To See Texas Twice

I left my home of sixteen months at 1 pm on Friday, June 8th, after a few hours of final packing.

There was a billboard before coming to Yuma, AZ, that declared the city the "winter vegetable capital of the world,"... Oh, Yuma. Was able to drive on base with my brand new military decals to meet up with my brother for the night. We had Chipotle for lunch, Cold Stone for dessert, looked at his rifles and his new 1911 pistol he keeps in self-storage, and finally went back to the mall to see The Avengers, which I quite enjoyed watching with him. He drove me back to my car on base. It was so over-stuffed, there wasn't room for a passenger.

Continued on that night for another hundred miles to Gila Bend, AZ, where I stopped at a space-themes Best Western motel. It had been independent back in the 60s, but the decor survived corporate take-over. :) The room included a hot breakfast at the accompanying restaurant. And you should have seen the moon on the way there! A partial, huge,orange one!

The desert drive was fantastic! Long winding road, so many vistas! Stopped in Payson, AZ, for gas and to give my parents a ring. They had a Saturday farmer's market, which I looked at before continuing on to Holbrook, AZ, where I was about to check out their county museum before a Navajo man sitting outside asked for something to eat. Took him to a restaurant instead, and we talked a while. I was so tired by the time I stopped in Gallup, NM, at 2 pm, that I sat down in the convenience store for a 5-minute nap. Crossed the Great Divide at 3, and discovered that going 75 felt pretty slow. The sunset in Texas was delightful in my rear-view mirror. The plan had been to stay in Amarillo, but I could barely keep my eyes open and so I stopped just shy of it in Vega for my 2nd Best Western. Had a DQ burger for dinner and chatted for a second when I got back to the motel.

It was a 4-hour drive to Norman, but it felt like nothing since I was so close to seeing Michael. Got there in plenty of time for church that I even had time for a cup of coffee that he offered me. We went to church, and then Cracker Barrel for a leisurely brunch. Took a nap when we got home... but he had to take off for the office while I rested. Soon though, I got up and started working on fixing the my packing before he came home and we went to Othello's for dinner.

After a lovely sleep, we went to Jimmy Egg for breakfast, then headed out on errands. He saved $60 on his car tags, for being a military spouse! Picked up his prescription, stopped at the post office, the library, had dinner at our favorite Chinese Buffet, and called it a night after we walked Charlie again.

Had a light breakfast at home the next day, did more errands. For lunch we drove to Chickasha to meet up with Mike's long-time friend, Sherry, at Western Sizzlin'. It was wonderful to meet her after hearing so much about her! Back at home (after that lovely hour-long drive), the air conditioner guy came and installed a new unit (as well as picking up my wallet for me that I had left at the restaurant - he was nearby when he called to tell Mike when he'd arrive). Then it was lots of packing and burning music CDs, then dinner at the Service Station.

Left around 12:30 the next afternoon, and went south on I-35, around Dallas, had KFC on the way, through LA, and stopped at a convenience store there so I could claim it as a visit to my 49th state. Stopped at Vicksburg for the night at the Hampton Inn across the street from the battlefield.

Vicksburg National Military Park was very neat. The visitor center wasn't much to speak of, but we bought the driving tour there. We then drove the battlefield loop until 10:30, including the stop at the USS Cairo museum... a gunboat raised from the river in the '90s. We continued our trip through Mississippi. Alabama was long and we stopped for Burger King. We finally made it to Linda and James in Atlanta by 6ish. Had a lovely, home-made meal with them, and an evening of visiting and watching WENN extras and episodes.

Little bit of a late start, checked into a Comfort Inn motel in Hendersonville in the afternoon, just across the street from the community that my grandparents live in. Met them, started to work on a puzzle, chatted, watched the Cubs beat the Red Sox, went out to Papa's & Beer for a big Mexican dinner, then shared a dessert back at their house as we visited with my Aunt & Uncle as well. Loved how well everyone got along!

After breakfast at the motel, we went to see our relatives off on their day trip to South Carolina, visited downtown Hendersonville's Saturday street-market, and the courthouse museum (with a special Civil War exhibition, and a permanent turn-of-the-century Hendersonville County one-room schoolhouse exhibit). From there we found our way to my aunt & uncle's house where we saw all the improvements to their house, played with their friendly black lab Gus, and did a little fishing before we walked around the pond. On my uncle's suggestion, we headed out to see the Pisgah National Forest and the fish hatchery and recreational "sliding rock" in the local river. Leftovers for dinner.

Sunday morning with family, then they sent Mike and I to see the "Spitfire Grill" play at the Flatrock Playhouse, then we all met for dinner at the Sea Breeze seafood restaurant and finished the puzzle when we got back to there place.

Monday morning, the 18th, there was a lot of packing, then breakfast at Denny's to go, which we finished at Grampa and Gramma's by 9:50, visiting until 12:30. Doughnuts to go and a coffee... drove through Fletcher on the way to I-40. Stopped at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park five miles outside Greensboro, NC. This was the battle that led to the great victory at Yorktown later that year... where, incidentally, we were headed. We had just under an hour at the visitor center, then drove to overflow parking so we could take a look at the battlefield and see the statue of Nathaniel Greene. Lots of great artifacts at the center!

This made us rather late getting into Norfolk. Finally checked into the Navy Lodge just down the street from base around midnight.

Goodness, we made it!

Jw

Days To Say Goodbyes

Wednesday afternoon I finished up Chipotle leftovers for lunch, then headed out to Kristin and Andy's to watch The Princess Diaries and ...Part 2, for an afternoon of fun. We've watched Mary Poppins and Sound of Music a month or so ago, so this was a nice finish. It was something we talked about doing a while ago. Had juice and popcorn while we watched, then we visited a little while before we had to say goodbye. Stopped at Ricky's Restaurant one last time on the way home... It has become a favorite. Delicious chicken with rice, veggies and a couple cups of decaf. Read a chapter or two of Mere Christianity... the book I can no longer read with my young adult group in person. But I am certainly going to finish it again. :) Stopped at the library to see if they needed anything. Got sidetracked by the Friend's Book Sale... found a couple mystery books I'd like to read for 50 cents each. Helped Pam and Christine set up the community room, then confirmed I'd come back again today.

Today I've been packing up a storm. First phase, in the morning, I filled up my bags in my room... and it was difficult to navigate. Around noonish I went to Ace Hardware at Liberty Station to exchange something I bought a while ago for a needle-nose pliers... in case any disc gets stuck in my CD player again. Then I had a half-sandwich at Con Pane before dropping off the couple bags of things for Goodwill. Then I went to the library one last time. Re-shelved all the audio and VHS for a couple hours before it was time for Christine to take me out to our arranged early dinner. Aida offered to print me a Letter of Appreciation, detailing my 162 hours! that I've worked since February last year. It's a lot!

Then I hugged her and Pam goodbye, and Christine got off early to take me to Point Loma Seafoods... apparently a very famous cafe that I've somehow missed going to until now. And it was delicious! I had a scallop sandwich... that was huge! We shared a shrimp cocktail, and afterwords, she took me to her friend's confectionery, down the street on Scott St... The Elegant Truffle... where we had a couple free samples and she bought me a delicious piece of white coconut cake. We talked a lot about traveling, and our common interest in trying different foods. She drove me back to my car at the library, and we said our goodbyes.

Back at home I am nearly all packed. Cleaned off my bike... put most of the stuff in the car... and will cram the rest in sometime tomorrow. I wonder when they will let me leave.

Jw

Two More Days

Both of these last two days I've gotten off work very much later than normal... doing a special job that required staying til 4pm! :)

Yesterday I made it in time to the library on their very first shift of new Monday hours to return my last items: a WWII newsreel and the soundtrack of Curtains. I think I forgot to mention it before, but my last audiobook I finished last week was The Maltese Falcon. I tried starting The Hobbit, but the first disc had problems and I don't think I would have had time anyway. I didn't intend to work, but they had a bit of a backup of just getting checked-in items sorted out on the shelves in the back room... so I lent a hand for a half-hour, and in the process, I found that they had already entered my donated Tim Tebow book (from Saturday) into the system. Very glad they could use it... I usually don't buy brand new hardcovers like that, but I did that one time in January when I flew out to Oklahoma. Made the flight go by very fast... and it was an interesting biography too. Back at home I watched Romancing the Stone (1984) for the first time and laughed my head off. Thank you, Darling!

Today, getting out pretty late, I went straight to the library again since I said I would yesterday. Got to arrange dinner with Christine, and then put three audiobooks together before I knew it was time to go have dinner. I think I'm slightly addicted to Chipotle... good thing I get the chicken bowls loaded with veggies...a it's got to be relatively healthy... I hope. :)

And now I'm really tired. What a weekend I have coming up. Whew.

Jw

Laid-Back Last Weekend In San Diego

I felt no pressure to create a marvelous last weekend for myself... it just happened. :)

After a quick breakfast at home, I finally made it over to the library well past their 9:30 opening time... I think it was closer to 12:30. More audiobooks to be fitted out... and that was about it. Snack at home, then picked up my bow and arrows and headed for Balboa Park for a few rounds. It was good fun, as always. The park was crammed though. I thought I'd eat at one of the restaurants there, but they were all taken up or closed down because of all the wedding celebrations going on. I saw five different brides (and their parties) along the Prado (main thoroughfare). I know it's June, but good grief! It is a public park too! :)

So I thought I'd go downtown, since I was nearby, and get something to eat there. Had a whale of a time getting some parking, as there was a Padres game in progress when I arrived. Found out Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was playing in an hour, so I decided on something quick... rice & beans at Fred's Mexican Cafe (for $3.60 total!) as I watched a bit of the OKC Thunder game, then a small burger at Burger Lounge across the street. By the time I walked a couple blocks north to the theater, it was just time to begin. Got a little combo of popcorn, iced tea and candy for less the cost of a regular popcorn... then settled in for a fantastic experience of a great film played the way it had been 73 years ago. It was moving... I was crying by the time the little kid was stumbling over the Gettysburg Address. Good grief, it's so good!

And Sunday! Everyone at church was so nice! The pastor even said a few things about me after service. Jenny made me lemon bars and chocolate cake to share in the fellowship hall afterwords as she had offered. Very yummy! It was so good to be able to say goodbye to everyone... Russ gave me a big hug and said "Nuts to the Navy... they can't have you!". I love all of them so much... so thankful for Facebook, and the chance to still keep up with them. That night for small group, Andy and Kristin made broiled steak, zucchini and garlic bread (and fresh strawberries!) for a special dinner. Luke and Christina also came with baby Liam, and I was able to hold him! I had finished up watching season 5 of Foyle's War that afternoon so I could return it to the Jacobs right then. Sort of fitting day to get to that wonderful last episode.

Happy VE day, everyone... and I'll miss you. :(

Jw

This Week...

It has been wild. I went to the library on Tuesday afternoon, as soon as I could, to tell them about my orders. Told Aida and Christine, then I helped them with their new big project: transferring brand new audio books into cases and getting them set up in the system. I did the same thing again on Wednesday, and they left a cart for me. I only did 7 on Tuesday... getting used to it and what not... but I was able to do a dozen on Wednesday in the same amount of time (2.5 hours):

Thursday was the day I started checking out, so I walked all over the place while I got my car ready for the big upcoming trip. I will miss some things about San Diego... it is so pretty here:

For dinner I ate all the red and Yukon potatoes I had in the fridge, as well as the half-pound of snow crab and shrimp I found at Vons earlier in the week. It all tasted very good with the light olive oil I have... and it made for a wonderful leftover lunch on Friday as well!

Friday evening, I watched a couple of the Donald Duck cartoons my Darling sent home with me (I especially liked the short Sea Scouts), and then My Week With Marilyn (2012) from the Redbox on base. It was incredibly fitting, since in the notes after the film they mention that her next film after the one detailed in this one was Some Like It Hot, which I just saw a couple weeks ago. I had it on recommendation from my mom, and I did enjoy it. A little unusual slice-of-life story about an unlikely friendship. Very entertaining.

Jw