GETTING READY!

Even though I never really put away the suitcases from our Texas trip and Jim keeps making comments about me packing a month ahead of time, I am actually going to start putting things into the suitcases today!! It's only 5 days away! Of course I have already started a pile in the back bedroom of things I don't want to forget! Like the binoculars and the battery charger and our raincoats and my gloves!! The only problem with packing too early is that I forget I already packed it! LOL Oh well, better to be safe than sorry! YES I have already packed our passports too, as we need them when we fly home from Vancouver Canada.

We have tested out the new camcorder a few times to make sure it all works good before we get to those great picture spots of the wildlife and scenery! I have been checking the weather in Alaska for some time now and it has been in the 60's quite often which is perfect for Jim! I would take a little warmer but won't complain if the sun is shining! I hope to be able to post something every couple of days while we are gone so that you can all enjoy some of it along with us! Our plane flies out of MBS on July 4th at 3:25pm if there are no delays!!!! SEE YOU ALL IN ALASKA! :p

FLYING * # & ^ Where Do I Begin!!

WE ARE HOME SAFE! Enough said?? NO! Not for all of you that know I have to tell my story! Our first flight home was scheduled to leave Austin, Texas at 12:55pm and brother John had to drop us off a bit early due to an appointment they had with for their daughter. So at 10:00am we checked in an found our gate and got a comfy spot to sit and watch the planes and people. After the experience we had on the trip out I would get up every so often and check the monitor to make sure our flight was on schedule. HERE WE GO AGAIN!! It all started again! The weather was just not cooperating for our trip. Of course I would rather be on the ground than flying in a terrible storm. So the story began again with delays due to a bad storm in Houston where we were headed. By the time they finally thought we might be able to head out I checked with the desk to see how far the gate would be and how much time we would have to make it there. She said "OH NO" you have to change terminals and you will never make it in time!! You guys know what happened to me don't you?? The eyes just began to well up and she took one look at me and said "Don't you worry I will get you there in time or change your flight for you"! Her name was Keri and she took such good care of us. She changed our flight to a straight flight from Austin to Detroit and gave us plenty of time to get to our final flight from Detroit to Saginaw. We did have to walk a little ways to get to the gate, but James has become quite the moving sidewalk walker. When we checked in at the gate I ask David to please put us in seats together or I would probably squeeze somebody Else's arm off during takeoff! He really didn't think he was going to be able to do that due to the flight being so full from the delays. He was a very wise young man and saw my frustration and said let me just put you right here in FIRST CLASS!! What a guy! Let me tell you I am such a spoiled flyer now. Although this plane was much smaller than the others we flew on, it was the smoothest ride of them all. Of course the free drinks and dinner and pampering didn't hurt either. I truly enjoyed the view out the window this time and the time went by so fast. Our final flight from Detroit to Saginaw went on schedule after the layover time we already had planned for. Believe it or not our bag arrived in Saginaw even after being sent on our original flight!! Jim lost that bet!! LOL

Rod was just pulling into the airport with my baby (Caddy) when we walked out the doors! The cell phone texting is great for keeping in touch with people! I know he took good care of my baby because he wishes it was his!! He even parked it in his garage for me! THANKS ROD!

The rest of the trip was the drive home from Saginaw and we cruised right along with no problems! Hmmmmm FLYING VS DRIVING????? We arrived home a little after 1am and our bed felt great! We slept until about 7am this morning and most of you know that is sleeping in for us. Today is working at home and trying to get through the jet lag and back to a "normal" up north Michigan life! Traveling is pretty fast paced for us and we enjoy our slow pace at home.

Our next trip is approaching fast and we will be traveling to Traverse City soon to meet with our travel agent and pick up all of our documents. We leave again on July 4th! Let's hope all goes smooth with that travel! I think I will try and use our $100 vouchers to get bumped up to first class now that I am spoiled! LOL Keep checking for updates as I will be posting as our trip gets closer. Thanks to you all for the comments too! It's nice to hear from your friends while you are away!

Saying Goodbye!

The old saying "Time sure flies when you're having fun" is so true! I can't believe it's time for us to head home already. But we knew it was going to be a quick trip and we were just glad to be able to come and visit for such a special occassion. I think that Jim might not be able to handle too many more days of this 95 degree temps, but my brother turned the air conditioner down to 76 for our benefit and he is freezing!!

It has been windy here too, so that allowed us to sit outside in the mornings before the sun came over top of us. Then of course every evening after the sun goes down the neighborhood family meets at my brothers house. Some of it is for the BLB (Bud Light in a Bottle) but mostly for the friendship. We have met many of them and some that I met about 10 years ago. They are just like a little family and take care of each other in times of need. Of course John is like their do-it-all handyman guy that they call on in a time of need too. Of course he is the "Maintenance Man" (Supervisor) of a big apartment complex! But I know that any of them would drop everything to help him in a time of need too and I have seen it before.

Yesterday we went bowling, which is a common thing for me! But Jim hasn't bowled in at least 10 years. Of course neither of us could get used to the non sliding shoes that the bowling alley supplies, but we kept on trying. I thought that Jim would give up after the first game of trying to learn how again and sweating his butt off, but he hung right in there and bowled 3 games with us. He swore me to secrecy on his scores!! LOL Not really, he actually made it over 100 once! Of course Johnny beat me all 3 games even after giving me a little chance to pass him up one game. But my excuse is not having my own ball and shoes and I'm sticking to it! Then there's Crissie who mostly was there to look pretty as she always does!! We won't mention her scores either but she had fun too! Ashlie came as our spectator and laughed at us all!

It's going to be hard to say goodbye today, because we aren't really sure when we will see each other again. The usual meeting at Dad's house for Christmas or Spring Break or summer vacation is no longer an option. So now that we have made the trip here, it's John's turn to travel to our house! The girls like to come in the winter and see the snow and play in it so maybe for Christmas this year or next! At least we can keep in touch by computers for now!

Hopefully our flights home will go smoothly today! I am not even nervous yet and not going to take any drugs. Our first flight isn't until 12:55 central time. Of course I will update this along the way if we get delayed again. Otherwise I will post tomorrow after we are safe and sound at home!!

GRADUATION DAY!

Uncle Jim, Crissie and Aunt Penny before Graduation!

Well she made it!! She graduated from High School tonight! Here is a quick post and a picture of the family after the ceremony. Son Chu, Crissie, Ashlie and John. We were all so proud of her that even a couple of us had a tear drop or two! I will post some more pictures tomorrow but it's late now and everyone is pooped out from all of the excitement!

Crissie and Tim xoxo!

Welcome to Killeen, Texas

We finally made it to Killeen, Texas about 11am this morning! There were no complications or delays for our final flight from Houston to Austin this morning at 8:30am. We arrived on time and my brother Johnny was waiting for us at the baggage claim and we picked up our bag and headed to his house. I managed the last flight with hardly any nervousness except takeoff and I never took any drugs. I honestly was enjoying the view out the window most of the flight. What an amazing site to be above the clouds that look like giant cotton balls.
Everyone here is good but we haven't seen Crissie yet because she is hard at work at Radio Shack trying to beat everyone in sales today! She loves the commission and it's a big incentive for her. I can't wait to see her though!
After a quick little nap to refresh us a bit we are pretty much just hanging out and visiting. The temp outside is about 94 and people around here just don't go outside unless it's to get in the car. Later it will cool off and we are going to cook outside and sit and drink a few cold ones!! Can't wait for that! BLB please!

FLYING *$*&^

Well it is Saturday morning and we still have not reached our final destination. Our first flight from Saginaw was delayed by about 20 minutes and we really didn't think much about it until we got to Detroit and after a very long walk to our gate found our next flight to be delayed by and hour, at first! Then the time kept changing and changing and changing until finally when it said departure at 10:30pm instead of the 7:30pm originally scheduled, we decided that the 3 hour layover had quickly turned into 6 hours. At 10:00 the loud speaker announced that 10:30 was probably not a realistic time but that the plane was coming from Chicago and they would get us in route to our destinations as soon as they could. We finally boarded at about 11:45 and then had to wait due to the short staffed baggage crew (because it was so late) to load our luggage. Of course our final flight from Houston to Austin was long gone and we couldn't catch it if we were Superman! Our plane finally took off at about 12:30 and we landed in Houston at about 3:30am central time. We were greeted at the gate with an airline rep that had vouchers for the 6 passengers that missed their connections and a shuttle on the way to wisk us off to a hotel for a very few hours of sleep. We also were given breakfast vouchers and $100 vouchers for a future flight each. They booked us on the earliest flight this morning which isn't until 8:30am. Hopefully all will go smooth this morning as we all planned to catch the free shuttle at 6:30am to get to the airport early just in case!! My brother has no idea what time to come and pick us up yet since we were in flight into the wee hours of the night, but hopefully I can reach him early and get him on his hour drive to pick us up! I am just very glad the graduation isn't until Sunday!
I must say that the flights are getting easier but some of it has to do with the drugs the doc gave me I'm sure, because we flew right along with a thunderstorm last night and the bumps were not my cup of tea! But I survived and am going to try and not take one this morning for our short hour flight.
I will post more today after we finally make our destination! Wish us luck! And who said this would be quicker and better than driving???? NOT ME!!

Today is the Day!!

Today we fly out to Texas for our mini vacation and to watch our niece graduate from High School. I will be updating daily while we are gone so that you will be able to enjoy it almost as much as we will.
I am trying to occupy some of my time this morning and to ignore the knot in my stomache. I am nervous about flying but am trying to be brave! A lot of you have said very encouraging and positive things about flying, and then there's Jim who always has to be funny! Not funny to me today!
Our first flight doesn't leave MBS until 3:30pm and we don't arrive in Austin, Texas until 11:41pm central time. So it will be a long day, but Jim says it's better than driving! Hmmmm I luv to drive!
Pray for us to have a safe trip and we will see you all when we return late Tuesday night.
P.S.
THANK YOU MARIA for house sitting! I owe ya!