Pictures tell 1000 more words than I can type

Funny Picture at KOA Niagara Falls

Funny Group Picture at KOA Detroit

Grover pointing out where we are on the map

Niagara Falls (U.S. side)

There are lots of things to share. We are in Chicago now and we spent the night at the house of my friends, Kati and Bruce. Kati is Doogie's old friend college and they share an equal love for music that rocks. :) Last night Kati made us a delicious Mexican salad with a taco soup. Kati's mom, Mary, brother, Tim, and father, Don joined us for dinner. We had a wonderful evening of food, drinks and lots of laughter.

Here are some pictures from last night and the last couple of days.

Niagara Falls

Kwame Running through the water

Timmy getting love from Clyde

Bruce and Mary

Timmy, Clyde and Kati

O, Canada!

Brandy's Top Five Reasons Why Canada is Better Than America:

1. Canadians are way nicer and more courteous than Americans.
2. Canadians are also cleaner.
3. And way, way more helpful.
4. Plus they recycle all over the place.
5. And finally, when they decide to do a natural wonder, they do it right. I mean, the American falls are nice and pretty and all, and you can get much closer to them. But the reason you can't get closer to the Horseshoe Falls is that if you do, they will kill you. That kind of power demands the proper respect.

Pretty falls

Awesome falls

Most of the above observations are as a result of the Niagara Falls, Ontario KOA Campground being much nicer than the Detroit one. Michelle thinks this is especially weird, given that it's a "Kampground of America" but the Canada version is the one that rocks. Brandy thinks everyone should camp in Canada at least once, because they are awesome over there. Becky thinks we should move there, because we had the nicest lady ever helping us to find parking at Niagara Falls, and also Sicko convinced us all that health care in Canada - or even Cuba - is enough to make you want to move outside the States.

Camp in Canada!

Then again, it's Monday

A play in one act

Location: Greenwich, CT
The plot: Three sisters and a young boy in a desperate search ... for gas

Scene 1

Sister 1: I think we need to get off here.
Sister 2: OK, there's probably gas near the hospital.
Sister 3: I don't know, if there wasn't a sign on the exit about gas, it might not be open or very close by.

(some minutes later, after a couple of closed gas stations)

Sister 1: Should we ask these people?

(Midnight Luau Partygoers enter from left)

Sister 2: Hi, we're looking for some gas; do you know where we could find some?
Male Luau Partygoer: Well, you could go down ... no, that's closed. Or over on that street (pointing) you might find something. Then again, it's Monday.

(Female Luau Partygoer 1 giggles and smiles apologetically. Female Luau Partygoer stands to the side with hands on hips giving stink-eye, clearly disgruntled because Female 1 is cuter and got the guy tonight.)

Male Luau Partygoer: OK, so you should go up to the light and make a left, and then keep going down that street. You should pass a couple gas stations, and one of them should be open. If not, turn around and go straight down the road in the opposite direction, and you'll probably find something.
All Sisters: Thanks!
Sister 3: That other girl was really pissed off, huh?

Scene 2

Sister 1: Lamborghini ... Ferrari ... Porsche ... Maserati ... Mercedes-Benz ... Audi ... Infiniti ... Bentley ...
Sister 3: All these people selling cars, and still no one has a place to get gas?

(At the third gas station, which is finally open)

Sister 2: $4.73 a gallon!?! I think I'm about to have a heart attack.
Sister 1: If you think that's bad, be glad that the one at $5.11 a gallon was closed.
Sister 3: 5 Hour Energy! Woohoo!!!

(Driving away from the gas station toward the highway)

Sister 1: (in fake posh accent) Muffy, we really must bring the Lamborghini with us for our next vacation.
Sister 2: Oh yes, Buffy, absolutely.
Sister 3: (to Young Boy) Oh, look at Lovey, isn't he adorable?
Young Boy: My name isn't Lovey, it's Luffy!

Scene 3

Sister 2: Yes, see this is the way back - we passed this corner coming in.
Sister 1: I'm glad you recognize this, because I don't remember any of it. Oh wait, I remember that bridge!
Sister 3: (pointing to Young Boy) Oh, listen to him snoring; it's really cute.
Sister 2: So what did that guy mean about Monday? Do they only have gas on certain days?
Sister 1: Hey man, it's Connecticut ... heck if I know how they do things here.

Let's play a game called Close Your Eyes and Dream for 15 More Minutes

So we are in Boston now. Brandy will be posting a blog highlighting our adventures from yesterday. Today, I have been told to update the blog with important information... So here it is:

I'm really tired and Becky smells. :)

After driving through the night and getting into Boston around 4am, I woke up at 8am!!! (My alarm was in the car so I woke up on my own). I tried to fall asleep but I realized I had to send out a couple emails for work. My auto-reply says I'm on vacation and I won't be checking email. :) ... I guess I need to be a little more disciplined on my end. [[Flushing cellphone down toilet... wait, that's your personal cell. Opps! Oh wait, that was Becky's sucky phone... LOL]]

Brandy is at work so now Becky, Kwame and I will get washed up, pack the car and buy supplies. More to come soon!

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.