It's a lot of fun to go away on a vacation for a few days. That's why we do it. Coming back home to your normal life is always hard, but having Korben Dallas at home waiting for me makes it feel good to be back. This little goofball loves the shit out of me. I'll never quite understand why, but I'll allow it. He gets me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Carolinas March 2015 - Last Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I woke up on the morning of March 31st, I knew that we had to go back home to Wisconsin. As it is (seemingly) every single time I go on a trip, the weather was amazing on the day that we had to go back home. I could have sat indoors sulking over this reality, but I chose to go outside and make the most of the limited time I had left in this place. In case you didn't know this before now, there is a creek that flows through James' backyard. I decided to walk down there and check it out. While I was down there I took some of the best pictures I have done during my time as an Amateur Photographer and while I was here in the Dirty South. I also filmed a video for my (now defunct) Milwaukee Brewers post on my blog "25 Brewers in 25 Days". A lot of things happened.

 

 

 

James' dogs are a mess. More than me and Jenny Reck combined. And that's saying a whole lot. Melissa had to work today but he took off so that he could see us on our way. As we prepared to leave the house, he had to give them some treats inside of a rubber vessel so that they were occupied for a few minutes when we left. I never had a dog, but from my experience with those who do have one, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I never want one of my own. Dogs = trouble. And I don't have any time for trouble... oohh TROUBLE!

 

 

 

I previously mentioned that today was the nicest day (weather-wise) during our stay in the Carolinas. We were aware of this from the moment we set foot outdoors. We had more than a few minutes before we had to leave, so we sat around and soaked up the sun. We knew that back in Wisconsin it was still cold, so we might as well enjoy it while we could.

 

 

 

We flew in and out of Charlotte, NC (because the flights were a lot cheaper than flying into Columbia) but James accompanied us to lunch before we had to head North. I don't remember where we went or what we had. But I do remember that it was nice to be together for one last time before going back home.

 

 

 

Home

 

Today was one of the best days of my life. Although I did not know this at the time, this shuttle ride would make a lasting impression. When we dropped off the rental car and were taken back to the airport, it said "Your Shuttle Driver is Getenet. This became our go to phrase. Somebody is Getenet! Yeah they are!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The flight attendant was giving out wings to all of the kids on the flight. When she gave them to the kid in the row behind us, Jenny vocalized that she too wanted some wings. She asked the Flight Attendant for some wings and was granted her wish. But in true Jenny Reck fashion, she attached them upside-down on her sweatshirt. Settle down pal. Fly the friendly skies the normal way before you start doing advanced maneuvers. And if you are going to read the in-flight magazines, go for the English ones. Not the Spanish ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't remember where we had to change planes. For all I know it we were back in Detroit. Or could it be Cincinnati? Look - at this point it doesn't matter anymore. Do they even have non-stop flights anymore that do not cost Prince Tuesday's share of the Neighborhood (Kingdom) of Make Believe? I doubt it. But when we arrived back in Milwaukee, it seemed like so much time had passed and the adventures we had out East were far behind us. The weather was dismal, work was looming on the horizon and rage was diminishing by the second. But that was now. Now wasn't before. Now would not change what happened and I loved that. Because as long as I have my family (especially Jenny Reck), everything was great, is great and will be great.

 

Brandon came to pick us up at the Airport and we are forever in his debt. That goes for anyone who is ever willing to do a favor for someone else. Getting to and from the Airport is always a task and a soft spot in my heart is reserved for those who willingly approach those grounds and are not travelling.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The very nature of how I update things on this website (I'm writing comments anywhere from 3 months to a year after they happened) makes it difficult to create these pages. Who I am now (and who we all are now) is different than we were back then. Life happens. Things change. So I have to comment on what was going on then and what is happening now. I'll spare you the details, but I'll leave you with this - this trip was really good for all of us. I think we needed to spend time as a family and be together during these couple of days. I got to see some new places and have some new adventures. But the best part of all is that I got to do it with my favorite people in this World.