This is still my favorite post

This post from my first trip to New Iberia (a half hour from "metropolitan" Lafayette) is still my favorite post. It makes me laugh every time I look at it. Not because of the photo itself but because of how difficult it was to take the picture! The big joke is that traffic around here is horrid. Everyone is on the road at the same time. During the day traffic is fine (as long as you don't go to Target at lunch) but during the morning and evening rush it takes forever to get anywhere!

The weekend was …

Fun, different, something new. Shane’s a natural at golf. I need a lot of work! I just can’t seem to hit the ball very far if I make contact with it at all. That will definitely affect my game. Lessons are in order.

Shane took me clothes shopping, an experience we both hated. Me because I hate shopping, Shane because he hates shopping and because he paid for everything. I have a good start on my LA wardrobe now and won’t have to bring many clothes with me the next time I come down to stay with my hubby.

Pool time was in order but impossible with the weather. I thought we were caught in a hurricane on Sunday when we had to suddenly stop our golf game. No kidding when I tell you the trees looked just like the ones you see on TV during a hurricane. The golf course became flooded with rivers and lakes. We went to the club house to enjoy a beer and the electricity went out (not served by a co-op). No melted cheese for me!

Night on the town on Saturday. At least I had the right clothes to wear this time. Unfortunately I lost Shane’s credit card … not sure how, I certainly didn’t use it to pay for anything. It happens so frequently that Shane wasn’t even upset about it.

It’s a short week people so get out there an make awesome July 4 weekend plans! It’s America’s birthday after all!!!

Neighbors suck

Our property, we said no, they did it anyway. What was a small pathway is now a road!

Dinner with the boss

Wine, tequila, beer and finally some appetizers. Oh yeah, Shane left his sunglasses behind if that speaks to what kind of night it was. Cool little wine bar though. Check out the Wine Loft.

I am a traveling biscuit

or at least I wish I was. Our recent tour was fantabulous! I had tons of fun hang’n with my husband, watching the Biscuits, bumping into old friends, and meeting loads of cool new people. I was born for this. Not surprisingly, Shane wasn’t. The man needs a minimum of 10 hours of sleep each night. I’m good with 6 and do well with less; needs that perfectly meet the touring lifestyle. Anyway, this is us doing our favorite thing. Next up Camp!

Liv’n Loose in Louisiana

Another 2 weeks in the deep South. Weather’s perfect: sun during the day and rain in the evening. Lunch hour at the pool anyone? Unlike my last trip, work is more manageable this time and 9 or so hours are all it takes.

This week I:

• Might have a golf lesson
  
• Will play a game of golf at the country club (preferably after the lesson)
  
• Went to the pool
  
• Cleaned the apartment
  
• Bought a computer monitor at Wal-Mart
  
• Began building my Lafayette wardrobe
  
• Had dinner with friends
  

Whine Country USA!

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Well, no lions and no tigers but we did see a big black bear while horseback riding in VA on Saturday. The Marriott Ranch is a very cool place to go trail riding and isn't a far drive outside of DC. Do you see the bear in the photo?

Afterwards it was on to wine country. It only took a little over an hour to find a winery that would sell us lunch. Long story but the first winery we went to was so exclusive that they only sold lunch to their "case club." Back in the car we went. The second winery was exactly what we were looking for. After the tasting we had a warm baguette, cheese and sausage, and a bottle of wine. Yummy!

Oh yeah, we also saw loads of butterflies and bambies on our trail ride.

Meanwhile ... Back in DC

For those who plan to visit/move to our area ...

First, you must learn to call it by its rightful name. It is DC or 'the District' - only tourists call it Washington. Next, if your road map of Montgomery County is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one. It's obsolete. If in Loudoun or Fairfax County and your map is one day old, it's already obsolete.

There is no such thing as a dangerous high speed chase inD.C. It's just another chase, usually on the BW Parkway.

All directions start with 'The Beltway'... which has no beginning and no end, just one continuous loop that locals believe is somehow clarified by an 'inner' and 'outer loop' designation. This makes no sense to ANYONE outside the area.

The morning rush hour is from 5 to 11 AM. The evening rush hour is from 1 to 8 PM. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning, especially during the summer on Route 50 eastbound.

If there is a ball game at the Redskins stadium, there is no point in driving anywhere near PG County. (Tip: Never say PG County to anyone from Mitchellville, Upper Marlboro or Fort Washington (its Prince Georges County). They'll blow a vessel in their neck and go into a seizure.)

If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended and shot at. If you run the red light, be sure to smile forthe $100 'picture' you will receive courtesy of DMV. (However, if you don't go as soon as the light turns green, you will get cussed out in 382 languages).

Rain causes an immediate 50 point drop of IQ in drivers. Snow causes an immediate 100 point drop in IQ and a rush to the nearest Giant for toilet paper and milk.

Construction on I-270 is a way of life and a permanen tsource of scorn and cynical entertainment. It's ironic that it's called an 'Interstate,' but runs only from Bethesda to Frederick. (Unless you consider Montgomery County another state, which some do). Opening in the 60's, it has been torn up and under reconstruction ever since. Also, it has a 'Spur' section which is even more confusing.

All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, 'Oh, we're in Takoma Park'.

If someone actually has their turn signal on, they are by definition, a tourist. Car horns are actually 'Road Rage' indicators. Heed the warning.

All old ladies in Buicks have the right of way in the area of Leisure World.

Many roads mysteriously change their names as you cross intersections. Don't ask why, no one knows.

If asking directions in Arlington, Langley Park, Wheaton orAdams Morgan, Spanish helps. Annandale, Cambodian orVietnamese will come in handy. If on Dupont Circle, Capital Hill or U Street, tolerance for same sex helps. If you stop to ask directions in Southeast ... well, just don't.

A taxi ride across town will cost you $12.50. A taxi ride two blocks will cost you 16.75. (It's a zone thing, you wouldn't understand.)

Traveling south out of DC on Interstate 395/95 is the most dangerous, scariest thing you will ever do. There is nothing more comforting then seven lanes of trafficcruising along at 85 mph, BUMPER TO BUMPER!!! (Truer wordshave never been written!)

The minimum acceptable speed on the Beltway is 85. Anything less is considered down right sissy.

The open lane for passing on all Maryland interstates is the far right lane because no self-respecting Marylander would ever be caught driving in the 'slow ' lane. Unofficially, both shoulders are fair game also.

The far left lanes on all Maryland interstates are official 'chat' lanes reserved for drivers who wish to talk on their cell phones. Note: All SUVs have priority clearance to use the far left at whatever speed the driver feels most comfortable multi-tasking in.

The Beltway is our daily version of a NASCAR reality show. Strap up and collect points as you go.

It's Official

On Friday I will be a Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, MBA graduate. Cumulative GPA 3.58! I just received my final class grade -- an A. Yeah!

Teleporting

MS Word and Outlook keep wanting to correct "teleworking" to "teleporting." Wouldn't that be a cool way to get to work?