Having dithered for the last few weeks about booking flights to DC and Columbus for the friendlies, the prices have gone up and my options reduced to a series of flimsy puddle jumpers around parts of the country prone to severe thunderstorms during the summer. I'm not usually a nervous flier, but puddle jumpers terrify me. So, I went down the local AAA office for maps and books on a potential driving route. I've never done more than a 5hr drive and figure this could be a fun trip. And I don't have to worry about falling out of the sky after my vehicle being struck by lightning. :-)

Due to plans to meet up with a friend in DC early on the Friday before the game(so we can get settled in a hotel and have a nap before the great pre-match piss up Friday night!), I figure I need to leave Boston on Thursday and spend that night somewhere within an hour or two of DC(cheaper hotels and free parking!). Flipping through the AAA tourbooks, what do I see but a place in Delaware called New Castle. That made that decision for me! And if I can find someone to take a picture, I'll try to get a photo of me in Toon top next to a sign. Might as well go full dork! ;-)))

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Answers

Try to get a mate to go with you - it's a blast! Be sure to take loads of tapes of all the music you used to listen to. You know the ones, all the ones you took into complete overkill playing them over and over again and haven't bothered with for a few years. Absolutely killer. You remember so many things that were painful then and just seem plain funny now. Great for singing at the top of your voice without bothering about neighbours.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

If I sing at the top of my voice, no one will want to be in the car with me! ;-) I will have to sort through my tapes and come up with a good stack. A friend who drove cross country last year already warned that relying on radio once you're about 50mi in from the coast is enough to make you want to run yourself over. ;-)

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Cross country, music crashing adding in an open top car, sun glasses, head scarves.....it sounds great............and so very Thelma and Louise!

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2000

Boy do I envy you Ciara! What date are you actually setting off? (:o)

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

July 20 and now looks like I'll definitely need to stop in the Philadelphia area(New Castle, DE conveniently located about 40min drive south!). One of my favorite Irish singers is doing a show in Philly that night so I'm looking forward to seeing him. Also throwing in a trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on the return leg of the trip, since I've got to go that way to get back to MA anyhow. :-)

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

Ciara - please tell me it's some nice diddly-i Irish music you're going to see and not that Christy Moore felly ? Five minutes of him and you're past caring about life. :O)

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000

I`m definately going to have to make up for what I`ve missed this year, next year! (:o)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Loony - hardly diddlyiddly...it's a guy called Jack Lukeman(remember the name folks, he'll be a star!). I guess his music falls in the rock category, but he and the band also have heavy influences of jazz and Jaques Brel. The guy has the most amazingly powerful voice. Some have compared it to Sinatra in his prime. Though I can't imagine Sinatra singing an ode to Ed Wood while prowling the stage in a feather boa. ;-)) He's quite popular in Ireland, but a rather inept manager is not making it easy for him to become known anywhere else.

Galaxy - what wait til next year? Drop everything and get thee over here in July! Fly into Boston and join me on my road trip! :-)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Thelma and Louise, I can just see them now- Ciara and Galaxy driving south and west terrorizing innocent men in their path. Passing the New Jersey meadowlands they nuke the swamps and kidnap the Metrostars. Onwards to the captial city, Bill Clinton leaves the country after hearing of their approach. And as they turn west, paranormal activity reaches record levels as the ghost of Elvis boogies out of Ohio.

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

That`s such a tempting offer Ciara! And I`m warming to the idea of Thelma and Louise (well Louise`s Mother anyway). Do you remember which one got gorgeous Bradley? (:o)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Make certain you get a camper van so you've got enough room for the gardening implements and dogs mum.....and don't forget to stock up your larder at home with plenty of "special" pies for the youngster to eat while your away ;)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Gav - what are you doing at work when there`s football on?(:o)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Ya know, this probably belongs on the confessions thread, but I've never seen Thelma and Louise! Alwyas meant to, but never got to the theatre when it was out.

C'mon Galaxy! Pete's given us plenty of ideas for causing trouble..err, having fun. ;-)

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2000

Mum,

I wasn't at work when the football was on....was in the pub 30 mins before it started and had a bottle of dog or 5 to help me through it :)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Ah-ha - so that`s where you were! Now Gav, if you wish to get into training for match fitness, the booze has got to go! Lucozade, Red Bull (on it`s own) even water are good. You`ll feel better for it, trust me! (:o)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

I'm kinda off Red Bull (even by itself) since a certain Kiwi BBS'er who shall remain nameless made me drink about 30 double vodka and red bulls in one night! he was in a lot worse state than me that night but he recovered a lot quicker!!

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Getting really wrecked on a particular drink can have that effect! I got very ill one night on Pernod - just the smell of it now makes my stomach churn! It was particularly off-putting when it became popular for a while in restaurants for cooking! (:o)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Yup I did that with Whisky when I was a wild child.....hmm and Cider.....and.....

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Getting back on track for a moment, Ciara, do not (as in don't) forget to stop and have rest breaks. They recommend every 2 hours having a stop and walk around the car, get some fresh air etc.

For people who do little driving or mainly urban driving the biggest killer is fatigue. This combined with high speed driving in rural areas.

They do endless research over here as everywhere is a long way off!!

Do not listen to anything Loony says about driving, because he doesn't (as in does not) drive!!!!! :o)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Good advice Gus. I do a lot of driving back and forth to dog shows. Always there and back in a day, and after two hours you are definately ready for a break.(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

ooo...whisky...*shudder*...bad, bad, evil, horrid hangover after resorting to straight whisky at a cast party after we'd finished off everything else. And a screwdriver in a bar after the party. Woulda been a good night since it ended in snogging the sexy stage manager...if only it weren't for the hangover the next day. *blerrrgh* Still can't touch the stuff. ew.

Don't worry, Gus, I'll definitely be stopping. My legs get achy and crampy if I sit in one place too long. I've also been advised that Interstate 90 across NY state is so bumpy that restroom stops are an absolute necessity. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Galaxy,

This seems to be shaping up nicely for you and Ciara.....rather than taking the dogs and children with you I'd like to offer my services as a housesitter.....

My rates are reasonable......

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

You mean you want paying?!!! Just think of what on offer down here - sun, sea......................Sky digital!!!!! All the meat pies you can eat! (:o)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Of course I'm charging....your little un is dead yappy, I'm bound to have trouble shutting her up!!

Hmmm......and the price goes UP if your providing meat pies!!

You can't expect to go off galavanting across the US for free now can ya!! I'll probably end up washing Pete's socks for ya as well!!

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

I'm bound to have trouble shutting her up!!

Gal id withdraw staright away , dont give him an inch .

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Now Gav that`s just not true, Superlion Pearly Queen at Tsunami aka Mrs. Miggins, is a perfect angel!!!! The rottweiler`s a bit more of a handful though! Easy to feed mind, throw him some raw meat, and a few bottles of broon to munch on, that should pacify him. No worries about the socks, he`ll just wear the same pair! (:o)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Whatever was Sting on about!! Of course I was on about the little dog....

Ahh he must've thought I meant Yelli!! I'd just assumed that she was going with you.....if she's staying then she has to do the cooking and cleaning...and none of them bloody meat pies!!

The Rottweiller sounds like a man after my own heart....I could see us arguing over who's pair of socks it was :))

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Just another case of how easy it is to get hold of the wrong end of the stick over the internet! I, of course, completely followed your train of thought - in fact, I`m probably way ahead of it !!! Oh well, show tomorrow, I`m off to iron the dog!!!(:o)

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Yes Sting's always getting hold of the wrong end of the stick (allegedly!)....

Am I that predictable?

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

Hey im really sorry but i wasnt being rude or owt , i just would be careful letting Gav look after me pets ; - )

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000

`wrong end of the stick` - well I guess that`s happened to all of us at one time or another!

Predictable? I wouldn`t have said so. But I have unnatural powers of intuition! Must remember to feed the black cat and trim the hairs of my wart - whoooooooooshh.......byeeeeeee (that was me on my broomstick - cackle! cackle! <|:^}

-- Anonymous, June 01, 2000