It all started last Thursday. I was feeling all kinds of down with the signing of the papers and his moving out of state to open a business. I was bawling my eyes out at work and after 3 months, my boss thought it was time for me to 'cowboy up' and get better. I jumped on Yahoo travel and within an hour had tickets for Houston and a rental car. I had to leave for the airport at 7am the next day. I had 12 hours to get ready.

It was not a non-stop so I had to get off in Memphis and board a second plane. Both flights, nice and short. Got to Houston and picked up the rental. It was a nice car. 2007 Pontiac G6. Found Houston after 4 tolls at $1.50 each. Everythings bigger in Texas, especially their toll roads! The speed limit is 70 which means 80 to Texans. Found a Walmart and bought all the liquid things I couldn't bring on the plane and some toys to spoil Traven with. Checked into a Motel 6, poolside room.
Two beds and cable.

Friday night I visited with Amal and Noor and smoked argilla til after midnight. Went back to the room and bounced on the beds for awhile, took a 30 minute hot shower and slept for a few hours.

Saturday--retail therapy. Amal had to work and I shopped. Everyone is so dang friendly in Texas! Each store I went in, they greeted me so nice. Somewhere about 1pm I decided to drive to Dallas for dinner. :| Dallas is no where near Houston. Nice chinese buffet and some pleasant conversation and I am back on the road to Houston. I decided to take a different route. Not such a good idea. I ended up on a longgggggggggg darkkkkkkkkkk road (Rt 35) and got headed to Austin somehow. Now it is 4am and I am lost beyond belief. You can drive 2 hours easy and find nothing. At 5:30 am I was lost in downtown Houston which looks remarkably like downtown Chicago. Back to the motel at 6am and crashed for 4 hours. Checked out, went to Amal's again and stayed with them til 1am. Left for the airport for a 6am flight. Got lost again, good thing I left early. Two more flights and I was back in Chicago.

As I left Texas, I set all my memories and pain on the ground. I left the last 5 years sitting there on the runway and came back a new woman. I have not cried once since getting back and I don't think I will.

I am hooked now tho! I want to travel all over ! Next is a beach to walk on with a cup of coffee. Who lives near a beach?

Jackie

thats awesome jackie! im glad you had a great time! i hope everything else works out for you!!!

That's great to hear, Jackie! Sounds like it was just what you needed! Well done, amal!

ahem. I live near the beach if 6 blocks away is close enough for you.

All I can say is life is short. Enjoy every day. I am happy you are getting on with your life and if you can help it don't look back!!!!


Angel

Our beach is a 5 minute walk away but it's a wee bit chilly!!! Good leaf peeping right now though and tons of cozy restaurants with fireplaces and good food!!!!!!!


Jackie the BEST vacations I have had have been cruises. Honestly you can get very good deals on cabins these days and your food is all paid for and all you have to do is sit in a lounge chair and be waited on hand and foot! Just find a buddy to go with and escape life! I miss going on cruises soooo much but the Egypt budget overrode the cruise budget so no more for me for a loooong time.

Yes, Amal was just what the doctor ordered. It was so gracious of her and her family to accept me on such short notice. Their hospitality means the world to me. Her hugs were comforting and her husbands humor cracked me up. (he's got this cute little dance he does ) Traven is such a charming boy, so polite and smart.

Sarah--don't say it. I have a bad habit of taking this literally. (just ask amal..lol ) You say come'on and I am apt to book a flight.

Doods, cruise sounds cool. I will look into that.

Jackie

it is to us from texas

Good for you on having a great time!!! and you needed that time off to clear your head from all the negative. Sorry you got lost though LOL. But I'm very happy you came back a new woman, alhamdulillah!

By the way, you're always welcome here in Puerto Rico!! Beaches are what islands are all about LOL .

Hugs,

Ayesha

Pictures?

Jackie, I am glad you had such a nice time!!!

I'm glad you had a good time Jackie!

Dallas? What were you thinking girl? and for the beach...all you had to do is get lost one more time buton the south side and you would have ended up in Galveston!

You sound wonderful. I am so happy for you!

I am glad you had a nice time.

yay Jackie! I'm so glad you had fun on your adventure hope to see many more of Jackie's Adventures

Beach w/ coffee....hmmm...I live 45 minutes from a beach but Doodle's right, New England is getting pretty chilly! (Doesn't mean the beaches aren't nice...good for walks, free parking, and no crowds this time of year!)

Mexico. I can see me in Mexico watching a sunset from the beach....

Jackie

Hmmmm Mexico - I can see you too Jackie - YOU GO GIRL!!!!

If you go to Mexico, try Puerta Vallarta and take the boat to Las Caletas. It was great. Served dinner ON THE BEACH and then watched a musical/dance thing on a stage in the open air...oh the memories.

dream it - do it... you deserve it heck we all do at some point

Glad you went for a little adventure!!

How about Cozumel ? (eastern Mexico)



I'm 10 minutes from SF Bay; 60 min or so to the Pacific. Not warm as Mexico...

Sweet! I could see your smile in your post and that made me feel good! Travel is so good for the soul, it should be regularly subscribed!

I used to live in Los Cabos! I have several friends there. We can hook you up! They all work in the hotels/resort business!! Beaches are fabulous there, and the water is an amazing temperature! The night life is neverending, and the people are friendly.

We lived at the southern tip of Baja California Sur, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez and each night, sitting on our doorstep, you could hear the huge waves crashing all around us.

Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know this pic is corny & cheesy, but I did it for JJ!! It's the love that counts.

It's great you got away. That's always good! I'm for Mexico with ya!

I can tell from your post that you're healing and happy. That's awesome, Jackie!

Mexico sounds great...go for it!


OMG I'm about Monnik's pic.

HEY!!! i thought your A$$ was coming to boston??!!!

I can bring you to a beach... you just better wear a sweater and jacket!!

Glad things are looking u for you Jacque....keep your head up!

Please come to Boston.......isn't that a song? hmmmmm ya know, doods,,all it takes is a 'hey jax, come on over' and I am so there.

Jackie

well... you got the invite!!! I *love* company!!!!!!

We can have a totally rad party at my place!

14 hour drive so nilch that ......I will definately fly. (get it,,,fly high...) I so crack myself up sometimes. Mid-december is looking to be my next trip, I have 4 paid days to use and with creative sceduling I willl have plenty of time to visit my east coast buds...(buds. ) I am just tool funny today.

Jaklen
hey is America's Next Top Model on tonight?

Hey Jaklen, no sticky icky at work! LOL

I just took the last half of December off, so....come on out!

And yes, ANTM is on tonight. I'm team Heather, what about you?

ANTM in VJ chat tonight! Woot be there or be square. Think the frawg will join us?

East coast meetup! Way cool How far do jenn! and doods live from each other? Who else is out that way?

Jaklen

Jackie! Is that all we get? A picture of your rental car?

Yeah. I was expecting something a little more interesting!

I have cute pics of Traven and Noor, but don't want to post them without Amal's permission, so as soon as I get that go ahead from her,,,more pics!

J
It wasn't a huge photo-op, I was emotional and Amal was emotional and the only ones not in tears was Traven and Noor I have a pic of my bed at Motel 6 and a rest stop I enjoyed. I promise on my East coast trip to take more pics. Maybe someday I can learn to golf on the West coast

Jackie I'm so happy that you had a good trip and enjoyed yourself like you did. Your really a wonderful person and deserves the best in life. :-)

ditto!

Hey, I live about 45 minutes from Providence, if you go up to Boston I'll definitely be up for a road trip!

OMG Jenn! I love that catapillar with the hookah!!!!!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO are YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU????????

LOL

BEST MOVIE EVER! Its totally not for kids though. The guy that wrote it must have been totally high! I remember watching it as a kid and thinking where do I get those shrooms that make you get bigger???

Totally! One of my favorite songs...

One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice
When she’s ten feet tall

And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell them a hookah smoking caterpillar has given you the call
Call Alice
When she was just small

When the men on the chess board
get up and tell you where to go
And you just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the white knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's "Off with her head!"
Remember what the dormouse said

Feed your head
Feed your head

LOL, now I want to watch the movie and have some tea!

i remember that movie too. and white rabbit by ja. or was it js by then?

I TOTALLY agree with going on a cruise. Been on a couple myself. One of the best times I have ever had, I went with 4 of my girlie friends.

I have had friends and family go on an Alaskan cruise that they say is absolutely breathtaking. I also HIGHLY recommend Puerto Rico, specifically the Dorado Beach area.

Just try to avoid those 3-4 days cruises AKA "booze cruise". I went on one and I hated it!

Yeah...I agree. Too many booze hounds looking to hookup. I liked the cruises that have multiple ports so that you can see different places.