15 posts tagged “money”
We ran two hours behind schedule since my ex-husband decided to play games to an extent where the police had to help return the boys. It's both fortunate and unfortunate that this happens so often that the boys aren't intimidated by the police. It's just a regular thing for them. I thank God that the police in my ex-husband's town have always been very helpful and concerned.
We left at 5:30pm Eastern time. We stopped in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at 11pm at the Days Inn. I had a heck of a time trying to find a hotel with a double room. A Holiday Inn north of Nashville tried to sell me the same suite we ended up in at the Days Inn for over $100 (before tax). The room we had was still expensive and over-budget but I got it for $80 so hey.
We left the southern Nashville suburbs around 10am and got home at 11:30pm with an eighth of a tank left. It rained from southern Georgia all the way down to North Port. Traffic ran smoothly, for the most part, and we didn't have any of the delays that we had traveling north.
Fuel was more expensive. In northern Florida, it cost me $3.55/gal. That's the most I've ever paid in my life.
Food costs for the return trip total $25; Hotel cost: $92; Fuel: $160; Total Return Trip: $277
Total Travel Expenses: $497
Total Trip cost with expenses during the week, including top-up cards: $902
If I didn't have to top-up my phone twice to deal with the problems my ex-husband caused, I would have been below $850.
Tom's taken Michael and Eddie to the Florida International Air Show again this year. They'll be gone all day as long as the weather cooperates.
We left Cave City, KY at 8am and arrived in Rensselaer at 1pm. The time zone fluctuated between Central and Eastern so my times are all Eastern.
We had time to run back to Sayler Makeever Cemetery to get the micro geocache hidden there, run some audio and take photos. It was cold and the wind made it worse, but the road was solid and the ground was firm enough. The cemetery is amazing.
We got to McDonald's at the same time as my mother and she bought us lunch. She's also giving me $100 when she brings the boys back so I can make it home. I said I was short. I won't worry about getting home now but I look forward to losing some weight this week!
The hotel I'm staying at is a small, family-run operation that's clean and reasonably priced. I'm across from the big cemetery and a mile down the road from Rensselaer's historic district. I didn't feel like doing anything today after I'd done the Sayler Makeever Cemetery. I want to rest and I'll get to waymarking and photography tomorrow after Mass. I have until Friday.
My mother is taking Michael and Eddie to see Horton Hears a Who and she's spoiling them as usual. I told them not to take advantage of my parents since my kids tend to ask for the moon and, being proper grandparents, my parents will give it to them. Their father should pick them up tomorrow at noon and drop them back to my parents' house on Friday at noon. Here's hoping it's all uneventful.
My father-in-law is a piece of work. That's all I'll really say about that since his huffing and puffing doesn't change anything, but it's just irritating. I'm thankful that Tom is handling all that now.
The totals for this leg of the trip:
Yesterday's total of hotel, food and fuel: $187
Today's expenses: food - $8, fuel - $25; Total travel expenses for today: $33
Total northbound trip: $220
My six-day hotel stay cost $285 and food will average $25. I've already eaten today at 0 cost, thanks to my mother.
I HATE SNOWBIRDS!
*cough*
We left at 8:45am Eastern. We crawled from Tampa until I-24. We went an average of 40mph between Macon and Atlanta and never went over 85mph! I couldn't trust the snowbirds not to jump ahead of me in the fast lane just to slam on the brakes for no reason. I was four hours behind schedule so I drove until 11pm to get us to Cave City, Kentucky. Because I'm in a tourist town, the hotel cost over $70. The other places were full and I didn't feel like driving until the next exit. I filled up the tank three times: Lake City, FL; somewhere inbetween Macon & Atlanta, GA; Franklin, KY (or close to it). This tank should get me to Indianapolis, if not all the way.
I cannot afford the gas to stop anywhere extra there or back, as much as I want to.
Cost totals for Day 1:
food - $13; fuel - $102 (still on full); hotel - $72
Other stuff happened today that's non-trip related that's worth telling but I'm just too tired to get into it. Let me sum up to say: My stupid ex is stupid and the people who like my photos rock my world.
When Jenny sent me her old Canon PowerShot S1 IS, I gave my ancient Sony Cybershot to Tom, who gave his Kodak EasyShare CX4310, who gave his 35mm to Eddie, who gave his 110 to Bailey. This weekend we went to Harbor Heights Park in Harbor Heights to take some pictures, repair a geocache hide and let the kids play.
Most of the weekend was spent cleaning, although I had originally wanted to go to Sarasota for my own private photo trip, especially with the deadline on the Sarasota Magazine photo contest coming up soon. Maybe next weekend.
We got the taxes done and our return, which is unfortunately a few thousand less than I thought it would be this year, should be here in a couple weeks.
Tennessee keeps looking better and better, but we'll see what's in the plan.
Here's a picture of my dog:
We left Whitehouse, TN around 9:30am and ended up at Rennsalaer, Indiana 90 minutes early. Prepared for such a situation, I brought out my GPS with the coordinates programmed for the geocaches in the area. My first pursuit was closest to where I was, Old Settlers (GCK423), an old cemetery that is the resting place for 19th century pioneers. I figured I could get the cache and then photograph and waymark. So, I followed my GPS down the empty backroads of snow-covered farmland until I came to a small crossing that beared nothing more than an old metal sign:
Excited to have found it, I turned onto the unplowed road. Immediately, I realised this wasn't very smart. If I continued, I'd get stuck. I stopped and threw the Kia into reverse to use my tracks back out. Too late!
So, I tried everything I knew to get myself out, but there was mud underneath. I was good and stuck. I called Progressive because I pay a hefty premium every month to have Roadside Assistance for such circumstances. Fifteen minutes later, the agent calls me to tell me that nobody in their network was willing to come out and get me. Nice, huh? So, I called 9-1-1. Almost everyone who passed by this road stopped to see what they could do to help, which was kind. The Sheriff's Deputy asked me about my firefighter plate (and I told him my husband is a retired firefighter) so he radioed this information (along with the age of my child) in all his valiant attempts to find options for me. In the end, he'd arranged for the local tow company to come out and pull me out without expectation of payment. They're pursuing my insurance for it and rightfully so. I have a couple more pictures of this failed geocaching adventure on Flickr.
I was an hour late to the McDonald's to get Michael and Eddie from my mother. She asked me if I told the Deputy the truth of why I was there. Of course I told him the truth. I don't think there's anything I could have made up that would have made my situation seem less stupid.
We left Rennsalaer, Indiana at 5pm (Eastern time) and stopped in Franklin, TN (or is it Murfreesboro?) at 11:30pm at the Best Western that promised wi-fi and failed to provide it.
We got back on the road at 9am and were on a good schedule for the rest of Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. We arrived home safely at 8:45pm on Saturday, January 5.
Trip totals:
Hotels: $133; Food: $50; Fuel: $240.50; Complete Trip Total: $423.50
I actually spent less in fuel despite costs being more, which could only account for the lack of sightseeing this time. (I would have rather spent the extra if I'd had the time!). The hotel was less because two nights were spent, instead of three.
We left two hours behind schedule at 8:30am. This means we crossed the Florida border into Georgia at 12:30pm and finally crossed into Tennessee at 5:30pm. Tommy napped in the morning, in the afternoon and for an hour in the evening. When he woke up at 7:30pm, we stopped here at the Days Inn in Whitehouse, TN. I love the free wi-fi. Fuel has been more expensive, ranging from the low $3/gal area to the high $2/gal area. The hotel was a savings but not enough to compensate for the fuel increase. Food has also been a little more but not considerably so.
After so much napping, Tommy is wired and refuses to settle down in the room. It's much more exciting to open the same night-table drawer repeatedly, play in the curtains, try to open the door (!!!), and turn the a/c on and off. It's freezing outside and I know he'll have us freezing by morning.
Recently, I tried to list the various police departments who have stopped me for traffic violations. Not only did I completely forget a few but I also misplaced one department as being in northern Florida when it was in southern Georgia. Add this to realising that Martin Springs Baptist Church, a little church with a little cemetery that I photographed last week, was in unincorporated Marion County, Tennessee and not in Georgia. I conclude that I don't know where I am half the time!
No stops last trip and so far no stops this trip. The Georgia state patrol was heavily watching the Macon area again, but weren't biting at anyone going 80-90mph, which was my average speed through these three states.
Michael and Eddie should be returned to my mother at my parents' house tomorrow at noon Central time. Even though I'm two hours off schedule today, I have been meeting all my timeline goals and should be able to set things right on tomorrow to meet as the appropriate time.
Tom didn't get paid today. Tomorrow is a holiday. This means that when my husband's boss gets off his fatcat ass to actually pay his employees, we will have the money he earned on January 2nd. They never fail to not pay him for the days he's out sick from injuries gotten at work. Can't manage to pay people on time, though, even if it fucks up their holiday.
After a restful stay at the Days Inn in Franklin, TN, I headed south. Traffic ran pretty easy, especially through the mountains, and with the wind at my back I managed an average of 90-100mph. I tried to find the Jack Daniels Distillery but failed horribly. It was fun to poke around Manchester, TN, the town of the distillery's exit.
I'd had my eye on this little white painted, red roof church with a small cemetery alongside I-75 since 2004. I finally took the time to exit and take pictures. A mile south of its exit in Martin Springs, the Martin Springs Baptist Church just seems so quintessential Tennessee.
Word has it that my ex-husband picked up Michael and Eddie from my parents' house a half-hour early. My mother failed to confirm that he had someone else driving, since his license is suspended, and which car they were in, if there was a weight-appropriate booster seat for Eddie, etc. I have been unable to reach them on the phone that I provided them, which is pretty typical. It's routine that they withhold contact until I have the police do a wellness check.
I arrived home at 10pm on Christmas Eve.
Trip totals: $258 in fuel; $205 in hotel; $60 in food; $523 complete trip total.
We arrived at the drop off in Rensselaen, IN a bit early, had some breakfast and waited for my mother to arrive. After placing many things that were in her car into my car, and many things that were in my car into her car, I said a tough goodbye to Michael and Eddie and we parted ways. My mother took them back to her house and I began the 1100-mile drive home.
These things are extraordinarily difficult for me emotionally. I can take the travel, the long driving, the weather changes, and the strain, but I really cannot stand telling my children goodbye and not seeing them for periods of time. Anything longer than a weekend is just too long. So, after I quit sobbing at 80mph and pulled myself together, I called a friend to let her know how close I was to being back in town.
Kevin and Tracey, once again, were gracious hosts. This time, they guided me around Bardstown, which is Tracey's hometown. We visited a few of the many historical places in the city, including their beautiful church, and had a yummy dinner at Chili's. I monopolised them for the entire afternoon and really had a lot of fun.
I made it to Franklin, TN, about 100 miles north of Chattanooga. When I get too tired to drive, my eyesight stops working long before my body or mind show any signs of fatigue. My vision gets blurry and I have trouble keeping my eyes focused, even with my glasses on, that's my signal to get off the road immediately. It's a peculiar way for my body to work, but at least I'll never fall asleep at the wheel. I'm in a Days Inn, which I rate with two thumbs up, four stars, or whathaveyou. It's clean, it's stocked, everything works, I have Comedy Central and HBO, a big desk, a big bed, a nice bathroom, a great view, etc etc etc. The price is $10 more than previous places. This is getting marked as a spot to stop at.
I kept an average speed of 80mph, needing to bring myself down to 70mph when the winds were trying to push my car around the road. After leaving Indiana, the weather cleared back up. It was still cold but there's a big difference between having some wind and freezing cold and having heavy wind, freezing cold and large snowflakes pelted on you. I spent $80 in fuel and currently have a full tank. Traffic has been light.
I still anticipate arriving home tomorrow.
My mother took Michael and Eddie to a movie and then they shopped for my father since it's his birthday. My father had a birthday party, kid-style, and the boys had a great time with it. Their father should pick them up from my parents' house tomorrow evening, if they follow the instructed times in the letters sent to everyone from everyone about this visitation. My ex-husband is all about pulling stunts now that I've filed this Petition to Domesticate, but I'm hoping and praying that this visitation goes off without a hitch or stunt. December 24 - January 4... it doesn't have to be difficult.
Due to lack of internet access, this post was written off-line and is being posted late. I hope Quality Inn is proud of themselves!
***
We started the day by grabbing a quick geocache by the interstate, then got back on I-75. We headed into the Louisville area around 7pm and got to hang with Tracey and Kevin for an hour, who were kind enough to bring a Christmas present and treats for the kids, as well as buying us dinner. Their company was enjoyed most of all.
I brought us into the Quality Inn in Lebanon, IN, which is not too far from my destination. This means that I should be able to get back south a ways before having to stop again. I'm about seven hours ahead of schedule for my earliest predictions. [This is good.]
Their internet does not work, despite advertising "free high speed internet" and I cannot hop on the wi-fi from the Flying J station. The television remote doesn't work, either. The room is clean and the vending machines are stocked. The price is also the same as the Days Inn from Valdosta, GA. I averaged about 80mph, going 65-70 through the mountains and busier cities. Today's fuel expense was $70, which I expect will take me to Rensselaen. This would make a total one-way fuel expense of $98, hotel costs estimated at $120 and food at $30 ($40 if our dinner had not been generously bought for us). I expect the same fuel expense on the return, hotel expense in the same neighbourhood and food will be significantly less. Given what's in my pocket, this works out fine.
I'm terribly sore that the internet isn't working. I would like to upload photos and search for caches in the area that the boys and I can pick up before we're apart. They had a lot of fun climbing the palm to get to the cache this morning. Michael is definitely my rock-wall climber. I'm at the phase of the trip where I dread the next step and am already missing them.
The weather has been amiable until Indiana. Once I entered Indiana, the weather turned harsh with cold rain. Yes, I now consider rain "harsh". The Weather Channel promises more harsh weather, this time extending down into Kentucky for my travel back home. I guess we'll just have to see who can get there first, the weather or me. I do not envy your weather, yankees, but I do envy your fuel prices. $2.79 - $2.86 per gallon is incredible! Southwest Florida averages between $3.01 and $3.30 per gallon!
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