So anyways lets start from the beginning...I left Toledo early Tuesday morning to begin my long trek to the sunshine state. Everything had happened so fast and I was in and out of the doctors the whole week prior to leaving so I didn't get a chance to really think about the fact that I was moving 1117.69 miles away from my family and friends. Needless to say, saying goodbye to my parents wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. I owe them so much, they have sacrificed everything for me so that I can experience this great opportunity. Words can't express how greatful I am for that. Also, the thought of leaving all my friends was tough, but we were able to go out BIG the last couple nights I was in town. I'll keep those stories between us, hahaha...with that said, as you can imagine, the first half hour of my trip was a quiet one and a lot of nervous tension...but once I got passed BG and Miley Cyrus brought the party to my Kia Optima, there was no looking back...fists were-a-pumpin...I made a quick stop in Troy to grab a bite to eat with my sister, scott and my niece and nephew and it was great to see them all one last time before leaving. Then, the journey continued...
The ride was long and gruesome, I can only imagine how they musta been feelin on the Oregon Trail...atleast I had no problems with Dysentery. I got to Atlanta around 6:45pm and hear me when I tell you this...try to avoid downtown Atlanta at all costs between the hours of 4 and 7...holy shit, that was an experience. I continued about another hour or so past Atlanta to Macon, Georgia, where I decided to post up for the night...12 1/2 hours was enough for me...
So I checked into my hotel around 8:30 pm, just in time to watch the Orange Bowl. When I was checkin in I noticed a bar that was connected to the hotel, that was bumpin some solid tunes. So naturally I had to go check it out, right? Not gonna lie, I was a little skeptical at first, but who wouldn't be? I was in some city in GA that I knew nothing about...well let me tell you, this place did not disappoint...
I first walked to the gas station to grab a pack of gum and some chapstick...now I know what your thinking, but C'MON! I had no idea what kinda girls Macon, GA was gonna throw at me...
So I walked back over to this bar, it was called "Friends Bar" (who wouldn't wanna go here, right?), and walked in the front door not knowing what to expect. It looked like the picture to your right, except with four older guys (who probably took a whole bottle of Jose to the face... a piece), playin pool and a younger token black guy about my age sittin at the bar. Then there was a really cute southern belle bartender and I fell in love with her accent as soon as she said, "What can I get you sweetheart?"I sat down and had a beer, watched the game and had several interesting conversations with Mr. Token and the bartender. Shortly thereafter, a group of about 4 middle aged people walked in and the beats were flowin from the jukebox. They started dancin and my natural instinct was to start a dance off, but because I was in a place I was not familiar with I decided against it. That, and the fact the one guy dancing looked extremely intoxicated and wouldn't even stand a chance against Pat Tussing (see pic below).
So around midnight I decided enough was enough. Macon, GA treated me well (minus the guy that came in trying to get money from me and wouldn't quit staring at me) and it was time to get some shut-eye for the 5 hour trip to Tampa that was ahead of me in the morning.
I woke up around 8 AM and felt a little out of it, but made myself some coffee, jumped in the shower, got some McD's breakfast and hopped on the highway.
I was passing through Gainsville and saw signs for the University of Florida, so I decided to stop for a bathroom break and check the place out. Sadly, there were no Tim Tebow sightings but a couple roads were closed due to flooding...said somethin about Tim Tebow cryin a river...(insert punchline sound effect here)...ok there were no roads closed, but it took me the whole 15 minutes I was in Gainsville to think of that joke so I had to use it...
Back on the road...arrived at my apartment rougly around 2:30pm and was greeted by the same girl that I had met a few weeks back. I got everything squared away and got my keys. I got to my apartment and there was no one home, which was cool cuz I was able to get all my stuff moved in and not have to worry about bein in anyones way. I walked to my room and saw the door was open in the room across the hall from me and something caught my eye...pink pillows...and a lot of pink...mind you, at this point I was under the impression that I had two male roommates, so this was somethin to cause concern...
I started makin excuses for this person in my head already like, "Okayyy, wellllll...just cuz he likes pink doesn't mean hes not gonna be a good roommate" and "mayyyybe he just let his girlfriend set up his room"...in any case, my mind was all over the place and rightfully so...after I looked in the room again I noticed the closet open and what appeared to be female clothing...yet, it still hadn't crossed my mind that a girl might live there..."wellllllllll, just because he might enjoy wearin womens clothing and likes pink, doesn't mean we won't be able to look past that and get along..." As you can see, I was tryin to justify just about everything and not jump to conclusions...which I already had.
About 3 hours later, one of my roommates, Kurt, showed up and he seemed like a really cool, chill guy from Iowa. I nonchalantly asked about the "other roommate"... "soooo...is it just you that lives here?"...he replied with, "Nah, there is a girl that lives in the other room...my buddy went home so she moved in" Holy shit! Do you realize the relief I felt at this particular moment? It was like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders (I know, cliche right?) I dont know why it never crossed my mind that it could be a girls room.
I got the majority of my room unpacked but I was really tired, so I tapped out pretty early. I woke up this morning around 10 and showered without a shower curtain, which is very tough to do, and headed to get my car washed and then walmart to buy some necessities. I got home and finished setting up everything in my bathroom and stuff and then briefly met the mysterious other roommate, Danielle. We joked about how I thought she was a dude that loved pink, but she seems pretty cool from the 5 minutes I talked to her, so I can finally relax and enjoy these next few days before I start working next week.
I'm not real sure what I got planned for the weekend, but I'm sure I will find somethin to get in to. I'll update ya in the next blog. This is something I want to try and do atleast once a week, depending on how busy I get. I enjoy writing them because it gives me a way to keep in touch with all the people back home, so I hope you enjoy reading them. Until nex time...
From Sunny (but chilly) Florida, Signing off...
Nick
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