Change is coming.....

So for those of you who follow this occasionally, I have decided to change it up just a little. I realized that of all the places I have traveled in the past couple years, and the many people I have met, that not everyone has facebook. I usually post my pictures and a short post about some of the places I have seen on there. So I will mix it up a little and add some of the cool spots as well as funny stories that go along with this.

The hearts are where I have been since I graduated from Saginaw Valley.

Right now I am living out in the Beautiful state of Vermont.

I'm doing home health OT for the first time, but due to HIPAA can't share much about the work even when there are some super FUN stories. Oh, well.

Anyways, so my housing is the basement of a bed and breakfast, and of course this summer is when the town decided to remodel the covered bridge not 10 feet from the house. So 7AM the pounding started, and didn't finish until about 4 or 5PM. My poor landlady!

During Green River Bridge Construction/renovation  

After finishing construction (only about 8 weeks later than expected)

I also stopped at Dick and Joanna's in East Middleburry, VT

which was the actual bed and breakfast the Strattford Inn on the long running TV show Newhart was from.

But Dick and Joanna weren't home.


So then I went for a 3 hour horse back ride on an Icelandic horse back ride up in Waitsfield.

This breed of horse is so cute! They were like little teddy bear horses. They are actually considered ponies (less than 14.4 hands), but something about Iceland not following the rest of the world standards makes them a horse. SO COOL! Now I want to go to Iceland and ride them there. But that will be another time.

Also stopped by Lake Champlain on the
Vermont Side for a short relaxing rest. Water is so peaceful!!!

More closer to home in Vermont, I also got to stop by a local high schools fundraiser.

They were raising money for their senior trip by making fresh pressed apple cider. Of course they used McIntosh apples which were perfect. A little sweet, a little tart. MMMmmmm! Also cool to watch it done!

Then, just being in Vermont in the Fall has been spectacular!

I will try to make sure I keep up with this better as I never know where I will go next. So this blog will now be a mix of funny stories, and places you should visit if you ever stop nearby. All in the days of a traveling gypsy Occupational Therapist.

NOTE: I thought i posted this before, and just realized i hadnt. I am not in California anymore, and over a year has past. I am in Vermont now, but I still love my life!

Okay, so I was being sarcastic. But wait until you hear the new adventures I went on. For Labor Day I flew home from Sonora to Saginaw for the long weekend for a family birthday celebration. I flew out at 6:30 a.m. From Sacramento to Chicago for the first part. Or so I thought...

I had checked my GPS earlier when I got to California and it said it was 1hr and 45 min to the airport. Well after working long hours last week my brain was not functioning at it's highest level. Okay, I had a blonde moment. I got out of work at 7 Thursday night, went home and went to bed with the alarm set for 3:15 a.m. I actually got sleep! Woke up, packed a few last minute things, and was in the car by 4a.m. Then the shoe dropped.

I punched in directions to Sacramento airport, and it said 2hrs 5 min, and I would get there at 6:05. Now this would not be bad except I also recheck the plane ticket and it was scheduled to TAKE OFF at 6:25. Which meant I had to be there on the plane buckled in by 6:25. Boarding was starting at 6:05. Now this time frame also didn't include getting stuck behind slow trucks (which I did), parking in the economy lot (which was farthest away from the airport), and getting through security (which of course you have to do).

So my mom's drivers training skills kicked in. Okay, so I actually learned these more from dad than mom. I went a "little" over the limit, but got parked at 5:55. Ran ( and I don't run) with a backpack and shoulder bag across the parking lot and just got the shuttle bus (which usually only comes by every 45 min). Got to the airport and again RAN through to the long tsa line. Got through there and got to my gate with a whole 3 min to spare before final boarding was called.

The day gets better (at least for me). There was a poor young kid in my seat, and he had to move to his actual seat because the whole plane was full. Poor kid got stuck next to the lady with the baby that cried The ENTIRE flight. Only time he would slow,down was when she walked him. Of course she couldn't do this the whole flight because of the seat belt sign, and each time she tried to sit down the kid had to move so she could sit in her seat in the middle. But she did the best she could. That poor kid though. Turns out it was his first flight ever.

Jump ahead a few hours and I am safe and sound in Saginaw, and we are on our way to Saulte Ste Marie. Traffic was decent, and we got checked into the room... With the dog. Now I haven't been in a room with other people or a dog in forever. So needless to say I didn't get much sleep.

First thing I did the next morning was get another room. Such an improvement. And I definitely needed a good nights sleep. Our first day we went to Taucomanen falls. Lower falls were pretty fun. Although really I don't see what the big deal is. I think I see more water fall after a light rain. Lol! Just kidding.

Then we went to the upper falls. (Insert dark clouds and sinister music here). We were supposed to eat first and then see the falls, so I grabbed my license and debit card and put them in my pocket. We went from one end to the other up and down both the 94 steps and the 114 steps to get all the views of the falls. These were really pretty.

Then when we were almost back to the car I realized I did not have my id or debit card!!! (Insert lighting and thunder here.) That intense moment of panic is indescribable. Also the pain today (2 days later) from running (again) back over every inch of walking we had done including ALL the steps! Nothing! No cards anywhere. So I stopped at the Rangers, nothing. Then the restaurants and finally the gift shop. The whole time the fact I have to be on a plane on Monday and no way to do that without my drivers license. The very last place I looked (of course) in the gift shop had it. Apparently a lady found it on the trail and turned both in. PRAISE the LORD!

Then we went to the Oswald's bear ranch. I wish we wouldn't have now. We should have stopped while we were ahead. See we were traveling with the dog, and I had specifically contacted them before hand about if we could take her with us. As you can see below they said yes.

Until we paid the $20 fee to get in. Then the old guy at the gate hollers we have to leave her in the hot car without listening to what I was trying to explain about them saying it was okay. So since she whines and has conniptions if someone isn't right there with her we had to split up to see the thing. Mom and dad stayed until Andy and I were done, then they went. I was disappointed as well with the whole attraction. It was basically a field with a few trees and snubs they had put two rows of chain linked fences around and shoved the Bears into. I have seen better and more realistic environments at local zoos. It was sad. There were places you could stand on platforms and throw apples (you bought there) to them. As you can see the pictures you can take are great too.

Then the end you can pay another $10 for a picture with a baby bear. It was like a circus to watch. The handler was beating a barrel with a stick to call the cub over, but the cub was making it for the door. She went and picked him up and brought him over, but there housing was even more sad than the others. It was the size of a 2 car garage with chain fence all around and no grass. They had a tent cover, and a large tub with water, and that was it.

So that was the end of the first day. Then starts the second day. We saw the Soo Locks, and did the boat tour. Holly got to stay in an outdoor kennel, which was nice and shaded so that was good. Then, as we are pulling out of the dock the captain comes over the speaker to say there is an emergency and we needed to change course. Apparently 2 kayakers had fallen out of there boat, and we needed to go rescue them. The captain explained that they had trained for this for 5 yrs and never had to do it... until now.

By the time we got there (which was pretty quick), the other tour boat was able to haul them onto their boat. But of course we all got the pictures. The funny part was they said not to block the doors. So what does everyone do? Go up front and block the door area.

The rest of the trip was pretty quiet. Okay, my flight from Saginaw to Chicago was early, and I almost missed it even though I was already in the airport, but you know, minor stuff. Just another day in my life when "I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque. "

California or Bust

(Or how my GPS continues to try to kill me)

     Now I know it seems crazy to post again so soon, but it took me way too long to post last time so... after I felt led to quit my job in the UP of Michigan, I became a travel therapist; moved to Ottumwa, IA where I again worked with some great people (and some crazy things like moving 5 times in 2 months), and then chose to start my next assignment in

 (drum roll here)

     Sonora, CA. But that isn't all. On my way here I decided to take a detour. Yes, this one I actually planned not my GPS. I realized that I was only about 5 hrs out of the way to Yellowstone. So planned detour #1. Then on my way there I realized I was only 30 min away from Chimney Rock which is a major part of all history and really good westerns.

     Then since all was going well I decided to continue on to Yellowstone. That brought back some memories. When I was about 11 we went on our first real vacation. The badlands, Yellowstone, Tetons, Corn Palace, Wall drug, Mt Rushmore, and finally home to Grand Forks, ND all in 5 days.
So to reminisce I did Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada, and California in 6 days. Anyways, when we went I had just bought myself a 110 camera (it's a type of film… No it's easier to just say it was before your phone took selfies). LOL

     So this camera was bought at a yard sale for $.50 and came with an added flash because back then they didn't come with them built in. Of course this camera was old when I bought it, but… It looked kind of like this (yep pretty bulky). We also didn't realize that because it was old the cover in the back that held the film in was weak. After the second time we had to drive back to pick up the film that fell out of the back of the camera Mom came to the rescue. Not scotch tape, not duct tape, not even gum. Nope, she gave me a band aid.

 


     But it worked, and for my birthday that year I got a brand new 110 camera that didn't need the flash attached. Kind of like this one. Much cooler right?

     Well, this time on my trip to Yellowstone I didn't need the band aid, and I got some good pictures! Then it was on to California. That's when it all went wrong. My GPS (the one in my phone now) had been behaving. It was telling me (for the most part) where to turn and when, and had not once tried to kill me. I should have known it was too good to last.

     There I was entering California, just me, my GPS, and my Ford Escape. It was a bright sunny day, but there were sinister clouds in the distance. Well, not really, but it sounds better for dramatic effect. So I see signs for Sonora Pass. All sweet and innocent. Then it happened. I should have been suspicious when I saw the cows in the field laughing at me, but I was just naively going on my merry way.



     Then there was the sign stating that no semis or travel trailers should attempt the pass. And finally the Marines swarming all over in a training mission. But no… There I am clinging to the steering wheel as I pump the brakes and "verbal cue" (not talk to myself) that "You can do this" as I take another hairpin curve around the side of the mountain with a solid rock wall on one side and varying from 6,000ft to 10,000 ft sheer drop on the other side. I mean have they never heard of guard rails?!?!


     But my trusty Escape (who I sometimes refer to as Es-scap-ea for Dori in Finding Nemo) overcame the nefarious, evil GPS through sheer grit, tears (of course not me crying)
, "Verbal cuing", and the strong need to find a bathroom. Hey! I hadn't stopped since someplace in Nevada! Anyways, by the time I got to the other side of the pass I had a whole new appreciation for the pioneers. I mean they didn't even have roads. Just wooden wheels and dirt trails.

      Needless to say I will not be going that way on the way home! Of course who knows what evil plans my GPS may have determined by then. (insert evil chuckle)

Jennifer Miles, Traveling Gypsy OT

 (A.K.A. The thing I have learned)

So much has happened since my last post. I have since gradiated, moved to the U.P. of Michigan (Hancock, MI to be exact), met lots of wonderful people, moved back home for a few weeks during transition from Full time position as an OT there to Full Time OT traveler. Yep, been a crazy year. But it gets better.

I started my travel OT career in Ottumwa, IA, which I must say has been a pleasant surprise. For some reason I had in my head it was flat and boring. Nothing is farther from the truth (although there are times I wish it was boring). There are meadows, hills, trees, rivers, and what Ottumwa is actually known for... bridges. Yes, some of you may be gasping, thinking I am wrong and it is home of Radar O'Reilly. But actually I have not seen anything related to him while here.

Well to start, the first thing I learned (beside the Radar thing) was not to depend on people reviews for places to stay. They lie. (Gasp!) No really, not everything you read on the internet is true! The place I was supposed to stay out here turned out to be a dump! I drove 10hrs and ended up first thing running to Walmart for mattress protector and my own sheets (for a mattress I think was once white, but was now a sick shade of gray) and cleaning supplies. This was for a "furnished hotel room." After 2 hrs cleaning the bathroom I still felt cleaner before taking the shower. At 2 A.M. that morning I was supposed to start my first day at work I woke up feeling like something was crawling on me. Not sure if it was something or just nerves. But when I got to my facility there was a stunned "You're staying where!?!?!" Which actually helped because they found me a temporary place for the next 10 days.

That was move #1. This place was at the facility where I was surrounded by friendly staff (who I will miss), a clean room, and within walking distance to work. Awesome! But all good things come to an end.

Move #2 was 45 min away in neighboring Fairfield I found using Air BnB. Again, a very nice clean place! Entire kitchen to myself, free wifi, washer dryer, out in the country more so very private. Even go to see deer out my side window. Would have loved to spend my whole time there, but because I had not booked early (due to thinking the first place was okay) she was booked after 4wks.


So that led to move #3 to a private room in Fairfield. This was not a bad location, but I found that after rooming with Lindy in the U.P. no one else is quite as easy to get used to. That and this ended up being the hottest week all summer (over 100 degrees with heat index) with my in a second floor/attic room with an air conditioner of sorts that kept it 91 degrees at best. Finally got that figured out after a few days and a new window air conditioner was installed. It was so good I over slept one morning and was late to work. Augh!

This place was only available for 9 days so what happens next in our story? Yep, Move #4. This time to an overpriced hotel in Ottumwa because it was either that or sleeping in the front seat of my Ford Escape. During this time I am trying to figure out my next place because everything is booked (or WAY too expensive) when my co-worker offered me her place while she is on vacation for a few days in exchange for dog sitting. This is coming up soon and will make it Move #5 (in 2 months).

This same co-worker was able to get a hold of a friend to rent her unfurnished house to me for the WHOLE month of August which would finish out my time here in Ottumwa. Just when things are smoothing out.. change. My contract was cut short, and I was in search of a new location.

Now I am from Michigan, have family and friends in Michigan. So when offered positions near Michigan (New York and even Iowa) which place did I choose? Yep, California. No, it isn't because I don't like my family (at least not entirely. LOL, just kidding). Nope, this just felt like the one I should be going to next.

So after just about everything that could go wrong has with this assignment, I am praying this one is a breeze. It will definitely be an adventure!

ATT ARG!!!!

I know I promised to write about Flagstaff next, but have to share this experience first.

Living without internet it more challenging that I first thought it would be, but I kept telling myself "You can do it." I think I was lying. It didn't start out this way though (which sounds like a good opening for a movie). 

(Fade to small town America and pan to a small gray house)

While in Arizona over 4 weeks ago I called to have my electricity signed over on my new apartment in Clare where I was going for my final fieldwork for my Master's degree. While on the phone with a really nice lady here in MI at 6 A.M. Arizona time she asked if there was anything else I needed done for my move. I off hand said I was looking for internet but since I was only going to be there for 3 months I didn't think anyone would let me because they usually want a 1 year contract.

She was really helpful and said that she showed ATT as not requiring a contract. WOW! How awesome is that right? 

(Introduce that Dun dun dun music. You know the kind I mean.)

She set me up with ATT, and had an install date of the 23rd which was the day I was coming up to officially sign the lease and meet my new supervisor. I said this was the only day that would work because I was not going to be actually living here until the 28th. I left for work thinking this is so cool! I will have internet practically waiting for me in Clare.

 (Start sinister music and the light foggy mist you see in those horror movies).

I get an email from ATT that night stating they had the install date for the 25th and that my router would be sent to this apartment and would be delivered on the 24th. Wait, what!?!? Where did those dates come from? So I called ATT (Phone call #1) and explained what was happening. The lady I talked to said I could just call UPS to have the delivery stopped because it had gone "too far" in their system, and that I did not need to be present for the installation. Oh, yeah, and when I asked for a tracking number to give UPS I was told "Oh no! You don't need a tracking number! Just give them the address." 

(Increase sinister music)

So I called UPS only to be told that, No... you did have to have a tracking number for them to be able to do Anything with a package. So I called ATT back and got a guy this time (Phone call #2). He told me that Yea, you do need a tracking number, but he couldn't give me one because it hadn't been generated yet. I would have to call back on Monday (the 23rd) and I could get one then.

(Fade to black. Narrative voice comes as dawn breaks over a lake)

Monday morning I get an email from ATT telling me my package shipped and gave me a tracking number. I email UPS (because Monday was nuts), and am told the next day that there is nothing they can do because the package is already out for delivery. 

(Enter crazy woman screaming as she jumps into the lake)

I was told by UPS that if I ever wanted to have a package location changed that I could pay them $5 extra and they could hold it at the UPS office (wherever that is). 

(Woman is now throwing things at nearby telephone polls that just so happen to be serviced by ATT)

Tuesday I recieved an email from ATT that my services would be installed the next day (25th) and that I needed to be sure someone was present during the install. So I called ATT to cancel or change the date. (call #4). I was told that I did not have to be present and that the service would just be there waiting for me.

(Fade to Woman smiling while sitting on a park bench peacefully watching pigeons poop on telephone polls serviced by.. Yep.)

Wednesday I get two (not one, but two) phone calls from the guy installing my service to say he will be there within the next couple hours. Well good luck to him, but I am at least 2 hours away and there is no way I am making the drive for nothing. I hear nothing from them until Saturday when I get to the apartment with all my stuff and see the 3 notices UPS left on my door including the final notice that was made last Thursday. 

(Woman is grinding her teeth now, and starts cheering the pigeons to poop more)

Finally on Tuesday I call ATT to find out where the router is (call #5) and am told I will have to call UPS to find that out. They were nice enough to give me the number when I explained that I did not have internet access because my phone is stupid (non-smart). Called UPS and they said it is about 20 minutes (each way of course) in Mt. Pleasant. So I drive like crazy and get there just before they close. I am feeling good now.

(Woman is doing happy dance around the park bench)

Get home and go to install it only to discover that unlike Charter who uses the cable jack that I have in the apartment, ATT only uses a phone jack which is not in the apartment. So phone calls #6, 7, and 8 are all similar as I explain to them that I do not have a phone jack, yes I know it is weird, no I do not have the legal right to install or have them install a phone jack because I only rent the apartment, no I am pretty sure the landlord won't allow changes to the apartment, and yet I will need the account canceled and since I did not use the service and was not asked about a phone jack during ANY of the previous conversations I should not be charged anything. I was told during phone call #8 that my account had been canceled. 

Except, 3 days later I get an email from ATT with my first bill charging me the full amount. I emailed them explaining what had happened, and got a reply that said they did not show my account canceled, and I would have to call ATT again!!!

(Fade to Woman falling back onto the bench crying and screaming at the telephone polls and pondering is she can rip them down with her bare hands)

So today I called (call # 9 and 10) after work and told them I am done, and just want to cancel. The lady was the best I talked to so far, and offered to wave the installation charge of the phone jack if I could get the landlord to agree. This is a $150 charge that is free now. SO... I agreed to check with him.

(Fade to woman hopefully looking at the telephone polls smiling slightly. music changes to soft classical music maybe Fur Elise)

So I texted the landlord and explained what was going on. His reply was as long as they don't drill through the siding. He then said he knows there is no phone line in the house, and that he is sure they won't be able to do it without drilling. Also that most people just use Charter.

(Music changes rapidly to loud angry cymbals crashing like one of Beethoven's Symphonies. Fade to woman screaming as she knaws on telephone poll with her teeth. She is making some progress too!)

I mean a $150 service installed for free and you are worried about your siding?!? Oh well, I don't know what to think anymore. Just glad that McDonald's is only a 5 minute drive and they have free wifi. Big Sigh! At this point I don't think internet is worth all of this. I mean it's not like it is chocolate or coffee right?

The not so Grand Canyon

As I promised in my last post the continuing saga of my Wild and Crazy weekend.

The day started out rough (as you might have guessed from the last post) as I had only gotten about 5 1/2 hours of sleep. But I was ready! I check the car over and there were no missing part (as far as I could tell), and the muffler was still attached. So I got packed up and was on the road by 6:30 A.M. Decided to head over and fill up on my way out, and go to McDonald's for a coffee. (That is the best way to start you day by the way).

I was leery of trusting my GPS so I ended up driving across town to the McDonald's I know is there. Of course left to my own devices I still got lost and ended up one road over from where I wanted to be. (sigh) I finally got on the road for the Grand Canyon, and for the most part everything went smoothly. I didn't get lost (although it felt like it at times as the road from Williams to the canyon is Looonnngggg.)

Got there and my GPS took me on a side road which was okay because I got to see a deer. (Yea!)  Parked my car (the hated Nissan) and found the bus that would take you around the park for free! I love free!

I waited at the stop and it was pretty easy. Took the bus back to the main area (where I should have started out no thanks to my GPS again), and talked to a park personnel. Told them I had to leave by 2, and asked what I should be sure to see. They were Very helpful, and said I should be able to see everything along the Red route (which is the actual canyon itself).

So I got on the bus and started out. The view was amazing, and kept getting even more awesome the further I went! Got a ton of great pictures, and who knows I may enlarge and frame some one day. Anyways, it was 90+ degrees so I wore a tank top and shorts and took my little water bottle bag. The bag I made myself and it is just big enough to hold my camera, a water bottle, and small stuff like money, extra batteries, etc.

The buses run every 15 minutes so there was plenty of time to get out and stretch and still catch a bus. There were also hiking trails if you wanted to walk from one stop to the next (or the entire route). So I took my time and enjoyed it so much! Got to meet a lot of nice people (who spoke English) who took my picture for me. Felt a little bit like a stalker as I listened to people talking to see if they spoke English so I wouldn't have to try to gesture appropriately that I wanted my picture taken. Met two different groups from Minnesota (you could tell by the giant burgundy M or Vikings logo's).

Finally got to the end of the trail as the clouds started moving in. I decided to check out the store while I waited, and glad I did. They actually have a book out there FOR CHILDREN called "Who pooped in the Park"!!!! Really! Had to keep myself from laughing hysterically and buying a copy. I did get some post cards so I could send back to family and friends. Also decided to buy an overpriced sandwich since I hadn't eaten since 7 and it was now 1:30.

There was a sign up that said Do not feed the squirrels, and someone had written on it in black marker "Squirrels kidnap children." So I was very wary while eating my sandwich to watch out for the unsuspecting children who may not be able to read yet to know they were in danger. No kidnappings on my watch!

Then it was time to go, so I along with 30+ other people stood out at the bus stop in the open unprotected elements as the clouds started coming in. Now Monsoon season in Arizona involves high winds, rains, and dropping temperatures. The problem is, you never know where it will hit or how severe. The busses were NOT running every 15 min. or even every 30 min. We stood outside for over 30 min. before the horizontal winds blowing the ice needles into my skin got to me and I went back inside. BUT! I protected the postcards! I was standing there with my back to the winds arms hugging my chest. Other people probably thought "oh she is hugging herself to stay warm."

Nope, I was not going to let those cards that I carefully picked out get ruined. Looking back I can see that was a little overboard and maybe even a little crazy, but at the time... Finally the bus got there, and it was a mad crush before the guy said he couldn't take any more people. He said there was another bus "right behind" him, but it wasn't until the other bus came into sight that the almost riot was stopped. Then that bus driver has to go through the same thing. In the mean time it is still pouring rain on all of us.

Finally I get on the bus and have to sit soaking wet and freezing the entire 20 minute ride back to my car. My teeth were chattering so hard. So I got back to the car (who cared about souvenirs at that point) and put on the t-shirt I had brought and left in the trunk over my tank top and turned the heater on high. Now I am running 20 minutes late to get the car back to the rental place, and I have no reception. So I start driving quickly, and as soon as I get a signal I call the car place. That is when I find out that they close at 4 on Saturday not 5:30. The good news is that because of the times I was getting charged for an extra days insurance already so it was only like $20 to keep the car another day.

The bad news is I am already racing back home, soaking wet, and could have stayed longer at the Canyon to get souvenirs. (sigh) Such is my life. At least I didn't end up on a forest trail, I mean "road" on the way back this time. I did end up with a 24 hour cold though, but it was gone by Monday so that was good.

My next report will be on the wet trip to Flagstaff, so check back again!

A Day in the Life of Me (or in this case a few hours)

In the insightful words of Bugs Bunny- "I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque!"

Because of some suggestions from people who hear my stories (at least after they stop rolling on the floor laughing at my mishaps), I have decided to start a blog about these "adventures." I have never blogged before so this might also end up a new "adventure." But if I can cheer one person up, it can't be that bad.

Currently I am doing an internship in Prescott, Arizona. I decided to go on a Sunset Cruise last Friday night in nearby Sedona. As I do not have my car here, I got a rental. I started out of the lot and noticed at the light that the Nissan Altima I was driving was really revving high! I don't have time to turn around because I have a tight schedule, so when I get to a light I put it in park and then back in drive. 

This helped a lot as now the car wouldn't go past 2 on the RPM dial, AND would not go over 60 miles an hour. Even with my foot on the floor and me yelling at the car it didn't work. Of course I also had to get used to the cruise control being on the actual steering wheel itself so randomly driving 60 mph in a 75 mph zone I bump the horn while trying to set the cruise. 

I made it to Sedona just in time, and despite a cloud bank to the west I had a fabulous time! I got a few gorgeous pictures, and my tour guide with Pink Jeep Tours even took my picture for me. (Would recommend them anytime)

Back to my story. So it is going on 9 P.M. when I finally get back to the car and call the Emergency number for the rental. Now part of this is not their fault because I did choose the option for "other questions concerning your car," but I sat on hold for about 15-20 min. and then the operator comes on and say "Hi, my name is ___. Are you safe?" First thing out of my mouth was "What?" I thought I hadn't heard him right. I just sat on the phone for 20 minutes, I would hope I was safe. Afterwards I felt ornery and think I should have said something like, "well, I am not sure. Are there supposed to be flames coming out of the engine." But I did not do this. I only thought about it.

After all of this, I found out there is a new feature on some of the cars that lets you "race" or put it into a manual gear so you can shift on your own. I was not aware of this, so I probably drove the 66 miles in first gear.

It gets better though. So I head home a different way through the town of Jerome. It is an old mining town that has some cute shops and loads of history, but it is literally built on the side of a mountain. It is now closer to 10 P.M. and my GPS decides to attempt killing me. I first drive through the entire town, and end up back where I started. Then I decide to use the Detour button and tell it I want to go to Prescott's airport. (Bad move)

Next thing I know I am driving on a one lane dirt road around the side of the mountain. There is no place to turn around for at least 10 miles. Finally I get to the other side (at least I think it was since it was pitch black outside). Then no less than 2 times my GPS directs me down trails that I believe are only navigable by 4 wheeler. After two turn arounds, I am finally on another single lane dirt road, and I drive, and I drive, and I drive (you get the picture). 

I pass multiple cattle guards, see one rattlesnake, 1 tarantula, a couple jumping mice, and some cow that looked at me funny. After my GPS makes me leave this road it takes me down a dried up creek bed and in the middle of nowhere says "You have arrived." I am not sure where I was other than there was barbed wire fences, and one cow with long horns looking at me funny. I almost asked her for directions, but figured she didn't speak English. So I turn around on this dried up creak bed with a big ditch running down the center trying to keep both tires on either side of this great divide. Turns out I was originally on some road called Perkinsville Road (also called Forest Service Rd 354). 

Finally at Midnight I make it home. And that is just a few hours in the life of me. I can't wait to tell you about my trip to the Grand Canyon the next day, but will hold off on this for now. ;)