Day Thirteen: Road Trips.

Miles the Puggle.

Road trips are the shiz.  I've always had a weird obsession with them.  Growing up, my family took many a road trip from time to time.  Of course, living in the country, and at least fifteen miles from civilization, just making the hour drive to the mall seemed like a road trip at times.  But you get used to it.

My dad played wheelchair basketball for years.  Tournaments opened a lot of doors for us to travel.  The biggest trip we ever took that was related to basketball events was our trip to Boston in 1993, I think.  I was twelve, and that was a long drive!  I remember there was snow on the ground and it was March.  That was a completely foreign sight to see for a Floridian.  I also remember going to a ritzy banquet while we were there, and being served this really gross chicken that was stuffed with orange-infused rice.  I have no idea what that was about.  A northern thing, perhaps?  Basketball took us on other adventures, but mainly in the South - Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and various cities throughout Florida.

There were some non-basketball related road trips as well.  Many of those were to Illinois and Arkansas, where my Dad's family is. I haven't been to Chicago in years, but it's one of my favorite cities.  Little Rock was the last family road trip we took in 2006, I believe.  I'm really not good with remembering years - obviously.  It was 2000 and something....I know that much.  In college, my sister and I, along with our good friend Lang, took a road trip to Richmond, Virginia.  We left the day after Christmas in 2003 and drove twelve hours straight.  This is also the trip where Mr. M and I got to meet in person for the first time.  You can read more details in A Borrowed Blog.

The time has come for yet another trip.  As you're reading this, I am cruising up the interstate with Mr. M, G, Grandmom (my mom) and Poppy (my dad) along with a goofy little dog named Miles.  We are headed to Tennessee to visit my sister and brother for Thanksgiving.  I'm thrilled.  This is G's very first road trip.  When she was about nine months old, she and I flew to Chattanooga to visit Nutmeg, but we've never driven further than a couple of hours with her.  I will be sure to give a full report on how she did once we're back in Florida. 

Road trips are tiring, yet exhilarating.  They are sometimes pricey, but cheap fun.  They can be spontaneous, or planned for months.  But whatever they are to you, across the board they're always packed with lots of laughs, lots of car games, and lots of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving & Safe Travels to you!

Blogging 101.

I work in an office, and just like many of you, I stare at a computer screen for 8 hours a day.  Not fun.  The last thing on my mind when I get home, is "oh, I can't wait to get on the computer!"  Once I shut my office door for the day, I'm done with computers until 8:00am the next morning.  Oddly, as of late, I've been gettin' the itch to make more of my computer time.  I have a Facebook page, as most of you probably do.  I have a Twitter ID, as well, although I haven't touched it in weeks.  And as sad as it is to admit, I actually still have an open Myspace account; but, in my defense, I haven't logged in since some time in early 2010.  With all that said, my social media life has left me wanting more.  And then a light bulb went off - blogging.  What a concept.

Now, if we're being honest, I've had blogs in the past.  I got my first taste of blogging when Myspace was popular, and I got addicted...for awhile anyway.  In the past 18 months, I've created and failed at two blogs - one about relationships and one about photography...both of which are things I'm passionate about.  So this time, I thought what could I possibly write about that would keep my readers reading, and that I'm passionate enough about to continue writing?  I thought.  And then I really thought.  And I kept thinking.  I got nothin'!  But then, there it was...the light bulb went off, the clouds parted for the sunbeams to shine through, and I heard glorious chimes from the Heavens.  Motherhood - that's it!  I will be a "mommy blogger".  So, here I am...giving mommy blogging my best shot.  Wish me luck, and please stay-tuned.