Griswolds

We're back. I bet y'all didn't even know we were gone.

Here's the good and the bad, right up front: it was another Griswold re-enactment. So for the purposes of this travelogue, here is your cast of characters:

Clark, as played by The Dave, The Jesus Of Cheese, Chili Webber

Ellen, as played by BeerPup

Rusty, as played by Simian Boy

Dana, as played by Stick Girl

It's probably a VERY good thing we had no Aunt Edna along. After all, we forgot to bring rope. Nor did we visit Cousin Eddie, though if we'd wanted to detour further South I'm sure Drumhedz would have happily filled that role. Also, there was no supermodel in a Ferrari. Just so you know, there will be no sexual tension in this story. Well other than the obvious: staying in the same hotel room with two inquisitive children who never sleep=no sex on vacation.

We planned this vacation in stages. Here's the timeline:

April:
Me: Hey, The Dave, I'm going to Minnesota in June no matter what, but I'd rather you use your vacation on just me and the kids, rather than my family.
The Dave: Okay.

June:
Me: So are you taking any vacation this summer?
The Dave: Um, I guess so.
Me: Okay.

July:
The Dave: So when does school start?
Me: Not soon enough. Oh, you mean what date. [We figure out the date.]
The Dave: So I'll just take the 11th thru 15th off.
Me: Okay.

Early August:
Me: Maybe we should go to Big Bend National Park. I've never been there.
The Dave: Maybe.

Two days later:
Me: Maybe we should just go to Roswell. Stick Girl's really into aliens lately. Plus we can just go to Carlsbad Caverns, too.
The Dave: Maybe.

August 7th:
The Dave: How about we go to the Grand Canyon? I've never been there.
[BeerPup has a panic attack over hotel reservations; The Dave saves her sanity by pointing out the obvious: Priceline.com]
Me: Okay.

August 10th, somewhere in Arizona on I40:
The Dave: [Pointing] Let's go there.
[Sign says Petrified Forest.]
Me: Okay.

August 11th, mid-afternoon, the Grand Canyon:
The Dave: We could probably do everything we want here in one day.
Me: Yep.
The Dave: How about we head back, see Meteor Crater, and then go home via Roswell and Carlsbad?
Me: Okay.

And that's how it went.