On a road far far away some time ago....
Tonight begins my trek west. Well southwest to start with. After saying good night and good bye to the Devyl, I once again made my way to the I-95 freeway for my return to New Jersey for another dinner date with my #1 fan p (Patty) and her hubby Noah whom I did not meet last trip. A quick look at the map will show you that from Massachusetts you head south into Rhode Island (for only a short time. it's a small state), Connecticut, New York and finally into New Jersey once again. Not a long drive at all in the scale of things.
I made it into Connecticut once again and about half way through when I decided to pull into a service area for a good night's sleep after calling my baby on the skype line. We talked awhile and then she tucked me in virtually and bade me a goodnight. Ending the call, I settled in for a longer nap and knew nothing but sweet dreams until the morning sun awakened me. Going inside for a pit stop, coffee and a bite to eat I attempted to wake up and face the new day. What could go wrong?
The first indication of trouble was when I see a sign pass overhead that welcoming me to the Bronx... nuh ugh NO _*$%$(*@#_ Way!! I am not driving through that damned city again! (the little voice in my head says "wanna bet?").. I pull into the next gas station and check my phone for alternate routes.... Eureka! I find one that looks promising and select it! Onward we go brave sisters. The gps says straight ahead for a bit. 3 lanes of traffic along a waterfront... ummm this isn't looking good. What do you mean a left turn into those very tall buildings on 42nd Street? oooops missed that one.. ok a left on 40th St. 3 blocks and a right on 7th Avenue??? wth !! Why are we driving on the wrong side of the yellow lines? and why are those trucks parked in the traffic lanes? Damn it! Gget on your own side of the road!! Down aways and another left onto a 4 lane one way street (Gavin maybe) with the 2 right lanes barricaded off and the dang GPS wants me to take a right turn. I'm sure going in between those barricades was illegal, but I was only following the 2 cars ahead of me. Right turn made and

I'm in a dang tunnel! The Lincoln Tunnel,.. going under the river and into New Jersey..., Jersey City, New Jersey! Every bit as bad as the dang surface streets I was just on in, yep New York City!!! ARRRRRRRGGG!!! Add bicyclists darting in front of you, along with the double parking and general city traffic and you have one unhappy Laurie.
Before long I see a sign for the freeway I want and sigh in relief... I should have known better.. I find myself in the line to enter onto the General Casimir Pulaski Skyway (currently under construction with only one lane per direction open). Queue Beetoven's Ode to Joy. Wonderful! A scenic view of the river industrial area of Newark in all it's dirty glory. A sight one is surely better off missing when you can actually see it. Anyway it eventually lands me in Newark, NJ and there are no further issues to keep me from arriving a bit early at p's (Patti's) apartments for our dinner meeting.
We had talked earlier and discussed food possiblity and I say I like spicy food and suddenly discussion ends wuth Patti saying I know where we will go. I let Patti know I had arrived and am invited up to meet hubby Noah as Patti finishes touching up her makeup. Unnecessarily I might add as she already looks good being a pretty young lady. Noah strikes me as as friendly and nice young man as a girl like Patti deserves. Polite and able to keep a strange older lady company while we await for Patti to join us. There she is and off we go for the short walk to the Thai restaurant right next door to the restaurant I met Patti at last visit. The restaurant is nicely decorated with a friendly staff and we are soon seated looking over the menu. # different spicy hot dinners with appetizers ordered we settle down to the serious business of social visiting. I relate my travels and we reminesce of our last meeting along with other small talk while munching on the apetizers. The main meals are served and we share the entree with each other while conversation continues. They make a lovely young couple enjoying life with one another. Dinner long gone and the clock ticking we begin thinking of returning to the apartment. The courtesly offer me their couch for the night and I accept.
The walk back to the apartment is a damp one because a mist has settled in for the walk back. Stopping at the pickup I retrieve a few things I'll need before morning and we go upstairs to warm up. Cushions moved and bedding provided, we talk a bit more before calling it a night.
Morning and a breakfast of coffee and a bagel. I try texting Sarah1972 to let her know I will be able to meet her because I spent the night at Patti and Noah's. I get a notification back says my account lacked sufficient funds to send the text. Knowing it had to be wrong I try again with the same results. Okay, time to check my account... Damn it! what was that password? No.. No... Not that one.. oh heck what was it? No problem I'll just reset it again. Click the link, fill out the email address and check email... There it is. Click the link to reset it and.... "Page not found"... Click... "page not found" Okay let's try this again.... Click forgot password- check.. email recieved - check... reset link clicked - check.... "page not found" - check arrgggg
Find the support number. make the call. navagate the phone tree 4..1..3..2 damnit! Redial 4, 3, 2, 2 Please wait while we connect your call.... All of service operators are busy please hold for the next available operator..... Muzac... repeat recording more muzac... repeat...repeat...repeat...repeat... repeat hello?... blah blah blah oh you will need to reset your account information on the phone ...instructions... well have someone call back a 1 pm to check to see the problem has been resolved..... Reset phone and redo accountinfor on phone.. send text to Sarah same thing... Send a text to myself and it works. oh heckk what is wrong with Sarah's number? check contact info and sure enought there are 100 digits instead of 10. Dang it! Where did I get her number from? email? - no not that one. ..gmail? - no... hotmail? - no. Susan's PM? looking, looking when was that? looking ah there it is!! yep I added an extra zero right there. Text Sarah to ask if she still wants a visit even later. She answers that dinner will be fine.
Finally! Phone company calls back and I report I've fixed the one issue but I cannot log into the website still. Operator says no problem and resets my password and send a reset link with a new password telling me I can change it later if I want. I use the new password to log in and see all is well but cannot find out how to change password. To heck with it. I've got to get on the road. Car repacked, Patti and Noah given thank yous and hugs and I'm on my way to Virginia to see Sarah1972.... ETA 3 1/2 hours.....
Hugs,
Laurie
Isn't she a pretty one?