Since Ohio really isn't that exciting, I've bravely offered to take Val
to my parents house for the 4th of July this year while Andrea stays
here. I want Val to see all the ginormous festivities that my hometown
has to offer on a holiday that isn't met with the same degree of fervent
enthusiasm that it is back there.

I've been scouring the interweb for tickets for months, ever since this
wacky idea crept into my head. But no luck. Just as I was about to
give up and pay more than I ever have for a ticket home, I decided to
wait one day.

So this morning, I looked again and didn't see the crappy fare with good
times I'd almost bought yesterday. Fuck fuck fuck.

But then I search again and ta-da, there's an even lower fare, by almost
$100 per ticket! My dear friend Jennie will be so proud of my savings!

So I'm going to do it, load up my carryon bag, screw the gogo kidz
thingie onto Val's carseat and brave the wilds of the airport by myself,
with toddler in tow. I have to say that it's only after travelling to
TN, a trip where Val had her own seat the whole way and we made
judicious use of the gogo kidz thing (just google it, it's hard to
explain but oh so fantastic though please note that you must remove it
when you install it in the car, it can, however stay on while on the
plane, just GET A SEATBELT EXTENDER FOR YOUR SEAT, this I cannot stress
enough) that made me think I could pull off a trip like this.

That thing let us roll Val, in her carseat, all the way through a very
large airport. Seriously, magic.

So we're all set for a wacky wild 4th back east while Andrea gets a
little quiet time at home. Wish me luck.