GACE...and a bug bite on my face!

The past few weeks have gone by SO fast! I've been to Auburn the past three weekends and this week I went to Lake Lanier for the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement (GACE). I admit that there is about 10% of my brain that is straight up scatter brained and unorganized, and unfortunately that is where "book room at lodge for conference" fell. Ugh! Those who know me well or have traveled with me know that I am a complete hotel nazi! The mere fact of sleeping where 100's...maybe even 1000's of strangers have slept is enough to make me freak. I mean, I will even take Clorox wipes to wipe down the bathroom if it is a little sketchy. Anyway, since I missed the deadline, I still tried to reserve a room at the lodge since that is where the conference was being held. Negative ghost rider. ALL BOOKED! What an unwelcoming adventure I was now faced with! I was left with one other choice at that particular exit...dum dum dum.....Comfort Inn and Suites. I quickly googled them and promptly looked at the pictures. Especially the bedspread. This, folks, is where I draw the absolute line. I prefer duvet covers. Why? Because they are easily removed for washing purposes, that's why. The absolute worst is the floral bedspread with quilt backing underneath. My reasoning for this is because everyone needs to shed their epidermis. That's right, your dead skin. I imagine that every time this backing rubs up on someone stranger's legs, their dead skin flakes off and is now stuck in the backing waiting to touch YOU! Ok, that's enough of that...my skin is crawling just thinking of it.

Tomtom, who I've named Richard, ever so faithfully helped me arrive at my destination (remember later on how happy I am with Richard now). Great job Richard! I don't know where I'd be without you, seriously, no clue! I parked in a parking spot close to the hotel building and I walk to the back to start unloading my car. Ever get the feeling that you are being watched? I sure did! I turned around to see 3 rough looking men staring at me. Oh Shit, I think to myself, this should be entertaining. Well, I don't let it show that it bothers me so I be-bop on into the lobby where it's more rough looking men. Was DMX having a Rough Riders Reunion that I was unaware of? I didn't see any "Welcome DMX-RRR to Lake Lanier" so I'm guessing NO! I checked in and found my room. It was on the third floor, of a three story building. In the back corner. By the fire escape. Where no one can hear you scream. Now, I know this is a little dramatic, but I am very cautious of my surroundings...my job has enabled this characteristic of mine even further, so yes I am going to be a little dramatic about where I am staying for four days and three nights. I got to the room, finally. after walking down what seemed like an endless hallway. The bedspread, while not floral, was still nasty. I was not staying here!

To speed up the story, I finally found a hotel two exits up. Was it any better? You tell me!

While it was the worst, I sucked it up for safety reasons. What good are nice accommodations if you're dead or missing? I may be dramatic at times, but I am still VERY level headed and reasonable! Regardless, as you noticed in the title, I woke up one morning with a bug bite on my face! I am SO hoping that this is from something that bit me while I was walking to my car and not a bed bug!

The conference was really good. I aced my test of legal tactics on the first day and the second day held non testing classes of FEMA and Supervisory Skills. It was in these two classes that I met the CE for Pelham (just up the road from T-Ville). She is hilarious!

Anyway, here are some photos from the Lake...

This was the beautiful sunrise I saw every morning!

This is my FAVORITE! Just image a beautiful spring wedding here! I say spring, however, I'd love a fall wedding. The one drawback to being a farmer's daughter is, if you want your dad to be at your wedding, don't have it during harvest season! However, I think daddy would be totally fine if I just came home one day and said 'I'm married.' Mom, however, would NOT!!

This morning after closing sessions, I headed back to Thomasville. I was missing my daddy so I called an talked to him for a bit. We keep our conversation short, but we manage to tell and say everything we need to in few words. It is what works for us. It's days like today when I am very jealous of my brother who gets to see and talk to him everyday.

As I started traveling back toward ATL (Hell), Richard and I began to have a heated discussion. Richard eventually became Dick and I began to yell. I am not one to yell at any person, but I will yell at a device. Especially if that device is telling me to "Stay Left, Stay Left" and then suddenly yells at me to "Exit Right! Exit Right, now!" What the crap, Dick? Obviously, you can't see the 6 lanes of traffic I do! I only had in one contact today (not real sure where the other is...I put it in, or at least I went through the motions of poking my eye so I thought it was in) and I could plainly see this was about to turn ugly quick! Dick proceeded to begrudgingly tell me alternate directions. Basically, he told me to get off at the next exit and turn around. Wow...what a concept. Ugh. Anyway, I am now home. There were only a few state troopers to be seen, but since this is GA and not AL, I'm not too worried about it. I am still unsure if that AL trooper meant I was to never come back to AL or he, in particular, never wanted to see me again in AL...I'm gonna go with the later part. :)

Where's Bentley? He is staying in Blountstown with my Aunt and Uncle. They were nice enough to take him in while I was gone. They are awesome. God has blessed me with a great family!