My latest adventure was this past weekend.

Gay and I drove up to the mountains where I lived for over thirty years. We made reservations at the Holiday Inn Express where we have received the utmost care from housekeeping each time we stay there.

We had planned to stay three nights, but the prices had gone sky-high. We had paid less that 100 dollars a night or a little over one hundred dollars, but for this weekend, the rooms were two hundred dollars plus tax, etc. We were told that although we are good customers the local hotel could not give us a discount. The prices are set by the big company.

I was disappointed and still don't understand why good customers are not given a little bit of favor. To stay three nights, Thursday - Saturday would cost over 600 dollars. Needless to say, we canceled Saturday night. During this time of year many things are happening in that area. Friday and Saturday nights in Hayesville, two concerts were planned. 

In Hiawassee, we first thought there was a vintage car show. The old cars spruced up to look like new, filled the parking lot at the hotel which we were told was completely booked.

But, we later learned that those cars were going to be a part of a grand parade down the main street of Hiawassee. The occassion was the birthday of the major event-setting for concerts and festivals, the Fairgrounds, on the lake where Barry and I often spent time listening to music and enjoying the wares spread before us during Fall Festival. 

At ten o'clock on Saturday morning, I needed to be across the main street for a workshop led by my friend, Scott Owens. We heard conflicting times as to when the parade would be blocking Main Street, but decided to make sure I was across the street by 9:30. 
My sister dropped me off and was to come back to pick me up at noon.

All was fine. Gay checked out of the hotel at 11:00 AM and found she could not get on the street because it was filled with old cars, a few floats, open convertibles, tractors, and horses. She simply parked in a lot overlooking Main Street and watched the parade go by. She said it went on for over an hour. 

At 12:30 she was able to cross the street and pick me up. But traffic was horrible. A group of us were going to meet at a restaurant down the way on Main street and we made it just in time before a mule drawn wagon approached. A long stream of cars crept behind the wagon. One of our group missed lunch because she didn't see the restaurant and drove past it. When she realized she needed to turn around she said the traffic was almost at a stand still, so she sent a message she would not be there.

I constantly gripe about the traffic in Roswell, GA, especially after three o'clock, but I had never had traffic interfere with my plans in the mountains. I had never been in Hiawassee when they held a parade on the main street that runs through the little town. 

In spite of the parade, and outrageous hotel prices, I had a very enjoyable time while there. 

It was good seeing many of my dear friends, and I am so blessed that Gay is happy to be there with me. These trips take a toll on me, but when I can come home and rest a couple of days, I am fine. 

No more trips now for awhile. As fall is approaching, I have plans for myself at home. So many things I want to do and soon will be able to do, I hope.

Hugs to my virtual friends out there. And hugs to my family and friends close by. What would I do without you?

Stu and Gay, my best friends and family 

Monday, a day for learning some things, but a bad drive home

My drive home from Roswell, GA yesterday took six hours instead of two. I knew it would be a bit longer as I had a doctor's appointment that would take about 1 1/2 hours. Lexie was with me.

We left my sister's at 1:00 p.m.. That gave me time to fill up my tank before I reached Hwy 575 in Woodstock, GA. Once I pulled onto the ramp I noticed the traffic was bad. Little did I know that up ahead an accident would make my short trip to Canton, GA almost an hour long.

I needed to call about my appointment, but my cell phone would not charge. It was dead. I made it to the appointment 30 minutes late. When I left the office, I walked Lexie a bit and then put her in the car. I did not notice that I had left a window open. I removed her leash and she immediately found the open window. Out she flew and out I flew to try to catch her before she ran into the traffic. Three others joined in my chase but Lexie was not coming to any of us. We spent what seemed like ages trying to catch her but she ran far down the road behind the office building. I thought she would not ever be found once she disappeared from my view. I jumped into my car and headed around the buildings to the road where I could see her. But when I got to the area where I had seen her she was not there. I drove on down the road and finally turned around.

That was when I met one of the people helping me search. "She is in Robin's office. She came back to the parking lot and he has her."

Thanks to Robin, a man with a small dog on a leash, I have my runner back home. She followed his dog into his office and he closed the door. 

By then I was hungry and needed to find a Verizon store to fix my phone. Lucky the man at the store opened my phone, took out the battery, rubbed it and blew into the cavity where it fits, then put the battery back in. He placed my phone, an old flip phone which I love, into his charger and it lit up. By then it was nearly five o'clock and I was a long way from home. So I stopped and had ribs for dinner.

When I I drove into my driveway long after dark, I was tired and weary. I brought in only the basic things I needed and then brought in Lexie. She is on my black list at this time and she is getting no special love. We are definitely going to enroll in an obedience class very soon.

She knows she was bad and she has some work to do to make up for giving me cardiac arrest.