That all changed today. I got put in for the Training NCO course down in Arkansas, so I got everything set up last night and headed out this morning. I didn't have to leave early, because it's about a 9 hour trip, so I left at 9 am.
Even though I had about 7/8 of a tank of gas I wanted to be completely full to see how far I could get, so I topped off before leaving, and got some hot chocolate. On to I-80, then over to Iowa and onto I-29 south. The first couple of hours were mostly uneventful, although I did realize today that my XM Radio was shut off, I will likely call in a couple days and barter with them for a half hour to get a highly reduced rate, considering they want an insane amount of money and all I really ever listen to are the comedy stations.
Traffic wasn't too bad considering it was a Sunday, a summertime Sunday no less. I did take the wrong route three separate times, which was annoying but I found myself laughing, because the first time my real estate agent called, the second time it was my dad, and the third time some private call that never said anything. Don't take phone calls while driving in an area you aren't familiar with, apparently that is something I should learn.
Arkansas... I am not sure where to start. First off, what in the hell kind of interstate suddenly turns into a regular highway and a half mile later there is an intersection with a red light? I checked the map, showed that we were still on an interstate, but apparently Arkansas goes by a different set of rules.
The other really unbelievable thing... it is enough to have annoying drivers who don't get out of the left lane, and Arkansas has an abundance of that, believe me. But even worse, there had to be half a dozen of what can best be described as "erratic MPH drivers". I generally see one or two on a long trip, but this was madness because there were literally like 6 or 7 of them in the last 2 hours of my trip.
The erratic MPH driver is the guy you come up on and he seems to speed up as you are getting closer, then finally you get around him, 5 minutes later here he comes creeping up on you and passing you. The worst one was the last guy, about 4 times in he was creeping up on me as I came up on a truck, this time I cut him off, I'd had enough, went about 90 for a couple minutes then slowed up. I figured that would get rid of him, and it did (doesn't always work). What in the fuck is so hard about using cruise control???
I got into North Little Rock, and I have to say, it is a bit scary. There seems to be a LOT of liquor stores, car washes, and churches. Add to that, there are a whole shitload of places named Camp Robinson this and Camp Robinson that. I was focused in on North Little Rock itself and didn't realize that the camp is actually on the very north side of town, and is quite big by comparison to all the small "Camp Robinson" named things further south.
So after I finally got that all sorted out, I got on post, found the check in building, got my room, and parked. These are very nice rooms, much like being in a hotel. Everyone tells me that this is like a vacation, and from the camp itself, I can see that, very nice in every way, however, you have to go a ways outside of North Little Rock to find anything nice, it's a real dump out there. Apparently some of the people have been here before and they are going to take me out on the town, that should be a lot of fun.
Trying to keep my mind off all I have to do at home right now, because I can't do much with it anyway. The buyers are wondering about the stains on the ceiling, the same stains the real estate agent said "Oh don't worry about it" when I said I'd painted them but the color was off. Now that same real estate agent is making a big deal out of it *sigh*. Oh well. The roof being fixed and windows having been recaulked should fix all of that.
So, for now, watching a so so Gladiator type movie (not Gladiator, something else) on one of the HBO channels (yah, HBO on post? Wow!). Talked to the kids for about 2 minutes, but they were playing a new game on the IPad, said they'd call me back, it's 10:30 now, not happening haha. That's okay, they will be in our new house shortly, I'm so excited about it. I just hope I can make the finances hold out until then.
Oh, and one parting shot before I go...
I'm really not sure if this is a good way to be transporting horses, but I guess if you lack a horse trailer:
These are some of the best trained horses I have ever seen, it is good they are strapped down though so they don't jump off.
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