As you can tell, we are getting close to leaving. As you are probably aware, that involves large amounts of purchasing and packing. Luckily, as we learned from last year, we can pack light (one large duffel for the three of us), so the clothes have been packed for a few days now. However, we still have all the food, beach items, golf clubs, and other such items, and find a place to put them in the car.

We were able to procure a roof rack cargo bag, which should alleviate some of the space constraints we face. Unfortunately, that meant me spending a few hours figuring out how to make it work on to of our car (which has a sunroof, making the roof rack a bit more difficult to use). Dana and I (mostly me, though) had the idea to make beef jerky. Dana put me in charge (her first mistake). Saturday, I bought over 7 lbs of london broil from our local butcher and proceded to slice it and marinate it. Two days later, I put about half of the marinated slices onto the racks of our food dehydrator and turned it on. About 4 hours later I realized that the heating element on the dehydrator had broken, so it took over two days to dry that set of meat.

Dana (the smarter of the two of us), had the idea to put the rest in the oven on super low (170, as low as it would go), and leave the oven cracked a little. That set was done in about 8 hours. I packaged up what we had dried so far, and it ended up filling a one-gallon Ziploc bag. I still have another tray worth to go, so I’m going to do that tonight.

Other than that, we’ve been busy tying up some odds and ends at our respective jobs, getting ready for a week off. I personally can’t wait. I haven’t taken a non-holiday day off of work since last year for the beach. I need a break.

Apparently, sometime yesterday, I picked up a screw in my rear driver’s side tire. I didn’t know about that.

This morning, as I was leaving for work, I found out about it, as I was driving on a flat. Luckily, I didn’t leave my driveway before finding out about it. So I backed it into the road, where it’s flat, and started changing the tire. Being the first flat we’ve had in the Kia, I pulled out the owner’s manual. The Kia, like many SUV’s, has the spare mounted under the cargo area in the rear, and you have to lower it with a tool they provide. Not so bad.

With the full size spare, I was able to just change it and head to work. My tires need rotated anyway, and the spare should be included in that rotation, so I’ve done half the work. Luckily, I found a place down the road that does rotations and patches tires for a decent price. And I was only 20 minutes late for work.

In other news, the beach is a week away. Dana is heading out today to get the meat for vacation. We’re going to freeze it pre-seasoned in the “Foodsaver” vacuum sealer. I currently have 5.5 working days left till vacation, and I am very excited.

No, not Heff’s Grotto, the Monterey Bay Fish Grotto in Monroeville. Dana, Deuce and I are going with Grandma and Grandpa A. and Uncle D for an early Father’s Day dinner. I’ve never been to Monterey Bay, but I hear it’s very nice. Unfortunately this means I’ll have to get more dressed up than I am right now (khaki shorts and a t-shirt… I really do love my job).

In beach related news, Deuce and I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods yesterday to pick up a Father’s Day present for one of the grandpa’s. While we there there, I found some of those collapsible chairs (including the 350# weight limit “Big Boy” chair), so I bought a few beach chairs. Dana and I then did some online research and bought a car-top cargo bag to stow some stuff in for the beach (and Derek, that doesn’t mean you can bring more stuff. You still have a one bag limit ).

We should be receiving Deuce’s sunblock today, and the cargo carrier should be here next week. All that’s left is to buy some groceries and, of course, Spongebob Squarepants: Season 2 DVDs… The last thing I need is a cranky boy on an 11 hour drive.

For the beach-goers out there (you know who you are), I put a little countdown timer in the header… Less than three weeks to go!

This weeked was quite busy, but all in all a very good time. We celebrated Deuce’s birthday over the weekend at Grandma and Grandpa G’s house. It was a much smaller affair than his first birthday, but equally fun (minus the 80 degrees with 90% humidty that we ran into last year).

Deuce got some really cool toys (which Dad and Deuce like) and some nice clothes (which Mom likes ). Unfortunately, of all the cool toys and clothes he got, we think his favorite gift (at that moment) were the Cheese Curls. Luckily, after he opened them, everyone dug in, so he didn’t eat the whole bag. We tried to teach him how to ride his new quad (it’s a “Peg Perego,” but think Power Wheels)

Since I had to be up for golfing at 5 am, we stayed at Grandma and Grandpa G’s on Saturday night. I say stayed because I think only I slept. Apparently, Deuce kept Dana up most of the night, and she ended up leaving for home at 5:00 am, when I got up. Needless today, I don’t think she had a very restful Sunday. After I got home from golf, Dana and I put together the HUGE train table he got from Grandma and Grandpa A. It’s one of those Thomas the Tank Engine tables that holds all the track and cars and such… It has to be 5 feet by 3 feet, and sits about 18 inches off the floor, a perfect size for Deuce. He played with that until bedtime.

It was a very hectic weekend, and next weekend promises much of the same, with Father’s Day and all. Maybe I’ll get some relaxation at work…. Or maybe not.