Florida or Bust? Bust

I should be in Florida right now. I'm not. It was a trip I really can't afford right now, but such an opportunity that I couldn't turn it down. So I looked for the cheapest way to get there and it turned out to be Greyhound. Tickets bought, arrangements all made. And a feeling of impending doom all week and the inability to envision myself there. I've always seemed to have an over abundance of empathy but I don't consider myself very clairvoyant; but this didn't really feel like the seasonal depression I usually suffer from in late Winter. Just this feeling of "not going to happen".

So what happened, you ask? The bus terminal is small, just a closet at a Pilot station with a McDonald's on the other end of the building. No personnel on the weekend. I got there early. And waited. And waited. And waited. And started making phone calls. It took me an hour to find out that my bus had been cancelled due to bad weather further up the line. You would think in this computer age, I would have gotten some kind of message earlier in the day. If I had known, I could have driven to St. Louis and caught my connection there, but by the time I knew what was up, it was too late. Plus, I don't actually know if my connecting bus made it out. So, back home and sitting on the floor, making phone calls and digging around in my luggage for the little bottles of booze I was taking to drink at Disney (their drinks are pricey), on the verge of tears. Rosco must have sensed something because he ran through the house, took a flying leap and parked himself on my shoulders.

I suppose I gave up too easily. Everyone kept saying "can't you find another way there?" but it would have taken another day to arrange things, probably be Tuesday before I could have gotten there and then turned around on Friday to head back. Again, maybe it really is just seasonal depression, but I couldn't even think by then. The thought of it just exhausted me.

So now I have the week off, although I'm going to go talk to my boss about working Wednesday through Friday. I think I'll see about getting my taxes done tomorrow and some other things I've been wanting to get taken care of. And today? Well, make some of those phone calls. Oh yeah, and watch the freezing rain that is supposedly moving through in the next few hours.

This winter really sucks.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Not doing anything special this year (which is the norm!) but I'm leaving for Florida tomorrow, so I'll probably be packing. Just hoping the weather holds so I have no trouble getting there. This is going to be the first vacation I've had since I've been married that didn't include my kids, my husband or my Mom. I'm taking the bus, it should be interesting! I'm actually looking forward to the ride, sitting back and relaxing with my book and my laptop. I'm hoping to get alot of work done. Plus, spending a few days with my BFF who I haven't seen in a couple of years plus a friend I haven't seen in almost 30 years is going to be the best!

Morning Coffee Happy Easter!

Now that the kids are grown up and I no longer do the Church thing, we don't do much for Easter. But today just happens to also be our 24th wedding anniversary, so we are going to St. Louis and spend the day at the Zoo. Picnic is packed and the weather is supposed to be pleasant. The birds are singing and the flowers are blooming. It should be a good day!

Observation

I took my daughter to St. Louis Lambert Airport yesterday for her flight back to San Francisco. Of course, it rained the whole way. We left with plenty of time to spare because I haven't been to the airport for a very long time and I was afraid of getting lost. Plus, there is always the threat of road construction. It's almost a miracle to get to St. Louis without driving through miles of road construction. Anyway, like I said, it was raining. Hard. The closer we got to the Missouri boarder, the harder it rained. As we crossed the Mississippi River on 270 we passed a car that had spun around, was facing the wrong way and was blocking the right lane. I figured we were going to get smashed by a semi trying to get around, but we made it. We got to the airport on time (meaning 1 hour before her flight), but just barely. Because at times I was only driving 45 miles-per-hour. Did I mention it was raining--hard? We got her checked in at Arrivals, I gave her a hug, and headed back to 270. Miracle! It quit raining! Within two miles of the airport, I passed two more wrecks. And all I could think was "fools"! When it's raining so hard you can barely see out your windshield, slow down! I couldn't tell if there was any other cars involved, so I imagine they hydroplaned. Other people's driving makes me so nervous!

Road Trip

My 17 year old wants to go on a "road trip" so I promised him one this summer. Problem is I've already spent so much money lately and this could get pricey. I worry about what my husband will have to say about it (and no, I haven't told him yet.) I think it's just going to be from Sunday to Wednesday, if I can get someone to cover my shifts at work. We plan on going to Indianapolis first. We can stay at my daughter's apartment, altho she has 3 roommates-- it may be a bit crowded. But it's cheaper! We plan on going to the Imax theatre to see the Harry Potter movie Sunday evening, and then maybe the zoo on Monday. I'm hoping to spend the night again in Indy and then take off early Tuesday morning for wherever. I just haven't figured out where wherever is! A motel that night, some sight seeing Wednesday morning, and back home by evening. It seems so simple, but I'm one of those people who likes everything planned and organized and scheduled. I'm just not very flexible. I so wish I was! I think the boy needs this break so I'm doing it for him. And, in a way, I guess I'm doing it for myself to see if I can! I'm trying so hard to break out of the routine. It's not easy.