Life in a Small Town

So, I'm driving home through the older part of my neighborhood yesterday wondering if I missed the FedEx delivery (see earlier post), and there's the FedEx truck parked along the street! So, I pull up and roll my window down and ask the delivery person if she's been to Starfield yet, and she says no, but she has a package for me and she thinks it needs a signature. I hadn't given her my name...but maybe she doesn't have many FedEx deliveries on my street. Anyway, I sign the electronic pad, she hands me the envelope, the whole transaction takes place through our windows. It was like a FedEx drive-thru. No need to trapse into Ann Arbor! And it was the euros. Aren't they pretty? Why can't we have well-designed currency?

Ryne Is Really Excited About The Trip

He is so excited, that he spent a large chunk of time at Sunday school complaining about starving to death on Saturday because of his over-scheduled life (got up at 11 am, ate a donut, left at 12:45 for district band fest, ate pizza/chips/soda/candy at about 4 pm, got home at 5:30)...but neglected to mention to his Sunday school teacher - also a friend and neighbor - that he was traveling next week to Paris, Venice and Rome. "I didn't think of it," he says.

Money and Cats

Today started out with Rex sneaking outside and under the deck, where he apparently crashed into something and bruised his hip or leg, and gashed his forehead. He seems to be OK, and managed to get upstairs in time to imbibe in leftover shower water.

We also ordered euros through AAA, and I think FedEx tried to deliver them today. The note says they require a direct signature (so someone has to physically be here) and the someone has to be an adult (and human I am guessing). After 6 pm I can drive 20+ miles into Ann Arbor somewhere to pick it up myself, or they will continue to attempt delivery here for two more days. I have visions of my driving to Ann Arbor only to find that they are trying to deliver my package in Pinckney.

I just checked the location, and it is near the A2 airport...maybe I can turn this into a dinner opportunity? And try to pay for dinner using euros?

Bathroom Cleaning

You know you want to read this.

My life is sad enough that I was completely excited and totally blown away by Magic Eraser. I know this product has been around, and I have heard reports of the wonder of it. But, man. What IS this thing? How does it work? Because it works really really well. It just seems to be a sponge, a little more solid than a usual one. I don't get it. I used the special bathroom one on the tubs and it was awesome - and the tubs here can get gross. Because I hate cleaning bathrooms. But all I had to do was wet the sponge and wipe down the tub, all done, looks great!

Then I used a regular Magic Eraser on the ceramic tile. Forgot the grout was originally white! How about that? And I didn't even need to be one of those toothbrush-wielding uptight cleaner moms.

How does this relate to the World Tour, you ask? We will have a house and pet sitter for the duration. 'Nuff said.

Pre-Trip Shopping

Did a little pre-trip shopping today for the ziploc meds bag - tylenol, tums, and a generic "anti-diarrheal" that says it "controls symptoms of diarrhea, including Travelers' Diarrhea." Is there a difference, I wonder?

I am gathering all the hotel and itinerary information today, and writing up instructions for the house/pet sitter, who will go through her second orientation session on Sunday. She seems willing to come back after the first one, so that must be a good sign. Four cats and a dog didn't seem to bother her, but we'll see what she thinks after she's lived with them all for a couple weeks.

Speaking of animals, here is Team Orange, waiting to start a reconnaisance mission:

Getting Ready

Ten days to go, and I am setting up this blog for us to use on the trip. And thinking of the funny things we do to get ready for a trip like this, like buy shoes and get the dog groomed. And how clean does the house have to be for a house sitter do you suppose? These are the things that keep me up at night.