The Road Trip From Heck (long)

DurocShark · Post by **DurocShark** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 8:51 pm

I can't believe I survived this trip. The plan was to take a roadtrip to CA for my son's spring break, see the Grand Canyon, visit Laughlin, visit family and friends, and come home. This is with my wife, my 3yo daughter and my 15yo son driving our 99 Exploder.

We left Friday evening around 6pm hoping just to make it to Raton, NM. Somewhere around Colorado Springs I got pulled over for doing 85 in a 75. Got a warning.

Didn't make it to Raton, instead stopping somewhere in CO just shy of the border. Stayed in a Super 8. Clean and nice.

Next morning trying to get the family out the door is like herding cats. We left around 11am.

Stopped at some truck stop restaurant in AZ for dinner (the Hopi Cafe). I had sirloin and enchiladas. Stayed the night in Williams so we could visit the Grand Canyon in the morning. We stayed in a Travelodge. Nice big room, but tiny bathroom and no bath, only a shower.

Woke up with the worst food poisoning I've ever had. It was so bad I seriously considered going to the ER in case it was samonella or e. coli or something. I managed to stumble to the truck (family leaves the hotel at 11am again. Notice a trend?) We went to the Grand Canyon, though I was passed out in the passenger seat, leaning out the window to puke occasionally. I rallied myself to take a family pic overlooking the canyon, then passed out in the truck again while the wife and kids went to the bookstore. Oddly, I was feeling better around 2pm and even managed to eat an apple and some crackers. I was driving by that evening.

We stayed at the Edgewater in Laughlin. $20 a night is killer. The restaurant there is cheap and good too. Don't hesitate to stay here, but you have to specifically ask for a non-smoking room, otherwise you get a stinky smoker's room like I did. I went ahead and kept the room as a test of my willpower after clearing it with the wife. I didn't smoke.

Wife and kids took the river taxi up to Harrah's and back since my stomach wasn't yet up to getting on a boat.

When we got into town we checked in with the in-laws (who we were staying with). Psycho family, and not in a good way. I hate 'em all. But they have a spare room.

In the morning I took the wife and kids to see my mom. She was a mess. Major pain not being addressed by 180mg of morphine a day. But she was a trooper for the kids. The hospice nurse came after a couple hours so I sent the wife and kids back to her 'rents while I dealt with my mom. I ended up sleeping there that night because my mom was so bad. The next morning I tried to take her to the ER, which is a whole separate issue I wrote up in another forum here: http://www.tfnn.net/forum/index.php?topic=24375.0

I went to the in-law's that night because she seemed better. Got to see my kids. Then in the morning my mom called so I rushed over, unshowered still wearing the same shirt. Ugh. I did throw some deodorant on. Helped some. She had a huge poop accident from all the laxatives the doctors were giving her. All liquid unfortunately so her constipation wasn't fixed. But it was one hell of a mess. I spent the rest of the day cleaning shit off the carpet and couch. I went back to the inlaw's to shower and grab some stuff for the morning, then slept at my mom's again.

Next morning we spent with the hospice nurse and social worker coming over and telling my mom she either needs to get rid of the oxygen she uses or quit smoking. She had been making us all think she was being responsible with her smoking in a different room from the oxygen, but she was shamming us. We caught her smoking with the shit on her face and running. And she was dozing off!! Anyway, she flipped out when they told her that. Started saying she was firing them, cancelling her health insurance, etc. Basically acting totally childish. But I completely agreed with the hospice people, so I couldn't argue for my mom.

After that we started talking about the pain she was still in. I had gotten her a 75ml morphine patch the day before and it was doing nothing. She was barely able to move, and all the opiates were messing with her COPD. We decided to try the ER again. I made my mom swear she wouldn't smoke until she was in a room in case that asshole doctor was still around.

We got there about 5pm (after my mom tried to sneak a smoke in my truck and burned a fucking hole in the plastic door edging... I was PISSED.) We got into the ER itself around 11pm. We got into a room at 4am. No shit. Fucking Kaiser. A kid with a little cut on his finger that didn't even need stitches came after us and was let in after only 30 minutes. Fucking Kaiser.

Anyway I got her settled in her room, took her outside for a cig (she waited so long, how could I say no?) and headed to the inlaw's. I passed out at 5am and slept until noon.

When I got up and chased down some coffee from Starbuck's up the street, I started trying to call family. Well, my brother and my uncle (mom's brother). Couldn't get either. Spent all day trying to get them. My brother finally called back from FL, "Thanks for letting me know.. <click>" Little prick. My uncle wasn't much better. After all, just last year his mom (my grandma) died. And now his big sister. He's pretty useless. But I really REALLY needed to get back to CO. My daughter has breathing issues in CA, my son's missing school, and I got laid off a couple weeks ago and need to start some job hunting. So I had to pass the responsibility to him. He was thrilled. Rolling Eyes Saw my mom one last time around 10pm. I said my last goodbye because I seriously doubt I'm gonna see her alive again.

So I tell the family we're leaving first thing Sunday morning. We got out of the house around 1pm. Made it to Vegas so got a room at Circus Circus. Never EVER stay there! That place was a fucking shithole! Mold in the bathrooms, shit broken, etc. I'm writing a nasty letter to them and the visitor's bureau tomorrow, with pics. I'll make it a public letter and post here too. Won $60 on the penny slots though. heh

At 11am we hit the road again. Made it to past Salinas, UT (I forget the city). Stayed in a Ramada Inn. Very nice. Indoor pool and everything. Took a midnight swim and cried a lot. That's just the start of my decompression.

Got into the CO mountains and one of the tunnels got shut down for like 2 hours because a semi broke down. So I'm sitting in the gorge with 2,000 of my closest friends trying to get a cell signal (though I'm walking around with a laptop and my Verizon aircard instead of a cell phone).

I just got home an hour ago... 8:30pm Tuesday night. I'm completely wrecked emotionally and physically.

I'll prolly remember more later, but I wanted to do a braindump as soon as possible to help me relax. And no, I'm not doing cliffs. Someone else can try if they want.

Westy78 · Post by **Westy78** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:04 pm

Wow sounds like a rough few days Duroc. Hang in there man. Good thoughts be with you.

Birdibus · Post by **Birdibus** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:06 pm

Rough trip. Sympathies. There is some serious willpower testing happening with your smoking. Stay the course. Glad you are home safely.

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:09 pm

Im so sorry for your pain Don, I hope we meet soon on a better plane.

Love, Barb

glasseye · Post by **glasseye** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:09 pm

Good rant. =D> Good read. Shitty trip. Sorry.

Mebbe soon you can do a nice long solo run in the bus (like Colin) and really decompress.
Until then, you'll have to survive on sympathy. You have mine.

zblair · Post by **zblair** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:17 pm

I'm so sorry Don. Sorry for all this that you have endured. Just pace yourself brother, step by step.
Give yourself space and time to do things, along with patience when you're able.

VWBusrepairman · Post by **VWBusrepairman** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 4:22 am

this has been a tribute to Mr. Kind shark!

Post by **Amskeptic** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:16 am

DurocShark wrote:
I'm completely wrecked emotionally and physically.

Excellent place to be. Comes a point where you just have to say "I'm still alive? Good for me." You find out what you're made of in moments like these.
Colin

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:17 am

Wow man....I feel what you're going thru.
Good writing it really helps to get it out. Sounds like quite a toxic trip, and you don't need that permenantly dwelling within.
Soak up that springtime! Medicine.

bottomend · Post by **bottomend** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:37 pm

Amskeptic wrote:
DurocShark wrote:
I'm completely wrecked emotionally and physically.
Excellent place to be. Comes a point where you just have to say "I'm still alive? Good for me." You find out what you're made of in moments like these.
Colin

Becareful though Colin... one too many trips to "the edge" and you drop off. I dont think Don falls into the catagory of people who need a lesson right now. He might need one in the future ect but right now, no.

DurocShark · Post by **DurocShark** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 10:47 pm

Heh... Someone asked me why I'm not suicidal yet. If I go down the list of shit that's screwed up in my life it's overwhelming. Hell, sometimes *I* wonder why I'm not suicidal!

Then I look at my awesome kids and decide any amount of suffering is worth seeing their smiles.

Today was my son's 16th birthday. Soon (if he ever gets his grades up... grrr....) I'll get to teach him how to drive. I never had a dad, let alone someone to teach me to drive. I taught myself by borrowing a friend's car. So teaching him will be a new and fulfilling experience for me.

Fuck suicide. Life's too damn interesting!

Elwood · Post by **Elwood** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:39 am

And thats the truth Shark! Live on!

steve74baywin · Post by **steve74baywin** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:29 am

It amazes me how I miss post, I see this is almost a week old.
Sorry to hear of your troubles...
I don't think I ever left a hotel room later than 8 am when I was traveling,,,,good thing we are all different or we'd be in trouble...

So are you a non smoker Don?

VWBusrepairman · Post by **VWBusrepairman** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:42 am

DurocShark wrote: Fuck suicide. Life's too damn interesting!

word up- plus it's hard to drive a bus when you're stiff.

I join you in the ranks of those with no father, kind sir, and I admire your enthusiasm with your boy to teach him to drive (a bus I hope). A boy needs a strong, positive role model.

when life gets tough, send me a PM- it always helps to vent.

Post by **Amskeptic** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:03 am

Amskeptic wrote:
bottomend wrote: Excellent place to be. Comes a point where you just have to say "I'm still alive? Good for me." You find out what you're made of in moments like these.
Colin
Be careful though Colin... one too many trips to "the edge" and you drop off. I dont think Don falls into the category of people who need a lesson right now. He might need one in the future etc but right now, no.

Oh please. I am hardly spewing lessons. Your presuming that he may even need a lesson in the future much less right now is condescending crap.

Came a point where I just said, " I am still alive? Good for me."
Excellent place from which to see the parade of people lurching through life seeking meaning.
Colin

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

The Road Trip From Heck (long)

The Road Trip From Heck (long)

Re: The Road Trip From Heck (long)

Re: The Road Trip From Heck (long)

Re: The Road Trip From Heck (long)