Expectation vs. Reality: Yes, Yes, and Yes

Wow, so blogging on the road is fairly difficult.  I just don't have the time.  I imagined this trip for so long I just wasn't quite sure what it would actually be like.  So, I thought I'd make a blog about how the trip is meeting what I had imagined.
*So, so far, it's easier than I expected.  The driving has its moments, but if it's not raining, and it's daylight, then, it's not bad.  I don't even mind rush hour because it means we can go slower.  Sometimes it's a challenge for me to keep up the 70 mile per hour thing but other times, I find myself going faster.  It all depends upon how far I'm going.
*Visiting friends has been the highlight.  I felt a little nervous to see people and to STAY and feel like an imposition on people I haven't seen in a long long time, but it has been wonderful and my friends have shared a ton of aloha with us. The Rogers, the Andersons, my former students, Deison, Lauwa'e, and Cheryl.  I've also loved having a hotel room, to just catch a breath.
*Our van is a tad bit more crowded than I had imagined, but I think we'll do some downsizing today.  It's very nice to have our own van.  It's like a relief or a piece of home.
*Food has been fun and delicious and amazing.  We are trying very hard not to overdo it, and though it hasn't been healthy food, we have tried to not eat toooooo tooooo much.  We walk a lot, also, which hopefully is doing something.  We've also done a good job of getting our rest.
*Budget-so far, ok.
*Keeping up with my work is ok.  I sometimes would rather be doing other things, but priorities....that's all I can say.
*Meeting fun people-YES!  Lots of happy, kind, fun, and funny people.  There are standouts! and there are the everyday friendly folks!  We love them all.
*Freedom from everyday life is also fun.  We have work, we have schedules, but it's different and it's something I am really grateful for.
*Me and the girls stuck in a van...well, sometimes they get mad at me, and sometimes we get mad at Kealia, and sometimes we get mad at Hana Girl, and sometimes Kealia and Hana Girl fight.  I tried something new...I let them have a whole fight and I didn't say a word.  It was hard; however, at the end, they were fine, they got over it, and so, maybe I'll try that some more.  The best part of us...we don't stay mad.
*Missing Mike-Ugh!  That's ALL I can say!  Much much worse than I expected.  Awful.  Twice I've checked air fares to come home and see him...but, I'm hanging on.  FaceTime HELPS!  We get Mike on the phone and pass him around.  It's kind of like he's been shrunk into a little guy the size of the phone and we show him around and the girls say, "I want daddy now," and we give them the phone.  It's funny.

*Is it still exciting?  Yes.  Am I glad we're doing it?  Yes.  Am I happy to keep going?  Yes.
So far, Yes, Yes, and Yes.