Ax was in Pocatello this morning for work and already drove 3½ hours to get back to Boise before 11:00am. He had a mighty long day of driving! We had lunch together then he packed, ran errands (and hopefully took a nap) before he picked me up from work at 5:00pm. We started our 7 hour drive to Timothy Lake with only a minor detour to the post office before hopping on I-84.
It takes less than an hour to get out of Idaho and into Oregon where you aren’t allowed to pump your own gas. If you live in a state that does allow you to pump your own gas, it’s a strange feeling actually being forced to let someone do something for you that you are perfectly capable of doing on your own. (Maybe even better than the "professionals.") When we stopped for gas in Baker City, we left with only ¾ of a tank and had to stop again to refuel before we got to Mount Hood.
We stopped in Pendleton for fast food and gasoline. I hadn’t been to Wendy’s in a long time because I was once sold a moldy baked potato. I decided I was ready to give the place a second chance. Ax got in line behind the one other patron while I went to the restroom. When I came out, the line had grown from 2 to 6 people. The cashier was just looking at everyone from the fry station, not sure what to do.
When negative things start to add up in my peripheral thoughts about a restaurant, I begin to consciously notice every little nasty thing wrong with the place. After we ordered we began our next wait while the cashier complained about having to do everything herself. I started telling Ax the things I was noticing, like the incredible amount of flies in the kitchen area, the sink that was barely attached to the wall in the bathroom and other things that generally indicate a dirty place. Just to put it over the top I made mention that this large number of flies had to have been born here... ...Which of course, would mean there are probably maggots somewhere… And I continued like that. I mean, why be annoying by complaining? Why not add the "gross out" factor and make a joke out of it? (Ax here - of course if you know my family, grossing me out is no easy task!) When our order was up I found that my potato wasn’t moldy and there was no finger in the chili. I don’t hold very high standards when it comes to fast food.
We were so pre-occupied with the poor service and condition of the Wendy’s, we totally forgot about gas. I also forgot silverware and couldn’t even eat my quality fast food. Neither of us are the type to let the gas gauge get below ¼ of a tank normally, so we were both a little nervous about being so close to E by the time we got to the next town. This time the "professional" did fill the tank and I was able to find some silverware eventually in the truck-stop we found.
Driving in the dark, where animals are likely to be, has always made me uncomfortable. I am able to imagine any shadow on the side of the road as a canine about to jump out in front of the car or that every reflector is the eye of a deer, antelope, elk or moose that will do the same. I am glad Ax was the one driving through the forest at 11:00 at night. (I suggested that she just close her eyes when she gets nervous driving in the dark - I mean, that's what I do...) We did at least have some Dr. Demento CDs to keep our minds partially relaxed. You can only maintain a certain level of stress when singing "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park." We found our camp site and with the help of a few of Ax’s friends and family, had the tent open and in place shortly after 11:30pm just as Ax planned.
We didn’t have any time to relax before going to sleep so I did as I usually do when a road-trip stresses me out. For the first part of the night I wake up every 20 - 40 minutes, with a nightmare of nearly rear-ending a car/trailer/bus/van/truck on the highway. I wake up trying to slam on the brakes of the dream car I think I’m driving as the vehicle in front of me is quickly getting larger and larger. I don’t know if I’m speeding or they’ve stopped or slowed down. After doing this about 7 or 8 times, maybe more, I was finally able to sleep just as the first signs of light popped into the sky.
It takes less than an hour to get out of Idaho and into Oregon where you aren’t allowed to pump your own gas. If you live in a state that does allow you to pump your own gas, it’s a strange feeling actually being forced to let someone do something for you that you are perfectly capable of doing on your own. (Maybe even better than the "professionals.") When we stopped for gas in Baker City, we left with only ¾ of a tank and had to stop again to refuel before we got to Mount Hood.
We stopped in Pendleton for fast food and gasoline. I hadn’t been to Wendy’s in a long time because I was once sold a moldy baked potato. I decided I was ready to give the place a second chance. Ax got in line behind the one other patron while I went to the restroom. When I came out, the line had grown from 2 to 6 people. The cashier was just looking at everyone from the fry station, not sure what to do.
When negative things start to add up in my peripheral thoughts about a restaurant, I begin to consciously notice every little nasty thing wrong with the place. After we ordered we began our next wait while the cashier complained about having to do everything herself. I started telling Ax the things I was noticing, like the incredible amount of flies in the kitchen area, the sink that was barely attached to the wall in the bathroom and other things that generally indicate a dirty place. Just to put it over the top I made mention that this large number of flies had to have been born here... ...Which of course, would mean there are probably maggots somewhere… And I continued like that. I mean, why be annoying by complaining? Why not add the "gross out" factor and make a joke out of it? (Ax here - of course if you know my family, grossing me out is no easy task!) When our order was up I found that my potato wasn’t moldy and there was no finger in the chili. I don’t hold very high standards when it comes to fast food.
We were so pre-occupied with the poor service and condition of the Wendy’s, we totally forgot about gas. I also forgot silverware and couldn’t even eat my quality fast food. Neither of us are the type to let the gas gauge get below ¼ of a tank normally, so we were both a little nervous about being so close to E by the time we got to the next town. This time the "professional" did fill the tank and I was able to find some silverware eventually in the truck-stop we found.
Driving in the dark, where animals are likely to be, has always made me uncomfortable. I am able to imagine any shadow on the side of the road as a canine about to jump out in front of the car or that every reflector is the eye of a deer, antelope, elk or moose that will do the same. I am glad Ax was the one driving through the forest at 11:00 at night. (I suggested that she just close her eyes when she gets nervous driving in the dark - I mean, that's what I do...) We did at least have some Dr. Demento CDs to keep our minds partially relaxed. You can only maintain a certain level of stress when singing "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park." We found our camp site and with the help of a few of Ax’s friends and family, had the tent open and in place shortly after 11:30pm just as Ax planned.
We didn’t have any time to relax before going to sleep so I did as I usually do when a road-trip stresses me out. For the first part of the night I wake up every 20 - 40 minutes, with a nightmare of nearly rear-ending a car/trailer/bus/van/truck on the highway. I wake up trying to slam on the brakes of the dream car I think I’m driving as the vehicle in front of me is quickly getting larger and larger. I don’t know if I’m speeding or they’ve stopped or slowed down. After doing this about 7 or 8 times, maybe more, I was finally able to sleep just as the first signs of light popped into the sky.
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