BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA

Subject: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 11:38 PM

Who we got near here? Got flop room?

Pittsburgh, PA
Columbus, OH
Indianapolis, IN
Louisville, KY
Bowling Green, KY
Nashville, TN
Sewanee, TN
Lexington, KY
Charleston, WV

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 08 Jul 04 - 11:43 PM

????

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jul 04 - 09:40 AM

translation for Sir JOhn:

WYSIWYG will be traveling - she is wondering if there are any mudcatters near where she will be traveling and if they can host her while she is in the area

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 04 - 07:17 PM

I might actually make it to Giac's....

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 02 Sep 04 - 07:27 PM

I'm a little less than an hour south of Louisville, ~16 miles from I65. We have flop room for my buddy Susan and company...just remember that the upstairs in not air conditioned and it's nicer after mid September. Also, I'll be travelling a bit myself this fall.

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Sep 04 - 07:56 PM

Mary, is your hour southwards in the direction of Bowling Green? I'd love to meet you! PM me a town and I'll check maps....

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 02 Sep 04 - 08:15 PM

Bardstown is southeast of Louisville. You have to go from Louisville to Bowling Green to Nashville on I65 and we are ~16 miles east of I65. Bernheim Forest is near the interstate and is a beautiful place for a picnic.

I was in Nashville two weeks ago (at the Wild Horse Saloon no doubt) but I didn't have time to call Kim. Also, my cousin lives in the same town in Tennessee as Giac!

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 02 Sep 04 - 08:24 PM

Susan, would that I could put you up in Indianapolis, but for the rest of the year it's going to be impossible.

Dorris has breast cancer, and is now under chemo. She'll have surgery pprobably in early to middle October, followed by recuperation and radiation for some months.

Under the circumstances, having even agreeable house guests like yourself and Hardy wouldn't work at this time.


Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 07 Sep 04 - 05:17 PM

The dates are firming up at least. I should leave NW PA on October 30, and need to arrive in Sewanee by Nov. 2 or 3.

The trip back looks like departing Sewanee about the 12th-15th of November.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 12:28 PM

Susan:

If you do end up hitting Indianapolis, I'd like to know about it and be able to see you all. Although we can't host you, I could surely manage to attend a get-together, and there's a likelihood Dorris could too.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 12:30 PM

Thanks, I will. Since I will be travling alone, I'd love to see some friendly faces, but on the other hand it mitigates against going too far off track, not having a second driver. So I dunno yet. :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Kim C
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 12:44 PM

I'm in Nashville. All I have for flop room is a sofa, if that is acceptable. :-) Let me know when you'll be around and I'll PM you with all my numbers & such.

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Sep 04 - 12:46 PM

Great, Kim, thanks!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 11:43 AM

Looks like now it will be travel through Cinnncinatti area, south around Nov. 1 and then north sometime between Nov. 10-15, along 81 on the way north.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 02:35 PM

Wait--

Columbus, Ohio, Friday night, Oct. 29 (have family there)
Louisville, KY, Saturday night, Oct. 30 (Mary in KY or motel)
Nashville, TN, Sunday night, Oct. 31 (Kim C?)
Sewanee, TN, Nov. 1-10 or 1-15 (destination)

More route flexibility on the return trip-- hope to meet people at the various conferences to see on the way back, dunno yet who/where/when.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 05:31 PM

hehe...I told Susan to bring sunglasses!

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 23 Oct 04 - 09:38 PM

Mary in a Motel????!!!!?!?!?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 04:11 PM

New plan:

Youngstown, PA, Friday night, Oct. 29 (Hollowfox or motel)Louisville, KY, Saturday night, Oct. 30 (Mary in KY or motel)
Nashville, TN, Sunday night, Oct. 31
Sewanee, TN, Nov. 1-10 or 1-15 (destination)
Harpers Ferry, WV, Nov. 11 or 15 (Bobert)
Home (a scant 5 hours' drive from Bobertia P-vinia!)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 04:17 PM

Ooops, correction:

New plan:

Youngstown, PA, Friday night, Oct. 29 (Hollowfox or motel)
Louisville, KY, Saturday night, Oct. 30 (Mary in KY or motel)
Nashville, TN, Sunday night, Oct. 31 (Kim C)
Sewanee, TN, Nov. 1-10 or 1-15 (destination)
Harpers Ferry, WV, Nov. 11 or 15 (Bobert)
Home (a scant 5 hours' drive from Bobertia P-vinia!)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 06:49 PM

These Mudcatters are so wild! Kim is talking about dragging me off to a bellydancers' party! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 10:40 PM

you'll love Bobert's place! Maybe he'll put you upstairs in the double-decker bus..*grin* ...but WE ain't TOO far from that track..1½ hrs from Bobert's...(we do craft shows Nov. 7 & 20-21, but will be 'around' on 11 & 15...if...)

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 10:53 PM

Oh WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you and Rita come over to Bobertania? By then I'll need some serious fixin'..... bring lathe and router!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 11:09 PM

got NO idea who'll be capable of what by then...you 'could' detour by here heading home. ...but I'll run both ideas past Rita....

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Oct 04 - 11:42 PM

I seriously doubt I can detour. I'll have been camping out in various places doing intense ministry stuff, for nearly three weeks and with various health issues to manange and zero budget-- without gracious Mudcatters I'd be van camping at WalMart between conferences, and I've packed for that in case it turns out that way. So..... I expect to be pretty beat by the time I reach P-Vine Harbor. It's just 5 hours from there to home, so that's where I'll be heading from there, direct. So.......... an hour and a half to Bobberooni's, or 5+ hours up to our place--- hm, that's a head-scratcher....

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:50 AM

I'll be at a retreat at Olmsted Manor in PA if anyone needs to leave me a message. Even if they don't know who you are talking about (because you don't know my last name), their hospitality rep (Tom) can make an announcement referring to Mudcat and I can get the message from the desk. They even have email!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Dani
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:15 AM

No North Carolina? ;(

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:28 AM

ok, then..we'll watch for messages about exact date and assume we have to do the traveling to Boberts

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:32 AM

It may be that my online access is REAL brief.... I might email MMario or Bobert and ask them to post.

And no, sorry, no NC. I wish!

Bill, only if you guys are up to it, OK? Skip power tools, BTW-- just a big ole hammer will do the job.

I miss Hardi already. I got delayed leaving so he had to head off to work.....

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: MMario
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:48 AM

So stop answering my e-mails and organizing the november concert and get on the road already! *YOUR* life comes first!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:00 AM

*grin*...what MMario said

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:02 AM

Thanks, but you see, all that stuff IS my life.... it means a lot to me to come home and find it in good order... promises kept, priorities right. Not tending details due to worry..... I decided to take the trip at MY speed, and I NEVER like to leave on a trip before 11 AM! Just think of all the stuff I'll wish I had taken, that I have remembered to take because I was still here schmoozing around! :~) The first stop is only 2-3 hours away.

Nothing I care about will happen till I get there to care about it, anyhow!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:25 PM

Shows how often I get on anymore sometimes.........I have a PM from Susan dated 10/23 and I found this thread. So if you're checking in here Wizzy or Mario is doing his thing or whatever, then I am about 45 miles SE of Columbus. It appears you are going through Columbus on Saturday??? At least that's what I see on your "latest" schedule?? Are you coming down I-71 or I-77 to I-70 and across? I can try and do lunch somewhere with you...???

Wizzy? Mario?? Bueller?? Bueller??

I'll keep checking back.....Sorry I havent been on but the joint is out of hand with the fockin' election crap anymore.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: MMario
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:37 PM

'spaw - I forwarded your message to an account I know she plans on checking.

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:42 PM

PM your way Mario

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 03:14 PM

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Just arrived at Chez Hollowfox.....

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: MMario
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 03:19 PM

[waves]
How was the retreat?

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 03:35 PM

*Waving too*

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 09:13 PM

*waving back*

Retreat was awesome. H'fox made me take a nap when I got here, the retreat was so intense. Carload of resources, too!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Oct 04 - 09:21 PM

BTW, Spaw, if yer looking in-- it was fun talking atcha earlier! I will post here in the AM about a departure time, in case you are online then, so we could save Ms. Fox the phone call...

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 07:36 AM

I'll be out this morning, cellphone with me.

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 09:46 AM

Mary, I can't recall, did I email you last night????!! At any rate, I'm lunching with Spaw near Columbus, hope he will contact you via PM after lunch with my possible arrival time to you, maybe early evening? If it's NOT a good night for you, I got some good budget news late last night, so SAY SO when I call or get there, OK?

Spaw, leaving here shortly... I'll check PMs once more before starting the car in about 20 minutes, or call if you don't post/PM. Hey, bringing boys?????

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:18 AM

Still the plan, after lunch:

Louisville, KY, Saturday night, Oct. 30 (Mary in KY or motel)
Nashville, TN, Sunday night, Oct. 31 (Kim C)
Sewanee, TN, Nov. 1-10 or 1-15 (destination)
Harpers Ferry, WV, one night somewhere between Nov. 10-15 (Bobert)
Home (a scant 5 hours' drive from Bobertia P-vinia!)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 11:19 AM

I just got home. Looking for you tonight. I'm feeling OK now, well almost, got a bit overheated playing hide-and-seek with the granddaughters this morning. I'll check PMs. (Did you ever notice that if you capitalize the S, you have PMS!)

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 11:23 AM

Oh yes, my friend J. said if you want to remain an Anglican tomorrow we are welcome there. But if you want to sleep, I won't tell!

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 09:12 PM

Got to Mary's!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Oct 04 - 10:27 PM

great! nice to know it's all working!

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 01:07 AM

Well not quite Bill..........

Susan and I talked on the phone from Hollowfox's place and we were going to meet today for lunch on her way to Mary's. She called when she left Youngstown and we figured to meet between 1:30 and 2:00 in Columbus...........didn't work!

I didn't give her our cell number and she doesn't have one, but we got to the meeting place at 1:45 and left about 3:15-3:30 as Susan hadn't made it. Got home about an hour ago and had a message from Mary in Ky that said she'd just heard from Susan (oddly at about 3:17 I think she wrote) from somewhere outside Columbus.......Anyway, we missed connection.

Susan, I am really sorry not to have seen you.....We had the kids, dogs....you could have met the whole clan!   I really hate knowing we gave up at about the same time you were talking to Mary!!! ANyway, we'll make it good another time!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Oct 04 - 10:40 AM

It was all my fault, Spaw. I was too tired to be in the road and got really stupid. At 3:17 I was a good hour away from our spot, but at that moment I thought it was BEHIND me and that I had gone the wrong way-- when it actually lay ahead an hour's drive. It's farther from H'fox's to that spot than we thought-- and I should have eaten sooner and not waited till we hooked up-- maybe my brain would have been working better. But I apologize for inconveniencing you all, and I hope you had some fun together anyhow. I'll mail you the item Hollowfox gave me for you, if you'll PM me the mailing address.

Another time, I hope! Would have loved to meet the whole lot of you... guess I'll have to eat the Halloween candy I'd packed up for the boys, darn...

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 07:03 AM

Hi Susan!

   Hope you're having fun in TN!!! We miss you up here....Saturday night just isn't the same without you!!!! Learn lots and come home soon!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 08 Nov 04 - 06:23 PM

..... at the library at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN... first access to email, etc. since last post. Gee I'm homesick today. Hope to have a firm departure date by tomorrow evening, and now I should be able to get back online each evening, briefly.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 01:47 PM

I'm hoping you have your winter clothes out and ready for the drive home....2 inches of snow on our deck this morning! I saw Hardi this morning....he has a cold and sounds like he swallowed a bullfrog. Poor guy...says he's feeling better than yesterday though. I'm thinking he'll be in fine shape for your arrival home!   :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 07:53 PM

10-4, that's a roger on woolies.... In the meantime get that sh*t melted! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 07:56 PM

Oops, forgot-- Bill & Rita-- current plan is to depart Sewanee about noon of the 14th and stop a night at the Wytheville, VA Comfort Inn about an hour out of Roanoke, then leave W'ville the 15th about 11AM and head for the P-Vine Domain to help her straighten out Bobert. Haha jes' funnin, Bobber!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Nov 04 - 10:37 PM

that would mean you'd get there Monday afternoon? I'll check with Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 11:31 AM

Um, yes, as far as my travel-spaced brain can determine. Tell Rita she might want to bring those chord sheets from our gospel book that I sent her last year via Dick G.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Nov 04 - 11:45 AM

travel can be a mixed blessing...as with many things..*grin*

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 12 Nov 04 - 09:19 AM

Plan is still on track. Maybe now I can afford a damn map, too.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bobert
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:22 PM

I am in the Bobertland!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: LadyJean
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 01:29 AM

It's probably for the best I didn't see this sooner, or I'd have offered you my spare bedroom.
The @#$%^&**^%#@!!! movers stacked everything I own on the first floor and didn't set up the beds, so I'm sort of camping here now.
Hope you liked Pittsburgh.

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 10:42 AM

Hey Woman....aren't you home YET??????!?!?!?!?!

I'm thinkin' that you are on your way home today...it's a mighty fine day for travellin'.....blue skies with lots of sunshine....still chilly...but a mighty fine day!!!!!!

Will be glad to see you get home safely!!! I *KNOW* you are going to have tons to share!   :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Rich(bodhránai gan ciall)
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 05:30 PM

Sounds like you're pretty well covered, but I'm In Pittsburgh and can put you up if needed. Let me know.
Rich

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: Bobert
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 08:19 PM

Susan should be home by now... We said our "see-ya-later's" about noon today in Fredrick, Maryland, which is liike about 5-6 hours from her home...

She was a tad on the homesick side missing first, the cat, then the 2 dogs and then, Greg... So by now she is prolly getting 'round to sayin' "Hey" to PG, alias Poor Greg...

Awwww, jus' funnin'. Greg went well ahead of the dogs and only a few licks behind the cat.... Shoot, I'd be happy to be in 2nd place 'round my house with the P-Vine but... Hey, 3rd ain't bad...

Sniff, I miss S~... This visit was way too short... but the best part about it is I know where Pa is... I gotta a map book wid all the states in in...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 11:07 PM

I'm home! And I will make a FULL report!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Nov 04 - 02:12 PM

Reporting:

The whole purpose of my trip was to gather information, insights, resources, and contacts for our local churches' rural/small-church ministries. "A Mission from God," as the Blues Brothers call it. Because the vision was large and the budget small, it was possible only with the generosity of many; first among these were, of couse, Mudcatters.

I set out the first day for a UMC conference about building cooperative, multi-parish ministries. The history of these in our diocese and local area are not great, but this event promised to yield much in how they can be done, and I was not diasppointed. The UMCs were great about having an invading Episcopalian spy, and promptly adopted me, electing me secretary of their multi-state town & country association and piling me high with resource materials. Of course meetings are hard to juggle across the distances, and my suggestion about a discussion forum was immediately adopted for cyber-meetings and cyber-idea-exchanging. It didn't hurt when I talked in glowing terms about Mudcat, how musicians swap help and how in fact I would be sleeping at a number of Mudcatters' houses to make my ambitious trip possible. They also saw immediately that they could host one another for such trips, and of course my house turns out to be a halfway point for many of the farthest-traveling to their annual meeting in Western PA! :~)

My milk-crate now half-full of donated books, with more than two weeks of trip and two conferences yet to go, I got on the road for my first MudStop-- a return to Chez Hollowfox and her GREAT kids. Foxy and I went out for a wonderful fish fry on the way to her house, and once there I got reacquainted with H'fox and cats in short order. You must ask H'fox about the Maori youth troupe she kidnapped for a night on a tour they were on.

Last time we stayed there, she gave me her bed (near single upstairs bathroom, and good for health issues I had then). Being in better shape now, this time I had brought a bedroll, my huge softrunk of pillows, and !Voila! Le Pee Buckette. La Fox roasted a chicken (yum!) and I made couscous to go with it. Garlic Liquer in the sauce, hm, also yum! From there on, a too-brief visit with the kids after school ("Wizzy's here, Wizzy's here!", a few of Ohio's really-nasty TV campaign ads, some Japanese anime's, and a brief but sound sleep on the commodious couch.

(We squeezed in a talk about ministry in there somewhere, too, and the challenges of getting youth involved in things adults think are good for them. This first MudVisit set a pattern that continued at each MudStop-- they turned out to be of a whole with the purpose of the trip, every time! And very ecumenical, too as you will see in the rest of the report's installments!)

Morning tea and pee-bucket emptying came all too soon, but being as I was on a mission, I got on the road for Kaintuck pretty quick... after entrusting her oldest with the Halloween goodies I'd brought, for distribution to the sibs. Foxy led me through the confusion of roads back to the interstate and off I went, playing one of the CDs she'd given me and hoping to meet up with Clan Spaw in due course.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 09:34 AM

Reporting:

So I set off with Spaw's directions but no map. You see, the trip's funding had not all come in before I set out. Each leg of the trip, I knew I would have to be checking back home to see what had come in to know what my budget would be for that place and whether I would have to head home right away. Also I was carrying van-camping stuff in case MudHosts and schedule did not mesh, or in case funds dried up for my last and most expensive stop. Anyhow, I didn't have maps, and printers I'd had access to were not real good with color, so I did look at my route in Expedia before leaving, and I did print directions for all the stops I knew about, but no maps on board. I figured (being on a mission and all) that whatever directions or directional refinements I needed along the way, I could count on people THERE to send me on to the next place.

Well, I was tired when I got to Foxytown but tireder when I left, but I read back Spaw's directions twice and he said I had it right. I drove and drove. It was all taking much longer than the directions seemed to indicate. I had not asked my usual question, either-- "What will I pass just BEFORE I get to this or that spot?" At one point, by the clock, I thought I must surely have overshot the directions. Since it was to be a lunch meeting, I had skipped breakfast. My blood sugar got pretty low, and I got dumber and dumber. Finally I decided I would need to give up and I got off at a Bob Evans. I thought, I'll have a bite and see where I am, and if I'm near the meeting point (even tho it's much later than the agreed time), I'll get off again and see if they're still there. But the waitress said I was more like an hour from the spot. I assumed I'd messed up and that it was behind me. But an hour after I got back on the road I PASSED it.

I had phoned Mary in Kentucky asking her to get a message of regrets to Spaw. God bless that woman. She was to be my stop for that night, and I was SO far away. Even after lunch I felt pretty lousy, so I said I might not get there that night-- she said it would be about 4 hours, if I recall right. I said, "Tell you what, suck me in on a prayer line. Just pray me there." She giggled and agreed, and you know, the rest of the trip there was like rolling down a gentle hill. I sang, I drank water, and I felt excellent. I think this was the leg where I hooked up the MP3 player to the car via FM transmitter, and a couple of good radio shows passed the longest stretch. And I got there, not TOO late at night, and found her house because she had given me GREAT directions and had indeed been praying me there.

Well, folks, let me tell you, Mary is a gracious hostess and her husband Truman is a hospitable gentleman. We sat up talking a little bit and when I told Mary my mission, darn if she didn't hook me up by phone with a close friend who had LOTS to share, right on topic. And then I sort of fell over into her spare bed, after a tour of all the available upstairs comfort options, and BAM, after her cat visited me briefly I was out, and I slept like a baby and woke greatly refreshed. We had tea and muffins, then decided to tour her town before she treated me to brunch.

Mary is one of those people who, when she drives around town, tells you who all the people are that we pass on the sidewalk, and then stops to say "Hey" and share the latest news with them. It was so special, seeing all her dear places around town, places she'd raised her kids and so on... her real world. And it was such a treat to see this sweet lady with friends and acquaintances, hear the rhythm of Kentucky life in the give and take and in the news shared... to see someone I had only known from a distance, settled in a life where she is loved all day and loves 'em all right back. (And she's so pretty, like a little bird, small but so strong!) We met church friends at the restaurant and they had things to share with me too... and GRITS, oh yes, I was back in the land of grits and ham and real fried chicken and sweet tea.

I can't recall if it was before or after brunch, but at some point Mary took me into her music room (that's what I call it anyhow), sat me down beside her at the piano and we did a verse or so of a hymn-- she said I couldn't leave till she hear me sing. It was lovely to make music with her.

The visit ended all too soon, and I set off for nearby Nashville.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Traveling Later This Year, PA-TN-PA
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Nov 04 - 12:39 PM

Reporting:

So when I arrived at Mary's (KY) I began to take stock of how I was doing physically. My ankles by now, from all the sitting, were the size of Newfoundland, and I knew I was heading into a stressful set of more conferences and meetings. I was much tireder than I normally would have expected to be under such circumstances, mentally and physically. I concluded that the first conference had been so mentally stimulating that I needed to rethink my balancing plan... more physical exercise (which for me means aquatic), and more totally-alone time. I also realized that a floor-flop while already tired was probably not the best choice. Cuz... I was on a mission, not specifically a Mudcat Journey, and it seems I don't have the stamina yet to mix the two real well.

Well, at Foxy's I had learned of some encouraging funding news. So at Mary/KY's, I made the hard decision to do a motel stop near Nashville, and the cheapest one I could find with an indoor pool was, unfortunately, not as close to Kim C's as I had hoped when I booked it. It seemed not the best idea to try to head out to find her place from where I was. So when I got to the room and dragged my stuff in, I called her, and we had a lovely chat, laughing and laughing. I can't remember now what was so funny, but that girl positively CRACKLES with live-wire energy! And I will travel that way again, so...

The motel was the BEST. It was VERY cheap, right off the highway so easy to find, VERY mobility-impaired accessible, and the pool--- it was huge, VERY warm, easy steps down into it, a nice deep end for aquajogging, and lit only by the lights in the Waffle House and Wendy's parking lots. The surrounding deck was solid wall up to about 4', then glassed up to a high, ribbed-fiberglass, slanted ceiling-- like a greenhouse roof. And I had it ALL to myself. Just lovely. And quiet.

The motel had all-exterior corridors, which meant I could use the car as the closet and bring in only the essentials, and go out easily if I needed anything. No stairs, not even a curb to step up. Warm evening, so back and forth to the pool was no problem. I dined on a repast of ramen noodles and I forget what else, that I had with me, and I had tea in the room for slow wakeup time. A magical night.... Great, comfy bed. TV!! (Had not had TV news for 5 days by then.) Wonderful breakfast. Very nice Hindu proprietor, SO gracious. Not like usual US manners-- when I thanked him so much for his motel, he said, "My pleasure to serve you, lady."

Kim, next time I stay, come party with me over there, and bring your suit! :~) We can play some tunes over at the Waffle House!

On from there to sunny Sewanee. More later.

~S~