Ha thought I'd never get on with it didn't ya?
I know, I'm long time coming. Mea Culpa.
Renee's (on LJ ladystarz) second day in PA was to be a packing/organizing day and so it was. Bit of running around, picking up snacks and such for the trip. I had to show her a couple of things in New Castle such as Beer for Less. (the SCAdians on this list will understand completely) Getting the van packed was interesting. Thought it would have the stow and go seats but it didnt so had to actually go up to Auto Zone to ask for help with third row seat. Got it completely off track and then ended up holding it back with a big box. Other odds and ends that hadn't gotten mailed on and around. When we went to pack I was worried about the semi's that go down that alleyway by the house, didn't want to get the nose of the van taken off. But Renee got the van backed up to within inches of the front step. Was not my usual good good space packing cause we had to leave several things accessible for what would turn out to be a four day journey. Not only our nightly bags but odds and ends for cats. First aid kit of course had to be accessible just in case. Some habits will not die.
Third day, March third to be exact, that was departure day. Got up loaded last minute stuff and drugged the cats. Now this was an experience. Loki's dose was half a pill, Talia's a quarter pill. Cut, crushed, dissolved in water and shot down throat with a baby oral syringe. Then the complaining cat put in carrier while we finished loading. Talia actually took it well, only fought during actual grab and shoot drugs. Loki, well he tried to escape. Just before we left I got Sean up to say goodbye to kitties and he took each out in turn and well, they were drunk. There is no other way to describe it. Got them buckled in. I think it's so neat that the carriers have the little lip on top so the seatbelt can secure them in the car. We did get some amused looks over the course of the trip as we buckled our "kids" in the back seat, but it is a good safety measure. Quick stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee and we were off. Not much to report really for most of the drive that day. Cats settled down rather quickly. Directions were pretty straightforward, interstate 80 to 90 most of the way. Not much spectacular scenery. The thing that first day was hitting Chicago outskirts. Technically not in city, but around it, kinda like the beltway around Baltimore. Thing is we hit in late rush hour, tried to miss it with a dinner stop but didnt really stop long enough. With my NYC driving experience, I considered the traffic not bad. We never hit a complete stop and sit, just kept going slow. Only one bad signage point where I had to dash across several lanes of traffic to be in the right one. Of course idiots kept cutting us off and such, I'll never trust a taxi driver, ever. We had planned on my driving this stretch and I did. Good thing, cause Renee covered her eyes for a big part of this and that would not have been very condusive to safe driving. (evil grin) We were both pretty tired after that and didn't drive quite as far as I would have liked to before stopping. Still too close to the city to find a really inexpensive place. Really wierd thing though. Hamilton, Il...the Super 8, a major chain. You'd think the desk clerk would know what a traveler's check was. But nope, he didn't. He took it, but he was very umm well, stupid. Anyway, we got room in pet friendly place despite stupid desk clerk and got kitties in and pretty much crashed.
OK, this is pretty long and even cut I think this is enough for one post.... more to come promise.
Renee's (on LJ ladystarz) second day in PA was to be a packing/organizing day and so it was. Bit of running around, picking up snacks and such for the trip. I had to show her a couple of things in New Castle such as Beer for Less. (the SCAdians on this list will understand completely) Getting the van packed was interesting. Thought it would have the stow and go seats but it didnt so had to actually go up to Auto Zone to ask for help with third row seat. Got it completely off track and then ended up holding it back with a big box. Other odds and ends that hadn't gotten mailed on and around. When we went to pack I was worried about the semi's that go down that alleyway by the house, didn't want to get the nose of the van taken off. But Renee got the van backed up to within inches of the front step. Was not my usual good good space packing cause we had to leave several things accessible for what would turn out to be a four day journey. Not only our nightly bags but odds and ends for cats. First aid kit of course had to be accessible just in case. Some habits will not die.
Third day, March third to be exact, that was departure day. Got up loaded last minute stuff and drugged the cats. Now this was an experience. Loki's dose was half a pill, Talia's a quarter pill. Cut, crushed, dissolved in water and shot down throat with a baby oral syringe. Then the complaining cat put in carrier while we finished loading. Talia actually took it well, only fought during actual grab and shoot drugs. Loki, well he tried to escape. Just before we left I got Sean up to say goodbye to kitties and he took each out in turn and well, they were drunk. There is no other way to describe it. Got them buckled in. I think it's so neat that the carriers have the little lip on top so the seatbelt can secure them in the car. We did get some amused looks over the course of the trip as we buckled our "kids" in the back seat, but it is a good safety measure. Quick stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee and we were off. Not much to report really for most of the drive that day. Cats settled down rather quickly. Directions were pretty straightforward, interstate 80 to 90 most of the way. Not much spectacular scenery. The thing that first day was hitting Chicago outskirts. Technically not in city, but around it, kinda like the beltway around Baltimore. Thing is we hit in late rush hour, tried to miss it with a dinner stop but didnt really stop long enough. With my NYC driving experience, I considered the traffic not bad. We never hit a complete stop and sit, just kept going slow. Only one bad signage point where I had to dash across several lanes of traffic to be in the right one. Of course idiots kept cutting us off and such, I'll never trust a taxi driver, ever. We had planned on my driving this stretch and I did. Good thing, cause Renee covered her eyes for a big part of this and that would not have been very condusive to safe driving. (evil grin) We were both pretty tired after that and didn't drive quite as far as I would have liked to before stopping. Still too close to the city to find a really inexpensive place. Really wierd thing though. Hamilton, Il...the Super 8, a major chain. You'd think the desk clerk would know what a traveler's check was. But nope, he didn't. He took it, but he was very umm well, stupid. Anyway, we got room in pet friendly place despite stupid desk clerk and got kitties in and pretty much crashed.
OK, this is pretty long and even cut I think this is enough for one post.... more to come promise.