The tangled interwebs

This seemed like such an easy thing, this teaching online from the road. And it was relatively easy when we were at home or at our parents or with friends who are up to speed with the internet age.

However, we hit a small snag when we reached Vidalia, LA. My grandmother does not have internet. I had already downloaded my student papers while in Oxford, MS so I had these on my computer and was able to grade and comment on these without having wireless. Once I went to actually post the grades for the papers and the final grades, it got tricky.

My other grandmother (in Clinton, MS) works at a visitor's center and mentioned that these will often have wifi access. Great! Except I got to the Vidalia, LA center 5 minutes before they closed for the day. Natchez across the River was the same. So, using my handy brain and smart little cell phone, I tracked down wifi spots. A coffee shop in Natchez, The Natchez Coffee Co., looked promising so I drove on over, arriving to a downtown that was dead, and a coffee shop that was closing at 6pm. I had 50 minutes.

I frantically began posting grades, trying to get as much done as I could at once. I made it halfway through the class (I had two classes) before it was time to move on. I asked at the counter where another spot might be and they had no idea. Awesome...

Back to the car with all my computer gear and back on the cell. The search revealed a bar with wifi but given the nature of the work I was doing I thought this might not be the best solution. I did, however, keep it open as an option.

What ended up happening was, although stressful, quite funny. For the first time in my life I wished there was a Starbucks around. What I ended up with, however, is Starbucks' evil other chain, McDonalds. Who knew McD's had wifi?!

I roll up into the McDonalds in Vidalia, drag out my computer bag, and stare at the place for a minute. Inwardly groaning at the plight of this, I marched in and to the counter.

Me: Hi!

Girl at counter: Hi. What can I get for you?

Me: Um....I guess a...frappe?

Girl: (laughs) You sure?

Me: Yeah, that works, I guess.

Girl: What flavor?

Me: Caramel?

Girl: (laughs)

Me: Do you have bottled water?

Girl: Yep.

Me:...I'll have one of those, too?

Girl rings me up for a total of $4.

Me: For the wifi, do I need a password or code or do I just pop open the computer and go?

Girl: (stares at me like I have two heads) um....I don't know. Maybe you just get on it.

I'm thinking this is not promising and try to calm myself down. I HAVE to get these grades posted today.

Another woman hands me my drink and she had on what looks to be a manager's shirt. I press my luck:

Me: Do you have plug-ins so I can power my computer while using the internet?

Woman: Yes, we have two. One is under that booth where those people are sitting and the other is over here. I'm not really sure if the internet is up and going yet. We haven't had anyone use it.

I groan inwardly, praying to the online gods that this works. She walks me over to a table that is is full Louisiana afternoon sun. I have no other choice.

Me: Thank you! This is great!

I open the computer, wait for the wireless to register and surprise, surprise, I have a connection that actually works!

I then hang out in McDonalds for two hours working, posting, sweating, drinking my overly-sweetened-not-really-coffee-frozen-sugar-frappe (whatever that really is) drink and water. I entertained the staff for a while. I would see someone peeking around the corner watching me, laughing at me. I felt like the circus freak come to town. But I got my work done and that was what was important.

So, for you road warriors and casual travelers, McDonalds has entered the wireless age. Bring your laptop, buy a coffee, and surf. Just a warning: you might be laughed at in some parts of the country.

For other odd and surprising wifi spots that we are discovering check out: KOA campsites, public libraries, visitor centers. If you have other ideas, please let us know!

Feed me, Seymour!

Holy moly, it's been a wild few days. We've been gone from Chicago for almost a whole month now. I added up the other day and we have covered 9 states, over 2500 miles, and this is only the first part of the trip. Scott made the comment that our trip is really divided into two parts--the first, southern part is Family and the second, northwestern part is Relocation. Family and friends have really been the dominant theme here.

Here's the break down of what's been going on:

Chicago, IL--starting point

Springfield, IL--home of the horseshoe

"The original Horseshoe Sandwich was served on a sizzling metal plate (known as the Anvil). Two thick-cut slices of bread were toasted and added to the plate. Then a thick slice of ham, shaped like a horseshoe, was added, to it a Welsh rarebit cheese sauce made of white sharp cheddar, and then just before serving, fresh-made French fries were added as the (nails) in the horseshoe. The secret to this sandwich is the delicious cheese sauce.

Today's sandwiches now offer either a thick fried ham steak or two large hamburger patties, and the cheese sauce is poured over the fries.

The name of the sandwich comes from the shape of the ham with the fries representing the horseshoe nails, and the heated steak platter as the anvil. If you order a Pony Shoe Sandwich, it is the same thing, but a smaller or half a Horseshoe portion (usually one slice of toast).

The "Horseshoe" or variations of it soon became a popular item in many Springfield restaurants. Today, every restaurant and chef serving this sandwich, seems to have his or her own secret cheese sauce recipe." (http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Sandwiches/HorseshoeSandwich.htm)

G & J were great. And I have to give a big tip of the cup to the spirit of Sammy. He was a sweet, wonderful old man dog and I am so grateful we were able to see him once more before he passed away. G & L, our hearts are with you.

Kansas City, MO--we discovered that Mike's Hard Lemonade and Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea Vodka make a killer John Daly. It was super to see B & M. We wish you guys the best in your new ventures with being new home owners and new careers (when did the mountain hippie kids grow up?!).

Piedmont, OK--home of my parents. When passing through OKC, OK on a Tuesday, check out the Iguana (see previous posts) for $2 taco/Tecate Tuesdays and then pop by SaraSara cupcakes for $2 cupcakes. I recommend the salsa flight (the Coral Snake was my favorite--pineapple, mango, habenero, onion--mmm). Who couldn't love a $2 Tuesday?

Wagoner, OK--part time home of Scott's parents (the other part is spent in Alaska). We found an Amish run restaurant, Dutch Pantry Restaurant & Bakery, out near there in Chouteau that has home cookin' buffet. It's good food that will fill you up. Note: you will need a nap after this meal.

Little Rock, AR--Popped in on the aunt and uncle and drank good wines.

Oxford, MS--Popped in on another aunt and uncle. Oxford is a lovely little place and if you haven't been, I highly recommend visiting. On the Square, we caught Ajax Diner--the sweet potatoes are to die for and the po' boys aren't bad either. My uncle says the fried okra is the best he's had. The next day we lounged on my relatives' porch which overlooked their huge backyard. We watched the purple martens flying around and introduced Asher to my little cousins. We took my uncle out for lunch at Newk's:

An express casual dining experience in a refreshing and stylish atmosphere with an emphasis on freshness and flavor. Serving fresh tossed salads, oven bakedsandwiches, California style pizzas, made-from-scratch soups and homemadecakes from Newk’s open kitchen. Come in and enjoy for yourself, and see the many good reasons why everyone continues to come back to Newk's Express Café!

This little joint is owned by the same guy that started McAllister's. I ordered the Newk's Favorite (mixed greens, grilled chicken breast, gorgonzola cheese, dried cranberries, grapes, artichoke hearts, pecans and croutons tossed with Newk’s sherry vinaigrette) and Scott ordered The Royal Club. This restaurant is franchised out and you can find them peppered around the south.

Clinton, MS--We stopped in on my grandmother for a few hours and she treated us to some amazing home cookin'. Ribs, cold mixed bean salad, potato salad, home grown tomatoes, watermelon, and good company. We loved seeing her and spending an evening just catching up. This grandmother is amazing and this was one of the few times Scott has really gotten a chance to be around her and hear the stories of my dad as a kid.

Vidalia, MS--My other grandmother lives here. Vidalia sits just across the mighty Mississippi from Natchez, MS--my birthplace. Natchez has the old antebellum homes and apparently very few wi fi spots (I need a whole other post to explain this) and not much that is open after 6pm. While there Scott puttered around helping my grandmother around the house while I graded frantically. We enjoyed some good Mississippi farm raised catfish and hushpuppies from Jugheads Fish Fry and hot tamales from the Donut Shop. Don't let the odd, unassuming exterior of this place fool you, this place has some rockin' tamales and the donuts aren't bad either. My grandmother also treated me to a much needed pedicure just before we took off.

New Orleans, LA--From Vidalia, en route to Houston, we detoured across Lake Pontchartrain to New Orleans . After a driving tour down Bourbon St. (yes, we drove it....welcome to the Taylor one car parade...), we parked the car on St. Louis and then walked over to Bourbon. We go to the strip just about the time happy hour hit on Friday, and holy Lord, New Orleans was coming to life. We were trying to find Cafe du Monde but found Cafe Beignet instead:

"Café Beignet is a cup full of New Orleans' best European traditions. For two hundred years, New Orleanians have savored every sip of their rich coffee accompanied by delicate, crisp beignets (ben-yays).

These golden squares, usually dusted with powdered confectioner's sugar, can best be described as a cross between a French pastry and an American doughnut. In New Orleans, beignets are enjoyed at a breakfast, for dessert, or any time for a special treat.

New Orleans' Café Beignet provides a grand cafe setting outside and in, and the best coffee and beignets anywhere. Breakfast Served All Day. New Orleans Cajun Specialties and Fried Seafood Also Available."

For this stop, we treated ourselves to beignets (obviously), red beans and rice, I had an iced coffee and Scott had a chicory coffee. It was exactly what we wanted when we planned this stop on the trip way back when. We got a taste of Bourbon St. (and all the titty bars with girls hanging out, quite literally...), ate some lovely foods, listened to some live music at the cafe, bought a few souvenirs including pralines and a hot pink and purple feather boa for music festivals later this summer.

Houston, TX--From New Orleans we trekked the six hours to Houston to spend time with another aunt and uncle and their schnauzer dog, Henri. This was an unexpected and very enjoyable stop on our voyage. Houston is hot as blazes and the humidity hovers around 90%+ but we sweated it out on their patio because their backyard is a wonderful place. My uncle had plants everywhere in big planters and in the ground: lime, lemon, orange, mango, pomegranate, avocado(!), fig, crape myrtle, cypress, and other trees. It was amazing. His philosophy on growing: I just put it in the dirt and if it grows, great. Excellent.

We got a nice tour of Houston and I have to admit, I found it to be a nice city. We had lunch at Goode Company Bar-B-Q where I had a chopped beef brisket on jalapeno bread sandwich and Scott had a sliced brisket on jalapeno bread. The baked beans here are amazing with the pork, apple, and pineapple in it. The cole slaw was good but the pecan pie was to die for--thick, gooey, loaded with pecans, tasting of caramel and cream and it just melted in your mouth.

"The Saturday before Labor Day in 1977, Jim Goode wandered into a failing neighborhood barbeque joint to have a late lunch. He struck up a conversation with the owner and mentioned in passing that he might like to have his own restaurant someday. Before he left, he'd made a deal to buy the place, and the original Goode Company Barbeque opened on Kirby Drive a few days later.

Early on, it was just Jim, his wife Liz, his uncle Joe Dixie and a handful of employees that they had inherited from the previous owner. It was hard work. Most nights, Jim and Joe Dixie slept at the restaurant, waking up every hour throughout the night to check the brisket. One slept inside, one outside, and they kept a shotgun nearby to protect the meat, the equipment and themselves, in that order.

From the very beginning, they were committed to producing the best barbeque in town. They agreed that success was a simple matter of doing things the "right way." Even if it was harder and took a little longer, it was worth the effort. Over the years, Goode Company Barbeque has developed quite a reputation around town. It's honest food prepared the "right way" - by hand, using time-tested recipes and the best ingredients."

Austin, TX--Austin, Texas snuck up on me. I had no idea what to expect, had heard that it is the best part of Texas, it's in hill country, yada yada yada, but what did that all mean? How liberal can anywhere in Texas really be, and honestly, what hills exist in Texas? Austin is all you've heard it to be. It is beautiful. The hills just roll along, Lake Travis and Lake Austin are beautiful, and it's a blue city. Not so much gun totin' as there are frat boys running around. Admittedly, if Austin wasn't in the very heart of Texas (I told Scott that the worst part about Austin was that it was surrounded by the rest of Texas) I would consider moving there. It is green and lush, the Colorado River water runs right through it. We stopped in Austin to see some old friends from Colorado, B & A. It had been years--degrees, wedding, moves--since we had last seen them so we had some catching up to do. We went up the road from their great little lake house on Lake Travis to Los Pinos Mexican restaurant. The margs are good, the salsa is hot, the veggie fajitas are tasty but the pozole is a-ma-zing. It was hot and came with a small plate of fixings for it: slices of jalapeno, cilantro, Mexican oregano (no jokes, guys...), and onion. This stuff had Scott and B sweating it out. It was so tasty I should have skipped the fajitas and just had the soup.

After dinner we headed over to Carlos 'N Charlie's. Now, I only know of Carlos N Charlie's as the notorious drinking spot for spring breakers in Mexico. I remember seeing the pics from when friends went in high school and college and I hardly expected to run into one in Texas but it does make perfect sense if you think about it. We sat around talking and drinking tall boy Lone Stars. PBR like but a little more body. They weren't bad. The thing about CnC, and I told A this, I really felt like I just wasn't undressed enough...ok, what I really said was "I'm not skanked out enough for this place" to which she replied "Yeah, I feel like a prude". There was a little band playing 80s and 90s covers and we laughed along at most of the songs.

B treated us to homemade Austin migas-style Breakfast Tacos that were delicious with fried tortilla chips, scrambled eggs, Morningstar grillers, tons of cilantro, onion, and topped with sharp cheese and Scott's homemade salsa. Gah, these were good! B, I'll let you cook breakfast for me anytime.

Ft. Worth, TX--And now our adventure finds us in the Ft. Worth area visiting Scott's aunt and uncle. They have a salt water pool that is so nice. We walked in the door after a terrible drive on I-35 (note: Dear Texas drivers, please know that the left lane is for passing, not driving slowly and braking suddenly). Seriously, I think Texas drivers are the worst drivers we have encountered yet on the trip... Anyway, we walked in the door yesterday and after a hug from his aunt I heard the magic words: "Do you want a margarita? I just made a new pitcher". Oh my word, this was the best solution for relaxing after a long drive. Scott's parents and sister and her bf came down, the cousins were over, and Asher was the star entertainer. She has the run of the backyard and as I type this I see that lazy little lizard sunning herself on the rocks above the pool.

It's been a trip. Thank you friends and family for the wonderful times, the hospitality, the support, and the love that you have shown us wandering gypsies. We have loved this part of our trip and are so grateful for you!

Days gone by

We are taking our adventure (deep) south this week. We left Oklahoma on Monday with a stop in Little Rock, Arkansas to visit my aunt and uncle.

We had a lovely time catching up with them, laughing, enjoying a few bottles of wine, and just sharing our adventures with each other. It was wonderful and made me realize how blessed I really am with the family I have. I always learn new little bits about my dad and his brothers and sister, the extensive family of great aunts and uncles, and the grandparents.

We wanted so badly to stay another night but our schedule is a little tighter on this leg of the trip. People are waiting at different points along the way and we don't want to just put them off.

When we left, however, I became inexplicably sad. Tears began coursing down my face and I had to stare intently out the window so Scott wouldn't see me crying. It wasn't that I was ashamed of crying, it's just that I didn't know why I was crying.

As we drove from Little Rock, headed towards Oxford, Mississippi a tear would escape every now and again. I would say it was random but I think the sheer force of trying not to burst into tears that allowed one or a few to escape. I began to piece it together as we made the drive from Arkansas to north Mississippi--it was the drive I made the year I was away at Ole Miss. I know there is all kinds of speculation among my family about why I left after that one year. Some think I simply didn't like it there but that just isn't the case. Some think I went back home for Scott but, again, not really the case. It just wasn't a simple thing and it was an incredibly difficult decision to make at 19 years old. It was, and I have told Scott this, the pivotal decision of my life where I clearly saw things split before me. Other decisions of my life have come relatively easy compared to that one. Apparently that decision still affects me deeply in ways I was not fully aware of nor quite prepared to deal with.

My uncle and aunt live in Oxford. It is perhaps the prettiest college town anywhere. There is a charm and community feeling, a feeling of safety, that just pervades this lovely place. I still feel a deep sense of "home" here, even so many years later. That was what drew me here in the first place at 17 years old when I was test driving schools. I completely understand why my family is here and, to some degree, envy their being here. We took Scott to one of my favorite places in town, Ajax Diner. The taste of real southern sweet tea...heavenly. (Note to self--buy a good pitcher for sweet tea once landed) My uncle and I would meet there for lunch irregularly when I was a student, catching each other between classes and meetings to simply say hi and enjoy a po' boy, which is exactly what I ordered this evening.

My uncle tonight told me, "We sure wish it had worked out. We truly enjoyed having you around." It took everything in me not to just burst into those lurking tears. Instead, I nodded and looked out the window until I had myself back under control, as I thought, "Oh, me too."

Now, I'm not a sentimentalist but there is something about leaving something undone that just gets to me. It is as though I have unfinished business here. A ghost of the past still lingers here, calling me, pulling me. But we can't go back. We can't take a mulligan. We simply pick up, hold up, and keep moving.

Maybe I'm just getting older and want to be closer to my family. (Why do they have to live in such hot and humid places?) I am incredibly grateful for these few days we get to spend with my family.

As Scott said, "It's nice to deepen those roots before branching out again."

I couldn't have said it better.

The honeymoon phase 4

I am sure by this point you are wondering if this trip ever ends and if it does, does it end well. All I can say is it obviously ends well only to the point that we survived for you all to know us, or read about us, and that our relationship (and sense of humor) remain intact.

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We sweated it out at the KOA in Rocky Ford, CO. For those unaware, the southeast parts of Colorado are dry, dusty, hot plains/foothills area. Not very unlike the panhandle of Oklahoma or the corners of New Mexico. It seems that afternoon took forever to wear away as we idled in and out of the bus. It was too hot inside, even with the top popped, and too hot outside. It's that kind of heat where you don't want your skin to make contact with itself, much less another person. It's the kind of heat that results in one lounging about in odd, very "unladylike" positions, as one leg is draped over the arm of the camp chair while the other is stretched out in front, one arm is thrown over the head acting as shade for the dark hair and the other arm is cast haphazardly over the side of the other arm of the chair. You are desperate for a breeze, for the tiniest breath of wind to break the stifling heat. To break up the heat, we took showers, allowing our hair to air dry and offer some cool respite. Once you were dry, however, it went back to draping yourself across the chairs. And so we waited for the sun to go down, discussing our options, hoping for something to go our way.

The sun did finally set and in the purple dusk we cranked up the bus and fervently hoped we would make it. We pulled out of the KOA onto the highway and made it a quarter of a mile before the smoke picked up in earnest. We were a once car mosquito killing machine as the plumes positively poured out of the back of the vehicle, creeping in through the benchseat and making our eyes water. We passed cars on the road, craning their necks to see the bus that was driving down the road on fire. We were not, it must be said, actually on fire. We were simply burning oil at a rate that baffled us. We made it another little bit down the road, looked at each other and decided this whole plan must be scrapped.

Scott found the next little emergency vehicle u-turn track, turned the bus in the opposite direction, and began to head back to the KOA. I'm watching the smoke, which at this point looks like the median has caught on fire because of the excess (the median was, in fact, not on fire) and was convinced that anyone driving behind or beside us would not have visibility through this smoke. My heart stopped and my stomach dropped at what I saw next though. On the other side of the highway I saw a patrol vehicle driving rather fast. I turned to Scott and delivered this bad news. He clenched his jaw and slammed his foot on the gas pedal. This resulted in us being able to go all of 45 mph on the highway, trying to out run the patrol vehicle that would inevitably turn around and track us down.

Our hearts pounding, because, you must remember, that we are emitting large amounts of environmentally-terrible emissions and Scott is driving illegally, we "race" down the entrance to the KOA, swing into a spot between RVs and quickly discuss a plan. At this point, we decide to switch seats and wait to see what will happen. All kinds of terrifying thoughts were racing through our minds: Scott taken in because they would realize he was driving, the vehicle impounded for releasing massive amounts of toxic smoke into the air, terribly expensive emissions tickets, and on and on.

Within moments we see the patrol car coming down the drive and emergency vehicles with their lights ablaze following after him. ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod. It's obvious they aren't sure what they are looking for as they trawl through the parking lot. Finally they park right in front of us, lights still on, and I bully up and step out of the car. My thinking here is: my father was once a cop, I am comfortable with people in uniform and I am young and female so they won't hassle me too much and if I can begin nervously engaging them early, thus throwing them off, they won't have to see our drivers licenses. Scott hesitantly steps out and stands next to his door as I walk forward.

Uniform man #1: Good evening, ma'am. We received a call about a car on fire.

Me: Oh, it wasn't on fire. It was just, um....leaking?

Uniform man #1, looking at bus: So no one's hurt? Everyone's ok?

Me: We're fine. A little put out (and mortified) but fine.

Uniform man #2 approaches: You're newly married? I noticed the writing on the windows over there.

Awesome. Chalk one up for the decorators.

Me: Yes, sir (because it does pay to be polite). Three days now. We're actually on our honeymoon but it doesn't seem to be going quite as expected.

Both cast dark looks in Scott's direction and then turn back to me with sympathetic looks in their faces. Yes! Play that sympathy card, girl. My plan is working beautifully. Turn on sad, pitiful face. This is where my large brown eyes really play in my favor. Kill them with the puppy dog look.

UM #1: Where you headed?

Me: Weeellllll....we were headed to Banff, Canada but given our car situation we have decided that it needs to be taken back to Oklahoma.

UM #2: You sure were putting out a lot of smoke. (Looks around and gestures for lights to be shut off on emergency vehicles).

Once the lights were off, and my eyes adjusted, I saw that everyone at the KOA was looking out of their RV doors or windows. I am certain they were scandalized and convinced that the bus was undergoing a drug raid. I also noticed that emergency vehicles had continued to arrive so we now had a fleet of police, fire, and fire marshal vehicles parked haphazardly around our camp spot.

Me (laughing nervously): I noticed that. I think we killed every mosquito in the county for you.

UM #1: You aren't planning to drive that back to Oklahoma, are you?

Me (on the spot): Oh, not at all. It's obviously not fit to drive. We're going to have to haul it back and have some work done to figure out what is going on. We just have to wait until the morning.

UM #2: Good.

At this point Scott has engaged another uniformed person and they have gathered around the back of the vehicle inspecting it. I think the fire marshal was making sure the bus would not spontaneously erupt into flames sometime during the night. Can you imagine the scandal that would cause: young bride and groom burned in their bus during the night? Heavens, no, that could not be tolerated.

After a bit more chit chat, offering advice about how to haul the bus back, and once the uniformed were convinced that we would be responsible and really not drive the vehicle, they began to load up. The others that had been milling about were obviously disappointed that they weren't actually able to drag bodies from burning vehicles and put out raging blazes with the hoses.

Once they were gone, and the avid snoops in the RVs had retired for the night, Scott and I slumped down as the last of the adrenaline gave way. We were giddy that it had played out so well. No licenses were required and the worst we got were some dirty looks, in Scott's case, and some sympathy, in my case. Scott admired my sad puppy, desperate new wife act, and I admired his cool under pressure demeanor.

We decided the best we could do for that night was go to bed and then deal with it all in the morning.

It's been how long?

Scott and I had our anniversary this last week. June 8, to be exact. Admittedly, I forgot it (again) this year. My sister sent a text message:

"Happy anniversary to you both!! We love you guys!!!

I heard the alert go off, checked the message, looked at Scott, and asked:

"OH! Is today our anniversary? June 8th, right?"

I seem to get the dates confused. I have a tough time remembering if we got married on the 6th, the 8th, or the 10th. I was actually 6/8 so that's where those numbers come from and Scott's birthday is 10th of the month (not June) so that's where the 10 comes from.

Being that it was our anniversary and I had forgotten (last year my mom called and reminded us) I obviously did not have a card. I didn't receive a card either and I hope it's because he just didn't get one rather than he didn't receive one so he wasn't going to give me mine.

We did get a lovely card and gift from my parents.

We then had the realization that we got married in 2002 so it's been 8 years. What?! Yes, my friends, 8 years. 8 years?!

It seems rather appropriate that I am blogging our anniversary and we are, once again, on the road.

My oh-so-talented little sister did an anniversary shoot for us. You can check it out here:

http://abbycoyle.com/blog/

The car

Ah, friends, it looks like the AC blower and resistor went out on the little car. It's been in the shop since Tuesday (I think) and we get it back today.

Always have back up monies just in the event of this kind of situation. We're looking at something to the tune of $650. Yikes! (but admittedly less than I was thinking and there is an oil change thrown in there, too).

Vehicles....

Hot, hot heat

Oklahoma today reached 94 F. It was hot. The day went like this:

1. Get up and call car repair shop.

The AC went out and the "Worn Brake Pad" light came on. It was scary stuff. But the car seems to be in capable hands and they will be getting it back to us on Friday. Fingers crossed it blows cold, cold air! We drove my dad's work truck around (also with no AC).

2. Drive to Fulton's Fried Pies . Purchase 6 and get 1 free.

We ordered: Cherry, Peach, Apricot, Pina Colada, Coconut Cream, Raspberries & Cream, and Apple.

3. Find coffee place. Unfortunately, this only led us to Starbucks. Luckily, they have iced drinks because I was already sweating by 10:30.

4. Return to parents' house. Eat fried pie and drink coffee. Sit on back porch reading, trying to stay cool.

5. Cleaned out kiddie pool, refilled. Donned swimsuit, dragged Adirondack chair to poolside, soak feet and legs while reading.

6. Remember that sunscreen is my friend. Apply liberally.

Scott worked in the flower bed (that now actually resembles a flower bed). We let Asher run around the backyard. After 9 years, this is really a first for her. She finally won't bolt as soon as she hits the ground and if she did, she's too old to move fast enough to outrun us. I did, however, catch her eyeing the fence and the overhanging tree. She had devilishly iguana thoughts of climbing over.

7. Clean up, get dressed, go to dinner at $2 taco night at the Iguana. $2 tacos, $2 Tecates, and a salsa "bar".

8. Ponder over broken train tracks. Walk to Java Daves! Yes! Real coffee!!

9. Wander in to Sara Sara cupcakes, purchase 4 cupcakes: key lime, cherries jubilee, apricot ricotta, banana snickers.

10. Head out to see OKC renovations. It is quite amazing how many strides this city is making. It is in the process of becoming a pretty cool place--young, hip, local.

11. Hang with sister and her boyfriend, have a beer, talk shop, smoke cigars, muse over hail damage.

Finally make it back, combat allergies, look at sunburns, fall asleep.

A mighty fine vaca day in OK.

The honeymoon phase 3

The starter was out, the bus was dead, and we were stranded in an odd and somewhat pseudo-hippie unfriendly environment. Luckily, I had new-bride sadness that could sway even the meanest of men (I was going to say hardest of men but thought that might not be appropriate verbiage in context with new-bride).

Mechanic man decided to fix the starter. This required calling around to find a starter. Apparently all of La Junta, CO was having a beer drinking day and could not be bothered to be in their auto parts stores to save our trip. He ended up calling in to Rocky Ford, CO and found the part. This, however, required someone from this auto parts store to drive over to La Junta to deliver it. I imagine some game of rock-paper-scissors occurring and the loser of 4 out of 5 having to play delivery person. Regardless of how long the rock-paper-scissors tournament went, we weren't getting the part for several hours.

To waste our time until the part showed up, mechanic man and his beer buddy suggested we go over to the Hog's Breath Saloon to get out of the sun and get a drink. Awesome.

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What the two reviews online say of the Hog's Breath:

1. "As you might expect from the name and its location in this ranching town, this is a totally unpretentious steak house that has a liquor license and also serves pork."

2. "I dined there once with my father while visiting La Junta. First, the bartender was friendly and poored well. Next, the wait staff was efficient and competent. Everybody seemed to enjoy working there, a good sign of effective management. Most importantly: the food. All around fantastic! The best ribs I've ever had (besides my own). These were cooked properly; seasoned and slow cooked. Not boiled and then buried in cheap BBQ sauce. Oh, and DON'T pass on the pies. Made like Granny used to. Last, a very fair check at the end of the evening. Dont miss this place if in La Junta."

At least they poor well...

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We walk the few blocks over to the Hog's Breath Saloon. We were the only ones in there that did not have on our motorcycle leathers or cowboys boots. Scott was also the only one in there not eating meat. We were also the smallest people by a good 100 pounds. We were quite the attraction...

Through the speculative and not-so-furtive glances, we placed our orders for something meatless (probably nachos and pie). We sat and ate, idling until we figure that the starter MUST have made it to La Junta. The walk back to the shop put me in mind of something from Treasure of the Sierra Madre. It's rattlesnake country down there, my friends. It is dry, dusty and hot.

Our return to the shop brought a sigh of relief. The starter was in and mechanic man was putting the final touches on its installation. He put the key in the ignition and the bus shuddered to life. Yay! At least it was no longer dead. For his labor, the mechanic took $300 of our money and sent us on our way. That money, I am sure, disappeared into several packs of Natty Light.

We hit the road, trying to beat the sun out of La Junta. A mile or so out, the bus began to smoke. Plumes of blue smoke poured out of the back engine compartment. Having already hopped on the highway, we decide to make it to the next town--Rocky Ford and former home of our starter--and wait until dark to hit the road. Because, obviously, the smoke will show up less at night than during the day. We were too conspicuous by day and Scott was illegally driving.

We pulled into a KOA with a trail of dust and smoke following, parked between the RVs, and hung out in the heat. We saw several blue haired ladies peek out of their RV doors and glare at the bus. Probably because VW busses equal reefer junkies ad the people within cannot be trusted. By this time, we have decided to abandon the plans for Banff, Canada and just head back to Oklahoma. This bus was definitely not making an intracontinental trip. We had only lost three days so we could easily recoup the losses by taking the bus back, borrowing a car, and making a quick trip north. We had 2 weeks of honeymoon vacation built in so we were good.

Life, however, had other plans for the new Taylor couple.

Maladies, Melodies, allergies to dust and grain

Points for the person who can name that song.

I suffer from terrible allergies--debilitating allergies, in fact. I swell, I itch, my eyes water, I get sniffly, I have trouble breathing. And I seem to be allergic to everything that can be in the air--pollen, dust, fur, etc etc. At different times of the year I have a tough time just going outside.

When I travel, I have an arsenal of meds on me at all times: inhaler, eye drops, nasal sprays, antihistamines, Benedryl, cortizone cream, and other things I forget about because the relief they provide can be minimal. I have just left off from weekly allergy shots--a little difficult when on the road. I even reacted weirdly to those, though. Nothing like the doctor saying "Hmm, this is an odd reaction. This really shouldn't be happening." Thanks, Western Med Doctor for the shots and skin test and for not making me feel like a freak.

It is ridiculous. This is also a kink in the plans when we visit friends with pets. I try to hide the fact that I am struggling with it but the puffy, pink eyes and the welts give me away. It's lame, I feel ridiculous and bothersome. I love animals and I hate that I have to be careful petting them or making sure I don't lay my head down where they've been sleeping.

I am totally the nerdy kid. And to make me even weirder, I have a pet that has no fur and looks like a dinosaur (rawr!). Bonus--she has no fur to be allergic to.

She's a road warrior this summer.

Oh goodness

It's off and going now. Due to a minor miscommunication we camped out in the apartment last night. We were set to head to Springfield to meet up with old friends, J and G, and had planned to be there early on Monday. However, that wasn't quite how it panned out.

We went to Indianapolis for the Indy 500 from late, late Friday through late Sunday. We managed to pack up a lot of the house before we left so there was still some left when we got home. We were so exhausted by the end of Indy, though, that we came home and passed out. Scott didn't even make it into bed. He was half on, half off and I was in a Benedryl haze. Pretty sure there was some drooling and snoring amidst the thunderstorm. We fell asleep with the windows open because it was incredibly stifling in the house and when the storms began I woke up thinking someone was trying to break down the window in the living room. Note that this would be impossible with the bars over them--again, Benedryl haze. I crept in there only to realize that the blinds were flapping around like mad. I managed to wrestle it closed and fell back into bed. Once the torrential rain began, I had to jump out of bed to close the windows in the bedroom only to realize that the meds had made my arms noodly. I was practically hanging onto the windows trying to get them closed with no luck. Rain beating in, thunder making me jump, I finally went and began shaking Scott from his stupor to help me. He stumbles to the window reaches up and slams them shut and then literally falls back into bed.

I should say that at this point in the move "bed" consists of rugs, thermarest bed rolls, sleeping bags and sheets.

We finally awoke on Monday around 7:30ish (heavy on the ish) planning to finish packing, clean, and do a walk through with the apartment people. By 9:00, the apartment people aren't in and we realize that they probably aren't coming in since it is a holiday. There was no notice about the office being closed, however, so I kept a diligent eye on it just in case. So we kept packing while trying to figure out a timeline. I had to teach from 6-9 and then grade two classes worth of discussion board work (67 students' posts). The final plan became "hang in Chicago, teach and grade frantically, and then hit the road around midnight." Great plan!

Not so fast, my friends. We needed to get in touch with J and G in Springfield to be certain it was fine if we busted up in their place at 4AM. J worked a double on Memorial Day and was working Tuesday morning. Their little guy has also taken up early mornings and gets going around 6AM. I had been sending messages to G during the day and then the day got away and I slacked on the messages. I taught, I graded, and Scott packed and cleaned. 11:30PM came and I sent a message. No response. I called both--no response.

We both blanked. What to do? Several plans flew around and we finally decided: sleep here for a few hours, get up at 4AM and hit the road by 5 so no one would be in the apartment office yet. We would be getting into Springfield shortly after J went to work and G and the little guy would be up.

We let Asher sleep wherever she wanted and I found her in the bedroom curled up next to her reflection in the mirror. We threw a tapestry on the floor with pillows and I used my raincoat as a blanket. We slept, got up at 4:30, threw the stuff in the car nd hit the road by 5:00ish. Scott drove, I dozed here and there, and we saw the sun rise on Chicago for the last time. We made it to Springfield just as planned with G and the little guy up and in the middle of a cereal breakfast and Dora the Explorer.

Oh, yeah, and the Blackhawks were playing last night so Scott went to the little work out room in our building and watched part of it there. 2 games up, they might really be Cup contenders.