On the Road

Because our initial travel plans were shot and I desperately needed to get out and go somewhere, and because we are still up in the air as to whether we will still be going to Japan at all this year, we decided to make an impromptu trip to Utah. A mini-vacation of sorts. Jake hatched this plot at about 6:30 am yesterday (Saturday), and we were on the road by 2:00 pm the same day. Amazing, considering the mountain of laundry that had to be done beforehand. (I conquered it, in case you were wondering.)

So, here we are in Logan, Utah, on a trek to put flowers on my mom's grave and also visit my baby sister who lives here with her two kiddos. I would love to insert some adorable photos of all the Murphy cousins playing together, but, as usual, (1)I didn't take any good photos, and (2) even if I had, there's only about a 50% chance that I would have been able to figure out how to upload from camera to ipad and then on to Blogger. (I haven't owned the iPad for very long, and suffice it to say, my kids can operate this thing better than I can.) I will report, however, that the cousins are having a great time together thus far. We visit the grave tomorrow and hang out some more with the family before we head back to SLC and then back home.

I did, however, want to leave you dear readers with a few thoughts I had while traveling:

1. Why, oh why do business establishments only install baby changing stations in the women's room and not in the men's room? Well, I can tell you why, of course, but seriously, WHY? Between Denver and Salt Lake City, for this reason alone, I had the privilege of changing ALL of the diapers. I have two kids in diapers. That's a lot of changing. On what is supposedly my vacation. (I use that term tongue-in-cheek, of course.) Damn sexist pigs, if you ask me!

2. Those who know me and my life, will know my interest in "the extra chromosome." As I was in the thick of my amazing and awe-inspiring pre-trip preparations, I came to a realization of what the extra chromosome is. It appears to be the chromosome that makes a person unable to operate a zipper properly. This has been demonstrated with several, if not all significant zippers in the life of a certain person who has this extra chromosome, including ones that are supposed to be of such high quality that it can't possibly be messed up. But, that darned chromosome can do it every time, even on an Osprey daypack. Very seriously jacked up that zipper. I have dubbed it "The Zipper Chromosome."

3. I occasionally wonder if my dear husband and children might also carry The Zipper Chromosome.

4. I do believe that I carry "The Anti Zipper Chromosome." It's the part of your DNA that makes a person able to un-jack-up any zipper that has been jacked up by one carrying "The Zipper Chromosome." Yeah, I totally showed that Osprey who was boss.

5. Which joke is funnier:
Jake: Knock knock!
Ellie: Who's there?
Jake: Banana
Ellie: Banana who?
Jake: Banana
Ellie: Banana who?
Jake: Banana
Ellie: Banana who?
Jake: Orange
Ellie: Orange who?
Jake: Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Ellie: Knock knock!
Jake: Who's there?
Ellie: Hair
Jake: Hair who?
Ellie: Hair
Jake: Hair who?
Ellie: Hair
Jake: Hair who?
Ellie: Mountain
Jake: Mountain who?
Ellie: Mountain you glad I didn't say Hair?

6. Driving 12 hours with three kids under the age of 5 is not exactly a vacation. At least, not if you define a vacation as something you do for rest, relaxation, and fun.

7. Last night's sleeping arrangement was quite hilarious. Jake and Maki in one bed, Ellie and I in another bed, and Judd and Lu each in a cribs. I think the only person who was happy with her sleeping assignment was Ellie. Ellie and I learned something, though. A lot of strange noise comes from a boy's bed at night--we were awfully glad to not have to smell any of it!

If I get a moment, I will report some more on my earth-shatteringly interesting trip to Utah. Hopefully tomorrow. We shall see.

Going on Vacation

Airplane tickets:  purchased and confirmed
Condo rental: confirmed
Hotel reservation:  confirmed
Electronic gadgets to ocupy children:  purchased
Electronic gadgets to document children's delight:  found
Gifts for people we visit:  purchased
Enough appropriate clothing for everyone for duration of vacation:  check

According to my schedule, I would be cleaning and packing for the next two days before we leave on Saturday.

Big problem:  our destination is Tokyo, Japan.

Flights:  canceled
Condo:  canceled
Hotel:  canceled
Electronic gadgets for kids:  kids are playing with them
Electronic gadgets for documentation:  back in the closet
Clothing:  in a pile, still waiting to be washed

As it turns out, our family vacation is the least of anyone's problems. (In case you're wondering, my family is in the Tokyo area, safe from the tsunami. All accounted for, but struggling with the current situation. And scared to death for what the future may hold.) Though optimistic when I first heard the news, over the course of the weekend, I've come to realize that the situation is intensely bleak.

We, here in the U.S., we don't get the full effect of what has happened. We have NHK, a Japanese broadcaster, through our cable. Currently, it just plays news around the clock, with updates and reports regarding the tsunami, the earthquakes, and the nuclear power plant. When I sit to watch it, I just cry. When things get bleak, my silver lining is always that all things end at some point. This situation in Japan, hower, doesn't seem to end. Each new day has brought a new tragedy.

I have learned that (since an oil refinery blew up) there is no gasoline, even in Tokyo. My aunt is facing empty store shelves and packages not being delivered. She and her husband run the cafeteria of a dormitory, and there have been no food deliveries. Adding to this problem are the rolling blackouts. Twice a day, for three hours at a time.

Add to this, the fact that no one had reliable information. If you have been trying to follow this nuclear thing, you know that everyone is saying something different. It is becoming clear that no one is telling the whole truth. At this point, I'm hearing a lot of speculation.

So, dear friends, pray for a miracle.

Our last visit to Japan. That's little Ellie and my mom.