Gevalt what a schelp!

James and I drove back and forth to Texas to be with my family for Thanksgiving.

After pricing airfare and discovering that a ticket would be $450 apiece, we Mapquested the location and discovered that it is an 800 mile drive. Even though we decided to make the drive when gas was still $4.00 per gallon, it was much cheaper than flying (and probably more enjoyable) so that's what we did.

I've always enjoyed road trips. I like them even more now because when I drive, James reads to me, so it's entertaining, educational and a great way for us to spend time together.

While I used to enjoy flying, it's a total chore these days. Flying on Thanksgiving...I can't even begin to wrap my mind around it. Last year we flew out on Thanksgiving day. This used to be a great day to fly. Totally empty flights are a thing of history now. Even on Thanksgiving day, the airport was a disaster.

I prepared by going into the office to get my satellite radio. I plugged it in and discovered that it had died. I've had it for about 5 years and it was a Sirius Orbiter. I believe that the unit was previously made in Soviet Russia. It was huge, heavy and would heat up to about 250 degrees. First the display went, then it just died altogether. I shopped on-line for a new one, but I wasn't sure that it would come in time for the big trip, so then I went out to find one. I tried Circuit City first, but in calling around I discovered that they've all gone out of business in our area, I was hoping to get a deal but they only sold off their merchandise on one day, not the long, drawn out Linens and Things Dutch auction that's going on.

I went to Radio Shack and they only had two models. I knew that there was a $30 unit and that's what I was after. The cheapest one they had was $70, so I decided to try Wal-Mart and lo and behold, I got one for $29. Done and done.

Then we went to the library to get some books to read. We got a Stanley Bing book, always fabulous, and James found an interesting account of the days of the old neighborhoods in Bejing prior to the Olympics.

The outbound trip started on Tuesday, and not knowing how my endurance would hold up, I made reservations for us to stay at Sam's Town casino in Shreveport. It was about 9 hours from Atlanta as the crow flies on Interstate 20. Good choice. Great room, okay buffet, crappy gambling, but all in all a very good experience.

It was only 3 hours to Dallas from there. My family is as they always are, a bit out there. My mother was in pain due to her sciatica acting up. This did not prevent her from preparing the traditional Thanksgiving meal. My sister insisted on charting out our every movement to insure maximum time utilization. She did score us free tickets to the Tutankhamen exhibition at their local museum. It was an okay show, but there are a bunch of them touring the US now, including one here in Atlanta, so the relics are a bit spread thin. We then went to Richardson, TX for some great Chinese food, so all in all, props to Judy for orchestrating the whole thing.

The hotel in Texas was okay, Courtyard. I'm a silver member Marriott person, so I got one night free, and the other two were paid with my Rewards card from work, so we didn't pay anything for the 3 night stay. The place is fine but the beds are too soft. You'd get in and the mattress would curl up around you. Ow! My back!

We left Saturday morning and drove from 7 am Central time until 10 PM Eastern time to get home. All in one straight shot. We might have shaved an hour or so from our time, had it not been foggy and wet the entire trip. Here's a clue people. Do NOT use your high beams in fog. Idiots.

So I fell onto my very solid, hard mattress and slept well for the first time in four nights. Boy did I need it.

I got some communication from Georgia State. They are only taking 43 credits, leaving me with 77 to do. I don't think I'm going to get my Accounting degree. It's too much of a hassle, and as a friend of my observed, "with all the bank lay offs, there are a lot of unemployed finance and accounting folks around."

I do want to point out that there's this awesome site called SoloGig. They have contract work posted there. I've applied for year long gigs there. I might try that route should I be jobless tomorrow.

Have a wonderful Sunday!