RoadTrips

OK, it wasn't all my fault. I DID post 11/19 from my Treo

but it seems they didn't get posted so I will try to get caught up quickly. We didn't go to the AOPA Expo, too crowded! And yes, the van was crowded as we had to take the small tug so we can move the Aerostar when Bud gets it to TX. Jack was a bit crowded, but Smokey just slept in the driver's lap, like she does when she commutes to work. The only problem with the litterbox was when Bud had to swerve in LA to miss a jerk driver and it spilled . Ick. Otherwise, everyone travelled great, as usual, going to sleep right off the bat and sleeping until we reached our evening stop. We did wake up for McDonald's, though. heh

November 19th is the date we started our road trip back to Texas with the poopers and now Smokey. We took the same route we took last year, stopping in Yuma, AZ the first night. A big difference was the temperature - last year it was really cold, with snow on the Grapevine. This year it was almost warm! I didn't need a heavy jacket, but used the nice blue fleece jacket Tha' Kid gave me from the Monterey Aquarium, nice comfy, and washable (yessss).

We stayed at the Shiloh Inn in Yuma again, since they were happy to have our guys stay with them. We left everyone in the room, Smokey was put into the bathroom (too warm to take then and leave them in the van) when we went out for dinner and they only tore up a couple of things. Of course, I'd made sure there were only a couple of things left out. *sigh*

As usual, Bud drove most of the way, but got sleepy a bit out of Yuma and asked me to drive. Happily, I did so, but had to pit-stop just outside of Tucson, only about an hour. He woke up refreshed and drove the rest of the way to Las Cruces, NM. We stayed at the La Quinta (again, but didn't realize it until we'd checked in), found a nice Italian restaurant for dinner. This time, no messes in the room (yessss) but then, I'd taken them for a long walk to tire them out.

On the way to my mom's house, we drove through Pyote, and using my [really cool feature, Wikipedia for handhelds] Treo, were able to read about its history during WWII. It was known as the 'Rattlesnake Bomber Base', from a comment made by the men who were bulldozing the ground and kept uncovering rattlesnakes. My mother said they flew B29's from there. My dad worked there during the war. This pic is of the museum, unfortunately not open that day. The town is really small now, but still shows remnants of the base that was once there.



We were able to spend Thanksgiving with my family, at one of my brother's house, the first in a long time. Bud was in true form, ready to meet the crew with his nice 'nose' [it flashed red]. Gary liked it so much, Bud gave it to him for the grandkids at Christmas.

There were lots of people coming in to meet Bud including my nephew's little girl. This pic shows my brother on the floor with her, letting Jack give her kisses. My sister-in-law is sitting by Bud chatting with their son and his wife. By the end of the day, Bud was ready for bed. And he hasn't met all the family yet, since my sister was ill. heh
We also got to meet my new niece-in-law, Jeff's wife, a lovely girl who stood the onslaught reasonably well.

My other brother and his wife were generous enough to keep the poopers in their back yard with their Lab, Sissie and her puppy, Rascal. Rascal is almost as big as Jack and is not quite 11 months old yet, a beautiful black Lab, he's a bundle of energy, loves Jack and keeps trying to get him to play. Jack seems to prefer Sissie, and keeps correcting Rascal. All the dogs had a great time, though.

We left for Fredericksburg the next morning, anxious to get home.

posted by pdf Tex @ 5:58 PM