A Milestone

We have had our Pontiac Vibe for almost 7 years now. It has guided us through many an adventure, both in travel and in life. Before dad's big RV, before our travel trailer, before even our minivan, we had the Vibe.

Without a doubt its greatest moments were enjoyed carrying Steph and I, before kids, on the 2003 Road Trip, the one that started them all. It took us 7,501 miles from Cincinnati to Seattle and down the west coast, bringing us back safe and sound with a tire blowout in 105 degree Kansas heat on the way back being the only mishap.

This car has been through it all with us. Ironically, this car outlasted its own maker. Pontiac is no more. But our Vibe, at least for the moment, lives on.



Today, on the way home from work, just before the intersection of OH-32 and Glen Este-Withamsville Rd, our Vibe's odometer turned over and crossed the 100,000 mile mark. I beamed with pride and nearly had to pull over for the tears that welled up in my eyes. So many memories. So much time. So many trips, so many miles. So much has changed.

Thanks for the memories and the miles, you old grey beast. And...here's hoping you can last to give us a few more.

Matt

April Begone

May provides hope. We might get through this yet. Feeling better than I've felt in a long while. A little weight lifted. We're getting there.

Can't keep the house clean, but hey.

Matt

The Sickness

We just can't seem to lick things around here. More strep. My first sinus infection. It's time to quarantine the whole house.

Anyway, all of life is getting shook up by these little illnesses. We soldier on. Big things are still afoot - I'm still a little spooked that I'm going to jinx things, but pretty soon I'll just point everyone in the right direction regardless.

Later,
Matt

Big things are afoot...

...not really big things, but some big things in the online Specter Family Universe. It is a slow process however, so be patient.

No, I'm not starting to use facebook.

But, in the meantime, you can view all the 'real' photos (not taken on a kiddie camera) from our Tennessee trip on our travelpod page.

There are the skeletons of other entries there too but I haven't had time to flesh them out. This is a temporary solution - but all I know is, it took me about the same amount of time and effort to upload all those pics as it normally does to upload about 5 to this site.

Forgive the fact that I never really weeded out the silly photos - there are some really goofy and bad ones, but wade through and you'll find some good ones too.

In the meantime, hang tight - big things are afoot. Stay tuned.

Might as well do it now

I have decided that as much as I love blogger, it is a very inconvenient way to share photos. I am exploring other options.

So sorry

I know there are a handful of people who really do follow this thing but sometimes I just can't keep up. I'm trying, really.

After the last post, the last couple of days of the trip were much improved. Hannah was still a bit of a handful but things did get better.

After we got back we had a decent couple of days hanging out at the house, and then Faith came down with another case of what sounded like croup. Well, she started having trouble breathing, so Easter evening we took her to the ER just to make sure nothing extra was wrong. The tech at our local hospital read the x-rays and found something he was worried about - and sent Faith straight over to Children's Hospital where we spent most of the night, before finding out the xrays were normal and it was just croup as we expected. Made for a fun day of work on Monday too.

Everyone is fine now.

I will try my darndest to post pictures soon from the trip, including a few really good ones that the kids took with their camera.

Matt

A trip to forget?

Okay, so.

Hannah has an ear infection and possibly a sinus infection. Mom has a stomach/flu bug. The bakery up the street is literally closed the whole time we're here. You can't buy tequila without a trip to Gatlinburg which is messing with my chicken marinade recipe. Today was cold and rainy. All in all, this has the makings of a major disaster. We've been here for 2 whole days and basically have done nothing but sit in the trailer, drive to meals (which in all fairness have been amazing) and drive to get groceries or take Hannah to the medical clinic. Mom doesn't look to be getting any better.

Maintaining a positive attitude out of sheer stubbornness. Still nice to be with the family...even if the big girls are whining, Hannah is screaming, and Bud has turned into a little devil. Still better than the last couple weeks at home.

Keep us in your prayers.

Matt

Greetings from Tennessee

We are at "Up the Creek RV Park" outside of Pigeon Forge. Very nice. Small, secluded, much more 'natural' than a lot of the RV parks in this area. A good find.

We are all very tired, but wanted to post a couple of pics from the day. More in the next few days. We'll be down here till Wednesday or Thursday.




Matt

The Ringer

Almost there.

But the fates are giving us all we can handle.

I just got done with the worst case of strep I think I may have ever had. Kept me out of 2 of the 3 musical performances I practiced for. Forced Steph to take over the family for a few days.

But that's okay, because now she's had the flu for a couple days, and I'm running things. Trouble is we're also in the middle of trying to get ready for this trip.

I'm in constant motion here, going from one activity to the next. A lot to do. We all just hope Steph gets better soon.

You know it's bad when I actually need my alarm. Gotta go.

Matt

8 days to go...

8 days of work that is before spring break and an escape to the Smokies.

We're making it. In the midst of all the craziness, I am continuing to find the desire (or perhaps stubbornness) to get up around 5 every morning and work out. Steph is also doing the best job she's done in a long time in terms of doing treadmill work. I'm proud of her. We both are feeling good.

This is musical week here at Batavia - so I'm in the pit for long rehearsals. Actually it's turning out to be not as bad as we thought - we couldn't arrange babysitting on Tuesday so I had to come home right away which made things a lot easier. If not for that, I literally would have put the twins down for bed on Sunday and not seen them until at least Thursday. That would have been tough. The show is going great - good job directors and students.

In some ways, next week is shaping up to be one of those real drags. All the craziness and busyness culminates this week, and then it's just one more week of work before break...and those weeks can be the toughest sometimes...mentally, anyway.

I do still feel like I have barely seen Steph for a few weeks. Hopefully we can get more time in soon.

Later, all.
Matt