Blues City, here we come!

(written Friday, posted Sunday)
Well, today's the day. Going to Memphis. Actually, we're here already. It's been an adventure. We were supposed to meet at the airport at 8am. No, we didn't fly. That's where you pick up the rental car. Or rental monster, in this case. It's a Chevy TrailBlazer. Which, by the way, is a really big vehicle.
Our first adventure of the day was with the rental car company. The attendant at the A___ did not put on her happy face when she got out of bed this morning. So when we showed up and wanted to use our tax exempt status to rent a car without sales tax, that was outside of her range of acceptable behaviors. After multiple conversations with her manager (who was not on site, but on the phone), that was finally settled. So by the time we loaded our personal luggage in the Rental Monster and drove to the clinic to pick up the recruiting stuff (three big tubs worth), it was 9:30. So much for our early start.
Turns out, that wasn't so bad. Even with a 9:30 start time, we got to Memphis at about 5:30 pm.
Which leads to Adventures #2 & 3. They're closely linked. GW, the "adult" of the party, is easily worried and easily freaked out. Except, apparently, about important things. Like how to get to the hotel. We're within site of the Mississippi River when I say (because I'm driving), "OK, so how do we get to the hotel?" From the back seat (GW), "I don't know." She hadn't bothered to worry about that. "I-40 East to Memphis. It's in Memphis." Downtown Memphis, I might add. Fortunately, this is the age of the cell phone, so JC (front seat) calls the hotel and gets directions. Which leads us to Adventure #3: I was driving, so of course it was my fault we got lost. I'm telling you, I followed all the signs. We were supposed to go south on Front street from the interstate. There were two exits. One labelled "North Front Street" and the other labelled "South Front Street Riverside Drive." So I took the second. And ended up on Riverside drive with no obvious way to get to Front street. So, while we got a wonderful view of the river and Memphis's interaction with it, we had to call the hotel back for more directions. Fine. No big deal. Except that JC has said something about me getting us lost or me taking the wrong exit at least once an hour since. It's really wearing on me. badly.
Now we're all set for Adventure #4. We're going down to Beale Street for dinner. I don't seem to have a vote anymore since I got us lost (just ask JC. She'll tell you). Oh, well. I'm going to put on my happy face--well, maybe it better to say I'm going to try to hide my ugly face--and go along. More later.