I'm Here...

Well, I am in DC, and what a trip it has been thus far. Houston to DC via Charleston is a LONG drive. Much longer than I anticipated. I plan on writing more about the roadtrip, but some highlights include:

1) Panama City Beach. I hate this place. My mom wanted to stop there on the first night so that she can go to Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. I didn't realize that my mom had no clue as to what kind of place Panama City Beach was; had I known that, I would've talked her out of going. We got there at 7:30ish, checked into the hotel and then went to find the restaurant. It was on the main drag, and took us an HOUR to drive the 7-8 miles to get there. I was hungry at this point, and pretty much turning into a raving bitch because I was sleepy, tired, hungry and surrounded by co-eds wearing very little clothing and guys revving up their cars to try to look cool. It didn't work. So I was in complete hell, and I apologized to my mom later, but at that point, I wanted to be anywhere else.

2) The Garmin. I could never have gotten to DC without it. We named it Lola, and Lola was very talkative and helpful, but got a bit snarky when we took a wrong road or got off the highway to get gas. And she diverted us around traffic, but didn't tell us when construction was ahead.

3) The suicidal butterflies of Georgia. I have never seen so many butterflies as in the country roads of Georgia and they went all kamakazi on my SUV. It saddened me to see so many beautiful bugs slapping my car (and one getting stuck in my car's grill), but I couldn't dodge them.

4) Charleston. Wow. That's all I have to say. I wouldn't mind living there. But as I walked along the bay, with Fort Sumter in the background, I realized yet again how I don't like living in the concrete city of Houston. I want to live in another city, one with history and sightseeing and tradition. Houston has little tradition (really very little compared to older cities). While I was in Charleston, one of my old assistant principals from my old school called and offered me a job at her new school. I like where I am now.

5) Myrtle Beach, SC - Beautiful beach, beautiful sand. I scooped up a baggie of sand and a baggie of shells. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them, but I'll figure it out. I'm sure a vase or jar will come in handy.

6) Arriving in DC. Finally, after three days of more than 8 hours of driving each day (Monday and Tuesday were 13 hour days), we arrive.

7) Thursday - Thursday was a sight-seeing day. I've seen the sights, but my mom hasn't been in DC in a while, so I showed her around the mall area. Met a cop who works at the cop booth behind the Folger Library, and he gave me some tips as to where to go and do in the near vicinity. Mom and I ended up walking around 5 miles that day (and I still have sore shins), saw major DC attractions, and saw Marine One (Bush's helicopter) dropping him off at the White House (there were two decoy choppers with him).

8) Friday - 4th of July in DC! Woo-hoo! Yes, I went and saw the fireworks on the mall. Beautiful.

Sorry for the briefness of the days - I plan on writing more later. And yes, I have pictures and will post some later.

Cheers!