The One Where We Took a Road Trip!

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

October 22, 2026:

Visitors Center @ 505 South Austin @ Downtown GTX

October 20, 2026: Back to Austin, Texas

I had to go back to Austin to revive Mickey. What a day! Your uncle and some guy (Adam) who showed me how to break into cars with a blood pressure cuff, helped out. I was thinking to tell you- when you are looking for a partner, make sure it’s someone whom you can laugh with and joke around with through the little, annoying things in life, like flat tires, dead batteries at 2 AM, dispatchers who don’t understand that I need to get into the car before I can jump start the car, etc… or they aren’t going to make it though the big stuff of life. Trust me. Life’s too short to always be in a crappy mood about annoying stuff. Better learn to go with the flow, or it’s going to be a long, miserable life. You are too precious for me not to share that bit of information with you. <3 I had to learn it the hard way.

Mickey goes topless – beautiful, sunny day in the 70’s!

Concrete shiplap on – holds up to tornadoes 🌪 better, they say…

I had to make up some work since I was away for most of the work day. Marty kept me company while I was writing late night progress reports. He also likes the crab bag 😀

William Wallace kept me occupied in the background. I don’t know if I told you that I went to Scotland and visited the William Wallace monument! One of my favorite movies. I found pictures at Paw Paw and Maw Maw’s house. So, someday, I will show you the pictures of my year abroad. My favorite places to visit were England and Scotland. Scotland is so beautiful! It’s part of your heritage!

October 19, 2026: Austin, Texas

Slept the whole flight – thanks to original dramamine, my new neck pillow, noise-cancellation headphones, and the window seat. Watch what you wish for- you might just get it all….

October 18, 2026: BWI to AUS maybe?

I took the first $400 credit to take the later flight. Then, I got offered another $400 to leave tomorrow, but I had just turned in my rental car and packed up the storage unit. It’s getting harder and harder to leave! My littlest one tugs at my heart strings. No eye contact and no words. I walked in this week; I always say hi and bye to all the kids. She actually looked at me and said “goodbye”. “G” is not usually a first sound- amazing!! I was working with her and unprompted, she said “up”!!

When you find faux fur boots and ear muffs to match the coat your co-worker bestowed on you – Land’s End boots @ Burlington Coat Factory – great find!

October 11, 2026: AUS to BWI

Just a small town girl living in a lonely world; she took the noon time flight going somewhere…

This is where I get the “country mouse” phrase. Your mawmaw use to read it to me when I was little.

When your uncle is the manager at the hotel…

I haven’t seen a dishwasher in a hotel in a minute!

Remember Merry? She was that beautiful metalic red CX5? Meet Merrier with Connie! You know I know a bike fits back there!

If the leaves survive the hurricane, they will be gorgeous!

October 10, 2026: The State of Texas “Come and Take It” via 50 years of life

Chick Flick (Marty doesn’t care and neither does Krull, the Warrior King)

Krull the Warrior King: (Benny & Andie’s plaided dog)

To the first loves of my life, today would have been my 19th anniversary with your dad. No one will ever remember that date, because it was only significant to us. They would probably remember December 27th, the fated day in Frederick, Maryland, that was about them, not us. You, my four little sweets, were worth everything leading up to that day and the years that followed . I would never want to relive those days, except for you. I would do it for you, all over again.

Remember to always let your light shine. Don’t shrink to fit into someone else’s box. And, most importantly, your dreams are just as important as the next person’s. It’s a beautiful thing to compromise but always remember that compromise should be a two-way street. Otherwise, your future will be like merging onto an expressway that leads to a dead end. I never knew if my mom loved me, let alone liked me. I just want you to know that I love you…I’ve always loved you…and I will never stop loving you.

It took me 50 years to find out the truth about my mother, something that changed my life and made my whole life finally make sense. I hope it doesn’t take us that long <3 but if it does, it’ll be worth every second! 143

October 8, 2026: Jarrell, Texas

Just realized the last name of the singer!

October 7, 2026: Austin, Texas vía Leander

When Josie judges your driving in Austin

Josie so tired after playing with her boyfriend, Carlos

September 26, 2026: Pleasanton, Texas

Freedom drive: I finally went to Bucee’s with someone I like

September 25, 2026: Central/South Austin, Texas

Road Trip Energy: FREEWAY FRIDAY

I took the garbage out…

Look who was waiting for me… as soon as I unpacked my computer, he made a nest – I ordered our dinner 🍗

September 21, 2026: Pflugerville, Texas

Tile issues: I had to pick new flooring for the master bath (what I went with was the color Night in clay porcelain with raven grout laid in straight edge horizontally). Say that 3 times…

Waiting for the house feels like…but it will be worth the wait!!

I guess YouTube knows what the theme is for today. Texas feels like a home that I’ve never known. You’ll be within a mile of your uncle, aunt, and the cousins.

<3 oh YouTube, you know me so well… <3

September 20, 2026: BWI to Austin

September 20, 2026: Lithicum Heights, Maryland

Until next time, Connie. Miss you already 🚲 🧳 🛫

September 18 & 19, 2026: Frederick, Maryland

Water Under the Bridge

Tour

Frederick, Frederick….why did it sound so familiar…memories unlocked!

Ceresville, MD: Ceresville Mansion…it’s where your dad and I had our wedding reception.

Here’s the outside pergola where we took pictures. It was so cold. It was decorated for Christmas 🎄 still. The next day, I got so sick and ended up going to the emergency room before we drove to Alabama.

Hotworx in the Bottling Plant building. That’s why I went to Fredrick in the first place. The studio was above a pizza place. What masochist thought of that?

Oooh, free parking. What a luxury. No parking ticket! Frederick>Potomac>Bethesda

It’s further away than the Bethesda studio, but it was worth the drive. I missed a turn and ended up in Mount Pleasant. Guess who’s going to a pumpkin patch and hayride up there in October?!