An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Travel
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.
Because Thinking Wasn’t Involved :)
Saw this at American and Proud, and figured, what the heck….I should be able to remember where I’ve been, right?
States:
visited 36 states (72%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
Countries:
visited 16 states (7.11%)
Create your own visited map of The World
Hmmm… need to travel more.
4th Amendment Rights For Me, But NOT For Thee
Stop Treating Everyone As An Equal Threat
The Foundry
The Associated Press reported yesterday that “cabinet secretaries, top congressional leaders and an exclusive group of senior U.S. officials are exempt from toughened new airport screening procedures when they fly commercially with government-approved federal security details.” The article goes on to report that while the rest of the public is still subject to either a body scanner or “an intimate personal pat-down,” as of Friday the Transportation Security Administration had exempted pilots from the procedure, and then on Tuesday they added flight attendants to the exemption list.
Americans have every right to be upset about this double standard. But the solution is not ending the exemption for government officials, pilots, and flight attendants. The solution is ending the blanket body scanner requirement altogether. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the TSA is taking a “risk-based, layered security approach.” But the TSA’s continued policy of pat-downs or body scans for all suggests otherwise.
Crossing The Line
TSA’s security charade
Washington Times
In the past few days, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) policies have been probed almost as thoroughly as the elderly men and teenage girls subjected to one of the agency’s indecent “enhanced” pat-downs. They’ve come up short. TSA’s top man, John S. Pistole, testified Wednesday that he had no choice but to implement the security measures based on the intelligence he has on potential threats. Not that he is willing to share this information. It’s all classified, of course.
A more likely explanation is that the Obama administration is engaging in a classic form of bureaucratic backside covering. Should another Islamic extremist board an aircraft while TSA agents are busy grabbing sippy cups from toddlers and confiscating fingernail clippers from Marines, the agency plausibly can claim there was nothing more it could have done. After all, with nude photography sessions and stories of nuns and 3-year-olds being groped, TSA has made it clear it has crossed every line of common decency – even laws governing sexual assault.
Nashville
When we found out that the Mr had to come back to Vanderbilt, we decided, since it was a late afternoon appointment, and I really do NOT like driving any distance in the dark, we’d just spend the night in Nashville. Easier said that done. Every motel I checked had a minimum of a 2 nights stays, or was totally booked. Couldn’t figure this one out. Well, I finally found a room, one night, smoking room, two double beds. Hey…we’re old…it works.
Got to the motel, after numerous stops, which I won’t go into, to find that the place was packed, and we were really lucky to get a room. Why? Well, evidently, last night was a big night for country music, and of course, Nashville being the Music City, there were over dressed country music fans all over the place. Even tiny people were seen all decked out in the country duds, being pushed in strollers by mom’s that had more make up on than a rodeo clown. What’s up with that? Hmmm…
After a great dinner at Demo’s, which I HIGHLY recommend, I thought it would be a good idea if we took a leisurely stroll back to the motel. We didn’t have internet, so what was the rush? And it was only 2 blocks up, and 6 blocks over, right? The crowds didn’t seem as big on the street, so it should be an easy walk. Well, not many till we got a block from the arena. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many limos, buses, and women in very spiked high heels, walking on the uneven sidewalk, in one place in my life. What a hoot! The biggest crowd wasn’t the line waiting to get into to see the show. No, the biggest crowd was standing around the doors of a bar. Hmm… Haven’t figured that one out, and I failed to get a picture of it.
Wish I had gotten a shot of that Rolls limo. Seen Rolls Royce before, even got a ride in one once….that old fashioned kind….yellow….it was cool….but I’d never seen a Rolls Royce limo. Sucker looked more sturdy than any vehicle on the roads today, kind of like a tank.
So, I over estimated the Mr’s ability to walk more than just a short distance, so we stopped an rested on the uphill stretch quite a few times. That’s ok. It was a rather pleasant night, 65 degrees, so I didn’t mind waiting for him to catch his breath. Sorry ’bout that hunnie!
No, we didn’t see any ‘stars’. Wasn’t really looking for any. I did overhear one young lady talking about who she saw….none of whom I had ever heard of. LOL Reckon I’m getting old?
We did make it back to the motel in time to see Dennis Miller on O’Reilly, which is the Mr’s favorite part, so all is well. 
HOME!
Whew! What a drive! Yeah….the upper midwest has gotten some nasty weather, but so did WE. Driving through hell was an understatement! Luckily, I used the few gray cells I have left, and took the road avoiding Nashville completely. I think we’d still be stuck in traffic other wise!
Found this picture on The Tennessean that indicate what the sky looked like the majority of the drive. That is, unless it was POURING! Then, being able to see, was a whole new adventure.
And to be honest, this picture doesn’t really do it justice.
Please….explain to me why these morons, in the picture, do NOT have their headlights on? Do you have any idea how difficult it is to see a vehicle in the dark? Criminy! No wonder we heard about so many wrecks around Nashville on the radio. Sheesh! Get a grip people!
Other than having to slow down frequently, it was fairly uneventful, much to my surprise. I kept expecting a tornado to swoop down and carry my truck off….with us in it!
There was a tree in the backyard I was concerned about, and sure enough…it’s almost down. Almost, because it’s now propped up against another tree. Hey…as long as it’s not pointing towards the house, right?
So, now, it’s back to reality and no more junk food! LOL
Heading Back Home
After what I thought was going to be a nice leisurely drive south on Skyline Drive, we finally, after almost 9 hours have stopped for the evening. Only got to stop once to gawk at the pretty colors. But it was much more colorful than my trip through there a few weeks ago.
After getting back on the freeway, we discover there has been a wreck about ten miles up the road, so decide to exit while we could. Traffic was already stopping. Well, this would have been a great idea if I hadn’t turned when I shouldn’t have after hitting Roanoke. What should have been about a 5 hour drive ended up being 9 hours. Now, it wasn’t too bad when the sun was still up, but lemme tell ya….it get DARK in dem dere hills at night! There was quite a bit of traffic too. Couldn’t figure that one out….till we hit the motel.
Hamlin wins at Martinsville, cuts into points lead
Oh yippee. Lucky us. We get tangled up in traffic of Nascar fans! Ever been behind a bus full of fans in the dark of night, on seriously up and down, curvy mountain roads, doing about 20 miles an hour? Yeah…it’s LOADS of fun.
