#schmurphingit #cali2016: Schmooblydong

Before the trip, Kara and I decided that we needed to go out of our way to make sure we documented our adventure as best as we could. One way was posting regularly on social media, another way was writing a blog, and yet another way was taking pictures. So of course, I bought a selfie stick. Kara bought a sports camera. Although these items have brought us new ways of snapping photos and videos, all new technology comes with new struggles--or at least that is how it works for me. Struggle 1) We can't figure out how to use the sports camera right side up in the car. That's right, we recorded a whole 3 minute video upside down...I'm still working on rotating it. Struggle 2) The selfie stick keeps dying. I bought a bluetooth one because it seemed more convenient, but it turns out having to charge yet another battery powered gadget isn't the most ideal scenario. Struggle 3) The sports cam has it's own wifi network..BUT WHY?! We wondered the same thing. Let me explain.

Kara and I checked into our first Airbnb last night in Springfield, MO. When we arrived we were greeted with a friendly hello from our host as they showed us to our room. We were all settled in when I asked the most prized question of the night, "Oh do you have wifi?" (remembering how we wanted to use our wifi powered sports cam). "Of course!" they said, "I always forget what the network is but..." "I think I see it!" I interjected as I saw a network pop up. Is it (pause) "Schmooblydong?" Ah yes, schmooblydong, I should have guessed. Apparently it's a made-up word that was used in an episode of American Dad! (thanks Google) vaguely meaning that something is so great there is no word to describe it other than this made up one. Long story short, the rest of the night resulted in Kara and I fighting with the schmooblydong network as we tried to upload photos and videos from the sports camera. It turns out we didn't even need the schmooblydong network because the camera comes with its own wifi that our phones can connect to. But even though we spent a solid hour of our rest time playing with the wifi, it turns out repeatedly saying and reading the word "schmooblydong" surely encourages a great time with plenty of laughter.

As we hit the road again bright and early tomorrow, I can't help but think of the words I will use to describe the Grand Canyon. Awesome? Beautiful? Spectacular? Breathtaking? And now, maybe...schmooblydong! I'm sure it will be indescribable. I'm not sure if I'll ever truly understand schmooblydong or how that word originated, but it has a similar beginning to another made up word you might be seeing a lot as you follow our adventure: Schmurphing It. "Schmurph" is a combo of our last names, Schnier and Murphy. We like to think we know what it means exactly, but even we are finding new meaning to our made-up present participle every day. In some ways, it's also indescribable. But at the core of it, Schmurphing It is our little phrase that reminds us that this trip is once in a life time thing, so we are going to do our best take advantage of every indescribable moment. So whether it's schmurph or schmooblydong, we are beyond excited for the priceless, beautiful moments that await.