The Thanksgiving Road Trip. Fast Food, Slow Cars and an Extreme Makeover.
Monday, November 26, 2007 Setting out on our big adventure...
Ok family, we’re packing up the behemoth! This baby gets a whopping 6 miles per gallon. It would be cheaper to fly. First class. Why, then, are we doing this? There’s a family of turtles in need of a new home, and we’ve got it right here:
Dad is hungry. Dad is not too bright. Dad wolfs down 6 McNuggets, a Filet-o-Fish, a Big ‘n Tasty and a Cheeseburger.
Once all that food hits that Starbucks grande drip already in my stomach, this iron constitution will be tested to its fullest. And failure is not an option. This is all we see in front of us:
We make it without incident through our first tank of gas. Let’s fill up. $3.65 a gallon?? Hey, Fury, for every 17 miles we go, that’s one less Bionicle I can buy you.
Ewww. What’s that smell? Did all that McDonald’s finally kick in? Luckily no, it’s just something us LA folk never encounter. We can inhale industrial smog and vehicle exhaust with the best of 'em -- but cow poo? Drive faster Dad!
CrumbVision 1.0: the latest DVD viewing technology!
“Hey Dad, how much longer until Blood Alley?”
Marcus has been asking that all trip long. Blood Alley is a tricky stretch of highway 37 known for its many fatalities.
“Not for another 3 hours, Fury.”
He fights the urge to sleep. Time passes.
“Is this Blood Alley?”
“Nope... maybe in about an hour.”
I am amazed. He hasn’t slept the entire trip. He’s got a miner’s light on, so that he can draw in his notebook to stay awake for Blood Alley.
“Okay Fury, we’re in Blood Alley now!”
Disappointment. Poor boy. He thought Blood Alley would actually be covered in blood. I should have clarified that a little earlier. My bad.
A few moments later, I notice a beam of light shining on the ceiling of the cab. Marcus’s head is tipped back. He has succumbed to sleep.
We finally make it! Energized and excited, Marcus rings the bell and hides:
Seeing family is always a good time!
Thanksgiving comes and goes. No pictures, no stories. Just lots and lots to eat and some fuzzy food coma-induced memories...
Black Friday arrives. I live dangerously, but not enough to brave the crowds at the mall. No, instead we’re kicking off “Extreme Makeover: Turtle Edition” today.
Here’s the lucky family. Mama turtle’s job as an extra on Wonderpets just isn’t enough to keep the two-brick tank filled with fresh water and crickets. They live in the rough part of the house: the Garage District, on top of an old file cabinet.
The crew gets to work:
Presenting your new home! 125 gallons of living space in Sunroom Springs, with fresh flowing water, 2 basking areas, double heaters and all the goldfish you can eat! Probably the best Thanksgiving any turtle ever had.
Reader Comments (21)
Hi Jim and Fury:
Chris' turtles thank you very much for a great new home! They go up the rocks to sun bathe while the gold fish go round and round through the tunnels of bricks and rocks. Thank you for a beautiful addition in our sun room. Just perfect! Thank you for your great cooking, good jokes and for your family's great time with us. See you soon! Love and hugs, Tita Siony
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[BusyDad] It was our pleasure Tita! Thanks so much for having us and we'll be back soon -- but this time by plane. I'm still dazed from that 10-hour drive home.
Hey Jim! Glad you guys made it home safe. The pictures made me feel like I was there except for that tired gritty feeling from being in the truck too long. :)
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[BusyDad] Oh boy - the trip back was long and painful. But I love going up North and I'd do it again (after my back recovers).
Those are great pictures. Thanks for sharing! I needed a little "happy"...that worked!
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[BusyDad] Thanks Momo! May you carry that feeling well into the night :)
Wow! That's one great home for the turtles. If only the turtles knew the trouble you have taken to get them their new home. They'll probably be eternally grateful for your help.
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[BusyDad] Yeah, I think they owe me their firstborn for a nice bowl of turtle soup. Just kidding! I only eat turtles whom I don't know.
Fury looks like he's having a ton of fun with that water hose (and the gas pump, too) and then so poised and mature when he's standing next to the turtles' new home.
Great photo journal of what sounds like a memorable trip.
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[BusyDad] Thanks! Yeah, I'm sure he'd love to host his own show. He even has that showbiz smile :)
Hey Dad! I'm lovin' and laughin' at this post. I cannot believe you ate all of that junk and lived. And OMG, your son is the dang cutest thing...next to mine, of course.
The turtle home just rocks!
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[BusyDad] I thought the coffee would make a deadly combo. I'm too old to be playing with fire like that. And yes, I won't deny it. My kid is indeed cute! Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Great smile inducing post.
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[BusyDad] Always interesting to get a fellow parent's take on the world. Glad I could create a smile. Always a good thing!
great pics! enjoyed hearing about your travel and your trip! let me know which wonderpets episode...very into that show over here! :) we don't have the fog stench over here in michigan but, last march...i got to experience that l.a fog, first hard...omg! and the traffic...double omg. it takes 30 min. for, what should be, a 10 minute drive. crazy stuff!
glad you had a great thanksgiving. you're son can have all the bionicle pieces from my house...i'm sure that the various pieces laying around could make a doozy of one!
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[BusyDad] Thanks - but I don't think I'll tell him about the Bionicle pieces. He'll make me drive over to get them. After you've sat in a car for 10 hours, what's a couple extra days?
That's quite a turtle set-up you have going on there. Very impressive. And really...you can't possibly have eaten all that stuff. Right??
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[BusyDad] I sure did! and then some. I just couldn't list all the other random snacks because I couldn't remember them all -- crackers, chips, nuts... I figured I needed to train my stomach for the Thanksgiving festivities.
Things we never are without on car trips: crackers, DVD player, and miner lights (we call them head lamps). I could not give either of my sons that hose without them drenching everyone in the vicinity.
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[BusyDad] Oh, I thought we were the only ones with miner lights (Marcus started calling them that a while back and it stuck). I guess necessity does promote innovation. Marcus did soak himself with the hose though... after we all went inside with the tank. He came in saying, "Dad, I'm cold." I said "it's 70 degrees out! why are you ... oh... let's get changed."
You were on Interstate 5!!! I know those stinky cows!!!
I used to use a head lamp to change diapers at night. Once, I stood over my husband and used the SOS setting on the lamp just for kicks. Oddly enough, he was not amused.
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[BusyDad] Bingo!Those cows stank for miles. And on the way back, we crawled through that area. Torture. I'd rather have a headlamp SOSing in my face.
Great tale. I feel like I was right there with you. 10 hours...dayum! Looks like a great vacation and a virtuous mission. Turtles look better in their new home for sure. Well done!
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[BusyDad] Hey there Joe! Yeah, the funniest thing was the turtles literally spent the entire day swimming around, non-stop. In their old home, they didn't even have room to turn around. They would swim to one end and get stuck.
wow, that's one big aquarium. the turtles must be so happy. :D
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[BusyDad] Probably one of the heaviest things I will ever lay my hands on too! I'm so happy it did not crack on the way there.
BusyDad to the rescue! Great story and pics! Sorry Fury had to endure the stinky cows,please assure him it builds character..LOL. My husband loved the "foodie" pic and and the almost sure to happen problems you mentioned.His reply was,
"Been there..Done that!"
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[BusyDad] Thanks Peggy! Yeah - there's something about sitting in the driver's seat that just shuts your brain's ability to signal that you don't need any more food. If my wife didn't take the bags of snacks away from me, I would have eaten the whole way down.
I love reading your blog. I felt like I was on the trip with you. I would have expected Blood Alley to be pretty cool. I can't blame Fury for being a little underwhelmed. LOL! Looks like you had a great time and the turtles are now much more comfortable.
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[BusyDad] Poor kid stayed awake for it too. I should have been a little sharper about it when he kept asking how close we were :(
So I am not the only crazy turtle lover out there! I have a painter turtle in a 45 gallon tank with filters and the whole works. I'm so glad I came to your blog today and read this!
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[BusyDad] I've always been more of a fish guy, but after this weekend, those little dudes won me over. They can actually be quite ferocious. I was told that they once shared their old tank with a frog. For 5 minutes. Who knew they ate frogs?
Cool. I can relate to the boy. I'd probably have hoped that Blood Alley would be covered in blood, too. Just because I've always hoped that the names were there for a more specific reason.
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[BusyDad] Yeah, after that letdown I was hoping for at least a raccoon or something that I could hit to make up for it. No dice...
Sup BD!
This post was awesome! I love how Marcus's head lamp kept going on...after he was out. Great photos! Your family seems like awesome people, they'd have to be wouldn't they...to labor for a turtle, and produce such a kickass guy called Jim.
Giving the gift of this blog to your son is the most influential thing you will do for him. What a testimonial!
(you're smokin' hot dude!)
You ARE incredible!
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[BusyDad] Hey there Piper! How you been? They ARE an awesome family. They're from my wife's side, however. BUT, they have positively influenced me over the past six years and I can hands-down say that it's the best in-law family a guy could ask for. And it was pretty darn funny to notice that light shining on the ceiling, unmoving, out of the corner of my eye.
I seriously love how you told the story WITH pics. Love that. Love, love, love that.
So, hey, btw: I think you need some more moms on your link list that start with an "S". I need some more dads on my list, too. Catch my drift, yo?
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[BusyDad] Honestly, I did it because I was too lazy to write anything long! I even toyed with it being a Haiku entry. Glad it turned out for the better! haha. And I certainly read you loud and clear. My list severely needs an update. Thanks for lighting my butt on fire.
Dude, you have waaay more energy than I'll ever have. I tip my parenting hat to you! I LOVE your take on life, and the way enjoy the day-to-day. THANK YOU for helping me to do this more in my life! You commented on one of my posts to try and see the ridiculous in the daily stressors...and it really works!
Your boy is blessed, and so are you.
Pinky from Cheese In My Shoe
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[BusyDad] That was one of the best comments I ever got! I don't know what to say...
'Extreme Makeover: Turtle Edition'. I love it. :D
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[BusyDad] Totally what it felt like -- all these people mobilizing to help this family of needy turtles!