And....we're off...

After much research on Jess' part we have finally found our flights. I'd like to tell you that this was easy and wasn't stressful - but it was. Not because we were getting tickets but because Jess was thinking out loud during the entire process - huffing, breathing and freaking out about the entire process. To be fair - these things happen. The websites are not always the easiest and now...as she sits there freaking out, I am not even sure I can say where we are headed to because, who knows if the flights are there. We were in - rows 46,47 and 48 - two people per row. Jess thought that would make the most sense - her and Isla, Neil and Duncan and me and Malcolm. I just got an "Ok, I am paying and confirming...." with her hands on her chest....confirming your flight booking....almost there...."This is taking too long," she says as she let's out a heavy breath. 

Now she's yelling to the boys because they are playing fortnite and saying it is their fault because they were streaming...I got a "Ok it is confirmed - we were just charged for the taxes... 

We were able to buy the flights with points - so that was a good thing and certainly makes life a little easier.  At least cheaper - but not really.

Then, she got a message that the seats were fucked up - someone bought one of our seats while we were doing it....now we are 47, 48 and 49...she's trying to decide if she should do what other people are doing and we have done before as well - take the ends of the middle seats and hope no one takes them so we can spread out.

I did that once before, when Glenn and I met Jess and Chris in Venice and we took the two aisles - the middle and side and no one sat with us.  

I'm hoping the second time will be a charm as well since we are headed back to Venice on a direct flight. Eight hours twenty-five minutes, four kids.  What could possibly go wrong in that time?   

No stop in London - at least on the way there.   This will be my third time in Venice.  Each time, I have said, "I do not need to go back."  Well, since we keep going with people who have never been, I guess we need to go back.  I am excited to see Il Gobo di Realto again.  When condemned thieves were caught - they had to walk from St. Marks to the Rialto where they were then whipped near this statue.  

Il Gobo - when I was last there in 2011

I'm obsessed with this statue and I don't know why.  They will also enjoy the statues in Florence where the lion is biting the guys butt chucks.  That's a Duncan coined phrase for your asscheeks.  Butt chucks.

Of course, to end off this vacation, I am sick.  I have a weird cough and it is probably the final result of avoiding stuff for the past month and a half at work.  I have an appointment today and I am hoping it is not Bronchmoniafluvid...because it is all going around.  I have had a slight fever (I never get them) and I am a little achy - but who knows, that can be from going to TopGolf this week.  

Now the real harassment will begin - how many days?  How are we getting from X to Y...train, car - no cars because we do not want to have to drag car seats.  Times - yes, that is going to be fun - trying to get these guys up on time to get a train at like - 5:30 am....or better yet, figuring out how we get to that train at 5:30 am....this is the stress of the trip and it is real.  It wasn't horrible when it was just us - we only missed one travel arrangement and it was not my fault.  

Now Jess is flipping out because the trusted traveler program just went down - and she was only half way through entering people's information....the joys of traveling.  And we haven't even left.  This stress is highlighted by the rapid fortnite gunfire from the new season that launched today.  Yay.  So excited.

It's now Saturday.  If you know us, you know why it's Neil, Jess and the Hot Mess....  and I could kick myself for not sharing us at TopGolf...

It was 24 degrees....

To be fair - the place was pretty packed.  The kids love this place - it is highway robbery to be honest when you go with them.  They like to play the games, etc - but the truth is with six of us, you are lucky if you swing the club 50 times - you'd be better off getting a bucket for everyone and letting them go at their own pace.  They were mostly well behaved - I have to give credit where credit is due.

Today, Jess and Malcolm left early to head up to Chappaqua and the criminal Clintons for a gymnastics tournament.  He's been thinking about quitting - he's always complaining that he doesn't like it...what I think he doesn't like is the criticism of performance - feedback...and then using it to get better.  But, he's been focusing and working on it over the last few weeks and it is paying off...took 1st place in P-Bars and 2nd overall - he also, noted an area that he could have done better in that would have made him 1st overall - well done, Malcolm!

Hopefully this will be a confidence booster that helps to keep him motivated - that and swinging off of 2000, year old ruins while we are away.

Lastly today, Duncan and Isla got to pick out their first fish - a beta, of course.  A blue crowntail now named, Crowny.  He lives in a psychedelic tank - that I saved from Jess throwing out and who originally housed Goldy, Neil's beta.  Crowny will be getting his own black light, since the one he has now is mine from college - yes, over 30 years  in the system and it still works -  like me.