Where In The World Is Shelly Church?

Remember that program about Carmen Sandiego?

Me either! Honestly, I never even saw one episode of it, but I thought it sounded good for my title ;o) (However, I was a big fan of Where's Waldo. The boys had the LDS version with Norman the Nephite.)

Back to the story.

Today was my first day to actually go out to stores and take catalogs to start helping them place orders. I thought that I would start in Branson, MO at Scrapbooks Forever on Hwy 76 (notice the plug?) and then work my way back home through Eureka Springs. Now, I am the first to admit that I am a total passenger. I would much rather focus on the people in my car rather than worry about the people in the other cars. This was clear 22 years ago when I was pregnant with Brian. I was about 4 months pregnant when my ex left for the Air Force and I didn't know how to get to the doctor's office in spite of the fact that I had already had several appointments. I had been to Branson with my friend, Missie, just last August. The route she took there was only 1 1/2 hours. I set up the appointment for 8:30am and thought I would leave at 7am. No problem, right? Well, I can't tell you how many times I felt prompted to call Missie and get directions, but I can tell you EXACTLY how many times I listened to that prompting: ZERO. Nada. A big goose egg.

Well, I was a little nervous about the sales calls anyway, and lately that translates into putting off getting ready for as long as possible. I was having Geno print out directions from yahoo or mapquest (or wherever he got it) while I was rushing to get ready for the day-and making him late for work at the same time. When he got it all printed out, it said that it would take 2 hours. I knew that there was a quicker way. Geno hadn't noticed that the directions started from home rather than the church (where Derrick had left it after driving to seminary and Geno was dropping me off.) and I would be adding more time going back that way!! Geno gave me his GPS system to use and programmed in the address. It also came up at 2 hours and it was already 7am! It recalculated and said that there was an alternate route, so we accepted that one thinking it would be the shorter route that Missie takes. One thing is for sure: Missie is way smarter than Geno's GPS System. I headed out hoping to make good time. After I got through Eureka Springs (my last scheduled stop), I started seeing signs for Berryville (my second scheduled stop). I kept looking at the tiny maps that are printed on the driving directions, but gave up when I almost ran off the road. They are full of curves and turns-not to mention my concern about slick spots from the recent winter weather.

I do have to say that the view on the drive was absolutely beautiful! The trees were completely covered with ice. The sun was shining on them and it looked like the most beautiful glass trees ever!

Well, I was getting more and more discouraged as the time was getting closer to 8:30 and then passed it. Then the GPS system took me on some back roads that were going by chicken houses, old rundown homes, and businesses that appeared to have been closed for quite some time. It was clearly not a very populated area! I was about 45 minutes late to the appointment, but it turned out to be a really good appointment. If you are ever in Branson, make sure to stop by and support Krista at her store Scrapbooks Forever. It is amazing how much product she fits into the space and you will love it.

Well, as I am leaving, they give me directions to Berryville that are much easier than the way I took there. I was done with that appointment at about 11:20 and didn't have another one until 1pm in Berryville, AR. I turned left out of their parking lot and went through West Brason to Hwy 13. I turned left there and took it down to Hwy 86. I had written on my map that they told me to look for Hwy 23, so when I came up on a sign that said Hwy 39 10 miles to Berryville, I looked at it a couple of times and thought I should follow what they told me. I turned on my Hillary Weeks CD and just kept going. By the time I started getting too concerned, I was still on Hwy 86 and almost to Cassville, MO-about 30 miles past where I should have turned. I had to go to the bathroom REALLY bad, but I was worried now that I was going to be late for yet another appointment, so I just kept driving-back where I had just come from. I did pass the sign to Hwy 23 on the way back, but it was to Eureka Springs and not to Berryville. I decided to go with my instinct this time and went back to Hwy 39. If I had just taken that turn the first time, I would have been to Berryville in less than 30 minutes! Instead, I left at 11:20 and got to Berryville at 1:25! The meeting was really good there, also, but after I was ready to just go home and climb into my pajamas! I did go ahead and stop at the store in Eureka Springs and put a few catalogs in their mailbox. (We didn't actually have a face to face sales appointment scheduled since the dates didn't work when we had to change it due to weather.)

Did I mention the exlarge Diet Coke I had gotten with a breakfast burrito in Eureka Springs on the way out? That was certainly a HUGE factor when I was lost!

You get the picture about my day.

If you are ever in the areas, stop by Scrapbooks Forever in Branson, MO or visit them at www.scrapbooksforeverbranson.com or Paper Odyssey in Eureka Springs, AR or www.paperodyssey.com or Mimi's Trunk in Berryville, AR or www.mimistrunk.blogspot.com. Then check out any of the products that are produced by any of the companies that I represent. You can find them listed at www.debbiegunion.com ;o)