is there any more pie?

I just kissed Banjo Man goodbye here in the Omaha airport. He is heading back to Rhode Island and has a long afternoon and evening ahead. He won’t arrive in RI until midnight and will spend at least five hours in Chicago.

Southwest is not making this easy.

My flights are delayed, too, but I’m glad to be flying. Nothing has been cancelled yet and I consider that a miracle. Over 1000 flights were cancelled yesterday.

So here I sit at Gate 18, plugged into a Charging Station, ready to head to Texas.

Part of me wishes I was heading home with Banjo Man, but in Austin there are Things To Do, such as picking out new flooring and a couch and possibly kitchen cabinets. There is also an Early Birthday celebration for the Funny Grandson.

I’m going to be busy.

Our family reunion weekend was so wonderful. I have pictures and I will blog about it as soon as I can. I don’t know about the rest of the family, but I felt wrapped up in love from start to finish.

Time to board……

We took a detour Wednesday. At least I think it was Wednesday. I’m not sure any more.

The above photo is of Banjo Man imitating a Da Vinci sketch.

Thank goodness Banjo Man kept his clothes on.

The center of the United States was very exciting. For one of us.

There was a very,very small chapel. I couldn’t resist reading a Psalm. My one and only opportunity.

I may have been praying to get to Nebraska.

We had spent the previous night at an Econolodge in Phillipsburg, Kansas. We were a bit apprehensive when we drove up to the motel, bit it turned out to be wonderful. Like the polar opposite of the motel in Anaconda.

In other words, I did not cry.

We ate at the Sand Trap Bar And Grill, another surprise hit. Banjo Man’s chicken fried steak dinner was the size of a turkey platter.

Anyway, as interesting as the center of the United States was, we had an 11:30 tour booked at the Willa Cather Center in Red Cloud. We would see a museum, gift shop, her childhood home, train depot, her best friend’s home and two churches. Oh, and the Willa Cather prairie.

It was all good, but I was bitten and/or stung by a number of Willa Cather insects. I have the welts on my arm and back to prove it.

Travel advice: When in Red Cloud bring bug spray.

Yes, I know I skipped Day 3 but tonight at dinner I drank this.

Day 3 had been fantastic and I have pictures, but I drank tequila tonight and can’t feel my face. I will tell you about it tomorrow.

We went to dinner at Oscar’s Bar and Grill in Limon, Colorado tonight. It had been a long day on the road.

I’d had to get cranky with Banjo Man a few times. He thinks the GPS works immediately. He thinks the search engine on my phone works perfectly and easily in response to any question that pops in his head. He is frustrated when he has to wait more than ten seconds for an answer.

He demands directions from the GPS and then doesn’t believe them.

He eats constantly, meaning he wants me to find his chocolate or sunflower seeds or Triscuits or oyster crackers every fifteen miles or so.

I told him I felt like a vending machine.

He knew he’d pushed me too far today and wanted to make it up to me and go to dinner. I honestly would have been fine with my Honey Nut Cheerios again, but Banjo Man insisted.

I ordered a shot of tequila and a glass of ginger ale and lime. I mixed them.

It went straight to my head. Which was a very good feeling after 380 miles on the road with the Tapeworm.

Back at the hotel parking lot I tried to unlock the truck by pushing the security alarm button. Banjo Man’s face???? Priceless! I laughed til I cried, doubled over in front of the brand new La Quinta by Wyndham, while the alarm blared.

By the way, they accept pets here. One couple has two WOLVES. I kid you not.

So, Colorado. Land of weed and pet wolves.

And John Denver, too, and doesn’t that feel like a hundred years ago?

Good night.

We got a late start on Wednesday, but it was actually sooner than I expected.

I have some great photos, but I have spent half an hour trying to load them here and nothing works. I used to be able to download photos from my Kindle to WordPress, but I suppose those old brain cells are dead.

Banjo Man unfortunately stumbled upon the Trip advisor website back in August and discovered all sorts of tempting reasons to stay there.

I argued, but I lost.

Which resulted in driving too many miles when we were already exhausted, staying in a funky, vintage, very cold motel, scarfing down pizza at 8:30 pm and “eating” at a supposedly fantastic breakfast place that didn’t actually serve breakfast.

I am not kidding. Why didn’t we find a real cafe? You’d have to ask my husband.

The only way Banjo Man could stop my tears was to sincerely promise never to go on Tripadvisor again.

So…the Mission Mountains were topped with snow, the sky was blue and the road long. We shared a turkey sandwich from the Pantry as we left Clark Fork and headed towards fall and winter in New England.

Stay tuned, as I pick all the other motels…..