No bragging about grandkids, I lied

Welcome to the Tom and Dennis travel blog (and you all thought this old dog could not possibly learn new tricks)! Hopefully this will end my children's humiliation with my mass emails, allow you to avoid our news if you choose, and drag the rest of you kicking and screaming into the blogisphere. This may be fun or soon become the longest unwanted Christmas letter in history. Time will tell.

For those untold million others who have already found our blog, you should know this is actually the third rambling from the road. All you need to know about the other two is that I am the Tom half of the equation, and that I promised to not spend my time bragging about my grandchildren.

As for the "Tom" part, I told the truth. As for the no "Grandchildren" bragging part, I lied.

We arrived in Durham, NC, parked the COW (condominium on wheels), and headed to Rob and Rebekah's house. It was Halloween. The door flew open and a little orange man (probably a pumpkin) sprang out, ran toward us and shrieked "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii". As Tom Cruise said in that "show me the money" movie, "You had me at 'Hello'."

Will is a wonderful child with exceptionally good taste in grandpa's. After noticing Rob (sorry Rob but grandchildren just do that to grandpas), we settled in to await Rebekah's return from work at the hospital. A great 10 days ensued.

Rob, Will, Dennis and I took a trip to the outer banks for a couple days. Rob had stuff to do and some kite boarding to attempt (not necessarily in that order). We wanted to see it.

Who knew that a Nor-easter (wind, rain, and cold) could be just as comfortable turning into a sou-easter. It rained like hell with hurricane force winds and was freezing cold. As adept as we are at making lemonade out of lemons, we hunkered down for some grand quality time with Rob and Will. We got to sit in the elements one morning to watch Rob impressively kite boarding (all I know is it involves a short surf board, a kite, a harness, and lots of wind.) For the first time in a week a swaddled Will did not even squirm on Dennis' lap. Will believed, I assume (and accurately so) that he was about to freeze to death. Believing the same, I was not squirming on any laps either. (Keep it clean Friedman)

Rob advised us that we both could easily kite board. Rob and I obviously still have a vastly different definition for the word "easily". I can honestly report that kite boarding ranks right up next to sky diving on my list of must-never-do things. Surprise to you all--Dennis thought it sounded fun.

The place we parked the COW in Durham made the casino parking lots of the last couple days look clean and inviting. It still beat the motels we had previously frequented on these trips with someone else's linens and the pungent smell of curry wafting out from the room behind the check-in desk.

Off to Florida. From the valley to the mountain top. We made a stop in South Carolina at an amazing peaceful family campground on the hill. We had dinner with Kathleen (my recently found sister) and her husband Gary, then on to Florida. As always the time with Kathleen and Gary was magical and amazing.

FLORIDA--'nuff said!

We had both forgotten that one dare not move at Minnesota speed in Florida heat. As we scrambled to set up the COW, I advised Dennis that I was pretty sure I was going to faint. The heat and humidity was of the summer kind. Suffice it to say, I was in a near-death experience. If going toward the light had not sounded so hot, I might have just done it!

Laura and Reese brought lunch. It will astonish all of you that although you know me to be an instantly lovable person, Reese was unsure. It must be a primal judgment that has kept our species alive to distrust obviously dangerous people. Reese in other words has impeccable judgment of people. Although we are pretty sure Laura and Jens are here too, I will have to limit observations to Reese. At eleven months Reese is smart, beautiful, funny, wise beyond her years, capable of playing the concert violin, volunteering at charity events, and able to run a sub-4 minute mile. This blog may be the first you hear of her talent, but you should keep you eyes on CNN for news of her (and Will's) inevitable future accomplishments.

We have settled into Yacht Haven (not as fancy as it sounds) and anticipate our first prolonged stay in our Condominium on Wheels. (I wonder if I can put pictures in a Blog--Oh the frontiers yet to cross). On Monday we head to Key West for a four day stay. I will report any news I can remember or dare put in print.