The Road Trip

It all began with the knowledge that we have some good friends and lovely people to see and meet with in Austin and Houston. So Jess and I, never the type to stay in one place for more than a month, decided to pack up our stuff head East and see some good friends and raise some support. Our first stop was Houston where we stayed with one of Jessica's college roommates, Cindy, and her husband and daughter, Lee and Claire. They are a ton of fun to be with and we enjoyed a viewing of "American Idol" with them. We couldn't believe Melinda got the boot!

One of the highlights of our stay in Houston was when Jess and an old friend of hers from San Angelo were able to get reacquainted. Merritt and her husband Brett have been living and working in Houston for the past year and are about to move to Washington D.C. in the late summer. It's a bummer for us that they are leaving the Houston area so soon after reconnecting but also good in that they will live near D.C and left an open invitation to come and stay with them at any time....excellent.

Some of the other highlights included breakfast with Jesslyn and then Jess and Jesslyn and Cindy getting lunch while I chilled out at a cafe and bookstore. Two of my favorite places in the world, doesn't matter what the name is or where it is, as long as they serve coffee and have books I've never seen, I'm happy.

From Houston we went to Austin to attend Jessica's sister's graduation from the University of Texas MBA program. While we were there we were able to see one of Jess's friends from home, Garrett and his wife Natalie. To kill time in Austin we explored the Texas State History Museum and the Capital building. It was actually more fun than one would think.

Then from Austin we headed up to Westcliffe, CO for a 3 day conference with Campus Crusade but stopped in Amarillo for a night on the way. I whole-heartily recommend the Chicken Crepes from IHOP, it hit the spot.

We are learning a number of things about road trips and our personalities. Since getting married in December we have put more than 10,000 miles on our car and spent countless hours together in the car. One thing that really helps pass the time is books on tape or CD. We recommend The Kite Runner by Khalid Husseni and The Last Juror by John Grisham. But some of the greatest things about road trips are the conversations you have with your friend as you travel. Plus it's a great marriage builder. When we get in fights there's no where to go. We're stuck together and have to work it out. If only the Real World was filmed in a car....maybe not....Also the random people we meet along the way are great fun. The dude at Subway was probably the greatest Sandwich artist I've ever seen and the receptionist at the Comfort Inn was the politest and most helpful one I've met in a very long time. It is fascinating to watch the scenery change as one drives from East Texas to West Texas then into Colorado. All in one glorious country.

We are more than a bit tired of driving and putting miles on Judy, our Toyota Camry, but we are also more than grateful that we've been kept safe thus far and have had so many wonderful people to see and spend time with. It is a massive "perk" of the job.

Thus ends our road trip story but we have a couple stories to share from our time in Westcliffe and since then here in Colorado. That for a later post.