What Carly Wants

The other day, Carly asked us what we might think of spending Christmas in Great Falls. Not much!! With a little prodding, we determined that A. their plans to go to Chicago for Christmas had fallen through and B. that she was missing her family on the north side of the 49th. But Great Falls, come on, surely we could do better.... Of course Spencer made the comment about whatever Carly wants, Carly gets.

A couple of calls and a little bit of a miracle and we have a plan. Christmas and New Years is, understandably, the most sought after weeks in the "time share" game. I called Interval Int.'s Marriott desk and requested Christmas or New Year's in just 55 days. My kind agent seemed to be suffering from a case of the giggles at this audacious request and then kindly indicated that there was no such luck, except, what was this, here comes a week, unbelievable. Once again I showed my gullibility as I requested a day or two to consult with the stakeholders. My host , choking back his laughter, graciously offered to stay on the phone, even for 2 hours if it took that long to get family to agree to spend New Year's in the sun. It took about 10 seconds of which 9 of them were in travel from floor 1 to 3. So we aren't going to Great Falls.

On a similar note, Sam called on Sunday and asked, "Grandpa are you going to Palm Springs?" He then went on to outline a plan that would have me come to his house, pick him up, leave a car at the airport and go to California together. I was able to surmise that his mother had told him of our plans and he wanted in. He may get his wish but it will be in the back of an SUV for 22 hours and, in keeping with the incredible patience I almost always exhibit, there might be some very short pit stops.

It snowed last night... Yuck!