At least this time...

I told you I would be back Monday. And, lo and behold... here I am!

You know why I won't buy an SUV? Because when I went to fill up the Mercedes for the first time earlier this week, I couldn't. The pump wouldn't let me! ("What?" I hear you thinking, "is he talking about?") The pump stopped at $75.00. $75.00! And my tank still was not full! (More to follow, as you will see in a moment)

Anyway, when I got done with my training on Thursday, I set out for my hotel, which I had already programmed into the onboard navigation system. While driving from one city to the the next, I usually know generally where I want to be. That being said, I'm definitely a broad strokes kind of guy. I don't pay attention to the details. But when I kept driving, and driving, and driving some more, it occured to me that perhaps I should pull over and take a little closer look.

It seems, while conducting my afternoon training session, a sales consultant had reprogrammed my navigation unit. Taking me to a non-existent random location that was generally in the vicinity of where I needed to be. But that took me about six miles too far. In fact, I had driven past my hotel, which I saw, right beside the freeway. (And I thought to myself, as I drove past it, "I guess I'm not staying there 'cause they were sold out or something")(I had stayed there many times before)

But on Friday night, I got to drive home. I ended the week north of Los Angeles in the city of Valencia, which is about 150 miles from home. In good traffic, I can make it in just over two hours, as freeway provides the primary conduit. But by the time I could depart my afternoon venue, the clock said four. And it said eight when I got home. It was not good traffic. But I did get to see the kids before they went to bed, which is always a treat for me.

Saturday morning came with Noah having replaced Theresa next to me in bed. I have no recollection of anything happening in the dark of the night. Theresa, however, felt compelled to inform me that my sons are synchronized in many, many ways. One of which, apparently, includes their (ahem) elimination habits. Noah got up in the middle of the night and needed (read: wanted) his mom to help him. At the conclusion of his business, he crawled into bed next to me. Not fifteen minutes later, Grayson woke with the same need. And as Noah lie in Theresa's place in our bed, Theresa elected to replace Noah in their bed at the conclusion of Grayson's business. Ours is, indeed, an unusual home.

Oh. Before I forget, I'll give you a weekly mileage update. You may recall that when I picked up the GL, it had but 20 miles on the clock. As of Friday night, pulling up to the curb at home, the tally read 703. Not excessively high for the week.

Saturday night brought the final free concert at the park for us. We had plans to meet Ann and John with their daughter Catherine, and Emma and Elise with their French grandparents who speak very little English (long story) for the evening. San Diego provided its postcard-like weather, and an uber relaxing evening was enjoyed by all. (Typically, we arrive awash in alcohol. Not that we're lushes or anything... But we usually take some wine or beer, and Ann and John usually bring something, so there is generally an over-abundance. We all must have somehow been thinking along those lines, because this time we showed up with the lone bottle of wine. Although, I must say, we really needed no more, as the group of old-farts in front of us (this coming from someone over 50, so take that as you may) had consumed enough for everyone surrounding them. And they provided additional entertainment, as only gray haired line dancers can!

Sunday came all too quickly and I prepared to make the trek north. My goal had been to leave by noon, but you know nothing ever goes according to plan with three kids in the house. But I did make it out by one. But first I had to go the bank and deposit my check to keep the wolves away for yet another week. And replenish the petrol in the Mercedes, which has a highway rating of 18 MPG. And go by the post office to drop off the FedEx envelope so that it would go out on Monday. And drive back home to pick up something that I'd forgotten. But I eventually did make my way down the road.

This week I'm going to rack up just a few more miles. Because while I started the week in San Diego, I will end the week in Medford, Oregon. So, to start, when I got in last night, I had to fill the tank as I was on fumes after the drive up to Santa Clara (near San Jose) from San Diego. So, Sunday 1:06 PM: $73.78 to fill the tank. (At least it didn't run into a pump limit) Sunday (No time stamp, but roughly 9:00 PM) $83.51 (Smart gas station owners. Why limit the pump to $75 when there are so many SUV owners out there?) Sunday total fuel expense: $157.29. My odometer reading at the end of Sunday evening: 1171. (Yes... the company pays for the gas...)

As I prepared to drive away from my afternoon venue today, I programmed my hotel into the nav system. I chose not to follow this afternoons sales consultants suggestion, which would have taken me roughly 387 miles out of my way...