Gee, the traffic is terrific
Hi intarwebs, it's nice to see you again. Got back from my folks a couple hours ago. Thinking of going to bed soon. Job tomorrow, after all!
The short (ish) version of the trip runs thusly: I went to work on Tues for a few hours. I rented a car, that my parents said they'd pay for as an xmas present. Picked up bhagwanx , got some stuff from the store, managed to get to my apartment and away again and out of town about 330. With a stop for food, made it down to Portland driving carefully and a little slowly by about 730-ish. Portland was fine. Just south of Portland, however, was horrific. Stopped dead for at least half an hour. Icy slush had turned into foot-high ruts of solid ice and sheets of ice, and the plows hadn't bothered with that part of I-5 for whatever reason. It took us 3 hours to get to Salem. We actually did pull off the road in Woodburn, because the roads were getting better and I for one had to pee *very much*. The roads in Woodburn were worse than the worst of I-5 had been. I was afraid we wouldn't make it out of there, but we did. After a much needed pit-stop. Then pushed on through to Eugene, because I just wanted to be sure we were OUT of the snow. Made it to Eugene sometime after 1 a.m. Gah. Sooooo tired. The Motel 6 was full of travelers who had just done the same. We were glad there were beds, and we were glad to fall into one.
Next day, travel was a breeze. Had a little snow through the Siskyous, but about 5 miles of going 30 miles an hour, some snow on the road, a little fog, and we were through, free and clear. Rain all the way to Davis, but I felt pretty sanguine about rain at that point.
Xmas with my folks was very nice. And bhagwanx was a trooper to put up with all the family togetherness and some of my friends being a little tactless and the general insanity that is going down to see my family for the holidays. He even came to church, which I think impressed the heck out of my mom. So, you know, points for that. And extra points, because he had to come early and sit through the choir rehersal (I sing in the choir because my going makes my mom happy, and that's the only way I'll go) and bell ringing rehearsal, and well, I think that earned him points for future visits. Also he ate a bunch of leftovers, which won my mother over further, because that's less she'll have to freeze. :) I was very glad to get to go and see my family, and see my aunt and cousin that I haven't seen in some time, and catch up with my little brother a bit. Also see some friends that I only see when I get down to Davis, and their broods. And shaolingrrl , who braved packed roads full of accidents to stop by for a couple hours. But I get to see her more often. (Of which I am always glad :D)
The trip back was long, but not too bad. Except for the brief getting stuck at jens_fire and kenscholes driveway, which was an adventure in neighborliness. Their neighbors kindly dug us out, and Ken and Jen very kindly put us up for the night. And fed us pancakes this morning! We waited around a bit to let the ice melt to slush, and then took off around 1130. Today's drive was relatively uneventful, and so I'm home, Abby's pissy but glad at the same time, and I can do laundry and go to bed early. Yay bed! Tomorrow for teh job. I was good and got groceries and cat litter after dropping my guy off home, so I don't have to worry about the coming morning and not having any foooood. Um, or cat litter. More Abby's worry than mine, I suppose.
Hope everyone's week was a good one, regardless of your type (or lack) of celebrations. And looking forward to the new year.
The short (ish) version of the trip runs thusly: I went to work on Tues for a few hours. I rented a car, that my parents said they'd pay for as an xmas present. Picked up bhagwanx , got some stuff from the store, managed to get to my apartment and away again and out of town about 330. With a stop for food, made it down to Portland driving carefully and a little slowly by about 730-ish. Portland was fine. Just south of Portland, however, was horrific. Stopped dead for at least half an hour. Icy slush had turned into foot-high ruts of solid ice and sheets of ice, and the plows hadn't bothered with that part of I-5 for whatever reason. It took us 3 hours to get to Salem. We actually did pull off the road in Woodburn, because the roads were getting better and I for one had to pee *very much*. The roads in Woodburn were worse than the worst of I-5 had been. I was afraid we wouldn't make it out of there, but we did. After a much needed pit-stop. Then pushed on through to Eugene, because I just wanted to be sure we were OUT of the snow. Made it to Eugene sometime after 1 a.m. Gah. Sooooo tired. The Motel 6 was full of travelers who had just done the same. We were glad there were beds, and we were glad to fall into one.
Next day, travel was a breeze. Had a little snow through the Siskyous, but about 5 miles of going 30 miles an hour, some snow on the road, a little fog, and we were through, free and clear. Rain all the way to Davis, but I felt pretty sanguine about rain at that point.
Xmas with my folks was very nice. And bhagwanx was a trooper to put up with all the family togetherness and some of my friends being a little tactless and the general insanity that is going down to see my family for the holidays. He even came to church, which I think impressed the heck out of my mom. So, you know, points for that. And extra points, because he had to come early and sit through the choir rehersal (I sing in the choir because my going makes my mom happy, and that's the only way I'll go) and bell ringing rehearsal, and well, I think that earned him points for future visits. Also he ate a bunch of leftovers, which won my mother over further, because that's less she'll have to freeze. :) I was very glad to get to go and see my family, and see my aunt and cousin that I haven't seen in some time, and catch up with my little brother a bit. Also see some friends that I only see when I get down to Davis, and their broods. And shaolingrrl , who braved packed roads full of accidents to stop by for a couple hours. But I get to see her more often. (Of which I am always glad :D)
The trip back was long, but not too bad. Except for the brief getting stuck at jens_fire and kenscholes driveway, which was an adventure in neighborliness. Their neighbors kindly dug us out, and Ken and Jen very kindly put us up for the night. And fed us pancakes this morning! We waited around a bit to let the ice melt to slush, and then took off around 1130. Today's drive was relatively uneventful, and so I'm home, Abby's pissy but glad at the same time, and I can do laundry and go to bed early. Yay bed! Tomorrow for teh job. I was good and got groceries and cat litter after dropping my guy off home, so I don't have to worry about the coming morning and not having any foooood. Um, or cat litter. More Abby's worry than mine, I suppose.
Hope everyone's week was a good one, regardless of your type (or lack) of celebrations. And looking forward to the new year.