So, because I've been having cardiac and internal organ issues, my doctor(s) have asked me not to fly for the time being.
In order to get here, to Utah, to see my family, I had to drive!
At approximately two AM yesterday morning, I got in my car (in Minneapolis). Google Maps had estimated a trip time of 21 hours. I scoffed at the idea. How could it possibly take that long when I planned to drive 10 mph over the entire time?
And so my journey began.
I popped in the 1st disc to "The Magician's Nephew" (Chronicles of Narnia) and made way for Des Moines, Iowa. The drive was dark, and relatively boring... so having C.S. Lewis read to me was quite nice. By the time I got to Des Moines, I was ready to put in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." I also desperately needed gas.
So I stopped. I stopped at a place called "Kum&Go." Way to be, Midwest! I thought, hey, maybe I'll use the bathroom while I'm here. Of course, the only woman in the bathroom didn't close her stall door (she was quite large) - siiiiick.
I left Des Moines, with higher hopes for Nebraska. I hate Nebraska. For about 400 miles of my trip, I was stuck in one lane traffic behind semi's going 45. There went alllll my hopes for being early and cutting my drive! I stopped in Omaha, and then made way for North Platte (the creepiest town there ever was). I listened to The Chronicles of Narnia, occasionally turning it off to scream, talk to myself or pretend I was on the Battle Star Galactica as Kara Thrace. I also drove right into one of the biggest, freakiest storms I've ever seen.
Finally - Wyoming! Hoorah! I was elated to be in a decent state! I got some gas in a very small town called Kearney (I think that's in Wyoming) and made way for Laramie. At this point, one of my food containers that happened to be containing some amount of oil (because it was mixed with my black bean salad) decided to burst all over me and my food container, ruining my shirt. I was already loony as I had been in the car for 12 hours... so I laughed and then I screamed.
I thought, this can't possibly get worse. Then I got to Laramie for gas where I noticed a hissing sound from one of my tires. My tire was going flat! I tried 3 different car shops, the first one had a box of live crickets next to the consessions so I left... the second one wasn't interested in my car, and the third one was kind shabby, with a dog in it... but they fixed it. I ended up running into someone from Yokosuka there! (It's a smaaaaall world). That put me back about an hour =( but it got fixed and I was on my way once more.
At my final stop before making way through to the UT border, an energy drink in my cooler (also) exploded.... causing the top of the cooler to open slightly, spraying all natural steaze energy all over my phone, dashboard...face, arm, hand and cooler. Then my mom texted me and asked where I was. I wanted to cry and say I wasn't coming home, I couldn't drive anymore...
But I just ate my OTHER bean salad and got on to UT.
The last bit wasn't too bad, 'cept for the sun beating in and the smell of energy drink wafting through the car... maybe it helped keep me awake?
Finally, I got home at 10:00 pm. What a terrible and long day! Can't wait to do it again on July 1. :)
ps: I took some pictures of a few of these events. I will post them eventually
