And...... I'm back! Just like that!

Or at least it seems that way.  Was I really gone Friday - Tuesday?  Seriously?  I journaled while I was away so that I would have something to write about.  Want a quick synopsis?

Day 1.  Friday.  Dropped off Sheeba with trainer.  Picked up rental car - a 2021 Camry (because I won't let him drive my car and he won't let me drive the trip).  Came home and packed up the car.  Stress level begins to increase.  Hubby's driving abilities begin to really stress me out.  Enroute to northern Arizona, he runs OVER a roundabout, rather than going around it.  We get to the location, and with the narrow one-way lane to the office and to the house we would be staying in, I thought I was going to have a stroke.  Seriously.  I even told him so.  He couldn't maneuver the vehicle. Just to get to the office and to find a place to turn around to go back the other way to the house, I had to get out of the car to get it turned around.  And he wouldn't / couldn't listen to me.  I was totally out of control trying to get him to hear me and do what I was telling him.   He backed the bumper into a stack of rocks as he tried to turn around (before I got out of the car).  A couple walks by and says 'oh we understand the difficulty, we drive a Tahoe'.  Oh that made me feel better.  Not.  I just stood there and looked at them.  After several attempts to move the car here, back up, come forward, sigh.... we finally made it up to the house.   I don't think it was a car issue and I don't know why he had to get a full-size car when we were going to be on a one-lane road!   We've stayed there before!  And he claimed there was a big glare on the car and he couldn't see past the hood.

To describe it a little better, picture a pointed star.  Cut off one of the points.  That point was our turn INTO the resort, and also if we wanted to go straight up to the house.  Picture rocks on both sides of the drive - which is one lane.  Now going up to our house is a little steep, and has a concrete road, one lane, and rocks on both sides of the concrete.  If you go off the concrete, you will hit the rocks, and fall off the road.  Literally.   And there are very few places where you can maneuver turning around.  Even in our driveway I had to direct him to move up, move back, until we could get where he could drive DOWN the driveway.  

By this time I am totally out of sorts.  We unpack then (gasp) attempt to leave to go to Flagstaff (because Sedona was a mess) to find a place to buy groceries.  We chose Walmart as we came into town.  It was a nightmare.  

My fault.  I should have gone with original plan #1 and pack food to take.  I did not.  I should have gone with original plan #2, stop on the way out of town and pick up groceries to take.  We did not.  Plan # 3 was to go to Flagstaff and get groceries.  It was dirty, very small compared to super Walmarts elsewhere.  I tried to think fast as to what to buy to get us through the days without having to leave again.  Eggs, ham, bread, several cans of soup, beef stew, bagel bites (ick - don't get those), mustard, pickles, lunchmeat, a couple meal packs, milk, orange juice.  I couldn't wait to get out of there.  Oh - we found a lumberjack shirt for hubby.  Another nightmare getting back to the resort (hubby claimed he knew the way, then realized he was wrong and Siri rescued us.)

Day 2, Day 3, Day 4.  We didn't leave the house.  On Day 4 we did do a short walk.... hubby doesn't like to walk and had every excuse for not going any further.   We ate breakfast and dinner most every day out on our deck facing the woods.  That was very nice and I did enjoy that - even though we were on vacation and I had to figure out every meal - it's was ok.  And I had bought enough food that we didn't have to go shopping again.

The house was awesome - roomy, with a porch deck nearly all around the house.  We went out a lot and just sit outside and talked.  Yes, we talked.  Yes, by day 2 I had calmed down and we were able to talk with each other.  I really thought I was going to die day 1 with the stress on the inside.  

We were going to leave Day 4 and go up to Flagstaff for the day, but hubby didn't want to leave the house.  Probably a good idea since I stressed so bad getting in there.  

Positives - I got a lot of crocheting done, did a lot of reading.  With no internet and no wifi, we had limited phone service.  We were both afraid of roaming charges so didn't use our phones that much.  I managed to finish one blanket and begin two others.

But the best part was there is a bay window in the master bedroom and it had a glider rocking chair and stool - and that is where I got to sit for my quiet time every morning.  I looked out over the woods and it was just so calm and peaceful.  

Day 5 it is time to pack up and head back down the mountain.  Both of us were a little nervous, but I walked him through how we were going to turn the car around, get down to the, get the car turned around to head out.  I hoped he understood.   After a few words, we finally were out of the resort area and heading down the road to home.

He ran through the middle of a roundabout in Sedona.  There are no words.  I told him he was on the roundabout and he goes 'I know.'.  Is there any wonder I felt my stress level heading to the upper levels.   I kept my eyes on my crochet because I couldn't watch the road any longer.  And prayed for safety.

We made it to Rock Springs for lunch and after eating, headed the rest of the way home.   We eventually made it.  Then the stress of getting the car back to the rental place and see if we were going to be hit for the scratch for the bumper.  They came out, walked totally around the car, stopping at the rear (and I'm thinking they see it) and making a note, then getting the mileage and gas and he went back in.  When hubby came back, we definitely had favor, for they didn't charge for the scratch (maybe if it was a dent they would have).  It wasn't a BAD scratch, but it always grows when you know it is there.  Going on from there we picked up Sheeba and headed back home.

We made it.  Today I'm back to work with 309 emails to respond/delete/create to.   Now that it is afternoon, I have finally gotten through checking each email, but I still need to act on several of them.  A plus is that a meeting I had this afternoon is about budget so I was told I didn't have to attend it.  Gives me two hours back.   Oh so much to do!!

Maybe tomorrow I will have more interesting things to tell - or not.  It's amazing how things can be 'nice' while you aren't at home, but when you are back home, things seem to revert back to 'the way we were'.  Oh well.  It was nice while it lasted.

Welcome home!