FINE.

So, once upon a time, I traveled from Mapleton, Utah. That trip was much more successfully documented. I don't really feel like finding the links right now. Sorry. At least I'm even updating, right??

Well, there came a day where I was to return back to wee little Mapleton. Though I may never get pictures up here, I can at least show you the route that I took.

See below:

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Day 1: left Greensboro finally at 6pm, and traveled to Knoxville, TN
We had hoped to stay in Marriott's because of sweet discounts available, however, said hotel chain charges 75-100.00 PER STAY for bringing a fuzzy companion. No, not brother Matthew, but Max. sigh. So instead my Auntie Marki, Max and I took our business to Days Inn, which is 5-10.00 and night.

Day 2: left Knoxville, TN, and drove all the way to Fort Smith, AR
PS - the Mississippi River is HUUUUGGEE.

Day 3:Left Fort Smith, and traveled to Clayton, NM, via Elkhart, KS.
NOT via Texas. That's right, Texas was avoided. Mission complete.
OH, and we took a little 8 mile side trip on State Line Road, in Elkhart to a location where KS, OK and CO meet. There's a pretty neat windmill marker to commemorate the fact you drove eight miles on a dirt road, just to say you've been where three states meet.
PPS - The Arkansas River is pretty darn big, too.

Day 4: Clayton, NM to Cortez, CO.
Mesa Verde was about to close, so we didn't feel like $15 was worth paying for an hour. BUT we did make it to Four Corners Monument, fulfilling a life long goal of mine. Woo HOO.

Day 5: Cortez, CO to Mapleton, UT.
Via Scipio, because Highway 6 is a road I try to avoid at all costs.
No special stops, excepting an inordinate amount of potty breaks. One too many Dr Peppers, I guess??

Max was quite the good kitty during the trip. I didn't even have to drug him! YAY.

Oh, and the reason for the traveling across the country? I was hired for a 3/4 time position at a former university. It was not the job I originally applied for, but when I was told, 'No Thanks' for that position, I was informed about a soon to be available position, which they wanted me to apply for.

So there you have it.

And although I was here in Utah County only last summer, there have been some major changes. It's a bit disconcerting! The biggest being the fact that there's a TRAFFIC LIGHT in Mapleton. Stupid Maple Mountain High School. Just because people want the teenage drivers to be safe or something. geeze.

And that, my friends, is the rest of the story.

i'm glad our priorities are straight

Screen shot taken from the bbc on Tue 2 Aug, 11:01pm EST.

I mean, it at least should be that the 'Vilnius mayor crushes illegal car' story was on top!

road trip.

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it is finished.

It was subdued enough (a few legs were missing) that I was able to send it to a watery grave.

Hopefully the heebie-jeebies go away quickly.

who knew...

...that COCKROACHES made such great cat-toys.

Earlier this week I found a decapitated cockroach head. Of course, the antennea were still moving. The little buggers just don't know when to quit. Even when their lower extremity it completely gone!

As gross as it was, I was grateful Max the Cat had done his duty and protected our dwelling from creepy things. And I didn't have to see it alive.

Well, that was wishful thinking. I haven't gotten off scott free.

Tonight after a late-night potty break,I noticed one of the horrible creatures in the bathroom.

It took a bit of manuevering, but eventually Max the Cat saw his new toy, and commenced his normal plan of attack: the Play to Death plan. However, I wish it wouldn't involve him carrying the little sucker around in his mouth, from room to room, getting the most use out of his new toy. He even brought the evil thing into my bedroom.

Even though he seems to have the roach thoroughly under control, I don't know if I'll do much sleeping tonight.

Nope. Not much at all.