No Good Can Come

Why do you people let me try to do things on my own? No good can come from this. Today I had plenty of time so I decided to hit the Greektown Casino on my way to mom's (as I explained to Gretchen, it IS on the way, if you go the long way). I programmed my GPS, but I wouldn't need it because I have been to this casino a hundred times before. A hundred times WITH MOM!

My problems began when signs on I75 started saying "closed at Clark" use I275. Well, OK. That meant I took the long way for no reason since I was about to end up right at I275 and I94 anyway, but I could handle it. I even ignored my GPS when it tried to take me onto I375 when I knew I wanted to take the 10. I got to the exact spot where I never remember the correct place to turn left and I remembered the correct turn. I to the casino and it was sealed off like a tight construction infused drum. There was no way to get there from here. And there was no way to get anyplace else either. I went around the whole place and every garage was full with throngs of Tiger fans milling around with giant gothic Ds on their chests.

Right about then my fuel light came on. Damn! Just get me out of here. So got on the first major freeway I could find knowing that I could get on any other major freeway from there. Well, I could if every square inch of Detroit wasn't under construction. But it is, so I used my GPS and my wits and I found the sign to get on I94 and headed toward it (in the get to mom's house game, I94 beats I75) only to be thwarted at the last minute by more construcion. But that's OK I see a gas station. I am in possibly the worst neighborhood in town, but I need gas so I pull in only to find signs on every pump saying "out of order." There is another gas station across the freeway but cleverly placed orange fencing prevents that possibility. I finally make it onto I94 and then I96 (I96 trumps all other freeways) but there were no visible gas stations at any exits. So I kept going, finally at Outer Driver I saw a BP and I pulled in. Unfortunately, after I pulled in a giant camper pulled in and I had to wait until he finished topping off his 6000 gallon tank before I could pull back out.

I am at mom's now and I am ready for my nap. Adrienne gets in at 6am. Maybe I will sleep until then.

Ready to Go

Dear Mommy,

I am soooo packed. I am so packed my suitcase could walk to the airport now and I could just meet it there. When I "finished" packing the other night I had so much room left in my suitcase that I redid it all with my clothes on hangers--just like you used to do. Then, of course, I finished my last load of laundry last night and could hardly fit the last minute stuff into the suitcase. I am using your tapestry bag as my carry-on. That bag has been on so many trips with us, it is almost like family. It is not as big as my regular carry-on which is good because I won't over-pack it. Right now I just need to add my book and my iPod and it will be packed too.

I found some comfy walking shoes. Uncle Marcel was just right, I needed to go wider. I am bringing your black dress shoes. I have coveted those shoes for so long now, but they aren't nearly as comfortable as you made them look. Maybe it is because you did not have to walk too long in them. They have a hard leather sole. Why do they make hard shoes, I just don't understand. I want soft and comfy. I also have sandals and crocs. This is two more pairs of shoes than I usually take on vacation, but I think Adrienne has 6 pairs (but she needed two suitcases to pack).

We are so excited about this trip, we can hardly stand it. Adrienne has been in a lot of pain, but she got some scary shot yesterday that is supposed to make her all better. At least for a while. I also told her we were going to work out everyday on the boat so maybe that will get both of us back into a good routine.

Jan sent us our table assignments. We are sitting with Amy and Rosemary Allen. I need you here to remind me who everybody is. We also have to sit with "other people." You know how I feel about other people. I hate other people. Jan said that they lost 6 people from this trip, so they had a hard time filling the tables with just Holliday Park. Gene also sent a currency exchange card. Luckily, I am bring my human calculator with me.

I just can't, can't, can't believe that you aren't going to be there. I dream about you being there. Dreams so real that I can feel you there. I can feel your hand holding mine. I can feel you next to me. I don't do supernatural and I don't do mystical, but I can play pretend. So, I intend to pretend that you are there. That you are hold my hand and you are right next to me. Then we can talk later and say "Remember that time we went to Egypt? That was awesome!"

I love you and I miss you every minute of every day.

Shoes

I need good walking shoes for the cruise (only two weeks away)!

So last week I walked home for lunch (just over a mile) in my new gym shoes and they hurt the top of my left pinky toe terribly. So I walked back in my crocs. This worked fine for my pinky toe, but there was not enough heel support to be truly comfortable. There has to be a happy medium.

Once I get the shoe thing straight I will be ready. My suitcase is packed and except for all of this pesky work stuff I could leave tomorrow. Oh wait, our friend Big Al is coming in on Tuesday and I want to see him. But then I am ready to go. Oh yeah, and Kat is coming to Michigan next Saturday, I have to be there for that. But right after that I can leave anytime.

Watch this spot (or Adrienne's--we have decided yet) for cruise updates as they happen.