Learning on the Road

This entry is for the blog carnival at Families on the Road.

The subject this month is learning on the road.



When I first approached this subject I was a bit confused. How could one NOT learn on the road? You are faced with new experiences, customs, landscapes, fauna, wildlife, architecture, people and situations constantly.




I suppose the answer is the same whether on the road or in a bricks and sticks. If you are curious and inquisitive the opportunities for learning literally surround you.


On the road these things change as often as you move, enjoy the opportunity to pursue those things that move you and be open to discovering new passions.

Long Trip in a Small Truck

Do you really think we could have been this close to the garlic capital of the world and not stop by for a visit??



We are now in the middle of our three day journey up to Coeur d' Alene. The oscillation between slap happy silliness and acute pain is instantaneous and totally unpredictable.

San Jose and San Mateo

We have just finished an abbreviated but fantastic NorCal visit. We have some work issues that need to be addressed in person and so had to cut our visit short and are en route to CdA for a couple weeks.

When you are young you think that the friends you have will be in your life forever. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have it be true.

Don't be fooled by the picture, Aki and I actually do like each other, and have for almost 25 years. That makes us sound old but I assure you we are not.

Everything I start to write about our visit starts to sound like a long sappy love letter so I'll just say thanks for a good time.

Now it just sounds weird.

That works.




Cindy and Eric hosted the most amazing dinner. With 12 week old Julia pizza and a six pack would have been amazing, but no, think amazing appetizers, oyster and artichoke soup, crab legs, gourmet salad, garlic bread and pie.

Sorry, two pies.

So we keep them up until three in the morning solving the world's problems and they get up and make us blueberry pancakes. And they're still smiling.


Meredith and I and our babies; some bigger than others. Robb and I have tried to not be those people who repeatedly tell new parents how fast it goes. But look; here I have undeniable proof.


We love you guys and look forward to the next time our paths cross!!

Carson City

This is how we deal with being house guests at homes with white carpet and grown up furniture.



The kids don't even question it, they think it is how we should always eat.



Being with family nourishes us. Being on the road is phenomenal, no question, but there is a certain drifting un-rooted air that only family and friends can disperse.

We had to sneak in this visit as the jet-setting ones are on their way to Hawaii at the end of this week and are pretty well booked up for the rest of the year.



The kids idolize their cousins as only younger cousins can and have so enjoyed the opportunity to hang out.

We went to the Children's Museum, just to entertain the kids of course....
until we found the dance revolution and rotating climbing wall that is.



I'm sure Jeannine will be scrambling to pack as soon as we leave but we can't resist keeping her chatting to us in the kitchen for hours on end. Mike got home last night from a business trip so we got to catch up him finally.

And catch up in a proper like way, over sushi. This dessert roll was a first for us, but not a last; yummy!!




On the way to tour their AMAZING new house we had to stop and watch the 10 or so deer wandering around the town.



We celebrated at Ichi Ban on our last night together; the food, the entertainment and most of all the company had a quality unsurpassed.