Kontan.

Typed: Saturday, April 18, 2009 12:13 AM

Our plans have changed so many times over the last few days. The final result was Lil Bit’s friend staying the night last night and going home around 10 AM this morning. It was all we could take really. Sweet enough child, but an only and it was obvious. After I delivered her to her parents we decided to pursue our original plans of a few hours at Carowinds and then me and the girls off to the mountains. It was such a beautiful day with a bright sky and comfortable temps. Awesome. After several of our favorite rides we began the short journey home. There are two ways to get from our home to the theme park and both take the same amount of time…on a good day with no traffic. Today, not that day. LOTS of traffic and several accidents that created backups. Not. Fun. I had planned to be at the chateau by 5ish. As it turned out I was leaving our house around 5ish. Still, no problem. The day with the fam was worth the delay in visiting the out of town fam.

The drive to the chateau was mapped for two hours. Never living near family makes a two hour drive nothing. Traffic was not bad, with only a few congested spots we made good time. Just as I made the turn for the uphill final leg of our journey I receive a call from my cousin. Apparently, they had a tremendously difficult time finding the place and wanted to warn me. My uncle got on the line to offer directions. They were actually at the grocery store and if I would go down two more exits I could meet them there and follow them up. Sounds like a great idea, yes? No. I don’t know, maybe it was. After all there is no guarantee that I would have easily found the place without doing that and I am relatively certain that I probably would have had trouble. However, by the time we left the grocery store it was dark. Ugh. I don’t see so well in the dark. In hindsight, travelling up the mountain in the dark is probably a good thing. I was not able to see the big drops on the side. I know they were there. Occasionally I would catch sight out of the corner of my eye. Ugh. Focus on the car in front, focus on the car in front…

The night sky is gorgeous. The mountains are gorgeous. The chateau is very nice. Everyone has their own space and it is wonderful…Put it on the beach and I’ll smile more. As I pulled into the drive, got out, and thanked God for getting me here alive I wondered if this lover of nature and hiking is a mountain chateau kind of girl. Right now, not so much. The peeks over the edge that I caught out of the corner of my eye, not a happy memory. I know that eventually I will have to do that in the day time and I’m not up for that. I also know that we will be going somewhere tomorrow and I might have to ride with someone else. I’m sorry, but if the car plunges over the edge I want to be behind the wheel…I just need that level of control in my life.

Furthermore…I am completely and totally disconnected. It is a TERRIBLE feeling. If something happens there is not a darn thing I can do about it and no way to call and tell someone. This HUGE and EXTREMELY expensive chateau apparently does not have a house line. My cell has no service. No one’s cell has service. My cousins iPhone, which is supposed to get signal via satellite…yeah, no service. I can live without net, but dang it, I need my cell service. It isn’t that I want to chat on the phone b/c I am totally not into the phone chat thing, but I NEED TO TELL MY HUSBAND GOOD NIGHT! Actually, he would probably appreciate it if I would tell him that I made it here with no problems! Another cousin has a different cell carrier that apparently has service here (can you hear me now?) and had a few minutes on her prepaid phone. I sent a text and am praying that Jem received it. No idea.

And the last thing I want to complain about…I left my glasses at home and can’t see squat without my contacts. I know you aren’t supposed to sleep in contacts, but I REALLY cannot see if I don’t have them in.

Oh joy…12:43 and I hear a toddler crying. Well, we had a few hours of respite. Did I mention that one of my cousins is a little on the granola side and has interesting parenting skills. OK, that is not fair. His skills aren’t terrible. He makes a great playmate and enjoys his kids. His significant other…well she makes sure they make all their checkups (being positive here) and tries real hard. It’s just…well…um…their kids are spoiled rotten and have never been told no and the parents are very much into the free life . I’m just glad they keep the dreads covered. Ew.

Time for me to turn in.