Not in Denmark: Day 1

Ann's gone!  The kids have taken over!  The house is coming down!  Armageddon!!!  Good times.  

Sometimes I wonder if that's the preconceived notion of what's going to happen around here after 10 days of an Ann-less household.  She is, of course, currently basking under the midnight sun in some geothermal spa thingy in the arctic nether-regions of Iceland.  Soon to be on here way to her native homeland of Denmark.   Maybe she'll be re-assimilated.    

All the while, we simpletons debate whether to go to baseball or an end of year party.   The party won out, which meant I got to go to Dairy Queen and have the most-awesomest blizzard.  I think we all won.  Well, except for maybe the baseball team and my pocketbook.  But, man that Jurassic blizzard with peanut butter cookies and chocolate chip cookie dough was outstanding.  I love me a good blizzard.  

Anyway, Day 1 in the Ann-less household was a success.  Business as usual.  Nothing to see, nothing to report.  Except that Cailin momentarily thinks we're the best ever because we gave her the news that she could get a phone...finally.  She's shown to be responsible with her devices and with her being out and about more often, at least I finally feel a strong need to have better contact.  Man, how did we ever survive without cell phones!  Better yet, how did we ever survive without immediate answers!!

So this begins a ten day reverse blog, where the written action is far, far away from the travel.  From here, we'll tackle what it's like to not be traveling while someone else is.  We'll tackle the trials and tribulations of life without mom, Ann, lunch maker, emotional blanket (btw, I managed to successfully navigate a teary-eyed 12 year old last night after she discovered she was getting a C in math.  That's quite devastating for a girl who prides herself on her mathematical smarts and ambitions for the A honor roll.  But, with little prodding, she talked herself toward a deeper understanding of the problem, which wasn't necessarily a lack of hard work, but instead not taking a good approach to really understanding the subject matter.  Paul would be proud. )  

More to come...

Evan, after biking to school on his last day of 3rd grade