I should be getting ready to go to Texas. I am eating generic chocolate pop-tarts and dinking around on the internet.
Why Texas?
A couple weeks ago Tyler realized he had amassed enough frequent flyer miles for a free domestic ticket. Amazing. The system works! He managed to get all these miles simply from taking other flights. Other flights that were paid for. We didn't get any miles for all the trips we took during Tyler's internship for Skywest. Maybe all this is obvious, but I'm still so glad/thankful that he has free flight saved up. Tyler has to drive up to McAllen, TX to fly out and it really just isn't wise for Mack and I to stay here without him. I've struggled with this decision all week. Does going to to TX make me a wimp? Wouldn't we be just fine (and save a ton of money) if Mack and I stayed here? What it basically comes down to
**Mack just woke up from his nap is now eying my generic chocolate pop-tart. Don't even THINK about it kid. What a good boy he is. Mack is now sitting on the floor behind me, trapped in the front room by his playpen and a series of strategically placed baskets, playing with an empty cup.**
What it basically comes down to is the car. I won't have it unless I follow it to TX. I can't drive it back from TX because
**Mack just crawled over and tried to start chewing on my big toe. I told him it probably wouldn't do any real harm, but it's just not a good idea all the same.**
Right. So. In Mexico, if you want to drive your car some arbitrary number of miles south of the border or outside of Baja, you must register your vehicle and only the vehicle owner is then allowed to drive said vehicle. Stupid rule if you ask me. If Mack and I tried to drive back home after dropping Tyler off at the airport, we would be stopped about 45min into our trip at the Nuevo Leon state border. There, the customs agents (backed by military armored vehicles and automatic weapons pointed at us the entire time) would confiscate our visas, any cash we might have on us (about 400 pesos for tolls), and anything else they thought looked interesting- I mean suspicious -from our car, before turning us around and sending us back to TX. If Mack and I simply stayed put for 5 or 6 days while Tyler was gone we would be here without a car or any reliable way to contact anyone for help in case of an emergency.
**Had to stop typing to change Mack's diaper, nurse him, play with him (darn!) and feed him lunch. Have now packed all of Mack's things and mine. I've also double checked Tyler's bag. He is notorious for forgetting whatever it is that happens to be important to bring, but I do love him all the same.**
All I have left to do now is shower. I hate our shower, and this is no overstatement, but that is a story for another time. Wish us luck!