Blog For Free!
Archives
Home
2007 April
2007 January
2006 December
2006 November
2006 October
2006 September
2006 August
2006 July
2006 June
2006 May
2006 April
2006 March
2006 February
2006 January
2005 December
2005 November
2005 October
2005 September
2005 August
2005 July
2005 June
2005 May
2005 April
2005 March
2005 February
2005 January
2004 November
2004 October
2004 September
2004 August
2004 July
2004 June
2004 May
2004 April
2004 March
2004 February
2004 January
2003 December
2003 November
My Links
Bobby Joe
Daft and Demented
AESav - AE's new home
Joolieblog II
Krazedone's Blog
Irishred (aka ApplesnOranges)
Andaloo
Sillygrrl
Crap Pix - Really
Briggsy
Anagamesx's Blog
Susan of Pudlin and the "Puds"
Fotocali on tblog
Fark all day - you know you want to
Lynne (aka ThingsIKnow)
Big Doral
Mark's Life
Flaring and her Fish that were once Fry
Ladyblog
Tenkin - not to be forgotten
Hhunter's Blog
The Original Natblog
Nattoons's Blog
tBlog
My Profile
Send tMail
My tFriends
My Images
Sponsored
Blog
|
| South Loop |
| 06.08.04 (5:38 pm) [edit] |
Austin, Waco, Dallas, Texarkana, Arkadelphia, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Cookesville, Knoxville, Ashville, Charlotte, Spartansburg, Atlanta, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Meridian, Jackson, Vicksberg, Shreveport, Tyler, Waco, Austin. I might have missed out a few more minor cities on the way. Over 2500 miles in 5 days, and I road shotgun the whole way. I felt terribly guilty at the end. Missi Jackson was so tired and I know her back was aching. Frankly, I don't think I could have handled the stick-shift especially during the many construction and weather conditions but I coulda-woulda-shoulda done something. It was fun.
![]() =http://img38.photobucket.com/...
A few highlights:
Books on Tape and Cracker Barrel - The Official Restaurant of Nat's Future Road Trips. There's a Cracker Barrel every 20 miles on the interstates throughout the south and books on tape can make a 12 hour journey feel like a day at the drive-in. Plus you don't find yourself having to come up with interesting things to talk about when you're in the middle of nowhere with no decent radio stations.
Passing through the Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains was awesome. Just so scenic and my ears popped the whole time. I remember as we were descending seeing all these stations for the trucks to stop and cool their brakes. Further on we say "runaway truck ramps", 3 in succession. I guess it was that steep. Nice to know the trucks have somewhere to go. You feel sorrow though for truck # 4 if he loses control. He has to choose between plowing into the back of another truck or going off a cliff.
I lost $20 at a casino in Vicksburg, MS - my first venture into a casino. Probably not my last.
In Jackson, MS, we stopped at Missi's alma mater and ate at one of her old haunts from her sorority days. She was beaming and in her element. She was a little peeved though to discover that her old school had removed her favorite smoking bench and replaced it with a statue of Gandhi. Oh well.
By far, Tennessee has the best public restrooms. The Ladies' room at the rest stops there were clean and modern. By far, the Sonic in Tyler, TX has the filthiest bathroom - flies on the seat trying to make their way through the build up of "stuff" on the seats. Lovely.
The main highlight of the trip of course was the wedding in Charlotte, NC. It was the first time I'd seen the bride in make up and she looked fabulous. The best word I can use to describe the wedding was seamless. Service started on time at 11:00 am and we were out of the church at 11:25 am. The reception was at noon at the this golf resort. I was tipsy by 12:45pm but still not tipsy enough to make a complete ass of myself. Why is it that where ever I go someone from the waitstaff starts flirting with me. Don't remember his name but he kept insisting that I use his drink station exclusively. He kept raising his eyebrows at me and licking his lips. Wink wink nudge nudge and the only thing more obvious would have been a neon sign saying "bend over and hold your ankles."
The wedding was moving along so well until we got to the speeches. The bride's brother had me on the verge of tears but I managed to maintain my composure. Then the groom's brother spoke. He was funny and light but towards the end he got all mushy, his voice cracked, he held the mic away from his as he composed himself. He ended with a tearful tribute. Yours truly was eying the exit. I didn't want certain people to see me crying, plus my mascara was not waterproof. Anybody going to a wedding will tell you, water-proof mascara is a must. I was joined in the ladies' room by 3 equally sappy souls. I hate to see a grown man cry.
I don't remember at what point we were summoned unto the dance floor to catch the bouquet, I just remember Missi Jackson telling me to get up and to stop hiding under the table. So there I was in the front in the middle. The photographer told us that it would be bad luck if we let the bouquet touch the ground and for some reason that thought stuck with me. "Mustn't let it touch the ground." The photographer yelled to the bride to toss it. Suddenly, everything went really quiet. All I could see was the bouquet. I felt someone behind me push me forward. Everyone else beside me seemed to step back in unison as if to say "Hell no I ain't catching that damned thing!" Mustn't let it touch the ground. I lunged forward and caught the bouquet to the surprise of a few people. I only knew a handful of folks at the wedding. I posed for a photo with the bride and went back to my table to sit. They were all shaking their heads at me. What have I done?
Overall, I'd do it again. Next time, I might even get behind the wheel.
|
|
|
| |
posted by: Shark99 (reply)
post date: 06.08.04 (2:43 pm)
I love road trips, but I'm sorry that you lost your money in the casino. You should have talked to me before you left, I could have given you some pointers. I used to be a professional addicted gambler, and I regularly walked out of the casino with more dough than I walked into it with.
posted by: raindropecho (reply)
post date: 06.08.04 (2:48 pm)
Hope you get some rest! Road trips always exhaust me, but think that you're lucky you only lost $20! I'll totally keep in mind that TN has the best public restrooms.
posted by: newbie (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (3:50 am)
Sounds like a great road trip, something we should consider for Nat Fest "whenever"? Joolie xxx
posted by: lynne (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (5:44 am)
Road trips are such a blast. I am glad you had a good time on yours :)
posted by: dangerkitty (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (9:17 am)
Reply to: KRAZEDONE
Ahhh...that explains the nosebleeds...hehehe. I liked what I saw of Knoxville.
|
Ayn Rant: AESav.net
Daft and Demented: Mal Uncensored
Captain Jack Sparrow
Shop DangerKitty on Zazzle.com
|
