The Much Belated Ending

We had one full day left in CA, so naturally we went shopping. We had a Swedish meatball lunch and wandered the wonderful corridors of IKEA. Picked up some groovy drapes and some magazine organizers to replace the ones Cosby gnawed.

We made a quick stop in Old Town Pasadena so I could redeem a gift card from LUSH that brother John gave me last Christmas. Karma soap, mango bath melts and a St. Patrick's Day prize because I found a hidden clover near the dusting powder. Mmmm.

By then, it was time for more sustainance. We'd planned to meet at Burger Continental at 6:30 for their $2 cheeseburgers and karaoke night. It's an alternative family home evening to many former/current Pasadena ward members. A great group of friends showed up (Robyn, Kevin, John Blood, Chester & Marilyn, and Lorie). We even karaoked! We meaning Robyn, then me, Lorie and Marilyn doing our rendition of "My Favorite Things." Remind me to post photos!

After the festivities, Mike and I went home to pack. Our plans for breakfast the next day with my New Era colleague didn't pan out, but we had lunch at Tito's with Marilyn and Lorie before heading to the airport.

Our plane was delayed on the ground in LA for an hour. If you're in that fix, it's nice to be in first class. They kept us hydrated and fed us shortly after we got off the ground. We watched most of "Into The Wild" before the plane landed in San Antonio.

When we were about 60 miles north of McAllen, we saw emergency vehicles parked on the highway and traffic exiting. Mike slowed to ask traffic directors what road we were supposed to take. 1017 they hollered and waved us on. It's the middle of the night, we're worn out and taking a farm road that goes god knows where. GREAT.

Then I noticed the smoke and the still-burning vegetation along the road. Yikes. We probably took close to a 80-mile detour by the time we were allowed back on the highway.

When we got home, now two+ hours later than we expected to arrive, we found
a car parked in our driveway. Huh? Inside, we found our cat sitter asleep on the couch. Our bustling woke her and she explained the power was out on her block. We moved her to an actual bed in the guest room before turning in ourselves.

Eight a.m. came too early the next day, so I called in to work and said I'd be in that afternoon. My co-worker said she was surprised we got home at all. Severe weather in other parts of the state grounded and canceled flights into McAllen and Harlingen. Plus a major wind-driven wildfire burned out of control on both sides of the highway and forced it to close. (We kinda knew about that part).

Needless to say, it was nice to finally hit the sack after a long day of travels and detours.