You may recall last year when I jetted off, all brave and alone, for a women’s blogging conference called BlogHer. I had a fantastic time, as documented here, here, and here, and I was determined to return. It’s in Chicago this year, with discounted rooms at the fabulously chic W Hotel, and conference events taking place at the Navy Pier.
Our original plan was for SB to come with me, and then afterwards we would go visit his family and hometown in Indiana, for my first time. Well… that’s not happening anymore.
SB’s family has a grand tradition of spectacularly abusing family members on their big birthdays. They’ve gone so far as to have coffins delivered to each other’s homes, hired New Orleans-style funeral processions, and delivered eulogies at birthday parties. I’ve never been a part of this, but about 3 months ago, top secret emails began circling amongst the troops concerning SB’s Dad’s 60th birthday.
It was decided that there would be a surprise birthday party on Saturday night. Here is where the exhausting subterfuge comes in. We had already told them we were coming to visit, arriving on Sunday after BlogHer. When the family set the date of the party, I had to decide which I would rather do. I eventually decided that the family event was more important (sigh) and that I didn’t want to miss it. So. SB’s Dad thinks we are arriving on Sunday, when in fact we are arriving on Friday night, SB’s sister and favorite aunt in tow. The others have the luxury of being surprise guests, but poor SB has had to keep all these facts straight about when exactly we are arriving, having to invent rental cars and routes from Chicago.
So, whine, whine, whine*, I’m no longer going to BlogHer, but I do get to take part in the family shenanigans and get to see where SB grew up (before moving to the armpit of Washington in high school, getting a music scholarship in Tacoma and the rest is history). He is very excited to show me the log cabin in the woods that his parents built during their hippie stage and before their messy divorce. Apparently, there are mystical creatures there, such as lightening bugs and bullfrogs, and one can hunt for geodes as well, all things I’ve never seen.
But that’s not all the exoticness that Indiana holds….
On Sunday, SB and I will accompany his Dad to the Brickyard 400. That’s right. Nascar, baby. I’m actually pretty excited about it. I’m thinking of it like an anthropological study. Republicans in their natural habitat.
When I first heard of this event, I asked SB’s aunt, “The Brickyard 400? Is that like the Indianapolis 500?” and she said, “Oh no, this is much more white trash.”
Huh?
So, SB, his aunt, and I will be biting our tongues and observing the God Bless America fest of cars driving in a circle, so as not to mar the experience for those who enjoy it. I hope no one can smell the liberal snobbiness emanating from my every pore**!
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*One last whine while I’m at it. It cost a MILIION dollars for our tickets to stinking Indiana, and it is impossible to fly direct from Seattle. With the time and cost involved, we could have gone to Europe.
**If I have offended any Nascar fans (or Republicans), I apologize. I just don’t get it. Maybe you could help me to understand the allure?
I bet you made the right choice. And I bet you know you did too. Watch out for the humidity, though, it’s a killer.
As for the Brickyard, well, I can’t help you there.
I’m bummed you won’t be in Chicago!
Honey, Indy and NASCAR are as similar as a Prius and a Hummer. And the drivers of each disdain the other. If you were going to Indy, I’d come along! We should plan for that one year, yes?
Hooray for the brave loners who show up….alone! Oh, sorry to hear you’re not going. Me neither! Darn it.
Well, the party sounds like a lot of fun. The fam sounds pretty fun.
Addled: Yes, yes. I’m looking forward to it. I can go to BlogHer again next year. As for the humidity, I am interested to see it’s affects upon my current Posh Spice ‘do.
Sarah: ME TOO. You guys who are going are killing me right now on your blogs.
Rona: Umm… are you serious? I can think of MANY, FAR SUPERIOR vacations.
Occidental Girl: Yes! You were also a brave one last year! Maybe next years will be back on the West side and we can go together?
Speaking as a native Hoosier, Indy in summer is NOT the place to be. Expect nothing cute from your hair, and if you are sensitive to humidity (especially going from air-conditioning to humidity and back again), carrying headache meds with you at all times is a good idea. NASCAR is incredibly red-necked, but the vibrations from all those rumbling cars is kinda awesome:) Fireflies are magical–they are the one nature thing I miss. There are no really good restaurants (and say goodbye to coffee! Even the Starbucks are scarce)–your best bet are Mom ‘n Pop stands. But Indy does have the Children’s Museum, which, if you haven’t been is INCREDIBLE. It remains one of my Top Five Places On Earth. I think it costs about $10 for adults now, and you can go through it in about 2 1/2 hours, but 4 hours is better. Okay, enough Indy-geeking. Have fun!
Lizzie!
Excellent tips, all. I especially appreciate the heads up about the coffee and the Advil. I will go well stocked.