Pink Cady

I slept like a rock last night. I think that an atomic bomb could have gone off and I would have missed it. I can't remember the last time I had an actual full nights sleep. Too bad I missed my alarm and woke up late. I initially panicked and then realized that it really wasn't that big of a deal. Brittany and Rob had already left for work so I locked up and headed out (my car started just fine). It was only a 3hr drive to Nashville and I was going right through another time zone. Hello Central Time! I missed you! (NOT).

Round 2!

I was on 75N most of the way but it was the oddest thing that I got into TN and missed the sign! I was bummed I missed it but kept driving. Then next thing you know I am seeing a sign saying "Welcome to Georgia!" WTF?! How did I get back into GA?! Now I had to try and figure out how I did this...I was paying attention sort of...I was blasting music and the GPS was on mute so it's entirely possible I made a wrong turn. But I didn't! (Now you're confused aren't you...?) This silly road snaked back and fourth over the state line! And it was perfect because I got another opportunity to get a picture of the "Welcome to Tennessee" sign! Love it!

I made it to Nashville which has a BEAUTIFUL skyline and made my way to Centennial Park and saw the Parthenon. It was a pretty area and the fall colors and weather were a definite plus. I really wasn't expecting GA and TN to be so cold! I better get ready for KY and IN tomorrow...I may actually get to use my winter coat on this trip after all!

I waited for all the school groups to get out of the way :)

I walked around the park and then found a playground with swings and spent some time there. I thought swings or another landmark?...swings won this mental battle hands down. Then it was off to the Grand Ole Opry! When I got there I had no idea it was actually located in the Gaylord Hotel. I drove around and around thinking I was lost and actually hung up on Lisa so I could figure it out when really I was just driving circles around it. I don't really know what I was expecting but this wasn't it. The hotel did have all of their holiday decorations out so I drove through them and decided not to pay the $18 to park and go in. Call me cheap but my budget is too small this late in the game to pay that parking fee. And besides my sister wants to come back so today was just me making some mental notes for when we come back. I will also have to do the Nash Trash Tour Rachel told me about...it's booked through December so if we do come back I will have to call in advance for that!

Not only expected but TOTALLY acceptable in Nashville!

I don't have to be a Trish's house until 6pm so I took some time to hit Panera (I know, I know) and steal some Internet. I was supposed to be job hunting but I got distracted with Tj on the phone and Amelia on Facebook. It's only 3pm here now so I still have time to get back on track. The people at Panera are going to ask me for rent soon...I have switched tables three times now too just to change the scenery :)

I'm excited to see Trish again. Cindy and I met her in the hostel in Monterrey, CA so I'm not couch surfing officially tonight and it will be nice to see a face I already know. Now I can tell her how the rest of my trip is going and catch up a bit on her trip she was on when I met her. Tomorrow I am heading up to Monmouth Caves in Kentucky and then to see Jennifer in Indiana! I can't believe this trip is coming to such a rapid ending. 5 days left!

Trish just called and she wants me to come earlier so we can go to dinner downtown! Job hunting will have to wait until tomorrow becasuse I am off to Clarksville, TN!

Wake Up Call

Today I am finally going to get back into the car and head to Atlanta. I have changed the date three times now because I just wasn't ready to leave Jacksonville. Tj had left for work without saying goodbye and I didn't know if that was because he was mad about last night or what. So I packed up and shot him a text saying bye to get a phone call saying he was on his way back to the house (thank god). Long story short I don't really know how I felt when I left. He seemed totally normal but the situation still felt off to me. But we said goodbye and he was gone. I left shortly after and got on the road.

The drive wasn't bad and I stopped right over the border in GA for gas and lunch. As I was getting lunch my car decided to die. I lost control of my pedals and I just coasted to a stop. I turned the car off knowing that may be a bad idea but what options did I really have?! It turned on and I got it into a parking spot. I turned it on and off three times with no issues. I had 2 missed calls from Tj (I play the music pretty loud)so I figured that it was time to ask some "car questions". I thought it was the battery but he said it may be the alternator. Not ok. But I pulled out my Mazda paperwork and they did a full inspection on the car and my battery was at 100%. So great...another car repair in my future? Luckily, I was able to finish the drive and get to Atlanta with no further issues.

I first headed to Lithia Springs to see Wolcott and catch up with her. She moved to Atlanta only a few months ago and is still fairly new to the area herself. I got to see her new place, play with the kitties and then we went through some of her photographs. We also went through old summer camp photos and videos from our Shamu submersion 2 summers ago. It was a great afternoon with an old friend especially after the day I had yesterday. I was with Jen for only a few hours before heading on to see Brittany and Rob on the other side of the city.

Atlanta traffic sucks. I should have been bothered by the 6-lane bumper to bumper traffic but for some reason I found it relaxing. I watched everyone else shutter around and jump lanes in a hurry while I just stayed in my lane and watched the show. Atlanta has a beautiful skyline so it was almost scenic to be sitting in the traffic.

I found the apartment no problem and immediately caught up and swapped stories. I really haven't talked to Britney since I graduated so it was just nice to catch up. She made dinner and dessert :) After dinner we watched Zoo Keeper and I was able to catch up on some photos from this past week. I am exhausted. Looking back I probably got about 5hrs of sleep the last two nights. I am forcing myself to stay up a while longer so I know I will get a good nights sleep because I head to Nashville.

*on a fun note I got to dodge cotton on the road today :)

Screw Up

Today is one of those days where nothing goes right.

• I locked Tj out of his Merril Lynch account (oops)
• I went over my limit on my credit card
• Deleted some pictures I needed
• Misplaced my favorite shirt

I think I will stop there...but let's just say it's been a challenging day. But on a good note, Tj was able to get access back into his account, I updated some pictures on Facebook (finally), researched Nashville and have a solid game plan. Planned my time in Atlanta, did some finances again (they never end), and a lot of other small things that needed to get done.

Later I got to see both Luke and Shanda. Shanda came over and we watched Bones while Mike and Tj grilled outside. Luke was only here for a short while but I was glad I got to see him! Shanda, Mike, Tj, and myself sat outside and grilled for the rest of the night. And my problems were just beginning. I have a lot to learn and last night I learned some valuable lessons. I also am pretty sure I lost my best friend for the final time. Some things just can't be taken back. And the worst part is that this time 100% of the blame is all mine.

My favorite things

Alarms should never go off at 5:30am. I am a firm believer in this, yet today at 5:30am the alarm went off and I sat up and yelled at it like it was going to change something. Originally I was leaving today for Atlanta but I decided to spend another day in Jax. I still haven't seen all of the people I wanted to and I just am not ready to leave.

Tj went to work (hence the alarm) and I went back to sleep and slept much longer then I thought I would. I got up and worked on some paperwork and receipts before Tj came home and ruined my nicely organized travel box. We also talked about me staying another day and not leaving tomorrow which I agreed to. I really am only going to Atlanta for the people and I am just doing a day in Nashville since I never found any where to stay so staying another day in Jax is a great idea :)

I met Shanda for lunch and we got it to go and went to the park. The park we went to was my "go-to" spot in college and it was uphoric to go back and sit on the banks of the pond with a pizza and good friend. We were there almost 3hrs before she had to head back to class and I headed to Riverside to see Ashley. Riverside is such a pretty area! She is renting a room in a huge, old house that had so much character. She has 4 roommates so it's almost like a big frat house. I haven't seen her since May but we had a lot to catch up on since she has moved and started a new job since I saw her last.

When I got back to the house non of the keys worked in the back door and I faintly remember being told they were for the front door. Luckily, that worked and when I got in the house I saw that the kitchen table was covered with all of my maps and things that were in my box. When did he have time to stop back at the house and mess up all of my stuff again!? I didn't think much of it and walked to the fridge to get my Mountain Dew that I was saving and it was gone! Who does that?! Who comes home from work to screw with my stuff and steal the one thing I waited all day for?! Tj!

I got to be a co-cheft today. It's never a good idea to put me in the kitchen but I got to assist as Tj concocted something out of chicken, bacon, beans, corn, barbecue sauce, rice and tomato sauce. I don't know what it is but I'm skeptical.

All my favorite things...This made up for the stolen one...now I have 36!

The Great SHAMPOO

Shampoo = Shamu according to Tj...and by the end of the day even I was saying it.

SeaWorld Day Two but today I had a lot more to accomplish. I wanted to see Clyde and Seamore one more time and I was hoping to catch Kyle in One Ocean one more time. We started off at Manta, Turtle, Ray and D1 where Tj got to meet Omega. Omega greeted me by dropping a radio on my foot and busting it open. It really didn't hurt after the initial hit but it bled for most of the day. After going to first aid I found her later at Pinniped and we told her she broke my toe...she totally fell for it and kept apologizing. Really? Do you think I would be walking if you broke my big toe Omega?!?!

We walked through all the new Christmas decorations which were pretty awesome and we walked the bridge three times (my favorite!). I got to see Stacy, Omega, Whitney, Catherine, Mary, and Jenna today which was nice. It's funny to walk through SeaWorld and still feel like you work there. A guest came up to Stacy and asked for directions and I found myself wanting to answer her...I wonder if that will ever go away?

Tj also got me on rides today. I got on JTA and Manta. I haven't been on those rides in three years! Guilt trips apparently work really well on me. I love Manta but JTA is not a favorite at all. I hate it actually. We ended our day at Polar Express and then we were off to the outlets to get Tj a new shirt. Showers at Lisa's and off to the Celebration Town Tavern for dinner with almost 15 ppl. Tonight is going to be a blast and my last night in Otown until who knows when :(

We are driving back to Jacksonville tonight. I don't know how I feel about this at all.

Sweatshirts defy all rules

11/12/11:
I was preoccupied when I got to Jax last night so it was my first official skip of the trip. But I got into Jax at noon and went to lunch and the beach with Rachel. Then I went to pick up Tj and Mike and went back to the house where we spent our night just hanging outside. Fell asleep watching some movie I don't remember.

11/13/11
Bones for a few hours. Drove to orlando. No Tampa afterall (stupid flights). DISNEY LIGHTS at MGM!!!!! Got to see Rebecca again for a bit at Disney and spent most of my day with Tj and Kristi :) Ended at T-Rex which is my FAVORITE place in all of Orlando with apps and drinks...one drink did me in and boy was it a show for all who were in my company! Too much fun!!

3 in 30

I did all 3 SeaWorlds in 30 days :)

• Brunch with Cindy
• SeaWorld with Waterman
• Met Killo at Dolphin Cove
• Got to see Julianna and Stacy
• Apetizers and dessert at Sharks Grill
• Saw One Ocean with Kelly M!
• Got to see Kyle in One Ocean!
• Dinner with Waterman and Killo
• Orena

Ashley and her dolphins

Waterman and Kelley at One Ocean

FINALLY got to see Kyle in One Ocean!