Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah I am FINALLY home! Sorry I dissappeared for a day – I am still unable to master the art of driving a car and blogging at the same time. :) Look what I did yesterday…
All by MYSELF! Six hundred seventeen miles, and over 11 hours at the wheel. It was quite the experience! Over the course of my day, I covered 5 different states – a lot of ground for just one person.
My day started out in Indiana, where I bid my farewells to the wonderful Malones, including Casey! He wasn’t able to drive home with me because he needed to work during the day, so he is flying home tonight instead. When we originally came up with the plan for me to just drive back alone, for some reason I thought the drive was 9 hours (which still sounded long, but do-able). Then I found out it was 11 hours – ouch.
I waved goodbye to Indiana and rolled into the place that I call home – OHIO!
The first two hours of my drive were a cake walk because I was heading towards my FAMILY, and I was super excited. Stopping in Cincinnati was slightly off course from the original path back to Charlotte, but when you’re that close to family it is worth the extra miles. Just as I made it into Cincy I passed a sign that read Xavier University next right, and found myself steering my car off the exit ramp.
I took a quick stroll across the beautiful Xavier campus, and busted into the library to surprise my favorite friend – LINDSEY! She was totally surprised and excited to see me, and even though it was just a short visit, it was a bright spot in my day.
Next I headed back to my stomping grounds – Hyde Park. Part of the reason I hate where we live in Charlotte, and that I’m so obsessed with finding the right neighborhood in DC, is that I am totally spoiled by where I grew up. Hyde Park is hands down my favorite place in the world. Adorable HP Square with its shops and boutiques…
The fountain where I hung out in middle school…
And endless streets of adorable homes and perfect running sidewalks. It feels so GOOD to be home!
I picked up my MOM and sister SARAH (love them!!) for a fun lunch outing. I hadn’t seen my mom since we ran the marathon in May, and I last saw Sarah when we said goodbye after our fabulous week at the beach. Waaaay too long! We went to First Watch and I got a veggie hummus wrap and vegetable soup, mmmmm.
This wrap was delicious!
I hate to have to tell you guys this, but I have the cutest mom in the world. :) She just got back from a week at the beach and I barely recognized her with her tan skin and blonde hair!
My mom had to go back to work, but I held Sarah hostage for a while longer. I am obsessed with her. Leaving First Watch, I also ran into an old friend (Hi Rachel!) – part of the fun of being back home.
We took my mom back to work and headed to my favorite frozen yogurt shop – Yagoot. Sarah has worked there for three years, and just finally quit a few weeks ago. But she took me back in to show me the adooooooooooorable new t-shirts they got in stock – American Apparel tri-blend – be still my heart!
Obviously a shirt was purchased. How cute are these packaged in pint containers?
And I certainly wasn’t leaving town without a belly full of ‘goot.
Original and mango swirl with sprinkles and mango topping, mmm.
Happy camper!
Then it was back in the car for what should have been an easy eight hours to Charlotte…
I was armed with a giant iced coffee from Starbucks…
And lots of great songs to sing along to…
Alison Krauss, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Rachael Yamagata, and more. My iPod and lungs got a WORKOUT!
I continued to sing and love life, even though I hit a traffic jam due to some poorly timed construction work…
I got bored and snacked on an Odwalla bar – my first one. I thought it was disgusting and had the texture of cardboard. Never again.
After an hour of sitting and staring at the back of this truck, my spirits started to sink a bit. I watched my arrival time climb higher and higher (thanks Garmin!).
As the click ticked to TWO hours of sitting, I looked at my mileage and realized I had gone 7 miles in those two hours. My poor Twitter followers watched me nearly have a mental breakdown. Did I mention I reaaaaally needed to pee?
Finally, FINALLY back on the open road! My speed was back up, but my spirits were pretty low. :(
This chocolate chip Clif Bar helped a little.
I was excited when I hit the mountains because that meant that HOME was on the other side! Not to mention the sky and scenery were absolutely goooooooooorgeous!
The weird thing about the drive was that even though I felt delirious from driving for so long, I never got sleepy or tired. I guess because I knew I had to do it all by myself, and napping wasn’t an option?
At 9pm the sun went down, and it took everything in me to drive that final hour into Charlotte. I left Indianapolis at 8am on the nose, and I walked in my door in Charlotte at 10:15pm. Longest day ever!
I had big plans for a nice relaxing snuggle session all night long with my pups, but the raccoon in the kitchen wall had other plans for me. Scraaaaaaaatching and scritching all night long, accompanied by howling and barking from my dogs – can’t really blame them.
Eleven long hours of driving, followed by ZERO hours of sleep, and I’m out the door to work now! Looking forward to a very long nap when I get home…
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You handle roadtrips just like I do, I always have a sore throat at the end from all of the singing!
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What a day! I love your singing pics… I absolutly love being alone in the car and busting out all the old school cd’s (Jessica Simpson, Britney- the early years of course, and My Best Friends Wedding soundtrack are just a few of my fave)!
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Oh girl, what a day! Even the greats (Kenny, Alison, Sara, etc ;)) can’t keep a car ride entertaining for that long!
Glad you made it safe and sound… hope you make it through today :)
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Yay Cincinnati–I love seeing pictures of “my” city on the blog! I agree with you–Hyde Park is a fabulous place to run. There are so many beautiful homes that it just never gets old.
I like your “Nati” t-shirt–do you care to share where you picked it up? It reminds me of the ones I’ve seen at the Red Tree Gallery in Oakley.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:14 am
I got it at Kismet in O’Bryonville, but that was like four years ago, so I don’t know if they still have it. :( It is the world’s SOFTEST shirt!
I dont see that specific shirt – but this the group that made it…
http://www.alternativemotive.com/Tees_c_15.html
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Ugh, Emily that is terrible! I am so sorry you got stuck in traffic like that. :(
I had no idea about the raccoon. SO THAT IS WHAT THE DOGS KEPT BARKING AT?!?!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:15 am
OMG! WHIT! I feel soooooo bad – did that seriously happen to you too?? I mean I don’t know for sure that it is a raccoon, but that was my best guess. Loud scratching all night long – I’ve never heard it before!
I will send you one million dollars for your troubles. :(
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Awwww your mum is gorgeous! I recently had an 11 hour drive from Auckland to Wellington then back a week later. Lucky I was the passenger, but that was more tiring then driving I think!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:16 am
I agree – sometimes trying to stay awake as a passenger is just as hard, because sleep is soooooo tempting. :)
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Oh my gosh girl! I am so impressed. I would have had a COMPLETE melt-down. No doubt! But you did it. Next time pull over at a rest stop and close your eyes for a few minutes. A 15-min nap always helps me on long drives. Enjoy your afternoon nap :)
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I loooove the mountain pics!!! I could never do that drive by myself – I haaate to drive long distances. I’m good at being the passenger :)
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Ugh, I don’t envy your drive. Reminds me of driving from Vermont to Maryland when I was in college. Yuck!
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Good luck surviving the day!!
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Wow I can’t believe you drove for 11 hours! My limit is about 9. I think we did about 8.5 each day on our trip from Texas to Virginia. LOVE Alison Krauss too!
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That is a long trip, but at least you did see family! I miss mine…they are all in Virginia. I would have peed myself sitting in traffic after that coffee! GOOD GRIEF! Also, is there ever not construction on those two lane highways in Nortch Carolina? That drives me crazy when I drive through there! Glad you made it back safely…hopefully the raccoon will be gone tonight!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:17 am
I did a lot of yelling of things like “I’m all about the stimulus, but WHY is all the construction happening TODAY!?!”
:)
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Love HP square.. I grew up in Oakley and went to St. Cecilia.. Love the ‘Nati!
Em, I also sat in that same traffic, except on Sunday. It was horrible. How goofy was it that the road was down to 1 lane for about 50 yards and it caused that monster back up? Dumb.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 10:17 am
So annoying! I used to think the mountain drive was really charming and fun, and having done it about 50 times this year, I am sooooo over it. :)
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Your taste in music is a lot like mine Emily! Glad you made it home ok, sounds like a really rough day on the road :(
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Glad you made it back safely, and squeezed in some time at “home” on the way!
I’m kind of obsessed with your “Nati” shirt b/c that’s my dog’s name haha.
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My first thought after looking at that HUGE coffee… “I would pee my pants if I drank that”. Glad you finally got home ok!
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I can’t imagine driving that long alone! With drinking that big of a coffee I’d have to make at least 10 pee stops!! At least it’s over now & you made it safe and sound :)
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Glad you made it! And got to squeeze in a quick family visit as well :)
I once drove from Orlando, Florida to Columbus, Ohio without stopping. I was EXHAUSTED.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Now THAT is a long drive!
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I totally sympathise… I live in a remote town and have to drive 8 hours through mountains to get some city exposure. I’m also a car *dancer*: me + Black Eyed Peas = dance party!
I’ve never been to any of the five states you listed… but now I’m motivated. :)
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You rock girl! That was a pretty long drive. Glad to see the pics from Cincy. I went to UC for grad school. Loved the thai place ‘Lemon grass’ near Hyde park.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
I grew up across the street from Lemongrass on Zumstein! Best peanut noodles ever.
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Oh my goodness – what a long day! But it’s awesome that you got to see your family. I am not at all familiar with that part of the country and it’s fun for me to see the scenery and here about Ohio. :) Hope you can push through today and get in a great nap.
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Wow! and I thought I had a long day! Your post just put everything into perspective for sure. Glad you made it home safely! I actually love long drives, jammin’ out to my Ipod, but I hate hate hate when I have pee and there’s no place to pull over. Just thinking about it gives me anxiety, haha! Hope you get a nice long nap in today!
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Wow that’s a lotta miles – well done!
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You are such a trooper, Emily! Despite your traveling and racoon troubles, I admire that your posts always radiate such joy – especially when speaking of your family. Your positivity is infectious – just what I needed on this blah Tuesday. Get some zzz’s tonight!
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
THANK you Karen! Made me smile! :)
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Yikes, I don’t know if I would have survived that drive alone, especially the two hours barely moving! Love the singing — I’ve nearly made myself hoarse on long road trips before, ESPECIALLY when I’m in the car alone — private concert for one ;)
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God bless your heart. You are a champion for doing this on your own.
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Ick to the driving, I would absolutely have gone crazy by myself, way to go for getting it DONE!
PS — I am obsessed with First Watch which I was introduced to when I visited a friend in Columbus, OH & made her take me two days in a row!
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Aghh!! I probably would have cried in that traffic. You have a good attitude :-)
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Thanks! :) I did my best given the situation.
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You do have a good attitude! And plenty of patience! Drives beyond 4 hours are not for me. At least stopping to see family broke up the day!
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In my experience, scratching in the walls is usually a mouse…and mouse droppings is usually the next sign.
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Eeeeeew don’t say that!! :) It sounds too BIG to be a mouse – that’s why I’m guessing raccoon. Either way, I’m moving in a month so I don’t really care – that’s the beauty of renting. I just want it to go away!
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My goodness girl!!! What an epic day in the car you have had! Glad to hear that you made it home safely :)
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Wow you are awesome for doing an 11 hour drive alone!!! I have done a 3 hour drive and that was hard!! ahhh I am OBSESSED with american apparel v-necks, thy have the most amazing fit and feel to them, I need one in every color aha. And I agree I have had odwalla bars before, they taste like crap =x
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Emily @ The Front Burner Blog Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
I literally have every single color of AA v-necks. Pretty much the only thing I wear, as I’m sure you have noticed in my pictures/
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kelli Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 10:46 am
I thought they were AA, wasn’t positive..gotta love them :) ahha
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Eeek…..long drive!! Thank goodness for twitter, snacks, and music!
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Hey Em!
It was so good to see you the other day! I just wanted to let you know that I spent the whole lunch kicking myself for not offering to take a picture of all three of you together on our way in. I knew you didn’t get to see them often and didn’t want to keep you guys….but anyway, the ones you took are totally cute. Sorry that I wasn’t thinking ahead!
I love keeping up with you guys through your blog.
Tell Casey that I say hi!!
Rachel
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Yayy for Ohio being your home! I love first watch too!
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Love your blog and if it’s possible…love it even more with this post. Your singing pics had me laughing; so cute! I love witnessing the adoration you have for your family!
Glad you made it home safely!
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I love seeing pictures of Cinci on your blog (I grew up on the west side, though)! It kind of makes me homesick, though, because I left OH 5 1/2 years ago, and I’ve only been back to Cinci twice (I usually end up in Columbus instead, since more of my family is there). I feel your pain about the long drive–When my husband & I got married, we made the drive from South Dakota to Cincinnati in 1 day…16 hours in the car, and I think I drove about 13 of them (I’m a control freak when it comes to driving!). Never again!
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