Road trip: My Dad's Birthday weekend.
Hey everyone.
This past weekend, I took a trip to my parent's house for the weekend with my sister. I also brought up Matthew's best friend Justin, who lives in my old neighborhood in Streamwood. My Dad's birthday is actually today (the 12th) but due to Angela and I working, we decided to go up on the weekend to celebrate.
Friday, after work, I got my oil change done at Jiffy Lube... too bad that my signature Oil change didn't get me a top off of washer fluid... oh wait it is supposed to! So yes, they did not do their job one hundred percent (I didn't find out until Sunday when my Dad checked everything before I left). Picked up Justin by going the old way from work to my old area. Then I went to my Uncle's house to pick up Angela. Pretty soon we were on our way at around 7 pm. This was my first time taking my van up to Michigan, in the past Leyann has always drove us up there. The van handled well, surprisingly enough. We stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel, but I think I have to stop eating there on trip because I got a bad stomach ache like the last time I was at my parent's house.
Traffic sucked in a few places in Michigan, slowing to a crawl in spots thanks to the statewide road construction they have going on. Thankfully Justin fell asleep the last hour of the trip, because I was cussing a storm at the various assholes on the freeway. And thanks to traffic we didn't arrive until 2:30 am Eastern. Usually, even though it is late when we arrive, my mom always greets us with a smile. This time she did not, more of a concerned, worried look. I asked, "What's wrong?" She said, "I'll let your father tell you." And I said "Tell me now." Well she said that...
Friday morning (4:00 am) , my Dad was going to his shift, when a girl ran a red light, hitting his passenger side full on. This flipped his truck a couple of times and then started sliding on the driver's side until it came to a stop. Also the whole real axle was torn off. Luckily and thank God, my Dad was not hurt, except for a couple bruises on his side and his lens missing from his glasses. The girl was ok too, and the fault was completely on her. She claims she had just got off a long shift and was tired. So he was taken to the hospital and checked out. And then they took the pictures I linked above. (click for more detail)
So they didn't tell me earlier that afternoon when I called them because they did not want me to drive worried.
After being floored by the pictures, we were swamped and went to bed around 3:30 in the morning.
Saturday I woke up at 11:30. Started my laundry. Angela and Mom went to go buy their presents for Dad. I kept doing laundry. Dad worked on his weed whacker because that's what he was doing early that morning when it broke, even though he had just bought it. My Aunt Tina called and talked to my Dad, starting drama because she and my Uncle John were fighting and that it was a "long story". Even though my Uncle was not going to to come to my Dad's party dinner anyway because of a previous engagement, she was still invited even he they weren't fighting. So of course my Dad got mad because his feelings were hurt, there was no reason Tina couldn't have come. After Angela and Mom got back from shopping, Matt and Justin decided to swim in the pool, and Angela wanted to start tanning. I finished up my last load of laundry and then took a dip in the pool. God it was cold but I got used to it and swam for about 20 minutes.
Then my Aunt Bernadette came over with her friend Jack, who has also came before with her to different family gatherings like this. I quickly got dressed and we all had dinner, which was great. My Dad got his presents and then we all went to a local county fair. I went on this spinning, up-in-the air, half ferris wheel, half roller coaster thing with Angela, and I regret it even now. Combined with my swimmer's ear earlier in the day, I got dizzy and a massive migraine. After that we looked at old time cars they had at the old A&W next to the fair grounds, then my Dad got everyone root beer floats while I was in the bathroom thanks to my little fair ride experience. Then Jack and Bernadette had to take off, so we said our goodbyes. I called Leyann after that when Matthew and Justin were on some other rides, using up the tickets my Dad bought for everyone.
The rest of the night we just chilled out and it was fun laughing with my Dad again like we used to do when they still lived in Illinois.
Sunday morning my Dad went to an Air and Car show not even two miles from my parents house which is at a small local airstrip with a bunch of hangers. He got an early start because a lot of his new friends were going to it/had plane and cars there/own hangers there. We could come at any time provided we get off our lazy morning butts and get going. So I showered, got ready, shaved, and everyone else got ready too and we were out the door. My mom drove all of us there and the place was huge. Everyone had their planes out in the open on display, lots of old classic cars too. This included my Dad's neighbor who basically had a whole hanger that was converted into a garage that holds 8 of his classic cars. This included a model of car that I forget the name of, but it was from 1908! We got to see some planes take off, and Matt and Justin got to ride this plane ride for the kids at the event. Basically it was a "train" of "planes" made out of large metal drums refurbished to look like little airplanes, pulled along by a huge riding lawnmower.
After that Angela decided that we should all go see the movie Cars because I think the last time we saw a movie as a family was when "Independence Day" premiered on my birthday when it opened. Wasn't that '97? Either way, far too long. So we had lunch from the leftovers of my mom's great dinner (burgers, potato salad, the works...) and then made our way to the local cinema.
Cars was great! It wasn't the best of Pixar's films (The Incredibles in my book) but it wasn't the worst either. Even if you aren't a car person (like me) this film was still entertaining, a great story with a lot of heart. I mean, come on, what Pixar film doesn't have heart? There were many easter eggs for people who follow NASCAR like my Dad (which I knew only because I have watched quite a few races with him), but even if you didn'y get any of them, it was fun. My brother loved it. At one point in the middle of the film my Dad actually fell asleep (which I can understand because one point in the middle of the film dragged on for a bit, but it did provide a lot of developing relationships that would come together towards the end of the film) and was snoring! But we woke him up and he apologized, and was laughing like the rest of us.
So for Cars, go see it. The trailers were crap and didn't capture the heart of this movie at all. Even I didn't want to see it at first because of the teasers.
We got back from the movies a little later than I wanted, because soon it was time for Angela and I to head back. My Dad made sure my van was up to par for the trip home and we all said our goodbyes. The way home was pretty uneventful. Angela got me back by paying for gas and treating me to dinner at Culver's. Made pretty good time and I was home by 11:30 pm.
Whew.
This week:
- ACEN feedback meeting (plus announcement of new con chair)
- ACEN thank you picnic on Saturday
- Must finish my ACEN comic and report
- Patiently wait on shipments from Hobby Link Japan. Come on imports!
Berry
This past weekend, I took a trip to my parent's house for the weekend with my sister. I also brought up Matthew's best friend Justin, who lives in my old neighborhood in Streamwood. My Dad's birthday is actually today (the 12th) but due to Angela and I working, we decided to go up on the weekend to celebrate.
Friday, after work, I got my oil change done at Jiffy Lube... too bad that my signature Oil change didn't get me a top off of washer fluid... oh wait it is supposed to! So yes, they did not do their job one hundred percent (I didn't find out until Sunday when my Dad checked everything before I left). Picked up Justin by going the old way from work to my old area. Then I went to my Uncle's house to pick up Angela. Pretty soon we were on our way at around 7 pm. This was my first time taking my van up to Michigan, in the past Leyann has always drove us up there. The van handled well, surprisingly enough. We stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel, but I think I have to stop eating there on trip because I got a bad stomach ache like the last time I was at my parent's house.
Traffic sucked in a few places in Michigan, slowing to a crawl in spots thanks to the statewide road construction they have going on. Thankfully Justin fell asleep the last hour of the trip, because I was cussing a storm at the various assholes on the freeway. And thanks to traffic we didn't arrive until 2:30 am Eastern. Usually, even though it is late when we arrive, my mom always greets us with a smile. This time she did not, more of a concerned, worried look. I asked, "What's wrong?" She said, "I'll let your father tell you." And I said "Tell me now." Well she said that...
Friday morning (4:00 am) , my Dad was going to his shift, when a girl ran a red light, hitting his passenger side full on. This flipped his truck a couple of times and then started sliding on the driver's side until it came to a stop. Also the whole real axle was torn off. Luckily and thank God, my Dad was not hurt, except for a couple bruises on his side and his lens missing from his glasses. The girl was ok too, and the fault was completely on her. She claims she had just got off a long shift and was tired. So he was taken to the hospital and checked out. And then they took the pictures I linked above. (click for more detail)
So they didn't tell me earlier that afternoon when I called them because they did not want me to drive worried.
After being floored by the pictures, we were swamped and went to bed around 3:30 in the morning.
Saturday I woke up at 11:30. Started my laundry. Angela and Mom went to go buy their presents for Dad. I kept doing laundry. Dad worked on his weed whacker because that's what he was doing early that morning when it broke, even though he had just bought it. My Aunt Tina called and talked to my Dad, starting drama because she and my Uncle John were fighting and that it was a "long story". Even though my Uncle was not going to to come to my Dad's party dinner anyway because of a previous engagement, she was still invited even he they weren't fighting. So of course my Dad got mad because his feelings were hurt, there was no reason Tina couldn't have come. After Angela and Mom got back from shopping, Matt and Justin decided to swim in the pool, and Angela wanted to start tanning. I finished up my last load of laundry and then took a dip in the pool. God it was cold but I got used to it and swam for about 20 minutes.
Then my Aunt Bernadette came over with her friend Jack, who has also came before with her to different family gatherings like this. I quickly got dressed and we all had dinner, which was great. My Dad got his presents and then we all went to a local county fair. I went on this spinning, up-in-the air, half ferris wheel, half roller coaster thing with Angela, and I regret it even now. Combined with my swimmer's ear earlier in the day, I got dizzy and a massive migraine. After that we looked at old time cars they had at the old A&W next to the fair grounds, then my Dad got everyone root beer floats while I was in the bathroom thanks to my little fair ride experience. Then Jack and Bernadette had to take off, so we said our goodbyes. I called Leyann after that when Matthew and Justin were on some other rides, using up the tickets my Dad bought for everyone.
The rest of the night we just chilled out and it was fun laughing with my Dad again like we used to do when they still lived in Illinois.
Sunday morning my Dad went to an Air and Car show not even two miles from my parents house which is at a small local airstrip with a bunch of hangers. He got an early start because a lot of his new friends were going to it/had plane and cars there/own hangers there. We could come at any time provided we get off our lazy morning butts and get going. So I showered, got ready, shaved, and everyone else got ready too and we were out the door. My mom drove all of us there and the place was huge. Everyone had their planes out in the open on display, lots of old classic cars too. This included my Dad's neighbor who basically had a whole hanger that was converted into a garage that holds 8 of his classic cars. This included a model of car that I forget the name of, but it was from 1908! We got to see some planes take off, and Matt and Justin got to ride this plane ride for the kids at the event. Basically it was a "train" of "planes" made out of large metal drums refurbished to look like little airplanes, pulled along by a huge riding lawnmower.
After that Angela decided that we should all go see the movie Cars because I think the last time we saw a movie as a family was when "Independence Day" premiered on my birthday when it opened. Wasn't that '97? Either way, far too long. So we had lunch from the leftovers of my mom's great dinner (burgers, potato salad, the works...) and then made our way to the local cinema.
Cars was great! It wasn't the best of Pixar's films (The Incredibles in my book) but it wasn't the worst either. Even if you aren't a car person (like me) this film was still entertaining, a great story with a lot of heart. I mean, come on, what Pixar film doesn't have heart? There were many easter eggs for people who follow NASCAR like my Dad (which I knew only because I have watched quite a few races with him), but even if you didn'y get any of them, it was fun. My brother loved it. At one point in the middle of the film my Dad actually fell asleep (which I can understand because one point in the middle of the film dragged on for a bit, but it did provide a lot of developing relationships that would come together towards the end of the film) and was snoring! But we woke him up and he apologized, and was laughing like the rest of us.
So for Cars, go see it. The trailers were crap and didn't capture the heart of this movie at all. Even I didn't want to see it at first because of the teasers.
We got back from the movies a little later than I wanted, because soon it was time for Angela and I to head back. My Dad made sure my van was up to par for the trip home and we all said our goodbyes. The way home was pretty uneventful. Angela got me back by paying for gas and treating me to dinner at Culver's. Made pretty good time and I was home by 11:30 pm.
Whew.
This week:
- ACEN feedback meeting (plus announcement of new con chair)
- ACEN thank you picnic on Saturday
- Must finish my ACEN comic and report
- Patiently wait on shipments from Hobby Link Japan. Come on imports!
Berry