Eric and I maintained a gas log for our entire trip across the United States. Every time we got gas I would make a note of the price per gallon, how many gallons we purchased, the total cost, how many miles since our last gas purchase, and where we were. I asked him for months to bring me the gas log from the RV, so I could tally up the final amounts on the computer.
He finally gave it to me, right before he left, and I made him a new gas log to keep track going back to New York. It will probably cost him the same thing going back as it did with us coming, even though he’s going in a straight line and we zig-zagged all across America.
So, here are the numbers: The average price we paid for gas was only $2.90!!! Just imagine. A year ago! Our total gallons purchased was 1,079.52. Over a thousand gallons of gas! Our total cost for gas was $3,087.98. I don’t think that’s bad for 15 weeks on the road! That’s an average of $206 per week. We traveled 11,263 miles -- an average of about 750 miles per week. Of course, some weeks we didn't move much (Chicago, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles) and other weeks we traveled 3 states in one day!
One day, I’m going to tally up the total receipts for our trip (I’ve saved every single one) and figure out how much it all cost. We had the cost of campgrounds every night. We usually ate 2 meals out a day and had other costs, including souvenirs (very few), post cards (I spent a FORTUNE on post cards and stamps!), laundry, entertainment (zoos, aquariums, etc.) and other miscellaneous expenses (like STARBUCKS!). Anyway, I thought you’d all find that very interesting!
I fell asleep last night at 11:00pm. I woke up for some strange reason at 5:00am. There must have been a noise, but I don’t remember it. It took me at least an hour to fall back to sleep. My wheels started turning. I was worrying about Eric’s tire, and wondering how he’s doing. I eventually fell back to sleep and woke up again at 10:00am. That’s more like it!
When I got up, I worked on the computer for over an hour – sending and reading emails, completing the gas log, and reading the news on YAHOO. I also cleaned my desk. Then, I had breakfast (cereal) while I watched TV (last night’s SNL) and talked to Conrad (who already had his breakfast of seed).
I moved some things around in the 2nd bedroom. That’s where Eric had his workroom set up, and it’s where he stored all his bicycles, tools, and bicycle accessories. Now that it’s all gone, the only stuff left in there are boxes of things we haven’t opened – like artwork, decorative accessories, chandeliers and unframed posters.
I moved it all around, so that the room was as organized as possible, with the boxes pushed up against the walls. Eric had done a good job leaving it so neat (he even vacuumed), but he had boxes on the wall you look at when you pass the room. I wanted to move everything up against the other wall, so it’s not as noticeable.
There are also empty boxes in that room, which held the artwork we DID hang up, and some other stuff we are using. Eric thought we should keep the boxes, so we could just pack them back. I don’t know if we’ll need them or not, because the moving company doesn’t charge you for boxes and packing stuff. They charge you by the pound, and that is just an estimate they make when they look it all over – that isn’t even for the real weight. Nevertheless, they’re not in the way, so I guess – for now – I’ll hold onto them.
I heard from Eric in the afternoon. He’s still in Oklahoma City (not a bad place to be stuck) until he can get the tire situation fixed tomorrow. It was bad luck to have a flat on a Saturday afternoon, and everything’s closed on Sunday. So, he’s just relaxing until the tire shop opens tomorrow. It’s not like he has to be in NY on a certain date, so it’s no big deal, but I know he is trying to get there as quickly as possible, so he’s probably not thrilled with this delay. Let’s hope it’s the last!
I went food shopping in the afternoon, walking over to KEIL’S with my little cart. My father called as I was walking. I called them yesterday and told them that Eric had left. I knew they’d be worried about us both. My mom is actually a little happy about it, because she thinks of it as the first step to us coming back to the East Coast, which is what she really wants. I was also pleased that they’re not worried about me being here by myself, which is not what I expected. I thought my Mom would be upset that I'm all alone here, but she didn't seem to mind at all.
I guess they know I lived on my own for years before I was married, and they know I have a car, and a job, and an apartment, so there’s really nothing to worry about. I felt good about that, but I feel bad that they’re worried about Eric. They wanted to know what his plan was when he arrived in NY and I told them I didn’t think he had one and didn’t ask too many questions. This is Eric’s big adventure and I want him to do it his way and not interfere.
Anyway, I found out KEIL’S is pronounced “Kyle’s” and not “Keel’s”, which is how I’ve been pronouncing it for the last seven months. There was a woman in KEIL’S and she told me she was from out of town and wanted to know how to pronounce the name. I told her I wasn’t sure, as I had just been here seven months, but I was pretty sure it was “Keel’s.”
So, another woman overheard this exchange and said, “It’s really Kyle’s.” I apologized for giving the first woman misinformation and thanked the second woman. She apologized for horning in on our conversation, but she said she wanted to give us both the proper pronounciation. We both thanked her and went on our way!
It made me kind of sad to not buy all of Eric’s favorites. I passed right by the juice aisle (I don’t drink much, because the carbs are so high and I eat lots of fresh fruit), and didn’t pick up his favorite chips, ice cream, or American cheese. I pretty much stuck with the fruits/veggies, got some salmon, and a box of Triscuit reduced fat crackers, instead of chips. They’re great for hummus (which I love) and I like a snack of something crunchy sometimes.
When I got home I put everything away and I wanted to go out again, but I was sweating so profusely that I decided to just relax for a while to cool off. I got undressed and watched the elimination show of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, which I had missed the other day.
It’s really hard not having air conditioning and being in the apartment during the day. I really should have turned around and gone out again, because it’s better outside than inside, but the bedroom is the coolest part of the apartment, and it was nice in there for me and Conrad.
After SYTYCD, I watched LAST COMIC STANDING, which I had also missed the other day. There were not a lot of laughs. I really feel they picked some comedians to go to Vegas who were so much less funny than ones that were not chosen. Now, it’s down to the finals and they’re in L.A. and some of them are good, but some of them are just okay. I think every single joke should be a side-splitter at this point. Well, it’s still entertaining, and I definitely have my favorites.
I want to try to get my clothes together for the week. It’s something I was doing when I first started working, but now I’ve gotten lazy. Since I gained a few pounds it’s harder to put together some outfits. I really need to start exercising. Can someone please tell me the secret to getting your butt in gear?
I’d love to go swimming in the pool downstairs, because it would cool me off considerably and is great exercise, but I’m too embarrassed to be seen in a bathing suit, even with a t-shirt over it (which I always do to hide my body and avoid a sunburn). I should go at night, but I don’t think you’re allowed after sundown. Darn! I could just keep a towel wrapped around me until I get in the pool and then wrap myself up immediately after. Maybe I’ll try it and see what happens, but I swear if I hear chuckling or groaning it’s really going to hurt my self-esteem!
I have two things to look forward to this week: The group I used to work with (minus my boss) is going out to lunch for one of the guy’s birthdays on Wednesday and they invited me. This is the group I went to lunch with two weeks ago, and also the group I did the teambuilding with, when we went to the Go Kart place. They’re a young, fun group!
I’m also looking forward to the company picnic on Saturday afternoon. That should be a lot of fun!
The truth is, I’m looking forward to just going to work tomorrow. Keeping busy and being around people is the best thing in the world for me right now, and it’s definitely enjoyable at work. I’ll be learning more in the mornings, as I continue training for this new job, and I’ll definitely look forward to my afternoons in HR where the “girls just want to have fun!”