When I was younger, I could do the 10 hours between Amarillo and Austin with just a couple of bathroom breaks. The trip back, ending as it did in the boring flatness of the Panhandle, was harder - took lots of Springsteen to keep me going.

Now, 6 hours is pretty much the most I can do in one day. For one thing, more bathroom breaks are needed.

I do two 15 hour trips on the way here and back. It would be 12 except I have to stop and charge my car. I spend the 15-30 minute charge stops to close my eyes and rest up a bit, and/or get food and restroom time. This year I have loaded up my phone with 18 hours of Harry Potter, which covers the first two books. I didn't read them so I am looking forward to that between music or news breaks. I generally do podcasts, but I thought I would try audiobooks this time. My car makes the trip much easier with autodrive.

This year I have loaded up my phone with 18 hours of Harry Potter, which covers the first two books. I didn't read them so I am looking forward to that between music or news breaks.

I think you're going to love Jim Dale's voice keeping you company.

YAY PIX NO CANCER!

What is it with men (generally) and the need to drive straight through?

I'd say this isn't a guy thing because I'm like this too but I got it from my Dad, so...

To me, it comes down to the fact that 9-10 hours in a car is hard, but 15-18 hours in a car isn't significantly harder, vs the hassle of getting off the road and into a hotel (having to pack a separate overnight bag, having to sleep on unfamiliar hotel pillows, having to add whatever travel time it takes to get to/from the hotel itself). It doesn't feel like a break, it just feels like extra travel time we're wasting when we could just be getting there.

I’m 54, and I still haven’t gotten around to drinking coffee. That’s because coffee is gross.

Concur, at 57.

Ditto, at 50.

Which worked out well for msbelle & me at Disney. She'd go down to the coffee shop in the morning & give me an extra half hour to get ready because I would always be running late (I'm nothing if not consistent!)

NO CANCER! Benign!

W000t!

Yikes, Todd! Glad you came out OK, but sounds super un-fun! (I'm assuming if there had been a Hallmark-movie-style meet-cute to make it funner, you would have mentioned it).

I look at you road-trippers in awe and wonderment. I can't do more than about an hour and a half without stopping because I start falling asleep at the wheel. I've considered cancelling my annual pass to Universal Studios because so many of the people I used to go with have moved away (sailors who got out of the Navy) and I can't deal with the 2 and a half hour trip by myself.

I am So.Flipping.Exhausted. It was decided that we needed to do a 100% inventory (which I don't disagree with - it's been YEARS, and we're in the process of being bought), but I got volunteered to be a counter. I've come in an hour early every day this week, and stayed 2 hours late the past 2 days, to do labor that is substantially more physical than I am used to. I didn't mind doing it, but I'm TIRED and SORE. Looks like I get to do my regular job most of the day today. And I'm not working late today because I have tickets to a show tonight. Hoping to squeeze in a Disco Nap before getting ready tonight lest I fall asleep during the Old Globe's production of Hair. And thankfully have tomorrow & Monday as vacation days, yay!

Hil, I think the University systems are just breaking under this weight.

I know think the real reason my area's return to the office got pushed back indefinitely is testing capacity, which makes some sense, but is still frustrating to me, since I wanted to get out of the house!

On the other hand, someone in my band tested positive earlier this week, so now I'm on pins and needles waiting for the results of the test I took last night. Last time I did this, there was no line and I had the results in the morning. Yesterday, there were a bunch of people there with me.

My niece (a teacher) was sent to the hospital a short time ago. My nephew is on his way there now. School thought she might have been having a panic attack but sent her to the ER. Let's send some ~ma for panic attack and not something respiratory. She has asthma and although vaccinated long ago a breakthrough infection could hit her hard. School just started here Tuesday, but like most teachers she was there all last week too.

Oh no, Laura. Here's hoping!

Fingers crossed for your niece, Laura!!

Her 11-year-old son goes to the same school so my sister is picking him up. She was already planning on picking him up to take him to soccer practice. Even if they have released her chances are the kid won't want to go to practice now. She has a lot going on, and of course all teachers are overwhelmed these days. It is a K-12 school and she teaches 5 levels of Spanish. She was just saying a couple of days ago that it was easier this year because she only had classroom lessons to plan and not both virtual and in person. Masks are mandated in the school. Not sure about vaccines.