July 11, 2011

El Reno, OK --> Corrales, NM

8 hour drive home today.  In addition to the high external temperature, inside tempers are also running hot.  In Texas, we had to turn on George Winston (music to soothe the savage beast) and threaten to pull over if Billy didn’t pull it together. 

Me:  OK everyone.  It’s quiet time.  Lean your seat back and just close your eyes for a minute.

Karl:  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Billy:  I don’t want to go to sleep.

Me:  You do not have to go to sleep.  But you have to be quiet and relax.

Billy:  I DON’T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!

Me:  You do not have to go to sleep.  But you have to be quiet and relax.

Billy:  AAAAAUUUUGGGG!  I DON’T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!

Me:  CLOSE YOUR EYES!  IF I SEE YOUR EYES OPEN, I’M GOING TO SPANK YOUR BOTTOM!

Billy:  [eyes closed] AAAAAUUUUGGGG!  I DON’T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!

Me:  [unbuckles seatbelt and moves toward the back seat] BE QUIET!  NOW!

Billy:  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

Lindsay never went to sleep.  Just ask her - she's never tired.  But, she was quiet and that is what counted today.  

We pulled into Albuquerque around 2:45 pm.  It’s good to be home.  I feel like I can see again!  And there is so much to see.  For example, nowhere in the country do so many people display their love (Obamanos!) or hatred (One Big Ass Mistake America) for our current president so proudly on their bumpers. 

I hope they clear up the construction on Coors Blvd before we return again in August.  We use that road nearly every day.

Lindsay:  What are they doing out there?

Me:  Looks like refitting the sewer lines and maybe extending the road.

Lindsay:  Can I roll down my window and ask that guy?

Me:  No, honey.  They are working.

Lindsay:  That guy isn’t working.  He’s just standing there watching.

The house is hot and the cupboard is bare so we ended up at our local favorite, Sweet Tomatoes, for dinner.  Lindsay wanted to eat her soup with her straw and Karl tried to slurp his ice cream with his.  Everyone ate with their hands.  It was a good opportunity to talk about manners and when it is appropriate to experiment with your food.

Me:  Lindsay, as much as you like to experiment, I hope you’ll be a scientist one day.

Lindsay:  That’s exactly what I want to be!

Karl:  I don’t want to be in the CIA anymore.  Now I want to be in the FBI lab.

Me:  Great!  Billy, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Billy:  A Dragonsnake.

We’ll be in town until next Monday.  It will be a week of shopping, cleaning and repacking.