Road trip: Change of plans
This year probably wasn’t the best to plan a road trip due to the outrageous gas prices. That thought did occur to us early on but we continued to plan and figured we could make do. Since Mark, Mom, and I would all be going on this trip, it left us with a dilemma: who was going to take care of our dogs while we were gone? We asked family members and friends, and even offered to pay a couple of teenagers to stay at our house with the dogs. Alas, none of those scenarios was possible. We began looking into places to board the dogs and found Pawsitively Heaven Pet Resort in Chicago Ridge. Mark, Soprano, and I visited the resort for a tour and met the owners and many staff members. It is a fantastic place. We ended up making reservations for Soprano and Taylor to stay there while we were gone. They would be sharing a “suite”, a room with: a bed for each dog (and I mean a BED, not a little cushion); sliding glass doors; air conditioning; cable TV (playing Animal Planet only); and a doggie door leading out to a “terrace”, a fenced in area that allows the dogs to go out and do their business whenever they need to. That is in addition to the four walks a day they’d have. Sounds fabulous, right? The facility is but the price is not. The cost for boarding the two dogs was going to be almost $900! It hit me about three weeks ago that $900 is way too much money to be spending for pet care. Add that to the money we’d be paying for gas and hotels and this trip would end up costing more than any of the international trips I’ve taken in recent years. We love our dogs and think of them as family members and we would not leave them with just anyone, anywhere. So we agreed to cancel the trip altogether… until Mark suggested that Mom and I just go and he would stay home to take care of the dogs. Initially, I said no because it’s not fair that I get to take a trip and Mark doesn’t. Then Mark said, “I’ve already been to Washington, DC. You and your mom just go.” That’s when I had the idea of Mom and I just flying to DC and cutting out Boston and Atlantic City from the itinerary. Mom had credit for a free flight on Southwest Airlines and I found a fare for $260. Add our food and lodging costs to that and we’ll still spend less than if we’d driven. So that’s the plan: Mom and I are off to our nation’s capital.
One more word about Pawsitively Heaven: it really is an awesome facility. The owners were so friendly and they patiently answered all of my neurotic-dog-parent questions. If we need to board Soprano for a couple of days or a weekend, I would not hesitate to check him in to this place. But for twelve days… it was just too much for us to spend.
Posted by Francesca
Tags: Our travels & travel news, Washington D.C.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
While in D.C., stop at Old Ebbitt’s. It’s right by the White House and Capital. The food is actually pretty good and you may see some politicians, as it’s frequented by them. Also, had a great brunch at the Tabard Inn, but make sure to sit outside on the adorable patio.
I’m a little nervous about our Cubbies, but maybe I’m just being a Cub fan. Also, I live in Beverly. Had I not been pregnant at the time of the sweep, I’d have met you at McNally’s for nickel beers!
July 24th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
On my next trip to Chicago, will I be allowed to stay at this place? If I am boarding there who will pay my fees? Will I be allowed to go to “Oberweis” on a daily basis? Also can I prepare my own food there and watch baseball? Do they have a pool? Can I relieve myself in a private bathroom, or do I have to go outside? Just thinking about this place, I like the possibilities.
July 24th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I just had a second thought. Being a former member of the CPD this would come natural to me. The only thing is that I would be on the other side of the fence.