Crazy trip to Modesto, CA

packed in like sardines

We start a new assignment on Aug 1 (tomorrow), as a new chapter in our blog! So, our trip to Modesto, CA started out like any other trip.  We arrived at the MGM airport about 7:45, checked our luggage, said our goodbyes to the parentals, and boarded the plane.  Luckily we sat together on this "crop duster", as Hayley calls it (she doesn't like flying, unlike me!). Once we got to ATL, we had just enough time to use the facilities, grab a deli to go, and board the plane.  We both brought a movie to watch on our laptops, so the time passed pretty fast.  I watched "The Wrestler" and Hayley watched "Hallpass."  Both were good!  Once we landed back in Phoenix, our friend Corinne (who so amazingly kept my car) was there to pick us up.  Once we got back to her house, we gave her Conecuh sausage that we promised to bring, and she made us SWEET TEA!  We visited for a while, then stuffed our luggage into the car and were on our way!

Bumper to Bumper traffic on
the I-10 in California

We started out smooth sailing, able to go 80mph (speed limit 75 mph).  Soon we made it to Sunny California! We passed a border patrol, and we were really hoping the weren't going to ask what all was in the car, because we honestly couldn't remember with all that crap packed up.  So there we were going down the I-10 and then all of a sudden, bumper to bumper traffic for 3 hours, yes I said 3 HOURS!  We went a total of 6 miles in 3 hours.  While we were creeping along, we saw several people jump out of their cars and urinate along the interstate median behind bushes.  These weren't Alabama full, with lots of leaves, bushes, these are California see-through, bare bushes!  I guess if you gotta go, you gotta go (3 hours in traffic and drinking coke could do it I guess).  Anyway, finally we were forced exit the interstate into the middle of Nowhere, CA, with no gas station in site!  So, I called my mom so she could see where we were, and we figured out we were at least 75-90 miles from the nearest gas station!  Good thing we still had half a tank of gas!  We drove through nothing for about 1.5 hours until finally getting to a down called 29 palms, got gas, some water and snacks, and got back on the road.  Mom told us there was a decent size town with hotels about another 1.5 hours away, so we decided that would be where we stopped.  We found a Comfort Inn (with free breakfast!) and decided to stay there.  By the time we settled in it was midnight pacific time, so we had been up almost 24 hours!

The next morning we got up, ate breakfast (grabbed some fruit for the road) and headed out!  Another 6 hour day of driving ahead for us!  Along the way we drove passed the second largest Windmill farm in the world, with over 5000 Windmills in Mojave, CA.  It was pretty cool! Finally we made it to Modesto around 4 pm (after a 14-ish hour car ride instead of 10-ish hour), found our apt and found it 86 degrees, with the air conditioner not working!!!!!!!!!! We decided maybe it need to be left on a little bit, so we unloaded the car, unpacked our stuff, took showers, and still no AIR!  Still 84 degrees!  I called our apt manager, then the maintenance guy (and left a message), and we decided to go get a few things from Big Lots (fan for Hayley) and get some dinner!  We ate at Uno Chicago Grill. Once we got home, still no answer from maintenance man, so Hayley called and left a message this time.  We opened all the windows in the apt (had cooled off to about 65 degrees outside) hoping it would cool off!  I remember waking up sometime in the wee early morning, to me no sweating anymore!  Whew, at least it cooled off some!

Today, we woke up and went driving around.  We made it downtown (a little nicer than Montgomery) and found a sports bar to eat lunch (Hayley got to watch the end of the NASCAR race).  Then went to Walmart and decided to NEVER go there on a Sunday afternoon again.  Everyone in the entire city was there!!!!  The maintenance man never called back, so we called once again, this time getting him!  When he got here he let us know it was frozen, and for us to turn it off, wait 3 hours to turn it back on, and to call the office in the morning!  AAARRRGGG!!!!!  So now we are sitting around sweating in our new 80 degrees apt!  I really hope they fix it tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!  Tomorrow, we go to our 12 hour orientation and then hopefully start on the floor in the next couple of days at Memorial Medical Center!  Catch y'all later

Hayley and Elizabeth