OK those of you wanting details of our meeting with the Queen and our trip read on......those of you who are not into details please skip this post!!!!
Being from the south and I am considered a redneck but could really care less. Then yesterday the redneck got to meet the Queen and some really great BB/N's! Wow what an experience everyone she have!
Irene was right when she told you we got lost! We were like the blind leading the blind. When I stopped to get gas after picking up Irene I forgot I wasn't in the country any more and I was actually waiting for someone to pump my gas! OOPS they don't extend that courtesy in the big cities I guess so I had the pleasure. I should have stopped and got those dirty dice before I left Alabama cause we have them there but I have no idea where to find them in Nashville! So Irene and I are on our way to Nashville and we are just talking and getting to know each other and it was so much fun!!! Then we are in TN (I knew this because I saw a sign that said "Welcome to Tennessee" LOL) and we are following directions to the "T" but we come to the part in the directions that say take exit 3 on Hillsboro Road. Well we found Hillsboro Pike (in all fairness Irene was screaming at me to get off on that exit LOL) but I tell her noooooo it doesn't say Hillsboro Road it is Pike and I drove on. (Not the first mistake of the day but a big one) I stopped for like the umpteenth time to ask for directions and when I drove up to this service station I discovered I was a minority there but nevertheless the ladies in the store were helpful. I asked can you tell me how to get to Nashville and she replied "honey you are in Nashville!" I said oh ok then can you tell me how to get on Hillsboro Road and she did. Well another 30 minutes later we were still lost and this time when I stopped and asked for directions I go into the store and there are 3 men (no they were not good looking IMHO) I say, I know men hate to ask for directions when they are lost but I all I want to know is if you are any good at giving them. Well one really looked like he wanted to tell me where to go but he didn't! Now the other gentleman (and I use that term loosely) was giving me directions and I could barely understand him for his accent (think he was from India) so I ask him how far did I have to go down this road in front of the store before I would see the sign I-40. He looked at me and said ma`am it is right in front of this store, LOL and so it was. OK Now we are lost later and when we stop there is this mechanic under a car working and Irene yells out the window at the man. (She would have gotten out but she is so short and my truck is so high she needs a step ladder!) But she asks the man for directions and he is really giving wonderful directions so what does Irene do? As if it isn't bad enough to pull a man out from under his car and ask for directions she asks him to write them down on her piece of paper, and his hands are all greasy so I took pity on him and told him he didn't have to write them down.
Whew, Irene called all of that time we were driving around lost bonding time! I told her it didn't take me that long to bond with my first born!
So we get to Ruby Tuesday's and I have no idea what anyone is driving or what these people look like that we are meeting. Of course I was going to sit in the truck and wait for some BB/N's to pull up but no Irene said she was hungry and she was going in to eat! Well what else could I do but follow? We go into Ruby's and Irene starts looking around as if she would automatically recognize a BB/N if she sees one and low and behold there were 3 of them in the very back of the restaurant in a dark corner waving their arms madly and shouting they are here, yeah!!! Oh so embarrassing really! LOL So we finally introduced ourselves and had a little fun with Earl.
Went to the Mall to look for those dice couldn't find them and then went to body works and bath (I think that is the name of it!) and when I asked the store clerk for something really Kinky she never blinked an eye! Of course her idea of kinky and my idea of kinky lotion was totally different and we left yet another store without anything. (for some reason Tammy, Crystal, and Irene deserted me right after I asked the clerk that question). so we go over to Walgreen's and look for *things*. Some of those same BB/N's told me not to buy that man delay but the devil made me do it and Nora loved it! (Hopefully BW will appreciate the gesture!) Just so happened an elderly gentleman had to check me out but I gave him credit for just ringing up that man delay and never blinking on eye. He ever tried to tell me something really funny and all I could think of was man please just let me go I am off to meet the Queen!
So we get to the bookstore and we were in Heaven. Crystal was a walking billboard telling everyone about Nora and our boards on AOL! Everywhere I turned she would be there telling someone all the vital info. Tammy is kinda quiet but we pulled her out of that shell a little today and Crystal is kinda loud and we couldn't get her to shut up!!! Irene just says now now girls, (She duped us "The Girls") and who would have ever guessed we would have to keep Irene from knocking a woman down to be first in line to have her books signed? I told Irene on the way up that I guess I should have told her I smoked but I didn't really think about it because we were in my truck and I did roll down the window so all of that smoke would be sucked out. But she replied, "I would not have came with you if you had told me that!" Well so much for that bonding. LOL
15 minutes before Nora arrives I risked life and limb to run to MD for super size fries and a dp! (wanted the fries to be hot and the dp cold) I get back put it on the desk with her M&M;'s and some lady tried to move it out of the way. I told her I might have to hurt her and left to take a picture of Nora arriving. Here I am at the front door with the camera up and ready and what is that I hear? Applause.....Who would have thought the Queen would come in the back door? Anyway, we got lots of pictures and waited patiently (unlike Irene) in line to have our book signed. We got pictures of Nora eating her fries, opening her gifts, and ROFLOL at her man delay, and of course group pictures. When she asked if we wanted to have drinks I wasn't hesitating I was looking around to see if she was talking to us! Then this ladies says give me time to get her checked in to her hotel and she will meet you there. I asked that lady who she was and proceeded to tell her I wanted her job. Hey, don't laugh she even said I would be good for the job. I then asked where did I sign up for it?
We get in our vehicles and followed Nora to her hotel and the whole time Irene and I are bouncing in our seats like kids going to the county fair because we are going to "have drinks with the Queen"! I wanted to take stop and take pictures of Nora unloading but Irene said that would be too tacky :( so one less picture and it is Irene's fault. We get inside and Nora is waiting at a table for us. I asked what she was drinking and she offered to let me taste her drink!!!! I could not get over that! Anyway I said I will have what she is having and we all ordered and we toasted the Queen (just like in the movies). I took pictures there also and if Nora did mind she never let on. We talked had wonderful witty relaxing conversation and regretfully I suggested we leave Nora and let her find her bed for some much needed rest. When we started to pay for the drinks Nora said it was paid for (she insisted)! Wow!!! We all got and gave hugs to the Queen. Poor Nora started to get on the elevator but it was one that only went down and she was thankful when Irene pointed that fact out to her. LOL
OK now I know that was a long post but everyone keeps asking for details and I was just trying to give you details. There is so much more I could tell you but the last thing I am going to tell you only one more thing. Tammy and Crystal are really gracious hostesses and I count myself really lucky to have found 4 new friends and hope Tammy, Crystal, Irene and Tracy will say the same of me. LOL If you haven't ever met a BB/N you need to!!!!
Sherry
(Goodness is the only investment that never fails)
