Thursday, May 10, 2007

Road Trip Prep and I Miss a Meme

Tomorrow the girls and I leave at the crack's crack o' dawn for a road trip. It's a Mother's Day Weekend Road Trip and part of Maya's birthday present, which is in a couple weeks. We're heading way north to San Francisco for a day & night to visit some vegan spots and hang out with Betsy. Friday night, we're going to Herbivore and then we're trekking over to the newly revamped, and reportedly fabulous, de Young museum to check out the Vivienne Westwood exhibit. Besty forwarded me some photos of VW's fantastic creations when she checked it out a couple weeks ago, and Mina asked me very detailed questions like, "Is that collar made with buttons or shells?" to which I had no clue. "Uh, I don't know, mami," I said, "You're just gonna have to tell me when you see it in person." The thought of seeing the dresses in person made her squeal in a way that only she and the pugs could comprehend. Saturday morning, we are then heading more northeast through the beautiful farm lands of California to visit the good ol' Farm Sanctuary. We're gonna check up on the glorious Ramona ourselves. This weekend the FS is holding some sort of Hoe Down with hay rides and a barn dance and everything. We felt we had to check it out. I am kicking myself for not owning vegan cowboy boots for the exact event.

I told Husband a few weeks ago that I, all of the sudden, felt this trip was important; to have the girls bear witness to happy animals (bigger than a bread box) and tangible compassion towards them. I planned quickly and without a second thought. It has been a source of electric excitement since. Husband said, "Are you sure you want to drive all that way?" "Yes, baby," I said. "Ok, and we're going to that farm?" I realized he didn't understand that he was not invited. I said, "Papi, you're not coming. This for the girls and me." And we both blew out a collective sigh of relief. This is a key component to our well-greased and happy union: We're not trying to drag the other into things that won't be 150% appreciated. I ain't trying to hear no humming and hawing when we're on a farm and he ain't trying to keep me from going. It's a perfect and loving understanding.

I can't wait to report back about the trip and post a billion photos.

In the meantime, does anyone else miss a meme? I mean, I know we roll our eyes and look down on them, but can't we have a little dose of mindless fellow-blogger facts now and again? I stole this from my new friend Rachel. You highlight the things you've experienced -- if you decide to steal this meme too. Of course, I edited and added some things.

1. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
2. Swam with dolphins
3. Split your pants in public
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said “I love you” and meant it
9. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19.Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Left a successful career to pursue your dream
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Trained for a sporting event
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Went on a vacation by yourself
42. Had an amazing friend
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero

58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Posed nude in front of strangers
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Swam in an ocean
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Had your drivers license suspended
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Got married
73. Been in a rain forest
74. Crashed a party
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Got a tattoo
81. Been in the front row at a concert
82. Been on television news programs as an expert
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Sang at a wedding
89. Had a one-night stand
90. Gone to Thailand
91. Bought a house
92. Been in a combat zone
93. Buried one/both of your parents
94. Been on a cruise ship
95. Spoken more than one language fluently
96. Performed in Rocky Horror Picture Show
97. Raised children
98. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Talked at length with a celebrity
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Cried while listening to music
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Petted a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Ridden a bike
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Married your high school sweetheart
119. Was in the Peace Corps
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Lived on an island
132. Petted a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad and The Odyssey
135. Selected one important author who you missed in school, and read

136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140.Had a premonition
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Had your photo taken in a photobooth
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life
151. Gone on a long road trip with your young daughters just to visit a pig. WOOTWOOT.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone.

7 comments:

Jonathan K. Cohen said...

8,13,21,24,37,38,39,52,59,67,68,72,77,84,85,95,105,127,130,134,149

37. I was giving English proficiency examinations in East Germany, and I was told that the students had learned British English. For the next few days, I spoke English with a British accent.

39. Six hard drives, five of them in a RAID 5 array.

134. In Greek.

Marigoldie said...

But wouldn't it be great if you were kicking yourself WITH a vegan cowboy boot? Of course if you had them boots, you wouldn't have to kick. But you'd want to.

Tell Ramona I said hi!

Anonymous said...

i hope you have a blast at FS!! if you're able, please give kiwi a little snuggle from me--she's like the baby version of your ramona. :)

Diz Rivera said...

Of course you've read it in Greek! That's what I love that about you JKC.

Ok, one big hello for Ramona and one for lil Kiwi. Can't wait to see Kiwi!

Laume said...

The Farm Sanctuary is only a couple hours from my house. Feel free to stop by - love me, love my messy house - my cats, my chihuahua, my weeds.... but it would be great to meet you and the girls.

Anonymous said...

Your road trip sounds so incredible Madness, have the best time and I can't wait to scroll thru your million pictures, especially of Ramona. Safe travels and Happy Mother's Day!! xo

Anonymous said...

Scratch Ramona's nose for me! This meme was fun. It's cool to see you've done some of the things I added to the list and what you've slipped in. Hope you have an excellent road trip.