The Long and Winding Road Part 2...

So, I had a lot of requests for songs for my long trip home from my family and friends.  And me being the vain entertainer that I am, had to oblige.  Even though my mom, Murphy and Michelle begged me not to!  lol...I blame Cassie!!

Now, I was much more careful on the way back than I was on the way there.  I waited until it stopped raining.  I wasn't speeding while I was recording.  And I kept my hands on the wheel MOST of the time!!  I had to keep my mom happy!!  =)

For my Prima...

Everyone needs a little Michael Buble

For All the Ladies...

For Murphy...

For Him who shall remain Nameless...

The ride home was pretty much uneventful EXCEPT for a minor hiccup in Louisiana.  I got pulled over for the thousandth time for speeding. 

Now, me getting pulled over for speeding has happened every now and again.  I've been very fortunate in that I haven't received a ticket for speeding since 1991 when I was driving with my sister in Idaho.  It's not that I flirt or use any special tactic to get out of tickets.  I always assume I'm going to get a ticket.  I joke and accept my fate.  I mean I was speeding.  I deserve the ticket.  But for whatever reason, I have always managed to get a warning.

Until now...

I was going 75 in a 60.  Yep, I'm THAT cool.  The cop was great.  We actually talked about my cruise.  Told him about the delivering of school supplies.  He was really impressed with us.  Gave him some tips about cruising.  I actually thought for the first time that I was gonna get out of another ticket.  BUT...I got the ticket.  A $297 speeding ticket.  

My luck had run out!!  

Now, I pay attention to my speed.  I am no longer a Speed Demon.  It's all fun and games until you have to pay a speeding ticket!!  Good thing I had already posted all my videos!!  lol...

The Long and Winding Road....

Once again this year I went on a cruise with my bestest of friends and my BFF, Michelle.  Once again, we sailed out of Ft. Lauderdale and once again, I drove.  However, this time, I drove the 16 hour drive by myself.  It was great!!  Sorta, kinda...not really.  It started off awesome until I got TIRED!!  I went to work Wednesday morning, left around 1pm, headed to Houston, dropped Wyatt off and then started heading out around 6pm.  I wanted to make Pensacola and then stop.  Well, that really didn't happen.  I was exhausted when I hit Alabama so I pulled over and attempted to sleep in the back seat of my car.  I think I got about 2 hours of sleep.

So, at about 5 am on Thursday morning, I head back out.  I hit I-75 and headed south.  I was doing well until 9am.  I had already taken on 5hr energy drink because I was only about 5 hours from my destination.  But that wore off and I needed to stay awake.  So, I did what I always do when I'm on a long road trip and need to stay awake...

I turned the music up on my iPod, sang at the top of my lungs and danced in my seat.  Now, to be fair, I should warn you that I didn't know that you could hear me singing.  The music was so loud in the car that I couldn't hear myself so I assumed (incorrectly) that the videos would be more of a lip sync but alas...it was not.  So, here is how I stayed awake...

Click the links and enjoy!!

My poor Momma! I have no Shame!!

Yes, I sure hit those notes!!

SSSSSSSSugar!!!!

Seriously, How do I NOT have a recording contract??

I know. I know. I am just THAT GOOD!! lol

Both hands on the wheel?? What?? I'm dancing!!

So, I was having SO much fun recording and these videos that I missed my exit off 75.  I missed it by 30 minutes which ended up taking me almost 2 hours out of my way.  That was just 2 hours too many.  Everyone was waiting on me in Ft Lauderdale.  By the time I got on the Turnpike and headed in the right direction, I was DELIRIOUS!!  Then it started raining!!  Then I'm pretty much on the verge of tears.  I pulled up to a toll booth.  You KNOW you're in trouble when the toll lady tells you that you look tired and suggests you pulling over into their parking lot and either take a nap or walk around.  lol..so I parked, peed and walked around.

Got back in my car and started again.  I've been up over 24 hours at this point and I am FEELING it.  Then it starts POURING down the rain...

Can I cry now??  I'm going 30 miles an hour if that because I can't see.  I'm EXHAUSTED and I have a DEATH grip on the steering wheel.  I almost get into an accident so I pull over at a rest stop.  I try to sleep but it's too muggy.  I smoke a cigarette but it's just gross.  My tongue feels like sandpaper.  My eyes sting.  My head hurts.  My shoulders are like rocks from all the stress.  So, I fall asleep for maybe an hour.  I get back on the road because EVERYONE is waiting on me.

I finally get close to Ft Lauderdale.  It's raining like nobody's business.  I almost get into 2 more wrecks.  I take a wrong turn on 595 and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.  I lost it.  I started bawling.  I made a reservation at the closest Marriott.  Pulled over in a parking lot and passed out for 3 hours out of sheer exhaustion!!  Woke up.  Drove to the Marriott, checked in and passed out. 

I failed to notify any of my friends so they were FREAKED out because they knew I had been driving for WAY too long and that I was exhausted.  

I slept like a baby!!  Woke up the next morning and found my friends!!  

Next time, I won't get caught up making stupid videos entertaining my FB peeps and miss my exit!!  

Lesson learned...