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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ClearSkies on June 16, 2006, at 8:07:15
And I'm so nervous about it! She's 6 years older than I and very bossy. It works with her husband and her dog, but it makes me see red. If I stand up to her, she backs right down. What bothers me so is the conflict I feel when she starts to do it.
The trip is like this: I'm flying out to her (east coast to west coast). Then we are driving with her old lame dog across country to eventually wind up at her summer cottage in Ontario. We are allowing 9 days for the drive, what with stopping to see relatives and friends along the way.
She is paying for gas and hotels. My task has been to suggest roadside stops and attractions along the way. Keep in mind that the dog will be with us, and likely won't be allowed in museums and shops etc., but also has to be assisted in and out of the vehicle. Some days he just falls over when he tries to walk, it's quite painful to watch. He also has some serious gastric issues, and quite often just chucks up his last meal. (Never mind the whole issue about keeping a pet alive with such a poor quality of life. I have enough trouble with that.)
So I'm getting a "free" ride, but at quite a price. I'm not sure how to ready myself for this trip of a lifetime so that I actually enjoy it. I will be seeing my T before I leave; I expect I already know what we'll be talking about.
Any thoughts or suggestions? Bear in mind that I am a poster child for conflict avoidance :-)
Posted by AuntieMel on June 16, 2006, at 10:56:16
In reply to Going on vacation with my sister, posted by ClearSkies on June 16, 2006, at 8:07:15
1) Stop at attractions like parks that involve walking or nature viewing of some sort.
2) Get a stroller for the dog so you don't have to worry about leaving him in the car.
3) Don't try to drive too many miles in a day. When we had small kids (not much different from a lame dog) we would always do all the driving early and quit about 3pm in some place that had something to see.
Posted by Dinah on June 16, 2006, at 17:35:20
In reply to Going on vacation with my sister, posted by ClearSkies on June 16, 2006, at 8:07:15
Mel's idea is a good one. They make little stroller things for dogs, depending on his size.
Some places have kennels to leave your pets while you visit the attraction. I've never taken advantage of it, and am not sure how safe it would be with a sick dog. Is he up on all the voluntary shots?
You can check with the vet about medications for his tummy.
But most important, only feed him after you finish travelling for the day. We picked up a puppy once in Canada near the Great Lakes and she threw up all the way to Utah, paused while we visited my grandparents, then threw up all the way to the Louisiana state line. Then she was never carsick for the rest of her life. But ugh. What a trip.
Posted by ClearSkies on June 16, 2006, at 19:33:30
In reply to Re: Going on vacation with my sister » ClearSkies, posted by Dinah on June 16, 2006, at 17:35:20
What a visual! Gaaackkk.
Thanks for the suggestions - this dog is a boxer mix and I think strollers would have to be rickshaws for his size. He does have all his shots but can't pass muster as far as being judged "healthy" - part of the reason why they haven't flown the darn thing across country already. Just about all the road stops I've suggested have been of the national monument/biggest ball of twine variety. I think we'll be seeing many of our sights from inside the vehicle.My sister had the dog on a dry run, so to speak, last weekend when they took him out of town with them for an overnight trip. He had his own ideas about where he wanted to sleep but knew where the door was to ask to go for a toilet walky.
CS
Posted by AuntieMel on June 17, 2006, at 10:19:00
In reply to Re: Going on vacation with my sister, posted by ClearSkies on June 16, 2006, at 19:33:30
Biggest ball of twine?
Could you take a picture for me? I've always wanted to go there!
Posted by ClearSkies on June 18, 2006, at 7:14:21
In reply to Re: Going on vacation with my sister » ClearSkies, posted by AuntieMel on June 17, 2006, at 10:19:00
> Biggest ball of twine?
>
> Could you take a picture for me? I've always wanted to go there!
Unfortunately, it's not on our route:http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MNDARtwine.html
but I hope to see attractions of equal if not greater cultural importance!
CS
Posted by Poet on June 19, 2006, at 9:25:58
In reply to Going on vacation with my sister, posted by ClearSkies on June 16, 2006, at 8:07:15
Hi ClearSkies,
This is really horrible, but I keep picturing National Lampoon's Vacation when they tie the dog to the back of the car and ... Sorry. Though, your sister strapped to the roof of the car might eliminate those conflicts. Sorry, again.
Get some books on tape or CD from the library.
If you can find something you and your sister might both like, you can both listen (assuming her car has a tape or CD player.) Otherwise stock up on books you like and use a walkman and headphones. My husband and I listen to books during long road trips, usually mysteries and funny books.Definitely have those quirky roadside attractions mapped out. Ones that will let you get out of the car and walk around, and your sister and the dog can wait under a shady tree. You'll get some exercise and get away from them for a few minutes.
Good luck. You're braver than I am. No way I'd drive for nine days with my sister. I don't avoid conflict, so you'd hear us coming down the highway.
Poet
Posted by ClearSkies on June 19, 2006, at 9:45:21
In reply to Re: Going on vacation with my sister » ClearSkies, posted by Poet on June 19, 2006, at 9:25:58
Yesterday my sister called and had me measure the dimensions of my luggage so she could account for its placement in the vehicle. I'm afraid that I mocked her (asked if she was making a cardboard model for the dry run!) and she went pretty quiet at my comment.
She will be bringing her laptop so I'll be reading the boards while I'm away.
Countdown - 2 days.
Posted by AuntieMel on June 19, 2006, at 12:14:06
In reply to About this trip..., posted by ClearSkies on June 19, 2006, at 9:45:21
That's funny.
Before I ordered the vent-a-hood (custom made, in copper) I made a cardoard mock-up of it - exact shape and dimensions. I left it up for a couple of weeks to be sure I liked the size.
Posted by Poet on June 19, 2006, at 13:30:59
In reply to About this trip..., posted by ClearSkies on June 19, 2006, at 9:45:21
Hi ClearSkies,
I think her question was worthy of mocking. What's next? Needing your weight so she can properly balance the vehicle? Okay, ClearSkies you can't lean to the left- you have to only lean towards the right...
Poet
Posted by gardenergirl on June 19, 2006, at 14:13:30
In reply to About this trip..., posted by ClearSkies on June 19, 2006, at 9:45:21
LOL, now that's preparation!
Have a lovely time. Glad you'll still be in touch.
gg
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 19, 2006, at 14:48:24
In reply to About this trip..., posted by ClearSkies on June 19, 2006, at 9:45:21
> Yesterday my sister called and had me measure the dimensions of my luggage so she could account for its placement in the vehicle. I'm afraid that I mocked her (asked if she was making a cardboard model for the dry run!) and she went pretty quiet at my comment.
>
> She will be bringing her laptop so I'll be reading the boards while I'm away.
>
> Countdown - 2 days.Here's how I sense the situation. Your sister is faced with a task that all her planning and all her facade of control cannot manage on her own. She needs your help, to pull it off. She knows you have what it takes.
I think you should prepare yourself for seeing your sister in a way you've never seen her before. I think you should prepare yourself to see your sister come unglued, trying to manage the monumental task that she's trying to accomplish. I don't know if it's doable in nine days, with a sick old dog. But, she's hoping that all her planning will make it as easy as it can be.
Still, she knows she needs you along. And I expect that this journey will resonate within your relationship with her, for the rest of your lives.
I think it is a beautiful wonderful scary thing you're doing.
A lot of the trip is two-lane highway. Just two lanes, and sometimes some very monotonous scenery. You will get very tired of that camper ahead of you. Or that truck.
The dog will make you stop. Make sure you use those stops wisely. You'll need them, too. And all of a sudden, as you're coming down through from northern Ontario, you'll realize what a vast land we live in. More than half the journey, from Vancouver to Toronto, is in Ontario. When you hit Kenora, you're still only half way.
I expect to hear some tales.
Lar
Posted by ClearSkies on June 19, 2006, at 16:05:31
In reply to Re: About this trip... » ClearSkies, posted by Poet on June 19, 2006, at 13:30:59
> Hi ClearSkies,
>
> I think her question was worthy of mocking. What's next? Needing your weight so she can properly balance the vehicle? Okay, ClearSkies you can't lean to the left- you have to only lean towards the right...
>
> PoetI'd better be careful or I'll mock myself out of the car!!
Posted by Dinah on June 20, 2006, at 10:50:00
In reply to About this trip..., posted by ClearSkies on June 19, 2006, at 9:45:21
lol. Maybe she's an overpacker? My mother is an overpacker, and it's a good thing she packs well. You'd be standing there with this huge pile of stuff, and she'd start putting things away. It was like a magician's car, because by the time she finished all that stuff that appeared to have a larger volume than the car would be inside the car, with just enough room left over for passengers.
Posted by ClearSkies on June 20, 2006, at 22:07:04
In reply to Re: About this trip... » ClearSkies, posted by Dinah on June 20, 2006, at 10:50:00
> lol. Maybe she's an overpacker? My mother is an overpacker, and it's a good thing she packs well. You'd be standing there with this huge pile of stuff, and she'd start putting things away. It was like a magician's car, because by the time she finished all that stuff that appeared to have a larger volume than the car would be inside the car, with just enough room left over for passengers.
This is exactly how I anticipate it will go. I plan to be close by to hand her stuff, but far enough away so I don't have to do it myself and get criticized for the inept job I'd do :-)
I'm quite happy to let that go.See you all when I get back.
Posted by Dinah on June 20, 2006, at 22:14:37
In reply to Re: About this trip... » Dinah, posted by ClearSkies on June 20, 2006, at 22:07:04
This is the end of the thread.
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