The Never A Dull Moment Trip To Denver~Part 3

Dear Friends,

The Denver saga continues!  After loosing a whole day due to forgetting a bag at the hotel, we got on the road on Sunday only slightly rested and definitely frustrated that we wouldn't get to Denver that day.  We were so thankful when we stopped for the night that it had been an uneventful day!  Unfortunately, we couldn't say the same thing about the next day!

That's the trailer tire on the other side!  Yes, it blew too, and this time it was scary.  We heard the loud pop and suddenly we were in the other lane and Michael was fighting to get the Jeep under control.  I was watching in the side view mirror as the tire was disintegrating and the fender was peeling off.  That metal piece to the right is the fender and was still attached by one screw when we stopped.  I'm so thankful there wasn't a car in the other lane and that the semi behind us was able to slow down til we could pull over.  This could have been so much worse.

This time we were in the middle of nowhere in Kansas.  Michael called USAA and initially they told us it would be four to six hours before a tow truck could come.  Talk about discouraging.  However, after about an hour, the tow truck guy called to let us know he was on the way and he even found a place that had a tire.  This time we were back on the road after two and a half hours.  But talk about paranoid!  Every time we ran over something or there was the slightest noise that sounded like a pop, we held our breath waiting to see if it was a tire!

We were determined to make it to Denver and we made it around midnight.  We missed an exit and drove around in Aurora for a bit before finding our way.  That was a little weird knowing the shooting wasn't that long ago and the movie we saw the night before starting the trip was the Batman movie that was playing.  Anyway, we finally made it to the hotel at 1 am Tuesday Morning.   I was never so glad to finally get somewhere as I was at that moment!

In the end, we figured the trailer tires were old, although they didn't have many miles on them, and they were just cheap.  We upgraded with the new tires and didn't have any more problems.  Michael joked about burning the trailer in Sean's parking lot but he was only half joking!  I don't think we'll be making any more cross country trips with it.

I have lots more pictures and things to share but I'll do that over time.  In the meantime, have a fabulous Friday!

xo Annette xo

Thankful Thursday

Dear Friends,

I promised more of the Denver story today, but I forgot about it being Thursday and you know I have to do a Thankful Thursday post!

Today I'm very thankful for cell phones.  Breaking down on the interstate was bad enough, but would have been way worse if we had to walk to find a phone to call for help.  Which is exactly what we did back in the day!  I'm also thankful we were in an area that had service.  When we were driving through parts of Kansas, Michael kept losing the signal during a business call.  

I'm also just truly thankful that everything that happened to us wasn't worse.  Before we left on the trip, I prayed for safety and protection.  That prayer was answered!

I'm also thankful for

     *  the sweet great nephews I finally got to meet and hold

     *  my own bed

     *  the rain that came while we were away

     *  Sean's courage to follow his heart

I will continue with the Denver saga tomorrow!

What are you thankful for today?

The Never A Dull Moment Trip To Denver~Part 2

Dear Friends, 

We hit the road for Denver on Thursday morning.  It was a sunny beautiful day and we were excited to get started.  It was a good day, just slow going while pulling a loaded trailer across the Maryland mountains.

There was also a lot of construction and we found ourselves stuck in traffic that was at a complete standstill.

Friday started much like the first day but without the mountains.  We were making better time and had been on the road about three hours when we heard a loud pop and realized a tire on the trailer blew.  

We were in Indiana outside of Indianapolis.  Thank goodness for cell phones and roadside assistance through our insurance.  After phone calls back and forth and being assured that help was on the way, we waited.  And waited.  For two and a half hours we waited.  On a narrow shoulder on I70.  Finally the tow truck came, got the trailer on the flatbed and we headed to the tire shop that USAA told us to go to.  When we got there they told us they didn't have trailer tires only truck tires.  What the heck!?!  So they called around til they found that Wal-Mart had a tire.  Off we go to Wal-Mart and when we get there they tell us they have one but Michael would have to take the tire off the trailer and put the new one on.  Don't they get paid to do that?  Michael asked if he could borrow their tools because the Jeep tools wouldn't work on the trailer.  While they were getting what he needed, the manager left and the guys said they would do it.  Finally,  five hours after we first pulled off the road, we were on our way again.  

Saturday was another beautiful day and we left early hoping to make up some of the lost time.  But it wasn't meant to be.  After driving for four hours, we stopped to eat.  I'm a diabetic and when I went to get my glucose meter to check my blood sugar, I discovered the bag with my supplies and all of our medicines among other things was missing.  I called the hotel where we spent the night and yes, they had it and would hold it for us.  We had to turn around and drive all the way back, losing a whole day of driving time.  We drove back in silence.  The good mood, laughing, and joking was gone.  And when we stopped for the night we were exhausted.

There is still more to this story and I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

xo Annette xo

The Never A Dull Moment Trip To Denver

Dear Friends,

We made it home from our trip to Denver and boy was it a trip to remember!  I should have realized the day we left our house that it was going to be one of "those" trips.  After weeks and weeks of no rain, it rained ALL day long.  It didn't just rain, it poured down hard.  Michael waited as long as he could to load the jeep and everything got soaked.  We couldn't be too upset though because we really needed the rain.  

On the way out of town we stopped at the bank.  Annie dog decided she wanted to get out of the car with Michael and go for a run in the rain.  Michael was not happy!  Thankfully, Annie didn't go far before she came back to the car on her own.  

The closer we got to Sean's, the more the rain tapered off and the sun came out.  Suddenly, about 5o yards in front of us, a tour bus blew a tire and traffic was braking and swerving while the bus pulled over.  I'm still amazed that there weren't any accidents.  I didn't know at the time that the incident was a premonition of things to come!

The next day was spent loading the trailer and making everything fit. 

Michael, Sean, and Marie did a great job of packing it all in.  

Once the trailer was packed, we left to eat dinner and see a movie.  When you're pulling a trailer, you have to find places to park that are out of the way.   We came out of the movie and had a warning on the windshield that we were parked in the wrong parking lot and would be towed next time.  Good grief!  We parked in the north forty as it was.  And maybe there should have been a sign somewhere telling you about a separate lot.  Oh well, at least it was just a warning.  

We would head out for Denver the next day.  I'll tell you more next time!

xo Annette xo

Thankful Thursday

Hello Friends!  Every Thursday I share what I'm thankful for.  Sometimes it's a serious or big thing, and sometimes it's a goofy or small thing.  I believe that no matter what is going on in our lives, there is always something to be thankful for.  Always.  

Today I'm thankful for beautiful sunsets.  This is an old picture, but I saw a sunset this week that was just breathtaking.  I couldn't get to my camera right then and when I finally did, the sun had already set.  There is something about watching a sunset that is so gratifying at the end of the day.  

I'm also thankful for
     *  a new phone I actually like
     *  being able to help our kids when they need it
     *  the rain we got yesterday

We will be loading up the trailer with Sean's stuff today and hitting the road to Denver tomorrow.  I'll be sure to post along the way!

What are you thankful for today?

The Times They Are A Changin'

For our family anyway.  Sean is moving to Denver this week.  It's about 1525 miles away give or take a mile or two.  I've had a couple of months to get used to the idea but honestly, I'm not getting used to it.  Sean has been on his own for the last eight years but I feel like I'm letting go for a second time and this time is much harder.  How does a mama let go again?

Sean met a girl.  Her name is Marie and she lives in Denver.  Michael and I met her in March and we liked her instantly.  She makes him happy which makes me happy, but makes it only slightly easier!

We will be helping Sean move.  Marie is flying in to help and then we will hit the road and be in Denver sometime over the weekend.  A road trip with lots of time to think and prepare myself for the inevitable good-bye.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xo Annette xo

I Heart Macro

I've been poking around the sewing room a little bit.

Feeling the urge to maybe create something.

Hoping I still feel that way when we get back from vacation!

I'm joining Studio Waterstone for I Heart Macro.

I hope you have a spectacular Sunday!

xo  Annette  xo

Thankful Thursday

Hello Friends!  Every Thursday I share what I'm thankful for.  Sometimes it's a serious or big thing, and sometimes it's a goofy or small thing.  I believe that no matter what is going on in our lives, there is always something to be thankful for.  Always.  

Today I'm thankful for the time spent with my family last weekend.  This is the last time we will all be together for a long while and I realized I didn't have any pictures of all of us.  So I'm also thankful I figured out the self timer on the camera!  I don't know what it was about the flashing light and beeping that cracked us up so much, but we laughed hysterically waiting 10 seconds for the picture to take.


I'm also thankful for
     *  freedom of speech
     *  being able to sleep in after watching the Olympics til the wee hours
     *  being the Grandma of a 4 year old and not the Mama
     *  on line bill paying
     

What are you thankful for today?