In a few hours we get on a plane and return to California. I despise travel days, I just want to get there, you know? It’s a pain in the ass to haul two people, two dogs, computers and camera equipment halfway across the country.
We’ve spent the day doing laundry and packing, which means our dogs have worked themselves into a frenzy. I can’t imagine why they’d think we’re going to leave them, but they do. And of course the more twitterpated they get, the more worked up I get. Not only am I fretting about the dogs, but about whether or not we’re leaving anything important behind, or forgetting to do something.
I’m sad to leave Texas, even though I know we’ll be back soon. On the other hand, I’m thrilled to head back to The ‘Dena. I can’t wait to sleep on our bed tonight – two and a half weeks on an air mattress is no bueno. Neither is no table. It’s funny, because it never really occurred to me how important a table is until you’ve eaten standing up for a couple of weeks. We did, however, get a sofa while we were here, a big step up from the first few days, which we spent like this:
Actually, we do have a table, notice the over turned box with the computer on it.
My dad had the foresight to bring a couple of lawn chairs when he picked us up from the airport, thankfully, otherwise we would have sat on the floor. Notice that, in spite of no furniture, we DO have a Christmas tree. You can see my priorities might have been a bit skewed. All in all, though we didn’t get to do most of the things we originally planned, it was a productive trip. At least the place is livable now.
Anyway, we’re two hours away from airport time, so cross your fingers that I don’t get stuck next to a screaming child or someone with a cold (and somewhere out there, someone is crossing their fingers they don’t get stuck next to someone with a dog).
where did you guys stay? i mean i see it, but was it attached to a house or something? i really like your table by the way.
Lets do lunch!
Chrissy! Happy New Year girl! Yes on lunch.
I’m impressed that you fly your dogs. My little furball is also carry-on size, but I CANNOT make my brain process the carry-on pet fees as anything other than highway robbery. He counts as a carry-on (which isn’t that big of a deal since my FF status gets me free checked bags), he goes under my seat, it typically takes half the flight before anyone even realizes I have a dog with me (typically, he’ll shift and the person next to me will say “did your bag just move?” and I’ll say “yes, there is a dog in it, and he does need to move about occasionally.”), *I* endure hassle bringing him through security, and you want me to pay *$100-125* for him EACH WAY? Erm, no. That’s sometimes more than *my* ticket. I can take him to an in-home pet sitter for $15-25/day (assuming I can’t find a friend to watch him…normally he gets to stay at home with one of my friends soaking up living MUCH closer to work for the low low fee of walking and feeding my dog), so my trip would need to be longer than 10-17 days for that to even make sense (and I rarely take trips longer than 7 for pleasure).
But, yes, he also freaks out ANY time I pack. For Thanksgiving, I rode with a friend, so he came along. He was a headcase from the time I pulled the suitcases out (*4* days before departure) until we got in the car. And then repeated said routine when I packed back up at my family’s house. They are just so *sensitive* to routine…
Dogs are > screaming kids. I’ve never seen a dog do more than let out an occasional whimper on a flight. I cannot even begin to list all the indignities I’ve endured because of children (being kicked, having my ear screamed in, having stuff spilled on me, poop, barf, on and on).
Oh hell yes, it is highway robbery. But it was an extended trip, so it made more sense than boarding them. Plus our elderly dog would be better off with us than boarded, she takes a freaking pharmacy of meds several times a day, and she’s a great flyer anyway. She does get worked up pre-trip though, as soon as she sees the bags she gets upset. Our other dog is a whole different story, she does NOT like to fly.
Have you heard of rover.com? You can find people to watch your pets in-home for very reasonable fees. It might not be ideal for a very attached dog with lots of medical issues, but it’s always been a great fall-back for me when I can’t find a friend to stay with my baby. Like I said, the fees are so low that unless my trip is over 10 days, it’s cheaper than flying him. My boy is *also* a good flier (he uses his crate regularly on public transit, so he’s a pro), and I’d love to have him with me on certain vacations (he would adore running on the secluded beach on our yearly West-coast getaway), but I just can’t bring myself to pay for it. His “pass” to be shoved under my seat for 6 hours would cost at least half of what *my* ticket costs….to fly ALL THE WAY across the country.
Yeah, it’s hard to rationalize the fee, but I just can’t leave my old girl behind. I will check out rover.com though.
Happy travels!! And while I am sick, be assured that my butt will be staying firmly in my bed for the next few days.
Bummer, I hope you’re feeling better, and thank you for the Christmas card!!
Twitterpated for the win! Awesome word.
Innit?
Nice hardwoods, though!
I hope your trip went smoothly.
The trip back was uneventful, thankfully!