Holiday travels/travails 2008

[Free For All]

After two years of zero holiday payoff I've decided to travel this year. Lots of miles on the ol' vehicle but much more holiday fun, where there was none before. I'm going to go up into the frigid tundra of Iowa to visit my sister in the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities (which consist of Moline, Bettendorf, Davenport & Rock Island for those of you who could care less ). I will then travel to Iowa City to visit my buddy (miles251), and then go to Des Moines to play a gig w/the Des Moines big band (led by Jim Oatts, who happens to be brother of altoist Dick Oatts). They have many of my arrangements in their book, so they are obliged to suffer fools like me gladly.

So it looks like an I-80 Christmas for me.

To all of you who are traveling this year, good luck w/all that! Be careful out there!

And happy holidays to all!

Edited December 19, 2008 by Free For All

[Dan Gould]

I am going to CT on Sunday for what will surely be a memorable holiday for all the reasons no one wants to deal with: My older brother's health is failing and he has to stay in Harrisburg to be near the doctors; my father's mental state is worse than a year ago; my younger brother is bringing his psychotic ex-fiancee; and I get to bring everyone up to date on my own financial collapse and ongoing trip through the court system.

I'm a little more stressed than usual - but I'm going to try to concentrate on and appreciate more the good things that come with the holidays.

[Niko]

girlfriend can't walk more than a few meters due to side effects of antibiotics (levofloxacin aka levaquin or tavanic - use this drug with caution i'd say - and if you start feeling pain in your hands or legs stop taking it before it's too late; some doctors may not as aware of this as they should...), doctors say this will take at least four more weeks (and they can't promise it will get better at all but most likely it will go away some time in the next three or four months) so i guess her family will pick us up on the 24th and then my folks will pick us up from there and finally bring us home again on the 26th or the like... won't be a splendid christmas either

[Free For All]

Best wishes and good thoughts to both of you and your families.

[jazzbo]

Best wishes to all. I'm going to Cleveland to Mom and Dad's, the first time since 2005 that the whole family (all siblings, nieces and nephews) has been together, and the first Christmas since 2000 we've all been together.

I hate flying on Christmas holidays but. . .not going to ride my motorcycle there and back!

Best holiday wishes to all and please be careful in all you travels.

[catesta]

Flying back to NY from Phoenix on Sunday, then driving to spend Christmas with my parents in Hudson, Ohio.