Uncle Traveling Max

As I was replaying my trip to Utah and Nevada in my head I was reminded of Uncle Travling Max on the Fraggles. I loved him.

Thursday 8:00 am - Went to work to hitch a ride to the post office to catch the airport shuttle. Drove for an hour and a half in the back of a van with a driver with a death wish. There were a few times that I literally thought I would get sick. All I could do was hold my stomach and breathe. Arrive at the airport in record time (although I had plenty to spare and would have preferred to use it.) Went through security without a problem only to find out that my terminal didn't have crap to eat as far as morning snacks go. I ordered a kid's meal from Wendy's and sat on the ground and dipped my fries in my frosty. I save the Cheeseburger for later and ate it before we landed. Once in SLC I got my suitcase and waited patiently for my sister - and waited, and waited. We used to have a rule that you would just wait on the sidewalk while the other circled and then picked you up I wasn't sure if we had decided to fall back on this rule or not. I called her on her cell from a pay phone using my credit card. It cost $3.86 - absolutely ridiculous. We then went straight to pick up our friend Cristina - who hasn't changed even a little bit. My favorite trait in someone is their ability to laugh at themself - she has this in abundance. We went to a head shop (sp?) - I wanted a button that said "I promise I don't smoke pot while pregnant" Instead I hung out in the front of the store and tried to pretend to be very interested in the display of Nag Champa. We then went to the party store to pick up some more nautical decor for Lamont's graduation party and then off to see Cristina's new house (totally cute by the way! : )

Next stop - Uncle Jim's house where we had a bbq with all of the cousins and my four second cousins. A visit to this house is like stopping at a Texaco and filling up my soul. I always leave with a huge smile on my face. In a world where so many are trying to appear perfect - they are perfectly real and wonderful. We had a yummy bbq and then went to bed and got up and had coffee with Aunt Jody. Then, off to Elko! After a three hour drive I arrived on Morning Breeze Drive to the house that I have lived in since I was 9. I was greeted by the cat that I got in 7th grade. LaMont's graduation was that night at 7 pm. Clara and I dragged him into the backyard for pictures. He was so handsome and I was so proud. Graduation was hell as they usually are. The same speeches that go on far too long, etc. Afterwards we went out to pizza and then off to bed. LaMont followed suit and didn't go out at all. If I was proud before I was beaming now. I can only hope that this baby is as good as my little brother. Maybe he actually learned from watching Clara and I that partying isn't everything. Or maybe we did enough for all three of us.

Saturday we woke up and went to a casino breakfast with the grandparents. It was such an enjoyable visit. Then we went to set up the graduation party and get ready. Before the party Clara and I had to pick up the sub sandwiches, stop and blow up balloons, hang balloons at all of the turns, etc. This was after we had gone to Walmart and Fashion Bug for nautical tops and shoes. The party was quite a success - but came before we were ready. I was busy stressing myself out over a veggie tray that I somehow convinced myself had to be perfect while Clara and Brandy were running around doing last minute preparations. The food was fantastic and the company was so great. I saw family friends that I've known my whole life. The DVD that I made of LaMont's life in pictures was a hit. My dad and I left at about 7 and I was in bed by 9. The rest of the party stayed up and lit a fire and drank some wine. Compared to some of the parties we've had this was G rated!

Sunday was supposed to be our relaxing day that we didn't have anything planned. Somehow we still managed to run around for most of the day. My dad bbq'd that night and this made 2. We saw Shrek 3 later that night. I think it was the best by far.

Monday morning - back on the road after a couple of stops to say Hi/Bye. Three hours later we arrive in Tooele and stop by Aunt Holly's. LaMont braved the Pequops by himself and was very proud of himself. By the time we were his age we had done the drive from Elko to Tooele a million times by ourselves so this was his rite of passage. By this time Clara has been really tired and her ear has been bothering her for about a day and a half. I drop her off and jump in the car and meet Tracey and Austin at Albertson's. I drag them with me to pick up the ingredients for some artichoke dip and Tylenol for my pounding head. We went had had yummy, overpriced ice cream and then went back to Aunt Holly's to make the dip and visit. We then went to our third bbq. I ate the most at that bbq of the whole weekend. It may have been that they had shrimp salad or that the hot dogs were black on the outside but I think I may have had like three plates. At this bbq I had one grandpa, two uncles, four aunts, and seven cousins (did I mention that I did a little bit of visiting family over the course of 6 days?) I was able to pick my Aunt's brain a little bit because she is a labor and delivery nurse. I, of course, asked her about pooping on the table and all of that fun stuff. But - lately my biggest fear is that I am going to make a complete melodramatic fool out of myself and the nurses and everyone else are going to be irritated with me. I would love to think that I am going to be brave - but I'm pretty sure once the epidural wears off it will be like one of those morning waking up after too much to drink and remembering slowly all of the stupid things you did. This is one of the many reasons that there will not be a camcorder in the room. We then went to visit the grandparents and a couple more Aunts and Cousins. I sat and talked and talked about the pregnancy while Clara sat there. I didn't realize that she was more quiet than usual. Suddenly I looked over and realized that she was beet red. More than any rash that she's ever had. She said she didn't feel very good and got tears in her eyes. My sister never cries, ever - and if she does it's bound to last a few days because it's been building up. Everytime I even see her on the verge I get so nervous. Come to find out she had a 101 degree fever. I felt so bad for not noticing that on the way to take her back to Aunt Holly's I cried right along with her. That night we visited with Aunt Nisha and then went to bed. Clara with a fever and me with my migraine - I puked quite a few times. We were quite the house guests. The next day we had breakfast with LaMont and then they hit the road back to Elko. Clara had a doctor's app't when she got there and had a sinus infection and bronchitis. LaMont drove most of the way home. Aunt Holly drove me to the airport (half hour) and then I got on my flight - but not before eating a small frozen yogurt with oreos and pecans! The flight was shakey and I thought I was going to puke on that too. The shuttle driver back up to Prescott was the worst driver ever! I was so sick and then the air conditioner went out - in Phoenix - in May. I only tipped him a dollar but felt more like smacking him for being such an idiot and needing to talk on his walkie talkie the whole way and almost drive off the road four times.

Then I drove home to my husband and animals. It was so nice to sleep cuddled up with my dog holding Brian's hand again. For all of this talk about needing a vacation - I think that I will be recovering from that one for a while! I am exhausted and think that I may have overdone it. It was worth it though. The biggest high point was strengthening my relatioship with my little brother. I moved out of the house when he was 9 so up to that point it was he and I at eachother's throats. He has always been just a pesky little brother - but I was surprised and delighted to find out that he has turned into a really cool young man. I loved hanging out with him. It's unfortunate that I figure this out right before he goes off to boot camp - but I doubt that I will ever take him for granted. I am such a proud big sister. I am so glad that my baby and Oakley will have a real-life hero to look up to.