I tell you I'm not going to post, but you know, our family vacations (and I use 'vacation' quite loosely) are never really boring.

Tuesday:

Fly out for Portland. I had this great idea about buying a portable DVD player for my son on the plane. I did charge the battery, but had failed to really give it a trial run before getting on the plane. We couldn't figure out how to open the damn thing - and why? because we were doing it backwards. WE FELT SO STUPID. Way to overthink things, HDFamily! Idiots.

We get into Portland, get our bags, and things are really going way too smoothly. HDToddler didn't melt down on the plane (but for a few small instances). Our bags didn't take a wrong turn and head for another destination. We're doing great.

We had signed up a few months earlier for a certain rental car company (OJ used to do the commercials for) and their gold membership. Meaning that we show up, skip the other line, and our car is waiting for us.

But of course, it isn't. Our name isn't up on The Board. We go inside to the service counter where I man I shall call Vladmir was working. Through broken English, he told me that we didn't have gold membership and that was why our car wasn't waiting for us. And with a disgusted look and tone, he tells us that he will "I guess help you anyway". I tell him we do have a membership, and he says we probably let it expire.

Well, aren't you lovely. WE HAVE THE MEMBERSHIP. I pull out the gold card (expiring in 2008) and show it to him. After a few moments, it is agreed that we do have a membership and our car should be waiting. All the while, I have a two-year-old running around the waiting room, picking up the 'yellow phone' and making ominous sounding calls to someone in the car rental world. Maybe the Car Czar, who knows.

We get to our car, throw all of our 1200 pieces of luggage in (car seat, stroller, kitchen sink) and take off for the hotel. We determine it is wise to put our son down for a nap as soon as possible as it's past his real one anyway, and we're both wiped the hell out. We get checked in, have him asleep, order pizza, check email, relax.

Later, on our way to the in-law's, we notice a caution light on the dashboard. Seems the tire was low. We didn't see any real error, so we decided to just watch it. We have dinner the in-law's and listen to their stories about their cats that are really humans, you know. These are the same people who gave us a cat frame with a picture of their cat in it for my son's second birthday.

Wednesday:

It's raining and I'm loving every friggin' second of it, too.

HDHusband sleeps in. I curse him for this. We meet HDH's sister and her daughter at a portrait place. The idea was to put the two together in a photo for Papa (grandpa) for Christmas. While we're waiting for them to show up, we attempt to shoe shop for HDT who proceeds to throw a fit like none other. I broke a sweat getting the shoes ON him. It's wet here, you know, and the Croc's we brought weren't going to cut it. I had purchased a pair of shoes right before we came without him there to try on and they didn't fit. HDH told me that was the stupidest thing ever to do. I reminded him about the last leak in the fishtank. My mistake didn't cost that much to fix! ARGH! I shall kick his ass.

Sister-in-law and Niece arrive. Niece (who is 2) has thrown up all over herself in their car. Luckily, there is a change of clothes. Once this is squared away and the kids are in the room, Niece flips out and refuses to sit, stand, lay or be anywhere near where she needs to be to have her photo taken. My son thinks it's fabulous, and makes himself into a mini-model for a few minutes. We bought a ton of photos, of course.

We come out of the store to find our tire near flat. HDH takes it to get aired up.

HDT goes to hug his cousing goodbye (as we're standing outside) and he (on accident) topples her over into a cold and wet rain puddle. Not such a good day for her or her mommy.

We went for dinner at HDH's cousin's house. HDToddler played with his third cousin (same age) famously for hours. No fighting, no real tears, nothing. And then they ran across the room and banged heads, and my kid got a monster bloody nose. Poor bug.

Leaving the house, the caution light is back on again. HDH and I decide the best thing to do is return the car. I'm thinking that driving around on a SPARE until Monday isn't a great ideal. He's at the rental place now, cursing everyone that he's there at 10:30 on the night before Thanksgiving I'm sure.

I'll keep you posted. I'm sure it will only get more interesting from here on out ....