The Trip - Preparing for Part III

I'm sitting here looking out the window, watching the rain bounce off the roof next door. My plan was to leave this weekend to go back to my mom's house in Texas, but Somebody sent three back-to-back storms at Southern California.

I've put Rain-X on my windshield, my tires are almost new, and I've driven in rain before. This time, though, the wind advisory warnings for mountain passes gave me pause. I didn't know what elevations would freeze or get snow, and there are some passes to cross before I get out of California. So I decided to wait out the storms.

Yesterday morning, when I went outside, I rescued seven earthworms that were floundering on the driveway. They must have thought they'd drown if they stayed in the ground, but if they didn't leave the driveway (and didn't get run over), they'd either drown in a puddle or shrivel up and die on the cement. So I picked them up (yes, I touched them) and flung them back onto the grass. The rain had slowed to a heavy drizzle, so the grass seemed less of a threat than it was before.

My driveway was also littered with palm tree seeds that the wind must have blown off the roof--the palm trees in our neighborhood were taken down about two years ago, and I didn't know there were any seeds left. So when I get back from this loop of the trip in February, I'll have to check the flower bed and lawn to be sure I don't have new palm tree sprouts trying to establish themselves. The good thing about the sprouts is that they're easy to identify and to pull out.

The wind had littered the streets around town with the ends of tree branches, dead palm fronds, crushed tumbleweeds, knocked-over garbage cans, and soggy cardboard boxes. And even though I was out during a lull in the rain, the storms kept the lines short at the post office (putting my mail on vacation hold), at the Toyota dealer (oil change), and at the pharmacy. I love it when it rains.

Today I'm trying to finish wrapping up the last-minute tasks at home and then pack, but I keep getting distracted. I'll be working on one thing and then notice something else I need to take care of, and the first one gets set aside. I remember hearing a joke about old ladies with that kind of problem, but it's not very flattering if I say it reminds me of me, so I won't be telling it.

I need to finish up my break and get back to work. Things always take longer than expected, and I don't expect packing to be quick, but time will tell.