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Jul. 29th, 2007 12:38 amGuess what? I am in FLORIDA.
Yes, we made it safely. We got a late start, partially because I discovered that some of the plants I had watered last night had leaked and required damage control, but we made it. However, I think we ended up less driving and more floating down. Shortly after crossing the NC border (which I slept through), it started to rain. And rain. And didn't really stop until we hit Florida. There were even a couple of moments where we had to slow down and put our blinkers on because the rain was THAT BAD. And of course, according to Eien-chan, we got nothing back home. Feh. We could've used that rain.
Anyway, I kinda wish I had my camera out during the trip down, as I saw several amusing/neat things, but can only think of a few now that I'm here. Well, here are the things that I do remember:
--The closer we got to SC, the more fireworks billboards we saw. I'm guessing because they know full well that North Carolinians go to SC to get illegal fireworks.
--Also close to the NC/SC border is a tourist trap called "South of the Border". I dunno if it's exclusive to that particular spot or not, but anyway. Of course, there were 12 bajillion signs for it as we approached, including signs advertising "Pedro's Africa Shop". Bit of a contradiction of cultures, ne?
--As we passed said tourist trap, I noticed the name on their water tower: "S.O.B.". Yeah. That's thoughtful.
--Tons of adult billboards. And for a while, a crapload of vasectomy billboards. Go figure.
--I also noticed that there were a lot of instances where advertisements showed smiling people in places where they didn't seem like they belonged. For example, we saw a car with an advertisement on its side for accident evaulation, or something like that, and had a picture of a smiling woman on the side. But the phone number implied it was run by someone named Gary. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Gary a guy's name? Did I miss something?
--This was just an instance that irritated me: While getting dinner at a Subway, Mom and I needed a bathroom break. However, the bathroom was a one-seater, and was occupied an inordinate amount of time by a pair of girls who felt compelled to primp and preen up the wazoo, for a friggin' Subway stop. Meanwhile, Mom and I are outside feeling a wee bit uncomfortable (pun not indended), listening to these two girls chat it up inside. Finally, once deciding they were model perfect, they came out. I was almost compelled to say something like, "I am displeased! Trogdor is displeased! See, on my shirt? This is Trogdor! He and I will BURNINATE you both with your bathroom-hogging makeupness!". I was kinda hungry and cranky. ^_^;;
--Speaking of which, since we stopped at enough of them, Mom and I started rating rest stops we went to, judging them on a scale of 1 to 5 toilets. We're just a little bit silly. ^_^;
--Florida is long. I think we spent most of our time in Florida. I dub Florida the Longcat of the east coast.
--Palm trees! Spanish moss! Banana trees! It was very exciting to be in a different area with different flora. I spent about the last half hour of the drive with my head practically out the window, enjoying a cool post-storm breeze, admiring some wickedly cool clouds (including some that were obscuring the sun in that idyllic "God is hiding just behind here" way), and excitedly pointing out plants as we passed by them. "Palm tree! Spanish moss! Palm tree! Spanish moss! OMG banana tree!"
So, anyway, I am here. The cousins are still cute as ever. The older one is showing an interest in science, which secretly pleases me. XD I also spent some time communing with Steve the Cat, who is, in my opinion, the best cat in the world. This week promises to be fun, including a trip to the Dali museum, a possible visit to a Lush store, a knitting store, and cooking for the family! I am also going to look, on Angie's suggestion, into the Bok Sanctuary, which looks wickedly spiffy. I hope we can go. ^_^
Yes, we made it safely. We got a late start, partially because I discovered that some of the plants I had watered last night had leaked and required damage control, but we made it. However, I think we ended up less driving and more floating down. Shortly after crossing the NC border (which I slept through), it started to rain. And rain. And didn't really stop until we hit Florida. There were even a couple of moments where we had to slow down and put our blinkers on because the rain was THAT BAD. And of course, according to Eien-chan, we got nothing back home. Feh. We could've used that rain.
Anyway, I kinda wish I had my camera out during the trip down, as I saw several amusing/neat things, but can only think of a few now that I'm here. Well, here are the things that I do remember:
--The closer we got to SC, the more fireworks billboards we saw. I'm guessing because they know full well that North Carolinians go to SC to get illegal fireworks.
--Also close to the NC/SC border is a tourist trap called "South of the Border". I dunno if it's exclusive to that particular spot or not, but anyway. Of course, there were 12 bajillion signs for it as we approached, including signs advertising "Pedro's Africa Shop". Bit of a contradiction of cultures, ne?
--As we passed said tourist trap, I noticed the name on their water tower: "S.O.B.". Yeah. That's thoughtful.
--Tons of adult billboards. And for a while, a crapload of vasectomy billboards. Go figure.
--I also noticed that there were a lot of instances where advertisements showed smiling people in places where they didn't seem like they belonged. For example, we saw a car with an advertisement on its side for accident evaulation, or something like that, and had a picture of a smiling woman on the side. But the phone number implied it was run by someone named Gary. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Gary a guy's name? Did I miss something?
--This was just an instance that irritated me: While getting dinner at a Subway, Mom and I needed a bathroom break. However, the bathroom was a one-seater, and was occupied an inordinate amount of time by a pair of girls who felt compelled to primp and preen up the wazoo, for a friggin' Subway stop. Meanwhile, Mom and I are outside feeling a wee bit uncomfortable (pun not indended), listening to these two girls chat it up inside. Finally, once deciding they were model perfect, they came out. I was almost compelled to say something like, "I am displeased! Trogdor is displeased! See, on my shirt? This is Trogdor! He and I will BURNINATE you both with your bathroom-hogging makeupness!". I was kinda hungry and cranky. ^_^;;
--Speaking of which, since we stopped at enough of them, Mom and I started rating rest stops we went to, judging them on a scale of 1 to 5 toilets. We're just a little bit silly. ^_^;
--Florida is long. I think we spent most of our time in Florida. I dub Florida the Longcat of the east coast.
--Palm trees! Spanish moss! Banana trees! It was very exciting to be in a different area with different flora. I spent about the last half hour of the drive with my head practically out the window, enjoying a cool post-storm breeze, admiring some wickedly cool clouds (including some that were obscuring the sun in that idyllic "God is hiding just behind here" way), and excitedly pointing out plants as we passed by them. "Palm tree! Spanish moss! Palm tree! Spanish moss! OMG banana tree!"
So, anyway, I am here. The cousins are still cute as ever. The older one is showing an interest in science, which secretly pleases me. XD I also spent some time communing with Steve the Cat, who is, in my opinion, the best cat in the world. This week promises to be fun, including a trip to the Dali museum, a possible visit to a Lush store, a knitting store, and cooking for the family! I am also going to look, on Angie's suggestion, into the Bok Sanctuary, which looks wickedly spiffy. I hope we can go. ^_^