And oh boy, do I WISH I was referring to the movie?! We've all been here...you know the feeling. I had a great girl friend in town this weekend, puppies were overnighting at daycare, and Gasparilla festivities were in full force..despite the rain. So basically, we started at 10am with bloody marys at breakfast and were still enjoying beverages when the sun went down. I share this day with all of you, very candidly, to beg the question I've asked myself SO many times...and especially lately....why do we insist that it's a good idea at the time when we know we're going to pay for it for at least the next two days (that's right, recovery time has increased significantly)!
But seriously...not to get all philosophical here, but whether it be a parade and a gathering of friends or its a low key night at dinner with red wine. Why do we drink alcohol? Here are my thoughts...my candid, completely uncensored, very vulnerable thoughts.
Alcohol is an escape. When you're uptight..it makes you forget how uptight you are. When you're stressed, it relaxes your neck muscles. When you're in a crowd of people and enjoy EVERYONE you're with, but still miss the one who is not there. Or when conversation is a challenge...the glass of wine, makes it easier. Please don't misunderstand - these are not all CONSCIOUS reasons I indulge in an adult beverage; it's all the reasons I speculate that I do...because why else would you? Consciously, it just doesn't make sense.
On top of it, the next day is ruined. It's ruined physically and in some cases emotionally. The ironic thing of having a glass of wine at all - if in fact it is to forget for a moment the responsibilities you have or the weight on your brain - the next day, it's all still there AND magnified times ten. And in my case, I miss him more the day after...I miss him SO much more.
Bill isn't drinking alcohol for the entire year he's there...it's not available...it's not his choice, but think of how 'clean' he'll be when he returns. I think of it. I think of it a lot.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Investment....
Investing has been on my mind a whole lot lately. Not in the bank, not in property, not in stocks, but in myself...and mine and Bill's future. I have the best man in the world for me who gives me the comfort to explore additional investment. The best way to articulate this is "I have an overwhelming desire to do something that matters and I realize desire is one thing and changed behavior will get me there." I'm making this my mantra because it's so relative to how I feel in many different areas of my life.
Is it the tragedy in Haiti that has me thinking this way? Is it Bill being away from me for a year? Is it the envy I feel of HIS impactful experiences and work 'that matters'? Perhaps it's my friend who is the hospital after an accident and the helplessness I feel to take her pain and lengthy recovery away. Or is it the acquaintances I have or people I've come across recently who've lost a battle with cancer?
I just don't want to waste this year..this opportunity to do entirely what my heart desires. And don't get me wrong - Bill has always and does always provide me the security and endless opportunity to do whatever my heart desires. The only problem being that the only thing my heart desired to do during our first year of marriage and first year of being in the same city was to be with him...in the same room, same space, same everything. It is in this year - 2010 - that I must grab hold of the opportunity to figure out what "matters" to me in addition to the intense love and unconditional commitment I have to the love of my life.
The tough part is that no one can tell me what this looks like. However, I feel like I'm in the best place right now and we're only in the beginning of our journey. And it's only with the sincere and enjoyable friends that I have here in Tampa AND my BFF relationship with my parents..and friends from 'home' that I feel strong enough to face this year in this way.
Someone once told me, accountability is what you do when no one is watching, and I've never realized this to be so true until now.
I'm onto something here...I know it...I feel it. So stay tuned :)
Is it the tragedy in Haiti that has me thinking this way? Is it Bill being away from me for a year? Is it the envy I feel of HIS impactful experiences and work 'that matters'? Perhaps it's my friend who is the hospital after an accident and the helplessness I feel to take her pain and lengthy recovery away. Or is it the acquaintances I have or people I've come across recently who've lost a battle with cancer?
I just don't want to waste this year..this opportunity to do entirely what my heart desires. And don't get me wrong - Bill has always and does always provide me the security and endless opportunity to do whatever my heart desires. The only problem being that the only thing my heart desired to do during our first year of marriage and first year of being in the same city was to be with him...in the same room, same space, same everything. It is in this year - 2010 - that I must grab hold of the opportunity to figure out what "matters" to me in addition to the intense love and unconditional commitment I have to the love of my life.
The tough part is that no one can tell me what this looks like. However, I feel like I'm in the best place right now and we're only in the beginning of our journey. And it's only with the sincere and enjoyable friends that I have here in Tampa AND my BFF relationship with my parents..and friends from 'home' that I feel strong enough to face this year in this way.
Someone once told me, accountability is what you do when no one is watching, and I've never realized this to be so true until now.
I'm onto something here...I know it...I feel it. So stay tuned :)
Friday, January 15, 2010
Lump in OUR throat....
I know, I know...many of you are thinking "almost crying" "tearing up" "choked up", etc. But no....it's not about sadness today..or yesterday. Yesterday - everyone had a different kind of LUMP in their throat (and Mom -I know you said I should keep this to myself (haha) but you know how GOOD I am at that :))
Yesterday I attended an informational session that put me in the audience with about 30-40 other non-profits (and since I'm a business development person for a company whose target audience is non-profits - I was in a great space). What I didn't expect was the AWESOME opportunity to stand up at the end and share my 'elevator speech' to this group. I didn't expect it so much that I had been subtly enjoying a piece of gum while sitting in the audience. Yup..that's right - the first lump in the throat was my immediate reaction to swallow the gum! You ever notice how easy it is to keep it under your tongue....UNTIL you're put on the spot and are speaking to a group of 30-40 prospective business folks? All I could think about afterward was "my insides sticking together," my inability to "digest it for at least another 7 years," and most immediate....is it EVER going to move down to my stomach. Of course, since I haven't done that in decades - I was also a little worried mom would be mad :)
Next lump - and this one...not good to read about at lunch. I'll keep it short. Our boy Maxxis is usually WONDERFUL going in the yard because he KNOWS a treat follows immediately after. However, yesterday - we had the pool guy to contend with. I appreciate his friendliness and the time he took to let them smell him, but really - I'm on my lunch break, need to get in and out with the dogs, DON"T distract my A.D.D. pups anymore than they already are. And do you REALLY have to park conveniently in front of the house? Can't you park down the street and carry your stuff to my yard? Cause your truck garners their interest and sniffers like NO OTHER! Geezz :) I didn't have the heart to make these demands of the nice guy this time, but maybe next. So Maxxis was intrigued and didn't do everything...but I trusted him he was "all good." Mistake one. Take them inside and go back outside to clean the yard up. I come back in and little precious, gremlin, angel-boy has FINISHED his business on an item in OUR bedroom that let's just say is personal to ME! Oh yeah, and the "lump" - you guessed it - tried to cover his tracks. Uuughh....
And finally, when I came home after work - I had a feeling what I might find. Puppy mama forgot to put a toy for Miss Kenda to chew on, but left her bed. That's right - a fuzzy, wool, bed. She had to have REALLY felt like she had a hairball in her throat after shredding that thing!
So honey, don't be mad at any of this - I reprimanded them all (including myself for having gum during a business meeting ANYWAY)- and I'm sure it was just yesterday. Today we'll all be angels!
Yesterday I attended an informational session that put me in the audience with about 30-40 other non-profits (and since I'm a business development person for a company whose target audience is non-profits - I was in a great space). What I didn't expect was the AWESOME opportunity to stand up at the end and share my 'elevator speech' to this group. I didn't expect it so much that I had been subtly enjoying a piece of gum while sitting in the audience. Yup..that's right - the first lump in the throat was my immediate reaction to swallow the gum! You ever notice how easy it is to keep it under your tongue....UNTIL you're put on the spot and are speaking to a group of 30-40 prospective business folks? All I could think about afterward was "my insides sticking together," my inability to "digest it for at least another 7 years," and most immediate....is it EVER going to move down to my stomach. Of course, since I haven't done that in decades - I was also a little worried mom would be mad :)
Next lump - and this one...not good to read about at lunch. I'll keep it short. Our boy Maxxis is usually WONDERFUL going in the yard because he KNOWS a treat follows immediately after. However, yesterday - we had the pool guy to contend with. I appreciate his friendliness and the time he took to let them smell him, but really - I'm on my lunch break, need to get in and out with the dogs, DON"T distract my A.D.D. pups anymore than they already are. And do you REALLY have to park conveniently in front of the house? Can't you park down the street and carry your stuff to my yard? Cause your truck garners their interest and sniffers like NO OTHER! Geezz :) I didn't have the heart to make these demands of the nice guy this time, but maybe next. So Maxxis was intrigued and didn't do everything...but I trusted him he was "all good." Mistake one. Take them inside and go back outside to clean the yard up. I come back in and little precious, gremlin, angel-boy has FINISHED his business on an item in OUR bedroom that let's just say is personal to ME! Oh yeah, and the "lump" - you guessed it - tried to cover his tracks. Uuughh....
And finally, when I came home after work - I had a feeling what I might find. Puppy mama forgot to put a toy for Miss Kenda to chew on, but left her bed. That's right - a fuzzy, wool, bed. She had to have REALLY felt like she had a hairball in her throat after shredding that thing!
So honey, don't be mad at any of this - I reprimanded them all (including myself for having gum during a business meeting ANYWAY)- and I'm sure it was just yesterday. Today we'll all be angels!
Monday, January 11, 2010
One month down...
One month ago today I cried harder than I ever thought possible and felt more sadness than I EVER want to feel again. I think back to the last look I got of him before he got on the train...and my heart skips a beat. I can feel his arms around me and anxiously await our next kiss.
So as you might imagine, there is a part of me that can't believe how fast one month has gone. And although that's an optimistic perspective - in all honesty - I still dread his lengthy stay..away. It feels like eternity.
However, through our telephone conversations, my emails to him, pictures I send, and video calls....we are really staying connected better than either of us knew we could. I always look forward to hearing his voice and I REALLY love to hear him laugh.
So as you might imagine, there is a part of me that can't believe how fast one month has gone. And although that's an optimistic perspective - in all honesty - I still dread his lengthy stay..away. It feels like eternity.
However, through our telephone conversations, my emails to him, pictures I send, and video calls....we are really staying connected better than either of us knew we could. I always look forward to hearing his voice and I REALLY love to hear him laugh.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
"The Man" in four-inch heels...
My neighbors, if looking, had to wonder what in the world I was doing this evening and WHERE was the man who drives the Dodge Charger in the driveway to help her? First of all, I KNOW the dogs have to get to the yard fast as soon as I come in because my lunch break with them was short today. So as you might have assumed from the title of the post, I'm in my four-inch black patten leather heels today - feelin' quite sassy - as I always do in my favorite shoes! So the dogs go tearing out and my balance gets off a bit and they JUST ABOUT....take me down...in the yard, but no fear - years of dance, balance and core strength (haha) kept me upright.
And that's not really even the good part.
As I notice shreds of SOMETHING in our yard, I think - the nerve of a passerby?! And then I realize it's probably cedar shavings or something off a truck that drove by. Either way, I don't need ANYTHING in the yard to preoccupy the pups anymore than they already are OR to digest anything more than they already do. So I go for the rake..in my suit and all. Oh yeah, but not before taking off the heels, rolling up my suit pants and slipping on my 'yard flip flops'. And I proceed to rake the yard; well, only the corner with the shavings. I'll get to the rest this weekend (and don't even say it, Bill - I know what you're thinking :)). After a little elbow grease, I feel good about taking care of my babies and I return the rake to the garage (electric opener)and attempt to close the door. I say attempt because it didn't close. Hmmm...my husband is an AVID/competitive mountain biker - this garage HAS to close! (That's all I'll say about that)
What I don't believe I've told anyone is that the day I returned to Tampa from the holiday - I was greeted with a dead car battery (b/c I drove Bill's so mine sat) and a garage door that wouldn't shut (much like today). Luckily, my landlord came over lickety split and fixed both issues. Here's where I truly think "the man" and I mean, "SHE IS THE MAN", on my part comes in. So I'm still in the suit and I grab that ladder, pop up there and do just what I saw my landlord do. Now granted, when he got off the ladder he didn't cross his fingers, shut one eye, and quietly plead "please, please, please"....but hey - semantics. So I did just what I thought would fix it and VIOLA...fixed garage door...for now :)
So anyway..as you all know...nothing of what I've done is rocket science. But what many of you may not know is that as a wife who has a wonderful, patient, capable and talented husband to ASK for help (mainly, "just because she could") it's very empowering to tackle and accomplish each and every 'little' task without getting my panties in a wad! :) Bill and I are both going to be better people (and a couple) for what we're experiencing.
And now, I'm off to sushi with a great friend. P.S. I'll definitely wear the heels instead of the yard flops.
And that's not really even the good part.
As I notice shreds of SOMETHING in our yard, I think - the nerve of a passerby?! And then I realize it's probably cedar shavings or something off a truck that drove by. Either way, I don't need ANYTHING in the yard to preoccupy the pups anymore than they already are OR to digest anything more than they already do. So I go for the rake..in my suit and all. Oh yeah, but not before taking off the heels, rolling up my suit pants and slipping on my 'yard flip flops'. And I proceed to rake the yard; well, only the corner with the shavings. I'll get to the rest this weekend (and don't even say it, Bill - I know what you're thinking :)). After a little elbow grease, I feel good about taking care of my babies and I return the rake to the garage (electric opener)and attempt to close the door. I say attempt because it didn't close. Hmmm...my husband is an AVID/competitive mountain biker - this garage HAS to close! (That's all I'll say about that)
What I don't believe I've told anyone is that the day I returned to Tampa from the holiday - I was greeted with a dead car battery (b/c I drove Bill's so mine sat) and a garage door that wouldn't shut (much like today). Luckily, my landlord came over lickety split and fixed both issues. Here's where I truly think "the man" and I mean, "SHE IS THE MAN", on my part comes in. So I'm still in the suit and I grab that ladder, pop up there and do just what I saw my landlord do. Now granted, when he got off the ladder he didn't cross his fingers, shut one eye, and quietly plead "please, please, please"....but hey - semantics. So I did just what I thought would fix it and VIOLA...fixed garage door...for now :)
So anyway..as you all know...nothing of what I've done is rocket science. But what many of you may not know is that as a wife who has a wonderful, patient, capable and talented husband to ASK for help (mainly, "just because she could") it's very empowering to tackle and accomplish each and every 'little' task without getting my panties in a wad! :) Bill and I are both going to be better people (and a couple) for what we're experiencing.
And now, I'm off to sushi with a great friend. P.S. I'll definitely wear the heels instead of the yard flops.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The last stop..
Granted, on the ride up to NC..the last two hours were no fun. Kenda spit up twice (and trying to clean that from the front seat on the highway is REALLY not a good idea..although I tried it). And Maxxis took a bite out of the seat cover we have for the back seat...all at the end of our ride. Needless to say, Mama Brandi was TIRED and ready to turn these gremlins over to MY mom, Mimi - as my 4-year-old nephew calls her, and couldn't wait for an adult beverage after a 12 hour drive with thse two puppies.
So I really didn't know what to expect on the ride back today. Oh yeah, forgot to mention, they hardly slept on the way up. But it turns out...on the way back, Maxxis slept the ENTIRE way and I had to WAKE him for potty breaks. Kenda on the other hand was my "keeper." She insisted on having her head on the center console and preferably a paw on my arm - no kidding (sorry about the console thing, babe, I was stern, but not always stern enough). It was like the need some wives have to reach her foot over in bed...just to touch her honey's. Kenda just wanted to have an arm on me the entire ride and yet she was sooo tired and refused to sleep. It was weird...quite frankly. And when Maxxis attempted to enter HER space (near me) she showed the ugliest snarl I've ever seen from her. So again, not sure what was going on there..but she sure was protecting me from whatever I "needed" to be protected from.
So back to the "last stop"....thanks to my hubby's outstandingly detailed directions, we hit our last pit stop. I put gas in Ole Betty and went inside. I walk out to see my flashers on and my lights blinking. I think - oh no - I've set off the alarm. However, I hear nothing. And then...I see Kenda's head and then Maxxis' head...pop up, like - mom? Where you been? We're having a ball in here! Sure enough...K and/or M had hit the emergency flashers. Those attention whores - I SWEAR!! :)
After we turn off the flashers and get in the car, we go around the corner in search of a decent sized patch of grass. As usual, Kenda takes her TIME! (She cost us a full HOUR during lunch so my patience has run thin by now). Maxxis is my angel...and does exactly what he's supposed to do. So I'm walking back and forth with Kenda in a clean yard except for what Maxxis left. Back and forth, back and forth...FINALLY she does her thing. I think - great - we're home free and we'll be there in no time! I get them treats, pack them in the car, and head on my way.
Five minutes down the road I smell what resembles a good old fashioned dog fart. I think - that's odd - they both did all their business and that shouldn't be. My next thought was - oh no - my shoe. Sure enough...in the darkness of the floorboard..I see 'GUNK' on the SIDE of my tennis shoe and just then...the smell becomes a bit more pungent. It is in fact..the gazillioneth time I've stepped in poop...since Bill left. And the sad part? The ONLY pile of poop I had to avoid (and did so successfully for the first twenty minutes of trying to get Kenda to do her business) is Maxxis' BUSINESS. Seriously? It truly is not a complete day if I don't end it with poop on my shoe. So call me crazy, but I was SO ready to get home....and the smell wasn't really THAT bad...I rode home with poop on my shoe for the last 2 hours.
I REALLY wanted to make it home as quick as possible....from our last stop. Great trip, great travels, GRREAT memories!!
So I really didn't know what to expect on the ride back today. Oh yeah, forgot to mention, they hardly slept on the way up. But it turns out...on the way back, Maxxis slept the ENTIRE way and I had to WAKE him for potty breaks. Kenda on the other hand was my "keeper." She insisted on having her head on the center console and preferably a paw on my arm - no kidding (sorry about the console thing, babe, I was stern, but not always stern enough). It was like the need some wives have to reach her foot over in bed...just to touch her honey's. Kenda just wanted to have an arm on me the entire ride and yet she was sooo tired and refused to sleep. It was weird...quite frankly. And when Maxxis attempted to enter HER space (near me) she showed the ugliest snarl I've ever seen from her. So again, not sure what was going on there..but she sure was protecting me from whatever I "needed" to be protected from.
So back to the "last stop"....thanks to my hubby's outstandingly detailed directions, we hit our last pit stop. I put gas in Ole Betty and went inside. I walk out to see my flashers on and my lights blinking. I think - oh no - I've set off the alarm. However, I hear nothing. And then...I see Kenda's head and then Maxxis' head...pop up, like - mom? Where you been? We're having a ball in here! Sure enough...K and/or M had hit the emergency flashers. Those attention whores - I SWEAR!! :)
After we turn off the flashers and get in the car, we go around the corner in search of a decent sized patch of grass. As usual, Kenda takes her TIME! (She cost us a full HOUR during lunch so my patience has run thin by now). Maxxis is my angel...and does exactly what he's supposed to do. So I'm walking back and forth with Kenda in a clean yard except for what Maxxis left. Back and forth, back and forth...FINALLY she does her thing. I think - great - we're home free and we'll be there in no time! I get them treats, pack them in the car, and head on my way.
Five minutes down the road I smell what resembles a good old fashioned dog fart. I think - that's odd - they both did all their business and that shouldn't be. My next thought was - oh no - my shoe. Sure enough...in the darkness of the floorboard..I see 'GUNK' on the SIDE of my tennis shoe and just then...the smell becomes a bit more pungent. It is in fact..the gazillioneth time I've stepped in poop...since Bill left. And the sad part? The ONLY pile of poop I had to avoid (and did so successfully for the first twenty minutes of trying to get Kenda to do her business) is Maxxis' BUSINESS. Seriously? It truly is not a complete day if I don't end it with poop on my shoe. So call me crazy, but I was SO ready to get home....and the smell wasn't really THAT bad...I rode home with poop on my shoe for the last 2 hours.
I REALLY wanted to make it home as quick as possible....from our last stop. Great trip, great travels, GRREAT memories!!
Lost without him....
I would be lost without him...literally. I share the email I received from him before leaving to drive to NC with the puppies by myself...for the first time...because of the level of patience, detail, and humor he exudes. And mind you, we've driven the drive together numerous times (which makes this email even MORE extraordinary). And he IS....EXTRA-ordinary and I love him all the more!!
Email verbatim:
Ok baby, here ya go. Don't forget, if you want Satellite Radio in the car, you will need to bring the antenna (black hockey puck) from underneath the trunk to the top side, plug in the sat radio, plug in the little cord from Aux input into the bottom of the sat radio holder (the hole will be on the far right underneath) and route the car stereo to aux input (the big button in the middle on the left)
I-275 north from the house
Merge onto I-75
note: Bust it hard little lady, Betty needs some wind in her skirt!!!
note: You will be heading to Gainesville, if the car is full of gas when you leave, you should get to St. Mary's, GA(cheaper gas) before filling up, but don't prove a point, at 1/4 tank, fill up!
Exit 382 (Gainesville, Hwy 331)
note: exit right off I-75, stay left.
Turn Left onto Hwy 331
note: There will be a convenience store immediately on your right, this is generally our first pee break and such. (This is the preferred stop for the Dawgs to leave a dump)
note: Stay on 331/24/121, it will weave around on the edge of Gainesville. There will be a major intersection and look for Hwy 24 North. You will stay straight to merge onto that)
Stay Straight and Merge onto Hwy 24 (Waldo Road) toward Gainesville Regional Airport)
note: approx. 20ish miles to Waldo, watch your speed on these roads until you are back on the Interstate, you are essentially a UGA fan in Florida Gator country.
Merge Slight Right in Waldo onto Hwy 301 North
note: in Waldo, the road will take a left curve and then a stop sign, this is the merger onto 301 North.
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Starke
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Lawty (really bad speed traps here)
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Maxville
note: you will go under I-10 (Bridgett - the GPS - will be begging for you to get on the highway, tell her to shut up and move on)
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Baldwin
note: Hwy 301 will T-bone into SR 200.
Take Right on SR 200/Hwy 301, get in left hand lane, then go about 1/4 mile and turn left back onto Hwy 301/SR 200 North
note: there will be a convenience store on your right after you make the left turn.
note: this is a 2 lane road for a while before it opens up, lots of woods on the either side.
Stay on Hwy 301/SR 200 North to and through Bryceville
note: this is where Bridgette usually get her bearings back
Stay on Hwy 301/SR 200 to Callahan, stay straight on SR200/AIA.
note: In Callahan, Hwy 301 turns left and goes away, stay straight and continue on SR 200. I-95 is only about 10-15 miles straight ahead.
Continue on SR 200 North/East to I-95
Take I-95 North, Bridgette takes over from here
note: Just before you get on the Interstate, there is a very nice convenience store on your left, we usually stop there for a break and maybe gas depending on your situation. From, here, you are good to go sweetie.
We generally stop at the following exits for these things off the remaining roads on your trip
I-95 St.Mary's GA exit 3: Gas/Pee
I-95 Savannah GA exit 94: Gas/Food/Pee (go right then immediate left for Gas and McDonald's
note: From here, stop at will, you are going to take I-26 West in South Carolina about 100 miles north of your Savannah stop.
Drive safe Baby stop every couple of hours, I love you.
The key to doing this in reverse is the Exit in Florida to do the cross over. to I-75.
That exit is Hwy AIA Exit 373. You would go right off that exit
On the way home, if you do the entire thing in one drive, it will be dark when you reach Florida, so I would just let Bridgette take on through Jacksonville to Orlando, then to Tampa, the way she wants to. It's safer and better emergency contingencies if the car breaks down.
If you overnight at Mom's then just leave out at the ass crack of dawn and you'll be in daylight the entire way, let me know and I will do these directions in reverse for you.
Email verbatim:
Ok baby, here ya go. Don't forget, if you want Satellite Radio in the car, you will need to bring the antenna (black hockey puck) from underneath the trunk to the top side, plug in the sat radio, plug in the little cord from Aux input into the bottom of the sat radio holder (the hole will be on the far right underneath) and route the car stereo to aux input (the big button in the middle on the left)
I-275 north from the house
Merge onto I-75
note: Bust it hard little lady, Betty needs some wind in her skirt!!!
note: You will be heading to Gainesville, if the car is full of gas when you leave, you should get to St. Mary's, GA(cheaper gas) before filling up, but don't prove a point, at 1/4 tank, fill up!
Exit 382 (Gainesville, Hwy 331)
note: exit right off I-75, stay left.
Turn Left onto Hwy 331
note: There will be a convenience store immediately on your right, this is generally our first pee break and such. (This is the preferred stop for the Dawgs to leave a dump)
note: Stay on 331/24/121, it will weave around on the edge of Gainesville. There will be a major intersection and look for Hwy 24 North. You will stay straight to merge onto that)
Stay Straight and Merge onto Hwy 24 (Waldo Road) toward Gainesville Regional Airport)
note: approx. 20ish miles to Waldo, watch your speed on these roads until you are back on the Interstate, you are essentially a UGA fan in Florida Gator country.
Merge Slight Right in Waldo onto Hwy 301 North
note: in Waldo, the road will take a left curve and then a stop sign, this is the merger onto 301 North.
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Starke
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Lawty (really bad speed traps here)
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Maxville
note: you will go under I-10 (Bridgett - the GPS - will be begging for you to get on the highway, tell her to shut up and move on)
Stay Hwy 301 North to and through Baldwin
note: Hwy 301 will T-bone into SR 200.
Take Right on SR 200/Hwy 301, get in left hand lane, then go about 1/4 mile and turn left back onto Hwy 301/SR 200 North
note: there will be a convenience store on your right after you make the left turn.
note: this is a 2 lane road for a while before it opens up, lots of woods on the either side.
Stay on Hwy 301/SR 200 North to and through Bryceville
note: this is where Bridgette usually get her bearings back
Stay on Hwy 301/SR 200 to Callahan, stay straight on SR200/AIA.
note: In Callahan, Hwy 301 turns left and goes away, stay straight and continue on SR 200. I-95 is only about 10-15 miles straight ahead.
Continue on SR 200 North/East to I-95
Take I-95 North, Bridgette takes over from here
note: Just before you get on the Interstate, there is a very nice convenience store on your left, we usually stop there for a break and maybe gas depending on your situation. From, here, you are good to go sweetie.
We generally stop at the following exits for these things off the remaining roads on your trip
I-95 St.Mary's GA exit 3: Gas/Pee
I-95 Savannah GA exit 94: Gas/Food/Pee (go right then immediate left for Gas and McDonald's
note: From here, stop at will, you are going to take I-26 West in South Carolina about 100 miles north of your Savannah stop.
Drive safe Baby stop every couple of hours, I love you.
The key to doing this in reverse is the Exit in Florida to do the cross over. to I-75.
That exit is Hwy AIA Exit 373. You would go right off that exit
On the way home, if you do the entire thing in one drive, it will be dark when you reach Florida, so I would just let Bridgette take on through Jacksonville to Orlando, then to Tampa, the way she wants to. It's safer and better emergency contingencies if the car breaks down.
If you overnight at Mom's then just leave out at the ass crack of dawn and you'll be in daylight the entire way, let me know and I will do these directions in reverse for you.
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