Marc

I've been pulled over twice in the past two days - once in Iowa, once in Nebraska. I got warnings both times. First offense, I was doing 78 in a 65. Can't believe I didn't get a ticket. It was towards the end of the night. I had driven about 600 miles at that point, and still had another 150 miles to go. Told the cop that. He must've pitied me. Second offense, I was doing 80 in a 75. I can't even believe I got pulled over. I even think I saw the cop pause before he got into his car with my license and it seemed to me as if he was pondering whether or not I deserved a ticket. Thank heavens it wasn't Iowa. Otherwise my ass would've been screwed.

I've spent a lot of time in the car since yesterday morning. I picked up my rental car at O'hare in Chicago and ended up in mid-Nebraska (Grand Island) by the end of the night. Now, I'm back in Sterling, Illinois at some crappy Holiday Inn. That's roughly the equivalent of driving from Chicago to Salt Lake City, Utah, in about 34 hours ... completely alone. Plus, I feel weird about driving fast now, and am getting used to the fact that it's okay for people to pass me on the interstate. That sucks. Doesn't it?