my eyes are burning as I write this

you know the feeling, eyes burning, body aching, throat scratchy, forehead hot . . .that's right the familiar signs of the flu. Let's not mention the fact that I got a flu shot this year when I usually avoid them. Some of it may have to do with my trip I took this weekend. I know, I'm at home, how did I take a trip and get back already. Well, let me tell you, the story starts and begins with UDOT. (Utah Department of Transportation)

Mara decided that for her birthday she wanted to go to Boise to spend it with my family. So we were planning on leaving for Boise today(Friday). The weather report said that a storm was coming in on Friday so we checked UDOT and thought that it would be better if I left Thursday at noon and come back Saturday at noon. (Another storm was coming in on Sunday). We decided that Thursday morning. So I quickly packed the car, got everything ready, cancelled piano lessons as well as took the kids on a field trip for preschool. Then we were off. After about 2 hrs of driving I saw a sign that said the road was closed at the Utah/Idaho border. I pulled over and called Jason who got online to check road conditions while he gave me the number for UDOT. Both places said nothing about road closures so I continued on my way. I hit the mountain pass and it was HORRIBLE. I was driving 25/30 mph in a 75 zone because the roads were snow covered and if I went faster I would have slid off the road. I get to Snowville and find out, sure enough, the road is closed. SO I get to turn around and go back through the hell I'd already driven. I lost it with Mara at one point because she pulled out the weather stripping on the window. (What were you thinking child?) Anyway, I drove for about 7 hours yesterday and proceeded to end in the same place I started. I did get to stop at the McDonalds by Hill Air Force base which was definitely worth the trip. I mean, how many McDonald's have army paraphernalia all over them?

So, now I'm sick which might have something to do with my adventure yesterday. I'm really bummed because I was going to finally get my birthday and Christmas presents from my family but alas, it was not meant to be. So instead, I'll spend the day in bed cursing UDOT.

I found this picture online to show similar conditions but would you believe it, these are actually better that what I was driving in. You can at least see the road in these pictures. I really couldn't see the road at all yesterday.