18 Days to Go!!!

Only 18 days to go before the first Annual Lovell Family Vacation is underway. Not that we're counting or anything...

The first couple days will be more easy going. We will leave here once I get off work (and down a few cups of wholesome sugar-laced coffee, of course!), and head up to Sac City to my parents house. This will be the first time I have seen my sister and brother-in-law since their wedding last October. I have been a gracious older brother and decided they can use the guest bedroom. My sister is expecting her first child, a daughter, in the fall. So, she will need a nice place to rest comfortably after I make fun of her for being fat. (Love you sis!! HAHAHAHA)

Then the night of the fourth, I will be assisting in blowing up hundreds of dollars worth of neatly packaged explosive devices for my own entertainment. Sure, other people will be entertained by the light and sound show, but I revel in blowing things up, especially when its explicitly condoned by my parents. Over the last several years I haven't heard my mom say anything at all about being careful not to blow my fingers or head off. Rather refreshing considering my childhood was dominated by her freaking out about crossing the highway on my bike (I never managed to get run over even once), but being fine with the sure physical abuse accompanied by pain and suffering brought forth by the Evil Duane's Right Hand of Spanking Death!

Early on the morning of the 5Th we will hit the road, just my wife, 2 sons and I, as we head for South Dakota. A quick stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, then on to the Badlands and Black Hills. All the touristy things there are to see: Mt Rushmore, Wall Drug, the Cosmos, Deadwood (place of Wild Bill's death), and a few other places. Then onto Wyoming. We will stop off at Devil's Tower, then move further west, making a stop at the town they named after me, Lovell, Wyoming (I am a very important person and all, you know!)

And from there we will press on to see my best friend Jay, and his wife, and spend a few days doing the whole Yellowstone tour, and a variety of other things.

The idea of doing some Horse riding has come up. I have yet to ever actually ride a horse, if you don't count being led around in a circle on one by someone with the Saddle Club Summer Recreation program when I was very young. My oldest son Josh, again has more experience than me at a few things. He has, for instance, caught more fish in one day than I have in my entire life, when he was 3. I recently found out that my mom's boss, who is a horse vet, has let Josh loose in an arena atop a horse or two. So now, naturally, in order to maintain my awesome manliness in the eyes of my son, will have to take advantage of the opportunity to end a day with a sore and/or numb hind end. We'll probably catch a rodeo, do some rafting, some shooting...

and of course I look forward to some one on one time with Jay, as we go out and attempt to play chicken with some Grizzlies. To tell the truth, I'm less worried about running into a bear, which at least we'll be able to see and hear with some distance between us and them. And as my wife told the kids, I only have to outrun Jay should we get caught trespassing by a grizzly!!! My real concern is accidentally upsetting a resting rattlesnake. If I go and get bit by one, well let's just say I know Jay. The idea of him sucking the poison out of a bite wound probably won't appeal to him very much. Something to do with my unclean nature of only showering every third October or so...

But I am sure, he'll read the last rites over me as he informs me of my imminent death. And then he will be off to Lovell, WY to inform them that their town namesake died being an idiot. And of course, being the important personality that I am, they will hold a funeral procession through the town in my honor, despite the fact that I have perpetually turned down their offers to be the Grand Marshall in their annual parades. Lots of crying and weeping...lets hope they keep a few scouts out on the edges of town though. I'm sure once I am dead the animals will surely form a coalition to take over the town and make it their own, enslaving the local populace...much like what happens in a home with a cat. Speaking of, its time to scratch the Colonel's belly and then escort him to his food dish where I will be expected to provide fresh food and new water.