T-2 Days!

So they say things happen in threes, right?   It is kind of crazy taking care of everything that needs to be done when you are going to be away without access to the Internet.   We've been focusing on all of the stuff you would think of: paying bills, laundry, getting someone to mow our lawn, stopping the mail, stocking up on medicine, registering Lindsay for soccer and ordering uniforms, making an appt for Arden to get her license when we return,  ordering baby gifts, wedding presents, and housewarming gifts to ship in our absence, getting foreign currency, renewing car registration and tags,  ordering provisions for the boat, finalizing navigational routes and ports, monitoring the weather, practicing knots, finalizing merit badge requirements to do on the trip, loading up the ipods, getting summer reading books and math packets,  confirming reservations, Dad finalizing meetings with clients, saying goodbye to friends, and all of that...

And you know stuff will happen that you don't plan for...but boy when it does it really can throw you for a loop!

So we are hoping that the saying holds true, that things happen in threes.  Because as of today we've hit three bumps:

Bump 1:  Our main air conditioner unit went out this week.  Luckily it was just a circuit board that needed to be replaced, but it was really hot for a few days...and we really could have used that money for something other than the ac!

Bump 2:  Dad's car blew a fuse this morning.  He sent mom out to get a new fuse so he could replace it before heading off to his last client meeting before we go.

Bump 3:  We went to the bank today today to get some Euros and EC $ and mom (actually the bank teller) realized that mom's license expired last week!  Instead of leisurely errands and packing, mom had to go to the DMV to get her license renewed.  Luckily it only took about an hour.  It was good that she figured it out now instead of at the airport!

So frustrating as they are, if those are our three bumps prior to the trip, they weren't so bad and we made it through.  We know we will have more bumps along the way and hope they are equally navigable.

Dad's favorite quote is from Dwight Eisenhower: something like,  "Plans are worthless, but the planning process is invaluable."

We've been planning alright.  And all we know about our plan is that it will change.  Hopefully with just some minor bumps and curves along the way.

Dad's Car