Monthly Musings

Linking up with Holly and Patty for Monthly Musings

1. If all goes according to plan, I will be on a jetliner later today! To that end, I will be offline for several days after today. I look forward to connecting with everyone when I get back 

2. I don't feel life it's much of a problem! The last time five of us all traveled together, the kids were did their own laundry when we returned home and I did mine and Donnie's.

3. For many years, our only family vacation was during spring break and we didn't even have a summer family vacation (though I would often take the kids to Canada at some point in the summer). A couple of trips in the summer stand out. One was when we tagged along with Donnie on a work trip to Lake Tahoe. He hardly ever traveled or travels for work. When he was an associate he traveled when one of the partners asked him to and that happened a few times. Since he's been a part owner, he only travels when one of his clients asks him to- the last time it was to give a one hour talk at a conference. The client had to pay for his travel costs and for his time- Donnie explained all of this up front and the client still wanted him to talk at the conference. 

Anyway, back to the trip that we went with him- it was the first (and only, really) time that the kids had been to California and Nevada. They'd seen the ocean by this point and Lake Erie but they'd never been to a pebbly beach like Lake Tahoe. It was a fun time even though 1) we missed our flight out of Dayton and had to go home and wait to see if we could get on a later one that day (we were able to get the last five seats!) and 2) Donnie ended up working way more than he was originally told he would likely have to which meant that I had more time with all three kids. That was a bit of an issue just because the kids were still pretty little and I needed to keep my eyes on Alyssa constantly at the large pool. An extra set of eyes would have been nice. But it was still good and I'm glad we got the chance to go.  

In Sacramento

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

4. We usually eat dinners out and sometimes breakfasts. Lunch usually not. 

5. If I'm driving, I'm overpacking- why not fill up the space and have options. If I'm flying, I need to stay within baggage parameters which usually makes over packing not an option :).

6. Beach!

7. I've had good and bad experiences with each and I generally (excluding experiences of either extreme) think there are many advantages and disadvantages to both. I do like to fly. Maybe it's because I have not done a tremendous amount of air travel, it still seems special and so cool to travel a long distance relatively quickly. I love the moment of first ascent when flying. 

8. Our vacations are almost exclusively about relaxing while making good memories. To that end, we take beach walks, go putt putting, take a boat ride, parasail, etc.

9. Bring plenty of plastic bags to put dirty/wet clothes in for the return.

If you have black luggage that you've checked at the airport,  you know that about 75% of bags on the luggage carousal are black. To more easily identify your luggage from the many other black suitcases, have a unique luggage tag.

Hanna Montana circa 2010. I mean, we could have replaced it in the past fifteen years. But, if it ain't broke don't fix it. And if it is broke (and/or looks like part of the end of the guitar has been chewed off), well, so much the more identifiable it is on the luggage carousal, lol

10. I can't think of any!