Irby Vaca Day 4

If I could plan the perfect birthday for my amazing wife it would include these elements: family, fireworks, baseball, and country music. She got it this year and the planning was not even up to me.

Emily planned out a great day for us starting with a great lazy morning. Well, for most of the family. Emily, Nece, and I went to a local trail for a morning workout. Emily is a runner and I have been pretty consistent on my eliptical the last few months, so I thought I would try running with Emily. I warned her before leaving and a couple times before we started that I was not a runner and I am just going to try and keep up. Nece has foot problems so she knew from the start that she was going to walk and not run. Emily assured me that she was taking it slow because she is just now getting back into running. Her plan: walk for first five minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute, and run 3 more. So that amounted to 5 3 minute running intervals 3.5 of which I was able to complete. And I was reminded why I don't run... I hate it. Emily was kind and made excuses for me such a adjusting to the humidity. Thanks Emily. Nece actually pushed herself and ran some.

We came back to the house after a quick jaunt to the grocery store and Laurie, Wanda, Brooke, and Nece worked on cooking a big breakfast featuring Kyle's chocolate gravy. The rest of the morning and early afternoon was lazy. Which was good because the rest of the evening proved to be fun but exhausting.

Late afternoon we headed to St. Louis for a quick look at the Arch and then to Busch Stadium to watch the Cardinals beat the Reds. It was a great game! We almost missed it. When we got to the stadium, Emily realized she forgot the tickets. It is at tjs point of the post Emily expects me to rail on her and condemn her for being so irresponsible, etc. but she did a fine job of doing that to herself already. We managed to find out that they can reprint our tickets easily with the credit card that purchased them, but we didn't have that either. So after a few minutes of guessing rows, quoting payment prices and other details, Emily was able to get our tickets reprinted thanks to a very kind window worker named Malcom. Kudos to Emily and Malcom!!

After the game we headed back to the Arch and caught the last half of Montgomery Gentry's concert. My view was somewhat obstructed by a couple obviously madly in love and in their own little world. They were in a long embrace singing all the songs to one another and kissing at every pause in the lyrics. It was disgusting.

After the show the REAL show started. A fantastic fireworks display like none I have ever seen. It was a great way to end the evening. Too bad it didn't end there. We had to hike back to our vehicles among thousands of other people most of whom were drunk and stoned. We caught plenty of wife's of an illegal substance as we were walking. The ironman award goes to my mother-in-law, Wanda who never gave up on all the walking and hiking throughout the day. She even climbed over a cement baracade to get to our exit down to our cars.

Well that sums up day 4. Day 5 is driving for 13 hours and paying more damn tolls through Oklahoma. I am typing this travel log from my iPhone so, please excuse any spelling errors. A few pictures will be added at a later time.

Thanks for reading!

Irby Vaca Day 3

Day 3 was quite an adventure!  The day started off well with a refreshing morning of worship with Lifepoint which is the church in which Kyle serves as youth pastor.  The church meets in an AMC movie theater and it is quite an effort setting up the stage, lighting, band, etc. every week.  I have never visited a non-traditional church like this and had a great experience being welcomed and ushered into worship. 

After a quick trip back to the house, change of clothes, and a bite at Taco Bell, the family all headed to St. Louis City Museum.  The term "museum" is not indicative of the experience.  This is a huge warehouse that has been artfully transformed into a recreational experience that is quite incredible.  Be sure and wear your Nike's and not your flip-flops!  You will do some walking, climbing, and sliding in all sorts of environments.  The kids, Kyle, Emily, and Brooke were on the roof experiencing that element of the museum when it shut down because of this strange wet substance that came falling out of the sky.  The locals here called it "rain."  Those of us from West Texas have only heard rumors of this moisture.  It rained all day and into the night. 

Another quick trip and wardrobe change later and we head to Brussles, IL to a historic hotel that now serves a huge home-style meal.  To get to Brussles, we drove "the Great River Road" which was a breathtaking drive with the Illinois river on one side and rolling, green landscapes on the other.  This trek takes you through small communities with quaint homes and cottages that seems to take you back to a simpler time (until you look to the left and see the Yacht Club dock).  To get to Brussles you get to drive on to a ferry and take it across the river.  The ferry captain was quite skilled at getting this vessel turned and parked.  The 5 miles from the ferry to the town reminded me of the shots in New Zealand that were used in the Lord of the Rings movies to depict the Shire.  While waiting on the ferry to come pick us up and take us back, we notice a local man fishing right in front of the ferry dock.  This guy was getting lucky!  In about 10 casts, we saw him pull out 8 fish.  I was wishing I had my line and tackle and share in the festivities!  Seth was drooling with anticipation.

STORY OF THE DAY:  Apparently, everyone loved the late night Lisa's run last night, so it was decided before heading home, that we would make another trip to the ice cream stand.  While waiting in line to order, we see this red Grand Am being pushed by this man and a woman behind the wheel.  The natural assumption was that he was pushing her to the gas station.  As they passed, I thought, "How embarrassing!  I would hate having to push my car in front of all these people staring at me like I'm some pathetic idiot."  Then they turned off the main street and up a residential street which led me to realize that they were going to push this car to their home.  This residential street was up-hill and I knew this guy would never get the car up by himself.  Kyle, myself, and some other guy in line rush up to help him push the car up the street.  About 50 yards up the street, the man tells us that it is probably going to be about 4 blocks to the woman's house.  At this disclosure, the stranger, departed citing his food in the car and potentially melting ice cream.  Kyle, myself, and the original car pusher continue to push the car and it becomes clear this house was a little farther than 4 blocks (try 1 mile!).  The original pusher guy stops a couple times while we were pushing and is breathing and wheezing and saying he needed a break.  He tells Kyle and I that we are welcome to leave, but we weren't about to leave this guy to die in the street from a heart attack or some other malady.  Fortunately, Emily followed us in her Tahoe and when we reached our destination, she gave us a ride back to Lisa's.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  The man on the ferry who was in charge of opening the gate and directing passengers off was not in a good mood.  He was avoiding all eye-contact, frowning, and sluggishly bringing himself to his post.  Apparently, in the other car, his demeanor became the subject of comment and Seth said, "Well I guess he should've gone to college, then!" 

Irby Vaca Day 2

Travel Log for Day 2 is being written at the beginning of Day 3 because last night was a late night for this old guy.

Day 2 started by all who could sleep late, sleeping late.  We made our pilgrimage to one of St. Louis' most renowned barbeque joints, Pappy's Smokehouse.  This place has only been around for 5 or 6 years, but in that time it has gained quite a reputation.   The plan was to leave the house by 10:30 so we could arrive a little early to be in line.  Even though we arrived right on time, we still waited in line for about 20 minutes in a hallway leading into the actual restaurant, and then another 15-20 to order.  The good thing is the food doesn't take long to be delivered and it is well worth the wait.  Before we made it into the restaurant the line had already wound the hallway and out the door.  If you have never been, you have to order the ribs.  It's their specialty.  Ashton had a brisket sandwich which was also very good.

After eating, the shopping began.  We have learned that for shopping days, it is a good idea to take two cars so that the ladies can stay as long as they want and the men can leave after the first hour.  The ladies stayed shopping at 3 different malls for 8 hours.  The men went back to the house, napped, swam, and watched a little Cardinal baseball.

At 9:30 PM we all thought it was just about the right time to go have ice cream.  The Parkers know a great little ice cream stand (locally known as Lisa's, but the sign out front says "Dairy Mart") that closes at 10:00.  So, we went and closed the place down.  The owners drove off and bid us farewell as we sat in the dark at their picnic tables.  We arrived back at the house and began planning for the day.  I'm still not quite sure what we will be doing.

STORY OF THE DAY:  Leaving Pappy's we were following the ladies (first mistake) who took us downtown St. Louis on the way to the mall.  We ended up in a parade.  I sent Laurie a text and said, "Just roll down your windows and wave!" I also recommended that we open the sunroof and let Laurie's uncle Tommy stick his torso out and wave.  He didn't think that was a very good idea. 

The ladies have more stories about their day.  You'll have to ask them.

Irby Vaca Day 1

Well we did it.  Six of us piled into our suburban and drove across Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and into Illinois. Twelve hours in the car.  Laurie was the trooper who drove most of the way because she can get easily car sick if she attempts to read or watch a movie.  So, instead of being bored, she drives.  The reason for our trip is to drop in on Laurie's cousin Emily and her husband Kyle who live in Granite City, IL.  We are excited to be here for the first time since they moved here 4 years ago.  Wanda and Jerry have visited once prior, but were glad to join us.  Tommy, Nece, and Brooke met us here so we are all together under one roof.  Should be exciting.


Story of the day:  We were driving through Oklahoma and Jerry and Wanda recommended we stop at a McDonald's located on a turnpike on I-44.  This particular restaurant has been there quite a while because Laurie remembers eating there MANY years ago on the way to Branson.  The plans to stop there began being formulated in Lawton, OK and it was decided that this restaurant is between Oklahoma City and Tulsa.  Well the road from Oklahoma City to Tulsa came and went with no McDonald's.  So, SURELY the restaurant is "right up here."  Well over 50 miles fly by and still no McDonald's.  We are now all getting really hungry and our bladders filling up at a rapid rate.  The McDonald's turns up 3/4 of the way from Tulsa to Joplin, MO.  Now, I am not a huge fan of McDonald's, but I had never been so happy to see a set of those golden arches in my life!

What I learned: 

• Oklahoma is a GREEDY state!  All the way up the interstate were toll roads, two of which were $4.00 tolls.  We spent nearly $20 to drive through Oklahoma and the roads were still crappy.  
• The landscape on the drive was beautiful!  Even Oklahoma had small mountains and green rolling pastures.  Missouri is incredible from Lebanon, MO on up to St. Louis.  Wonderful green contoured landscape and TREES.  Things we are not used to seeing in our part of Texas.
• The movie "Where the Wild Things Are" is worth a viewing.  Very interesting take on the children's book.  This was my viewing entertainment for the day.  I am still reading "The Idiot" as well.
• We stopped at a DQ in Lebanon, MO and I have never seen so many white people working at a DQ.

Oh, well, off to bed and in the morning the real adventure begins!