Let the packing begin!

You want to know what makes it even more real than reserving campsites? Packing!

That's right, baby - my suitcase is out in the living room, along with tent, air mattress, an army of lawn chairs, and stacks of books, movies and board games. Tomorrow I have to go pick up our car top cargo bag from Eastern Mountain Sports (thanks for the awesome sale, dudes!), grab a couple of additional pairs of shorts at New York & Co., find a new pair of Keds that's not falling apart, buy new hair so I can re-do my braids shorter (= cooler!) and purchase the first round of water, beer and trail mix with which my cooler will be perpetually stocked. :-)

What we have not yet found is a portable generator, but I got a good tip from Angel-poo about going to a real camping and fishing store, not one of these fru-fru yuppie outfits or all-purpose megastores. There's this place not too far from here where I was able to purchase hip-waders for a trip to Louisiana; I figure if they've got those in stock, a camping generator ought to be a breeze. However, I am very surprised at both Home Depot and Lowe's for not having such a thing in stock in the store - do they just assume that everyone buys online now?

Also, for the super awesome update - Michelle is coming! Michelle is coming!! And Ellie will be camping with us in Williamsburg! I am so super-excited. (Notice how everything about this trip is super?)

I'm not even drunk yet!

So usually when I post on an internet social network site I've had a few glasses of wine and wake up not remembering anything....but tonight is different. I am focused....and too tired to have a glass of wine.

So this is blogging...not bad...I think I could get used to this.

As we move through our awesome vacation I will try to add little tid bits from now and then. I am very excited about this trip and can't wait to enjoy being away from work and with my family.

So the count down begins! I start my vacation time on July 3rd...I will probably spend most of the day sleeping since that is the thing I miss most (next to my son of course!) when I'm at work. The on the 4th...I will celebrate like every other good American...with alcohol and fireworks in my hand. Then we will head up to Somerville MA and meet my sister to start the MOST AWESOME ROAD TRIP EVER!!!!

Yeah, I'm excited!

Dun-duh .... dun-duh .... dun-duh-dun-duh-dun-duh-dun-duh-dun-duh-dun-duh-dun-duh-dun-duh

(C'mon - how could you not get "theme from Jaws" out of that? ;-) )

WOOHOOO! The tour is coming, the tour is coming! We are less than two weeks away from the magical madness of two weeks in a car and a tent with one another. Surprisingly, that's not as bad as it may initially sound, despite the fact that my favorite places to stay have room service and cable.

What made it real - and super exciting - was when we started finding campsites, at least for me. Then we weren't just talking about it anymore; there was cost information, and reservation dates, and travel routes mapped out. I signed up for a KOA Value Rewards Kard; today, I'm actually paying deposits on our tent sites. This is really, totally happening, and I am super excited.

For those who want to follow our every movement, check out the updated itinerary below and keep an eye on the map to the right as we start moving around!

The ever-shifting road trip - blame Exxon!

So, a quick update since I've been underground for a month: the road trip is still on, but its scope and timing keep jumping around a bit. We went from cross-country to a western loop to a mid-Atlantic/northeast/Canadian loop, which is where it currently sits. (Sorry, my west coast friends - I don't think I'm visiting this summer.) In large part, this is due to needing to find a trip that won't cost our weight in gold in gas. If I find an oil company office anywhere along the way, I intend to stage a brief protest. (So we may need a bail fund as well ... actually, knowing us, that's probably a smart fund to have! ;-) )

Also its participants are in flux - someone (whose name may or may not start with an M) got engaged and says she is saving for her engagement party and wedding. We are still stealing her two-bedroom, two-bath tent anyway; we may or may not also trap her inside it and take her with us.

But worry not! A Brooks contingent will be departing for points vaguely west of us, many points which none of us have ever seen, and most assuredly for points where none of us currently reside. Stay tuned - an itinerary is coming!

Welcome!

If you're here, you're probably Shelly or Becky - but even if you're not, we're glad to see you!

The Rock Road Tour 2008 blog is still under construction ... keep checking back for updates as the departure deadline approaches.