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Changing Lanes 4
Sun, 29 Oct 2006 11:38:29 -0500 alt.fiftyplus
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Stan...
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Changing Lanes 4
"I'm Being Tampered With!" You ever notice when you're traveling a long distance on the Interstate, you'll see the same vehicle passing you several times. It makes you wonder if they've stopped more times than you. In this case it was one of those big rigs that carry cars. This car carrier held 3 cars above and 3 cars below on its trailer. I know that this big red semi tractor and car-carrying trailer passed me at least 6 times while it was traveling at a high rate of speed. It had Tennesse plates and mud flaps displaying Yosemite Sam waving a confederate flag. We had driven over 400 miles and both of us were ready to stop for the night. The next sign we saw said, "Lake City, FL 21 miles" Since we were traveling with our dog we had to find a motel that allowed pets. Butterkup, reading from a discount book we picked up at the rest area, said, "Here's one off the Lake City exit that allows pets and is quite inexpensive. It's called the "Easy On and Easy Off" motel. I chuckled to myself because a long time ago before Interstates I had painted that very name on the side of my '50 Ford. I told her to call ahead on the cell phone. She did and was promised a room on the bottom floor away from other guests, not so much for privacy but beause our 110 lb pitbull is not "other dog friendly" Speaking of Duchess, our pitbull, she is diabetic and needs two daily injections of insulin. Now, you may have your brave heros like Nelson and Crockett, but BK is the bravest person I know. Who else is brave enough to stick a needle TWICE a day into a pitbull's ass? I pulled up to the office of the "Easy On" I told the dark-skinned man at the desk who I was. He spoke with a rather clipped English accent while sliding my Visa card and giving directions to our room. I felt relieved to be off the highway and I started a conversation with the owner/manager. Me-Are you from around here? You have an accent. (quotes eliminated) Mgr- I'm Indian. Me-Wow! an Indian! I knew there were some left in Florida. Is your name Running Bear? or Sitting Horse? Mgr-No, it's Patel,... Bhumi Patel. I always knew those actors like Burt Lancaster,Paul Newman, and Jeff Chandler with their blue eyes weren't real indians. The extra indians in those old westerns were usually Italians, but we bought that. The room was the last downstairs room at the end of building. There was a large field adjacent to the building that was perfect for walking Duchess. Parked at the edge of the large field was a red semi-tractor and car carrier with 6 cars,a Tennesse license tag, and Yosemite Sam Confederate flag waving mud flaps. When I pulled in front of our room, I noticed 7 men sitting in motel chairs on the balcony in front of the room directly above us. They sat quietly looking a little depressed. The room was a typical owner/owned, much-used, next to the Interstate,cheap motel room.Two beds, night stand between, table 2 chairs in front of the window, curtain that won't close all the way,noisy ac, TV with 36 channels and only 5 that come in, bathroom with very poor tile job and all faucets leak, sponge rubber pillows and mattresses that make you feel like you're crawling up Mt. Everest. I didn't care. I was tired. I la...reclined on the bed and fell asleep. I awoke to a sound that was neither male nor female. It was a non-human cry,"I'M BEING TAMPERED WITH!" It repeated, "I'M BEING TAMPERED WITH!" I jumped from the bed,ran to the window, and a saw parked in front of the room next to us a very expensive 2006 Ford Conversion Van with every imaginable accessory including a vehicle protection alarm screaming, "I'M BEING TAMPERED WITH!" I think the alarm was set off by vibrations nearby,because everytime someone slammed a car door it set it off. It woke me again when the 12 illegal workers pulled in 2 hours later, and again when the evicted family of 8 from Lake City pulled in 2 hours after that. Needless to say I didn't sleep to well especially after hugging a sleeping BK who jumped up screaming, "I'M BEING TAMPERED WITH!" Before leaving the next morning I was walking Duchess in the field. One of the 7 men staying above us was walking toward the red car-carrier semi truck. I spoke to him, Me- You driving that thing? He- Me? Oh no, I was hitch hiking and the driver picked me up. Me-Must be great ridin up front in a big rig. He-Up front? Oh no, he said he couldn't have anyone else ride up front. He put me in one of the cars. Me-That's strange. He- It sure is. In fact he picked up 5 more hitch hikers and put them in the 5 other cars. Me-You seem depressed. I did notice you passed me several times. He-Oh ya, until the driver got stopped by a state trooper.....He gave all 7 of us a ticket for speeding. stanley :) DisneyWorld tomorrow,I promise Norma...
Goromoff...
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