Tammi's World

Road Trip - The Return

Well, to round out the posts about my weekend I need to tell y'all about the trip home. I've already covered the, umm, well, exciting trip south there HERE.

Sunday started out with a wonderful breakfast at Ihop with T1G, Ellison, Bou and Eric. Damn - I'm amazed I was able to eat given all the laughing I was doing. I'm tellin' you folks - what a crew!!!

We hit the road headin' for Arkansas. See - this weekend was kinda like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one. Blogmeet AND I got to spend time with Army Wife and her family. I was so excited.

T1G wouldn't let me drive. Hmmmm wonder what THAT was all about. So I settled myself in the passenger seat and prepared for the 8 hour drive. As we speed our way north we come across this beautiful body of water. Sun was shining, water like glass, sail boats..... You KNOW that caught my attention.

Tammi: Oh my, isn't that gorgeous.

T1G: Yeah, it's suchandsuch reservoir.

Tammi: How do you know it's a reservoir?

T1G: Well, there's this big metal thing, back there, on the side of the road. It's called a sign......

Tammi: Signs? Signs?! Phew.....(breaks into song) Signs Signs Everywhere there's signs Blocking up the scenery Breaking up my mind

At that point I'm pretty sure he was wishin' he'd left me in Illinois.....

Anyway - It was a smooth, uneventful trip to Arkansas. As we neared AW's house I told him I was kinda nervous.

Now, I need to tell you AW and I are GREAT friends. In fact some folks say we share a brain. There is NO reason I should be nervous about this visit.

Except.....

I was meeting her Darling Husband. I sooo wanted him to like me. It makes friendship so much easier that way. And I know I can be irritating. I know I can get on your last nerve. Let's face it, you either love me or hate me. I soooo needed him to at least like me.

**Note to self: do NOT tell T1G when you're nervous about something. Oh yeah, it's like presenting an arsonist with an endless supply of matches. He'll just keep striking and striking. But he really did help me loosen up about it all.

We got to the house and knocked on the door. As I saw her walking through the kitchen I felt the smile start. And seriously - I didn't STOP smiling until we were leaving. Hugs were exchanged and then it was TIME.

Up walks a very handsome man. Smiling, with the kindest eyes. Next thing I know I was on the receiving end of the biggest hug!!! Oh yeah, we were gonna get along just fine!!!

A wonderful meal, playing with those sweet sweet babies and it was time to hunker down in the living room for conversation and cocktails. It was the perfect way to end an evening.

The next morning AW treats us to a huge breakfast and then proceeds to pack a goodie bag for us to take on the road. Snugglin' with Pink Ninja and havin' Dash sneak kisses was just what this tired girl needed. All too soon it was time to leave. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on Pink Ninja's face as she watched us get into the car. Yeah....she's got me wrapped right around her finger. No doubt about it.

So we head toward the highway when I mention I've really gotta stop for a soda. Since I'm driving I wanted the caffeine. That would be when T1G pointed out that yeah, we probably outta stop since we were ALMOST OUTTA GAS!!! You know, I've really gotta start paying more attention.

We pull into the gas station and I head in to take care of business. Here's where it gets weird. I figure I hit the little girls room, get the soda, smoke 1/2 cigarette and Voila! Ready to Go.

As I walk in this guy was standing by the door. He is watching me. He starts following mumblin' some gibberish about how beautiful I was. Next thing I know, he followed me INTO the Women's Bathroom. Here's how that went:

Tammi: WTF?!?! Hey! This is the WOMENS bathroom.

Weird Guy: Yeah, I know but I just wanted to tell you...

Tammi: Out. Out. I'm gonna need you to GET OUT. NOW.

He did. But I gotta admit, that kinda threw me.

I came out and headed to get the sodas and....yep - he's still there. I get the drinks and pay as he's still mumblin' that same litany. Finally as I put the change in my pocket I realize he's gone.

Thank Goodness.

Oh wait. I'm not that lucky. He was waiting outside the door for me. He starts walking with me towards the car. All of a sudden he realizes where I'm headed and stops.

Weird Guy: Oh. Your not alone?

Tammi: (gesturing with BOTH 44oz drinks) No.

Weird Guy: OK. Well, thank you Ma'am, for makin' my day. You are a delight.

Only me folks. Seriously. It's why I can never live in Arkansas.

So - we get on the road and it's just as good a drivin' day as Sunday. As we near St. Louis T1G calls our buddy BloodSpite to see if he wants to meet up with us for dinner.

We pick him up and head to the Chinese Buffet. Yummy...I'm tellin' you folks - it was a GREAT food weekend for me. Honest.

The conversation, as always with BloodSpite, was wonderful. I decided the guys needed a little "boy time" so I headed outside to walk around, have a few cigarettes and get my soda for the next leg of the journey. As I was standing by the car a guy walks up to me.

Strange Dude: Pam?

Tammi: No.

Strange Dude: Really, Pam?

Tammi: No, I'm not Pam.

Strange Dude: Come on - you're Pam, right??

Tammi: No (starting to get a bit nervous)

Seems the Strange Dude mistook me for....wait for it......a prostitute. Yep, you read that one right. Me. Tammi. A hooker. (And it's not the first time this has happened to me!)

I was very happy to see the guys arrive shortly after that exchange. We head back to drop off BloodSpite and after some more conversation and the exchange of hugs we were on our way.

We headed into a doozie of a storm. Luckily it was T1G driving at this point. I have trouble with night driving - but rainy night driving, yeah - not so much.
We arrived home safe and sound sometime around 12:45. It was a great trip - interesting, funny and actually pretty relaxing.

Posted by Tammi at May 4, 2006 07:29 AM