Week. End.

The week has come to a close.  Unfortunately, I haven't told you half the things we did, but part of that was lack of time and part of it was lack of internet connection.  

We stayed with my parents in Atwood, KS, where I showed Jessica around town -- that took about 5 minutes for her to see everything.  I realized in college that campus was bigger than my hometown.

We headed to the High School to visit some of my old teachers...that's what happens when you're a TK (Teacher's Kid), all of your friends are teachers.  Well, it may also help that I babysat for most of them, too.  Oh!  speaking of babysitting.  I got to see one of my "little guys" who used to hug me around the waist.  I could now hug HIM around the waist.  My estimate is 6'4".  Dang kids.  Growing up so fast.  I feel old now.

We finally made it to our destination state!  Does it bother anyone else that the "colorful" Colorado sign is brown?  That has always bugged me for some reason.  Huh.  Oh well.  

On a completely random side-note, as I write this, my sister's cat is snoring away on the couch.  Is that normal?  I didn't know cats snored.  

This is a picture of our farm house in Limon, CO.  We stayed with my friends Bob & Janet in town, b/c well, the thermometer at the farm said 40 outside....and 50 inside.  And the heat comes from a small, wood-burning stove in the kitchen.  Downstairs.  The bedrooms are upstairs.  We only have a space heater up there.   Oh and the upstairs is haunted.  But only at night.  Trust me.  

Wednesday we headed into Denver for a shopping spree.  Oh and I did buy a new pair of jeans....$30.  Expensive for an unemployed person, but it evened out because I got 4 - $2 shirts...and "splurged" on a $7.50 shirt! :)  Yay for outlets!

We stayed with my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim in Ft. Collins that night...I'd like to say thanks for the "Pops Burgers" that I so rudely demanded.   

From there we headed up to the ranch on Thursday morning for breakfast, to unload my car, repack for the next 3 weeks, and a trail ride so Jessica could see what I'd be doing all summer.  I'm pretty pumped.  

And yes, I'm very well aware that I'm going to look back on this picture some day and say, "Those are the most ridiculous sunglasses ever."  Actually, I might look at that picture today and say that.  But they really do a good job of keeping the sun out of my eyes.  And I remembered to take them off for most other pictures.  And the teeny-boppers at the grocery store always compliment me on them.  So there.  Did I mention I feel old?  Ugh.  Just wait for this summer when I'm working with 19 year olds.

Last night we stayed with Tisha and made some "healthy" food again...and my body needed it.  I don't think it could handle any more fast food.  Bleck.  

At 4:30 this morning, I took Jessica to the airport and she is already back in Jax.  I'm pretty sure that Ryan is glad to have her back, but I think we had a pretty fantastic week, so thanks for sharing, Ryan!

Road Trip - Day 2

We woke up on Sunday morning around 8:20 and my best friend from college, Emily, was supposed to be at Michele's house because she was in town for her boyfriend's rugby tournament.  I thought I heard her voice when I got up but Michele told me Emily had to drive back to Des Moines early because of bad weather.  It was like waking up on Christmas and being told there weren't any presents.  

I don't want to diminish my time with Michele and Mical because I loved my time with them, but it was just going to be like old times when Emily and I would drive down to St. Louis together to visit Michele...except this time I had driven UP with Jessica.  Regardless, it was a little sad.  

We got to spend some time in the morning, chatting, hanging out, then headed to breakfast at the Cracker Barrel.  

I know, I know.  Michele is leaning away from me and trying to keep a nice smile, but I SUH-WEAR, I took a shower that morning.  And put on deodorant.  I swear.  Really.  And Jessica didn't get out of the car so I couldn't have smelled that bad.  Or her nose doesn't work.  But I think I smelled fine that morning.

So, Missouri and Kansas are kind of punks.  They decided to build bridges right where they put their Welcome signs.  We couldn't get in the pictures because of this.

I'd like to lie to you.  I'd like to tell you that this is St. Louis.  I'd like to tell you this is the Welcome sign between Illinois and Missouri.  But it's not.  We didn't realize that we weren't going to be able to stop so we missed it.  And we couldn't turn back around (we turned around for several signs...).  This is the Welcome to Missouri sign in Kansas City.  We turned around after we got the Welcome to Kansas sign and got it going the other way.  That's what St. Louis gets for putting their sign on the bridge.

We made it into Atwood, to the folks' home around 9:30 pm and dinner was ready and waiting.  What a good mom.  

So Jessica made it.  And she's a good friend, if I haven't mentioned that before.  She was very good to mention before we left, before we got to the cold weather (did I mention I owe her BIIIIIIIIIIIG time? -- 24 hours of driving and 20 degree weather for a native Floridian) that she was excited for the trip and wanted to see my town and meet my people even if at the time it didn't seem like it.  And I'm reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally glad she said that, because there have definitely been times that I'm afraid she's going to kill me. 

Road Trip

Sorry for no recent updates.  I wanted to post each day of my road trip, but, um, well after 15 hours in the car, all I wanted to do was sleep.  Jessica has been traveling with me, bless her little heart.  

 

We were about 2 or 3 hours into our 14 hour drive, when Jessica's friend Janet called.  

Janet:  "So, do you really know how far you're going?"  

Jessica:  "Yeah, we're going to Colorado."

Janet:  "But do you realize how far that is?"

Jessica:  "I don't know.  I haven't really looked at a map yet, but it should take us 24 hours.  Here, I've got a map, I'll look now....Holy *bleep*! "  She looks at me.  "Do know how far Colorado is?  It's like clear across the US!"

I told her to thank Janet for me...and that what she had just done was tell a marathoner about 2 miles in, that she only had 24 more miles to go.  Thanks, Janet.

But we've decided if we ever have to move....it's going to be to Tennessee.  It was an absolutely B-E-A-UUUU-tee-ful drive!  There were lakes and trees and waterfalls! and mountains and flowers and waterfalls! and camping and cool bridges...and Jessica wants you to know there were WATERFALLS!!!!!!  It's a pretty cool place.

We headed into Kentucky which was pretty quick and pretty uneventful.  Although, you may not see us, we're leaning into the Mile 0 sign. 

We finally made it to my friend Michele's house at 12:30 a.m. Central time, which means were were on the road for over 15 hours....thanks Atlanta, for those 2 hours where we were doing the creep....that's right, 20 mph for 2 hours!

As you can see, we started out with shorts, tank tops, and flip flops.  That's right, we progressively added clothes.  It. Was. Cold.