Okay, so we have a new computer that is really becoming a learning experience in using. Our Dell took a nose dive after my daughter tried to load a Sims game on it. Major virus' on that disc....how do I know it was the disc? Because when we ended up buying a new Toshiba, the same steps began to happen again when she tried to load it again. Needless to say there will be no more "Sims" on our computers.
My learning involves several things. First the keyboard is shifted over to the left slightly, so I have to really watch what I am typing and backspace quite often because I keep hitting the wrong keys. Next for some unknown reason, all I have to do is rest my hands on the edge of the computer and the size of the page can go from 100% down to 85%, up to 115%, etc. I haven't been able to figure out why that keeps happening.
Of course, my camera took a nosedive at the same time the computer bit the dust, so I'm not able to post pics, but I had an interesting trip to Va. Beach last weekend.
Poor R, his mom and girlfriend had a cat fight and were peeing all over him to stake their territory, and R was drenched. Bad behavior reigned supreme and I couldn't wait to come home to peace and stress that a 16 year old gives her parents. I thought it would be an easy trip, drive T's car down while she drives R' banger car. Visit with R, see the base...Navy man... go to the beach one day and head home. But oh no....the travel gods had a completely different trip in mind for me.
Our drive started a 6am. So smooth. Followed the yahoo map and ran interference for T (her sons car has no outside mirrors)
every time we needed to get in another lane, I pulled into the lane and blocked for her to pull over also...it was a great partnership. But the 10 hour drive ended up taking us 13 hours!!!!!!!!! 3 major traffic jams/backups when we were just an hour away. Lesson learned...if you don't have a Saturday condo rental...don't drive to the area on Saturday.
We finally arrive to discover that R' girlfriend and her sister and another friend have also decided to visit the same time and since they got there before we did, they staked out the extra bedroom as theirs and we were informed that we would be sleeping on the blowup air mattress and the couch.
Yay!
Rodeo in town so the decision was made to go to the rodeo then off to R' favorite night spot"The
Banque" a country western bar. For a girl that lived in Houston for 10 years, I knew that I did not bring the proper attire for a rodeo or a c/w bar. Oh well, denim skirt and flip flops here I come. First task was to figure out how to get into R monster truck with the 40 inch tires. "Don't look R" Hike that skirt up to my hips and leap into the cab.
Had my first encounter with Virginia
barbeque. Smoked pulled pork, a splash of sauce from the squeeze bottle and a scoop of coleslaw on top. What? coleslaw? Truly delicious!!!!! So much so that I ordered another one when we went to lunch on Monday. Who knew!
How was the rodeo? We only got to see the final bull riding. It took too long for all the females to get ready. Bummer:(.
On to the
Banque! Music took me back to Houston:). Met the door guard...a woman from OHIO!
R is just learning line dancing and we got a great video of him attempting to learn the steps. It was interesting how this bars patrons really seem to prefer line dancing to the true 2 stepping. There is always one or two people that stand out as the experts and it was fun to watch one guy spin his ladies around the floor. Thong sandals and the fact that I was probably the oldest woman in the place excluded me from participating, that and the fact that no one asked me, another bummer. But it was fun to just watch.
Back to the apartment and sleep. Surprisingly the air mattress was very comfortable, either that or I was so tired of driving a car that even a bed of nails would be like sleeping on clouds.
Wake up, fix breakfast, and off to the beach. The other girls came out much later. There was a professional
womans beach volleyball tournament going on. We met Randy at the Malibu bar, his Malibu Spikes are guaranteed to make you forget the walk back down the beach, and met Pat, another OHIO transplant, at the Barefoot wine bar. Finally the girls arrive and everyone walks the strip to see what the
tourist trap stores are pushing.
Back to the apartment, everyone showers and we are off to R' favorite sushi bar. Sushi? I try anything just once and I gave it a shot but.......I am sorry to say that I am not a sushi fan. It seemed to grow in my mouth. But this is where the cat scratching began. L mentioned that she and her girls were going to the mall on Monday and that
T and I would join her. I explained that while I work in a mall, I prefer to not go to a mall on my vacation, I would be quite happy to hang out at the pool while they went if they didn't mind. No problem with that one, but then L made the crucial mistake at telling T that she would drive R' truck and pick T and me up to take us to the base so that we could have lunch with R and then she (L) would bring us back. NO NO NO. T's claws popped out. "I am quite capable to drive to the base to see R for lunch in my own car L, I don't think you need to stop shopping to take me around when I can do this myself." Total silence from L.
Ok let's pay the tab and everyone lets get out of here.
Air mattress...still sort of comfortable.
Up early and getting around, the girls keep sleeping and T and I head out to find the base for lunch. We call R and wait at the visitors gate for him, but he takes us off the base to eat and it takes so long we don't get to take a quick tour, third Bummer. R will pick up something for Meg at the
NX when he gets off work and bring it to me.
So T and I drive around VB for the afternoon. Found a cute store/market/deli called Tastes and bought a few things to snack on, crab salsa, choco vine wine (delicious and rich) etc. Went back to the apartment and T notes that R' truck is gone and accuses the missing L of power playing. That R shouldn't be letting this girl drive his truck at all.
Out comes the wine and on goes the accusations that L is the wrong one for R. He is making the biggest mistake of his life. She will break his heart and throw him to the side of the road. T's 2-3 glasses of
choco vine wine and 3
Yuengling Black and Tan lagers put her in roaring form. Okay folks, now is the time to remember "Wine before beer makes you act queer, and beer before wine makes you act fine" T forgot.
The girls returned with a few purchases for R to organize his apartment. T claims that he doesn't need any thing for this apartment because he is moving in 3 months and it's just a waste of HIS money. Did I mention that this is the night that M, L's friend, is fixing us dinner. I stayed in clear view of the kitchen for fear that she may try to poison T because as the evening progressed and M was cooking, T became more vicious and accusatory of L. At one point, someone made a random comment that R really needed a woman in his life because his pad was so disorganized. T came barreling out of the other room, fire and smoke shooting out of her eyes and ears, screaming that R didn't need any woman, just like she doesn't need any man, that all R needs is God! Oh my! Is that really a Christian attitude? WWJD,WWJD,W W J D? I don't know, but I don't think any of this.
I started
texting my husband 600 miles away begging for him to save me.!
Luckily T's phone rang and she went outside and paced like a caged animal in the parking lot. L ran into R's bedroom and closed the door. M continued to cook like crazy to get this meal served and OVER as quickly as possible!!!!
No help from John, just a single word suggestion of Whiskey! Are you crazy man? That's what got this thing so out of control in the first place.
Finally dinner is eaten with everyone sitting in a circle on the floor (bachelor pad remember) in relative silence. Compliments to the cook M, everything was delicious and no one was poisoned. T wanted to go with R for ice cream after, but he said he was too full. Before the flames flared again I offered to go. Get her away and calm her down.
No T, we can't pick our
childrens mates. Yes T you are allowed to feel this way but let's look at this from a different view. Maybe R told her she could drive his truck.
Remember what it was like when you first fell in love...always wanted that persons attention....not willing to share, wanting to make memories instead of listening to family members telling stories.
She cries, she eats a banana split from
Bruesters, delicious peanut butter cookie dough by the way, and we return to the apartment to find that the girls are going over to a friends house for awhile so that R could have some time with his mom before we left the next day. I thought that was very generous of her considering that she could have stayed and kept R away from his mom all night long.
The night ended quietly as R told his mom that she needed to stop misbehaving. I gave them the analogy that those two women had a pissing contest....well I already wrote that up above, but hey it's a great view and I'm personally proud of my take on the entire situation.
Leave the next morning quickly after R leaves for work, got breakfast on the road, drive with no traffic problems took us less then 10 hours and was calm. But so glad to come home. And what do I have to hear from my husband, HE doesn't think that I responded to him and showed him how much I missed him and that maybe I didn't miss him as much as he missed me... Oh God this DRAMA follows me wherever I go!!!!!!!!!!
Please note that some names have been changed to protect the innocent.....me.
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