The day has finally come... my first vacation in 5 years. Over the course of the next 2 weeks (Jealous? Don't be), I am going to be blogging about the daily activities of a mortgage broker (business owner) on vacation (or at least an attempt at vacation).
Day 1 - The Departure
6:30 - Get up. Take care of the animals - Feed the horses. Muck the stalls. Turn the goats out. Feed the dogs. Feed the fish.
7:30 - Wake Madison up. Fix breakfast. Finish packing the car. Get ready.
8:30 - Leave to pick up our friend to help drive us to the airport.
10:00 - Arrive at airport.
10:20 - Check luggage.
10:30 - Catch a break at secuirty and get shuffled through the handicap lane (thanks to Madison's tri-stroller).
10:45 - Hear announcement of final boarding for our flight. Proceed to run down the terminals to our gate with stroller, car seat, 2 carry-ons, a diaper bag, Madison, and my wife.
10:59 - We take our seats.
11:05 - We have to move because we are sitting next to an emergency exit and even though Madison is in out lap, we are not allowed to sit in that row. Moved to smaller seats with much less leg room. We get down graded and someone gets upgraded.
11:10 - Taxi out to runway. Captain announces, "Due to some trouble at Newark, we are going to have to hold our position here until cleared."
15-30 minutes later... "We are cleared to take off."
Enough with the times... mid-flight: Madison is fighting her nap (screaming and crying). But not to worry, there are about 7 other small childern on the flight. (Side note - they canceled the early flight. Come to find out all the passengers with children, including us, were on the earlier flight. Best to fly early morning with young children)
Finally land in Newark. Got the rental car. Loaded up car. Checked messages on voicemail before braving NJ traffic. Yep, message relating to several deals. Sit in car at rental company talking business before leaving. After 20 minutes of idling, we continue.
Finally, we arrive at our destination by 6:30.
Walk in to a mess... no one has been here for 2-3 years, at least not human. (Here being the family cottage). The mice have found a way into the home... yuck! My wife starts the task of vaccuuming the floors while I attempt to turn the water on.
City boy from Florida meets country life of the NE, not a pretty site. After reading the directions several times, I still cannot get the water to turn on. Meanwhile, the weather is dropping fast outside. Left Florida at 90 degrees and now it is in the upper 40's. Did not pack accordingly. Furnace will not start... there is gas going to it (cough, cough). Finally, I give up.
Thank goodness, the house next door is also family (and we have the key). Repeat process of turning water on and heat. Success...
Set up computer and internet connection through Moto Q modem. 33 emails?!? Oh, no. This broker wants that. That one wants this. A lender has been trying to reach me all day via email (try my cell). Junk mail. E-fax... After responding to those that warrant a response, I finally make my way upstairs...
Bed. Sleep. May tomorrow be better.
Here is looking for a sail on the lake tomorrow.
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