Driving me crazy

For the first time this year, we drove. We borrowed my parents' car and made our way to the Bay Area to celebrate our nephew's birthday. It took $22 to fill up the tank at Arco and $5 in tolls for each direction. It was awesome to be able to visit with family without feeling guilty about the long drive because this $32 has been our only car costs in the last 4.5 months! We also got to leave our boys with their grandparents for a week of being spoiled and immersed in Spanish. We get to enjoy a week of kid-free bliss, knowing they are having a great time (although I miss them like crazy). 

Yuck.

One boy.

The other boy.

We remembered that driving is boring and nerve-wracking--an odd combination. Jose and I argued about how fast he should be driving, he complained that steering made his arms hurt, and we got cut off by some crazy who thought we had been driving too slowly so he downshifted in front of us and started driving 45 mph on the freeway--sure showed us! Driving brings out the worst in people and I hate it. I'm so happy that we don't have to do it very often. We were all grumpy and tired after just a few hours in the car. Still, it was well worth the effort. 

Piñata time!

Play-time!

Cake-time!

The after party.

It is nice to be able to use a car when we need to but it's even nicer to know how little we really need a car. 

So now, hubby and I are enjoying our quiet home and trying to figure out if there are any good movies out (there aren't). I am hoping to attempt a solo bike overnight ride but there's also so much that I could do to catch up at home and for work, it may not happen. 

A pretty sunset to end the long day.

Tonight, I am especially missing my boys after an emotionally taxing day. The sadness in Boston is heart-breaking and I am so grateful to live in a country where attacks like these are so infrequent. I think of the many who deal with threats of danger on a daily basis and wonder how they can manage to stay strong. I try to focus on all the good and all the kindness tragedies like this bring out, but it's hard. I was especially thankful for my bike ride home, a fantastic way to burn off some of my tension--I even managed to chase a roadie, she had a head start because I stopped for the stop sign instead of gaining momentum, up a hill and pass her by (although my lungs haven't burned that much for a long time). I couldn't imagine compounding my sadness with an exhausting and frustrating car trip. Biking keeps me sane in this crazy world.