Vacation...all I ever wanted, vacation...have to get away!

Portugal, here we come!

I'm freaking out, but that's a good thing. It gets me motivated to do things I should have done at least a month ago. Like figuring out how I'm gonna get there...you know, little stuff like that!

Flying stand by means I have to be prepared for getting stuck by making 2nd, 3rd and if possible...a fourth alternate plan. I have a plan A and plan B.

Plan A is getting a ride to SFO and flying United to EWR (Newerk). Then Continental EWR to LIS (Lisbon).

Plan B is getting a ride to SFO and flying Lufthansa to FRA (Frankfurt, Germany) then FRA to LIS.

I hope we can get a ride!

I know what you're thinking...Kathy, why don't you fly out of Sacramento instead of trying to get a ride? Well, it's simple...SFO is a larger hub and I doubt that me and the girls will be able to get on one of our short morning flights to SFO now that they pulled the jet off that route. Those are always full. I guess I can look it up, but I'm not counting on it.

For the flights home the plan is pretty much the same only in reverse.

The tricky thing is knowing what options are available and what ZED tickets to purchase ahead of time. Yes...PURCHASE. This will not exactly be "free" traveling. I am hoping to spend between $500.00-$800.00 for the three of us. Why so much? Taxes. Plus anytime I fly on carriers that are not partnered with SkyWest, I pay a percentage based on mileage. I can't complain, though. These tickets would cost about $3000.00 per person without my flying benefits...and maybe we can snag first class seats. The gate agents will bump us up if nobody else buys them. I sure hope so! This is going to be the longest flight I've ever been on! The saavy non-rever (and I've known a few) know how to get seats worth 24,000.00 for next to nothing. Ah, it's inspiring really. As luck would have it, I'm flying with such a person tomorrow. I need help!

We will be gone for 1 week. That's enough time for me. I get homesick. My dad and his girlfriend are leaving the day after tomorrow and will spend 1 week in Spain and then the week with us in Portugal. I am so glad this is finally happening for him. What will he say now? I've been hearing..."one of these days we're going to visit Portugal" for all 36 years of my life. Perhaps Alaska? Kaytee really wants to see Italy. That shouldn't be a problem. Lots of choices there. Me? I want to see Greece.

Unfortunately there is one big pain in the butt that threatens to dump sour milk all over my cake...The United States Passport Center.

They think I'm going to run away with my under age children and never come back! I can see their point, can't you? Parents are divorcing...one has been violent...there are questions about custody....this happens all the time. One parent takes off with the tot and the other never sees that kid again.

However, that is not case here. I'm not doing that! I just want to go on vacation! I love my job! I'm not leaving everything behind to start a new life in Portugal. Oh, hell no!

But, I don't have a legal document from the court ordering full custody to me because the divorce is not yet final. It should be...dang, I hate lawyers. I do have a restraining order that states right on there who has full and legal custody...ME. But that wasn't good enough. So I went to the courthouse and paid $15.00 per page for certified copies of court minutes from the most recent court date that states "All orders to remain in effect."

I've been going through this rigamaroll all summer. As of this morning, I have a FedEx tracking number for Megan's passport and it should have been here this morning, but....

nothing.

I remind myself during times like these.....good things come to those who wait...and when you're butt falls asleep, stand up and shake it!