Hurry up and wait

Flash! This just in! The new word from the gods of ModBlog:

"Update (11/22/05 @ 12:17AM CT): We are very, very sorry for the extended delay. Unfortunately, the person that is capable of repairing the problem was traveling over the weekend, and was unable to tend to the problem. We are now working as fast as possible to put ModBlog back online, and that should happen very soon. Frequent updates will follow this post until ModBlog is fully back online."

Please note: That's "very, very sorry," not just "very sorry" or just plain garden variety "sorry." So that means that they really, really mean it (not just "really mean it" or just plain garden variety "mean it"). Why do people think that by adding multiple layers of a word ("I'm really, really, really, really pissed.") that it gives more intensity than simply stating ("I'm pissed.").
*****
I've leaving for Detroit on Wednesday morning for the high school football finals--our team plays in the 9 a.m. game. As we all know, it's 520 miles from here to there. And my wife and son have invited themselves along, so they can visit my older son and see his new apartment. That's all right. It's a long drive. Nice to have someone to talk to.

So this morning I asked my wife: "When do you think we'll be able to go tomorrow." "Oh, I don't know. I think we can get ready by 9 o'clock."

Something died inside me. "You know," I said, trying to keep my voice even, " the drive is going to take about 12 hours, whether we leave at 5 a.m. or at 10." "Oh! Well, maybe we can get going earlier."

But that's her nature. She's just ... slow. As in poky. Needs a lot of sleep. Slow to get going in the morning. Slow to get herself organized. Push her, and she gets slower. And I'm acutely aware of it because I'm the opposite. I don't need a lot of sleep and get off to a fast start. I think I'm fairly well organized for the trip already, a day before we hit the road.

Of course, I'm the one who does all the driving, and the weather forecast for our trip isn't the greatest. Snow and wind. Not a lot of snow, fortunately, but hardly ideal driving conditions. I'd like to get to our destination before it gets too late. (Just took a break to reserve a room online, so there will be a room waiting for us, whenever we get there.)

How different this trip is going to be from my next big trip, two weeks from now! The other trip will be even longer (660 miles or so), but I will be by myself, on my own time, and the destination is one of the heart.