"They got the mustard out!"
I stopped by a McDonalds this morning for a coffee and the woman at the drive-thru window called me “angel.” For some reason that made me very happy. How often do you get called “angel” in an average week, right? I think I might start calling others that just to spread the joy.
~*~
Iowa/South Dakota trip came to an end Friday. Otherwise known as the “Whole Lotta Driving” trip. Day by day summary…
Friday: Packed the car before we left for work. I went to pick up Brian when I got off and he had to work late to get things done before he could go, so I waited not so patiently in the parking lot. We ended up driving as far as Wichita, KS and stopping at a shady looking Motel 6. It was about 2 AM, so we weren’t terribly choosy at that point. We just wanted a bed. The room we stayed in was smaller than my dorm room in college which I didn’t think was possible. I could hear yelling in the lobby and cars whizzing by on the freeway, but I still managed to fall asleep.
Saturday: Drove the entire day to northern Iowa. Not a very interesting trip especially the further north we got. Lots of farm land as far as the eye can see. You can see for miles which is kinda of cool, but all you see is lonely farmhouses surrounded by miles and miles of land. We got to our hotel at about 7:00. My aunt reserved this hotel for everyone because it’s close to where my grandfather’s ashes were being buried. It was a hotel casino that was literally in the middle of nowhere. So we said hi to everyone who was waiting for us and then checked in, took our bags to our room, ate our complimentary dinner, and then gambled a bit before going to bed.
Sunday: Went to church with the ‘rents and then met the rest of my family back at the hotel. My dad and his side of the family all grew up in that area, so this day turned into a tour of sorts. We saw where my dad grew up, where he and my aunt went to school, where my grandfather and great grandfather went to school (unbelievably the building is still standing, but I wouldn’t want to go inside), etc. It was actually neat to see, but what that area lacks is trees and it was crazy windy which made everyone tired. We had a late lunch and then everyone either took naps or went to hang out at the pool. And then we were all rested up for dinner (is it just my family or does everyone’s family seem to eat excessively during get-togethers?). Then there was more gambling.
Monday: The service was scheduled for 10:00 so we all made our way over to the cemetery around 9:30. My grandfather was a World War II vet, so there were other vets there for the ceremony. I think I had my self deluded into thinking that because it had been 6 months since he died that most of us had come to terms with his death and it wouldn’t be difficult to get through. I was wrong. My father spoke briefly and I have only seen the man cry once in my entire life, so hearing his voice crack during his speech was unbelievably hard. Add onto that my brother sobbing next to me, Brian sniffling behind me, the gun salute and then Taps being played on trumpet and it’s a miracle I didn’t dissolve into a useless puddle on the floor. It was hard, but it was also therapeutic.
There was a separate ceremony following that for a Memorial Day celebration. My brother was invited to participate because he is in the Army and he was wearing his uniform and that was really nice to see. He helped raise the flag and they did a gun salute again and played Taps again I’m pretty sure that for the rest of my life that song is going to make me tear up.
Afterwards, there was a little get together for everyone and I saw family I’ve only met once or twice in my life or never before. And there was lots of family picture taking. When that was over we headed back to the hotel because check out was at 2:00. We were back on the road after one more round of gambling (did you know that slot machines are addicting?) to make the 2 and a half hour drive to South Dakota.
My poor grandmother ended up getting sick on the drive. She was a bundle of nerves for days and you can’t blame the woman as she just buried her husband of 60 plus years and was seeing lots of family and what not. She ended up in the emergency room and they gave her something for her stomach, but unfortunately she was in bed most of the rest of the time that we were there. She’s doing better now, though.
We all hung out at my aunt and uncle’s for most of the night and then Brian and I stayed at my cousin’s house. He went out of town the next day so we basically had the place to ourselves which was a nice getaway from the pandemonium that is being with your family.
Thus ended one of the longest days I’ve experienced in a while.
Tuesday: My dad, uncle and Brian wanted to go golfing and I wasn’t really keen on the idea of just sitting around the house all day, so I went along with them. It was a nice course and I got to drive the cart which is always fun, but it was really cold and windy. Did you know it can be 40 degrees in South Dakota in May? My Texas bred self was unprepared.
After that it was back to the house where things got kind of weird because my grandmother has started giving things away. My aunt brought out all kinds of things that I was supposed to choose from. I ended up with a few rings and paintings and an antique tea-for-one teapot. We all just hung out most of the afternoon and then just to get my aunt out of the house and away from my grandmother who she’d been taking care of all day, we went out to dinner and she showed us around Sioux Falls where they’ve lived for a long time so she had lots to show. After dinner went back to the house and I talked with my grandmother for a while before saying goodbye.
Wednesday: Met everyone for breakfast and then said our goodbyes and started the drive back to Texas. Stopped in Kansas City and stayed at yet another casino hotel. Wish I could say we avoided temptation that time around, but I can’t. Went out for dinner at Jack Stack Barbeque and it was quite yummy.
Thursday: Did some Kansas City site seeing. We figured since KC is the City of Fountains we should try to find a few and we did. We also went to the Liberty Memorial and Union Station and walked around Country Club Plaza which is a charming area but I didn’t end up buying anything from any of the many stores (thanks, slot machines!). Ended the day at the hotel and the crab leg buffet and one last gluttonous feast before the end of vacation.
Friday: Made the longest drive yet to get back home. We had to be back by 7:00 to pick up the dog or else we’d get charged an extra day and we just made it there by 6:30.
And so ended a very long and emotional trip.
~*~
All of you Buffy aficionados have probably guessed by my subject title that I’ve finally reached the famed musical ep of the show. I knew this episode existed, but had no idea which season it was in. During the incredibly depressing second half of season 5, I was hoping it was going to pop up somewhere in there. And now, as Anthony Stewart Head has been downgraded to “special guest star” status, I’m dreading what’s going to happen with Giles. So it made me smile when this ep started with music and I finally got to experience the greatness. I’m still left to wonder if things are ever going to lighten up, though. Why so serious, Buffy peeps?
~*~
Iowa/South Dakota trip came to an end Friday. Otherwise known as the “Whole Lotta Driving” trip. Day by day summary…
Friday: Packed the car before we left for work. I went to pick up Brian when I got off and he had to work late to get things done before he could go, so I waited not so patiently in the parking lot. We ended up driving as far as Wichita, KS and stopping at a shady looking Motel 6. It was about 2 AM, so we weren’t terribly choosy at that point. We just wanted a bed. The room we stayed in was smaller than my dorm room in college which I didn’t think was possible. I could hear yelling in the lobby and cars whizzing by on the freeway, but I still managed to fall asleep.
Saturday: Drove the entire day to northern Iowa. Not a very interesting trip especially the further north we got. Lots of farm land as far as the eye can see. You can see for miles which is kinda of cool, but all you see is lonely farmhouses surrounded by miles and miles of land. We got to our hotel at about 7:00. My aunt reserved this hotel for everyone because it’s close to where my grandfather’s ashes were being buried. It was a hotel casino that was literally in the middle of nowhere. So we said hi to everyone who was waiting for us and then checked in, took our bags to our room, ate our complimentary dinner, and then gambled a bit before going to bed.
Sunday: Went to church with the ‘rents and then met the rest of my family back at the hotel. My dad and his side of the family all grew up in that area, so this day turned into a tour of sorts. We saw where my dad grew up, where he and my aunt went to school, where my grandfather and great grandfather went to school (unbelievably the building is still standing, but I wouldn’t want to go inside), etc. It was actually neat to see, but what that area lacks is trees and it was crazy windy which made everyone tired. We had a late lunch and then everyone either took naps or went to hang out at the pool. And then we were all rested up for dinner (is it just my family or does everyone’s family seem to eat excessively during get-togethers?). Then there was more gambling.
Monday: The service was scheduled for 10:00 so we all made our way over to the cemetery around 9:30. My grandfather was a World War II vet, so there were other vets there for the ceremony. I think I had my self deluded into thinking that because it had been 6 months since he died that most of us had come to terms with his death and it wouldn’t be difficult to get through. I was wrong. My father spoke briefly and I have only seen the man cry once in my entire life, so hearing his voice crack during his speech was unbelievably hard. Add onto that my brother sobbing next to me, Brian sniffling behind me, the gun salute and then Taps being played on trumpet and it’s a miracle I didn’t dissolve into a useless puddle on the floor. It was hard, but it was also therapeutic.
There was a separate ceremony following that for a Memorial Day celebration. My brother was invited to participate because he is in the Army and he was wearing his uniform and that was really nice to see. He helped raise the flag and they did a gun salute again and played Taps again I’m pretty sure that for the rest of my life that song is going to make me tear up.
Afterwards, there was a little get together for everyone and I saw family I’ve only met once or twice in my life or never before. And there was lots of family picture taking. When that was over we headed back to the hotel because check out was at 2:00. We were back on the road after one more round of gambling (did you know that slot machines are addicting?) to make the 2 and a half hour drive to South Dakota.
My poor grandmother ended up getting sick on the drive. She was a bundle of nerves for days and you can’t blame the woman as she just buried her husband of 60 plus years and was seeing lots of family and what not. She ended up in the emergency room and they gave her something for her stomach, but unfortunately she was in bed most of the rest of the time that we were there. She’s doing better now, though.
We all hung out at my aunt and uncle’s for most of the night and then Brian and I stayed at my cousin’s house. He went out of town the next day so we basically had the place to ourselves which was a nice getaway from the pandemonium that is being with your family.
Thus ended one of the longest days I’ve experienced in a while.
Tuesday: My dad, uncle and Brian wanted to go golfing and I wasn’t really keen on the idea of just sitting around the house all day, so I went along with them. It was a nice course and I got to drive the cart which is always fun, but it was really cold and windy. Did you know it can be 40 degrees in South Dakota in May? My Texas bred self was unprepared.
After that it was back to the house where things got kind of weird because my grandmother has started giving things away. My aunt brought out all kinds of things that I was supposed to choose from. I ended up with a few rings and paintings and an antique tea-for-one teapot. We all just hung out most of the afternoon and then just to get my aunt out of the house and away from my grandmother who she’d been taking care of all day, we went out to dinner and she showed us around Sioux Falls where they’ve lived for a long time so she had lots to show. After dinner went back to the house and I talked with my grandmother for a while before saying goodbye.
Wednesday: Met everyone for breakfast and then said our goodbyes and started the drive back to Texas. Stopped in Kansas City and stayed at yet another casino hotel. Wish I could say we avoided temptation that time around, but I can’t. Went out for dinner at Jack Stack Barbeque and it was quite yummy.
Thursday: Did some Kansas City site seeing. We figured since KC is the City of Fountains we should try to find a few and we did. We also went to the Liberty Memorial and Union Station and walked around Country Club Plaza which is a charming area but I didn’t end up buying anything from any of the many stores (thanks, slot machines!). Ended the day at the hotel and the crab leg buffet and one last gluttonous feast before the end of vacation.
Friday: Made the longest drive yet to get back home. We had to be back by 7:00 to pick up the dog or else we’d get charged an extra day and we just made it there by 6:30.
And so ended a very long and emotional trip.
~*~
All of you Buffy aficionados have probably guessed by my subject title that I’ve finally reached the famed musical ep of the show. I knew this episode existed, but had no idea which season it was in. During the incredibly depressing second half of season 5, I was hoping it was going to pop up somewhere in there. And now, as Anthony Stewart Head has been downgraded to “special guest star” status, I’m dreading what’s going to happen with Giles. So it made me smile when this ep started with music and I finally got to experience the greatness. I’m still left to wonder if things are ever going to lighten up, though. Why so serious, Buffy peeps?