last night on the road

Well, i couldn't write last night because the damn [&, overly advertised] "FREE Wi-Fi" in last nights hotel, wasn't working, UGH.

last night, i was in Albuquerque, NM.

What else happened yesterday... hm... well... i woke up in Oklahoma, left Kaylee with a sad face for both of us & hit the road. On the way, I...

saw, what i swear was the beginnings of a Tornado!!!

[this is a real pic that i took w/ my iPhone, but the pink streak is the reflection of my shirt & i def did fuck with the colours & whatnot... but.. SEE THAT FUCKING FUNNEL!?!?! AHHHH!]

 

then, while, i was hoping to get the fuck away from the 'nado asap... my gas light went on!!! So, i stopped at the next exit & found myself surrounded by desolate creep-town, with abandoned motels & a few non-working gas stations. Lucking, i found a working one, but was thruoughly freked when i got out to pump gas & heard crows. i looked around & it was like i was in a fuck'n Hitchcock film.
[ok... so maybe i'm exagerating a littttle bit...]
the Raven's creepn around me squak'n "nevermore", stole the words right out of my mouth. nevermore!!!! that place was terrrrifying! hahah BUT, i was on the road again soon, on my way.

[photo found here.]

I got to Albuqurque, got lost, got off exit 158, missed my turn, well actually, just took my turn too early, so i ended up getting BACK on the damn highway, GPS took my to the next exit (159), but then put me BACK on the highway, where i got off the OTHER wrong exit (157) & did the whole thing again, but the other way. Needless to say, by the time i got to the hotel, i was annoyed & SO FUCKING HOT i was ready to kill someone for a nice ice cold red bull, which i'd run out of.

I get into the Quality Inn & ask the [very nice] guy at the front desk if he had an available single smoking room.

"i'm sorry, but we are all booked in our single smoking rooms."

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

"Do you have ANY smoking rooms?"
[i know, you may be thinking "what's the big deal, just get a regular non-smoking room"... well... when you're a smoker & you drive across the damn states & it's hot as fuck outside & you don't know the area... you want to be able to smoke without going out into the blazing & somewhat scary parking lot!!! so, no, a non-smoking room just won't do.]

Finally, he says "actually, i have one double smoking room, but we weren't having anyone stay in it bc the last guy smoked a lot of weed in it & it stinks"...

..."i'll take it"

"are you sure?"

"ya."

"ok... i'll give it to you at a [phat] discount."

"thanks brotha!"
[ok, so i didn't say "brotha"... but, i shulda... that dude was such a bro, he was kool. good luck to him with his schooling which he chatted to me about for a while while the "paper work" went thru...?]

so...

today, i drove... drove... got gas.... drove... went to Wal-Mart, got a knee bandage for my poor sore knee from driving, got some Subway, some spray tan (so i look beautiful tomorrow when i see Travy-Bazinga-babe... IF it doesn't sweat off... ew) & a trash mag.

what did i learn from that trip to Wal-Mart? hmm.. well, pay attention...

**If you are in aa car, full of all your shit, with CT plates, & you find yourself in a Wal-Mart parking lot, eating a sandwich, reading a magazine, with the car NOT running... you are a SITTING DUCK TARGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!**

no, nothing scary, but a dude did come up to my car window & knock on it, take a turquoise & coral necklace out of his pocket & begin to show it off. i shook my head (with a mouthfull of turkey on whole wheat subway) waving my hand "no, no thank you... goodbye.. no..." & he (who looked like a bad version of Luis Guzman - i luvs me some luis, but this guy was NOT really him!) put a "thumbs up", flashed a grin & said "ok! You have a GOOD day!" - so, i put the sandwich away & PEACED OUT!
 

Now, i'm in my hotel, watching TLC when i should be taking the bath i ran like an hour ago (but "Toddlers in Tiaras" is just so wonderfully awful & how can you NOT watch "I didn't know i was Preggers"?!)

I'm glad i got to update everyone on my crazy last two days.

Tomorrow, i have 7 hours to go until i'm in my new home. i'm scared, but i'm excited. i hope Trav's mood improves though, bc he's been sunburnt, bored & cranky. He's constantly updating me on the horrors of our new place & new roomies... awesome...

i REALLY hope that he's over exaggerating....

more tomorrow, if i'm not too tired, but def more soon!

 

luvs it*

day 3: fever dog.

Woke up in Cuba.

Cuba, Missouri, that is...

drove thru the rest of Missouri & made it to NaNa Kaylee-Face by 5:00!

"Spanky, why did you just post that RANDO clip from Almost Famous?"

Oh! I'm glad you asked...

TRIVIA: What is the name of the band in Almost Famous?

Answer: Stillwater

I'm in Stillwater, Oklahoma!

I'm staying in Stillwater (home of Kaylee, Oklahoma State University [go Cowboys], & Eskimo Joe's - burger joint!) until Tuesday morning, when it's time for me to HIT THE ROAD [jack]!

[these photos are from my last visit,

on road trip 1. 

i now have short hair!

more on that lata!]

off to watch tv, eat FroYo & crash out.

 

luvs it*

day 2... a rough one

i'm so tired.

i drove 12 hours today.

too tired to write about it.

found photos that relate instead.

we'll call it a "photo essay".

[sorta.]

woke up in PA, drove thru Ohio, Indiana, Illinois & now i'm in Missouri, 3 & a half hours from Oklahoma, 6 hours from NaNa Kaylee-bffer-face.

g'night.

luvs it*

"on the road again..."

I'm back on the road, head'n to Cali.

my car is all packed & i made an ok dent in the trip today. (7 hours today...)

not gunna lie, i'm a little scared. I'm alone in a hotel in PA & it's time for bed.

I'm going to do my best to update you along the way, but given that i'm on this journey alone, i'm pretty burned out at the end of the day.

Saying bye to my family has been really rough.

i had sushi with lil sis (Em Butthead) last night after my wonderful hour long "de-stress" massage & steam showed (um, can we say "heaven"?!). This morning, my Pops had to go to work, so i had to say goodbye while i was still groggy eyed. I've been an emotional wreck & started bawling first thing in the morning. Good way to start a stressful day, eh?
I'm gunna miss him something awful. :(
[Daddy's Little Girl?]
My Ma was so sweet, she helped me pack the rest of the insane amount of my life into the Versa, looked up hotels for me on the way (ever after the multiple times i told her that she really didn't need to do that bc i wasn't going to know where to stop until i was ready to stop...), & even gave me a family heirloom, a beautiful Opal ring that had belonged to her g'ma. it's gorgeous, huh?
  

 
i lost my shit completely when i gave my last squeeze & kissies to that dog, my little adorable Peanut-Face McDoggie, Holly. I can't help but feel so guilty about leaving her. People understand why you leave, pups don't. She'll be sad & confused & it makes me SO sad to think about it. :(

Well, after eating last resort Domino's for dinner, i'm feeling a little vom-tastic, so i'm going to head toward some, hopefully, sweet dreams.
[even tho i'm admittidly terrified to be in a hotel alone... & ya, i def double locked the door & put a chair & the ironing board against it! hahah]
  

  

I'll give you more updates on my 2nd tour of America soon, i promise!

 

luvs it*

home sweet future home...

I flew to Cali on Wednesday, May 19th, to find a place for Trav & I to live.

I've been here a few days & in that time, we saw three awesome apartments that we can't afford & a room for rent that we can... that was fucking awful... in a tiny ass place with a married couple... & their screaming 1 year old.... in a shitty naighbourhood... in a crappy area.... kinda close to Compton... NO THANK YOU!

Then, we saw some more shitty complexes in relatively terrifying areas... then we saw two other really nice ones, that we can't afford....
sound frustrating? ya...

exhausted, tired, & on the verge of tears, we came back to the apartment we've been crashing at, to find a Craigs list listing of a room for rent in the SAME COMPLEX!!!

This morning, we walked the 20 seconds to the other apartment to be greated by a nice guy (matt?), his girlfriend Jennifer & an adorable 3 month old Huskey pup (Grays? Graves? i'll get it eventually).
The room is sunny, big enough for us, with a mirrored wall of closets (holla). $700/month (split between the two of us, $350) with an additional $30 utilities. (cable & internet will probably take it to MAYBE $75?

I'm happy to announce that, on the first of June, Travis will be packing up his things & moving over to the new place. I'll be back on the road again (eek!) on June 4th & will be driving across the states again... (double eek!) ALONE (EEEEKKK!!!) to join him, in our new place, by June 10th.

I'm freaking out.

honestly, i'm scared. i'm really, really, really, scared.
What if he & i don't get along? What if i can't find a job? What if i don't make any friends? What if i hate everything? What am i going to do without my girls? I'll miss AmeCakes & JenBunny so much it'll kill me.

No, i have to embrace this new life. I have to make moves, literally, & take it as it comes.
I just hope that we aren't making a mistake. This is completely the wrong way to move in with someone, i know, WE know that. I don't want to suffocate him, but i don't want to feel isolated, either. I'm scared that we were so caught up in the whirl-wind of us even getting together, that we rushed it.

[we haven't even said the "L" word yet...]

i do know one thing. i can't wait to be done stressing, done packing, done thinking about what i need to do next. i can't wait to get SOMEWHERE & just... BE.
I want to get back into a routine. i want to be able to find a job, that i actually like, write on my beluved & missed bloggy.

i can't wait to get back to my own little reality. I miss you all so much. i have no idea what's been going on with anyone & it makes me feel awful!

i can't wait to tell you all about everything. maybe i should do a time line post to just get the basic facts about my drive & what's been going on?

a quick few tid-bits of my last days in Cali:

-went to P.F. Changs. Had amazing Crab Wontons. I'm a fan.
-went to the Cheesecake Factory. Had phenom "Crispy Artichoke Hearts" with a Lemon-Garlic dipping sauce, edamame, "Bistro Shrimp Pasta" [Crispy Battered Shrimp, Fresh Mushrooms, Tomato and Arugula Tossed with Spaghettini and a Basil-Garlic-Lemon Cream Sauce.] & "Wild Blueberry White Chocolate Cheesecake", all washed down with Strawberry Martini [made with Pearl Vodka infused fresh Strawberries..]...

i know... right? holy SHIT.

-Saw "Date Night" with Steve Carrell & Tina Fey. laughed my pants off!
-Went in the hot tub last night w/ Bazinga-face. it was too hot, but i liked it.
-Watched "The Men Who Stare at Goats". awesome. just freak'n awesome movie. i really wanna watch it with my dad before i leave home. he'll luv it.

i luvs u all so much. thank you for sticking with me.

luvs it*

road map.

i'm here. i've been home, i've been lost (like usual), but i have high hopes that, with the recent free time, i may actually be able to plan a route to a better *me*.

Since i've been back, i've had to deal with a LOT of life's red tape. I've since, filed for unemployment, but won't know what the outcome is until i have my hearing (da da daaaa) on may 10th.
not gunna lie, i'm a littler terrified, bc i have no idea what to do if i don't get approved & i have no idea if i will get approved or not, since i was fired for breaking "company policy"

Has anyone reading this ever had to deal with filing for unemployment? advice?

i feel just awful that i haven't written in so long. i feel like this blog has become a best friend of sorts, & with that, my whopping 107 reader (!!!) are as well. I guess that makes me a pretty selfish & shitty friend, huh... :(

I'm also so sorry that i haven't been making the rounds to see how you have all been. i haven't read a single blog in SO long. God damn LIFE just keeps getting in the way of my means of escape!

i've been trying to get myself back on track, plotting the "rest spots", the important necessities & the tourist attractions.
[ya, i know, ever since the road trip, i'm on a bit of a "on the road" metaphor kick. haha. should just be a passing phase...]

it also doesn't help that my DAMN COMPUTER has been driving me up a WALL!
(does anyone else have a Dell Mini?) i luv the idea of it, but, one of the things i read about when i bought it was that the mouse pad thinger is awful & god damn that is SO true. i HATE it!!! But, like any laptop, it's not usually easy to have a mouse hooked up to it, bc then you need a mouse pad & a flat surface & blah blah blah, it's annoying.
but, because it's so stupid, it is unreal how difficult it is to highlight words in my text. i try to highlight one word & the damn thing jumps all around & selects other words or moves the highlighted text to another spot or some crap & UGH it makes me want to SCREAM!!!
that's why this post is written in such a boring way, rather than my usual overly annimated BIG words, different fonts, colours, yadda, yadda, yadda.

So, my hurdles, or "speed bumps" so far have been:

-filing unemployment.
-running out of money.
-medical insurance expiring at the end of the month.
   -get glasses [check!]
   -go to gyno for bc
   -go to dentist for filling & to have my gums looked at, AGAIN!
   -how will i afford my 'script without medical insurance?!
   -acupuncture?
-having to move out of my parents house (blessing, but still stressful & annoying).
   -MOVING TO CALIFORNIA!!!
   -driving across the country again in a few months so i'll have my car in Cali?! eek.
-deciding if i'll have to find another job for the time being to make money to be ABLE to move.
-saying goodbye to my friends & family. :(
-organizing all my shit.
   -how the hell do i get 23 years worth of life from CT to CA!?
-figuring out how to use this free time to my advantage, & how to better myself with it.
    -aka how do i do these things when i don't have the money to spend on them?
-trying to get fit.
   -FINALLY made my weight goal. i've OFFICIALLY lost 50 pounds since February of 2009!
   -Yes, i'm very proud & very happy, but being a smaller jean size does NOT mean that your in shape. this butt is NOT cute & it needs to be.

&, most of all...

-missing the HELL out of Trav "Bazinga". It's only been a little over a week & i can't stand not seeing him every day. Especially after spending 11 days solid with him. Sure, we can get on eachothers nerves, but, HELLO, try spending 24 hours a day with ONE person for 11 days & NOT getting a little annoyed at them. We didn't fight ONCE though!

gag worthy moment of couple cuteness:
Bazinga & I have talked about what we think our "song" should be. not in like a super ridiculously serious way, but just because. it stemmed from me wanting to get a new ringtone for when he called...

i picked:

he picked:

i feel like the one that i picked is so typical, but considering we've been friends for 10 years & best friends for a long time before we started dating, & since we're currently living 3,000 miles away from eachother, i thought that it was appropriate, but, honestly, when he sent me his choice, it took my breath away. It was just so sweet that he'd think of that song. What do you think?

i miss you all so very very much.
i hope that you haven't all forgotten about me.

spread the word that Spanky is BACK & i will be updating, bit by bit, about my trip. i figure that it'll be easier for me to post, & easier for you all to follow, if i do it in chunks. maybe 1 post per day of travel?

i've been so down, but so hopeful. i really hope that you are all still there. please, let me know that you're still out there, reading my words.
send me a comment, or an email [spankyluvsit@gmail.com] - anything. just lemme know that you're out there!

also, about the 100 followers giveaway, i'm SO sorry that i never posted about that. As many of you know, it fell right into a super crazy time & i just never got a chance to post it! I will, i have all of the prizes. i'll post about it soon. i hope that i can get enough of my readers back into the circuit for it to even have any entrants!!!

a million hugs & kisses

luvs it*

ps: does anyone know why i am unable to post pics from a file on my computer?
i'm only able to do it from obnoxious ways, but i can't get them off my computer!!?
When i try to, & i click the "insert image" icon, it only gives me the options to add an image:
-"from this blog"
-"from Picasa Web Albums"
-"from URL"

any ideas?!

on route...

hello my pets...

i've missed you so. i'm currently sitting in a smoking lounge (holla) in the Salt Lake City, Utah airport. My flight leaves in about 30 mins, so i'm just going to have time to jot a quick "yo, homies" before i have to pack it in & head to my gate.

i hope you are all ready to hear from me LOOTS bc i have SO much to tell you all &... big news...

i got fired...

awesome...

silver lining: loads of free time to write to YOU!

the blurb:
the trip was amazing. i've seen so much. it seemed like i was gone for months, even though it was really only 11 days. I've been through 13 states, taken hundreds of photos & spent WAY too much money.
I stayed in shitty motels, nice(r) motels, ate crappy food, ate good food, saw dessert, caverns, cities, & lots LOTS of highway.
Trav (Bazinga) & I did NOT kill eachother, contrary to popular belief. We didn't even fight! (bickering, arguing, disagreeing & annoying not included). I saw my NaNa Kaylee-Bear, met her BFer Chas & A Werner (a friend since middle school & Bazingas new roomie) as well as Chad (other new roomie & A Werners friend from collage).


well, i have to go over to my gate now.

miss you & i'lll be back shortly!!!

luvs it*

a letter from Spanky: drive...

my dearest bloggies,

i promise, i'll be able to update you all soon.

all i can say right now is, i'm ok, i'm in OK (haha), i'm head'n the rest of the way to Cali, i have a lot to tell you all & my fortune cookie tonight said:

"adventure is worthwhile, in itself."

a few things i've learned, on the road, so far:
-blueberry anything is delicious [blueberry smoothies or FroYo is always a good choice.]
-i have a serious problem with buying souvenir t-shirts in gift shops
-Zoos, Children's museums & anything of the like are hella fun, even for two grown-ups.
-Friends aren't necessarily those you always see, but those who always, truly SEE you.

[NaNa, my KayleeBear-face. You've been amazing.

Chas, you're wonderful, in every way. 

Trav-zinga, your patience & understanding has held me together, you're the best.]

-My tum does not agree with road-trips. i've been feeling vommy for days. [boo...]
-You never know what's around the bend, or what [proverbial] bug will splat on your windshield. No matter how hard you scrub, it isn't easy to wipe clean. [ya, road puns being used to the deepest possible extent.]

i luvs u all.
wish me luck on my current speed limits, & the speed bumps waiting for me at home.
for now, i'll just...

"hold the wheel... & drive."

luvs,

Spanky*

"it's get'n hectic in here, it's get'n, chaotic..." -b.spears

there's SO much going on, i barely have the time to write about it, but i HAVE TO!

first things first: As you all know, i can't just post peoples actual NAMES, i have to have nicknames for everyone. I've been posting about Trav as Trav, which, is weird, bc he needs a nickname... i don't think i'll have one for this post, but i'll be working on it.

this is going to be one of those bullshit posts, where i give you a bunch of teasers, promise to write about them all, in length, later, hopefully do, but probably give you more tib bits with lots of apologies.

[ugh.]

basically....

a) i'm going to Vermont this weekend, driving up to see Hoss.
we'll see how that goes, but i think it'll be fun.
i downloaded Alice in Wonderland on audio book for the 5 hour drive  

[ugh.]

b) i'm going to Oklahoma in April to see a very very good friend of mine that i haven't seen in for-everrrr!

[luvs ur face grrrrl, can't wait to seeee you!]

c) i'm DRIVING to Oklahoma rather than flying. Trav is moving to CA [::tear::] as i think i've mentioned & i'm an absolute MESS over it. i've been spending about 90% of my time with him lately, & a light bulb went on over my little blond head!
instead of flying, i'll take an extra day off & drive to Oklahoma with Trav!!!
i'm so f'n excited.
he says that i have to plan our stops.

me?! 

i don't have the slightest idea where to start!

but.. i know i wanna stay in a sick, crazy, ridiculous, themed motel, like in Goofy Movie or in Rock of Love Bus!

Otherwise...

d) i'm planning a trip to Portsmouth, NH with my number one lady face JenBunny for the end of April.

the girl that's never been anywhere is going places, babaaaay!

sorry that this post is hella lame... i'm trying to keep you all up to date, but it's hard!!!

luvs it*