Vacation my ass.

Today is Monday, February 17th.  It is President's Day.  It is supposed to be vacation.  Maybe I should back it up to Saturday, the 15th, our anniversary.

I woke up and went to the chiropractor.  Then we had to go to Republic Airport to finalize our Global Entry paperwork.  Then, drop three at home and pick up a prescription and call my boss while Jess and Malcolm drove to Philly for his gymnastics meet.  Then bring Duncan to a birthday party.  Then make lunch.  Then get Duncan.  Then make dinner.  Then get people to bed. 

Sunday was a little more lazy but....still lot's to do.  And now it is Monday.  The plan was to go into the bar and have my coffee and watch an episode or two of the Wonder Years with Malcolm.  Instead, I was accosted by the points monster, her calendar, pages of notes...

Perhaps this was purposeful, not that you can make it out, but the wall on her left is covered in pitcures from previous trips, maps and pin map with places we have been.  Behind her is a gemstone globe that my parents gave me when I graduated.  I think they hoped I would one day be able to put it in my classroom.  I don't think they had any idea where I might have ended up or they would have given me a blow up globe instead.  Behind her are baseballs from the stadiums I have been to.  A few gaps that need to be filled in, but there are 23 out of 30 stadiums.  It would be great to finish them off soon.

While this process sounds like something that should not be too difficult, it is in fact daunting.  The amount of disruptions is truly insane.  "Mom!"  "Ma" "Mom!"  "Mommy!"  "Mom."  

At this point it is primarily Malcolm.  He tried to clean part of one of the bathrooms in a good faith effort to earn some time on Fortnite.  The battle ensued - as the OCD cleaning gestapo went on her inspection of said "labor."  After pointing out numerous spots that needed to be addressed, including the football that had not even been moved (and in her defense, you can't really clean the floor without moving everything off of it), he was given a shot at round 2.  We sat back down to start talking again...."Mom!"  "Ma" "Mom!"  "Mommy!"  "Mom."  She kept getting distracted while looking at flight information and then he pops his head in to let us know he's waiting.

Probably not the best approach since, the next minutes was spent listening to - "Are you kidding, Malcolm?"  His protest, then, "Of course you can get in there and clear it."  Followed by his, "Why?  This is bull - no one can see that!"  Unfortunately for you, buddy, the gestapo sees everything.

It's 10:30 and Neil is not even up yet.  Duncan and Isla are doing something in their fort in the living room and despite all the up and down on the stairs Neil is still not up.  Though, we keep hearing, "Alexa...volume up..." which means someone will be up soon.  Jess then hops on the app and uses Alexa to tell them to stop.  Fucking Big Brother.  Maybe Big Mother.

Honestly, at this point, I would be ok with just taking the money and making the yard an amazing space to hang out.  

It's 11:25 and his highness is up and we tried to have a discussion about the number of days in different places, etc.  At which point he informed his mother that he gave me an ultimatum.  I had to gently explain to him that he does not make ultimatums.  I do and that since I am the one footing the bill, I will be the only one making ultimatums.  He understood and recognized the use of the wrong vocabulary word.

As usual, there are issues with summer school.  The truth is, there are no issues other than it is not only for mandated kids, it is a baby sitting system for everyone who applies on time.  This means the program has to be covered by a principal - however, the mandated program ends at 12 or 1 and then it is the community based organizations - because of all this, more sites are open and people have to be available - which, they really don't because an AP can run the regular day program in the absence of a principal.   Regardless, this required that I sell my soul, miss a day in Florida and then use another two days to leave on the 31st if that works best for flights.  I also, to make it work, agreed not to take my remote days for the days I will be there in case there is a need for coverage.  

Right now, kids are trying on clothes for the trip.  Trip clothes as Jess likes to get excited about.  The truth is they will probably grow out of all of this shit before we go.  This was a much easier proposition when they were smaller and not growing as quickly.

When you're this guy, you don't even take off your reindeer PJs to try stuff on.

Now the decision is going to be:  can we get there on points - direct to Venice or will we need to stop somewhere and how much time will we be spending in each place.  Initial estimates have us finishing Italy by August 12th and then trying to see some of Greece and Croatia - with a possible stop in London for a cheap flight back.  Or getting to somewhere else for a cheap flight home.

I'm working tomorrow and Wednesday in order to get additional days in the summer.  

Yeah, vacation my ass.