VAN VOORHIS FAMILY BLOG

I pulled down our blog for a few months for a couple of reasons…

First… I have been burned by the press and I didn’t want any new public information about me or my family to be available during the campaign… In my experience, as the newspaper business dies a slow painful death, the print press has more and more trouble being bothered with facts. But whether it be the Ohio Statehouse Press core or some random egomaniacal blogger with a laptop, an agenda, and last night’s spaghetti still on his shirt, I would prefer to never talk to any of them again… And so we went underground.

Second…I didn’t want to accidentally embarrass clients, friends and family with any of my satire. Not unlike (Senator?) Al Franken, I want to be a part-time satirist if I grow up. The only difference is that I want to be a part-time satirist, not a full-time vulgarian — and I can’t blame the things I have written on mind-altering drugs like Al Franken can… I know I don’t belong in public life… But Angry Al apparently hasn’t read any of his own material. God Save the Republic.

But now as I head to New Zealand, I look forward to doing a little writing again.

When we traveled around the world in the summer of 2007, I enjoyed posting pics and short stories. Well now I am back…and this time the censors are on permanent vacation…just like the fact checkers at the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

We are in the lovely Courtyard Marriott in Orlando…just a few short hours from a 330am wake up and the next great unconventional post-election family adventure. We are ready to fly…literally.

One of the most impressive people that I have ever met, hedge fund guru Julian Robertson, took a break from his career and went to New Zealand to try and write a novel. I won’t promise a novel because I don’t have the discipline necessary to fully develop my thoughts. I prefer the intellectual equivalent of a drive-by-shooting.

But I plan to deliver a series of short stories that I hope will amuse you and help us stay in touch with friends back home. And if you don’t find my work funny…not to worry. I promise to never run for the U.S. Senate from some state I lived in 30 years ago.

Hey all – thought I’d put up our general itinerary as we have it at this point. Can’t believe we’re almost heading out – time has gone by quickly. We leave on Wednesday to head to Orlando where we have an early flight on New Years Day to San Francisco. From there – we leave SF that evening and have our 12 1/2 hour flight to Auckland – and the adventure begins…..

January 3 – arrive in Auckland at the Rendezvous hotel (rendezvoushotel.com.au)
January 4 – Auckland
January 5 – Rotorua (regalpalms.co.nz)
January 6 – Taupo (Oasistaupo.co.nz)

January 7 – Tongariro (discovery.net.nz) – hopefully we will do the Tongariro Crossing (Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings movies) – hopefully we won’t end up stuck in a cave with Frodo! This is an 8 hour hike up over a volcano – should be an adventure for all of us!!

January 8 – Wellington (museumhotel.co.nz)
January 9 – take the ferry to the South Island…onward to Kaikoura (anchorin.co.nz)

January 10 – I think this is the day we do the very early swim with the dolphins , then on past Christchurch to Geraldine (fourpeaksmotel.co.nz)

January 11 – Drive to Mt. Cook (www.mount-cook.com)

January 12 – arrive in Queenstown and check into our rental house.

We’ve got the kids signed up for tennis camp in Queenstown the afternoons of Jan 19 – 23, which should be a nice way to meet new friends.

January 24 – 29 we will do the Milford Track hike (www.ultimatehikes.co.nz) – this in itself should be an adventure!!

We’re playing it by ear from there – hoping to keep up to date with home schooling, find a church, eat some good food, make some new friends – and hike a whole bunch!

Thanks for checking in and please stay in touch! J

Full day, but counting my blessings. Time in the kitchen baking this morning – thankful for being able to provide food for my family and many others.

Not getting ripped off by a home repair man – priceless. Thankful for some honesty.

Time with other moms from our kids Christian school – a real encouragement, and fun to boot.

Good phone conversations with friends – even if just briefly – so blessed with so many good friends.

Beautiful weather today – watched the kids run around in my parent’s back yard – so blessed.

Burgers, fries and homework with the kids – glad they love us and are well educated.

More time with kids and a long night in the kitchen with more baking. So grateful to have a beautiful place to live and ample resources.

Thankful for my husband – how hard he works and how much he loves me and the kids.

Thinking about so many of our friends and acquaintances that are going through difficult illnesses and realizing that I need to be praying for them more.

Off to bed soon and ready to start another great day tomorrow. J