Me: “It’s a hospital.”

C, quite calmly: “In case somebody dies.”

D: “Or gets a boo-boo.”

*

We drove down to Boston, and as we were leaving the city, we drove under a couple of underpasses – roads that go under the city. The boys asked if we were under the water (we’re used to tunnels around our home turf, and these looked quite like tunnels), and I explained to them that we were under the city, not the ocean. Then we took a tunnel out of the city that actually did go under the harbor a bit, but it started and ended in the city, so the water was never really visible. I told them that this time we were going under the water, and D said “No, it goes under the city.” I try not to argue with five year olds, so I just said, “No, it goes under the water” once and then let them debate who was right while I drove. When we came back up to the surface, it was not apparent that we’d gone under the water. C looked around and exclaimed, “D was right! It went under the city!” And D, looking very smug, said complacently, “Yeah, I was right.”

Virginia: The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is ridiculously huge. The boys were very impressed by it. The Eastern Shore, not so much. Boring drive.

Maryland: That stretch of MD is also not an interesting drive.

Delaware: Rest stops suck. Only exit in one direction? Fail. We had to drive 5 miles in the wrong direction and pay a toll to turn around. Not cool, Delaware.

New Jersey: I may be biased in favor of Jersey because my mother was born and raised there, but the Turnpike was a lovely drive. People were not unreasonably assy and we made good time – but then…

New York: Could it suck any worse to drive over the George Washington Bridge? Even at 10pm, it took an hour to get over a 3 mile bridge. People driving like assholes, roads in horrific repair despite the hefty toll. I had to repress most of the experience, but I did vow to avoid it on the way home. Somehow.

Connecticut: Also sucky and full of assholes.

Massachusetts: Refreshingly unremarkable after CT and NY.

New Hampshire: Seems quite nice. Going out to explore – and shop for a good winter coat for me, I can never find one in Virginia, and boots for the boys, which I can also never find.

I’ve been trying to get the house in order before we leave, because I hate coming home to a dirty house after a trip. So I’ve been running around all day, doing errands and trying to get everything ready. Sent a note to the school, notified the bus driver, put a hold on the mail, cleaned the car out, had a business meeting with my lovely dance partner Nadira, did laundry, did more laundry, packed a few things, etc. Need to get the cat ready (clean litter, fresh food and water) and pack some more. And do one more load of laundry.

Ah, travel!

So this morning, I need to wash the dishes, pack the car, look some more for the DVD player, find a sweatshirt for my mom, change the kitty litter and make sure his food and water feeders are full, and make some sandwiches for lunch on the road. And if I have time I want to finish sewing this dress I started, so I can wear it while we’re in DC. Sigh. Better get my butt up off the computer then.