"Nursedude and Da Redhead as the Road Warriors..."
Nothing like finishing off a 5 day in a row stretch of night shifts by...preparing to go to Chicago. I got most of my packing done on Monday night. I wish this one was a rugby-related road trip, but no such luck-I gotta go with my wife down to her native Chicago(which is actually a fun city-when you are not getting shot at) to help out her mom(who is NOT such a fun person) who is having surgery on her foot on Wednesday. I think we will probably be back late Friday, but we will see how she does post-op, because with her heart issues and age, there really is no such thing as simple surgery.
My wife and I will do what we can to help my Mother-in-Law out, as far as getting her to and from the surgery, and looking after her once she is home. Da Redhead does have a brother down in the Chicago area, but with all of the turmoil in his life, he just cannot take the time to help his mom out.
To say that I am ambivilant about making this trip would be an understatement. My mother in law on her best days is prickley, and a total pain in the ass on her worst days. My usually competent, mature, in-control wife takes on an alarming personality change whenever she is around her mom. Gas (Petrol) is getting expensive by American standards, over $3.70/Gallon(which probably has my UK friends laughing at why we are complaining as the British are paying about $6.20/Gallon), and at roughly 400 miles(640 km) one -way to Arlington Heights, Illinois, I am just dreading to see how much money we are going to drop on gas.
On the bright side, 6+ hours each way will give me and the Red Head lots of time to talk over things. Hopefully we can find some time to do something fun downtown, as my mother in law lives by a commuter train that goes to downtown Chicago.
Well, hopefully we can be of some help for my Mother in Law, and hopefully she won't mind the help...and hopefully my wife and I will be still on speaking terms after 3 angst filled days with Da Redhead's mom.
