Trip notes and pics #1

We got back Monday morning at 2:15. We were awoken at 4:30am Sunday to get to the airport for an early morning flight to Salt Lake City. For some reason, there was no ticket in the system for Serge. A panicked and assholey version of me called Orbitz to get it cleared up. From there, we connected to Atlanta for a 3 1/2 hour layover and we finally landed in Burlington at 11:15. Even our luggage made it! We took a cab to the hotel where we had left our car 2 weeks prior and headed for home. I never knew sitting on one's ass was so exhausting, but I assure you it is. A little over 18 hours door to door. Too long. Anyway, I thought I'd trot this out over a few posts starting with the beginning. Burlington.

We decided to leave early because of a big snowstorm predicted. Serge had fallen sick the day before and was running to the bathroom every ten minutes shitting water, cramping, and even vomiting. He got it together enough to hold it for the 3 hour drive and after checking into our hotel, we headed to the "downtown" of Burlington, a cute University town in Northern Vermont. It was butt cold, man. We kept dashing into stores to escape it. We were looking forward to getting out of here and away from the snow.


The next day, the slated snowstorm day that we had left early to avoid bore down and we decided to drive to the Ben and Jerry Factory since it was only 2 exits down the interstate. Little did we know 2 exits was 26 miles. It was pretty scary and when we got there, there were 8 employees milling around and just us there. Serge and I got a private tour with the goofy guide. Vermont really reminded me of that old show Newhart when he ran the Inn in Vermont. You really don't know if you are supposed to laugh or not, never quite sure if something was said as a joke.


The next morning we were offered 2 free round trip tickets in the US to give up our seats, but we declined, eager to be on vacation in milder climes. Ha! Seattle was a cruel joke, snow everywhere, and a city that I promise you is totally inept at dealing with snowfall. Driving was a nightmare. I saw a lady digging her car out with an ice scoop and another using a baseball cap, the brim as the shovel.

It was just one night in Seattle though before we went to the cottage the folks had rented for this family holiday. It was out on the Kitsap peninsula at Port Gamble. Brother Chris, Serge and I shared it with them for 5 days. Here was the view from our room.

I haven't spent this much time with Chris (now a Phd!) since we were kids and we fell easily into a comfortable rhythm. It's funny, nostalgia seems like the glue that bonds family together.

Mom in one of her elements - the kitchen. The other is the sea of course. Here she is making hot buttered biscuits at the cottage. They were divine.

At Christmas day, we enjoyed lots of food and champagne and enjoyed watching the kids open their gifts. One of them received a kit of tricks that included this fake dog poo. He was thrilled to receive this kit and it was so cute seeing that enthusiasm I once felt for these kinds of gags. Oh I still like them, but that electric giddyness he was exuding was just like me at that age. So cute. Anyway, included in that kit was also a "snake in a can" trick only this one seemed decidedly less explosive coming out of the can. Maybe they had some lawsuits? Here, watch the brother show you.