Day Three - 01Apr05

WOOOO!! Today is Graduation Day!! The culmination of three months of hard work for my sweetheart! I woke up at 4 in the morning and prepared my class A dress uniform. I have one thing to say, if you have cats, the sticky lint roller becomes a best friends for times like this. I must have run that thing up and down my uniform some 20 times as I got ready, all the while standing on a large garbage bag that I had put on the floor in the bathroom area to avoid getting my socks wet heh heh, what a dump. In case I have never mentioned it, I HATE the beret, it's a hat made by the devil to torment anyone who tries to wear it correctly. And to make matters worse, I brought my garrison beret instead of my dress beret so I had to spend extra time to make it look presentable. I didn't have polish for my brass, but that's okay, being the old soldier that I am (HAH, old) I know many of the tricks of the trade, so out came the toothpaste to shine everything up with.

All in all I was quite satisfied with how the uniform turned out. I brought the linty roller along with me and we checked out of that crap hole of a hotel, and away to graduation at Parris Island we went!! I was the very first person in the parking lot at just before 0600, so I ended up getting out and walking around the parade stands, taking in the sights, smells, and sounds of early morning Parris Island yet again. The bleachers were covered with early morning dew, so I didn't sit down on them. As people started slowly rolling in for the 0900 graduation ceremony, I became "Mr. Information" for a variety of them, as I was the only one around in uniform. I would guess most of them didn't even realize I was in the Army heh heh. Thankfully, I knew the answers to most of their questions, although "Where can I purchase some coffee" caught me off guard and I was unable to provide any help for that person.

Thankfully someone brought out a bunch of paper towels and I got to wipe down the seats where Belly's family and I would be sitting. Then I had an idea... I crossed the black rope, yes, I did it!! I BROKE THE RULES, and I wiped off the seats where the 'broke marines' would be sitting. Oddly enough, I think being in uniform kept anyone from asking what I was doing, and I wasn't about to let my lil' Marine get a wet ass!!

Belly's parents and brother showed up at about 7:45, that was good because the stands filled up VERY fast. At about 8:30 Belly and the injured recruits showed up, I was glad I wiped the seat down because they would have had some really damp behinds, the other seats were still quite soaked. A little before the ceremony started, the husband of the Parris Island Commander (yes, the commander is a female) came over to the 'broke marines' (I still hate that term) and gave a really rousing speech, about not getting down on yourself for not being out marching, that the focus should never be what one does NOT get to do, but on what one has done, and what one WANTS to do in the future. It was a very good speech, and I think it really helped out the graduating Marines who were unable to march with their fellow graduates.

I couldn't believe how many people showed up for the actual graduation in comparison with family day the day before. People were sitting in the aisles and on the steps and down in front of us on the sidewalk, it was really quite amazing. About 5 minutes before the ceremony started, a disheveled woman, about 5'5" tall, probably around 50 years old, showed up, with a large bag in one hand and a Greyhound bus ticket stub in the other. Seeing me in uniform, she made a beeline for me, and quite emotionally asked where she could find her son. She didn't know what platoon he was in right offhand, so I searched through the different platoon numbers with her till she figured it out. She was so thankful, and I have to admit it impressed me as much as anything else I saw there, as she headed off to sit in the family area of her son's platoon, that someone would endure so much to see their child graduate.

As the ceremony started, I found it difficult to sit at attention, as a person should do when wearing your military dress uniform. I would look over to Belly though, and the other recruits, who, despite injury, sat perfectly still, eyes front, back straight, hands on their knees, holding perfect military bearing. I was able to stick with it for awhile but then my butt just started to hurt heh heh. I tell you what, blue jeans have like 100 times more cushion than dress pants do, OUCH!! The ceremony was quite nice, the graduating platoons did marched by the assembled dignitaries and did an 'eyes right' as everyone cheered for their corresponding platoons. The Parris Island Marine Corp Band was really great (although, I have to admit, the Texas A&M Band has them beat by just a smidgen heh heh).

Nearing the end of the ceremony my behind had been reduced to an irritated set of buns, but I was still so happy when they handed the Marine pin to my recruit, oops, correction, to my Marine, as I watched my lil' PFC put her pin on her hat!! I was just beaming with pride, as was her family. As the ceremony ended, we were able to get a few photos together, you can see some on her site, at www.mink.com, then Belly was whisked away to sign some paperwork, because after her 10 days of leave, she had to report right back again to Parris Island, on 'graduation hold' due to injury. Before you can move on to your next duty station, you have to be cleared medically by the Parris Island medical staff.

This took about an hour to complete, then we headed back to her platoon bay, took a couple pictures with her Senior Drill Instructor, then headed to the base Travel Agency to see if they could get a good deal on a plane ticket for Belly to fly from Omaha back down to Parris Island once her leave was up. They were unable to match the price her father got online, so we bought the ticket online instead. This little venture must have taken about 2 hours to complete, but it was important because it had to be done before she could go on leave from Parris Island, to prove she had arrangements set up to get back. Unfortunately the person who needed this paperwork proof was gone until 1 p.m. and it was only like 10 in the morning, so we went off base to get something to eat.

At this point Belly's parents headed to their hotel while we went back on base to put her stuff into a locker at the FBMP Platoon housing, where she would be staying when she returned, and to give the paperwork to the desk sergeant on duty at the time. It was about 2 in the afternoon, and yikes, we found out the paperwork was supposed to have been brought to the sergeant BY 1, not after 1. So needless to say, the Sergeant was not very happy with us, but she didn't go off all that much. Belly couldn't go on leave wearing her dress uniform so she went and got changed and then we headed off the island, much to her relief (well, for the time being, away from the island.) I probably should have changed on the men's floor, but I thought I would wait, ended up changing at a gas station a little ways down the road, haha, I just wanted to get some 'civies' on, to be more comfortable.

We headed off to Savannah and I got to see some of the places that Belly hung out at when she was at the Savannah Art School years ago. Her dorm was more like a bed and breakfast, at least looking from the outside. We saw a few little bars and places she frequented, then we decided to get a room at a hotel, and it was here that I got a little lesson in travel and correct procedures to follow when planning a trip. A lot of times, you can't get a hotel the night you arrive somewhere, fraNk never thought he would have to deal with this... unfortunately, I was wrong. The entire city was booked solid.

We went and met with her parents at their hotel. Belly's mother very graciously offered to let us stay on the fold out couch in their hotel room, but I really hoped Belly and I could find a place to stay to get a little time to ourselves and also give her family their space too. I think her father was thinking the same thing, the way he was rattling away at the keyboard looking for a hotel room for us. I really can't be thankful enough for his help, actually for her entire family and how wonderful they are.

Her father was lucky (or should I say skilled) enough to find us a place just up the road about 8 miles. Before going though, we all went out to a nice little mexican restaurant, where Belly and I proceeded to order two margaritas that were FAR too big for our appetites haha. Afterwards, we all headed back to their hotel, where we said our goodbyes to her family, hopped in the truck, and took off for our own room.

After checking in, I think we laid beside one another and talked for about 2 hours, about all sorts of stuff, it was so wonderful just listening to her relate her experiences, and how they corresponded with my own 'adventures' at infantry basic training at Fort Benning, 15 years before. We were both so tired, as I ran a hand down her back I was like "WOW", to which she responded "HUH?" I think your hands hold a specific memory of what someone feels like, and it was amazing how much muscle she had built up in the three months at boot camp. Belly has always been relatively fit, but this was different. Little ribbons of muscle along her shoulders and down her back, all interconnecting. Two ridges of muscle along her spine that were quite a bit more defined than before. And quite the defined calf muscles too, none of it overwhelming or manly, but my Marine was just that, a lil' packed bundle of 'devil dog' power, yet still feminine. Again, proud doesn't seem enough of a word to express one's feelings.

I think that's about all I really remember from that day, considering that I pretty much passed out at that point. What an amazing day it was though, to see Belly get the recognition she had earned for three months of dedication, commitment, and hard work. Belly is now a full fledged Marine.

Day Two - 31Mar05

1 a.m. - huge crack of thunder shakes my sister's house, rattling the windows, the lightning making the outdoors look like one big camera flashbulb. I was jolted awake by this, and there was no way I was going back to sleep as the storm continued its noisy onslaught. So I decided that 2 hours of sleep was going to have to be enough for the time being, and I got back out on the road again.

The rain was relatively light as I got back on I-24, then after a couple of miles onto I-75 South towards Atlanta. It was black dark, and once again, mostly just me and semi trucks out on the road that early, although as I got closer to Atlanta there were more POV's. I have heard horror stories about Atlanta traffic, but thankfully, at around 3 in the morning, it's not all that bad at all heh heh. As I got to the outskirts of Atlanta on the south though, the rain picked up, at first just a little, then suddenly, the deluge was on!!

Even with the windshield wipers on full blast I was having trouble seeing the road. Thankfully there wasn't much traffic, so that was one less concern. I kept the cruise set at about 77 mph (7 over), but there were times even I had to slow down because I could feel the truck starting to lose grip on the road and hydroplane some. That was blowing my mind, I don't ever think I've had that happen before. It rained like this for a good portion of the trip towards Macon, Georgia. I was happy to see it let up as I got onto I-16 East towards Savannah.

I was so excited at this point. It was probably about 4:30 in the morning and it was really feeling like I was on the final stretch to Parris Island. They certainly have a strange way of doing road work in Georgia though. Certainly nothing compares to the idiotic ignorance of Nebraska road work, but I have to wonder why you would do work on interstate exits, like 5 or 6 in a row, and do it in such a way that, if a person exits, they can't get back onto the interstate because the 'on ramp' is under construction. I was down to about 20 miles left in the tank when I finally came across an exit I would be able to get back on from if I left the interstate.

After fueling up, I was once again back out on the road. It was a little before 6 at this point. Scent is the strongest link to memory. This is true, because as I drove along, I had the windows cracked, and the smell of damp Georgia pine, something I had not smelled in 15 years, took me back to my days at Ft. Benning, summer of 1990. I kept thinking about things that I had not thought about in so long, road marches, field training exercises, etc. As the sun slowly began to rise in the east, the red dirt, thick wooded areas, the pine needle covered forest floors, etc, all served as a reminder of my three months of basic training. It's amazing the memories that you haven't thought of in years and years that suddenly rush back when triggered by smell.

I started to see a few more military tagged POV's on my way down I-16 at this point, a few waved, I waved back, I guess the tag on the truck and also my 'rear security' probably caught their attention. I got on I-95 North and crossed over into South Carolina. At this point I had been on the road for more than 26 hours, with a 2 hour break at my sister's place, but oddly enough I was not tired at all. I was really excited and couldn't wait to get to Parris Island.

Now, the route Yahoo maps gave me to take to Parris Island was a complete disaster, because South Carolina doesn't seem to see a reason for labeling 'connecting roads', and Yahoo gave a weird route that traveled along a couple paved and windy roads through the backwoods, till I got to Highway 170, then finally I was able to orientate myself to my maps both from Yahoo and my U.S. atlas, and get back on track.

The map showed a bridge, but the word 'bridge' doesn't exactly do it justice. I crossed a small bridge to start with, over the Chechessee River. I then started over a larger bridge, I wasn't exactly paying attention to where I was because I was trying to look at the map and the road at the same time. Okay, to set this up a bit, understand that I have only seen the ocean one time in my life, at age 2, when my mother dipped me into the Pacific during a family trip out west. So when I looked up and off to my right, down the Broad River into Port Royal Sound, I was like "HOLY @*(*@#$!!" You see a lot of pictures of the ocean but it just doesn't compare to the three dimensional reality of the magnificence when you see it in person. I'm sure people around me were wondering why I was staring, mouth open, but hey, I'm a Midwestern boy, so the ocean isn't something I'm used to seeing.

Then, there it was, the gate to Parris Island. I was able to get on using my ID card of course, so there was no problem there. It's interesting how you know when you are on a military installation. Immediately you notice meticulous care of all landscaping, no trash anywhere, people out jogging in PT uniforms, etc. It was about 7:15 or so at this point, there was light fog in the marshy areas of the post. The connecting roads between the high ground at Parris Island are built up on berms. I thought it was interesting that, even on an island damn near in the ocean itself, there are still Deer Crossing signs to warn you of those incessant pests that tend to get suicidal around cars.

I drove around for about 20 minutes, I guess deep inside you hope you might have some lucky chance to get a glimpse of the person you are there to see, but I didn't even know where her battalion was at, so that would have been tough, I just hoped maybe she would see me driving around : ) I went to the fitness center, took my bag up to the men's locker room, and showered and changed. That was nice, I felt quite nasty after such a long trip. Then I drove over to the parade grounds where the graduation would be held, and walked around for a little bit, visited with some of the other parents/family of those Marine recruits who would become actual Marines in a mere 24 hours.

I met a retired navy veteran whose daughter was in the same platoon as Belly, Plt. 4009. He and I decided to head over to the visitor's center and looked at a lot of the Marine historical items they had there. The unofficial mascot of the Corps is the English bulldog, and they had him at the visitor's center, I got to pet him for a little bit. Interestingly enough, he didn't bite me even though I'm an Army soldier heh heh.

Then the navy guy and I took an hour long bus tour around the base. It was really interesting, the guide was a Marine Drill Instructor, and he was really informative. It was nice to get a look at a lot of the different areas of Parris Island, to see where Belly had trained, and think about how it may have been for her. Near the end of the tour the DI asked if anyone was in the Army, of course I raised my hand. This was a mistake. He went into a story about how the Marines had to build a special obstacle course for Army soldiers who would visit Parris Island because the Army couldn't seem to do the Marine obstacle course. At this point we rounded a corner and he pointed out a play pen outside of a day care center. Yes, hah hah, it was quite funny, I had to admit that.

At the end of the tour I got off the bus, said goodbye to the Navy vet, and headed over to the Base Exchange. I bought a couple of Marine car decals for Belly to put on the truck, and then scooted back to the parade grounds to try and get decent seats and meet up with Belly's parents and brother for the ceremony. After finding them, we tried to figure out just where Belly would be sitting. On the Parris Island website, someone had told me that if I was shrewed enough, I might be able to sit nearly right beside her. I found a Drill Instructor and asked him where the 'broke marines' would be seated at, and he pointed out a roped off area. I was glad I asked because of the two roped off areas, I had picked the wrong one. I waved her family down and they came and sat down and we waited.

The stands filled up fairly quickly, we visited with quite a few people. It's amazing how many family members of these new Marines are also either current or former members of the military, be it Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines. We visited with a lot of them while we waited for the ceremony to begin. Way off in the distance you could see the seven platoons that would be graduating, lining up to prepare for the family day ceremony. They had to stand out there in the sun for about an hour before it began. About a half hour after we sat down, around the corner came our Marine recruit, hobbling along. When she looked up and saw me sitting there, I could tell she was thinking "how the..." and I smiled and gave a little wave. Even though she couldn't acknowledge me, she did anyway, a very slight grin, yep, I saw it. Then she and the other injured recruits sat on the bench to my left, sitting up very straight, hands on their knees, looking straight ahead.

I was so excited, she looked so polished and proper in her dress uniform. I was so incredibly proud. I had driven 1300 miles, and I think this very moment, to see her in her uniform, so close to fulfilling this incredibly arduous goal she set for herself, was the best, certainly the most proud, moment that I had during the entire time. It was so hard to be apart from her for those 3 months, but when everything comes together, you feel your heart leap in your chest and you catch your breath, and it's everything within your power just to hold your bearing and not break down, the emotions are just overwhelming.

By this time her father and brother were taking pictures and video of everything, which was really great, because we'll always have something to remember it by. As I looked at her dad, and how proud he was, it reminded me of when I came home from basic training and how my dad reacted, that look in his eyes, that dignified smile. I know that meant a lot to Belly too. The ceremony was sort of a blur, a long blur, I tried to pay attention but I really wanted it to be over with so I could finally talk to my baby again.

Finally they released the recruits to their families. I opened up the black rope because I didn't want to wait, and gave Belly a long hug... I was so happy, and proud, I can't say enough how proud I was. Then hugs from the family, and we all walked and talked and mingled our way back to our vehicles.

For family day, the recruits are locked down, they have 'liberty' to go wherever they want on Parris Island, but they can't leave the base. So her dad went to get us some food while we all headed over to the BX and did some more shopping. Then when her dad got back, we all ate and hung out and talked for about 2 hours. By this time I was really starting to feel it, I was so tired from the trip and everything was beginning to overwhelm me. I started to feel bad because I know I get grumpy when I'm like that. I knew though that I would be able to sleep later so I was going to stick it out for another couple of hours!!

We headed back over to the platoon barracks, where Belly had lived the last 3 months. I walked around, looking at everything, trying to imagine what it was like. I do have to say, that having 60 some girls all in one room would have to be tough sometimes, having 4 sisters in one room for a half hour at dinner was bad enough for me, I can't imagine 3 months with 60!! Belly slept on the top bunk, her bed was all made up perfectly, I didn't bounce a quarter on it, but I'm sure it would have passed the test.

All during this time I just kept looking at her, as she talked to me, her family, her fellow recruits, and thinking about how proud I was, and how I just wanted to take her in my arms and squeeze her, and hold her forever, like some crazy abominable snowman on the Bugs Bunny show heh. "Hold her and squeeze her and keep her for my very own!!" It was nearly 19:00 at this point so we had to say our goodbyes and head out, it was hard but I knew that in just over 12 hours we would get to be together again!

Things got sort of anti climatic as I headed into Beaufort to my hotel room. All that build up, and although everything lived up to what I figured it would be like, as I sat alone again in the truck heading off the base, I had to let out a deeeeeep breath and keep my composure. The traffic headed off base, obviously, was terrible. To make things even worse, there was an accident just outside of the base, so traffic was backed up for about 30 minutes before we could get going again. At this point, I put on a Pink Floyd cd, turned it up, and settled in. Pink Floyd is so wonderfully soothing, it's amazing I didn't fall asleep while creeping ahead in the traffic.

Finally thing started moving again and I got to the Days Inn where I was staying. Now, I want to let EVERYONE know, do not EVER EVER stay at the Days Inn in Beaufort near Parris Island. I had read the warnings on the Parris Island web site, but I was not prepared for what I found. Let me also give you a little background about my accommodations experience while on trips. Our family rarely ever left Nebraska, we would visit other family members and stay with them when we would go on vacation, so I never knew that you really have to book up hotel rooms 2 weeks AT LEAST in advance if you expect to get a decent room. So me, being dumb, I waited till about a week before and all that was left was the Days Inn.

Now, if knew then what I know now, I would have gone even an hour away to stay in a decent hotel. When I walked into my room, the first thing that hit me was this odor that smelled like dog urine. Then I put my bags down on the bed and in every corner was dirty cobwebs and along the bottom of the floorboard on the north wall next to the door there was actually MOLD! I paid 100 bucks for this room mind you, so I tried to call the front desk and ask them what the deal was, no answer. So I walked up front, and there were 2 people there, and I asked why they did not answer the phone, and they said 'oh we were much too busy'. Uh, you always answer the phone regardless of how busy you are. I inquired about another room and I was told they were booked solid. It appeared I wasn't the only person irritated with the condition of their 'shanty' because there were others also complaining.

It looked like it would do no good to bitch so I just headed back to my crap room and turned on the air conditioner. Now, the air conditioner sounded like a jet engine at takeoff while someone throws wrenches into it. I just started laughing at this point, because what else do you do?? I kicked off my shoes and used the bathroom, then when I walked out and was washing my hands, I realized my socks were soaked. Under the sink, the carpeting was wet clear thu with what smelled like, yep, dog piss. Again, I laughed, I've stayed in worse conditions in a tent in the Army, but certainly I wasn't paying 100 bucks a night for it.

I called and talked to Belly's family for a bit, they were staying at a nice place by the airport (her father is amazing when it comes to planning and details, if I can be merely half as adept at those things as he is, I'll be successful in the future when getting ready for trips). Belly's mother told me it might rain, so I sent out to a local store and purchased an umbrella. Then I saw a Chinese restaurant and picked up some sweet and sour chicken and crab rangoon also.

Then I went back to my stinky, loud, wet room, turned on some sports, and ate my Chinese food. Certainly the living conditions weren't the best, but I was looking forward to the following day, and at least the bed appeared to be safe to sleep in. I drifted off to sleep at about 2300 or so, to the Clint Eastwood pale rider movie.

Day One - 30Mar05

I found myself wide awake at about 3:15 in the morning, looked at the alarm clock, then laid back down, face down in the pillow, to try and get my last hour and a half or so of sleep before I would embark on my little trip. Alas, my excitement was just too much. After laying there till about 3:45, I said screw it, and got out of bed. I got everything loaded up into the truck, the cooler, the suitcases, the atlas, a bunch of CD's I had picked out for the trip, my class A Army dress uniform, etc, etc. I was out on the road with a full tank of gas at 4:15, taking the short trip on I-80 east into Iowa, then onto I-29 south.

Gas mileage in a 4.7-liter, V8, 235-horsepower engine, pushing a 6600 lb. truck, is not really all that great. 122 miles into the trip, and I'm getting 13.6 miles per gallon. Yes, quite the OUCH heh heh. Traffic on I-29 south was almost non existent. Just a lot of big trucks, mine included, traveling down the road. 243 miles in, going east of Kansas City on I-70, the sun came up over the horizon, blinding as hell, thank goodness for sunglasses!!

First fuel stop: 297 miles at 08:30 a.m. 21.9 gallons of gas for $46.01 at a BP gas station. OMG, close call to a disaster, I got out, started fueling up the truck, and when I went to get back in, somehow the doors were locked!! The keys were inside the truck, I was freaking out. I figured, oh shit, here we go, this is going to be costly, both in time and money!! But I went around the other side of the truck and it was unlocked, I have no real idea how that happened, but I was sure thankful that I had averted what seemed like a pretty sure disaster. Took a quick bathroom break and then out on the road again I went.

Did a really stupid thing in east St. Louis. I completely missed my exit to get onto I-64 east into Illinois, so I had to get off the interstate in a pretty seedy area of St. Louis (ALL of East St. Louis is seedy, that's an understatement). Luckily I found my way back on pretty quick. I imagine that at 10:30 or so in the morning there aren't too many people out waiting to car jack you, that's lucky, because I had no f'ing clue where I was at. Cost of this stupid mistake = 10 minutes.

538 miles into the trip, middle of Illinois. Singing along with the radio "Oooh, moonchild, things are going to get easier" when I realize that all the time I've thought those were the words, when in reality I think it's just "Ohh oooh child..." Yes, my lyrical ignorance knows no boundaries!!

570 miles into the trip. MY HEAD IS OFFICIALLY UP MY ASS!! I completely missed my exit to get off of I-57 South and get onto I-24 East, well, actually I got onto I-24 East, thought I made a wrong turn, crossed back over thru an emergency access road onto the other side, got back onto I-57 South, then realized 20 minutes later that I had actually been going the right way before I turned around, AAARRGGGG!!! (remember my statement bout not looking at the map closely enough?) Anyways, I figured that I could cross over from to I-24 from this little town called Cairo, Kentucky, looked like it wouldn't take more than about 20 minutes on Highway 60, but oh how WRONG I was!!

First off, the BP gas station in Cairo f'ing ripped me off when I went to get gas. Belly's truck only holds like 21 gallons of gas and I still had about an eighth of a tank left in it, and the lady charged me for 24.9 gallons of gas. I was like "Uhm, excuse me, but you just overcharged me for gas, my truck doesn't hold that much gas even when the tank is empty."

The reply? "That's how much you put into your truck, if you have a problem with it, you can talk to the sheriff!!" Yes, well, needless to say I didn't try and argue the situation over about 10 dollars, although I HATE BEING RIPPED OFF!! So I got out on this little highway to quick make it over to I-24 and make up for my mistake!!

Yes, well, there is nothing QUICK about Highway 60 from Cairo to Paducah. It appears that someone threw down a bundle of yarn and then paved it, because it was curvy and nasty and there was nowhere to pass, and I was behind a garbage truck going 35 mph in a 55 mph zone the WHOLE way, with a patrol car behind me the entire way!! I don't know if it was the sheriff, but I sure as hell wasn't going to take any chances.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANYWAYS, an hour and a half after making my wrong turn, I finally was back on I-24 going south again. Cost of this stupid mistake? One hour.

The rest of the first day I spent traveling through Tennessee. I stopped off in Clarksville and made a quick call to say hello to a friend, who wasn't home, but I left a message about what a pleasant place Clarksville seemed to be (well, as best as I could see from a convenience store by the interstate heh). I hit Nashville just after rush hour, and wow, let me tell you, that was a bit of a mistake. Thankfully it was about 65 degrees and I had the windows down and the radio blaring, and I enjoyed myself even though I went for about 5 miles at about 10 mph. I-24 sped up again and headed into the rolling hills and mountains of Tennessee, a truly beautiful part of the trip.

I do have to ask one question though. Who in their right mind sells tobacco, alcohol, and fireworks at a convenience store? Hell, there was even one that had a work boot store inside. Am I to guess that from time to time you see some guy fueling up his pickup in overalls with his new work boots on, smoking a Marlboro, drunk off his ass from drinking Jack Daniels, all while lighting off a few roman candles, maybe a couple of bottle rockets? To be honest, I would not have been surprised had I seen an explosion behind me after passing one of these places (there are a bunch of them in Tennessee). Luckily that never happened, but why do I have a distinct feeling it probably has before?

Anyways, rolled into my sister's place in Chattanooga at about 9'ish that night. Now, this was a bit of an adventure, my sister lives WAY up on this place called Lookout Mountain. I drove all over that freaking place looking for it before I gave up and called her and her husband. I didn't end up being too far off. I got to see my two little nieces, Elizabeth and Sara, and wow are they getting older. Sara was very shy for oh, about 30 seconds, then LET THE SCREAMING AND CARRYING ON BEGIN, wow, talk about being just like her mommy, that girl is head strong and stubborn.

It was at this point that I realized my cell phone was pretty much completely screwed up, I couldn't get it to charge at all using either the car charger or the house charger. So rather then spend some quality time with my little nieces, I was trying to fix that damn phone. Lost time = one hour, and two destroyed chargers in the process. Talk about being REALLY pissed off. A word to the wise, NEVER EVER BUY A MOTOROLA PHONE, EVER, not if you value the ability to CHARGE your cell phone up.

I ended up getting to sleep in the guest room at about 11 p.m. Plans were to be up at 4 and back out on the road again. As is usually the case, man makes plans, and God laughs.

Back To My Blog

Okay folks, I have spent the last 3 months hanging out at Belly's Blog (This Mink), trying to keep things updated, letting everyone know what she is up to. Now that she is back however, I'm going to be really hammering away on my blog again. The first thing I'll tell you all is about my trip, from Omaha, Nebraska to Parris Island, South Carolina.

Preparations

Getting ready for a trip of this particular length (around 3000 miles) is quite an undertaking. First off I spent a long time trying to save up enough money to insure I'd have enough to handle everything, from the hotel room to gas money, you know, the usual stuff. I changed the oil/filter and the air filter, checked the air pressure in all the tires, checked the transmission fluid, added in some Mopar ATF+4 fluid into the power steering reservoir (YIKES, 8 FREAKING DOLLARS A QUART???).

I also spent about 2 hours cleaning the truck from top to bottom. The trailer hitch ball looked a little rusty so I spray painted it yellow and added a smiley face and a camo kevlar helmet, he would be my rear security on the trip. I borrowed a United States atlas and a large igloo cooler from my parents. In the cooler I put 2 bags of ice, (5) bottles of Pepsi, (6) bottles of grape juice, (5) sandwiches (each with turkey, ham, pastrami, miracle whip, mustard, and a slice of American cheese all on Rotella's Italian bread), and a big ziplock bag filled with carrots and cauliflower. My plan was to avoid eating fast food or convenience store food on my trip down, and also to stop only every 300 miles or so (when I needed to fuel up).

The night before the trip I got everything packed up. Unfortunately, I was unable to talk to Belly for more than 30 seconds on her Liberty Sunday, so I didn't really get a chance to finalize anything I would be bringing along that she needed, nor did I get a chance to set up any plans for what she might want to do while I was there. I did not really care though, all I cared about was making my way down there to see my baby again. I spent about a half hour going over the atlas and mapping out my route. As you will see, it wasn't enough time.

I set the clock for 4:40 a.m. then went to bed around 10 p.m.