Alice hates ...

Hi guys!

I am tired. So very very tired. The trip has been good, though. I'll give you a recap while I steal wireless internet from someone in my new complex.

We set out Tuesday morning at five. Luckily Matt let me sleep through the first shift of driving to San Antonio. That leg of the trip wasn't terrible, just a really long drive. I packed a whole bunch of food in the car, though, and we stopped for sandwiches and to switch drivers in El Paso, Texas, after about six hours or seven of driving. I had chosen to wear my shortest of gray shorts, my ASU shirt and knee socks for the drive, so I got some looks when we stopped. But I just figured I'm bringing Arizona style across the country.

With me driving, it took about one hour for me to get a speeding ticket. Sucks. I was doing 87 in an 80 mph zone. And according to our fine Texas Highway Patrolman, "Eighty is fast enough, ma'am." Sure, it was mostly bogus because everyone passing me was doing over 80, but I was raised with the law so I am incapable of arguing it.*

*Note, guys: I took that alignment quiz, too, and apparently I'm chaotic evil. Which, if I understand it correctly (and I'm marrying a complete dork that knows these things) is the most evil, being destructive and "demonic". Sorry. All I can say, though, is apparently revenge is a bad thing, and my lust for that and power lends me to ... the dark side. I'm not saying it's wrong, I was just shocked. Anyway, back to the story.

After my speeding ticket, we were stuck doing exactly 80 mph through vast swaths of Texas. We ended up being later than we thought to Leah and Raf's. We got there about 9 p.m. central time.

They had picked up an inflatable queen sized mattress, which was very generous, since it was also very very comfy. Though it's an investment in their visitors, so if anyone is swinging by San Antonio, there's good lodgings at the Rafaleah residence.

We had great chats, they got to meet Matthew Darling, and I think he was well received. I know he really liked them both, too, and said they were as cool as I always said.

Lots of chats, then sleeps, oh, and Moses! Skinny cat! lol!! Still loud, but he looked good. Plus he walks like he's still fat, sort of with his legs splayed. Funny.

The next morning, we had a tasty breakfast and pie, which is always awesome before noon. Then back home, were we played Wii Play on their new Wii. Really good time. Plus lots of great wedding tips.

Okay, okay, so good friends aside... we left Raf and Leah's place around 1 p.m. and headed to Houston. The drive was much shorter, about 4 and a half hours, because we hit the afterwork traffic downtown.

The Quattrini's (Dad's mum and pop) took us to the Kemah boardwalk for dinner at a very nice aquarium restaraunt. I had the best fish in mango sauce EVER. I'm still thinking about it. Seriously, it's like, I could continue eating that dinner for the rest of my life. Lol. Conversation was fun, too. It was actually really good to see both of them, and Matt was very charming and personable. They put us up very comfortably in a spare bedroom... and Virginia made us a fabulous breakfast the next morning. Plus Matt saw his first round of baby pictures...

The next morning we headed out for Silsbee Texas, where my other set of grandparents live. Grandma Marie, it was so good to see her. She's still tiny, and almost completely insane, but she sure charmed Matt. Grandma's always been really good at teasing me, so when she launched into telling us about her hot tub and trying to get me to test it out... Anyway, she's funny. Plus grandpa had great stories to tell Matt. Apparently he's from Missouri, where Matt when to college; and grandpa had served as a civilian contractor in Hawaii, when Mom was born there, around the same time Matt's Dad was in high school and his grandfather also serving as a civilian contractor on the same island. Very neat coincidences.

We saw my aunt, uncle, and two younger cousins. Ashley just had a baby, so I met my very first second cousin. It scared me, naturally, and Julie (my aunt) made me hold it. It was very very wierd. Then it started crying, which scared me so bad I started crying, and Matt took it, and it stopped. He's good with kids I guess.

We left that night, at 7 p.m., and started the drive to Atlanta. That was terrible. It rained and stormed the WHOLE way, across 4 states! We had a measly 30 minute break somewhere in Louisiana. Plus a scary hail storm too, but the car didn't seem to take any damage. It took us... about 13, 14 hours? Terrible. Terrible. LOL I can't say much more than that.

We finally got in about 8:30 this morning, signed the lease, met the movers, had the stuff moved in, then took a nap as best we could before starting to unpack. This part is fun though, because we're in our new place, and it's gorgeous. :D

As soon as I unpack my camera charger, I'll take good pictures of everything.

Now we're watching the first season of Lost on DVD and relaxing before we crash hard, tonight.

Kisses!

Ace