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...