Get me to Vail already!

OK...so woke up a bit hungover. URGH! Gathered my bags, iced my cooler and packed up the car. At checkout, I asked the front desk of a good local place for lunch and inquired about the man from the bar. They apologized and we had quite a laugh. I was informed that the man...does not always tell the truth. Which I pretty much already knew. The girls at the desk mentioned he is difficult to deal with. Makes them call him MR. xxxxx and requested surround sound when he checked in, and when the flat screen tv did not work he took it apart and requested a second room for watching tv b/c he did not want to move rooms. We had a laugh and I started my day. at about 11. first stop Brint's diner.

Brint's Diner

It was on Diners, Drive ins and dives on the food network channel. It was on the show for diner...but think it was more of a dive. I drove to a back alley and there it was right in front of what looked like low income housing. I went in and it was kind of quiet in there. But it did begin filling up at about noon. I ordered the Chicken fried steak, with fries, peas, salad and a roll.

At noon...back to the car and continued down the road. Accd. to GPS I should get to Vail at about 9PM. OH my can we say hot day! Drove through Kansas and thought it was nice and peaceful to see nothing. But it was HOT. Car registered at 104 degrees. Funny thing is an hour later once I made it to Colorado the temperature dropped down to 84. The view became gorgeous. I was watching the sun set and then it would storm. I saw rainbows and and enjoyed the ride until I got into Denver. The highway was so difficult to see. There was a bad glare and I did not like the drive. I had a hard time seeing. Drove through tunnels and around mountains. I stopped off in a little town about an hour from Vail. I so loved it. It was the neatest little place I have seen in a long time. I grabbed a Carl's Junior...And jumped back in the car.

Vail

Finally made it here. 9:34. Could not park the car in the garage. Was very difficult so was going to go find a parking garage. I called my dad and he told me there was another garage in the complex, so off I went to the other garage, parked my car, and straight to bed.

expenses:

lunch $12

gas $40

Gas $40

dinner $ 8.00

Bill Clinton, Your Mama's good food, a drive, and a strange man at hotel bar!

Whoa...can we say sleep in... Well maybe if I actually was able to. The bed was awesome, the black out curtains were great, the landscaping company starting at 8AM...URGH! But I was so tired. Emotionally and Physically Exhausted. I started wondering what in the world am I doing? Where am I going? Lost, confused and frustrated.

I managed to get out of there by 11AM. First stop, the William Clinton Library. And I have to say even though I am a staunch Republican, they did a great job. Was very entertaining. I only spent about an hour there. They had some neat stuff in there. I got to see correspondences from celebrities and President Clinton. There was a display on Events at the White House and Christmas at the White House. And a short 15 minute film of Bill Clinton Talking. That was not so good. His reading was so stiff and kind of uncomfortable to watch. But overall, I am really glad I went. I asked the volunteers there where I should go to lunch and they recommended Your Mama's Good Food.

Your Mama's Good Food....MMM MMM Good! I could not pick a meat...so I picked 2.

Chicken Spaghetti and Meatloaf. Side of Cream Corn and Carrots and a nice big huge Roll!

With a real fat coke! It was delish and also very well worth the visit! Some of the friendliest people I have encountered on my journey. Wish I would of arrived a bit earlier though because they were closing and I bet they were sold out on some of the items at that time. But was a nice visit. I wrapped up the roll and took it for later. On my way out, the owner looked at me and said, you must of been hungry. Um..ok...yes, I was hungry and yes that was darn good. I don't think they know my mama...because her cooking is not that good...Well she does make a good fried egg, good salads and nice sandwiches.

At about 2PM, i jumped in the car and turned the GPS on to guide me to Vail. I was not feeling the drive today. Not at all. Stopping probably every hour and a half. I drove out of Arkansas and into Oklahoma. Exhausted I stopped at the Oklahoma Visitor center right at 4:55PM. Good thing because they close at 5. I inquired about distances and hotels. Very friendly staff there.

Back to the car for a goal to get to Wichita. 5 hours away. Drive, stop, drive, stop, drive, Marriott.

I arrived at Wichita Marriott at 10:00PM. Parking lot was far from entrance and no bell man. But they were so nice and let me leave my car in the round about drive at the front door. I grabbed one bag out of my car asked how late the bar was opened dropped my luggage in the room and off to the bar. Just wanted to relax and sit and have a drink or two. I started talking to the bartender and she was so nice. Asking me where I was coming from and where I was going to. Word got out to the other 3 patrons of the bar that I was from Atlanta. One man came over and introduced himself. He was from Kennesaw. I really didn't care. Then as I was getting up to go to the room - a guy from Southern Cali - brought me a beer. So I went to talk to him.

He was DRUNK. And loved talking about himself. He told me...he grew up in an orphanage, his mother is ann sheridan and his dad could either be cary grant, elvis or john kennedy, he is the next donald trump...but with better hair, he owns a company, he has 3 houses, he is a platinum marriott reward holder, and after he found out his mother was ann sheridan while on her deathbed...he had a nervous breakdown and joined the marines. Um...yea..And that was only a half hour convo. we got pushed out of the bar and sent to the lobby b/c the bar was closing. I took my first opportunity to thank this gentleman for the drink and excuse myself. A little drunk after 4 beers, I went to sleep.

Expenses:

WC library $7.00

lunch $11.00

gas $40.00

Hotel $104.00

Water $2.22

bar $12.50

Old Friends and New Adventures

First stop on my trip to finding a new home, Homewood Al. for a visit with Courtney! I had not seen her in 16 months, so it was so nice to visit! I arrived at Courtney's house at 11ish and loved the visit with her. Unfortunately, I only got to see one of her children. Winn - what a cutey! We went to a nice lunch and I think I talked her ear off. Then I got a tour of the children's summer camps, schools, and neighborhood. We don't get to see each other that often, but we always catch right up and have a great time! After about 2 hours with Ms. Court and Winn, it was time for me to jump in the car and go. I typed in Vail, Co to the GPS and started driving. First through Alabama, then through Mississippi, next Tennessee and lastly stop in Little Rock Arkansas. I thought about going to Tunica MS because I have some free nights at the MGM there...but I would of spent double on that gambling..so I continued on. Trafic was light. Music was readily available on the radio. After I left the Atlanta area, Hip Hop and Rap stations pretty much disappeared. I was left with Christian Rock, Country, and Michael Jackson. (anniversary of his death and everyone can't get enough of MJ.

Arriving in Little Rock, I typed in Marriot on my GPS and went to the first one - sold out. Found a courtyard about 30 minutes out on the other side of town. Got there at about 9:30PM (10:30 atl time). Sorted my luggage in my car and off to find supper. Only to find most places were closed. At 11PM - I ventured down to the 24 hour Market in the hotel and picked up a $5.00 WW pizza (normally 3$ at a store) popped it in the lobby microwave and crawled in bed to eat dinner. Fast to sleep!

How much am I spending:

Gas $31.00

Gas $40.00

Hotel $ 140.00

Pizza $5.00

GPS

Last July, I went to New Zealand. Last July, I planned to keep a blog. Trip is over..and as you can see...did not write a thing. Loved it stayed in Napier most of the time and travelled through North Island and South Island. Arrived back to the states at the end of February. I have been in Atlanta since then. I have taken several trips. One disastorous trip to Vail, a fun train trip to New Orleans (until I ended up with food poisoning), and a fabulous tour of Cali from San Diego to Napa Valley to San Francisco then down to LA to visit one of my closest friends and her new baby. I have been up to Lake Rabun once and went to Macon to pick strawberries. Needless to say, I have been keeping busy with lots of mini vacays..And I have been getting bored with times spent trying to figure out what is next!

When I arrived back in Atlanta, I spent a lot of time with my neice and nephews. I looked through their school work on the bulleton board and spent loads of time talking to my Caroline. A lot of the kids had to fill out...how old is mommy, what does mommy do, what is mommy's favorite food...etc.. and I got a good laugh out of that. I wanted to see what a 5 year old thought about me, so I asked her the questions so I could see how she perceives me. I can't remember the answers to any of them but one. And that was when I decided I need to get out of here. When I asked her "what do I do" -she answered - sit in your room. OH GOODNESS...I am 35 years old, living in my old bedroom at my parent's house and unemployed...Not a way I want to be thought of.

So needless to say....I am leaving tomorrow. I could not decide between bus, (ok..ok...ok...but for $550 (or something like that) you can get a pass for 60 days of travel. Not too bad) plane or car. I opted to jump in the car and decide along the way where my journey will take me. 1st stop Birmingham to visit an old dear friend for a few hours then hop back in the car and continue on to Vail. Not sure if I am going through TX or travel North through MO. Both options are fun...could stop in and visit a friend in MO or stop by Cadillac Ranch and see if I can find my signature on the cadillac I signed in '99 and then visited again '00. It is probably gone by now. My mom wants me to take a GPS so I don't get lost. She just went to the store to buy me one. But I don't even know where I am going...so what good is a GPS at this moment? Oh well, first stop is b'ham. Then maybe I will figure out the next one.

Hopefully, I will be better updating this blog on this trip. Because did not even get started on last one...Off for a good night sleep before I start on this journey to I don't know where....

It's Summer

Something fun is about to happen!

Visa is here

Visa is here

Packing has started

Book is being read.

Leave Atlanta sometime next week. 

The rest I will figure out when I get there! 

Ticket for one, please!

About 3 hours ago, I purchased my ticket to Auckland, NZ. 

To go ahead and answer some questions:

I have no idea how long I will be over there.

I don't know anyone over there. 

I don't know where I will stay/ live. 

I don't know  where I will work. 

I still have not gotten my visa. - I am sending that in on Monday to BUNAC. 

BUNAC is handling my visa information. 

I am not making any commitments on how long I will be there or where I am going. 

When I get there on July 7 - I will meet with BUNAC for a small orientation. 

I leave on July 4th. I am going to spend a night in LA before heading out on the 13 1/2 hour flight.

I am excited about my trip. 

I think I answered it all. 

The next 5 weeks, I  will be  trying to figure out what shoes, clothes, purses, jewelry, scarves, hats, etc....I can live without for a while. And decide what items will make the cut  to fill my  2 small suitcases. I must figure out this whole SKYPE business. And need to realize I will be heading back into Winter. Ready or not...I am leaving in 5 weeks...Woohoo! (I think)