Christmas Jockeying
Two weeks ago mutterings of Christmas began Beth & myself as we scheduled travel and PTO for the last two months of 2011. Beth & I have been coordinating our holidays for over 10 years and I believe it has recently became easier in recent years. We no longer have multiple parties in one day. We have also focused on the quality of our time together because balancing quantity is stressful.
As of tonight I believe we have our travel dates and personal experiences scheduled. It feels really good to get these tidbits hammered out so far in advance.
I think Beth & I have both been thinking about holiday travel in 2012 and beyond. Next year Santa Claus will be brought back into our lives. It won’t complicate plans but must be considered when planning family parties. It’s important to us to have a traditional Christmas experience for Nolan since we won’t be in our own home for the foreseeable future. I wonder if or when there be a Christmas when we are in our own home on Christmas morning. I’m thinking hard about the terms that would keep us here and I don’t think they exist. We’re very blessed to have parents with space and open arms for our visits. I can’t imagine not going home even if we had 10 children.
Disclaimer: There are no plans to have 10 children.
We went to The Great Pumpkin Patch on Saturday with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces. It was a great patch focused on their plants. They touted 200? varieties and sold more types than anyone would want. They had creative decorations and no jack-o-lanterns. We were able to breeze through the place in the morning without lines or meltdowns. I would love to spend more time there in the future with the chitlins.
We at at Beth’s favorite pizza chain, Monical’s Pizza, on the way home. It’s very similar to Pizza Man with its tangy dressing & thin crust but the pizza is always a step ahead. They don’t use a conveyor oven which may be why their crust is very crispy. I also found it to be seasoned more.
This reminds me that I need to get back to Imo’s, a St. Louis chain. I must make a lunch trip West around Christmas when Holly is home.
Saturday in Southern Illinois was a lot of fun. We visited two orchards where we bought apples, pie, & dumplings. I also grabbed an apple cider donut I enjoyed on the porch.
I don’t miss Carbondale but I do miss Southern Illinois.
Shooting my sister and her family may have had the highest enjoyment to effort ratio for any organized time with my camera. We were done in 30 minutes and the kids never complained.
Shooting my beautiful nieces this weekend was a treat.
Weekend
- We made both legs of the trip in 5 hours. Previous runs with Nolan and a pregnant Beth were around 6 hours.
- I made chicken salad for the drive up. We stopped at the TN/KY border rest area, chose a picnic table, and enjoyed a lighter meal than our fast food stop. I hope we continue this on future trips.
- I shot many family photos this weekend and I’m very pleased with them. Aperture, my photo management application, gets a hated on but I’m able to knock down a couple hundred photos in 10 minutes.
- I recreated a childhood memory at Niemerg’s this weekend by getting a bowl of tapioca and a muffin front he salad bar. I also stepped foot in their bar for the first time in my life.
- In The Brass Rail Lounge, my thirst, the environment, and the beer (Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat) reached a level of satisfaction that is rare. That frosted mug and orange slice hit a spot deep down. I almost ordered their 23oz $3 (TWENTY THREE OUNCES FOR THREE DOLLARS!!!) in the dining room but knew I would be indulging later.
- Beth & I went to The Brickbat Alley with Holly for a couple beers before her friends showed up. Being out amongst the youngins without my peers made me feel old but I enjoyed my time. I didn’t have to submit myself to an inferior beer which made me happy.
- I enjoy sitting with my family in church because it’s an activity that would be exactly the same if I was living there.
- We visited my sister’s new house. I’m so happy for her and her family.
- Beth, Holly, Nolan, & I had nice time at El Rancherito talking about veganism vs vegetarianism and enjoying the simplicity of white cheese dip.
- Nolan spiked a 103º fever that prompted a cool bath, super-cuddling, and ibuprofen most often than the recommended administration frequency. We quickly brought it down to 101º and then 99º this morning. It was back to 101º tonight so I will be staying at home with him.
- We brought back two bags of potatoes from Beth’s parent’s garden. I made sure to grab a bunch of new tater’s for roasting whole. We had some last week and they taste better than the store’s.
- Last night I looked West toward a green field and vibrant sunset. I turned to Holly and said something like “I love this. The openness. Wide sky. I really love this.” I have said it here once before; you don’t see the stars from the city. I gaze at the sky when I’m back home. Don’t take your stars for granted.
Dollywood has announced Wild Eagle, their 2012, 4 inversion, 21 story tall, B&M wing coaster. I’m confident I will be there in the spring for coaster & food goodness.
Sackbeat (Taken with instagram)
Luv (Taken with instagram)
Rest Area Stretch & Dinner (Taken with instagram)
Our college home
Most of my maternal family members own horses and a group of them are currently riding in South Dakota. I have never, and still don’t, envy riding the animals but I’m green from seeing their views through the eyes on my cousin on Facebook. I can’t help but think of our trip to the state last year where I soaked in great views that I still think about.
I feel like everyone around me is traveling which only makes my travel itches stronger. Yes. Multiple itches.
The simple itch is travel like I have always done. Reliable travel to a researched place where I do things I plan. The other deeper itch is seeing places, like my family is seeing, by hiking or riding a bicycle. I blame Russ & Laura, the nomad cyclists we listened to last year. Their stories, photos, and videos makes me want to putter around “the West” or Texas, I don’t think I’ll ever travel the country at my own pace with no specific goal but I can see myself taking specific trips.
Satisfying the simple travel wish will satisfy for longer than you think. A solid weekend would probably do it. The complex desire to see the country at a slow pace will linger but I’m OK with putting it on hold.
Weekend Happys
- Watching Nolan gnaw on a green bean from Beth’s parent’s garden
- Eating yummy fish at The Midway like we did when I started dating Beth
- Sitting at the Shumway International Motor Park with my family while tractors and trucks roared beside us
- Sleeping my parent’s cold and dark basement
- Seeing Nolan enjoyed by so many people
- Receiving an exquisite pice of art from Shae she said was “Ty Ty’s nummies” when asked
- Chilaxin’ in my parent’s new pool
- Grilling and eating a very good pork burger
- Making and eating homemade ice cream
- Eating said ice cream on my Grandma Bierman’s delicious blackberry pie
- Eating a slice of my Grandma Neu’s equally delicious coconut cream pie
- Counting money with my family after church. We rock that job so hard.
- My brother kicked my ass in checkers.
- Breakfast at Cracker Barrel
- Yummy lunch and good company with the Hoene’s
- Watching Nolan squeal with Andy’s toy on the way home
Priceline Win
We got a downtown ‘Noog hotel for 50% off.
We’re escaping to Chattanooga Saturday & Sunday. Suggestions?
