On Tour, Pt 1

I started out looking to find work, and ended up chillin' with a bunch of friends... it doesn't get much better than that. Well, if I could have actually gotten the job, it may have...

I had been told that I would have an interview if I could get down to Bentonville, Arkansas, a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a major league cluster f#ck, and, while I was in the area, the interview never happened. Nah... nothing is held against them, as there was a very good explanation. However, while waiting for them to set something up, I got an e-mail from my Ma notifying me of my uncle's passing.

My uncle was a quiet man, and I share more than a few traits with him... hell, with all of my uncles. When my father was killed in '76, he came out to the farm and sat with Ma for hours... a huge comfort to her, one of which she still speaks. When I got the word, I decided to make my way to Apollo Beach, and return the favor.

I left Bloodspite's last Thursday, just before the storms swept through the area. As a matter of fact, I passed through some of the earlier waves, managing to avoid any rain. Most of the way to Army Wife's, the roads were soaked, and the skies dark, but it was pretty damn nice once I got to her neck of the woods. When I left, I could see the storms off to the North, and more to the South. Still, I managed to make Georgia before I ran into any precipitation. There, I was forced to spend the night just south of Atlanta... I couldn't stay awake any longer.

The next day, I took off, heading down to hopefully hook up with my blog-sis, Boudicca. I had met her back in Octember, but upon meeting her, it felt so much like meeting someone I'd known for most of my life, and it wasn't 'til much later that I realized I had only spoken to her a couple of times. I was hoping to fix that...

As I drove through the idiot's corridor of I-75, it was hot. I mean, HOT. I was sweating my ass off. I kept seeing signs advertising "Boiled Georgia Peanuts," and had a sneaking suspicion that Yankee's satchels had been sweat off to provide some of those "peanuts." I wasn't interested. Believe it or not, once I hit the Florida/Georgia state line, the sky had clouded over, and it had cooled off immensely. Add to that fact that the first thing I saw behind the "Welcome to Florida" sign was a dead cat, and I was falling in love with the Sunshine State. The returning heat kept me from falling head over heels.

That evening, I made it to Bou's. There, I was fed, even though I had eaten not too long before, given a tumbler of the infamous scotch, and then I sat visiting with Bou and her hubbie. After a bit, he hit the hay, and we stayed up talking... a nice long visit. I wish I could have stayed awake a little longer.

Next morning I awoke, and caught Bones, her youngest, trying to get a look at their guest. He was leaning against the wall, looking cool, until I said, "Hey, Big Man... what's up?" A flash, and he was gone.

Bou went above and beyond, and had a big breakfast ready, with VW bringing her boys over. I got a couple hugs from her, but not much was said... eating is serious business. It was a good meal, a visit that was much too short, and then I had to run on up to Tampa area, much like I have to run, now.

I'll have to finish the report later on...

Posted by That 1 Guy at March 17, 2006 09:39 AM