On the road again...

[gerisullivan]

Yesterday's jaunt through the Berkshires was the first leg of my 100,000 mile trip. I'm calling it that because the odds are high that I'll flip the odometer past that magic number before the next time I pull the car into the garage at Toad Woods. Lansing, Battle Creek, Chicago, Minneapolis, and then the reverse.

Big fun ahead: Gavi's 16th birthday is the driving reason for the Minneapolis leg of the trip. My presence is her present. I love prezzies that benefit the giver as well as the receiver. :-)

I'll also pick up the copper sun from the sun, moon & stars sculpture that galacticvoyeur has kindly been storing for me for years. Low gas prices and the need for a car to carry it away drove my decision to drive rather than fly or take the train.

I expect to be at dreamshark's & Richard's Caroling Party Sunday evening, and hope to catch up with markiv1111 and other MippleStipple friends there. It's a short trip -- in Thursday or Friday night, depending on the weather and the week's work load, then back to Chicago on Tuesday.

Then Christmas in Battle Creek, in the house where I celebrated every Christmas of my childhood from the age of 3. And Boxing Day with my sister in Lansing. Yep, big fun, alright.

carnyjack is joining me for the Minneapolis leg of the trip. It will be good to share that with him, and nice to have someone I can hand the driving over to for a stretch.

But today...today I am in Corning, New York, to see amazing glass. The Corning Museum of Glass opened 10 minutes ago. I've heard nothing but fabulous things about the place, and the two display cases here in the Days Inn lobby that are filled with works from their glass studio live up to the promise of amazing glass ahead. Pictures eventually, I hope. After another 500 miles of driving at the very least, and probably more.

Please note: this message is friends-locked to avoid telling the world that I'm away from home for an extended period of time. Minneapolis and Chicago friends are welcome to mention it in non-public forums to others who are likely to be interested. My travels are not a secret; I've mentioned them in several public LJ posts over the last week or two. But the specifics of the days involved and so on are not intended for the world's eye. Thanks!

January 2, 2009 update: I've unlocked all of the trip-related messages now that I'm home, home again.

Comments

[madtruk.livejournal.com]

Poo...

We'll miss seeing you by days...

:(

Safe travels!

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Ooh, the Corning Glass Museum! Yes, indeed, it is a fabulous place. I grew up just down the road from Corning.

The problem I always have is being so fascinated by the ancient glass that I run out of time before I get to the modern stuff.

Have a wonderful trip!

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

The Corning Museum is incredible. My favorite piece is the glass chess set with one side represented by the priests and the other by rabbis.

So what are your plans for Chicago?

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

The Solstice Drum Jam and fire dancing event at the Cedar is on the same night as Sharon's Caroling Party. I am also in "La Natividad" at HOBT that same night, so there's a lot going on.

K.

[cakmpls.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great trip--I wish you dry roads and warm feet!

I've wanted to see the Corning Museum ever since I used to collect antique bottles.

[sraun]

I hope you had fun at the Glass Museum! I went a number of years ago with my wife, one of my nieces and one of my step-daughters. The niece and I both did one of their part-day 'work with glass' things - she did the sand-blasting, I did the ... well, I'll call it slumping, but that's not the term they used. I've got a nice little 'hang in the window' ornament out of it.

[fmsv.livejournal.com]

If you wish to come, and your schedule allows it, we're hosting Minn-stf on Saturday.

[le-trombone.livejournal.com]

Ah, I've wanted to stop at the Corning Museum of Glass for a while ever since my last trip (about six years ago) to the East Coast, where I picked up the flier advertising it. It looked really cool.

I may be able to say Hi to you on Tuesday. Send me a message if you can, and we'll see.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Happy trails!

[jdtacv.livejournal.com]

And of course you and carnyjack are welcom at our New Year's Eve shindig if you are in Mpls. at that point.

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

I stopped at the Corning Museum on the way up to James' 15th Anniversary Store Party. It was great! Travel safely!