The trek to Newport

So Senior Jefe is now in sunny, and the locals tell me hot, Rhode Island.
We trekked out from the midwest a week ago. It is really a fascinating experience to drive across the US. The changes in topography, people, climate, etc are really wonderful to observe. I am less fascinated than I used to be, mostly because I have been across many of these roads many times before, but that doesn't detract from their beauty.
When I was a kid, I dreamt of traveling the world, mostly because other than bouncing from school to school because my mother was a master at disrupting our household (She thought the cops were spying on us, among other things) I had never been anywhere and I wanted so desperately to escape. It's so odd to think about it now. Anyway, she told me, in an effort to keep my expectations low, that I couldn't travel outside the US until I had seen my own country by visiting all 50 states.
It's funny what sticks with you. Before this trip I had seen all but ME, VT, NH, MS, AL, LA, and HI. Thanks to Senior Jefe humoring me, I managed to cross 3 states off that list, so I have been to 46 states and 5 countries.
Vermont is beautiful and the place to go for the outdoor enthusiast. We spent a night in Montpelier, the smallest state capital, which looks like it could have come out of a Courier and Ives print. FYI the Ben and Jerry's factory tour is not all that impressive, but the town is and there are a million and one trails to hike and bike and streams to fish and kayak and canoe. It's so deliciously green.
New Hampshire is a lot like VT, with a bit more larger cities like CT. Apparently there is a liquor store rest stop on the highway. I found this hysterical. When I get home, I will post the picture of this as it seems far to insane for words.
Maine is very much like parts of Alaska. Lots of firs, lots of moss and lichen with a very shallow soil profile. I understand why Stephen King writes what he does. The place has a subtle creepy air to it. The main industry seems to be selling old junk to lost tourists and maybe fishing. I did find it beautiful. The lichens and most come in a million different colors and I couldn't help but wonder why.  There are also lots of glacial erratics.
We started out initially to see NYC, which I haven't ever been to. That didn't work out. Whomever thought it was a good idea to have a 12 lane road go to 2 lanes in under a half mile should be strung up by their thumbs. The whole NYC thing was a debacle. We got to the city limits by 1800, but not to our hotel until 2130...yeah, you do the math. Then it turned out the place we were staying had it's parking like 4 blocks away and with Senior Jefe's whole life in the back of the car, that turned out to be a little unacceptable and we couldn't really afford a nicer hotel to stay at (or we could, but bye-bye new laptop for school). So pissed off and tired we decided to bail and head toward RI instead. I can't say that I was impressed by what I did see of NYC.
This is why we headed to the northern states...as a make up for the whole NYC thing. But after a day in VT, Senior Jefe got a burr in his butt about checking in in RI, even though he didn't have to be there until the 9th. I am firmly of the opinion that unless the Navy tells you to be somewhere, don't go anywhere near the Navy (i.e. don't call attention to yourself). However, after 6 yrs, I have learned not to argue with my husband about such things. So we hauled @$$ to RI, got him checked in to BOQ and then at school. They told him to get lost until school started, so we planned to stay within the recall radius, but head out for fun. And then...
Yep, you guessed it...at 1600 they called and told him he would have to come in and report every morning. Bye-bye Smurfette's vacation. So Senior Jefe went in and asked to be checked out on leave, which they did, but not before giving him a big lecture about how he's so irresponsible and that this is what puts a roof over his family's head and blah, blah, ...cough, gag.
I briefly thought about telling this person that I pay my own way, thank you very much, but I figured it would not help, so I fumed in silence. We got him checked back out on leave and then we went to Boston. Boston will be the subject of it's own post, and then ME.
We got back to RI yesterday, which is a rip off and a half. They wanted $200/night at the Courtyard Marriott (gov't rate), which Senior Jefe agreed to, we went back to his BOQ to get his uniform ready, so we didn't officially see our room until that night. I spent two hours looking for his rank, as the box they were in was shredded in the move and so they apparently fell out in the car. I didn't know that, so I tore all his stuff apart looking for it and then had to put it away again. I was really close to walking around BOQ knocking on doors and offering people $100 and a kiss if I could get a spare set, as the uniform shop is not open on Sunday and doesn't open until like 0700 on Monday, 30 min before his butt was supposed to be in a seat. Thankfully I didn't have to take drastic measures, although I would have if need be.
They had sprayed it down with what I can only assume was old lady perfume. Ugh, it was awful. Everything in the room was damp. I don't know how to describe it, but I spent the whole night awake and clammy. So Senior Jefe went to school and I checked us out. We found a nice couple to give us a discount on a B&B they run for the couple days I am still here. **Crossing my fingers on this.**
I am really glad I was able to cross 3 more states off and I think I might be able to hit the other 4 before I go to Japan, assuming we go. They are threatening people at school that if they don't do well enough they are going to pull their orders and send them to a frigate in Norfolk. It is hard to tell if this is a serious threat, but it certainly has Senior Jefe freaked out. I don't see people lining up to go to Japan, so I find this an unlikely event in his case. At any rate, it was a good trip, minus the Navy's minor interference with it.
But the drama with SWOS and the debacle of getting him settled in made me realize how stressed out my normally cool as a cucumber husband is about this school. He wants so much to be seen as a valuable member of the group and because he's a mustang and not a ring-knocker and because he is older and he is naturally a big guy (not fat, but he has a rib cage that I can barely fit my arms around and his ribs are sticking out right now) and therefore not in weight standards (though he can pass the tape test  easily) and he has a speech impediment that presents when he is upset, he gets really nervous that someone will not think him good enough. And I know that nothing I say will make it better. I personally don't give a damn if they send him to a frigate. There are worse jobs and by the time he finishes his department head tours, he will have like 2-3 yrs til retirement so I am certain they will find a whole to stick him in to finish his time out.
I have to believe in my heart that everything will be fine. I hope. I am sitting in Starbucks, my great home away from home and waiting for his call to find out how things have turned out for the day.