Competition

If I were going to rank us according to who drove the farthest* in the oldest truck** this week,*** I would probably rank me first and you last.

*2,286 miles
**1987 Toyota pickup
***Sunday-Friday

Traveling cat

Small has been cycling through the stages of Road Trip.

1. Panic

"AAUUUGH WHAT IS THAT NOISE WHERE AM I WHAT IS THAT SMELL I HATE THIS WHY AM I LOCKED IN THIS !#$^$@%$ BOX LET ME OUT AAAAUUGH!"

2. Despair

"Heeeeelp me pleeeeeease let me oooooout I don't liiiiiiike thiiiiiiiiiis"

3. Denial

"I am closing my eyes and counting to 50 and when I wake up I will be somewhere normal where it is quiet and not vibrating"

4. Resignation

"Well, I guess we live in this stupid truck now. God damn it."

5. Nap

"zzzzz"

Stage 1 really only happened for a few minutes each on the first two days. Today was nearly all 4 and 5. Tomorrow's the last day! Things are looking up, buddy.

Weather report

Oh hey internet. Where you been, you slacker? I haven't seen you in ages!

I'm in Cleveland. I'm en route from DC to MT: today was Day One of a projected Six Day Road Trip. DC was hot when I left. Maryland was lovely. Pennsylvania was rough going (full of rain and irritating other drivers) but as soon as I crossed over into Ohio everything was lovely again.

My truck is holding up quite nicely, thank you for asking, and I'll politely pretend I didn't notice the incredulity leavened by disapproval at my choice of conveyance. That truck is a tough old lady!

Tougher than the cat, at any rate. The cat (also doing fine, overall) spent the first hour yowling and the rest of the hours sulking with her face in a blanket with sporadic additional yowls and glares. Whatever, I turned my hearing aids off and she seems to have forgiven me now so she can yowl and glare all she wants tomorrow too. Maybe by Tuesday she'll have gotten used to the routine.

Okay, see you in another 3 months! Just kidding. Maybe.