G&H's Big Adventure Part 2

After partying the night away in the Pub, we arise early the next morning. I fight off a hangover as Greg packs. We catch a cab with a gentleman that cannot speak English. How did he pass an American driving test? We arrive safely at the boarding area for the Lake Express Ferry. {Homeland Security} searches our baggage, we board. The High-Speed Ferry is NOT. It is a Slow-Speed Ferry. A ride that should have taken 45 minutes takes 2 1/2 hours. BORING. We watch the movie "The Lake House" starring Sandra Bullock & Keanu Reeves. An OK movie, but I would not have paid to see it. The ferry service showed it on overhead screens as we crossed; you could rent head-sets to listen. Kinda like a drive-in movie, but not.

We were picked up by Enterprise rent-a-car in a PT Cruiser. NOT the most comfortable of cars...Of course, when we got to the rent-a-car place, they pulled the old switcheroo on us. The vehicle we had reserved was not available; would we take this other instead? Then insurance, LUXURY tax, & other fees upped the price $100. Wow. When we load into the car, it has not been cleaned, and there are stains on the seats? Should I take the time to complain online? YES. Then we ask the directions to where we are to drop it off so we don't have to bring it all the way back ...the dumb girl turns around and asks the older guy on the phone EVERY Question...C'mon women. We are NOT dumb. We DON'T have to ask or beg guys to do our jobs. Unless we are blonde or Very, Very Lazy. Instead of handing us a print-out of a map to the office, the guy on the phone looks bored and tells us verbal directions.

What is the convenience of technology if not to use?????

Dumb-asses.

So we continue our drive, stop to pick up sunglasses for me at Target as mine had broken on the boat trip. (probably the sea water...) and arrive to pick up our truck 12:30. Chris is a nice young man. Their shop is awesome and we walk around observing. Paperwork finally in order even tho our bank messed up a lot of things, we leave about 1:30. Greg panics and takes the wrong exit in Chicago even though I told him to stay in the extreme right lane...it was a toll-road. So we have to drive into a ghetto part of Chicago to get back on the interstate, pay the toll AGAIN...then drive to Moline, Illinois for overnight at a wonderful hotel--Ameritel. (right across from the SMALLEST Wal-Mart I have ever seen) I was on the computer to Shawna for a brief time (Hello) and then went to take a shower. After the shower, I started shivering and went into shock. Dunno. Started my period, but I don't know why this happened. Greg took care of me, covered me up, gave me aspirin. I sorta passed out and don't remember anything else. We slept late the next morning and didn't get the continental breakfast. But the bed was the softest thing I have ever felt. Denver Mattress.

We drive through Des Moines, Iowa and stop at Hobby Lobby-an enormous craft store 5 times the size of Michaels. Pick up some neat gifts for Kelsey&Matt. Then find a Maid-Rite for burgers. Yummy. Back on the interstate and we go through to Sioux City when Greg decides he needs to have the oil changed. We locate a WalMart and it is now 8PM at night. By 9PM we are on the road again to drive with a beautiful full moon to Wall Drug, South Dakota. We are both falling asleep and decide to stop for the night. Again, we pass out like the dead in an uncomfortable bed. On the road by 8AM, we stop briefly for gasoline, observe the Cantaloupe along the road, Karma occurs as Greg passes an Idaho idiot in (from 8B county) in a SUV travelling in the left lane, who then decides he has to drive over 100 mph to catch up to us...he is still travelling in the left lane. A Montana cruiser comes like bat out of hell from nowhere...and has his lights on. Greg laughs as he pulls WAY over and the cop is on this SUV's ass for about 1 1/2 miles. The guy doesn't even look in his rear-view mirror...and he is STILL going 100+ mph! Finally pulls over as we pass on by.

We drive straight through to CDA and arrive about 8:30. Picking up Isabelle at our friends' home, we happily find SNOW at our house. YUCKY.

Thursday, November 2-We sleep until 10AM, then Greg goes to get lattes. Kurt (our latte connection) scolds us for being gone so long--he was getting concerned. Isn't it nice to be missed? Then today it snows about 2 more inches. Bad Winter, Bad Winter. I wash clothes, put everything away, and talk to Kelsey. Greg does a few little errands, comes home & collapses.