indiana insights

Embarking on an epic journey, I headed to Indiana last Thursday to see a friend for the last time before she heads off to California. I might add that by friend, she might be more like me than anyone else I know. She's smart, bitchy, funny, likes to drink, fun to be around, straightforward, and all together awesome. She does have about a foot on me though. As I often do, I learned some interesting things about myself and others on this journey.

First, the map quest directions said it would take me 4 hours and 24 minutes to get from my work to Texas Road House (where Emily works). So I planned about 3 1/2 hours. As I approached the intersection of 90 and 294, I decided to stay with the directions and take 90. Wrong choice. After going 40 miles in 2 hours (which I later smartly calculated to 20 miles per hour) through the Windy City I made a life choice. I will never live in Chicago.

Once I finally arrived, 5 1/2 hours later, we headed to the bar. There, we found an annoying 34-year old woman who decided my friend Ray would be her prey for the evening. It was in the light of her drunk eyes that I found out I look like a 34-year old. Now, I think most people might find this offensive. I however, cannot wait to be 30 (flirty and fun). Lesson learned here: avoid annoying drunk ladies over the age of 35 at the bar.

Friday went pretty normal. Until we went to the scariest bar on the planet. I thought campus got a little sketchy being in the ghetto and all. I WAS WRONG. Four-minutes into our stay I thought I was going to die. Ten minutes later I was too tipsy to care. I learned that night to be friendly to everyone who walked into the bar. You never know who has a pistol... or when the next bar fight will be.

Saturday I spent the day screaming like a baby on some of the biggest life-threats, aka. roller coasters, in the world at King's Island. While I found some good kiddie coasters by the end of the day, dangling in my seat 200 feet in the air and climbing to 230-feet to fall at 80 mph at a 74% grade left me voiceless and crying. Driving home that night (after a brief consideration to drive an additional 2 hours at midnight to see a friend in Columbus) I realized just what a difference a wind shield makes.

Sunday, I over came all obstacles. Or my biggest obstacle- getting lost. After sitting for a half hour going less than a tenth of a mile on I-65, I pulled out my map. Maybe one of the most dangerous life decisions I could have made. I found my own route, off-roaded it in my Grand Prix, and headed to State Road 41. This went well for about 30 minutes until I realized it didn't connect with the right highway. Thanks goodness for Cassie at OnStar... she kept me from hours of wondering around BFE Indiana.

All and all, it was a successful trip, especially for a lost, scared 34-year old.