I started the morning off with a wake-up call from the friendly Acker ghost. I'm not crazy; it's seriously poltergeist. I'm just hoping this is a case of Casper the friendly ghost and the assistance of Bill Murray won't be necessary. Today has been emotional, so in all honesty I'm probably hallucinating. I've had the strangest goodbye's--Melinda on the loo, Aaron in front of the Cracker Barrel (where I was insulted and called an "Eg-Na-Ra-Moose" and received a shot of maple syrup), and forgetting my key and hugging in Special D's parking lot with my daddy. I ache and I already miss everyone. The one person I missed saying goodbye to was Popeye and I feel awful that I was being weak and selfish. I guess that just means that when I'm back in town I'll have to make it up by eating a pizza with him!
And onto the trip:
The Start- Mom and I managed to fit the garage sale Charlie Brown chair, all seven tubs, two cardboard boxes, Tinga's crate, two suitcases and a mirror in Bowser's bitty bed. All we're missing is Grandma and Tx tea. We left a man standing though---my coat rack. Due to the favorable weather conditions of the day, drizzle and depression, we thought it best not to chance soaking the wood. And fine, we ran out of space.
The Middle- While mom was out running some last minute errands, I took the opportunity to spill tomato soup all over the floor/carpet (not quite as bad as a plate of spaghetti like someone else already did). It really looked like an explosion and chunks of soup was ejected and splattered in all directions. I panicked and tried convincing Tinga to start lapping up some of the soup, apparently tomato flavoring is not her cup of tea. So in the end, mom saved the day.
The End- Finally, after eight hours of preparation, we hit the road. We made it a full three and a half hours from home and are staying in the La Quinta in Abilene where the motel is infested with dogs. Apparently Tinga has the luxury of being the only cat in a motel filled with her nemesis, the "drooling, smelling, shedding, hump-machines (as Tristan likes to call them)" who are hear for the Abilene dog show. Surprisingly, Tinga was a trooper for most of the ride. Very few meyows and lots of cat naps. She already got the hang of road-tripping (with her two favorite allies).
We are a third of the way through The Graveyard Book which is quickly becoming a favorite Gaimon story. Also, a billboard proved that yes, everything in Texas is bigger.
The desk clerk suggested that we eat at Chili's or the Cracker Barrel. What!? I don't think so. Something more Abilene authentic please! We drove thirty minutes to eat at Perini's Steak House in Buffalo Texas where the most flavorful redneck characters come to dine. This restaurant was considered to host the best burger in Texas (disputable), but it definitely did have the best customers. Taking the cake was a lady in the most gaudy, animal skin VEST. Yes, a vest. Sleeveless fur lining and tiger print on the back. There were cowboy hats and belt buckles littering the place and a buffalo hanging on the wall that stared at me while I chowed down on his kin folk. Mom and I give Perini's three thumbs up (four thumbs between the two of us).
Acker that is. Set a spell. Take your shoes off. Y'all come back now, y'hear?
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