THE WILD WILD WEST
Once again, we made it safely out to Denver somehow. Same trip as usual: in a tiny clown car of a Toyota Yaris, with two stinky dachshunds in the back seat laying in baskets, and the wife driving 90% of the miles in the left lane, whether she is passing someone or being passed. I have mentioned the rules of the road so much to her, it’s obvious that I am just going to learn to live with it, and pray she doesn’t piss off some trucker so badly one time, that we are run off the highway into a ravine, never to be heard from again.
I know I said it last year, but I have to say it again–the EZ Pass is the greatest thing ever invented for folks driving on a highway with tolls. God, it is so easy and saves so much time, it is incredible! Plus, you feel like VIP drivers, driving the nations highways. The EZ Pass is like going to a club when you are buddies with the doorman. You walk to the front of the line, and he winks and says, “go on in”, and off you go.
We stopped for our usual first night visit with my aunt Norma and uncle Jack in Cleveland. Found out Jack is having surgery next week for colon polyps, and he is on blood thinners and in his late 80’s, so it will be very nerve-wracking for the whole family. But it was a lovely little meeting, with grilled cheese sandwiches and salad. Our dogs thankfully did not doth protest the stop like the previous year when they pooped on auntie and uncles rug. This year they were perfect little angels, and off we went for the trek westward.
By 2 AM, Michelle was exhausted and as we closed in on Illinois, we realized it was time to stop for the first night. We called about a half dozen motels and they were all booked. Finally, we got a Motel 6 in Hammond, Indiana (about a half hour southeast of Chicago) that had vacancies. When we got there, we found out why.
First of all, the place was two doors down the street from a strip club, Never a good sign. But at this point, beggars can’t be choosers. We paid the $53 bucks and went to our room. Folks, I have never seen a worse hotel room in my life! No carpeting. An in room air conditioner that sounded like a Mack truck rumbling down the highway. Poops and peeps smudges and droplets on the toilet seat (and some on the wall in front of the toilet seat). Ten bucks a night would have been overcharging anyone for this flophouse. It was so bad, I don’t think hookers go there anymore.
Still we soldiered on, borrowing industrial strength cleaner and disinfectant from the front desk, spraying it all over the room, and cleaning the bathroom. We slept naked, not wanting any bedbugs to get on any clothes. We didn’t bring anything from the car to the room. We showered in the morning standing in the shower on a wet towel, then put the previous days clothes back on, and we were outta there! It was that bad!
Luckily, the rest of the drive went swimmingly. The 2nd nights hotel was far better, and at $78 for the night, a much better bargain.
We made it here and before even dropping anything off, went to hang out with my ol’ buddy Craig McKelvie and his newlywed wife. Craig was probably my best friend in Rochester from age 17 or so to around age 32 or so. He moved away to Denver about 8 years ago, and now amazingly lives about 4 tenths of a mile from my in laws and 6 tenths of a mile from my brother and sister in law.
We had a few beers, and watched their kids play video games, wii and rockband. It was a lot of fun catching up for sure. In fact, we liked it so much, we did it again the following night, and have plans with them again tomorrow night.
I have enjoyed Taco Bell’s “chili cheese burritos” numerous times already. See, they don’t make those in New York, but do at the Taco Bell’s here. We also went to Sonic today, which they also don’t have in the Roc. We had tri tip steaks on the grill at the in-laws as well as spaghetti and Taco Salad. It is all so good, and it is so great to spend time with my wife’s family again. They are such cool, fun people.
We are planning on going to Broncos training camp a week from today, next Tuesday, as we have VIP tickets for that. Can’t wait, since obviously the Broncos are everyone’s “team to beat” this year. Tonight we are hanging out with my wife’s biker ex, Robert again. He is the guy who is a total clone for Dog the Bounty Hunter, and is just as unteresting. Hopefully, I don’t end up in the back of a police car later tonight.
Well, thanks for checking in, I will try to have more in a few days.
