When seven hours feels like seven years
October 28th, 2006We left bright and early this morning. The plan was simple, drive to LA, have dinner with some friends and spend in the night in LA. This sounds so simple, in fact I wondered “what could possibly go wrong” — which as we all know is my fatel flaw.
Here is the entire trip with a three year old for 7 hours.
A Cow. MOOOO. A cow. Mooo. Oh, turkeys. Up the hill. Down the hill. I want to go up a hill, now. I want to go down the hill, NOW. Look, rock. Rock. Rock. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. Windmill. French Fry. Windmill. Windmill. French Fry. I go potty. {can you hold it until the next exit?} Yes. Potty. potty. potty.
That was the first hour of the trip. I’d go on, but I’m afraid that re-living the experience may force me gouge my own ears off lest I be forced to sit and listen to it all over again. To say that Duke was excited is in an understandment along the same lines as a huricane is a just a rain shower. Before we made it into the car, I literally saw that child run in 5 different directions at once. He spoke a mile a minute for 7 STRAIGHT hours. He only stopped long enough to eat lunch and take a quick nap to regain his energy for even more talking.
We got to our hotel to watch my child, my normally well behaved child, jump on the beds, run at mach 1 through our room, and point out every boat in the marina that was “his.” I was pooped and this was even before we headed off to dine.
Our LA friends met us for dinner and Duke stopped swinging from the ceiling long enough to fall head over heels in love with db and his lad. This love affair continued through dinner and did not end until Duke dismissed his own parents for the grand chance to hang out with the lad (which I think it was because of the lad’s uber cool, spiked hair — sidenote, the lad is like 14, delightfully mature, in love with all things cheesecake — and yes, I did offer to have him join us on our trip just to entertain Duke — dang school — why is it we need to educate 14 year olds???).
Tomorrow we get on the ship — based on the excitement over the 7 hour drive — I can not imagine what Duke will be swinging from tomorrow. Anyone have a tranquailizer gun?
Niki:
November 6, 2006 at 1:01 pm
Duke is just in training for his someday job as a tour guide. He will be the best, in great demand and earning top dollar, as he will point out every single detail on every single tour. “Look, this is a house. Someone built it, lots of people have lived in it. There’s a rock garden, a hill, and an old french fry. There’s even a potty.” Bonus if there’s a windmill and a boat.
As for keeping him occupied, I have 2 girls whom I would GLADLY have pulled out of school to send with you on this trip. You could have had either - take your pick!
So glad you guys survived the trip and had a good time.
Sarah HB:
November 6, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Oh, I feel your pain!
We had the same thing on our trip to San Diego and to see Shamu! He begged to go on the Atlantis ride, he did and was scared so didn’t do it again.
Ack, thankfully, we drove back after Sea World, at night and he fell asleep within 15 minutes of getting in the car.
Have fun!
Emily:
November 6, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Well, at least one of the family is enjoying the 7 hour drive!!!
I bet he’ll swing off the ceiling for the first bit and then calm down and settle into activities.
We missed you this weekend! Meredith posted a Kodak gallery of photos and I’ll be posting another - we’ll make sure you get the links.
Half of the yarn I ended up with was green Baby Alpaca. I will be making a Boutique Scarf out of it (pattern by Pamelamama of Wooly Wonder forums - yes, she designs cloth diaper covers, and yes I’ll be using them on my future kids and knitting covers for them. ::duck::) which just happens to call for a different baby alpaca/merino blend. I’m making it as a surprise birthday/Christmas present for my friend Simone (who has the blog Look What I Knit in my sidebar) which is not vegan. And yes, I will be loving every minute of the knitting. It is sooooo soft!