So I was looking back at my calendar (no, not the depressing one of how few moments for us there have been this past year) - but the one of my traveling partying weekends. I traveled a LOT this past year. More this summer than anytime else. I figured out why this is.

There are a ton of things I am probably forgetting here - but this is the rundown on why I like to travel (especially by myself):

1. "I" get to pick out whatever shitty music I can find on the radio (my tape deck is broken and there are absolutely NO radio stations between Chattanooga, TN and Hollywood, AL).
2. I get to daydream uninterrupted (unless there is a cow blocking my way or some road rage inducing driver in my path of vision) about whatever I want - like the daydream that I have a cool dance that everyone else in the club instantly knows that we break into on the dance floor after I have said some witty one-liners to cute guys, the one where I come back home and my house has exploded and my parents die and what do I do? or the groovy one where Mr. HAT has asked me to marry him which leads me to what china patterns I would pick out (that one gets kinda scary and involved). I have more daydreams that are cooler than this - but I don't want to get into an accident on the road.
3. I also use the time to think about what I am gonna write on my site (remember a con review starts somewhere - and I gotta keep myself awake somehow on the ride home), reflect on what a cool time I had and try to remember names, dates and websites for these reviews (and to prove those people wrong that I wouldnt' remember them - if I have a pen and paper - I can remember your mother's maiden name no matter how many shots of tequila I have had), and then I also try to think of new ideas for stuff. Four hours is a long time when you are alone with your mind.
4. I get to leave whenever I want as I am the only person I have to wait on.
5. I get to be a car flirt and even though it's juvenile - I do dig it when cute guys make obscene gestures at me and expect me to follow them (no, I don't follow them- but it puts me back to fun thing #2)
6. I seem to always meet people at the weirdest times and places. I am not sure if this goes back to me just attracting a strange aura about me but last time I was in Atlanta I was named the honorary weird aunt of these people.
7. Everyone is really glad to see me cuz they don't see me all the time and when they do - they are either drunk or it's a fun event. I am never associated with anything horrible or "unfun."
8. If I ever get tired or bored of the people or the place - I can easily leave cuz I know so many other people I can go visit. This hasn't happened yet - but if it does - I am prepared
8. Once I am at my destination - my friends are so aware that my driving sux - that they offer to drive around the horrid traffic.
9. Since traffic stresses me out - my stomach muscles tighten and contract the whole time I am driving - instant tummy exercises.
10. I seem to have a knack for having a fabulous time wherever I go and whatever I am doing (whether it's pizza and video games and cartoons or it's dressing up elegant and going to a dance club). I refuse to drive four hours or pay an amount of money for cover or for food or whatever and not have a good time. That's just silly. This trait was learned though - I used to have to be pandered to MY wants and needs - I learned early on that this isn't something that people like in a house guest. Besides - if I have a bad time - I get to blame someone else if the activity was their idea.
11. My weird clothes that don't go over well in Huntsville are so much more appropriate in Atlanta. Who would have thought a floor length rubber dress is never in season in cow town?
12. If I do something stupid (like spilling a drink on myself early on in the evening with no where to change) or, worse yet, commit some sort of heinous social faux pax (like dancing naked on a table while yelling "shake that ass, daddy")- I get to leave and everyone has more than likely forgotten about it when I come over the next time. This also leads to a huge amount of confidence I instill in myself since I won't see these people in the morning anyway.
13. When I get home - All of my friends in town (the ones that are afraid to travel outside their 30 mile radius anyway) are happy to see me and want to hear all about my trip. This is the only time I get to seem somewhat worldly instead of freaky.

There are some bad things about traveling that I have come to expect:

1. If I am running early - I am pleased - but if I am running late - I better hope that it's my fault - cuz I get steamed at anyone else that travels with me if I have to wait on them. I have been known to wait on certain friends that are packing and since I can't sit still, I flap my arms around like a confused bird and squawk my irritation at them. This is when I get sent on an errand that they swear will "make the time to pack be faster."
2. I hate being in a car for four hours when you get right down to it.
3. I hate traffic and it stresses me out to the point of hyperventilation.
4. I also have this weird thing where I know that it's 218.7 miles from my driveway to the 285 Interstate and I know every single mile in-between so as to pass the time. This drives my pals crazy but it makes my OCD demeanor a little more manageable to myself when I am alone in the car - and that's really important to the little Rain Man that screams at me during these times.
5. Sometimes I wake up in weird surroundings and howl "Where the hell am I?!!??" That's when I get the weird looks and they go to find my red pills.
6. Sometimes after a trip I get a bit depressed (and this is where writing the review perks me up into the happy Dawny Bird again).
7. I always seem to forget something important to take with me (like all of my underwear or my entire purse)
8. It's harder to get bail money from people that you are visiting than people that live in your town.
9. I am soooooo bad with directions.

I haven't even scratched the surface on why I like to travel. I do know that I have considered moving to Atlanta - but I like it that people miss me at both places and if I were to move - I wouldn't get to travel as much as there would be no reason to go to Huntsville anymore besides seeing my other friends and my mom. I am also very codependent on my mom and would hate to leave her (and her cooking).

I also haven't even told you of plane rides and why they are pretty cool (and why my friends hate traveling with me then too) - but that's another story.