Am I There, Yet?

The summer is just about over.  School starts next week.  Our travels have come and gone.  Now, it’s time to get back to real life and be responsible.  We had a fantastic summer.

As mentioned in my previous post…we ended our summer with a road trip to Boston.  Boston is now one of my new favorite cities.  It’s beautiful and rich in culture and history.  Did you know that Boston has over 50 universities and colleges?  It boasts the largest population of students in the U.S…numbering around 250,000.

The drive to Massachusetts wasn’t too much fun.  We decided to cross the Hudson River via the George Washington Bridge and use the Cross-Bronx Expressway to get to Connecticut.  That was insane!  That was worse than any traffic we’ve experienced in L.A.  So, on our way back we decided to drive further north and cross the Hudson via the Tappan Zee Bridge.  It wasn’t much better.  It’s crazy that there are only 2 bridges and 2 tunnels crossing the Hudson River along a 60 mile stretch of the river.  Who’s in charge of that dumb idea?  Don’t even get me started on all the tolls between here and there.  No wonder so many people use the trains.

We survived the drive and have some pictures to show for it:

Aren’t my kids good at posing? 

I’m sad that we won’t be traveling much anytime soon.  I love to travel and I love to explore new places.  But, I do have a lot to look forward to this fall.  We have a lot of visitors coming and I’m really looking forward to that. 

Speaking of traveling…I wanted to post my new map.  I’ll post my old map first for comparison.

Here is my map from two years ago highlighting the states I’ve visited up through May, 2006:

Here’s my current map of the states I’ve visited:

Now…I’m about to show you something even more impressive.  Here is my son’s map.  He’s 4 and he’s already visited 25 states:

My daughter’s map is not as impressive as my sons…but, only because she didn’t go on the cross-country road trip with her dad and brother when we moved to New Jersey from Oregon.  But, she still has 22 states to brag about.  Here’s my 6-year-old daughter’s map:

I’m looking forward to future travels and excited to see what’s next in our lives.

Sing with me!! 

Sometimes you wanna go…

Where everybody knows your na-a-ame..

And they’re always glad you ca-a-ame…

O.K.  So, maybe nobody knew my name…and I couldn’t tell if they were glad I came…but, we went on another road trip this weekend.  This was the last weekend to get away because school is starting soon and next weekend will come with horrific traffic…so, we took advantage of our time and got out of town. 

So, here’s the pop quiz.  This one is for my west coast friends or family…excluding Josh’s brothers, my parents and T.K. because we told them the answer already.  The first person to figure out the answer and post it it in the comment area will get a prize.

What city did we visit this weekend?  The hint is in the picture below:

My kids love The Lion King.  It’s their all-time favorite movie.  I made the mistake of telling them about The Lion King show on Broadway about a year ago and they’ve been nagging us to go ever since.  But, it hasn’t been all bad.  I told them how expensive it was and they had the idea of saving money.  They’ve been saving every penny they find or are given to go towards buying tickets.  Titus scours the ground everytime we go out in public looking for lost change.  He asks people for their spare change (a beggar in the making!) and Lilly thinks of things we can sell.  They save all of their birthday and special occasion money.  They saved over $120. 

The day is finally here.  We’re going to a matinee this afternoon and all are thrilled.  I was telling the kids the schedule, so they wouldn’t nag me all day.  I don’t like hearing the, “when are we…” questions over and over again.  So, I told them, we’re all going to 1st service at church as a family then we’re coming home to get ready and then go pick up Daddy after 2nd service.  We’ll then go to the train station and take the train into the city and grab a quick lunch and head over to the theater.  Lilly said, “Wait a minute.  You forgot to mention that we’re going to take the subway to Times Square.”  I asked her, “How did you know that?”  She said, “Because that’s where the theater is…I saw it the last time we were in the city.”  Then Titus asked, “Can we go to Dylan’s Candy Bar?”

Unbelievable…I’m raising snobs.

Anyways…Today’s the day!!!  I have a hard time waiting for things and I’m just as excited as the kids…I love any excuse to act like a kid.

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UPDATE: 

We’re back and had an amazing time.  The show was spectacular…what a great way to spend three hours.  Before the show, Lilly asked us when we can go see Mary Poppins.  Josh groaned…I could hear the ka-ching ringing in his brain.  But, after the show Lilly showed no interest in seeing Mary Poppins…she wants to go back and see The Lion King again.  Both kids loved it…as did we.

After the show we went to dinner at Junior’s.  You can’t go to Junior’s and not order some of their world-famous cheesecake.  The last time I was there I had some frou-frou chocolate cheesecake…this time I wanted plain.  But, I did something idiotic.  The conversation went something like this:

Server:  Can I get you anything else?

Me:  Yes.  I’d love a slice of New York style cheesecake.

Server (looking confused):  You mean plain cheesecake?

Me:  Yes.  And why don’t you go get a big rubber stamp and stamp the words, “TOURIST” on my forehead while you’re at it.  Thanks. 

O.K.  I didn’t really say that last part…LOL!!!  I did, however, violate one of the cardinal rules of ordering food in cities knows for their specialties.  You don’t go to New York City and order New York Cheesecake.  In New York, it’s called plain cheesecake.  Just like you don’t go to Philadelphia and order a Philadelphia Cheesesteak.  In Philly, it’s called cheesesteak.  You don’t walk into Starbucks and ask, “Can I have some Starbucks’ coffee?” 

You can also look at it this way.  You don’t go into your Aunt Helga’s house and see some cookies and ask, “Aunt Helga?  May I please have some of Aunt Helga’s cookies?”  She’d wonder what you’d been drinking.  The sensible way to ask is, “Aunt Helga, may I please have some of your cookies?”  However, you can take a dozen of Aunt Helga’s cookies to a friends’ house where you can ask, “Would you like some of Aunt Helga’s cookies?”

Now you know.  Class dismissed.

Today we decided we wanted to get out of the house…so we took a little drive to historic Batsto Village…a working village from the late 1700’s/early 1800’s.  It was fun to hang out as a family, explore and imagine what life must’ve been like for people over 200 years ago.  Here are some pictures from our day:

I love cities.  I love the energy and chaos of a city.  I love the diversity of a city.  I love the personality of cities.  I feel more alive when I’m in a large city.

About a year ago we were exploring the idea of church planting.  It is still something that is on our hearts.  The more time passes the stronger the desire.  It is now no longer a matter of “if” it’s a matter of “when” and “where.”  We both feel like we will probably end up in a city.

Anyways…back to my story.  Last year we were interviewing with a church in Seattle that plants other churches.  Their vision is to saturate the Seattle area with church plants and they are always on the look out for church planters.  Their concept and vision is great. 

One of the next towns they want to plant in was Marysville.  They told us to drive to Marysville and see if God “bursts a vision in our hearts” for that community.  We were open to this, so we jumped in our car and drove to Marysville….a town 40 minutes north of downtown Seattle.  The further out of the city we drove…the more uncomfortable I became.  We found Marysville and spent some time driving around.  We even stopped for some coffee.  I didn’t say much…but, Josh knew exactly what I was thinking.  My anxiety levels where pretty high.  I was completely uncomfortable in this small rural town.  We got back in the car and drove back to Seattle.  The closer we got to the city’s core…the more I relaxed…the more I felt at home.

We didn’t take that job.  It wasn’t because of the Marysville thing.  I think the church would’ve been open to us planting a church anywhere in the Seattle area.  There were some other factors involved and it didn’t feel like a right fit for us.

Anyways…my point is that I didn’t realize how much I’m drawn to cities and how much I’m uncomfortable in small towns until that point.  I could psycho-analyze all the reason why…but, the main point is that I love cities.

I was thinking about some of the cities I’m acquainted with and how each city has a different and distinct personality.  I dream in color and I tend to label things with colors.  Here are some of the color labels I’ve placed on some of the cities I’m more intimately acquainted with:

Seattle:  Gray comes to mind when I think of Seattle.  It’s not just the color of the skies…it’s also the color of the water and the fish.  I love sitting in a coffee shop with a really great cup of hot steamy joe on a cold and damp day in Seattle.

Portland:  Portland is green…literally and figuratively.  Not only are Portlanders known for being environmentally conscience…the land is lush and green from all the rain.  I love Portland. 

San Francisco:  A rainbow comes to mind…for reasons I won’t discuss on my blog.  I have fond memories of growing up near San Francisco.  We did mostly tourist things.  We’d take BART into the city and go to Pier 39.  I distinctly remember the chocolate.  Sometimes we’d ride a trolley and wander through Chinatown.

Los Angeles:  I think of yellow when I think of LA.  Yellow like the warm sunshine…yellow like the sea of fake blondes on the beach.  Yellow like the lights on cars stuck on the freeways at night…because “rush hour” in LA is actually not just an hour…traffic is always bad.  I love the fantastic Mexican food, beautiful beaches, tall palm trees swaying in the breeze and plastic people watching.  I like LA…I particularly love Pasadena.  I would also never pass up an opportunity to go to Disneyland…but, what’s with the locks on the bathroom doors in fast food restaurants in Anaheim?  I also lump San Diego in this yellow category.  Similar…but, different…maybe just a different shade of yellow.

Phoenix:  Orange comes to mind when I think of Phoenix.  I guess the orange comes from the rocks in Sedona…which isn’t exactly in Phoenix…but they represent the beauty of the dessert.  We like Phoenix.  We spent a month there last July…if we can handle living there in July…we could handle living there.  Josh would love to live in Phoenix.  I wouldn’t mind living there.  My favorite sister-in-law and her husband (my brother) live there.  I love hanging out with them and would love for my kids to grow up near family.  However, I just don’t know if I could become a Diamondback fan.  Santa Fe is also another orange city.  I haven’t spent much time there…but, it’s a place I’d like to go back to visit.

Minneapolis:  Minneapolis is the epitome of a mid-western city.  I think of blue for some reason with Minneapolis.  Kinda laid back…down to earth…normal people.  The Mall of America and the Twins are the things that come to mind when I’m thinking about the Twin Cities.  I saw the strangest thing the last time I was there.  We were driving down the freeway in the middle of suburbia…when all of a sudden we drove past a ski “resort”.  It was so weird.  It was a hill (kinda looked manmade) and there were snow makers on the hill…creating a place for people to ski (or pretend to ski).  It was sort of endearing…yet it also made me feel sorry for the poor people who wanted to ski…and this was their only option.

Denver:  I think of earth tones when I think of Denver.  I think the people of Denver are fairly health conscience.  They like to hike and white water raft and ski and fish and rock climb.  I think the city of Denver reflects this.  I think that Salt Lake City is also similar.  I haven’t spent too much time in Salt Lake…but, I get the sense that people enjoy being outdoors and with their families there…another earth tone city.

Philadelphia:  Philadelphia is brick red.  The historical importance of this city cannot be missed.  I love the cobblestone streets and the historical architecture.  Philadelphia values the arts…as do I.  However, I’m also sad when I think of Philly.  We get the Philadelphia news stations and every night I hear of more murders…it’s heartbreaking. 

New York City:  Red.  Bright lights red.  Apple red.  I have to say that NY is my absolute favorite place in the whole world.  I love Manhattan.  I love the museums.  I love the quirky places to eat…everybody seems to work hard to distinguish themselves from the rest of the city.  I love Greenwich Village.  I love the parks.  I love the people.  I would move to New York in a heartbeat.  People say, “Oh…you don’t want to raise your kids in the city!”  Why not?  There’s so much to do…excellent schools that teach everything from culinary arts to drama to dance.  I think they’d find enough to do to stay out of trouble in the city more than they would if they were bored and living in a rural area.  (First hand knowledge…boredom in rural areas leads to nothing good.)

Yes…that last statement is a blanket statement and doesn’t apply in all circumstances…please don’t argue this shaky point in my comment area.

Chicago, Salt Lake City, Baltimore & Washington, D.C.,:  These are my “drive-through” cities.  I don’t know them intimately enough to color them.  I’ve only driven through each one and viewed them from afar.  That’s not enough to say that I know these cities.

I have many more American cities to visit:  Houston, Dallas, Boston, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, etc…  I also have lots of international cities to see…the only ones I’ve been to are Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia.

I need to get my passport updated.

Here’s a quizz that I took…as if I needed a quizz to tell me where I should live…LOL!!!

American Cities That Best Fit You:

75% Chicago 70% New York City 70% Philadelphia 65% Boston 65% Los Angeles

In case you were wondering…yes…I did eventually get to the grocery store.  Thanks for all the advice.  I particularly loved Deb’s advice, but Adams was far more practical.

Last week both of my kids attended a day camp at our church.  My mom asked me who enjoyed the week more…the kids or me.  I have to say that it was a heavenly week for me.  I had 20 total hours of uninterrupted time (4 hours each day).  It’s not that I don’t enjoy having my kids around…it’s just that I didn’t realize (or maybe I just didn’t care to entertain the thoughts of) how great it was to have small breaks.

Every single closet, drawer and cabinet in my house is cleaned out and organized.  I filled 4 large garbage bags with clothes and toys to give away to charity.  I couldn’t believe the amount of energy I had.  It is so much easier to pull everything out of a closet, sort through it all, put only the necessary things back and find a place for the other junk when I don’t have little ones around.  I didn’t hear, “Mom!  Titus is hitting me!”  Or, “Mom, will you play a card game with me?”  Or, “Mom, what’s this?  What are you doing with that?  Why are you throwing that away?  Can I have it?”  Or, “Mom, I’m hungry.  Can you make me some lunch?”  Or, “Mom, can you….”  Or, “Mom, can I…”

You get the point.  It was fantastic.

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Lion King Update:  We bought the (outrageously over-priced) tickets to see Lion King on Broadway.  We are so excited.  We’re going to a matinee after church this upcoming Sunday.  It’s our last big thing of the summer before school starts.  Can’t wait!!!

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In other news…I have to brag on a friend of mine.  My amazing friend, Deb, ran her first marathon on Saturday.  But, my friend didn’t just settle for any marathon…she ran one of the more difficult marathons in the world (in my opinion.)  The Crater Lake Marathon’s elevation varies from 5980′ to 7850′.  If people can complete a marathon at that elevation…they can do anything.

You rock, Deb!

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I have some more thoughts…but, I gotta run.  My kids are asking me for tattoos.  Lilly picked out a pirate tattoo and Titus picked out a skunk.

I love my kids…