June 07, 2005
On the Road Again...entry, Tuesday, June 7th, 2005
It's time for the Tayler family pilgrimage to Livermore, California, home of Howard's mother- and father-in-law, and host to this year's family reunion.
Ma and Pa in law have seven kids, five of whom have fulfilled that most ancient of biblical commandments and gotten busy multiplying and replenishing the earth.
Including my own, there will be 11 children present under the age of 11, and 11 adults. Two of those adults, however, are single males without parenting experience, which necessitates their inclusion in the "problem" column rather than the "solution" column. The adults, therefore, are outnumbered 13 to 9.
I'm accustomed to the quiet solitude of my private office at home. No matter how I re-arrange those columns, I'm outnumbered 21 to 1.
The vacation begins with twelve relaxing hours in the Tayler family minivan, fully nine of which will be spent following Interstate 80 west between Salt Lake City and Sacramento. Then there's lots of family time, with 22 people under a roof that I've seen swell complainingly when it tries to cover half that many. Family activites continue until late Sunday.
And then on Monday, most everybody leaves except me and mine. I have been assured that I can spend Monday "playing with friends." If you live in the area, head over to the Schlocktroops Live Journal Community and weigh in. We'll probably pick neutral ground, like a restaurant in Pleasanton or something, where I can be plied with food and non-alchoholic beverages. I'll cheerfully whip out Schlock Mercenary character sketches for whoever we're able to hook up with Monday evening. If we're lucky, Sandra may come along, too. If we're REALLY lucky, she'll forget to bring the camera.
Tuesday I'm planning to head north a bit, and visit my friend and fellow-toonist Greg Dean. He and I haven't seen each other since Comic-Con of 2003, and have lots of catching up to do.
So... that's the news. I'll be back in homey little Orem, Utah sometime late Wednesday or early Thursday, kissing the ground and retreating into my office, where I'll likely hide for 36 hours straight.