Attack of the Bunny and other strange creatures

Ok, I meant to write this the other day, but I got sick. You'll understand how in a minute. Yeah, so it was my first Halloween in a neighborhood with kids and a sidewalk!! Funny how the sidewalk makes all the difference - my home in Wilmington, NC (the darling little house for sale) faced a rather busy road with NO sidewalk in front of it - so I rarely had trick-or-treaters. This year I live in a busy residential neighborhood with both lots of sidewalks and kids! I was prepared - I decorated the front of my house with cobwebs and giant fuzzy spiders (after my neighbor decorated hers I had to decorate mine to not look so grinchy). I had 5 bags of candy that I was very proud of not opening until the big night. And then I started to wonder, as all hosts do - what if no one comes? I can't have 5 big bags of chocolate candy in the house! No worries - the doorbell rang. And rang. And rang some more! Being an engineer, I naturally counted everyone who came to my house. I ran out of candy with child #87. I gave out candy to bunny rabbits (not to scary but she was only 2 and very cute), Buzz Lightyears, Pirates, lots of vampires, princesses, and monsters. It was fun - everyone got candy, mom& dad got the update to the World Series game that was on the tv - life was good! Until - I found out what those kiddos gave me in a return - the world's worst cold. Next year I'm not turning on the light.

Can you be Homesick without missing home?

Wow, to say I have neglected the blog is an understatement, but even though it's been neglected, I think of it often and miss it.

So today I cried for the first time since moving to CA. I'm not sure what I was crying for, but something was whelming up in me, and had to come out. It's a feeling of homesick and missing, but I like it out here. I like my job and my co-workers, and the area, and the weather. But what I think I miss is that comfort zone, that longing for a simpler time, when I didn't have heavy decisions on my mind. I don't even think the longing goes back to when I lived in Wilmington, NC for 6 years. I think the homesick feeling goes all the way back to when I lived in Savannah, GA just out of college - no worries, no debt, no mortgage - just living and enjoying. Now I'm struggling with trying to sell a home 3000 miles away in a dismal market - and it's such a darling little house, and suited me - and understanding my new role in my career where I knew what to do for all these years, and now I don't. I'm ready for the time when this becomes my comfort zone, but going through the struggling time is what makes us who we are.

Black Out!

Exciting night last night at the ol' Residence Inn! There was a multi-block black out, which isn't as exciting as the entire town, but it will due. The power went out last night about 7:30pm. No big deal I thought - it's like a hurricane party! But without the flashlights, candles, and beer (they closed the bar). I made the mistake of going down to the lobby via the elevator (we had some power) to find out what was going on. That's when they told me the elevator was in emergency mode and only went down - to go back up to my room I would have to take the stairs. To the 10th floor. D'oh! So, I got back to my room and ate the ice cream in the freezer before it melt, as any good considerate person would do. You wouldn't want it to melt and make a mess in the freezer, would you? The broccoli was on it's own. And then I went to bed out of boredom at 9pm.

Road Kill

Wow, I've seriously neglected the blog!

Time has been flying by and I can't believe I've been in California for 2 months now! It's been an interesting and fun adventure! I'm beginning my new career as a manager and I'm hoping the deer in headlights look isn't permanent. I greeted my staff and fellow coworkers with a cheery "hey y'all!" which generated many humorous attempts to say "y'all" by them. They need to work on it some. I get many etiquette questions about when to properly use "y'all" or "all y'all". Next lesson is on proper use of the word "fixin".

Me and the boys (aka 2 cats) have been living in a fabulous new Marriott hotel in downtown Sacramento that is within walking distance of my office. Everyone asks when will I move into my new permanent place and I have to pretend it's a nuisance to live in the hotel. But secretly, I love it. It's easy, it's close to the office without driving in traffic and paying to park in an expensive parking garage, they have maid service, and room service. Why would I want to move so I could cook my own food and clean my own toilet? I miss my couch, but the one here is working just fine. Wait, that sounds like I'm cheating on my furniture...

Living in California is fun! I'm learning it's always sunny here, and never rains. Like not at all, all summer long. No more summer thunderstorms at 4pm. It's also hot here, but not humid and when you walk under a tree for some shade, it really is cooler! That is amazing! I had no idea that could be possible! After living forever in the south with humidity, where ducking under trees had no impact except for reduced sunburn. I heard it'll rain come November.

It's also easy to get around here. I took the train to San Francisco the other weekend! The train! It was so easy! Very interesting people live in San Francisco. I saw lots of people dressed up in drag, and naked men walking around (well, they had on tennis shoes). I'll just say this once - guys, that's not a good way to advertise. Granted, I wasn't their target audience, but I'm just saying. But the area is neat and there is lots to see. I went to Muir Woods and saw amazingly tall trees! So pretty! And the Golden Gate Bridge - which btw, cost $6 to cross in tolls. California is not for the poor. Don't get lost while driving there and find yourself in the lane to go over the bridge a second paying time (listen to the voice of experience on this one kids).

But I am digressing. You are probably wondering the nature of the title of this blog post. Well, I'm not a geologist, but I'm pretty sure we have earthquakes all the time out here. Why just the other day I was walking to work in the morning and in a rush to get across the street at the cross walk, when splat! I found myself laying face down in the road, bags flung around me, and me, looking like road kill just as the light turns green. See - must have been another one of those earthquakes. I know I'm not that klutzy. I laid there for a moment, unsure of what to do - continue laying there until the earth swallowed me up, or jump up and pretend nothing happened. As fate would have it with all those cars waiting for me to get out of the way, wouldn't you know people wanted to see if I was alright. That means they saw me fall. Crap.

Well, it's Saturday night and I should call it a blog for tonight. I promise to write more - there's much to report! Next week I have my first Junior League meeting here in Sacramento!

The Eagle has landed

Whoop whoop! We made it to California! Yes - all of the travelers who started this journey are still accounted for and we are all here.


Sunday we drove from Salt Lake City to Reno, NV. The drive was pretty, but long - over 500 miles. Thank god for the audio book - a creepy murder mystery that atleast keeps you engaged, but not wanting to ever leave the safety of your car. Today we drove the last leg - and the last 2 hours of the drive from Reno, NV to Sacramento were long. We drove through Tahoe, which is a beautiful area, and it was 32 degrees out and snowing! Atleast by the time we got to Sacramento it was 64 out.


Ah, so now the easy part of this adventure is over. Driving across the country was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed seeing parts of the country that I have never seen before. The true challenge will start later this week when I start my new job. I wonder where my paper bag is....

Dam Detour

First - yeah! We are in Salt Lake City and can wear flip flops and crop pants again! Yeah! No more tourist fleece and long pants!

Okay, so yesterday we took a slight detour to see the Flaming Gorge Dam. Like I could pass up seeing a dam! It's 502 feet above bedrock and a thin-arch dam.

The area is called the Flaming Gorge for the beautiful red rocks. The detour was an absolutely beautiful drive and worth the extra time.

Now off to Reno, NV!

Day 6

The cats revolt. Mom and I decide to take their Valium, sit in the back seat, and let them drive.