Sunday, March 7th

12:43, T-16 minutes to Estimated Departure Time

If you couldn’t tell, we’re all a little frazzled around here. I personally have been up since 8:15 and I’m getting that jittery feeling you get before a big trip. Which makes sense, considering this is the first time we’ve been away for more than a weekend since October.

Final preparations are being made to the balloon- sorry, I mean the car, I’ve been reading Jules Verne again- and we will be starting within an hour. (We were supposed to leave at one, but my parents are having a heated discussion about the minimum wage as I’m writing this, so I think it might be closer to one thirty.)

I’m starting to get really excited, and I feel as if I were going on a voyage of discovery instead of just a trip to another city. In a way I am, though.

I think I’m going to like trying to keep a travel journal. It will be potentially very much informative, and hopefully entertaining for you guys reading this. I’m hoping I can think of things to do to make this a real adventure.

The new car we got yesterday is really advanced. It has a sun roof and heated seats in the back. Makes me feel like I’m in the Nautilus. Nemo is always putting in neat creature comforts in his inventions. Even the little mini submarine (I think it’s called the Nautosphere, personally) is really nice, with padded seats and lots of leather.

Our time got delayed because of my parents arguing about the minimum wage. So I have more time to write a decent post. I don’t really know what else to do right now, so……

Dad will be our send-off committee, but we’re not going to have one of those wine bottle christening things. Kind of sad, but oh well. I’m hoping we get out of here before two o’clock, but with these guys, I don’t know…….. I tend to use a lot of dot dot dots when I’m waiting for something to happen.

It looks like she’s getting going again, so I better go now, but good luck to you guys, and we’re going to need it (If mom and dad will ever stop talking!!!)

I need to go now and make sure the mooring lines are cast off and the hatches are battened. I also might go and grab an extra audiobook or two…..

Bye now! Wish us luck!