So, usually, I can get up and move on the prompt. In this case, it is ‘letter’. Thank you, Linda G. Hill for a seemingly simple prompt. Maybe it is because I have a whole lot to say and I can’t tie this in. YET, I have used it a couple times now–hehe.

Thursday my husband and I got to take a road trip to Portland. He had a minor procedure that he needed to have done on his toe and there are no VA podiatrists nearby. So the VA paid us travel expenses including gas and motel. We paid the $10 pet fee so that Kali could come, too. She was sort of happy. She doesn’t like road trips. But she hates being left alone even more.

When you have an appointment across town or even an hour or so away you can plan your trip accordingly. Planning something for five hours away leaves many variables. Such as, exits whose names are similar but for one letter. (See what I did there?) And that puts you in the wrong part of town.

Portland felt like Los Angeles and Orange County and Inland Empire all put together. I felt nothing weird at all. Just the irritation that had me leave the big cities a few years ago. “It’s called a freeway! Why does it look like a parking lot?” That quote is mine. This picture is the right area yet not nearly the traffic of which I speak.

We had to get there by 6:30 PM to check in to the Inn. But how can you know what the traffic will be like until you are smack dab in the middle of it? Luckily, I was in the non-stop driving mode so we didn’t stop for anything. And we made it there with an hour to spare. But now because we pushed so hard it was all we could do to order pizza and watch Grey’s Anatomy barely able to move. But look at this place. I was so happy to get to stay here at Shilo Inn. This is where Kali and I walked. It was beautiful. Only now do I find out they had a pool. Um, we have a follow-up appointment in June!!! Have bathing suit will travel!

The next day was the appointment. I played dog sitter while C went in to have the procedure done. We were alone too long so we had to take a couple walks around first in the garage and then outside. I was needing something to read. Finally got out my Kindle but that’s when he showed up in one Frankenstein boot and his normal shoe in a bag. Yes, he still had the other shoe on.

C’s toenail had been so damaged as a kid, it never grew out properly and now it was causing problems. So the doctor had to totally remove it and make sure it wouldn’t grow back. I have to admit that this whole thing grosses me out big time. I can’t imagine what it will look like and I thought he would need some heavy duty shoes to protect that piggie. I’ll spare you the pic of pig. But he is back to wearing regular shoes today.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about road trip distraction therapy.