "house"), and played on a rocky playground with a few soccer balls.

Even though Sandals built the school, it was turned over to the government. The teachers, principal and janitor had been working two months, but the government had only provided enough money to pay for minimum supplies. The teachers had not been paid at all. We spent two hours with the children and it was by far the highlight of our vacation. It was sad that only eight people went on this trip. There were over two hundred at the previous night's "Sandals Select" lobster dinner. Eight of us went to read to the children.

You can see the children wear uniforms. All of them had shoes. Each had a snack while we were there and they do receive a hot lunch. There is a library at school with computers, and the children are allowed in a few at a time to look at the books and learn the computer. We asked if the children have books at home and the principal told us no. Most parents say "books are for school. reading is for school." and do not allow the children to read at home.


The children were sweet, smart, and grateful we were there. And they loved the camera!

 

Before we left, the children said Bible verses and sang a few songs.

If you visit Sandals, I encourage you to take this trip. If you have room in your suitcase, they mostly need pencils and rubbers (erasers). If you don't visit Sandals, you can still donate through the Sandals Foundation link.

 

After that kind of morning, we had a rather quiet day. We played bingo, and I came in second in the "survivor round" -- I lasted the second longest without a single number being called. Pizza for lunch, a little too much beer, a nap, and some reading in the room and outside while Mike played beach volleyball.

We had dinner at Eleanors again, fantastic service once more, and I read a little more while Mike took a nap. I think after all the activity early in the week, we were ready to just chill.

The evening's entertainment was an Afro-Caribbean show, which was entertaining, educational, and hilarious.

Jamoween

Jamaica does not celebrate Halloween, but since the resort was mostly visiting Americans, they had a Jamoween celebration with the house band, then another great band that sang awesome 80s slow jams. Which, by the way, was the soundtrack for the entire week on both live music and recorded. Mike wanted to poke his eyes out.

But let's start with the morning. We signed up for the glass bottomed boat ride at 9:00 am. And yes, if I knew the words to "Fat Bottomed Girls," they would have been stuck in my head the whole time. I knew better than to eat breakfast first, so we did that after. Here are a few photos of the trip.

A shot of the resort from the water

Coral

 

 

Some sort of coral that burns like fire if you touch it. So glad I snorkeled *before* I knew about all of the stuff that could hurt me. This trip was a lot of "don't touch that." Hmmm, note to self: Take the glass bottomed boat ride BEFORE you snorkel. Actually, you might feel like you don't even NEED to snorkel after this.

 

Starfish!

After breakfast I settled in on the French beach for some sun ... and had a very attentive server who was bringing me dirty bananas (like a banana milkshake, with rum) two at a time. The beach bistro was out of Jamaican patties (mmmm, like a pot pie you hold in your hand) so I had some jerk chicken and went to find Mike. We decided to have lunch (I considered the jerk chicken an appetizer) and we visited the Soon Come Back desk to see how much a return trip might cost. Later, I captured some of the resort wildlife.

 

A pelican. I swear they look like pterydactyls when they fly.

These guys were all over. Never caught one showing his tail though.

This little guy didn't know he was taking his life into his own hands when he decided to hang out in our room. I did a capture and release while Mike had a panic attack.

Dressed for dinner. We joined the 'frequent flier' type club for Sandals, which meant we get points for our stays and after 70 nights, we get a free week. So, you know, by the time we retire. Anyway the dinner was a formal affair, with lobster tail and a bunch of foods I can't pronounce, but our dinner compantions were worse than the people we rode the bus with. They wouldn't even talk to me. Eh, we talked to the watersports manager and cut out at dessert to head to the show.  I could swear I had photos of the Jamoween celebration they did before the bands, but apparently not. Silly costumes, drums. Some guy impersonating Michael Jackson. A fun night!

Tuesday: Seasick in Paradise

Tuesday dawned bright and beautiful with yet another lovely breakfast with my husband. This is unique, really, because the man doesn't care for breakfast foods, so while I had eggs, bacon, pastries, and corned beef hash (just like Momma used to make), he was a fruit and smoked salmon kinda guy. As a matter of fact, this morning I not only ate all you see, but took a cream cheese bagel to go, knowing we were going snorkeling later. I didn't want to eat a big lunch before swimming. Which was a good thing. And you'll see why in a moment.

So, I found a quiet spot on the Italian beach and made my own little slice of paradise. Many of these types of huts were reserved for folks who paid for "butler service" (yes, actual English-trained butlers to do their bidding), but I found one to myself and commandeered both seats, one in the sun, one not, for a few hours of reading.

When it was time to snorkel, I went back to the room to meet Mike, but he never appeared. And this man is NEVER late to anything. So I was a little worried he'd already gone missing in the tropics, and my plan was ahead of schedule, but I found him hanging out on one of the couches between the bar and the beach. I'm not sure why I was worried. Nothing EVER starts on time in Jamaica ... "no worries"

If you are paying attention to detail, you noted the title of this post and the previous reference to that cream cheese bagel, and you know how this is going to end. When Mike and I snorkeled in St Lucia, we had a rainy, choppy boat ride to a beautiful, calm, sunny cove with a zillion fish. This time we had a beautiful boat ride to the reef just off the shore of the resort and had low visibility, choppy seas, and dangerously shallow waters. I did not like it, not one little bit, and we both returned early to the boat. While we waited for the others to join us, I got increasingly ill. No more details.  We headed back to the room for a cool washcloth and some ginger ale (hey, when I said our fridge was stocked, I didn't just mean with alcohol). In fact, Mike mentioned to our housekeeper that I was sick and when I awoke, there was a plate of toast and fruit on the bed.

Feeling much better, we dressed for dinner at the seafood restaurant, Neptunes, and spent a while lying on a couch under the stars. The Cafe de Paris serves a delicious cheesecake, and Mike's favorite cookies, but our regular barista wasn't in so the hot chocolate and latte weren't the best. More star gazing in lounge chairs on the French beach and we made it an early night.

Even being seasick in paradise is ok. I've nearly forgotten all about it. This is what I remember....

Jamaica Day 2: Best. Monday. Ever.

I don't think I even realized it was Monday.

Breakfast was fantastic with a buffet that included fruit, pastries, oatmeal, french toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, made-to-order omelets and a local dish. Oh, and they handed you a mimosa or bloody mary as you walked in the door. When they brought me my own little coffee pot, I decided I would never leave.

But eventually, I was stuffed and headed to the pool to chill before my spa appointment.


I went with the mud massage. I knew I needed to exfoliate, but I wanted a massage too, and this was the perfect combo. The spa was quiet and relaxing, and I didn't want to leave.

But I did and headed to the French beach, were the waves were a little higher, the water was clear and there was a nice breeze. Mike was already there, enjoying a cocktail -- see the servers come down to the beach to bring you a fresh drink. ahhhhh

It started to look a little stormy, so we headed to the room for a little nap before dinner on the beach.

The fresh seafood, soups, salads, etc, were great and the beach setting was beautiful. All of the tables faced the ocean and the moon was nearly full.







After dinner, there were trapeze artists and fire ... people.

 



Then the house band played and there was a conga line, which we joined. We learned a few reggae dance moves. They are exactly like Zumba, by the way. Then it was time for the afterparty in the martini bar. There weren't many folks there, so we sat right up front and sang.... No photos here, but I sang "These Boots are Made for Walking" and "(I Never Promised You) A Rose Garden" and Mike did "Sweet Caroline." Such fun!

Back to the room very late, but another fantastic day, for sure.

Jamaica Day 1: travel didn't slow us down

We've been to Jamaica and St. Lucia to all-inclusive resorts and Jamaica is by far our favorite place. It isn't quite as close to the equator, so not as hot, but the people are so kind and welcoming. We love the Sandals/Beaches chain and likely won't try another. For this trip we left early on a Sunday morning....

Daddy came to get us at 4:00 am since our flight was at 6:00. Normally I would not leave that early, but traveling internationally means they have to do extra passport checks, plus Mike is a hot mess, so we needed the extra time.

And I'm not just saying that. Mike's backpack was chosen for extra screening, where they take everything out then do a chemical test on the bag. It alarmed. He got a full patdown. He wasn't worried until they asked him if he wanted a private room. We have no idea what could have triggered the alarm, but he made sure the travel candles were in his checked baggage on the way home.

We had time in Atlanta for breakfast, but couldn't convince the gate agent to upgrade us. Even though I have platinum status, I got our tickets with points (yes, we flew for FREE), so upgrades were not available. To set the mood for the trip, the agent played Jamaican music and asked trivia questions.

The flight was uneventful, but I completely freaked out when someone about 15 places in front of me in Customs said "this is like waiting in line at Holiday World, without the fun ride at the end." Seriously. A group of students from Indianapolis was in front of us.
It was a 90 minute bumpy bus ride to the resort. Good thing they had free beer in the airport lounge. I was nice and chill all the way, even though the roads were an abomination. Our traveling companions were stuffy old Californians who talked about living in Simi Valley, working in Burbank, and driving Mercedes, so we just enjoyed the views. For instance, even though we've had Suzy the Suzuki since the end of May, I haven't seen another Suzuki on the road since. They were all over Jamaica, though. We saw more of the "Jamaican construction" in action --- as was explained on our last visit, Jamaicans build their houses as they can afford the materials and labor. So, while you may see a house under construction that looks abandoned, it isn't. The owners are saving for the next phase. Here is an example from our trip in March 2011:

  



We arrived at the resort tired and toasty, so cool lavender-scented towels and champagne were a nice little welcome party. We had booked a concierge room, so we were taken to a separate lobby to check in and had a little rum punch. Sandals Whitehouse European Village has three separate areas, Italian, Dutch and French.
 

Our room in the Italian Village was beautiful, with a fourth floor balcony and beach view.  It also had a fully stocked fridge, including champagne, which Mike served to me in a giant wine glass. Italian Village is known as the 'quietest' on the resort, but is also closest to the main pool, game room, and restaurants. Believe it or not, we were not tired, and couldn't wait for dinner. We headed to the italian restaurant for a pizza and salad snack, then did a quick resort tour. I highly recommend you attend the main resort tour at 10am for the full experience, but since this was our third visit to a resort, we went with the quick version.

 

Actually, even though it was our travel day, and we'd been up since 3:30 am, we were really excited to participate in all of the activities. We chose to have dinner in the one formal restaurant, Eleanor's (by formal, we mean Mike had to wear pants). White glove service, fantastic food, and a decadent dessert named "Magic Moment for Two". Really great. There was a "pre-appetizer" of cheese and hummos. I had the crab cakes to start, then the snapper with bacon potatoes. And I've never seen so much silverware in a place setting. Thankfully I knew to "start from the outside" and our server whisked away the unnecessary pieces with each course. We sat for a while on the piazza with a latte and listed to LaShawna sing before heading to the opera presentation at 8pm. I don't think I've ever heard opera (unless there's been some on Dancing with the Stars"), but this guy was great (Puccini, Ave Maria, Van Gogh, Josh Groban, musicals) ... Mike ended up buying his CD. We headed to the Caberet for some music from the house band and watched the "Newlywed/Not So Newlywed Game". Couples had been married anywhere from 8 days to 41 years and it was a hoot, for sure. We stayed and listened to some jazz until the disco opened in the martini bar. I think we got back to the room after 1am, maybe 2am. And I think it was our best day there.

 

 

Some Observations from the Day

1. If it rains during rush hour in DC, don't even THINK about getting a cab.2. Walking to work in flats does not guarantee you won't trip over the curb.
3. If it was any more humid, I'd be underwater.
4. Humidity destroys what the flatiron accomplishes.
5. Apparently MY coworkers are not yet comfortable enough with me to advise me when my hair looks like Bugs Bunny's friend Witch Hazel.
6. Waiting until 3pm to take a bio break is not good for the bladder or for your personal appearance.
7. If you are in room 832 at the Westin, I'm not psycho. I'm just on the wrong floor. And I'm having a bad hair day.
8. Always check which way the shower head is pointing BEFORE you turn on the water, especially when a marble floor is involved.
9. Marble floors are extremely slippery when wet.
10. Open the plastic wrapper on the soap BEFORE you get in the shower and your hands are wet. Because plastic-wrapped soap is also extremely slippery when wet.
11. A bottle of soda water you carried home in your computer bag will still have enough carbonation to explode all over the bed, even if you don't open it for an hour.
12. Soda water all over your clothes and bed does not require a stain remover (like soda water).

and, this just in,

Even fancy hotels like the Westin have giant bugs crawling across the dresser. GAAAAAH!!

Myrtle Beach

Back in June, we took our annual girl's vacation to Myrtle Beach.  I've added a few posts to chronicle our adventures.

On the Way There

Quotes from Vacation

Here's a summary of our week:

As far as activities go, we didn't have the best weather. If we had known what the rest of the week would be like we might have left the shopping for later in the week.
Anyway, we hit the outlet mall and the beach shops. They all have great specials to get you in the door. $1 seashells! Umbrellas $4.99!! Some stores even claim NOTHING OVER $5.99.  But be sure you read the fine print. This cracked me up till I nearly wet myself. Yes, nothing over 5.99. Special Section. Available only on items priced $5.99 and under.

 



We found a Chinese buffet for a late lunch/early dinner, and that was Monday.

Tuesday was rainy. We got the requisite wildlife shots.

 

 

More wild life.....

 





I've found there are few flatter photos of me being whacked by waves. This is the only one you are getting.

And this was the lifeguard at 8am. Our play in the surf lasted less than an hour before everyone gave up. 

But I rented an umbrella and beach chairs, darnit, and I was staying.  That rain would blow over.

Eventually.

Right?  Yeah, not so much. This was me by 9am.

I stuck it out for hours. Eventually I built a rain screen out of various towels, and yes, that IS a thirty-one About Town Blanket with the waterproof side facing out. I got a lot of reading done, but not so much sunning. There were fireworks later that night. We could see them in the distance, but no one was much in the mood to venture out.

 

Thankfully, by Thursday we had some sun. And we built our own sunshades in addition to our rentals.

 

 

Later in the afternoon, we hit the boardwalk downtown and had dinner at Dirty Don's Oyster Bar. The menu was a hoot and made us miss Jamie and Rylee. And PJ.

We hung out downtown till dark and got some great photos.

 

Friday was another great weather day. That head in the middle of the photo is me jumping a wave.

 

Finally, it was time to come home. We decided to drive straight through -- Mom helped with the driving, but unfortunately we hit some monster traffic that added three hours to our travel time. At one point we traveled only 10 miles in 90 minutes. We also made about 10 stops on the way home. Snacks, potty breaks, etc. It made for a really long day, and we were both happy to be home. I have a photo of the traffic, but blogger is freaking out over the number of photos in this post already, so you'll have to imagine.

 

All in all, we had a fantastic time. I miss the beach .... but I've only got a couple of months before I go to Jamaica, so I'll try not to complain in the meantime.