Vacation Season

Just wrapped up my second vacation for the summer, this time to visit family in the Midwest.

How do I manage to take so many vacations? Part of it is the odd scheduling nature of my full-time job. I'm technically off the clock right now, so I'm trying to cram in as much personal leave as possible because when things start up again next week I won't have much time off until Christmas.

The last trip was more of a sit-around-and-check-things-off-the-list-as-they-happen. Not this time. There were agendas, schedules, and a good dose of controlled chaos.  As "Oshkosh" said to me, we got a lot packed into a short amount of time.

Left on Monday, arrived on Tuesday. Ran to the state capital on Wednesday for several receptions and a late night at a convention. Thursday morning it was my nephew's 4K promotion ceremony, followed by lunch at Oshkosh's favorite restaurant in the suburbs of the Metropolis, then aborted plans to get together with a friend (better luck next try). Friday afternoon's plans got derailed when I got called to fill in on the farm. Saturday was the annual county breakfast on the farm event for June Dairy Month, followed by my cousin's wedding (farming themed, of course). Saturday night my nieces and nephew spent the night at my parents' house so my brother and his wife could have an evening to themselves. Which meant Sunday morning involved rounding up three kids under the age of 6 for breakfast, church, and play time at the park. Once they left after lunch it was nap time then run a few last errands before departing Monday morning.

Whew

And then there was the drive back. Normally it's 15 hours total. This time it was closer to 17 hours on the road thanks to all of the road construction. I don't think I've seen this many individual construction projects on the interstate.

Orange barrels do not make for pleasant book ends on a vacation.