P.O.T.C. On Stranger Rides! The Missing Chapter,,Final Thoughts,, Preview Thoughts.

[buzz1121]

That is just a horrific leg of the trip for you guys. I must admit I did laugh a good bit with this installment, like laugh out loud even though I'm home alone funny.

At the same time, I absolutely am freaked by the bad luck you and Smidgy are having. Seriously, you are hitting some of my worst fears, car trouble of a serious nature and driving in torrential rain. I hate, hate driving in the rain. Yes, I most certainly laughed, but it was more of a hysterical, I can't believe all this is happening laugh.

Nebo, this has got to get better. I'm really, really afraid to imagine it getting worse! The fetal position with thumb sucking sounds about right to me! I might need a blankie or my favorite stuffed animal as well. And I don't even have a stuffed animal, but for all the tense moments you and Smidgy had over the course of roughly one day, I would need a fricking stuffed animal.

Oh yeah, don't rush on any pictures. You do such a good job with the vivid word imagery that I don't really need any photographic evidence. It is super easy to picture everything in my mind, thanks to your writing abilities! And yes, I know I am probably feeding the Nego(Nebo's ego), but hey, sometimes you just need to give credit when credit's due.

 

[mblc14]

OMG Nebo and Smidgy...I sure hope there was a plenty of Disney magic waiting for you guys after all this. Nothing like some white knuckled driving to start the journey off with...damn! Hoping that the luck turns in the next installment.

(mike, by the way)

 

[mmeb144]

I have a "car 'sploding on the way to WDW" story.

A couple years ago, we had strange fluid leaking out of the front of our minivan. It was the radiator! Yikes, we were at my sister's house in Atlanta, we didn't realize how serious the problem was. We just topped off the radiator and kept going to disney.

After we had been there a few days, there was a nice puddle under the van. We wound up at the Car Care Center on New Year's Eve. The radiator needed to be replaced. They could do it on New Year's Day. I was glad they could fix it, but did they have to charge us so much? Our mechanic at home charged a third of the cost and that included a warranty to replace the radiator if it broke again. No such guarantee from the Car Care Center.

I don't recommend the Car Care Center on property, by the way.

 

[bkgkdisneymom]

Well, I think you have talked me into NEVER driving to Disney World! And, it's only 10:30am? I hope things get, uh, different.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Oh lordy. You're killing me with the cliffhangers!

When I was a kid, we took a road trip to California, and along the way, in the desert, we lost the muffler on our Cutlass. It wasn't pretty. I know exactly what you mean about how the car sounded.

I hope you didn't stay in the fetal position for too long....

 

[nebo]

You can't stop there! I need to read more.

When I read the town of Adairsville, I threw up a little bit. I had a "date" with a guy from Adairsville. He was the cousin of one of my friends. It was supposed to be more of a "he's visiting the area and do you mind going out to dinner with him" kinda thing instead of a real date. I would have said no but she asked me right in front of him. He was a weird little troll and it was a horrible evening. As soon as I met him, I wanted to run screaming to her house to torture her. I kid you not, he called his brother when I got into his truck and was bragging to him that he was on a date. For about 20 minutes. It was awful! My DH, who was a just good friend at the time, will never let me forget it. Now that this has really nothing to do with your trip report, you may continue.

That's a great story, gee, I wonder what would have happened if I'd said, Dalton?

This drive is starting to make the aluminum tube of death sound like a walk in the park!

Boy, it just warms the cockles of my hear to see that someone has been paying attention to past reports.
EVERYONE, leave that alone, there's no upside!

I have a "car 'sploding on the way to WDW" story.

A couple years ago, we had strange fluid leaking out of the front of our minivan. It was the radiator! Yikes, we were at my sister's house in Atlanta, we didn't realize how serious the problem was. We just topped off the radiator and kept going to disney.

After we had been there a few days, there was a nice puddle under the van. We wound up at the Car Care Center on New Year's Eve. The radiator needed to be replaced. They could do it on New Year's Day. I was glad they could fix it, but did they have to charge us so much? Our mechanic at home charged a third of the cost and that included a warranty to replace the radiator if it broke again. No such guarantee from the Car Care Center.

I don't recommend the Car Care Center on property, by the way.

You don't recommend the car care,,,,,,,,
and now you tell us,,,,,, you stay right there, don't move,
while both of us come over there to perform great, bodily
harm!

OMG Nebo and Smidgy...I sure hope there was a plenty of Disney magic waiting for you guys after all this. Nothing like some white knuckled driving to start the journey off with...damn! Hoping that the luck turns in the next installment.

(mike, by the way)

Hey Mike, we'r getting there, it can't get any worse, can it?

That is just a horrific leg of the trip for you guys. I must admit I did laugh a good bit with this installment, like laugh out loud even though I'm home alone funny.

At the same time, I absolutely am freaked by the bad luck you and Smidgy are having. Seriously, you are hitting some of my worst fears, car trouble of a serious nature and driving in torrential rain. I hate, hate driving in the rain. Yes, I most certainly laughed, but it was more of a hysterical, I can't believe all this is happening laugh.

Nebo, this has got to get better. I'm really, really afraid to imagine it getting worse! The fetal position with thumb sucking sounds about right to me! I might need a blankie or my favorite stuffed animal as well.

Oh yeah, don't rush on any pictures. You do such a good job with the vivid word imagery that I don't really need any photographic evidence. It is super easy to picture everything in my mind, thanks to your writing abilities!

You are such a sweetheart, saying things that make me smile. "Can we keep her Diane? I'll take care of her and change the litter box and feed her."

Well, I think you have talked me into NEVER driving to Disney World! And, it's only 10:30am? I hope things get, uh, different.

ah yes,,,,, they get muchly different,,,,,,,,
eventually.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Only Nebo can make you feel totally stressed out and entertained at the same time

PS: still wouldn't count on pics for the next update

 

[Millie12591]

Holy Carp! I can't believe the luck you two were having.

If it weren't for bad luck you wouldn't have had any luck at all!

I agree with a pp, you really don't need pics to portray what's being written here. The word pictures are outstanding!

Great TR so far. Wish it had turned out better for you both. I'm thinking you might need to fly next time.

 

[dvc at last !]

We will be leaving for WDW in the am. I will have so much to read when I get back. Food & Wine with Hubby, Son, Daughter a her Future- July7th.
Staying the BCV and VWL. They are doing the Half Marathon on October 1st.
The races begin at 10 pm - cooler weather. I will be refreshment in hand
(Nebo - competition) on the Boardwalk waiting to see them run past.
Rose

 

[anut4disney]

OMG!!! Step away from the computer for a couple of days and all heck breaks loose. Boy you really know how to start a vacation, all Raymond and I ever did was have a big argument and then we were on our way. You have me sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next.

If my dd read this she would tell me that was why she didn't want me driving to Disney World with the twins by myself (which I had nerve enough to think I might do). Of course this is the same girl who would jump in the car and drive to Myrtle Beach from VA alone without a problem.

Waiting for the next chapter of the saga of Nebo & Smidgey and the wild ride to Disney World.

 

[smidgy]

"OMG! that's horrible. I can't believe you didn't crash., what happened next? to you and fabio?"

oh.. sorry. I just felt like Dory, reading the last installment. steve, youdid such a good job describing it, I felt like I was going through it for the first time.



gee.. thanks a lot.. like the real first time wasnt enough!

really guys, I don't know when I've ever been so scared. we left ourselves an extra day to get down there so steve wouldn't have to drive in the dark.. it was dark.. at 10 am.
and I couldnt see a thing out the windshield, except .. maybe a couple taillights ahead of us. and I know there a lot of turns oon this road. hmm, shouldn't we be approaching that King's Inn, with the sharp turn soon? then is the split off with rt. 27. now, I seem to remember we need to stay left at the split.. (hmm, I think it's a split, or is an exit?) no , it's a split, but I remember .. you would think you stay right, but I think you stay left.. let me look at the map...

NEBO "would you STOP looking at that stupid map on your lap and help me!!????" watch! what do you see!?"


ME: "um I need to look at my notes to see which way we need to go"

NEBO "everything is DARK, and that map is bright and it's all I see!!! PUT IT DOWN!!! and HELP ME LOOK!"

ok, now I need to remember.. yes, I'm sure it's stay left. try to catch a quick look at the map before nebo notices...
um, now I take back everything I said about that
"stupid GPS" on that last July trip. sure would come in handy now. quick! put the map on the floor.. help him look.. tell him what I see.....


OK.. I see.... NOTHING!!! gray! wet! more gray. faint lights ahead. wemake it past the 27 split. oh! a sign the splitwith 75 will be coming up soon. we need to stay right for the split to take 75 south. stay right for the split, honey

NEBO:"GET ME OFF OF THIS NOW!"

ok, there's an exit.. here!!! NOW!

amazing,,, once we got off the interstate, it was still pouring down like gangbusters, but at least you could see a bit. not much. but at least we weren't BLIND!!!

and we pulled into the first gas station.. an Exxon.

where ARE we? don't know yet.


I will leave it at that as NEbo continues the story.

I just want the record to show. this is now the 2nd gas station we have pulled into, under EXTREME durress. nerves shot. things couldn't get worse....

guess what Nebo DIDN'T do? at EITHER gas station?


you got it. that man did NOT run in and buy a pack of cigs!!!can you believe it???? I was so proud of him, getting us through that death trap safely. I was,. and still am, even more proud of him for NOT buying cigs!!!!

He's a lot stronger man than he thinks he is or gives himself credit for. hats off to Nebo!

 

[jcc0621]

I thought you said this was gonna get better

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Oh wow, Smidgy, it sounds even worse with your perspective thrown in.
I know blinding rains very well, living in Florida, and previosly having had cataracts, I can well relate to the "I can't see a damned thing" feeling. Throw in major blinding effects from any lights, and its a real joy!

Glad you made it there and back in one piece! I highly recommend the aluminum tube of death next time! If it breaks down, at least you dont have to pay for it (except maybe with your life...)

 

[pkondz]

Wow. Gotta say, even though you certainly have a way with words and can make a bad situation entertaining... I'm sure the drive down wasn't much fun for you guys. Sorry you had to go through all that and glad you're back safe and sound. Well... Safe at least. Although you're trying to make me I'm finding that for the most part I'm Good thing I know you guys survived to tell the tale otherwise And with that, I think I'm getting close to maxing out my emoticon allotment. I will however, try and put aside and make a few comments...

Better fasten your seatbelts boys and girls, this could be a bumpy ride tonight!

Oh look! Nebo has become a master of understatement. Bravo, sir. Here's your plaque. (For your tooth of course... had it yanked out yet? And how is queenbetsey doing, I wonder?)

I am surprised
I havent' gotten any crap from you for admitting I put
"I like Dreamin'" on a cd I made myself.

Never kick a man when he's down. Ummm... nevermind...

yes, I make strange groupings.

Nahhh.... You and Smidgy make a delightful grouping.

We both get out of the car, and the first thing we do is look at Diane's tire.
That's right, it became her tire since it's the one right in front of her on her side of the car.

Well that makes sense. A mother penguin can pick her baby out from thousands of others just by sound alone and Smidgy could hear the tire's plaintive hissing when no one else could, so...

It seemed to be ok, she still couldn't hear it "hissing", but
she did think it looked like it might, "might I say", be a little
bit low.

There's nothing worse than a depressed tire.

So it's the visual check and the really stupid,
"Put my thumbs on the sidewall and press, then do it to
another tire and compare "

Oh yeah, that'll work.

Yeah, that has a plus or minus error margin of about 20 pounds.

Hunh. Odd, that's what I say about my bathroom scale. Go figure.

One thing I was really greatful for on this short break was
for my tailbone.
For some reason it was already really sore, this always
happens, just usually not this soon in the drive, we're only about a third of the way there.

Just tell me you didn't throw your back out again! I did about a month ago ("Daddy! Pick me up!" "You're too big now, princess." "Pleeeeaaaaaaaaaaase..." "Oh, all right"). I'm pretty much okay now, just a few twinges left. Note to self, don't pick up DD10 before trip to WDW.

It's whats called "straight pipes", and very, very loud, even
louder than the Harley Boys at the Pop Century Computer Pool.

Now that's loud!

Smidgy is checking the books for Murfree and sure enough, there once again is the good ol Safari Inn that we stayed at
last year that we affectionately called our Safari Room because I had to stay up all night with a tire iron in my
hand to protect us from the wildlife in there.

What?! Didn't you want to have something memorable to write for this TR?

No thanks, we'll pass this time.

Good call.

This is a chain that's been around for over 150 years,
Wyatt Earp and the Clantons even scheduled their
famous gunfight there, at America's Best Value Corral,
Buut before they could meet, Triple A had downgraded
the ABVC taking away 2 of the AAA diamonds making it
now the America's Ok Corral and since all the other corrals were already booked up due to the Tumbleweed Convention they had no choice but to keep their ressies and the rest is history.

Which was then made into a 1946 movie and was shown in one of the most memorable MASH episodes ever. You didn't think I was gonna let that go without mentioning it did you???

Oh my darling,
Oh my darling,
Oh my darling, Santa Fe
You lost a tire and a tailpipe
Oh my darling, Santa Fe

(don't ask me, my mind isn't even a nice place to visit)

Yours too? Welcome to the club! (Have another plaque... in case you have another tooth issue).

About ten minutes away from the motel, I reach into the slot under the radio for my cigarettes.......
which aren't there.

This is another "trigger" I haven't gotten over yet,, the
"right before we stop" trigger, be it motel, for gas, a rest area, welcome center, I'd always light one when I knew I was going to have to stop soon.

Just curious, were you initially surprised that they weren't there? Or annoyed? Or maybe glad?

Oh, and whenever we passed a Stuckey's, of course.
Whetever happened to Stuckey's, they used to be everywhere?

They became unStuckey'd in time. (Hah! See if you can figure out that reference!)

If a tailpipe or muffler falls partly down at the back, it just drags on the ground throwing up lots of sparks from the concrete and the worst that usually happens is that the gas tank explodes and you die a fiery death.

Is that all? Phew! You had me worried there for a sec...

Back on the highway, it was worse now than even before.
I couldn't believe that was possible!
I've had better visibility in a car wash!
On a motorcycle!
Don't ask!

Okay! I won't! Ummm.... what the? Nevermind! I don't wanna know!

After thinking some more about it I knew pretty much what I had to do.

I curled up into a fetal position and began sucking my thumb.

Yup, sometimes the best thing you can do is just curl up and hope it all goes away. Hoping it gets a little better for you guys!

 

[pkondz]

I just want the record to show. this is now the 2nd gas station we have pulled into, under EXTREME durress. nerves shot. things couldn't get worse....

guess what Nebo DIDN'T do? at EITHER gas station?


you got it. that man did NOT run in and buy a pack of cigs!!!can you believe it???? I was so proud of him, getting us through that death trap safely. I was,. and still am, even more proud of him for NOT buying cigs!!!!

He's a lot stronger man than he thinks he is or gives himself credit for. hats off to Nebo!

Hats off to both of you for not giving in! If there was ever a time to be tested, that must have been it. Congrats to you both.

 

[jakeybake]

Great installment!

You had me on the edge of my seat. Lord knows I can use something to take my mind off of the biggest regular season collapse in MLB history!!

Anxiously awaiting the next installment!!

Jay

 

[jakeybake]

"He's a lot stronger man than he thinks he is or gives himself credit for. hats off to Nebo!":worship

Smidgy are you sure it's not "caps off to Nebo"?

 

[swisely]

Oh bless your heart. And Smidgy's too. I can't wait to read how you finally got to Orlando!!

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

yup, as I was running into the house to grab his jacket, he said, "and grab my hat, too!"

his beat up old walmart fishing hat was sitting on the bench in the foyer, so I grabbed it.

how was I to know he meant the baseball CAP on the shelf above the bench?

again, a baseball cap is called a CAP. not a hat. he said hat. that's me story and I'm sticking to it!!

Doh! I'll vouch for your story Smidgy! I know the pain. Hubby has a million hats...caps...haps?! ...I would never be able to run in and grab the "right" one...

Hey now. Are you referring to Mrs. T and I? or Mrs. T and Ponzi? I hope you're not referring to the latter. Mrs. T would have a lot of explaining to do if you are. I know I've never seen them together either, and if I do; I hope it's through a mutual meeting.

Why do I feel like Lucy Ricardo in an episode of I Love Lucy

It was a lame attempt at humor, just noticing that your wife was using lines I expected out of Ponzi, she's gotten junnier.

I never thought I could be considered Ponzi-esque...Not sure what to make of that.

Off to read the newest chapter...I'm so behind!

 

[nebo]

Oh oh! Now you're in trouble, if I know Nebo.

Unless, of course, you enjoy being called a sewer rat

Welcome to the nut house,
Bob

Bob, you took the words right out of my mouth, I was thinking from Aladdin, "A sewer rat you are and a sewer rat you'll always be"
(yes, I know it was really street rat, just play along)

Oh lordy. You're killing me with the cliffhangers!

When I was a kid, we took a road trip to California, and along the way, in the desert, we lost the muffler on our Cutlass. It wasn't pretty. I know exactly what you mean about how the car sounded.

I hope you didn't stay in the fetal position for too long....

Your cliffhangers line was almost taken literally this chapter, I was scared to death of going over the edge somewhere in the rain.

Only Nebo can make you feel totally stressed out and entertained at the same time

PS: still wouldn't count on pics for the next update

Hey, I've got to relive all this as I'm writing it down, and we aren't done yet.
But you are going to lose on the picture posting next chapter.

Holy Carp! I can't believe the luck you two were having.


Great TR so far. Wish it had turned out better for you both. I'm thinking you might need to fly next time.

But driving is so much more fun! Did you know your name has been retired, Camille from the hurricane list from the time you acted up when I was down in New Orleans in '69?

We will be leaving for WDW in the am. I will have so much to read when I get back. Food & Wine with Hubby, Son, Daughter a her Future- July7th.
Staying the BCV and VWL. They are doing the Half Marathon on October 1st.
The races begin at 10 pm - cooler weather. I will be refreshment in hand
(Nebo - competition) on the Boardwalk waiting to see them run past.
Rose

Rose, have a great trip, but I could never understand why someone would want to run when no one is chasing them.

OMG!!! Step away from the computer for a couple of days and all heck breaks loose. Boy you really know how to start a vacation, all Raymond and I ever did was have a big argument and then we were on our way. You have me sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what is going to happen next.

If my dd read this she would tell me that was why she didn't want me driving to Disney World with the twins by myself (which I had nerve enough to think I might do). Of course this is the same girl who would jump in the car and drive to Myrtle Beach from VA alone without a problem.

Waiting for the next chapter of the saga of Nebo & Smidgey and the wild ride to Disney World.

This'll teach you to not keep up with the daily soap opera here. We are replacing All My Children right here instead of that lame new show on ABC, Spew.