I have been in something of a frenzy today, getting ready for my small vacation, for which I am leaving in a mere two hours and ten minutes-not that I am counting. I have these four kids, you know, and I haven't been anywhere except a funeral three years ago without at least one of them. Oh-not true, back in December I went to the Tool concert with Steve, and no one was with us- which actually was intended, as I needed to have lots of sex. ANYWAY, I digress. My day has been filled with all sorts of last-minute details like, oh, packing, remembering at hte last minute that I actually need to leave the baby's car seat with Jacquie, as opposed to in the CAR, with ME...you know how it is.

However, instead of panicking, I thought I would write you all a little list of the reasons I really, really want to go. Besides the little mention of FOUR KIDS, that is.

1. Starbucks. I shouldn't HAVE to say more, but I will. I went to high school up in Seattle (actually, Kent) and so knew Starbucks loooong before it was cool. They really do have better coffee, too.




2. Trader Joe's. I have never actually BEEN to one of their stores, but when I was pregnant with Owen, my friend would send me all sorts of really yummy foods from there, and I am addicted. Triple-Ginger gingersnaps, here I come. Also veggie sticks and chocolate covered dried bing cherries. We don't have TRader Joe's in Idaho, so I will be filling up the suitcase.

   The smell of the ocean. We will be going to one of my favorite parks while there, right along the Puget Sound, and I cannot wait to smell that briny, slightly fishy smell. I love Idaho, I love the desert, but I really miss the ocean.




3. Free lunch with one of our company underwriter's. this is especially cool because I want to pick his brain to see what I need to do in order to take his job 15 years from now.




4. A real bed to sleep in. See, again there are those four kids, and we live in a two bedroom house; I sleep on a hide a bed in the living room. And I am not really complaining, because hey, it's the biggest rrom and the bed isn't terrible, BUT: a real bed is going to feel SO lovely. A bed with no other person or animal in it. A bed without the faint smell of vomit from the baby's last bout with puking, a bed without a bar that jabs into my lower back, a bed....ah.

Incidentally, I am also looking forwarding to visiting my friends.