I’ve been through Virginia, Maryland, West Va, Pennsylvania, West Va (again, and no, I wasn’t lost), Ohio, Kentucky (Dinosaur World!), Tennessee and now… Arkansas. I have consumed 5 different coffee energy drinks in the 3 days of driving it took me to get here. I have seen a whole lot of bathrooms in a whole lot of cities, one of which even had a framed motivational poster hung on the wall that said, “TEAMWORK.” What a weird country.

There is a time vortex about two hours north of the KY/TN state line, coming down I-65 (I think!) and it all revolves around Dinosaur World. Which, its awesome… but now I keep wondering what time/day it REALLY is.

Back to Arkansas…

I am here for the next 5 days, visiting with my Grandmother and my BFF from college. Its a trip back in time… and I really, really don’t miss living here. Its hot and icky and just weird, but absolutely gorgeous. This is one of the most beautiful states in the country.

I managed to have lunch with my eldest son’s bio-dad (and all of my kids) and it was sufficiently awkward. I kept trying not to stare at the man he had literally become in the past two years since I saw him last. I don’t know what he’s been doing, but its clearly not healthy and part of me feels really bad for him. The rest of me… well, I feel vindicated. I no longer fear him, though, and after 10 years, its nice to be able to say that, and mean it. Wow.

So, here I am. Not in my old stomping ground, though. I’m in NW Arkansas, up in the Ozark Mountains. Yeah, if you recall from my trip to North Carolina, I hate heights. No, I am TERRIFIED of heights. Taking I-540 (was it 540?) to Prairie Grove (BFE) was a complete and utter nightmare that I am repeating tomorrow to help my BFF go to the dentist. I love her. I hope she knows that.

I have also had the pleasure of eating ground beef and marshmallows, because as much as my Grandmother tries to understand that I don’t eat meat, she forgot and poured the meat sauce on the noodles. Then, she picked out the ones that weren’t covered in sauce. Bless her heart. Then she gave me this weird pink whipped cream salad with marshmallows. I didn’t have the heart to fight it. She, at least, had martini ingredients ready for me. Now, she’s frying chicken… which was one of two of my favorite foods she would make me as a child. I have to say, its tempting.

I have my boy back. He’s a mess, but getting better. We’re going to rumble over legos and traveling. Ugh.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3way0USHkEc