Okay--two things...
First, it's quite possible that mom was not treated fairly in my last blog post. To clarify, my mom did not say anything about my appearance in front of anyone else. My mom would never do that. Now my grandma, that's another story! Grandma has never been known for being tactful! My mom is my best friend. I love her more than I can explain here. She's the most loyal and giving person I know. I love you, mom.
Second, I have an idea. I spent most of yesterday at the dentist office. I had to get a cavity filled and then both older boys needed a cleaning later in the day. The only benefit of a day at the dentist is the magazines in the waiting room. I love browsing through magazines. In a travel magazine I read a great article on house swapping. The concept is simple. Trade homes with someone else that lives in a destination you would like to visit. Your lodging is then free, as is their's. I guess this idea is really catching on because everyone is running such a tight budget lately. Have you seen The Holiday? So, at first I thought..."too bad I don't live anywhere people would ever want to visit." Then it occurred to me that maybe I do. Sure, there's not a huge crowd of people wanting to check out life in inner city Columbus, but maybe there are more than I realize. For instance, maybe you live in Mt. Vernon. You enjoy coming to COSI, the zoo, the conservatory, etc. I just happen to love Mt. Vernon. Maybe you live in Cincinnati? I don't get to visit there often, but I enjoy Cincinnati and maybe you would like to check out Columbus when Lion King is in town. Maybe you have friends that live in Columbus and you would like to have a place to stay without imposing? Maybe we could trade. I don't know many people who can afford expensive travel right now, but as a family we've learned to enjoy traveling in Ohio or the midwest. It's more affordable, a shorter drive with kids, and it's always fun to check out new places even if they aren't exotic destinations. Of course, if you do live in an exotic travel destination and would like to visit Columbus, I'm up for that trade as well! We'll leave you a little gift that represents Columbus on the counter, a clean house, and a binder with great information on our favorite restaurants, coffee shops, and entertainment in the area. It would be a great opportunity to really experience another city rather than simply visiting another city as a tourist.
Let me know what you think.
I love it. I'm in. So what's the next step?
(You don't know me, I follow your blog, for whatever that's worth).
Ali said...
7:54 PM
I love the idea, only problem that if you guys come to MV we would want to be here as well! Think about us next summer if you really want to do it, and we'll try and make it work!
kevin peterson
Anonymous said...
8:21 PM
Hi Kerri. I haven't checked blogs in a long while, but seem to have come upon yours at a nice time.
In reference to "letting oneself go," I understand completely when you say that your husband likes it. Kat goes days without running a comb through her hair, and wears clothing that she has worn since high school. I couldn't be happier about it, because while she is wearing clothes that are "so last season," she is reading MIDDLEMARCH and the works of NT Wright and cooking healthy meals and working in the garden and planning community garden work days, and...to me, those things are exponentially more attractive than lipstick.
As Kyle would say, "Do it."
Peace friend.
-andrew
Anonymous said...
8:16 AM