Leaving Chicago for NJ was fairly easy:
- Get dropped off at Avis, pickup rental car
- Progam 6435 North Washtenaw into GPS
- After much driving, arrive 6435 South Washtenaw
- Curse GPS device loudly and repeatedly, which responds by running out of batteries
- Spend another hour driving around Chicago traffic, trying to find the real North Washtenaw
- Finally arrive, pack, and leave for a 13 hour journey at 3 in the afternoon
The weather report suggested a 40% chance of snow; it then proceeded to snow constantly for the entire journey. My GPS device said I would arrive home at 6 AM, so I knew it would be a race between myself and falling asleep.
It didn’t help that I woke up early the last two mornings. The morning prior (following post) was from a religious alarm clock. This morning was Saqib’s mother’s kindness. As a good hostess, she wanted to cook for me, so got up extra early to start making food. There I was, laying in bed, wide awake from the clink of pots and pans, knowing full well that I was awake because she liked me to cook for my return journey. Doh!
By 2 AM, the snow was so heavy the road was all white. I called it quits, and slept at the Comfort Inn. It’s amazing what a single question can do: my Triple-A rate was $71, and I just asked the attendant if he could do any better. After a few seconds, he came back with $55. My cheapskate heart went pitter-patter, and I took the room. The ride the next morning was easy and even dry, and I made it home in time to dump all my stuff on the floor, shower, and head up to Highland Park for a birthday party at Pithari, a greek restaurant.
The house is a disaster, but I have been steadily attacking the mess that comes with a massive road-trip.
