An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Travel
Home!
Yep…. I made it home, all in one piece too, more or less. And y’know what? It’s warmer here! Ok, most people wouldn’t find 32 to be warm, but when I got up this morning, the temp was 14. UGH! I got a late start due to oversleeping. Well, I tend to do that when I’m not feeling so swuft. sigh…
Luckily, I missed a lot of the nasty stuff that went on earlier. The roads were clear by the time I got to movin’ south. I saw at least 3 cars overturned in the median, a couple of semis had done a tango and both lost, one was ripped in half, and boxes were scattered all over the place, the other, upside down…in the median, and a couple of trailer (of the camping type) were also in unnatural positions….in the median. Now, using my powers of deductions, I surmise all those who ended up in the median, were going way to fast while trying to pass another vehicle, whose driver was using a reasonable amount of common sense!
The farther south I drove, the more I was feeling like garbage, but no way was I going to spend another night away from home! I am very ready to sleep in my own bed, with my cats trapping me so I can’t move. Sounds rather ridiculous, doesn’t it. Heh. Evidently, they missed me! Well, the boys did at any rate. The princess,aka Tazz, could care less. You know how those older female felines get….attitudinal!
I’m thinking, next year…. the Drinking Right Christmas party should be held in a much warmer clime? sigh.. Yeah…I know, not gonna happen! Well, I can dream, can’t I? 
So now, I gotta figure out what kind of nasty cold type meds we have around here, that would actually work. Chris said Vick’s Sinex has been working for her, but since we don’t have any…. I did come across some Alka-Seltzer sinus stuff, in horse pill form. So far, it ain’t helping. sigh… 
Happy to spend time with good friends, and happy to get myself home. And to Chris, Jamie, and Alex….thanks…. I needed that!
Heading Home
So, I get up this morning, with the intent of heading towards home, getting as much space between me and the first snowpocalypse of the Yankee’s year. I look out the window, and nary a snow flake to be seen.
I make it to Chicago….and BOOM! Nothing really bad…yet, but it’s enough to make me wonder if I was wise in my decision making, considering Jamie said I should wait till tomorrow. Hmmm.. I can handle this, right? I mean, after all I did live in the tundra for 10 years, so I have a bit of experience, right? RIGHT??? sigh…
By the time I made it to the first rest area south of Chicago, and all the rip off tolls, it was getting fairly serious.
Now, in my little pea brain, I figured I could get south of the mess, and all would be well. Makes sense to me! Uh huh. Welp, the farther south I got, the more the wind was blowing, and the more the wind was blowing, the less I could see. It’s kind of weird to have the sun shining above ya (even for just a minute or two) and have a serious white out area in front of you! And FYI people, turn your flippin’ lights on!!! Sheesh! Most folks were moving along at about 55 to 60 when the conditions would allow it, and slowed down to about 50 when it got a bit nasty. Then, there were those people who thought moving along at 35 with no lights was a good idea. *shakes head* Idjits!!
After seeing one too many cars in the ditch, and one that got totally smashed up (lady was fine, but the look on her face spoke volumes), I decided it might be a good idea to get as far as I could, and stop for the night. Well, I made it to Arcola, and carefully pried my fingers from the steering wheel, so I could check into a motel.
It’s 16 flippin’ degrees out there! Well, at least it was when I got out of the truck. And do I have a heavy coat? No, of course not! That would make too much sense! Well, I do, but it’s packed up in the back of the truck, so wasn’t gonna do me a lot of good. It really is possible to turn into a Popsicle, cuz that’s what I was by the time I walked the 10 feet from the truck to the motel entrance! Naturally, no one was at the desk, but there was a note. Be back in 5. Then the phone started ringing…and kept ringing until the lady came back after picking up her young’un from school….10 minutes later. Like my nerves weren’t already frazzled? sigh…
Now, I’m blissfully stretched out on a rented bed, occasionally peaking out the window, thinking…Yep…it was a REAL good idea to stop for the night.
Major thanks to Chris! I honestly had a good time, even if you and Jamie most likely shared your cold with me. I’m sure the Mr will appreciate it. Heh.
Just Another FYI
Tomorrow, I will be in Wisconsin, spending the weekend with Chris, getting on her last nerve, cuz heaven knows, she hasn’t got but one left. Heh. And it’s MINE! *snicker* Gonna have a female gab fest, see some friends, annoy a Badger, and maybe going shootin’ with silent E? Now THAT would be fun.
So, if I’m not on here much, now, you’ll know why! Ta da! 
Home!
Actually, we got home about 3:30 this afternoon, and since then, we’ve been going through all the gimme money’s, and getting the laundry done. Apparently, doing it all before we left Brat’s didn’t help. How do I manage to get such a pile in such a short period of time? But, since it’s a good possibility I’ll be leaving again for a few days the day after tomorrow, seems like a good idea to get it done…ASAP.
Am I watching the Iowa results? Oh HELL no! I am, however taking a peek online now and then. To say I’m dismayed at the results so far, is an understatement! Seeing Paul at the top of the heap is definitely a head scratcher. Have those people lost their ever lovin’ minds? Oh, that’s right! ANYONE can register and vote in the caucus, which to me, makes NO sense at all. In the long run, it doesn’t mean a flippin’ thing, but you know there are people who will take a Ron Paul win seriously. *shakes head* Well, we know that the Dems would love Ron Paul to end up as the nominee, but thankfully, other states have reasonable rules, and it’s the primaries that count more than this shindig tonight…..THANKFULLY!
Heading Home
After 2 wonderful (?) weeks with the family, we are going home. It was an interesting visit, to say the least! Heh. Spending 2 weeks with 3 teenagers is an experience I didn’t think I’d survive, but we did, and no one died…..although the youngest one came REAL close a time or ten!
After a VERY long New Year’s Eve, they aren’t looking their best. LOL We set off fireworks, a couple that decided to just blow up. We thought Ick was going to blow up his truck a time or two in the process. The grand finale went pretty well, until it caught on fire. I tried to take video, but it was so dark, I doubt if they came out. I’ll check when we get home.
Shortly before midnight, the next door neighbors came home, and Ick went over to say ‘Howdy’! They had quite a conversation. It seems that one of their trucks had been broken into the night before. Well, not exactly broken into….evidently, if a vehicle was unlocked, the scumbags would take darn near anything inside. Well, that started us all thinking…did we lock our vehicles? Yup! Mine is ALWAYS locked. It’s a habit. Ick’s was locked as well. Brat on the other hand…. sigh… Seems they got a pair of $2 knock off sunglasses, some lip gloss, about $4 in change, and attempted to rip out her stereo. Evidently they went through the whole truck, taking their time, even moving the seats back. We thought they had gotten one of the speaker thingys under the seats, but evidently, it got shoved back, and they didn’t see them. However, they broke the face whatsit off the radio, ripped up a bunch of stuff, but weren’t able to get the radio out.
The sheriff’s department was obviously extremely busy last night, so they weren’t able to come out to make the report until shortly before we left. It seems there has been a rash of such thefts in the whole subdivision, 8 on Christmas morning. How tacky! He speculated that it was kids. I’d like to know what kind of parents let their kids going roaming the neighborhood in the middle of the bloomin’ night?! Out there in the country, you wouldn’t think they would have such issues, but it seems people are moving out from Harris County (Houston) and Jefferson County (Beaumont) and they are bring their evil spawn with them.
There were a couple of other events, more of the amusing variety, but that’s family stuff, and as much as I’d love to share it….I promised. Heh.
We are halfway home, but will be stopping half the distance so the Mr can watch the Rose Bowl. *shakes head* Well, that’s ok, I think I can probably find some way to entertain myself.
Visit The Pyramids! NOT!
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Welcomes Tourists
According to a Muslim Brotherhood official, the political party wants to boost tourism numbers to Egypt and will not take steps that would harm the industry.
The strong showing by Islamists in Egypt’s staggered parliamentary poll has aroused fears among liberals and others in Egypt that it could lead to rules that would ban alcohol sales and outlaw mixed bathing in popular resorts.
Tourism is Egypt’s top foreign currency earner, accounting for more than a tenth of gross domestic product and employing an estimated one in eight of the workforce.
Essam el-Erian, deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), said accusations that the Islamists rise to power would harm tourism were “rumours” circulated by remnants of the party of deposed President Hosni Mubarak to influence voters.
Perhaps the folks of Egypt should have considered the tourist industry before they went nuts for the Islamists? I don’t know about you, but Egypt is the one of the LAST places on earth I would go right now. I guess we should have gone when we were in the area back in 2008. I just don’t trust those people! For very obvious reasons. Obvious, that is, if you’ve been paying close attention to the happenings in the region.
“No citizen who makes a living from this field should be concerned,” Erian said in statements carried by the party’s website while addressing voters in Sinai ahead of the third stage of the election in January.
He said the party wanted to draw in 20 million tourists a year to Egypt, compared to the more than 12 million that visited before the uprising against Mubarak and subsequent political upheaval that sent tourists packing.
Yeah, I’ve no doubt Mubarak needed to be sent packing, but the direction they are heading may end up being 10 times worse than that dictator handed them. Not to mention the danger these thugs have put the Copts in on a daily basis. Apparently, these people think that 8 million more tourist will be glad to come to their country? Seems to be, all they have done is swap one dictator for another, even more oppressive one. Conrats D’Bama for encouraging the insanity.
Erian said laws regarding alcohol would not be changed and the party would not support legislation that might harm the industry. Alcohol is sold at hotels across Egypt and can also be bought at specialised shops and some licensed restaurants.
But he hinted the Brotherhood would seek to curb some aspects of public consumption, but only based on existing laws.
“The current law has punishments in this regard (to alcohol). We won’t add to it nor modify it but drinking alcohol won’t be in the streets,” he said, without giving details.
Under Egyptian law, anyone caught drunk in a public place can be imprisoned for up to six months, but the law is only sporadically enforced.
I kind of get the feeling they don’t want Americans in the country, spending their dollars on tourism. And they especially don’t want folks from Wisconsin. (heh) Seriously, I’m not a drinker, so such rules wouldn’t apply to me anyway, but who is to say they won’t make crap up, accusing people of doing something that is against their laws just because that person if from a certain country, or is not a Muslim? The idea of charging and sentencing tourists, and then demanding money for said tourist’s release wouldn’t be completely out of the norm for Islamist. Nope….don’t trust them at all! I’d much rather go back to Israel, where I felt completely safe. Well, except for in the Muslim territories.
Erian suggested there was broad agreement among Egypt’s political forces to keep, without modification, the first four articles of the constitution, including the one saying “the principles of Islamic (Shariah) law are the principle source of legislation”.
And, there ya go! “The principles of Islamic (Shariah) law” is about as oppressive as they come. American tourists and Shariah don’t mix. Respecting the laws of the country you are visiting is a really good idea, however, when said country’s law is contrary to everything a person believes in, such as FREEDOM, then there is definitely a conflict. Just sayin’.
It’s not a phobia if they really want to kill you!
FYI
Blogging will likely be fairly light, most likely, for a while. We are on our way to Brat and Ick’s for Christmas. Should be REAL interesting. *snicker* Three teenagers, one quite preggers (19), the daddy, Ick and Brat, the Mr and myself, for a total of eight people in one house, plus dumb dogs #1, 2, and 3, Rockey Moose, and Salem kitty. Good thing it’s a decent sized house.
Pray for all of our sanity.
Home!
And I’m one tired shufflin’ ol’ broad! I actually made it 2 days instead of the 3 I was expecting. I think I was in a big hurry to get back to my Mr, cats, and my very own bed! But I sure am paying for those extra hours spent in the truck now. Well, a couple of pain killers, and maybe some ‘frozen’ Kayro, and I’ll be good as new! Hmmmm…. Maybe not!
Made It!
Well, actually I got here (Wisconsin) early yesterday afternoon. But ya know, when ya get a couple of females in the same room, talking is involved, so I didn’t even bother to get my computer out of the suitcase. Heh. Not to mention, my nerves were frayed!
I hate driving through Chicago! What the blazes is wrong with those people? Some yahoo was doing at least 120 and missed my back end by inches. It’s a wonder I didn’t have a heart attack. And NO, I wasn’t just puttering along! I actually was keeping up with traffic. Speed limit….55. Most traffic moving at 70. Jeeeez! Why bother with the signs? Morons weaving in and out, barely fitting, running up people’s tail pipes. What’s the bloomin’ rush? Seems to me, folks would want to live to make it to their destination instead of wiping out themselves, and a LOT of others too. I just don’t get it! If that fool had hit me, we both would have been dead. *shakes head*
So, here I am, sitting in Chris‘ guest room, listening to Jamie weed whacking, or some such thing. Watching that woman wears me out. LOL How anyone can be so frantic and organized at the same time, I’ll never know……cuz I’m neither. I don’t know what she’s worried about….everything always turns out just fine, and if it doesn’t, no one cares. Heh. We love her anyways! I feel a bit guilty cuz I’m not really able to help her, but I’ve no doubt, if I was in her way, she’d run right over me. LOL THUD! Wouldn’t be a pretty picture. 
It’s going to be a great afternoon, and there will be pictures, at some point, but in the meantime, I need a nap!
Must Be The Water
Is it a rule that anyone who lives in Illinois has to be snotty? I mean, I know there are decent folks who live in this state, but evidently none of them work in the hospitality business, as in motels. At least not in this town.
I stay in a lot of motels, as you’d know if you’ve been around these digs for a while. I tend to go places….a lot. Usually there are motels involved. Most of the time, they are extremely accommodating, especially for someone who is obviously incapacitated. Not this place. Oh no…. in order for me to smoke in a downstairs room, I would be charged a ridiculous fee. If I want to smoke, I have to have an upstairs room. Ok. No…not ok. There is NO FREAKIN’ ELEVATOR! Isn’t there a law or some such?
I’m walking with a cane. The scar on my knee couldn’t have been anymore obvious if it had snapped her nose off, yet, she continues her snotty attitude. Well, I informed the snotty twit…if I fall, or am harmed in anyway, because she is incapable of accommodating me with a downstairs room, due to the fact there are no elevators, I will own her ass. But I said it very politely. After all, honey and magnolias, don’cha know! 
Road Trip!
Yes…another one. Wish me luck! I’ll be taking my time, so it shouldn’t be too bad. But how can I pass up the opportunity to annoy Chris up close and personal? I mean seriously? I have to entertain myself somehow, right? What better way than to head up to Wisconsin? Heh. Of course, I’ll be able to irritate a few other folks too… like Jim, Bridgette, Frank, Cindy, Ric, and a number of others I only get to see once a year. WHOO HOO!
I Made It!
Yep! I have returned home, and basically, I’m in one piece. Tuckered, cuz that’s how us folks get, even with short spurts of driving. Although, today turned out to be a bit longer than I thought it would, but that’s ok….I get to recuperate, at least until the doc’s appointment tomorrow…and then physical therapy. Hope I’ll be able to make it to church. I need my infusion.
And just think….I get to make ANOTHER 700 mile trip next week…in the opposite direction! Somebody…just go ahead and shoot me now.
Heading Home
Yep! I have left the wilds of Brat’s and Ick’s joint, and am heading back to civilization where there are no 50 pound dogs jumping and licking and barking and….
I left there quite late in the grand scheme of things, 4:00. Why? I love the kids…really, I do, but when you haven’t had a full night’s sleep, and there is constant pain involved, you start to wonder….why the hell am I here? I’ve been about as crabby as a teen on serious PMS. I’ve no doubt I have not been pleasant company. One word Brat….and lint and tic tac….POOF!
Texas finally got some rain. Yeehaw! Unfortunately, not enough to get the grime and bugs off the truck, but oh well. I think they had a few down pours BEFORE I drove through any particular area. And that was the grime left from the wash job Short Person and Frodo did on my vehicle. *shakes head*
I have learned that doing the speed limit, or even a few miles over, you are taking your life in your own hands going through Beaumont. Are they nuts?????? Jeeez! As I stated on Facebook: Speed limit-70. Doing-72. Glance in rearview. When did I become the lead car at Talledega with a dead engine? Slow your sorry selves down!
I don’t know what they are dumping in the Sabine River, but gracious sakes that sucker stunk to high heaven! Something has to be rotting in there cuz nothing else would smell that bad. Even the swamp I drove over didn’t stink anywhere near what was emanating out of that river! UGH! Had to stop at the first, and ONLY rest area to air the truck out.
Now, I am happily ensconced in a motel, on the west side of Baton Rouge. Yep. I learned my lesson! This ol’ broad is going to take it SLOOOOOOW! But I gotta ask….what kind of motel doesn’t have a junk food machine??? Ok, so there is a little convenience store right across the parking lot, but still. Waddled m’self on over there, had a feral cat scare the bejabbers outta me (think I scare it pretty good too) and waddled myself on back. Wasn’t too bad. Under normal circumstances, it would have taken five minutes max. In my condition….minimum….tripled. The way I look at it, I couldn’t have done that a couple of weeks ago. Also got acquainted, up close and personal, with one of Louisiana’s state birds….aka….mosquito. sigh… Lucky me!
Figuring on doing 4 or 5 hours tomorrow, and be home some time, fairly early on Tuesday. And just think, when I was a young sprout, could have done this in one day. Oh well…the joys of falling apart and getting old!
An Explanation Is In Order
Yes, it is true, I AM an idiot! What on earth made me think I could drive over 700 miles and not suffer too much?? Gracious sakes!
My intent was to stop frequently, but what do you do if there is no where to stop? Interstates are mostly on, but did you know on U.S. highways, there aren’t nearly as many C-stores as you’d think! Of course, when you aren’t looking for them, they are all over the place. When you are in desperate need……ZILCH! sigh…
So, yes, I am an idiot!
Day one was the worst because I had to make numerous stops before I could even get on the road. There must be a law or something that if you are in pain, the person in line in front of you waiting to check out is going to be a total bozo, or the person checking them out has no clue what they are doing. After 20 minutes of waiting, basically patiently, I had to gather my stuff up, and go to a different line. Naturally, that check out person was slower than molasses, but at least I finally got out of the store. In tears, but out! By the time I had my needed purchases loaded up in the truck, I had turned into a massive puddle! Temperature of 102 with humidity ranging somewhere around Turkish bath!
I decided I would make it into Louisiana, and find the first available motel. RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT! Are you aware that there is about 40 miles of NOTHING? Now, ya know. Finally make to some town that starts with an A, not all that far from New Orleans, and the first place I stopped was totally non smoking. Yeah, like THAT’S gonna happen. Informed the young lady that if Holiday Inn keeps that crap up, we’ll be doing business with a more rational chain. She had the decency to look embarrassed. I wasn’t rude. Just explained that if I am paying for something, then I should be able to decide whether or not I want to smoke, and whether or not I want to use my husband’s hard earned money with their credit card. Funny how the parking lot was mostly empty. Hmmm…
I found a Comfort Inn who has not bowed to the politically correct nannies, and booked the room. Of course, I was starving by this time. I hadn’t eaten anything in about 7 hours. McDonald’s, right next door! So, instead of going up to my room with my stuff, I…yeah…I drove over there. Did you seriously think I was going to walk? Pfft! Pain is NOT my friend!
Now, I don’t mean to disparage the good folks of Louisiana, but if you have a machine that does all the work for you, and you don’t really have to think, why does it take 5 minutes to figure out the change? *shakes head* Friendly folks there though, so I didn’t get my knickers in a twist, although I was more than ready to end that day ASAP!
I get back to the motel, after having to turn the opposite direction and find somewhere to turn around. Got my stuff, grabbed my bag of Michelle Obama’s disapproved fast food, and waddle myself up to my room. The key didn’t work. sigh… I waddle myself back down to the desk, explained to the nice lady, got a new key, and waddled myself back up to the room. The key didn’t work. Ok, I’m getting a tad stressed. I waddled myself back down to the desk, pleading my case, got another new key, waddled back up. There was a little guy I had seen outside cleaning the entrance area that rode up the elevator with me. I smiled. He smiled. I got to the room, tried the key…..nothing. The little man kind of chuckles, indicates he can help. Ok. at this point…kicking the door open wouldn’t have bothered me. Remember, I am exhausted, and in a great deal of pain. He took the key, turned it over, and opened the door.
Not ONE word Chris!!!!! *glaring*
Yep….idiot!
A good night’s sleep would have done wonders at this point. Well, one of these days, I just might get one.
Day 2, I was going to be traveling along I-10, so there should be plenty of rest areas where I can stop, get out of the truck, and walk around a bit. Makes sense, right? Two words – Atchafalaya Basin! It goes on FOREVER! I was outside Lake Charles before I could actually make a pit stop. I suppose I could have attempted to exit before then, but when you are constantly surrounded by HUGE semis, it’s a little difficult to even see an exit until you are right up on it. Where on earth did they all come from, and where in the world were they all going in such a hurry? Jeeeez!
Well, I made it my destination, basically in one piece, and haven’t moved much since. Couch. Bed. Back to couch this morning. But hey….I’m showered and dressed and ready for a day of…..couch! Can’t believe those kids are still asleep and the dogs are outside! Thank you Lord!
Road Trip!
Yep! 5 weeks after having trauma done to my bod, I am getting behind the wheel of my trusty ol’ truck, and heading towards the Southwest. That would be Texas. I will be making frequent stops, and taking lots of Tylenol Arthritis, and stopping for the night when I can’t take it anymore. It typically takes me 2 days of 6 hours behind the wheel to get to Brat and Ick’s, but this time? Who knows. Might not have any trouble at all, and it’ll still take me 2 days of 6 hours of driving. Then again, I might find myself taking a week to get there. MIght as well take a covered wagon. Heh. Yes, I’m aware, it can be done in one day. I’m old. I don’t drive straight through anymore. I don’t have to. Motels are our friends!
Odds are, I won’t be posting anything while on the road. Well, especially when I’m driving, but I think I’m going to leave the computer in the back end. Trying to lug me, plus an overnight with a cane is going to be interesting, as is.
