First class fare

Today wasn't the most of normal days. I woke up at 3 am to get on a flight to dallas which will go to Narita japan, then I think to Thailand, then I am hoping to Burma. I am told this travel time will be approximately 30 hours.

When I got to the first flight it was as usual, a coach seat luckily next to a good friend and amazing photographer/videographer Corey Lack. Since we finally boarded at 6 am, neither of us had any coffee. So we grabbed a cup on the way to Dallas.

The next flight was and unbelievable upgrade. We were able to fly 1st class on a 777. . I bordered the flight and was led to my personal cubical (for lack of a better word). In a recliner (that lays completely flat if you want it). While admiring the menu that was in front of me, I was Immediately asked if I wanted a mimosa or orange juice and given a menu for lunch.

I was so giddy, taking pictures of the cool space. Lunch consisted of an attendant setting up dinner table in front of you. Given chips and humus, appetizer of salmon and shrimp, Salad and roll, and I chose the rib eye steak with balsamic onions, and tomato chili glaze. For dessert I opted for the fruit bowl with chambord drizzle since I was full.

I watched captain America under the new releases while eating, which I must say was a good movie...just not my normal cup of tea. Right now I literraly have my recliner mostly reclined and my feet completely stretched out on the ottoman. I must say I am happy that this is the long flight (13 h 30 min) and will not be able to look at other flights quite the same.

I laid my reclining chair down and attempted to sleep, but despite my best efforts was not able to. I watched "the way" and tried again, but was awoken by the attendant giving me a bento box of a sushi roll and fresh fruit. Corey, got the deep dish pizza.

By the time I finished my 3rd movie on my personal 15 inch monitor I and was still relaxing in my airline provided pajamas, I was brought a salad and sesame chicken dinner.

After my 1st class flight it makes it difficult to look at a regular coach in the same way.

So far in branson

Our first two days in Branson have been non stop swimming, junk food, and coffee. There is a great pool at the Welk resort that is like crack to the kids. There is no such thing as a leisurely half hour swim before you start your day. Everything revolves around the next trip to the glorious water. Also coming during the off season is a smart move too... The pool, hot tub, slide and exercise room (which i actually made it to once) are completely empty.










This is me using off camera flash next to the slide to make the kids pics a little more interesting. You can tell the people at the resort aren't used to this setup and don't appreciate you standing on chairs to get the perfect artistic shot. When the come and tell you to get down you feel like the kids that get shouted at for actually standing up on the middle of the slide.

Today, in between pool trips, we made a trip to Branson Landing. We ate at Macaroni grill and it was pretty good. I do feel that it was slightly off what it normally is as far as quality. I've eaten there quite a few and usually get the penne rustica which is a shrimp/chicken/penne combo with a Marsala wine cream sauce. When I order food (especially at a place I've never been) I usually tell the waiter to bring me whatever is best. I figure they should have an idea what people order most frequently and if it sucks I usually won't go back. Today the waitress gave me "chicken under a brick" which is basically a deboned chicken half (very skillfully done I might add) and put on the grill under.. You guessed it, a big ol brick.

The chicken was cooked nicely. Tender and all, but really it's hard to impress me with chicken really because I eat a lot of chicken. It tasted great, but probably wouldn't order it again. My wife ordered the penne rustica and unfortunately it was missing that nice cream sauce that it usually has. The marsala wasn't really present as far as the taste goes... It was kinda like they didn't really have the actual sauce made so the poured some Alfredo sauce on top instead. It tasted good, but wasn't what it should be.

We next made a trip to bath and body works which was funny to me considering I own a soap company and get compared to them all the time. There was a couple of funny things i saw in there.









The first was their new "classic" line for men. I thought it was pretty funny thinking new and classic shouldn't in my mind go together.









The second was this guy buying stuff dragging around his pocket dog in the store. I like dogs mind you, but I don't think of them as people. I know that they are little barking butt licking food swipers. When people drag them around other people and act like their dog has rights inside stores... it kinda bugs me.

After that we went to 24 karrot cafe which actually makes a killer slice of carrot cake and cinnamon rolls are great too. FYI... My favorite carrot cake ever is located at The Dilly Deli in tulsa's blue dome district. It is crazy!, but for a good classic piece, the 24 karrot is defiantly up there.

So that was it for today. Tomorrow we are scheduled for silver dollar city.

Road trip

There are few things in life that are more adventurous, exciting, and nostalgic then a road trip with your kids.

You begin your adventure by stopping at the gas station, checking the luggage on top of the minivan, and getting a bag of every kind of chip you constantly are avoiding getting any normal day. But... You're on vacation you think with a "what stays in Vegas mentality". And besides you're going to run it off on the hotel treadmill right?

This picture below is me taking all of the luggage off of the roof rack because of the loud flapping noise those straps always cause from the wind. It is a nice break though since I am only slightly pissed off because the gps took me the long way to Branson. I would have normally realized I was going the wrong direction, but my head was spinning from the continuous yells from my two year old screeching "momma" at the top of his lungs.




The exciting part comes in when you feel the gut jingling vibrating from the shoulder of the road because you're yelling towards the backseat because a fight broke out between your 7 and 5 year old because one of them is looking at the other. Your adrenaline kicks in as you swerve your minivan back onto the curved road while letting out a slew of profanities.

The real nostalgic feeling starts to creep in because when the family falls asleep you remember the car trips you took as a kid and laugh because the thought of your dad trying to hit you in the back seat by blindly swatting his hand around while driving cracks you up. You realize at this time that they weren't really just crazy people that wanted to control your every action, but everyday parents trying to maintain their sanity... I love you mom and dad