VACATION!

[raeschae]

Alright, so I've been blabbering about going on vacation for a couple of weeks now, but I've been a little bit nervous because my vehicle is crap. Cut to yesterday, when I got the genius idea to check on bus ticket prices. Turns out, I can take the bus to my parents house for less than gas would cost me to drive it. Also, without the staggering paranoia that my truck's going to crap out in the middle of Illinois somewhere, so BONUS!

Here's the thing, kids: I've never traveled via Greyhound before, so now is the time I start freaking out that I'm going to screw something up, get on the wrong bus, and end up in Iowa or something. (Not that there's anything wrong with Iowa, but I don't know anyone there, and I doubt they'll feed and board me for free.) If nothing else, I'm looking forward to having some interesting stories.

I have a couple of books to take with me, and my computer, so I think I'll be okay. Not driving also gives me time to format my BB without my mom constantly asking me what I'm doing, so that's a bonus. I'm thinking about downloading a PDF or two, maybe some stories that I've never gotten around to reading, so if you have any suggestions, I'm all for it!

Also, if you have any advice on bus travel, it is welcome as well. Anything that will help soothe my nerves is appreciated!!!

I'll be leaving on Saturday, and be back home late Wednesday - just in time to post my Big Bang on Thursday. You don't know how excited I am about it, guys. And nervous. Whew.

Comments

[batman-mcghee.livejournal.com]

first off, i am so excited for your big bang. i have been too derived of your fics for far too long.

secondly, i am leaving for a trip tomorrow. going from so cal to reno. i know, not a long trip, but i havent been out of my own state since i was in middle school... LAME. i'm nervous!

third, some bus adivce: don't talk to weirdos. keep your precious items near (because people are mean and will steal from you). do not fall asleep when your stop is nearing (you'll sleep through it, and the drivers arent obligated to make sure you get off). write me some porn.

=)

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Oh God, I'm the first one to fall asleep in any moving vehicle that I'm not driving. I'm going to end up in Arkansas with no clue as to how I got there! And I'll be ravaged of all my earthly possessions, including my laptop and my jump drive - and you all will get no big bang and the world as I know it will end.

Or maybe it'll be fine. (At least maichan808 has my final BB edit, so I know that will get posted somehow.)

What kind of porn would you like? That will definitely give me something to take my mind off of everything else!

[batman-mcghee.livejournal.com]

i would like disclaimer!porn. something wherein life is busy, busy, busy and jared and jensen have stopped in the middle of the madness (@ work in SI or Ollie) and just take the time to kiss the heck out of each other cause they havent seen each other in what seems like forever. then, they tell work to eff off and go home for some reconnecting.

[nickgregfan.livejournal.com]

If you end up in Kansas I'll come get you. LOL


But seriously, I have a friend that goes from NYCto LA on the greyhound, plus other places all the time. You'll be fine.

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Seriously - keep your schedule clear on Saturday and be on the look out for a frantic e-mail from a crazy person who doesn't know what the hell is going on or how she got to frikkin' Kansas! ;)

I'm not actually worried about the trip itself. I don't have to change buses anywhere, and it's a pretty straight-forward, four-hour trip. I think I'll be fine - I'm pretty independent, and good at navigating this kind of thing. I just have to keep telling myself that so as not to freak the fuck out.

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

PS - I never get the chance to use that icon and I love it, so I used it. I don't think your comment was fuckery.

[ldyghst.livejournal.com]

I've never traveled by bus but have a safe trip hon...

As for PDFs I'm not sure if you have read it or not or whether it would be your cup of tea but Felisblanco has a download for her massive fic... The Doors of Time... http://felisblanco.livejournal.com/856417.html

*hugs*

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I've actually read The Doors of Time - loved the first part, the second was a little more h/c than I'm into - but thanks for the well-wishes. I'm just happy not to have to drive!

[ldyghst.livejournal.com]

:D

[04dreamer04.livejournal.com]

Ooh, bus travel. It's not too bad, I mean, I used the buses in the middle of both downtown Milwaukee AND Chicago and ended up where I needed to be (with only ONE minor mishap, but that happened at the Metra station in Chicago). Have you ever used the trains? It's pretty similar. I guess the biggest suggestion I have is check and double check the routes beforehand, have the bus numbers written somewhere you can easily access them (I put it on my hand) and check about how long it takes to get to your destination. Then, you can have some sort of timer go off a certain distance away from your stop so you can relax for the rest of the journey.

And... BIG BANG! Woo!! *bounces excitedly* But.. Thursday?! Man... *pouts some*
Hope you have fun on your vacation, sweetie!!
xoxo

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I actually thought about taking a train to my parents' house, but they all route through Chicago and have ridiculous amounts of time between trips, so it would take me something like eleven hours to get there, when this one is only going to take four.

Even when I fly, I'm obsessive about gate numbers and departure times, so I'm sure that's going to be something that I do without even thinking. Writing it on my hand is a good idea - thanks! I'll definitely set the alarm on my phone, too - that way I can maybe take a nap and not have to worry about missing my stop! Thanks for the advice.

And yes, Thursday. But if it helps, we're going to post pretty soon on Thursday, so you won't have to wait all day or anything.

[plasticine-star.livejournal.com]

You'll be fine.

I don't know about Greyhound buses but when I have to go to the District Court in the state capital I always take the bus instead of driving. I love that the bus has wifi and is very roomy so I end up having a few hours online and just chill.

have tons of fun on your vacation.

I'm so excited about your big bang. :D

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure this bus doesn't have Wi-Fi, and I don't think it has outlets, so I'm kind of limited in what I can do by how long my battery holds out, but I'll figure something out. I'm expecting to be up late getting ready to go anyway, so I'm sure sleep will be on the menu at some point.

I'm excited about my Big Bang, too!

[witchy78.livejournal.com]

Hey there !
Good thing for you that you'll be able to go on vacations !
As for the reading, you remember that fic we talked about the other day ? Steve/Chris and Jensen in a band, on tour, and Jared with the help of Tom and Mike, the bodyguard in charge of taking care of Jensen after some threats. It's called the "Tour verse" and I think you bookmarked it last time. Well all this to say that I made a PDF of it so if you're interested I can send it to you tonight (my tonight cause right now it's morning in France).
Anyway, just tell me if you're interested and I'll send it to you.
Trust me you'll like it, it'll be a good companion for your travel ;o)

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

If you wanna send me the pdf, that would be awesome! Thank you!!! I'll definitely check it out.

My e-mail is just raeschae @ gmail, so you can send it there.

[witchy78.livejournal.com]

Ok, no problem, will do tonight ;o)

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

Have fun! And what kind of fic were you most interested in? I've got a bunch of stories saved in .doc and .rtf format, if you're interested. If you've got a particular trope or story you're hankering for, I'd be happy to send you soemthing if I have it.

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Anything schmoopy would be good! Rom Com style, because I don't wanna end up bawling my eyes out on the frikkin' bus!

[sothcweden.livejournal.com]

I sent you a .zip file via email. Hope there's something that you'll like!

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

You're awesome!

[claudia-nic.livejournal.com]

I once bussed from Chicago to New York in a 4 state overnight adventure. Bring lots of stuff to read or do, that's for sure, because sleep might elude you. Stay far away from mothers with babies, they tend to cry their heads of. And bring snacks in case you end up waiting in a closed off bus terminal for your next connection at 3am. Aside from that it was actually quite fine and most importantly rather affordable. And there shouldn't be a lack of PDFs at the moment, I've seen a lot of people who offered their BB stories in PDF format as well and by now I ran into quite a few good stories. Have a safe trip and lots of fun!

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Thankfully, I don't have to transfer buses, so I think I'll be okay on that front, but I am absolutely packing snacks!

Ooh, good idea - I should run through the BBs and see what's available in pdf! It'd be a good time to get caught up.

[tabaqui]

Since you don't have to transfer or anything, you'll be fine. Try to sit up front - much better than being stuck back by the toilet. Blech.

Have fun!
*waves*

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

Also good advice, and something I would not have considered! Thank you!!!

You Will Survive!

[(Anonymous)]

When I couldn't afford a car I took the greyhound bus - it really wasn't that bad. Be careful in the bus station - watch your computer and your other valuables. MP3 players are good for avoiding conversation if your seatmate is someone you don't want to listen to for many, many hours. Great time for reading or writing!

Good luck (and pack your carryon backpack with lots of snacks!

Re: You Will Survive!

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

I've actually been reading some 'How to Survive Your Greyhound Bus Trip' blogs today, and they're saying a lot of the same things you are. I have things packed strategically and I plan on being dorkily early to make sure I don't get screwed up, turned around, and stuck in the middle of somewhere scary. I'm less nervous than I was yesterday, and probably less than I will be tomorrow! Once I get on the first bus, and I know I don't have any transfers (same bus all the way to St. Louis), I'll be alright.

I'm actually getting really excited about it now - I'm such a frikkin' nerd!

[landshark (from livejournal.com)]

Don't sit in the back, make sure all your electronics are fully charged, and bring a little travel pillow!

:D

[raeschae.livejournal.com]

No sitting by the stinky toilets - got it! And I'm charging everything tonight, so I'll be good and ready for that, too.

:( I don't have a travel pillow. But I think I'll be okay, because my trip is only four hours, that I'll be alright without it. If I'm not, I can always buy one at my parents' house!

[billysgirl5.livejournal.com]

I see that others have given you good advice, so all I'll say is this: I hope you have an enjoyable vacation. Everyone needs one every now and then! And I'm so anxious for your BB to be posted (even though I've read it more than once already)! :D