Music: "Simple and Clean" (Kingdom Hearts) PlanitB Remix- Utada Hikaru
11:30p
(written late October)
Life as an adult is great, isn't it? It's a never ending cycle of things that need to get done, only to get even more things shoved at you before you can accomplish the other aforementioned things. You get up, try not to die, and go to bed. Yup, adult life is great.
Seriously, though, it's been a good month.
After finding out that the gastroenterologist I was supposed to see had unexpectedly left on a permanent hiatus, my nurse, Pat, set me up with another specialist for two weeks from that day. After ANOTHER round of blood work (I've lost count now-the hcg levels are going down since the operation, which is a good sign), I went home and focused on the task of packing for Alabama. I burned some CD's, (since iTunes was pissing me off, and ordering a new MP3 player was just pissing me off even more), and tried not to worry about the car. Two days before I was due to leave (the day of the doctor's appointment, to be exact), I noticed a vibration coming from the front end of my car. Great. Just great. I took the car to Frank, who confirmed that all four tires would need replacing soon, and the front passenger tire had a bad spot on it, but that he didn't see a problem with it getting to Alabama. I know I was due to have some other work on it, but they promised me it could wait. And dealerships are expensive as it is.
While Frank was re-balancing my tires for my peace of mind, I ran in to Walmart to grab a few last-minute things. I realized that I was going somewhere I'd never been before. I'd been on the route, but only as a passenger, never a driver (and I was three at the time). My phone had been acting up, and I thought Verizon had fixed the issue, so I really didn't feel comfortable using my phone's GPS. I went and looked at Walmart's GPS systems. I found a good one for a good price, and figured I'd use some of the bonus money coming in that week, and decided it would be an early birthday present to myself. So glad I did that...it would come in handy later (maybe).
I got the okay on the car, and went home to finish packing. I was nervous, excited, and anxious to get to John, but the drive was all I could think about. I did sleep well that night. The next morning, I loaded up the car, and hooked everything up for easy access on the road. After a quick fill-up, and a prayer, I was off. I knew that once I got past Orange, I'd be in unfamiliar territory, as I hadn't seen this route since I was three, and I remember nothing of our drives to South Carolina. The trip started out with no hiccups. However, once I got into Louisiana, all hell broke loose. I had taken to catching 18-wheelers, riding along with them, just cruising and in no real hurry. It started raining not too far past Lake Charles, and things just went downhill from there. The rain was so bad at one point, that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I could see nothing around me, nor barely in front of me. I didn't even know if I was in my lane anymore. The thing that saved me was the current trucker I'd picked up. We were in the center lane (maybe). I noticed everyone was slowing way down, and had turned on their emergency flashers. I did the same. I couldn't see anything, except the outline of the 18-wheeler, and its tail lights. I didn't know what to do, or what I should do. Do I pull over? But I thought, with the rain so bad, I can't even see what lane is what, and if I did by some miracle, make it to the shoulder, what if a car hit me because they also couldn't see? I kept the outline of the 18-wheeler in the dead center of my windshield, and used him as my guide. The rain never let up. Never seen anything like it in my life; not on the road. It finally did, though, and I was hoping that was the last of the bad weather.
I needed to take a break and get my bearings back, so I stopped off in Jennings for something to eat. I pulled off into the parking lot and sat in the car, facing back west where I'd left the rain behind. The storm was moving fast, and I definitely didn't want to do THAT again (and I wasn't storm and RADAR equipped, the only thing on my person was my smartphone...lesson learned for next time), so I finished eating and was back on the road. Not too long after, I was doing 65, and there was a really significant wobble that came from the front end, enough to send a jolt of fear through me. You've got to be kidding. I'm going to die before I make it to Mobile, either from the blinding rain, or from a blowout. The rest of the trip, I had to do either 60 or 70, and anything in between would randomly throw out a period of huge vibrations. I'm getting these damn tires replaced when I get to Mobile, come hell or high water (no pun intended).
The rain never quit. I'd hit periods of heavy rain, then it would dwindle, then pick back up again. Once I hit Baton Rouge and crossed over the big bridge, I hit some traffic. Sitting on the peak of the bridge, I came to a dead stop. The car started vibrating violently, like it was going to shake apart. What the hell? I thought it was the swaying of the bridge, but it was the car, and I thought for sure it was going to die or overheat right there. I'm too far away for anyone to come get me, and I was freaking out by this point. I had to keep inching forward, to keep moving, because for some reason that's the only thing that would stop the violent vibrating, but traffic was too heavy and I almost bumped another trucker. I got over the bridge and reached my goal of finding I-12. Once I crossed onto the 100-mile bridge (SLIGHT exaggeration there), the rain took over again and I just kept my current trucker in my box. I was praying the car would get me there. Now off work, John called and asked for updates every so often. He was worried. I kept calm, though I was freaking out inside.
I eventually made it back to I-10 again, so I knew I was getting close to Mississippi. Thank God. Louisiana treated me like shit, so yeah, fuck you and stuff. Takes forever to cross that damn state. Once I crossed the state line, I FINALLY had a break from the rain; the sun even came out. An hour later, and I all but jumped out of my (car) seat when I saw the welcome sign for Alabama. So close! The GPS was really good, and I didn't need it except for the I-12/I-10 exits. I knew I was to be looking for I-65 into Mobile, and by this time, John was on the phone helping me. Somehow, I missed the turn off. Damn GPS! I missed the two exit lanes, so I had to do a strange U-turn. 10 minutes into this damn state, and I'm already lost and confused. Once I hit 65, John told me what street/exit to look for. Okay, when you have your boyfriend, and stupid GPS talking to you at the same time, and my knack for getting lost, you're more than likely to really get lost. I took the right exit, but missed the light! UGH! He said something about a church, and a feeder road. The roads are really weird over there, too. Toto, I don't think we're in Houston anymore. I was so pissed and frustrated and tired from the drive and the car trouble that I finally pulled into said church and slammed the car into park. John said don't move, he was on his way. Good, because at this point, I'm totally done, and your ass will come tow me to wherever the hell you're living. No more! He pulled up in a dark tinted Jeep (strange because I didn't know he'd bought a car??), so I couldn't see him right off, nor did he stop. He pulled away, so I followed him. Guess where the hotel was?
A block away. One fucking block away.
Oh, I'm laughing now, and I had to admit, I had to laugh at myself then, because only I could get lost with a damn GPS. Fuck it, I made it, I'm alive. Pulling into the hotel, I got out and finally saw John for the first time in nearly three months. It was as if I'd just seen him yesterday, but seeing a stranger at the same time. Now, saying something cheesy like 'I ran straight into his arms, and I was home' seems like something that should stay in the romance novels, but, well, that's exactly what happened. Picking up where we left off, but such different times now. Got my stuff unloaded and into the room, and after a reunion/welcome dinner at Olive Garden, it was lights out.
John got off to work super early Friday morning, so once I got up I planned to call around some Walmarts and find some tires. Yep, easy, no-hassle day. Got a GPS to cruise around, what can go wrong? John called me after I woke up and said he was coming to have me follow him to the shop where the truck was (the Jeep was a rental, he later told me) so he could pick it up. I followed him to the shop, and explained to the owner about my tires. He was happy to pull my car in to take a look, and quote me for some tires. They pulled her out, I got back in..
The fucker didn't start. By now, I'm ready to go find the Acme explosives, and watch a damn good fireworks show. I'm willing to walk back to Texas at this point. I was seeing red because oh my God you stupid car! John was able to calm me down, and the guys had to charge her up before they could pull her BACK into the shop, because the battery was now shot. She's an '08, never had the battery replaced. Probably explained the violent shaking back in Baton Rouge yesterday. So John took me to IHOP for a late breakfast, right across the street from the shop, and we had a good view (my back was to the window so I wouldn't get the reminder and get pissed again). We got back, and $150 dollars later, I was back off to the hotel to get rolling (no pun intended) on these tires. John ended up leaving the truck behind at the shop again anyway, because the A/C wasn't quite fixed.
The first Walmart I called said they had the tires. Cool. I found my way easily, but when I got there, they only had three (brings back God-awful memories of my Auto days...God bless computers, right?). So I had them call around to see who had the fourth. Grab these three, pick up the fourth one, done deal...off to vacation! I would not only be kicking myself later, but also stabbing myself in the eyeballs. The store address I was given, was then plugged into the good ol' trusty TomTom. I ended up at a fucking Neighborhood Market bullshit store (I didn't know they had these over here), with no tire center. Okay, I've now been in this God forsaken car for Two Days, I'm tired and at the end of my rope with any rational thinking. John called, off work and asked where I was. No fucking clue, but this fucking store about to get burned to the ground. I backtracked and John and I ended up meeting at the right store (after a fun car chase where I got lost again and John and I passed each other up and then a turn got missed...okay, you can stop laughing now), the one with the fourth tire. The tech there spotted something that I, a former know-it-all and semi-tech SHOULD have caught on to (cue the kicking and stabbing); he explained the tires the other store sold me were bad, weather worn, and said he wouldn't feel comfortable installing these tires, there'd be no way I'd make it back to Texas. This guy was great, he really knew his stuff, was really nice and wanted to do whatever it took to help us (me). I asked the tech that if you have the tires, put them on, we'll figure out the defected ones later. So John and I walked around the store, cutting up and getting into trouble. I was ready for the madness to end, and salvage what was left of my vacation.
I got four brand-new tires, and we decided that we'd handle the old tires tomorrow, we'd both had enough for the day. John and I were going to meet a co-worker of his for dinner (forgot his name, Curtis? -maybe-). We met at this Mexican restaurant that was probably as big as my bedroom. Apparently, it's the hot spot in town because we endured an hour and a half wait to get inside. People were flocking this place like it was going out of style. So John and (maybe) Curtis were sitting outside, and the two boys launch into the epic Nintendo/gaming conversation to end all conversations. Oh my God if I could get J.R. up in this shit, they'd talk for days, and I'd have to pick them off one by one to get them to shut up. The conversation weaved into different things that were way over my head, so I just listened and tried to get into vacation mode again. When I explained to (maybe) Curtis about my fellow Nintendo-nerd friend, he got excited and we all agreed that he'd fit in just fine. We finally went inside and I could see what the hype was about; the food was awesome! Worth the wait. After dinner, the boys and I went to Walmart because the Mario Maker had just been released, and the Nintendo-nerds HAD to have their hands on it. Sorry, my gaming money had just been eaten by my evil Cobalt. After some chaos at Walmart and getting the Wii's, we all parted ways. (maybe) Curtis was pretty cool, and I hoped to meet him again. Got back to the hotel, and I was becoming more familiar with my surroundings. I left the stupid tires in my car, and went straight to bed, hoping that the worst was behind me. Turns out the best part was yet to come..and would leave me a lifetime of memories....
