On the Road. Chapter 1

Friday, July 27th, 2007. 6:40 a.m. Maps and navigation system (which her voice we named Genuis.. pronounced Jen-I-us) in check we head out for our drive to Greenville, S.C., my birthplace. The kids are still in their P.J.'s and eating breakfast in the car, which they find all of this rather exciting. Mom and Dad are quietly sipping their coffee, not finding the drive ahead of us rather exciting. Neither of us enjoy "road trips" with or without kids.
We are headed to spend the night in Greenville in the Embassy Suites to break up the trip and see my grandmother and other relatives that Jason has yet to meet.
11:30 a.m. We are in Tennesee just north of Knoxville in the mountains. We are hungry, and stop to eat at Cracker Barrel (due to the absence of choice..neither of us like Craker Barrel). Their store provided us with much kid needed entertainment, and we ate brunch.

12:15. Making good time. Back on the road, north of Knoxville. We have been on the highway again for 5 min. BUMP. Horrible sound. I say, is that our car? Yes, my car notifies us of low tire pressure. Right rear flat.

Sweet. We pull over on the curve of the mountain highway, where Jason has to change the tire.

First we have to unload the suitcases from the back and figure out how to drop the tire from the bottom of the car. All the while feeling the strong breeze of the semi trucks as they pass 6 feet from us. Safe.

So Jason without much effort gets the tire changed. Thank god for the full size spare.
Now, I said he changed it without much effort, true. But without a fight? NAW..

So we have our fight on the side of the highway due to the stress. He yells profanities at me, and I maturely yell them back and kick the sand toys. Good times, making memories.

I have to take the kids to the side of the highway so he can jack up the car, all the while trying to make sure they just sit, so they won't run into the traffic. Easy? NO. Of course not.

Guess what are crawling all over the rocks on the side of the highway? Daddy Long Legs.

So I become the exterminator to keep them seated.

4:00. We safely arrive in Greenville. We visit my family, which was great. We really enjoyed it.

The kids have not stayed in a hotel, and it was so exciting for them, we could have stopped the vacation there.

7:00 am, Saturday, July 28th. Jason takes my car to buy a new tire. He returns to the hotel around 9:00 am. He has that look. The look we have had to deal with a lot lately.

Oh yeah, the look of, GUESS WHAT?

I said, WHAT? He was able to buy the tire, but they couldn't install it b/c whatever I ran over not only punctured my tire, but went through the metal of the alloy wheel. That is an orderable dealership part. So after breakfast and a quick promised swim in the indoor pool, we leave for the beach.

Fast forward to Thursday, Myrtle Beach, Chrysler Dealership. $750 for the alloy wheel plus $150 for the Tire. Oh that's cheap.

Who the hell would voluntarily order these wheels for their car? My Mazda had them, but it came as a package. This car was used, so they were just on there. SO if I had to replace 4 of them.. you do the math. Leaving me to wonder, hmmm, have you ever seen those REALLY big, glamerous... oh I mean tacky ghetto wheels that spin and are large, and maybe sing or something... can you imagine what those cost? Especially when you see them on a Dodge Neon or Ford Focus. Hey buddy.. your wheels cost more than your car... and possibly more than your rent or trailer.

What a waste. Give me normal wheels.