The Final Countdown

(If you now have the song stuck in your head, picture Will Arnett dancing onstage with a sword in his mouth and scarves in hands. And perhaps doing the chicken. Now try not to laugh.)

Five, count 'em, FIVE days until Orlando. We're all very excited. I told Laura that perhaps she should warm up her arms for all the hugging we'll be doing. Mabes has promised lots of super squeezes. I'm making my to-do list, packing list, and shopping list, and I'm adding one thing to my list that I would strongly suggest each sibling add: a small notebook. They're all of a dollar at Target, but people: We need our Captain's Logs.

For those unaware, Captain's Logs date back what...10 years? It started as a journal of sorts when Sarah and I drove from Utah to California. It was a way of documenting the all-day trip, as well as any complaints we had about each other or any random observations. I think it may have continued when we went to Florida the next week. Pictures document a lot, but Captain's Logs are particularly fun to document the flight and other strange conversations throughout the week. Get your notebooks, people. In the meantime, here's an excerpt from my Kauai Log, the day we left. I was sitting next to Becca.

8/14/04

On the plane, taxiing backwards. We are watching the safety movie, which apparently angers Bacon. I had to stop her from throwing her smoothie at the screen. In the safety movie, they said the flight attendants would be of service in any way. I'm going to request a rendition of "Papa Don't Preach" when they bring the snack cart. Speaking of, I've got our huge bag o' candy at my feet. We have so much candy, as if we're not wired enough.

9:06 am--Is it candy time yet?

So Becca was wondering how long it would take to fly around the world. It all started when I told her we were flying over Kansas--we're taking the long way. So she decides to ask the flight attendant how long it would take to make the flight. Here's the conversation:

Flight Attendant: Anything to drink?

Becca: Two Diet Cokes [both for Allison!] (pause) Do you know how long it would take to fly around the world non-stop? If you didn't have to refuel?

Flight Attendant, confused: Uh...I don't know...I'd guess...80 days? Wasn't that a movie? Around the world in 80 days?

Becca: Um...I think that was in a balloon.

And now Flight Attendant hates us because we gave her our trash. She's holding a trash bag, what does she expect?