When I knew we would be on the road for so many hours I decided to use my iTunes gift cards that I got from the hubby for my birthday and Christmas. I downloaded some games including Trivial Pursuit. I sometimes get aggravated at those games. Some questions are completely impossible, while some are downright laughable. The hubby kept getting questions that are easy for him including video game related questions and car relation questions. There was a question about the gauge on a car that tracks the RPM. This is elementary to him. I think I would have gotten it, but not instantly.

There are others that are easy for me. I am awesome at the Science and Nature category. I didn't know if I would be, but they seem to ask a lot of questions that I find simple. Or it was just something I recently learned in my college courses...of which most are science related! Then of course there is Arts and Literature. I love to read, and I am somewhat of an artist. Both on paper and musically so I find some of that easy. They asked where Anne Frank wrote her diary. That was a trick question since it was NOT where she was born. Perhaps I could take one difficult question every now and again and throw it out here on my blog...see who gets it right! haha

Anyway I am enjoying my vacation. I have really gotten to know this area now. I love the mountains. I love the ocean but that's a few hours away still. We thought about taking a drive to look. I would so love that. Maybe the hubby and I could take a little stroll along the beach. :)

Today is my father in law's birthday. I am in North Carolina still of course. I am about to shower up and get ready for the day. I have procrastinated a bit. I am just relaxing but that is ok. That's what you are supposed to do on a vacation! We are heading out to a favorite Mexican restaurant of theirs tonight. This is good because I love Mexican food!! Real stuff too...not just the Americanized stuff. I had a dear friend in high school whose mother made some seriously good Mexican food. She passed away in a car accident (my friend) at the tender age of 16 only months after getting her license. I still miss her today...but will never forget the good food her family always prepared. She had such a huge family! Now her sister is my aunt! She married my dad's youngest brother. I think it's special in a way since I lost a good friend and gained an aunt only a couple of years later. I went to school with the woman who is now my aunt. She is just a year or two older than me. She graduated high school with my hubby actually! It's a small world. :)

I am sitting here thinking of really how very interesting my life is. I have led a life with many twists and turns. I no longer just expect things to go normally because really, there is no such thing. I have become strong because of all the twists and turns. Maybe I'll go into those another day. In the mean time I'm going to go make myself look drop dead gorgeous to go out tonight!

I got to a computer. haha Well, my father in law, my hubby and our oldest daughter all went to get an oil change for the van. We just drove over 800 miles. It kinda needed one. So we are doing that while I sit here and just relax for a bit. I am in North Carolina. I got some amazing pictures of the mountains. They are so beautiful. I have seen them before, but not these particular mountains. I was in South Dakota as a teen with my family. Those were beautiful as well.

I really needed this trip. It's such a wonderful thing to drive and get away from home for awhile. I like the comforts of home, but I also really enjoy traveling with my husband Jason and our children. We've been together for a long time. We've always really enjoyed traveling. Before we had kids we'd just drop everything any time, day or night and go wherever our hearts desired. Things changed after kids of course, but one day that part of my life will be back. I can't wait. It might be hard to ever keep me in one spot by then! I'll be wanting to just travel the entire world.

We'll be seeing some different sites on the way home and while we are here. I am planning on getting plenty of pics, so stayed tuned.

I'll be gone from today until the 31st. I may or may not get access to a computer while I am away. I am making my road trip to see my doc and then off to North Carolina for awhile. I won't be able to make my entrecard drops while I am gone but I'll make up for it when I get back. I appreciate every one's understanding! I'll have pics to post upon my return.

Tomorrow is the day. We are going on our trip. Somehow we are making it work. I think I have been looking forward to this more than about anything at all lately. I am ready to get on the road and just drive. I have been so stressed since about November so I need a good stress relieving trip. There is nothing quite like getting in a comfy vehicle and just watching the scenery pass. I hope one day to make it to places like Scotland, Paris, Venice! I want to really really travel someday. I don't take one moment of life for granted anymore. I used to have a fear of flying. I guess I kind of still do but I also am determined to not let any fear control me. I have to live my life and not let anything hold me back. I cannot wait to see the world.

Well I am supposed to be taking a little bit of an extended trip this week following a doctor's appointment. I am super anxious and want to go. I have been getting pretty excited and worked up about this thing. The problem is cash flow. Everyone is hurting for cash these days and we are no exception. Especially with medical bills constantly pouring in, it's hard to get caught up. So this may well be a last minute vacation if we do indeed get to go. It looks like things could be too tight. I hate that! I just want to get up and go. That would be nice! Unfortunately we have to be responsible and make the right decision so we'll see. We are supposed to be heading to North Carolina and I have to say I can't wait. Really can't wait so I hope it happens!!! Send PRAYERS. haha ;)

I never was a very big fan of having a Christmas birthday. Mine is the 29th of December. I cannot count how many Merry Christmas Santa type cards I got that had Happy Birthday scrawled into them. I had presents that had *Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday* written on it. Now, if you do not have a holiday birthday then you most likely will not understand how incredibly annoying this is. Not to mention it makes you seem inconsiderate and cheap. Just because it's Christmas time does not mean it's normal or ok to wrap my presents in santa paper. How much is it for a roll of wrapping paper really that is bithday-ish? Well I have heard now for 33 years (eeep) "I'm broke", "things are really tight after Christmas", "I'll get your present later", etc. By the time February or March rolls around, it's no longer my birthday so I'd really rather not get a pity card or gift. I mean, if you can't get it, don't get it, but spare me the speeches. I am broke too. I understand...really. I have just heard it a zillion times. I don't want to hear it again. So yeah I guess this is a pet peeve of mine and really I am not a mean girl who doesn't appreciate what she gets. I do. I just don't want you to give me a tin of Christmas cookies on my birthday and call it a birthday/Christmas combo gift because really, you aren't fooling anyone!

I bring this all up because today is my daughter's birthday. My little girl Angelina is 7 today. Her birthday I think is long enough after Christmas to be spared all the things I have gone through I think. She's pretty excited and I still need to bake her a cake!! I must mention really quickly here and for the benefit of my big sister if she reads this that I am and have always totally envied her July 2nd birthday. Swim parties and excited people! My birthday is really just snow and people who feel bad that they are broke. ;)