Florida vacation- on the road

I'm going with Photographer to her folk's condo on a beach in Florida (ocean side of the great sunshine state). We left today. I'll be back sometime next week... I don't even want to think about it. I'm getting outta here for a week-ish! Yay me!

We left at 6 am and arrived in Orlando at 1am. We rock. We drove straight through, listening to music, talking, laughing and stopping to pee a lot.

 Olympic torch thingy in Atlanta, Georgia, a city we drove through.

View of Atlanta through the car window. We managed to hit the city at 5pm rush hour traffic. It was a delight! I did keep Photographer entertained with my constant GONE WITH THE WIND  ("I don know nuttin' 'bout dirvin' in no rush hour traffic!") references and commentary. And sprinkled in many DESIGNING WOMEN comments.

 The great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee...

More Smokies!

And I have no idea what happened to my photos of Indianapolis, Lousiville or Nashville... guess i can take care of that on the return trip!

Sunblock-y kisses,
Mags

Road trip goofs

I will post later today. All I have in me is to say that yesterday I drove my first transport for Alcatraz. It means I picked up kids from their home visits and dropped them back at Alcatraz.

I drove 594 miles on Sunday.

I had a major exit on a major Interstate CLOSED. In the middle of construction. In the dark. With a car full of sleeping kids. (It was good they were sleeping because none of them could read a map anyway... I found that out later!)

I drove through downtown of the state capital during the middle of NFL game traffic.

I missed a turn and had to back track 20 minutes; I don't know how many miles that is, but it was a pain in the butt.

I turned the wrong way on a one way. When I discovered what I did, I fixed my error. In front of a sheriff. Who then followed me for about 6 blocks. He never pulled me over. Thank god.

And as we pulled in the parking lot at Alcatraz, after being in the car for about 12.5 hours, one of the kids spilled a milkshake on her, the car seat, the floor. So I cleaned all that up, filled the car with fuel and returned it.

I almost ran out of gas. To the point where the gas light was BLINKING at me as I rolled into the gas station. Talk about panicked. I can't imagine having to call and explain that one.

I am tired. I need sleep. But I made money. I made 10 bucks an hour. But I'm still tired. Princess rocked.

Ugh.

Maggie

What a bust!

Yesterday Hobby Lobby's email ad came out and they had two things Daddy-O wants: toys that go with his new Cricut machine, and an end table that looks like a stack of books.

Since the ad came out yesterday, and Hobby Lobbys are closed on Sundays so today is the first day of the sale. We drove all the way to Northern Civilization, about 45 minutes on way, and we went and guess what? There was not a damn Book table in the whole place, AND there were no Cricut machine accessories to be found either. It was a wasted trip.

Well... almost a wasted trip. Daddy-O and I had good conversation, we ate dinner at Cracker Barrel, I picked up the pottery XRay Girl and I painted a few weeks ago, and I bought Dunkin Donuts for tomorrow's breakfast so all is not lost.

Any trip that involves donuts is good.

We actually wondered if the weather threw off delivery or something since a bunch of the stuff in the ad wasn't in the store. Or if everyone and her sister was at Hobby Lobby this morning at the crack of dawn because they were jonesing for a book table and a Cricut cutting pad...

It was a Monday,
Mags

Leavin' on a.... train

Well, after work today I'm off to the Windy City and to celebrate Farrago's birthday in style. We're gonna sing karaoke and maybe see a Sox game. The White verses the Red and both of us are Red fans so it should be interesting! And if the weather cooperates, he's taking me to walk on the beach (though he told me if it was cold he was staying in the car with the heater on. Chicken!). What a great guy!

And I'm takin' the train into the city this time, rather than drive. I can head to the train station, not even an hour away, and then go all the way to downtown Chicago, where Farrago- the ever so wonderful gentleman from IL, will pick me up at the train station! That way I don't have to walk, take a cab, take a bus, and the 'El then his car to get to him. And I can park my car for free at the train station. I might even have a few new pictures to post on my travel blog! Sounds like a wonderful plan all the way around, ya know?

With the holiday weekend, I just so did not want to fight the traffic, so I'm excited at the prospect of sitting quietly for 3 hours, reading and listening to my music and watching the world pass me by.

So, ya'll, I'll catch ya on the flip side of the holiday weekend with tales to tell!

Kisses to you all and have a Cosmo weekend!
Maggie

Trip teaser

Your world weary traveler is home from her newest adventure and the key word is... weary. (Apparently so weary it caused me to refer to myself in third person.) Since I stayed up late, played hard, walked more than I have in 6 weeks and drove in Chicago traffic twice in 48 hours, I am tired, tired, tired... So, I promise a trip recap that involves karaoke with Farrago, my "moment" on the bus with a stranger, Farrago's moment on a bus with a stranger, the highlights, the lowlights, how I surprised Farrago not once but twice, city weirdos (other than Farrago and me), meeting men, and commentary on Farrago who is the Host with Most...

Blown in from the windy city,
Mags

Roadies!

I'm excited because I have a few road trips coming up! I know I went to Ireland and Italy this spring, but other than that, which was strange in and of its self, I really haven't made plans to do stuff.

So I am super excited to be heading up to Chicago this coming weekend! Farrago, that awesome blogger buddy, came to visit me last summer when I lived in the Wild West- he was traveling the northwest part of the states and I was able to be a stop on his route. We had a great time (okay at least I had a great time- I don't want to put words in his mouth but he seemed to have a good time). And since I moved back to Civilization I now am a mere 3 hour car drive from Farrago so we're going to get together and hang out.

I adore the city of Chicago so the fact that I get to hand with a cool guy and in my favorite city makes me do the happy dance! We have plans to hang out in the city, maybe see Chinatown or Beverly, maybe hit Navy Pier or take in a Cubs game. We've bounced some ideas around, but to me it doesn't matter what we do- I'm just excited to have plans to do some fun stuff with a cool friend. One thing we are doing for sure is to go to a karaoke party. OMG- he has no idea what he's in for with me singing... he did offer to give me a bottle of tequila... maybe he DOES know what's up? Okay, who told him? Anyway, I am soooooo, looking forward to this!

Memorial Day weekend also brings a road trip, in addition to the World's Largest Rummage Sale. My cousin who lived in DC for the last 30 years moved back here to southern Civilization when she retired and is having a HUGE BBQ at her place. Mac and I are heading down for the day to see some family and to meet their friends. Should be a good day, good food, good company... and I'm really looking forward to it!

I'll let you know how both trips turn out!

Wish you were here or hell, wish I were there,
Mags