Just when you all thought that things were simmering down for our little army family after our cross-country move… We added an “Appendix” to our traveling adventures, due to my commitment and dedication to my best friend Emily was getting hitched (in Kansas City) less than two weeks after my arrival to our new home in Georgia. So, the shenanigans continue… (If you want to get caught up to speed with all things sarcastic/traveling, jump over to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.)
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Talk about Monday conflict. My brain/body are rebelling. I’m trying to pack and get ready for another road trip and they are all like, “Um, WE JUST DID THIS. ABORT MISSION. REFUSE TO FUNCTION.”
But my heart is all like, “SHUT UP AND GET IN THE CAR! WE’VE GOT BRIDESMAID-ILY DUTIES TO EXECUTE.”
West bound and down for Emily Surdez’s upcoming nuptials. #LiveLaughLoeb
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Just realized my driving route is not going to help my preggo brain…
Today: Leave eastern time zone, stay the night in central.
Tomorrow: leave central time zone, stay the night in eastern.
Wednesday: leave eastern time zone, arrive in central.
Next week: Repeat process, only in opposite order.
If I wasn’t confused before, I feel like it’s gonna be a thang now.
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Ah yes. Road tripping during Gasmaggedon 2016. I too like to live dangerously. #HighRollingToday #BringOnThePlus
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Travel log (Appendix) Sub-point 1: Conquered the mountains of North Georgia and made it to just outside Clarksville, TN near Fort Campbell, KY. (Excited to stay at Austin and Abbie’s house again tonight!)
1. Man-oh-man. I still can’t “party” (see also: Solo road trip) like I used to… I’m spent! #JustKeepDriving
2. To alleviate boredom today, I dug out an old CD that I had burned years ago. It was simply labeled “Sharita’s ‘Good’ CD.” Well…
3. First song was the Wabash Cannonball– which SUPER pumped me up. However, not smart to listen to it going downhill in the mountains when the speed limit is 55MPH. Fortunately, I caught myself before any State Troopers did. #SlowMyRollGirl #GoState #EMAW
4. Nearly every other song on that CD was rather… interesting. I’m not sure if “Country Emo” is a thing, but if it is, apparently that was me like 10-12 years ago. #ClosetMelancholy
5. Also, a lot of those songs could be classified as “break up” songs. Um, yeah– I’ve been fortunate to never “break up” with anyone. (That helps when you only actually seriously date the one dude you marry…)
6. Gasmaggedon 2016 is a real thing.
7. I will never, ever, EVER understand gas stations that don’t have public restrooms. #WhatsThePoint?
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Time Zones: Confusing people since… Well, nobody really knows. #WhatTimeIsItAnyways? #TellingTimeIsHard
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Feeling a bit nostalgic today… So I went just a little out of my way to eat lunch in Washington… Indiana.
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Travel log (Appendix) Day 2: Greetings from Indianapolis!
1. Does every state in the south have a town named Jasper? I think probably yes.
2. I get ridiculously offended at any stranger that I let in front of me in traffic, yet does not give me a courtesy wave, nod or finger lift.
3. Funniest signs today: “Hoosier’s Daddy Pub and Grill” and “Little Whippersnappers Daycare and Preschool.” (Two different businesses, BTW)
4. Got to see a guy harvesting corn in Kentucky today… With an old school contraption pulled by 6 horses. #TalkAboutHorsePower
5. When asking Siri how many miles something is away, she ends her sentence with “as the crow flies.” Hilarious, but not helpful.
6. Had lunch in Washington, IN today. As I finished, it was just me and one other mom with her toddler daughter in the restaurant. I don’t know her story, but felt prompted to pay for her lunch. When she approached me about this, I told her that I saw myself in similar shoes a couple years ago, having a date with my Tiny Human. It made both our days.
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Today’s road trip tip:
The road may be long, but life is short. Wear loud jewelry. #BumperStickerWorthy #MamaNeedsBling
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Travel log appendix, day 3 (abridged version):
1. Indy —> Kansas City. Made it. Thanks to my epic chauffeur Becky Fouard.
2. Tamer bachelorette parties = good food, awesome friend reunion, string art, PG-rated gifts. Epic. #BecauseWeAreOldAndLikeIt
3. Sleep. Me want. Lots. Now.
#LiveLaughLoeb
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Lord, please bestow a special blessing on the courageous woman who bravely touched/fixed up my scary feet during my bridesmaid pedicure this morning. Amen.
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Travel log, Appendix, Day I-have-lost-track-anyways.
1. Emily and Matt Loeb said yes! Here’s to their wedded bliss! #LiveLaughLoeb
2. Party busses are AWESOME. Although I think about 6-8 years and one occupied uterus ago they would be even more epic. But still.
3. I have never appreciate air conditioning more in my life than I have in the last week.
4. Grandparents are still the bomb dot com. (Thank you Lex and Dietrich!)
5. Reunited with my Tiny Human Charis– I don’t remember her being this hilarious. “OH, I have an idea!” ~CBK
6. Catching up with college friends is seriously one of my most favorite things, especially as my army wife life keeps me away from them a lot. So wonderful to see Billy Brown, Jordan Pieschl, Ryan Wilkerson, Anna Hanson, Ashley Stambaugh, Annie Oliver, John Tatum Grice, Danny Unruh, Sara Nelson, Mackenzie Weldin, and of course my partner of all things shenanigans for this trip, the remarkable Becky Fouard.
7. We said we wouldn’t cry at the wedding. Well, at least 3 of us bridesmaids lied. Totally melted with our girl walking down the aisle.
8. God bless Shelley Van Wyhe for custom making me a maternity bridesmaid dress. Worked out swimmingly.
9. Now, off to celebrate even MORE wedded bliss of my Blue Key/College Buddy, Nick Piper.
#AllThePeoples #AllTheThings #OurLoveIsStillReal
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Finding Joy in All Things,
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the weddingof the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” ~Revelation 19:7 NIV
