As if the weather knew...

What a difference a date makes.  When the calendar turned to September 1, our weather has been completely different.

We've gone from tank tops, shorts and sandles to light jacket, long-sleeved t-shirts, jeans and shoes from August 31 to September 1.  I'm not complaining.  It is just so odd.

As if to say "We cannot be defeated!"

Walked out to the backyard this morning to find the umbrella tie lying on the patio table.  The squirrels had eaten the shoestring with the mothball sock that I've used all summer to keep the umbrella closed tight.

Also, an apple had been picked from the tree and half eaten.  I am hoping that just the potency of the mothballs has decreased so I'm adding more mothballs to the socks.

Unexpected Travel

I found out this week that my employer no longer has a tech support office in Minneapolis.  My laptop has had problems for over a month and I finally got someone to take a look at it.

Turns out the closest place to get the laptop fixed is Rochester, Minnesota.  I could have mailed it in which would have meant at least 3 days without it and therefore no work.  So I drove to Rochester this morning.

The Rochester facility is enormous and blue and so much of it is empty.  It is an okay drive that takes exactly 1-1/2 hours each way.  It is frustrating that this is now the situation with support.

Home this week and next

With the Labor Day holiday coming up, I don't have to travel for work this week or next.  Yeah!

One drawback to not traveling so much is that I'll lose my high status with American Airlines and with it no more automatic upgrades.  I have been very spoiled getting to travel first class even on the short flights. 

I fly Delta more now because there are direct flights to Denver where American does not.  Delta did partially matched my AA status and Delta has a more liberal upgrade policy.  I have been upgraded to first class a number of times on Delta where if I had similar status on American, I would not have been.

I need some more miles to re-qualify for a decent status on American and I have a long way to go to re-qualify on Delta for my existing status.  American and Delta are in different frequent flyer programs though the requirements are pretty much the same.

There is more to having the status than just the first-class upgrades.  The higher your status the more matching points you can make and, therefore, the easier it is to qualify for the next year.  It is kind of a vicious game but with the amount of travel I do, airline status makes things more comfortable.

706 miles and 49 hours

We did it!  The Alspaugh kids and mom made a 706 mile roadtrip over 49 hours from Virginia to New Jersey to Deleware and back.  The six surviving children of Gracie and Loyd Alspaugh traveled and saw each other in the span of less than 12 hours.  While we weren't all in the same place at the same time, this was a close to a family reunion you could get.

Started the trip from Mom's apartment on Thursday morning.  Look how happy we were.  Six adults, all regular drivers and not regular passengers, in a seven passenger van.

We hit traffic and construction right off the get go but that is to be expected.  It took longer than we'd planned but we did make it to New Jersey to surprise John on his 55th birthday.

John was expecting me and Mom and was super suprized to see Carol, Betty, Spade (Loyd) and Bev pour through the door.

John's New Jersey family, Jennie and Charlie, had kept the secret and helped plan the surprise.  We all went out to dinner in Allentown.

Betty had the idea to take the Cape May ferry from New Jersey to Deleware for the roadtrip to see Lea.

We got an early start from New Jersey because we were afraid of running into more traffic or construction.  We didn't and made it to the ferry earlier than planned.

The ride across was great.  Time to relax, see dolphins, eat and not be in the car!

We met up with Lea and daughter Kathy at the Deleware State Fair Grounds in Harrington, DE.

Back in the car for another family dinner.  It was further than expected and nerves were getting frayed.

Being close to the ocean we went to a big seafood restaurant and had another big meal.

Saturday morning we headed back to Virginia. Everyone got up and ready and we headed out earlier than planned. With no construction or traffic, we made it back to Mom's by 11:00am.

It was truly a special occasion with stories that will last a lifetime.

Ahh, nothing in particular

Taking a day of vacation to do nothing in particular.  After several weeks of business travel and personal travel on the weekend, I'm looking forward to this day of basically nothing.

Flying back East to visit family tomorrow.  Might actually see all my brothers and sisters in almost the same time and place!  That hasn't happened in years.

More north cabin photos

view of lake from cabin

card game drop-in

the happy cabiners - me, Jenny, Michael