Five days and the launch codes are set

Five days out... this is going to be the most amazing adventure of my life thus far. Yesterday I was stranded here in McHenry, both by the snow and the lack of my car. On Monday the roads were covered in ice and as I went to see Mr. Neil and bum around the wonderful world of Woodstock, I slid off the road and one of my front tires blew out... nice. But before all of that I drove the 4 hours roundtrip to Indiana to get my sis and the kids! That was great fun... rain, rain and more rain, so much so that I could not see five feet ahead of the car, which is never a good thing on the highway. But we made it home safe and in one piece... but later that night... the ice was not so kind to my car... But with my parents, Bree, Ed the car-master, a $70 tow out of the mud and tire change later and we were back on the road, though the night was cut short and I just went home. My mom and dad brought the car to Ed's, where he fixed it all up, while Bree and I were in Chicago seeing Spamalot! The show was one of, if not the, funniest shows that I have ever gotten to see. We stayed the night at the House of Blues Hotel and had dinner at Bin 36, which had some of the greatest food and also a really interesting wine flight... which is a sample of four different types of wine - very tasty. After the show we were going to go out dancing, but with the snow we thought it best to hang out in the hotel and drink a bit. Richard came out and I spent half the day trying to get ahold of Noelle, but all the numbers that I had for her didn't work and I couldn't get into my email to find the home number she had emailed me and I didn't put in my phone... The next morning we had breakfast in bed and went to the Museum of Science and Industry for their "Action: The Science of Filmmaking" exhibit - and it was very cool. They had all kinds of props and costumes from great movies and you even got to be in a trailer that they made right there! I was a wonderful time. After that is was back home and to pick up Mr. Jabez!

Yesterday, I was to go to Milwaukee, but with the car being out of use (though thanks to my mom for letting me use her's while she was home on the snow day) I couldn't get up there - and the snow was coming down by the bucket loads... I shovel'd two, maybe three different times and still there is snow on the drive-way! E-gad! Nick came by and watched as I played "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II" for the Xbox and we hung out and chatted... then the three of us (Bree, myself and Nick) all went out for a bite to eat and run around time... pick up the car and drop things off at different places... very fun!

Today I got to spend some really good time with my family - my sister and the kids. We went to lunch and got to play with them... tonight it is dinner with the fam, then a movie with Scott, Kel, Bree... Nick and maybe Mr. Neil.

I also did some more packing today, almost done with that... and I planned out the drive... 32 hours... 2070 miles... to Park City and then to LA... the first leg to Park City is 1364 miles/21 hours and to LA from Park City (going right through Las Vegas) is 704 miles/11 hours... this is going to be long and lots of fun!

Just afew more days and I will be LA-bound...

J.

And a Happy Happy to you and yours

So 2005 has begun with a bang... more like a wonderful panic and a scramble for the proper glasses, but in the end all was right in that moment and I was right where I wanted to be that night. We had a wonderful time at Bree's but I still missed Paul and the gang.

There was music, food and drinking... cheesecake and haircuts... lots of smoking and red bull... and the next day was full of McDonald's and video games. The ladies ventured out into the world while the guys stayed indoors and out of the long arm of the sun.

Yesterday I finally got to see the full versions of all 3 Lord of The Rings movies. Myself, Scott, Nick, Kel and Bree were there from the wee hours in the morning, then we were joined by Paul and Kerri, along with Chris and Danelle shortly after the Fellowship ended... Kim and Mike joined us at the end of Two Towers and everyone was inhouse for the 4.5 hr Return of the King... they are such amazing movies... Thought I wish everyone got out of them what I do... I really do see myself and friends playing such key roles... in our own lives. Thank you Samwise.

I am heading to Milwaukee, Chicago and Indiana this week... it is going to be busy as the days count down... 10 more...

Hoping your 2005 is everything that 2004 was, but with more wonders and treasures than ever before.
J.