I should have known that this would be a strange ski trip when we couldn’t find the cat. Before we left, I insisted that we find both cats, to make sure that they didn’t get out while we were loading the car and that they weren’t trapped in a room. We were packed and ready to go, but I wanted eyes on the cats in the house. Travis disagreed (that’s there tough luck if they are out) and sat on a chair in the dining room for the first 10 minutes of the search. When he realized that I was serious, he too joined in. We called and shook food containers, but Bruce the barncat wouldn’t come out. And food is one of his favorite things! Tayden was even searching outside because he was convinced that he got out. When we finally found him about 20 minutes into our search, he was under the Christmas tree in the eat in portion of our kitchen… literally under our feet. So that was the first 20 minutes of our trip.
A couple hours into the drive to Boyne Mountain (they clearly use the term mountain loosely, as there are not really any mountains in Michigan), I realized I forgot my purse at home. I blame the cat, but there is nothing to be done about it. No ID, no credit card, no cash. Who am I kidding, I never have any cash!! Oh well, we brought all our food anyway to avoid too much mingling. I should be okay. Travis had his wallet.
When we stopped for dinner, we had to stop at two places. First it was Taco Bell drive through so I could get something gluten free (throat issue, long story). The boys got Taco Bell too. Then, onto Wendys for the other half of the car. While in the Wendy’s drive through, Trent (who is trapped in the middle seat) is screaming that he needs to get out or he could possibly poop his pants. Tessa and Tayden are fighting about which one of them has to let him out. Meanwhile, my throat issue kicks in and my esophagus spasms shut, so I open the passenger door and vomit outside (again… long story), all while Travis is trying to order food. After Taco Bell took forever, Wendys had our order ready as we drove up to the window. They didn’t even want us to stop. Wendys couldn’t get us out of their drive through fast enough. Oh, and NOTHING indoor is open in Michigan, including bathrooms, so Trent had to get back into the car and wait for a gas station across the busy road. Then, we got to have the fight resume again.
Who doesn’t love a family road trip? The skiing itself was uneventful for the most part. Well except for that rogue skier that plowed into poor Taryn, tearing her coat and ski pants with a ski. Oh, and that fall I had where I slammed my helmeted head against the cold packed snow and nearly slammed into a lift pole. I had a nasty headache, but avoided the pole by digging a ski in and redirecting my super speed slide down the icy hill, showering myself with snow, which undoubtedly gave the people on the chairlift a great show. Despite the headache, I was glad for the helmet. But other than that, the trip was a huge success. Until the drive home.
So, I took the first part of the drive, where I was quickly pulled over for speeding in the speed trap trying to catch out-of-staters that just blew a wad of cash at the Michigan ski resort (Sunday morning at 11am). I was on the short stretch of road before the highway, singing loudly to some country song or another on Pandora when I saw two cops tucked discreetly on the side of the road. Too late. During this stop, I learned that driving without your license on you is an arrestable misdemeanor in Michigan. Fortunately, the officer notified me that he doesn’t usually do that if he can prove identity. I was shocked that he EVER arrested a poor hapless soul that forgot their license that day. Anyway, I got off that part of the ticket partly because I had my school photo staff ID, Travis had his ID and fortunately suppressed his desire to sarcastically deny me, and I was on the vehicle registration. I did, however, get a speeding ticket. And I couldn’t drive in Michigan anymore that day. Good times. Thanks Michigan!
Overall, we had a great New Year celebration in Michigan with just the six of us and we had a great time skiing. And on Tuesday, when Tayden couldn’t find his wallet, he REFUSED to drive to school until he found it. So, someone learned something. Because I told him to go anyway and we would look later, someone didn’t learn something (old dog, yada yada). Tayden declared, “MOM, I LOOK 12. NOBODY WILL BELIEVE I HAVE A LICENSE!” That is true, so, we turned the house upside down and found the wallet, and I called Tayden in late.
Have an uneventful week everyone! Be safe out there!
