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Remember our road trip? Remember our caption contest from the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Of course you do. What you probably don't remember is the announcement of who won the contest.
Without 3 more monthsfurther adu, here are our fabulous winners!
Option 2:
He who smelt it, dealt it!!
The good folks at Kaspersky Lab will be sending the goodies to you faster than what it took us to announce your awesomeness!
We're going to spend some time rewinding the trip. What better place to start than In The Beginning.
In the beginning there was Sarah, and she was good, there was also Devra and she was ridiculous. See for yourself....
P>That's as far as I got before we got a flat tire. Nothing like leaving our dream hotel, where we treated like royalty(and a prince was staying there, so we know they must do that a lot) to cruising down the road, hooked up to theMiFi all set to write about our adventure in Cleveland, and then hearing, Sarah say, "Dude. I think something's wrong with the car. I think we have a flat tire." Sure enough, that's what we got. Exit off the highway and straight into the closest filling staion. Which by the way, my use of the term "filling station, just resulted in a 3 mile discussion as to the use filling station versus gas station. To sum it up in fewer than 3 miles, we decided it's regional. Sarah uses gas station, I use filling station. Which is ironic since wee only live about 10 miles from each other. But back to our adventure...
Given our rental car status, it came with "Avis 24 Hour Road Side Assistance" and the quotation marks around those words is no accident my friends. I phoned "Avis 24 Hour Road Side Assistance" and explained our situation. "Yes, we are in a safe place," I answered when he asked with the same level of empathy and concern if one is asked, 'Would you like fries with that?" At the same time, two men approached and offered to change the tire. We waved them off as we knew "Avis 24 Hour Roadside Assisance" would be helping us any moment. The reality? We would be helping ourselves any moment because "Avis 24 Hour Roadside Assistance" told us, "We will have someone out there in about 30 minutes and they will put the spare tire on the car, then you will drive the car to the nearest Avis location and pick up a different car." So I ask, "Can you please tell me where is the nearest location?" Turns out it's a a whopping 6 miles from our present location. I make the suggestion that a car be brought to us and we switch them out and be on our way as it is only 6 milies way. The gentleman, and I am being kind here, tells me to hold and he will see if that is "even possible." He returns after I age about 3 years a few minutes to inform me, "We can't do it. We contract with an outside company. They will have to change your tire and then you will have to drive it to the Cleveland Airport." I thank him. Why? I dunno, he's done nothing for me at all. Because I know I can change a tire in under 20 minutes and we will be on our way. So I change the tire as Sarah gets on the phone to call Customer Sevice and explain what is going on and why this isn't making us feel all warm and fuzzy. At this point, we're not angry, just annoyed. We are 6 milies away! It's not rocket science and how did we ask to be caiught in an eddy of bureaucracy?
Andrea from Avis Customer service gives it a try, she connects Sarah with the folks at the Airport Avis and listens in as Sarah is told "We will have to have a tow truck tow the car back to the airport." And Sarah again suggested, very nicely, if we could just have someone bring us a car to swap out since it was only 6 milies away, Sarah was told, "No. You have to wait." Sarah asked to speak to Andrea again and the resonse Sarah received made her just say "Wow." into the phone because it was just that rude. Andrea sadly had been disconnected from the call. We can only imagine the "Avis 24 Hour Roadside Assistance" folks wanted to keep their rude behavior a secret from Avis Customer service. Maybe they have a reputation to protect. Sarah missed Andrea very much. She was nice, this was hell. And while Winston Churchill said "When you're going through hell, keep going," but he probably never had to deal with "Avis 24 Hour Roadside Assistance."
I was happy I had decided to wear something casual for our drive, because I don''tchangie tires when I am dressed up. In under 20 minutes tire was changed, donut in place and we were on our way to the airport to change out the car. We are now cruising down the turnpike in another car without sattelite radio and it smells like someoen must have shaken up a carbonated canistor of Febreeze and let it go.
It''s definitley someting we're both going to have to get used to. The other car smelled like weed.
If you've never been to Pittsburgh, then don't go. Not because it's a bad place, just the opposite, we want to keep it all to ourselves. We're not going to share Pittsburgh with you. If you even think about going there, even if you need to change planes in the airport, you're going to find yourself in big trouble, mister (or ma'am). Realistically speaking, we cannot hoard an entire city. Particularly if it doesn't belong to us. But that doesn't stop us from wanting to own it. First of all, a big shout out to our host ClumberKim who not only arranged our meet-up, she found fablous sponsors (Hello iTwixie! andIsidore Foods!),an incredible space (Hello AlphaLab!) and she fed us. I am running out of adjectives to describe the dinner and desserts made by Clumberkim, KDiddy and Rebecca.
After last night, I can now say I know, not one, but two guys named "Spike." And neither one of them happen to be a football player, a biker or in a punk band. And considering the plethora of "Paul's" who attended my highschool, it was down right refreshing to meet a Paul living outside of Hamden, Connecticut and he wasn't even from Hamden, Connecticut. Together Paul and Spike gave Sarah and me the capability of Live Streaming! So look for some action from us later. Not that kind of action, we signed a strict "No Porn on Vivo" agreement, but we may sneak in some Shoe Porn. Sarah has some nice wedges. Wedges, not wedgies. Crack kills and we''re fairly certain we can't post that on Vivo anyway. Nick Pinkston showed us what can only be called the Rubiks cube of business cards. It folds in many different ways and we easily could have spent hours folding it, but it didn't belong to us and we had to give it back to him. KDiddy, I had hoped for a farting contest, but I didn't get enough roasted garlic to make myself a viable contender. Besides, I think the folks from Abby? Left To Right? Are you reading? I hope so because I don't have your URL and want to give you a shout out too!
Looks like we may have a trip back to Pittsburgh in our future for Pod Camp, so please have the salad fixings, broccoli slaw, and homemade Ho-Hos ready!
Thank you again to our wonderful host and sponsors for Phabulous meet up in Pittsburgh!
I haven't been back to Cleveland since 1989. Take that back. I've only been to Cleveland once in my entire life. Now it's twice. Frankly, I wish my body from 1989 was still here, but that's really not the purpose of this post.
If you are a blogger in the Cleveland area, we're having a meet up at The Green House Tavern at 6:00 this evening, That would be July 20, 2009. AKA TONIGHT!
We look forward to seeing you there!
PS I snapped this picture of the Cleveland sign in the car, through a windshield at 80 exactly 55 MPH!
When I began telling family, friends and professional colleagues that I would be taking a road trip across the country the response ranged from "I've always wanted to drive across the country, it's the ultimate road trip!" to "Devra, I say this to you with only love in my heart, you are completely batshit crazy!" Both of these responses, and any in between, were and are equally accepted and respected by me.
As a kid living in New York our family didn't continuously own a car. My mother at one time had a "share" car with a neighbor and my dad owned a 1967 Old's Cutlass until the day it got stolen, stripped and (Devra; circa 1980-something) left for dead alongside the FDR. Not having our own car meant we usually would rent a car to use. I remember the rush of anticipation when my parents rented a car. The color and brand revealed only when we went to pick it up. Renting a car symbolized embarking on brand new experiences, even if the catalyst wound up being a two door unairconditioned Chevy Chevette with red, white and blue plaid interior.
The Renting Of The Car indicated my mom might be taking me up to Vermont to see the leaves change over an October weekend or it could mean driving up Highway 101 with my dad during a trip out West. My parents taught me there is sociological value in hopping into a car instead of onto an airplane. More people to meet along the way, more experiences to share with your travel companions. For our family being in a car meant the only rear seat entertainment system was a book and reading at the wrong time resulted in adults demanding, "LOOK AT THE SCENERY!"
No denyin' I wouldnt have met Whodini and Kool & The Gang had we chosen to board an airplane bound for Newark.
My parents instilled in me driving isn't just about the driver, it's about the community in which you are driving. Being safe, being a considerate driver yet still understanding how to be a defensive driver. I remember my dad trying to teach me how to drive his manual transmission diesel Volkswagen Rabbit and the perspiration running down the side of my head and dripping off the ends of my feathered hair. My dad sternly warning me me, "You are driving a ton of metal at a high rate of speed. You could kill someone with this thing. Pay attention, follow the rules. Drive safely." and after that he made me change all four tires just so I would know how to do it.
I still remember the first song playing on the radio as I drove away from my mother for the first time as a newly licensed driver. The switch from passenger to driver made me downright giddy. I loved to drive, loved to check out the scenery, just loved to have my window down and listening to my own music *on cassette.*
When I found out I was selected the timing couldn't have worked out more perfectly. Both of our kids are away at summer camp, my husband is working long hours finishing a project and I was already planning on attending BlogHer. It also gave me one more opportunity to "walk the talk" about my strongly held belief that being a parent is one facet among many of a woman or man's life. Having children need not result in abandoning interests outside of being with our children.
I meet too many parents who feel guilty about pursuing their interests for fear that it will somehow make them a neglectful parent putting undue pressure upon themselves to put these things off "until the kids are grown." I'm not saying this is unreasonable, just to consider for a moment that your children actually might want to see your "non-parent side." My older son is impressed I went to grad school with this guy's aunt. When he tours in our city, we go to his concert and I always bring him a cherry pie and cookies for his band. Upon observing a stressed mom with a toddler in a store my younger son has shared, "I think that mom needs your book." My kids know I am very proud of them and their accomplishments and seeing grownups accomplish stuff too is good for them to know about, since, guess what? They will eventually be grownups too. My kids are looking forward to hearing about the road trip and seeing some of the pictures and video. Not all, because some just aren't appropriate for them to see at their current age. But some day when they are older they will be able to learn even more about what their mom has done in addition to driving them both all over hell being thier mom.
This particular road trip adventure may be just what you dream of doing or maybe you would never want to nagivate that trip. What may be one person's life dream, may be another's week in hell. Whether this road trip is something you would do or not isn't the point.
The point is this is something I wanted to do and I did it. And that's why I'm here.
Devra also does what she wants to do at Parentopia and DC Metro Moms
It's a definite sign we need more sleep if we keep hearing "porn" instead of "corn" while having conversations about Nebraska:
"Check it out! We are completely surrounded by porn!"
"Have you ever tried sweet porn?"
"The porn is for the cows. Obviously they are porn fed."
"Let's get out of the car so we can all take a closer look at the porn."
"I don't just like porn, I love porn."
"Porn without butter? Why bother."
"I can't get over how much porn I've seen during this trip."
"We just don't have porn like this at home."
DAY ONE: FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA TO CHICAGO
"Video and pictures taken with Sony DCR-SR45 Hard Drive Handycam® Camcorder. To learn more, please visit www.sonystyle.com".
PRE ROAD TRIP
Not what you think. Not for that reason either. Get your collective mind out of our bedroom and into our garage. Yesterday we discovered our hot water heater wasn't working. If my hair looks shiny on film, attribution goes to cold showering and not because I had the Zohan make me silky-smooth.
Fortunately I will have clean clothes since we launder with cold water. However Sarah posted that she may not even be showering tomorrow prior to picking me up at the Crack of Ass (translation, 4:00AM).
Greater sin: Clean body wearing dirty clothes or clean clothes on a dirty body.
Discuss.
Other compelling and brain bending Devra-inspired discussions can be found at Parentopia, DC Metro Moms and Loser Moms.
Sarah and I made our annual sojourn to Maryland yesterday for pre-BlogHer (and road trip) shopping.The woman in this video has been helping me dress for 4 years. Yes, it's true, I can't always dress myself. Figuring out what goes with what- on me-has always been a challenge. I am fine helping others, my kids do wear clothing after all, I just can't seem to be able to dress myself without assistance.
Continue reading "Getting ready for our trip leads to a very personal shopping experience" »
"OK, here's your motivation. You're lost, you're angry in Iowa, and no one wants to call On-Star to help you. There's a witch and she keeps leaving her shit in the car. There's no one here to help you! She left her camcorder in the glove box, you took it, she ran after us. There's no one here to help you! We drove for 15 hours today, we ended up in the same place! There's no one here to help you, THAT'S your motivation! THAT'S YOUR MOTIVATION!"
"Video and pictures taken with Sony DCR-SR45 Hard Drive Handycam® Camcorder. To learn more, please visit www.sonystyle.com".
It is quite possible Devra might embed video one of these days over at Parentopia, DC Metro Moms and Loser Moms.
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to an auto event in The DC. I happily accepted the invitation for one reason; The event included a ride in a hybrid car. Knowing that I would be driving across the country in a hybrid, I thought to myself this would be an excellent opportunity to find out more about hybrids since I really don't know all that much about them. And until this event, I had never driven nor been a passenger in a hybrid. I'd been in an Escalade, back when I was playing for the Dallas Cowboys with Emmitt or when I toured with Missy but that's been a while. And it wasn't a hybrid.
A brief, but detailed, overview of the vehicle and specifications was offered up, and I patiently listened and learned a few things I didn't know about engines, but not being a gearhead, my primary focus was on the chocolate croissants and getting more coffee the test drive which would be following the presentation. One of my tablemates,Charlie from Roadfly, invited me to join him and another journalist from Kiplinger in their vehicle. Didn't have to think about that very long. I wanted to be in a car with these guys and not with the poor blogger who asked the VP from Cadillac, "Is your company an American company? Do you make cars in the United States?" That awkward moment was handled very well by the GM folks and the other writers in the room were also very respectful. I think we've all experienced being embarassed in a similar situation, and the empathy factor made a strong showing. Let's all give it up for being kind to another human being. Yo.
Here's what I've got so far...
And yes, I am wearing my PJ's on the Internet. I figure if I get it over with now, I won't have to be concerned with how I look in any of the pics or video from this point on.
Option 1: {sarah thinks} He's cute and all, but he's so quite. Maybe he's just not that into me. *sigh*