Getting Ready to Leave

We are making our final preparations for our trip to Kansas City. I have spent this past week at work trying to peer into the future and trying to figure out all the things I will need on the trip. I love going places, but I always have that nagging feeling that I have forgotten something. And, whether or not I forget something seems to have no correlation to how much planning I do. There are times that I just throw stuff together and I have everything I need and other times I meticulously plan every aspect and I leave something crucial behind. It makes no sense.

But, Like I said, we are going to Kansas City on a Mission trip. I will be with a group of Junior Highers, and we will be helping a ministry that ministers to homeless men and families that are in trouble. We will be doing that in the mornings. We will then eat lunch, pile on a bus, and head back to the camp where we are staying and do some more work. This is the first time that we will be doing a split-location work trip. I will let you know how it goes.

Cleaning the Durango

I spent this morning cleaning out our Dodge Durango. Having two children who are 3 years old or younger is really hard on a vehicle. It is amazing how dirty they can make our truck. So, it is nice to spend some quality time on it and get it cleaned up. It is about this time each year that I do a real 'spring cleaning' on the vehicle.

I moved all the seats and vacuumed everywhere and cleaned up every bit of filth I could find. I also did some detailing on the dash. It looks really good. But, the piece de resistance is how I cleaned our cup holders. The cup holders in our Durango are in the console in between the driver and passenger seats. They are permanent, and let me tell you after having the car for around 2 years; they have collected some serious funk! The cup holders have a rubber lining. I removed them, brought them into the house, and took them to the sink and gave them a real scrubbing. Upon removal of the liners I discovered a repository of pure disgustitude. Coke and other mystery liquids had found their way under the liners where they coalesced into some sticky, funky residue. It was brown and gooey... really "nice"! After a generous dousing of Windex and nearly half a roll of paper towels, our Durango is back as good as new.

After I finish crafting this blog, I will have to get all my clothes together and finish getting ready. I hate packing and unpacking. I like trips, but the logistics involved leave me a little cold. If I were a rich man, I would have my valet do it.

“James, go and clean the car and pack me for Kansas City.”

“Yes sir, right away sir.”

Wouldn’t that be nice? Oh well, back to the reality of clean socks and underwear… Peace out!