Thoughts about the year that was...

As I was sitting and watching the New York Jest (not a misspell) ruin another football season for me, I began to reflect on the year gone by... And what a year it has been. Many milestone events and and many adventures make 2008 a year I will remember for as long as I am able...

On the sports scene: the New York Giants winning the Super Bowl and ruining the hated Patriots "perfect" season... the Boston Celtics (finally a team I like doing something good!) winning the NBA championship over the hated Lakers... the Mets blowing another lead with 2 weeks left in the season (2 years in a row) to the hated Phillies (as least they won it all)... huge free agent signings by both the Yankees and the Mets (hope they're are more to come, Mets)... Tiger Woods and the miracle finish at the US Open with a torn up knee (I feel your pain, Tiger, been there, done that)... and the Giants have a shot at repeating as Super Bowl champs...

On the personal side: I turned 50 this year (I wish I had felt this good at 20 or 30, who knows where I would be today, but no regrets)... No major injuries to report (other than the chronic back problems that were job-related)... and that problem is no longer a problem (knock wood).
I left my career and east coast behind and made the leap left to Arizona (although when I first started telling people I was leaving, they didn't believe me). On my drive across and up and down America, I reconnected with family members I hadn't seen in quite awhile, especially my two nieces, and saw some wonderful sites in this great country of ours... I began a home-based business which I hope will become a nice addition to the income (still in infant stage, won't be up and running until 2009, no questions please!)... I have lost almost 20 lbs. since October (Woo Hoo!) and have started running again...

On the friendship side: I miss all of you terribly, but please believe that I value your friendship even more since the move... the never ending show of support and encouragement that I have received from all of you is a constant motivation to make this "adventure" become a reality. I am blessed to have each of you in my life and the mileage will not affect my feelings for all of you.

Put all of that together with the election of President-elect Obama and I think you will agree that 2008 was a pretty special year (and I do believe that under his leadership, we will get out from under this recession, if we give him a chance)...

What the heck is with the weather???

I repeat...What the heck is with the weather? I had to put the HEAT on the last couple of days! I didn't come out to the "Valley of the Sun" to have to put the HEAT on. The HEAT was already supposed to be on! But don't worry, the temps will be back near 70 this week... Flagstaff and the high country got pounded with snow and there were several highways shut down completely to vehicular traffic. Right now as I blog, the temp in Chandler is a robust 36 degrees with sunny skies... I ran yesterday morning and the cold air felt great in the lungs... I kind of like the freezing temps once in a while to remind me of what most of you have to deal with on a daily basis...until April! Yuk-Yuk-Yuk. I'm sure glad I didn't give away all of my cold weather clothes.

I am glad to report that running or jogging (let's face it, I'm no gazelle) has re-entered my life. I have been out several times over the past week and the knees have not bothered me...(my leg muscles feel like they were beaten with sticks, but my knees are fine). I am approaching jogging as a beginner and slowly getting back into a routine... I have already clocked the mileage to Dunkin Donuts (2.5 miles) so I run 1.5 and walk the rest... Eventually, I hope to be able to run there and walk home, but that's down the road. (Literally!) The plan, if all goes well, would be to find some local runs in the area and maybe do a 5K. We'll see what we see.

I'm sure most of you enjoyed my rant about the New York Jets and today is "put up or shut up"
day. Even if they win they still don't have a spot in the playoffs (Buffalo must beat New England) sewn up. Now, this week Brett (oh my shoulder!) Favre isn't sure if he will come back next year (how about just showing up Sunday and throwing passes to YOUR team, Brett!?). As a die hard Jet fan (and those of you who still admit it know what I'm talking about) it could get very ugly in the Meadowlands today... Rumor during the week had Bill Cowher replacing Eric (I can't show any emotion) Mangini as head coach next year. But I will still be in front of the TV (they are showing the game here) wearing my green and white and rooting on my beloved Jets (even though they have taken my heart year after year). J-E-T-S JETS-JETS-JETS!!!!! and GO BILLS!!!! (I can dream, can't I?)

Christmas in the Valley

As my first Christmas in Arizona winds down, I reflect on how it is different and in some ways the same as many other Christmases I have celebrated... I did not have a tree this year (with all the "stuff" I brought with me, I just couldn't bring some other "stuff" into the apartment right away)... I will have a tree eventually (did anyone hear "after Christmas sale"?) but not at the moment... This is one of the first years, in a long time, where I actually got to spend Christmas at home...(of course I moved 2500 miles away to accomplish that feat). I did miss seeing family and friends but I reached out by phone and text message to a lot of people... It was tough being alone for the Holidays, but I knew this going into the adventure. It is one of the non-perks about moving so far away... however, as most of you know, barring my painful shyness, I hope to have a mess of new friends by this time next year... And don't worry, nobody is getting replaced... My friends in the East will always be my friends, no matter how many miles I put between us...

I took the Jeep around yesterday and today and did some exploring a little further out from the homebase. Tempe and the area around ASU is really pretty and all decked out for the Holidays... It sort of reminded me of my situation...the kid that stays at school while everyone else goes home for Christmas break... ASU looked like a ghost town, but it'll be hopping next week when the Fiesta Bowl Parade and the Fiesta Bowl itself are played...There be plenty of Ohio State and Texas fans in town also for the game...

The weather has been fairly crappy the last week or so...overcast and rain mostly with temperatures in the 50's (don't go sending more snow pictures and wind chill reports, please!)...All the natives keep telling me that in the summertime I will wish the weather was like it is now (I don't know--I like the heat---I say "bring it on!")...I have started running again this week, baby steps to see how the knees hold up, but it sure is good to get back out there...( 2 miles to Dunkin' Donuts and a pleasant walk back with my cup of joe)...

The weather and the palm trees are probably the most difficult to relate to Christmas...It just too nice to be December 25, although it was warmer in Virginia today... And do you know how difficult it is to decorate a palm tree with Christmas lights?

But all these things aside, I'd say my first Christmas here was a good one... The meal I prepared was very good and I did not poison myself...(always a plus). My apartment is shaping up better and better every day... Good things are still happening to the "Arizona Kid" or "Cactus Jim" as one of my cousins dubbed me... Yeah, I think I'm going to stay here a little while longer...

Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families

Twas the night before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
Blogger Jim was a-typing
And scrolling his mouse

My stocking is hung (but no chimney for me)
I sure hope Santa remembered his key
I've been a good boy this last passing year
So I'm hoping for presents and some good golfing gear

Christmas in the Valley, the weather's okay
Does Santa use an ATV, instead of his sleigh?
I worried about spending the Holiday alone
But everyone here made me feel so at home

Chandler and Tempe are lit up with light
Trees and the storefronts are glittering bright
Everyone smiling and wishing good cheer
"Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year"

I'm wishing and hoping my friends in the East
Will be blessed with good things and a wonderful feast
That people less fortunate will benefit too
From food drives and pantries supported by you

Up on the roof I just heard such a clatter!
I raced to the door to see what was the matter
Was it Santa arriving to bring Christmas deals?
Nope. Just my neighbor in her brand new high heels!

So, I'm sending this poem that I wrote on the fly
Cause a blogger I am, yes, I am "blogger guy"
And I'll end it the way that that is true and so right
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

May all the blessings of the season come to you and your families... I wish you Peace, Joy and all the best for the New Year to come

J-E-T-S SUCK, SUCK, SUCK!!!

IT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER FOR ME TO WATCH SPORTS ANYMORE... THE JETS "CONTROLLED THEIR OWN DESTINY" AND MANAGED TO DO WHAT THEY ALWAYS DO... CHOKE! AND NOW THEY HAVE SET UP THE PERFECT LOSE, LOSE SCENARIO COMING UP THIS WEEKEND...IF THEY BEAT THE DOLPHINS, AND NEW ENGLAND BEATS BUFFALO, THEN THEY STAY HOME AND THE HATED PATRIOTS WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS... IF THEY LOSE (AND THAT'S WHERE MY MONEY IS PLACED, FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING OF COURSE) THEN THE QUARTERBACK THAT THEY BANISHED TO SIGN THE HEROIC BRETT FAVRE WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS... WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE JET FAN, EH?

SO, YOU SAY, WHY NOT ROOT FOR YOUR NEW "HOME" TEAM? BECAUSE THE ARIZONA CARDINALS SUCK EVEN WORSE! THEY COULDN'T BEAT AN EGG RIGHT NOW... THE LAST TWO GAMES AGAINST QUALITY TEAMS, THEY WERE OUTSCORED IN THE FIRST HALF 59-3... WAY TO CHARGE INTO THE PLAYOFFS, GUYS!!

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE IS ALWAYS A SILVER LINING AND A BRIGHT SIDE... WHILE WATCHING BOTH GAMES AND THE SNOWSTORMS PELTING DOWN, I WAS SITTING IN MY LIVING ROOM WITH SHORTS AND T-SHIRT ON WITH THE SLIDING DOOR OPEN TO LET THE GENTLE AND 60 DEGREE BREEZE IN...AND THE BIGGEST SILVER LINING OF ALL IS THAT I DON'T BET THE GAMES (CAN I GET AN A-MEN)...

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, TO SAY THAT MY MONTH PLUS IN ARIZONA (4 WEEKS TOTAL INCLUDING THE WEEK IN ARUBA) WAS A LITTLE HECTIC IS PUTTING IT MILDLY... IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL AND FRUSTRATING AND BUSY AND AGGRAVATING RIDE THAT I WOULDN'T TRADE FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD... I FEEL AS IF I HAVE LIVED MORE SINCE OCTOBER 15 (THE START OF JIM'S ODYSSEY) THAN I HAVE FOR A LONG TIME AND THAT'S A BIG PART OF WHY I DID THIS... AND AS I BECOME MORE ASSIMILATED IN MY SURROUNDINGS (SOUNDS LIKE WILD KINGDOM, DOESN'T IT?) I ONLY HOPE TO BE ABLE TO ADD NEW ADVENTURES IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN...

I'M BAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

HELLO OUT THERE IN BLOG WORLD... I HOPE YOU MISSED ME... SORRY I HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH BLOGGING, BUT I WENT THROUGH A BIT OF WRITER'S BLOCK AND WASN'T UP FOR WRITING ANYTHING... (BLOGGER'S CRAMP??) ANYWAY, I'M HERE AGAIN AND WILL BE BLOGGING ON A REGULAR BASIS FROM HERE ON OUT... WHICH IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE I WILL BE USING BLOGS IN MY ATTEMPT TO LAUNCH AN INTERNET BUSINESS FROM HOME...(DON'T WORRY, I WON'T BE HITTING UP ANYONE I KNOW FOR SALES LEADS)...

LAST TIME I BLOGGED, I WAS LEAVING FOR A VACATION IN ARUBA AND WHAT A VACATION IT WAS! I MET TWO OF MY BEST FRIENDS FROM NEW YORK DOWN THERE AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME...(LOTS OF LYING ON THE BEACH, SLEEPING BY THE POOL, DINING OUT, YADA YADA YADA)... NEEDLESS TO SAY (BUT I ALREADY DID) A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL... THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THE FLIGHTS... BETWEEN DELAYS AND EQUIPMENT TROUBLE, MY FLIGHTS TOOK WAAAAAY LONGER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BUT WHAT THE HECK, IT IS WHAT IT IS...

STILL FIGHTING WHATEVER IT IS I PICKED UP ON THE ROAD...CHEST XRAY CAME BACK NEGATIVE AND THE WHEEZING AND PHLEGM FACTORY HAVE GONE BUT THE OCCASSIONAL COUGH IS STILL PRESENT... DOCTOR INFORMED ME THAT SOME PEOPLE FROM THE EAST DEVELOP WORSE ALLERGIES OUT HERE AND THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED "VALLEY FEVER" (EXOTIC SOUNDING, ISN'T IT?) BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL... I TOLD THE DOC IT WAS INSANITY... I'M JUST CRAZY ABOUT THIS PLACE...

OTHER THAN THAT. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SETTLE IN AND GET INTO SOME SORT OF ROUTINE...

SO, IN CLOSING, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL WELCOME ME BACK ON THE INTERNET AIRWAYS AND LOOK FORWARD TO MY RAMBLINGS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF SUBJECTS AND LIFE IN GENERAL...ADIOS FOR NOW

LAST BLOG BEFORE VACATION

HAPPY DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING... I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYED THEIR RESPECTIVE FEASTS...(MINE WAS DONE QUITE NICELY, THANK YOU)... SPENT A QUIET DAY COOKING AND PUTTING THE LAST OF THE "STUFF" AWAY... I AM OFFICIALLY MOVED IN!!! ALL THE STUFF HAS FOUND A HOME WITHIN THE HOME AND I AM READY FOR VACATION... I HAVE FIT EVERYTHING IN A LARGE GYM BAG AND AM READY TO DEPART VERY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING MORNING FOR EVEN WARMER CLIMATES...

MET SOME MORE OF THE NEIGHBORS ALONG THE WAY... A GUY FROM BERGEN COUNTY NJ AND A WOMAN FROM MICHIGAN AND A FORMER GI FROM MICHIGAN... ALL NICE AND THEY ALL WELCOMED ME TO THE COMMUNITY... THE PLACE IS VERY QUIET AND PEACEFUL...

MAJOR THUNDERSTORM LAST NIGHT AROUND 8:30... TORRENTIAL RAIN, THUNDER, LIGHTENING AND THEN HAIL! SMALL HAIL, NO GOLF BALLS, BUT HAIL ALL THE SAME... LASTED A GOOD 45 MINUTES... SAT ON THE PATIO AND WATCHED THE LIGHTENING SHOW...

ALONG WITH THE "DRY" HEAT, THERE'S DRY COOL ALSO... (EITHER THAT OR THIS SICKNESS HAS THINNED MY BLOOD)... EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN THE LOW 60'S THE AIR TEMP IS MUCH COOLER... MAKES THE SUN FEEL THAT MUCH BETTER...WILL PROBABLY BRING SOMETHING WARM FOR THE TRIP BACK FROM ARUBA...(DON'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT LIKE I DID ONE TIME... RETURNED BACK TO JFK AIRPORT IN SHORTS AND A TEE SHIRT WHILE A FULL BLOWN BLIZZARD WAS SOCKING NYC!)...

I PROMISE TO RESUME NORMAL ACTIVITY WHEN I RETURN... I WILL CONDENSE MY VACATION INTO ONE BLOG BECAUSE I WON'T BE DOING TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING WHILE I'M DOWN THERE...

GOOD LUCK TO MY MAN VICTOR ON MONDAY (HE'S HAVING HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY)... I'LL CALL YOU WHEN I RETURN TO THE COUNTRY ON SUNDAY DEC.7... ENJOY THE REST OF THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AND I WILL "TALK" TO YOU SOON...

THANKSGIVING EVE

WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO THE STRANGEST SOUND I HAVE HEARD SINCE I LEFT NEW JERSEY ON OCTOBER 15...IT WAS RAINING!! NOT JUST PIDDLING SPRINKLES, BUT A REAL RAIN... IT WAS AMAZING TO WATCH AND THE SMELL WAS LIKE THE FIRST SPRING RAIN WHEN THE TREES AND FLOWERS ARE COMING BACK... OF COURSE, EVEN THOUGH IT RAINED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THEY WERE ANNOUNCING FLOOD CLOSURES ON THE RADIO... AND THE DRIVERS WERE LIKE DRIVERS IN THE FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR... THEY HAD NO CLUE...(MADE ME HOMESICK....NOT!)... IT WAS EVEN CHILLY OUT... (SORRY, BUT ARIZONA CHILLY IS IN THE 50'S)...

WENT TO THE DOCTOR THIS AFTERNOON... I'M GLAD THAT I DIDN'T WALK "JUST UP THE STREET FROM ME"... (BACK IN JERSEY MY DOCTOR WAS 1/4 MILE AWAY IF NOT CLOSER)... THIS "JUST UP THE STREET" WAS ALMOST 8 MILES. HE'S A 39 YEAR OLD INDIAN DOCTOR WHO VERY COOL AND EASY TO TALK TO, SO I GUESS I'LL STICK WITH HIM UNTIL HE DOES ME DIRTY... (AND HE TAKES MY INSURANCE...BONUS)... I ALSO MET HIS BROTHER AND HE RUNS A COMPUTER STORE IN THE SAME MINI-MALL SET-UP AND HE'S GOING TO RESET MY PASSWORD ON MY BACK-UP LAPTOP... (DOUBLE BONUS). THE GOOD NEWS IS I DON'T HAVE PNEUMONIA AND HE GAVE ME SOME GOOD STUFF TO KILL THE DISEASE (HE'S CALLING IT BRONCHITIS)... I ALSO SCHEDULED A PHYSICAL FOR AFTER I GET BACK FROM VACATION SO HE HAS A BACKGROUND ON ME... I NEED TO CONTACT MY OLD DOCTOR AND HAVE HIM SEND MY MEDICAL RECORDS OUT HERE TO DR. J...(NO RELATION TO JULIUS ERVING)... PEACE OF MIND IS A WONDERFUL THING WHEN YOU'RE COUGHING UP A LUNG AND GET GOOD NEWS...

I AM DOWN TO THE CLOTHING PART OF MOVING IN... (MAN, I GOTTA LOT OF STUFF)... ALREADY 2 BOXES OF CLOTHES ARE GOING TO GOODWILL ON FRIDAY... ALL THE FURNITURE AND UTENSILS HAVE FOUND THEIR SPOTS AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GO TO ARUBA...AND DO NOTHING BUT KILL THIS FREAKING BRONCHITIS...(HAVEN'T BEEN REALLY UP FOR MUCH WITH NOT FEELING WELL...

I WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME ALSO TO WISH MY FAITHFUL READERS AND EVERYONE ELSE OUT THERE IN BLOGDOM A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY THANKSGIVING AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPERS...(SOME OF THE STORES ARE OPENING AT 4AM OUT HERE...) I WILL MISS BEING AT ERIC AND SUE'S HOUSE FOR THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR AND WILL MISS SEEING MY FAMILY, BUT I HAVE A GREAT DINNER PLANNED FOR MYSELF AND WILL USE THE TIME TO PACK FOR MY TRIP AND GET READY FOR THE CABLE MAN BETWEEN 8 AND 12 FRIDAY MORNING...(LOVE THOSE WINDOWS...) SO HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ONE AND ALL...

ALMOST FORGOT! DOUBLE RAINBOW AFTER THE STORM THIS AFTERNOON... GOT A PICTURE ON MY PHONE OF THE BRIGHTER ONE...WAY COOL...

OH MY GOD, WHERE'S THE SUN????

WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND IT WAS CLOUDY!! OH NO!! STILL IN THE 70'S BUT IT WAS WEIRD SEEING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME...

THE FED-EX MAN BROUGHT MY NEW BROADBAND TODAY AND I RE-INSTALLED EVERYTHING AND....NOTHING!!! ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF ON THE PHONE WITH JAQUELINE AT TECH SUPPORT AND STILL NOTHING!!! MY COMPUTER INSTALLS EVERY DRIVER BUT DOES NOT COMPLETE THE DATA INTERFACE...(THAT'S GEEK SPEAK FOR IT AIN'T WORKING!!) SO NOW SHE SENT AN EMAIL TO COMPUTER TECH AND IT WILL BE 48-72 HOURS BEFORE THEY HAVE AN ANSWER... SO IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER BY FRIDAY THEN I'M INTERNET-LESS UNTIL I GET BACK FROM VACATION... OF COURSE I WON'T BE BLOGGING NEXT WEEK ANYWAY BECAUSE IT COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO USE THE INTERNET AND EMAIL OUT OF THE COUNTRY... I HAVE DECIDED TO DO ONE BLOG FOR THE VACATION BECAUSE I WON'T BE DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING BESIDES GETTING TAN AND READING... (TOUGH JOB, BUT I'M UP TO THE TASK)...

SO I AM NOW UP TO DATE WITH CATCHING YOU UP... COMPUTER ISSUES ASIDE IT HAS BEEN A GREAT 10 DAYS IN THE NEW HOME... I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU AND ALL YOUR FAMILIES A HAPPY AND HEALTHY THANKSGIVING... TO THOSE OF YOU TRAVELING ON THURSDAY BE SAFE AND BE CAREFUL... MUCH LOVE TO ALL OF YOU FROM THE "ARIZONA KID"...

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS ALWAYS GET ME DOWN

WELL, STILL NO SIGN OF RAIN BUT IT'S STILL MONDAY... I HAVE BEEN IN ARIZONA SINCE NOV 10 AND IT'S BEEN SUNNY EVERY DAY... THEY ARE CALLING FOR CLOUDS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND SSSSSSSHOWERS ON THANKSGIVING DAY... (I MAY HAVE TO MOVE AGAIN... I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR SHOWERS)... GOT THROUGH TO THE CABLE COMPANY AND THEY CAN'T GET TO ME UNTIL FRIDAY! I GUESS I'LL LISTEN TO THE GAMES ON THE RADIO OR THE COMPUTER... HOW GREAT IS THIS... I FINALLY GET TV AND THE NEXT DAY I GO AWAY FOR A WEEK... AT LEAST I CAN WATCH THE GAMES AT THE CASINOS IN ARUBA...

GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO ABSOLUTELY MOVED IN... GUESTROOM IS UP AND READY... MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS EARLY... AND FOR A GROUP VISIT THERE ARE GUEST APARTMENTS AVAILABLE...

THE GOOD THING ABOUT NO TV IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO GET SETTLED IN AND PACKED FOR MY TRIP. I AM TRYING TO GET DOWN TO A GYM BAG TO BRING DOWN TO ARUBA... EVERY YEAR I GO DOWN THERE THE BAG HAS GOTTEN SMALLER... CAN'T WAIT TO CHILL ON THE BEACH AND HANG WITH BOB AND TONI ANN, MY FRIENDS FROM NEW YORK... HAD A BIG FAT STEAK ON THE GRILL TONIGHT... I FORGOT TO MENTION, EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE CHIPS OF THE BEDROOM SET (EASILY FIXABLE), THE MOVERS DID A SUPERB JOB AND PROPS TO ME FOR PACKING BOXES. NOT ONE GLASS OR "VALUABLE" WAS DAMAGED IN THE CROSS-COUNTRY MOVE... HOW BOUT THAT!

IF IT'S SUNDAY, IT MUST BE FOOTBALL

GOING TO MY FIRST GAME IN ARIZONA... ABOUT THE SAME RIDE AS IT WAS TO THE MEADOWLANDS BACK IN NEW JERSEY... A COUPLE OF EXCEPTIONS. I PARKED FOR FREE AND WAS ABLE TO WALK TO THE STADIUM FROM THE LOT...(NO SHUTTLE BUS)... THEY OPENED THE WILL CALL WINDOW AT NOON AND I GOT MY TICKET, BUT I HAD TO GO BACK OUTSIDE AND WAIT FOR THEM TO OPEN THE GATES OFFICIALLY... SO I GOT TO BE SEARCHED TWICE... GREAT STADIUM! BUT THEY DIDN'T OPEN THE ROOF! HERE I'M WEARING MY GIANT BLUE SLEEVELESS TEE AND MY CARDINALS HAT AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS ON! MY SEAT WAS ON THE 20 YARD LINE AT THE VERY TOP OF THE STADIUM...(LAST ROW)...

LET ME TELL YOU, I KNOW ARIZONA IS A MELTING POT OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY BUT THERE WERE A TON OF GIANT FANS EVERYWHERE IN THE STANDS...WHEN THE TEAMS CAME OUT TO STRETCH BEFORE THE GAME THE CHEERS WERE EQUALLY LOUD FOR BOTH TEAMS. LOTS OF RED, BUT A LOT OF BIG BLUE ALSO... SAT NEXT TO A GUY AND HIS WIFE FROM WILLINGBORO, NJ...

THE FIRST HALF WAS PRETTY CLOSE, BUT YOU COULD TELL THE GIANTS COULD PRETTY MUCH MOVE UP AND DOWN AT WILL... BRANDON JACOBS WASN'T AVAILABLE SO ELI MANNING THREW THE BALL ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE CARDS COULDN'T STOP THEM... THE SECOND HALF WAS ALL GIANTS... THEY CAUSED A FUMBLE, TOOK IT IN AND SCORED... INTERCEPTION, MORE POINTS... BUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS KILLED THE CARDS... (HIXON HAD ALMOST 300 ALL PURPOSE YARDS, 200 PLUS ON RETURNS ALONE...) EXCEPT FOR A ZEBRA AIDED LATE DRIVE BY THE CARDS, THE GAME WAS PRETTY MUCH IN THE BAG...

SEEING THE GIANTS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL THE LAST 2 WEEKS REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO HOW GOOD THEY REALLY ARE... AGAINST BALTIMORE (WHOSE DEFENSE I THOUGHT MATCHED THE GIANTS), THE GIANTS RAN THE BALL DOWN THEIR THROATS AND DID WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO... AGAINST THE CARDINALS, THE RUNNING GAME WAS DEPLETED, SO THE GIANTS RELIED ON THE PASS TO BEAT THEM... THE THING THAT IMPRESSES ME MOST IS THEIR ABILITY TO ADJUST DURING THE GAME AND THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T MAKE MISTAKES WITH THE BALL... I REALLY HATE PRAISING THE GIANTS, BUT THEY DESERVE ALL THE RESPECT THAT THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY EARNED...

BUT, HOW ABOUT THOSE J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS? NOT ONLY DO THEY BEAT THE HATED PATRIOTS BUT THEY GO DOWN TO TENNESSEE AND MANHANDLE THE PREVIOUSLY UNBEATEN TITANS...GO JETS...

ANOTHER SIMILARITY TO THE MEADOWLANDS...TRAFFIC GETTING OUT AND GOING HOME WAS HORRENDOUS... OVER 2 HOURS TO GET HOME, 45 MINUTES TO GET THERE... LIFE IN THE BIG CITY...

SATURDAY--RELAPSE TIME

AS YOU ALL KNOW, SOMEWHERE IN THE NATION'S HEARTLAND, I CAUGHT A NASTY COLD AND BY THE TIME I REACHED TEXAS, IT HAD SETTLED IN MY CHEST WITH A HACKING COUGH AND LOADS OF "LUNG BUTTER." I HAD BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY BETTER WITH OVER THE COUNTER REMEDIES AND AS MUCH SLEEP AS I COULD... SATURDAY, IT CAME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE... SPENT A LOT OF THE DAY BLOWING MY NOSE AND HACKING UP PHLEGM...(SORRY FOR THE GROSS VISUAL). SO I CALLED AETNA AND GOT A LOCAL DOCTOR AND I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON WEDNESDAY WITH A DOCTOR RIGHT UP THE BLOCK FROM ME...I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GET SOME ANTIBIOTICS TO KILL THIS THING SO I CAN GO ON VACATION SATURDAY...

NOT MUCH HAPPENED SATURDAY... I COOKED MY FIRST MEAL IN THE NEW APARTMENT...(ACTUALLY CLEANED ENOUGH CRAP AWAY TO BE ABLE TO...) IT WAS NICE TO SIT AND ENJOY A MEAL AT "HOME" FOR A CHANGE... NO SHOP-RITES OR STOP-N-SHOPS, BUT SAFEWAY AND BASHA'S ARE PRETTY COOL AND THE PRICES ARE COMPARABLE... (GOD, I SOUND LIKE MARTHA STEWART... I NEED TO GET LAID....HAHAHAHA)... BIG GAME TOMORROW---GIANTS VS. CARDINALS... LOTS OF SLEEP TONIGHT.

BACK ON THE AIR THANKS TO WI-FI

WELL, GENTLE READERS, HERE I AM AGAIN, BACK ON THE AIR IN THE BUSINESS CENTER OF THE NEW DIGS... FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO CONNECT THROUGH MY LAPTOP AND DECIDED TO CATCH YOU GUYS UP BEFORE I LEAVE ON VACATION (ARUBA) ON SATURDAY... FREE WI-FI, SO WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE? TO THOSE OF YOU WHO THOUGHT I FELL OFF THE PLANET WHEN THE BLOGS STOPPED, I APOLOGIZE... I CONTACTED AS MANY OF YOU AS I COULD...

THE PROBLEM WAS THAT ON THURSDAY? (THE DAYS ARE MELTING TOGETHER WITH MOVING IN, NO INTERNET, NO PHONE BOOK...) MY COMPUTER CRASHED AND TOOK MY BROADBAND WITH IT... I CALLED TECH SUPPORT ON FRIDAY? AND SPENT 2 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH JILL AND AFTER REBOOTING MORE TIMES THAN A SHOE STORE, SHE WASN'T ABLE TO HELP ME... ALSO, MY COMPUTER WENT INTO RECOVERY MODE AND I LOST A LOT OF DOWNLOADS AND A CRAPLOAD OF PICTURES...SO I DECIDED TO FIRE UP MY BACKUP LAPTOP AND SEE IF IT WOULD WORK...BUT I CHANGED THE PASSWORD BEFORE I LEFT NEW JERSEY AND CAN'T FIND THE PAPER I WROTE IT DOWN ON AND CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME REMEMBER THE DAMN THING!!! WHAT A GREAT DAY...

I WAS OUT EXPLORING AND SAW A VERIZON WIRELESS STORE AND WENT BACK HOME AND BROUGHT MY COMPUTER AND WIRELESS MODEM AND THEY WORKED ON IT FOR AN HOUR ABD THE SAME RESULTS AS JILL...NO GO... THE GUY TOLD ME HE WOULD ORDER A NEW DEVICE (UNDER WARRANTY) BUT IT WOULDN'T GET TO ME UNTIL TUESDAY...(WHY I NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS WI-FI OPTION BEFORE IS JUST THE RESULT OF COMPLETE MELTDOWN FRIDAY)... ANYWHO, I SPENT THE REST OF MY FRIDAY TRYING TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING AND FIND THAT PASSWORD... NO LUCK SO FAR...

I GOT A LOT OF STUFF, MAN

THE MOVERS ARRIVED TODAY WELL WITHIN THE "WINDOW" THEY PROMISED... THEN THEY STARTED BRINGING BOXES AND FURNITURE IN AND THE PARADE DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO STOP! UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE THAT EVERYTHING THEY BROUGHT INTO THE APARTMENT WAS ACTUALLY MINE...(AND I GAVE AWAY AND SOLD A TON OF STUFF IN NEW JERSEY)... GOT MY WORK CUT OUT FOR ME THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT EVERYTHING FIT... GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING AGAIN AND DOING A MAJOR WEEDING OUT OF UNNECESSARY ITEMS AND THINGS I WILL PUT ON EBAY OR CRAIGS LIST...

NOW, I HAVE TO CALL THE CABLE COMPANY AND GET ANOTHER "WINDOW" SO THEY CAN HOOK UP MY TVS... ALSO, HAVE TO FIND THE TITLE TO MY JEEP SO I CAN REGISTER IT IN ARIZONA, GIVE UP 2 JERSEY PLATES FOR 1 ARIZONA PLATE... OUT OF STATE CARS HAVE TO BE INSPECTED AND HAVE AN EMISSION TEST BEFORE THEY WILL REGISTER THE VEHICLE... EVEN THOUGH I JUST HAD IT INSPECTED IN NJ IN SEPTEMBER... THE WOMAN TOLD ME THEY DON'T DO "EAST COAST" INSPECTIONS HERE... BUT SHE DID NOT EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT A "WEST COAST" INSPECTION WAS, SO I'LL FIND OUT WHEN I GO...

PUT A MAJOR DENT IN THE BOXES... HAVING THOSE EXTRA DAYS GAVE ME A CHANCE TO PLAN MY ATTACK ONCE EVERYTHING GOT HERE... HAVING A STORAGE CLOSET OFF THE PATIO IS HUGE...(THE BIKES AND COOLERS AND TOOL BOXES CAN ALL FIT IN THERE)... ALSO NICE TO HAVE A PLACE TO SIT AND EAT... AND JUST SIT... SO TOMORROW WILL BE MORE OF THE SAME, UNPACKING AND RE-PACKING STUFF TO GO TO GOODWILL (SORRY BOYS AT FINKELSTEIN, THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA GET THIS LOAD)... JUST FINISHED WASHING THE SHEETS AND PILLOW CASES AND MAKING "MY" BED...(HOORAY FOR LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES)...

JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAVING A STRETCH OF DAYS REACHING RECORD HIGHS FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR (MID TO UPPER 80'S)... AND NO RAIN IN SIGHT UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK... BUT DON'T WORRY, I'LL TOUGH IT OUT...

THE FURNITURE IS COMING, THE FURNITURE IS COMING

TODAY, I DECIDED TO DO SOME COMMUNITY THINGS... I WENT TO THE ARIZONA DMV AND CHANGED OVER MY DRIVER'S LICENSE... THE DMV WAS AS CROWDED AS NJ, BUT WITHOUT THE ATTITUDE WE NEW JERSEY NATIVES ARE USED TO... EVERYONE WAS "HI. HOW CAN I HELP YOU" AND "IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO FOR YOU?"... THEY ALSO HAD THE LOGAN'S RUN VOICE ANNOUNCING THE NEXT TICKET NUMBER AND LINE...(A LITTLE CREEPY)... THE WOMAN WHO WAITED ON ME WAS FROM PENNSYLVANIA, BEEN HERE THREE YEARS, YADDA, YADDA, YADDA... ALL IN ALL, NOT A BAD EXPERIENCE...

FROM THERE IT WAS OFF TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY FOR MY LIBRARY CARD... I'M NOT GOING TO START BUYING BOOKS LIKE I USED TO... I DONATED OVER 125 HARDCOVER BOOKS TO THE SOUTH BRUNSWICK LIBRARY BEFORE I LEFT AND I'M NOT GOING TO START THAT CYCLE AGAIN... AS I WAS LEAVING THE LIBRARY, I GOT THE CALL I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR... FURNITURE DELIVERY ON WEDNESDAY!!!! MY WINDOW IS BETWEEN 10 AND 2 AND HE'LL CALL FROM ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR AWAY... DUDE ASKED ME IF EVERYTHING WAS GONNA FIT...("YOU GOT A LOT OF STUFF, MAN")... I TOLD HIM IT CAME FROM A 2 BEDROOM, GOING INTO A 2 BEDROOM... AGAIN. "YOU GOT A LOT OF STUFF, MAN." JUST BRING IT HERE, MAN... I'LL MAKE IT FIT.

FINISHED THE AFTERNOON PICKING UP THE NEW CVS CARD AND THE SUPERMARKET CARD... DID A LITTLE MORE EXPLORING WHILE I WAS OUT, TOO... CAN'T WAIT UNTIL MY BICYCLES GET HERE, SO I CAN RIDE THEM INSTEAD OF WASTING GAS... MOST STREETS HAVE A BIKE LANE AND THEN THERE'S PATHS ALL AROUND THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS... PLUS, I HAVE A GOLF BAG THAT HOLDS A FEW CLUBS AND I CAN RIDE MY BIKE TO THE PRACTICE FACILITY AT THE COURSE NEXT DOOR... I NEED TO INQUIRE ABOUT A MEMBERSHIP THERE... WANT TO ESTABLISH MY OFFICIAL HANDICAP (GHIN) SO WHEN I COME BACK TO NEW JERSEY, I CAN TAKE ON BOB AND WALTER WITH MY PARTNER VIC (NEW HIP)...

SO, I GUESS THE NEXT FEW DAYS ARE GOING TO BE BUSY UNPACKING THE "VALUABLES" AND SEEING IF EVERYTHING DOES INDEED FIT... ("I GOT A LOT OF STUFF, MAN")... THEN IT'S OFF TO EBAY AND CRAIG'S LIST WITH THE STUFF I DON'T WANT TO KEEP...

IT'LL BE ANY DAY NOW.... ANY DAY

AS YOU CAN GUESS BY THE TITLE, I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE FURNITURE TO ARRIVE... BUT AS THEY SAY, GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT... (AND WAIT AND WAIT!)... IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE BEEN EXPLORING CHANDLER ARIZONA AND THE IMMEDIATE AREAS TO FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH MY NEW SURROUNDINGS...

HERE'S MY SEINFELDIAN OBSERVATION FOR THE DAY: YOU EVER NOTICE HOW WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING AND THE BOX SAYS "SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED" THAT WHAT IT REALLY MEANS IS "YOU NEED AN ENGINEERING DEGREE." I HAVE A BREAKFAST BAR IN THE KITCHEN, SO I BOUGHT SOME BARSTOOLS... WHEN I OPENED THE BOX, NONE OF THE PIECES WERE ASSEMBLED AT ALL (HENCE, ALL ASSEMBLY REQUIRED)... IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS EVER BOUGHT ANYTHING FROM IKEA, YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT...(AT LEAST THE INSTRUCTIONS WEREN'T IN SWEDISH). BUT WITH SOME ELBOW GREASE AND A LOT OF ALLEN WRENCHING, I HAVE TWO VERY COMFORTABLE BARSTOOLS TO SIT ON...(WHICH IS GOOD, BECAUSE I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SIT ON)...

AFTER 3 UNSUCCESSFUL FORAYS INTO CHANDLER, I HAVE FINALLY FOUND BUCA DI BEPPO! THIS IS A CHAIN OF ITALIAN RESTAURANTS THAT HAS LOCATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY... WHEN MY SISTER WOULD COME UP FROM VIRGINIA I WOULD MEET THEM AT THE CHERRY HILL, NJ LOCATION... (VERY COOL RESTAURANT AND FABULOUS FOOD)... SO WHEN I MOVED OUT HERE I SAW THERE WAS A LOCATION IN CHANDLER BUT FOR THE LIFE OF ME I COULDN'T LOCATE IT (AND I DIDN'T USE PARIS---DUH!)... SO YESTERDAY I MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT AND VIOLA! EUREKA! I FOUND IT! (JIM DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO DO, DOES HE?)...

SO EVERYTHING I BROUGHT FROM NEW JERSEY IN THE CAR HAS BEEN SETTLED IN... JUST WAITING FOR THE NEXT WAVE (HOPEFULLY SOON)... IN THE MEANTIME I BOUGHT A NOSEBLEED TICKET FOR SUNDAY'S CARDINALS GAME AGAINST THE WORLD CHAMPION NEW YORK (REALLY NEW JERSEY) GIANTS...THE SEAT IS IN THE LAST SECTION AT THE TOP BUT IS ON THE FIFTY YARD LINE... BRINGING LOTS OF SUN SCREEN AND BINOCULARS...

REFLECTIONS IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN

I SAT DOWN TODAY TO WRITE THIS BLOG AND INSTEAD OF JUST GIVING A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT I DID, I REFLECTED ON THIS JOURNEY I HAD UNDERTAKEN AND WHAT IT ENTAILED AND WHAT IT MEANT...

I ADDED UP THE ACTUAL MILEAGE COVERED TO REACH CHANDLER, ARIZONA: 3534 MILES... THE STATES I TRAVELED THROUGH: NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY, MISSOURI, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS (MAN, THAT STATE IS HUGE!), NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA... THE AMOUNT OF TOLLS I PAID ONCE I LEFT THE TRI-STATE AREA: $1.75... THE NUMBER OF RAINY DAYS BETWEEN 10/15 AND 11/15/2008: 2... THE NUMBER OF RAINY DAYS SINCE I HIT ARIZONA: 0... THE ROUNDS OF GOLF PLAYED: 7... NICEST HOTEL I STAYED IN: GAYLORD OPRYLAND IN NASHVILLE... COOLEST PLACE TO VISIT: SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS... BEST PLACES I VISITED: GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA--DALLAS CITY, ILLINOIS--PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KANSAS...

MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY I UNDERTOOK THIS JOURNEY AND WHY I ENDED UP IN ARIZONA... A FEW YEARS AGO I VISITED LAS VEGAS AND CALIFORNIA (TO PLAY GOLF, OF COURSE!) AND WHEN I WAS THERE, I FELT MORE AT HOME THAN MY REAL HOME IN NEW JERSEY... I DECIDED THAT WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT I WOULD MOVE SOMEWHERE OUT WEST... LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THE TIME WOULD COME NOW... MY JOB WAS VERY DEMANDING OF MY TIME AND BEING A WORK-A-HOLIC I DIDN'T SEEM TO MIND... MY COMPANY TREATED ME VERY WELL OVER THE YEARS, BUT IT GOT TO BE A MATTER OF TIME... TIME TO DO THE THINGS I LOVED AND TIME TO DISCOVER NEW THINGS ABOUT MYSELF AND THE WORLD IN GENERAL... EVERYTHING FELL INTO PLACE THIS YEAR... I TURNED 50 AND WAS IN FAIRLY GOOD HEALTH, MY LEASE ON MY APT. IN NJ ENDED IN OCT... I HAD SAVED ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE COMFORTABLY FOR AWHILE WHILE I DISCOVERED MY NEW CALLING... I DECIDED ON ARIZONA FOR THE WEATHER AND COST OF LIVING... RENTS WERE CHEAP AND THE WEATHER WAS SPECTACULAR...AND OF COURSE, GOLF YEAR ROUND...

THE ACTUAL DRIVING WAS DIFFICULT AT TIMES, BUT THE MEMORIES AND THE THINGS I SAW IN THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY WE LIVE IN, I WILL CHERISH FOREVER...THE PEOPLE I MET AND WILL MEET AS I DISCOVER MY NEW HOME... ENTERTAINING FRIENDS WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT (YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT HERE!) RECONNECTING WITH FAMILY THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN (I OWE SOME VISITS TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL)...

I HAVE BEEN TRULY BLESSED ON THIS TRIP WITH NICE WEATHER, NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, NO THEFT OR BREAK-INS, NO ACCIDENTS, AND I CONSTANTLY RECEIVED SIGNS ALONG THE WAY TO CONFIRM MY DECISION (I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL, BUT TRUST ME, IT WAS EERIE AT TIMES)...I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED AND SO EXCITED AT THE SAME TIME (SCARED IT MAY NOT WORK OUT, BUT EXCITED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS THE RIGHT THINGTO DO AND I WILL MAKE IT WORK)...

AND SO, I BID YOU GOOD NIGHT FROM THE VALLEY OF THE SUN... FURNITURE IS COMING AND LOTS OF WORK TO DO...

MOVING IN TO THE NEW DIGS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 IS FINALLY HERE... I PACKED UP MY BELONGINGS, CHECKED OUT OF THE RADISSON, AND BROUGHT THE LAST OF THE ROAD "VALUABLES" TO MY NEW HOME... MY PARKING SPACE IS CLOSE, WHICH IS KEY FOR GROCERIES AND SUCH... PUT AWAY MOST OF THE STUFF I BROUGHT WITH ME ON THE ROAD, EXCEPT FOR CLOTHES... WENT THROUGH THE BOX OF MAIL I HAD FORWARDED AND WROTE A LIST TO GO FOOD SHOPPING... I AM ENTERING THE "NESTING" PHASE OF THE TRIP...(GOT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MY INTERIOR DESIGN SIDE)...

HUNG OUT AT THE POOL AND HOT TUB FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS...(SUNNY AND IN THE 80'S...NEVER GET TIRED OF SAYING THAT!) THEN WENT ON THE SHOPPING EXCURSION...(SAFEWAY, DOLLAR STORE, BED,BATH & BEYOND). PICKED UP SOME ESSENTIALS (NOT TOO MUCH BECAUSE I AM FURNITURE-LESS AND POT,PAN AND PLATE-LESS)... ARIZONA IS SET UP PRETTY MUCH LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE... THE MAIN DRAGS HAVE THE STORES AND RESTAURANTS, SURROUNDED BY THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. THE MALLS ARE LOCATED MORE DOWNTOWN (ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T REALLY FOUND DOWNTOWN CHANDLER YET)...

SO NO WORD FROM THE MOVING COMPANY... I GUESS THEY'LL CALL ME ON MONDAY AND LET ME KNOW WHEN I CAN EXPECT A DELIVERY... SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM GETTING THE 53' TRAILER DOWN TO MY APARTMENT... I AM RIGHT DOWN THE MAIN DRIVEWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE...

NOT SURE WHAT TO DO TOMORROW... WILL PROBABLY "NEST" SOME MORE IN THE MORNING AND THEN GO FIND A SPORTS BAR TO WATCH THE GAMES... FIRST NIGHT'S SLEEP IN THE NEW APARTMENT TONIGHT... PSYCHED...

STANDING ON A CORNER IN CHANDLER, ARIZONA

I WENT TO THE BANK AND POST OFFICE TODAY AND HANDLED SOME BUSINESS...SPENT THE DAY EXPLORING OUTWARD FROM THE HOOD...(LEARNING THE STREETS AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET TO PLACES)... AROUND NOON I GOT THE FIRST "BAD NEWS" OF THE TRIP. THE MOVING COMPANY TRUCK HAD BROKEN DOWN AND WAS HOPING TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD ON SATURDAY SOMETIME, SO MY FURNITURE AND OTHER "VALUABLES" WILL NOT BE COMING UNTIL MONDAY OR TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK...

AROUND 4 PM, I HEADED OVER TO CORNERSTONE RANCH AND SIGNED ALL THE PAPERWORK FOR THE LEASE AND PAID MY PARTIAL RENT FOR NOVEMBER AND RECEIVED MY KEYS... DID THE PRELIMINARY INSPECTION REPORT AND RETURNED IT AND MOVED ALL THE "VALUABLES" FROM THE CAR INTO THE APARTMENT... I AM NO LONGER HOMELESS!! THE PLACE IS GREAT...2 BEDROOMS (SO Y'ALL CAN PLAN ON VISITING), A NICE ENCLOSED PATIO, OPEN LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM AND KITCHEN... I AM FACING INSIDE THE COMPLEX AWAY FROM STREET NOISE AND A GOOD VIEW OF THE POOL...I PLAN A PHOTO SHOOT SHOWING BEFORE AND DURING AND AFTER THE MOVE AND WILL SEND PICTURES OF THE TRIP WHEN I GET A LITTLE MORE SETTLED IN...

ON THE DAY OF MY "COPS" EPISODE, I FORGOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE GOLF COURSE... WE HAD JUST FINISHED THE FIRST NINE HOLES AND WERE WAITING ON THE 10TH TEE AND TALKING ABOUT EAST COAST WEATHER, WHEN A BOBCAT MEANDERED ACROSS THE TEE BOX ABOUT 20 FEET IN FRONT OF US! HE PAID US NO ATTENTION AND WALKED INTO THE DESERT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TEE, OBVIOUSLY HUNTING FOR LUNCH...(YES, I GOT A PICTURE)... WHEN WE FINISHED HITTING OUR SHOTS, WE DROVE AROUND THE CORNER AND SAW HIM LEAP INTO A SCRUB TREE AND SNATCH AN ANIMAL OUT OF THE TREE AND WALK FURTHER INTO THE SCRUB...(IT WAS LIKE AN EPISODE OF "WILD KINGDOM")...

SO, NOW I HAVE THE WEEKEND FREE...(HMMM, MAYBE I'LL PLAY SOME GOLF!)...GLAD I HAVE THE AEROBED AND MY PILLOW AND BLANKET BECAUSE I AM SLEEPING IN MY APARTMENT SATURDAY NIGHT... GOING TO ADD UP THE MILES AND SEE JUST HOW FAR ME AND THE MIRACLE JEEP HAVE COME... IT WAS KINDA NICE HAVING YOU GUYS ALONG FOR THE RIDE... BUT DON'T WORRY. THE BLOGS WILL CONTINUE...

AS AN ASIDE, WENT TO CVS TO PICK SOME STUFF UP AND SIGN UP FOR THE "EXTRACARE" CARD, AND THE GUY BEHIND THE COUNTER ASKED WHERE I'M MOVING FROM... CENTRAL NEW JERSEY I TELL HIM... I LIVED IN NEW JERSEY HE SAYS...YOU KNOW WHERE NEW BRUNSWICK IS? HE LIVED 10 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE I USED TO LIVE! (CAN'T GET AWA FROM THESE TRANSPLANTS!)...

J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!!!!

QUIET DAY IN CHANDLER ON THURSDAY...WENT TO BREAKFAST AND THEN DROVE AROUND THE NEW "HOOD," GETTING A FEEL FOR WHERE THINGS ARE IN RELATION TO THE NEW APARTMENT... I HAVE SUPERMARKETS WITHIN A MILE AND MEDICAL FACILITIES OUT THE "YING-YANG" (HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL OFFICES TREATING EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF ARE WITHIN 5 MILES OF HOME--HOPE I DON'T NEED 'EM QUITE YET)... AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN ALMA SCHOOL ROAD (MAIN DRAG WHERE ALL THE BUSINESSES ARE) I STRUCK GOLD! THERE IS A DUNKIN' DONUTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD! I KNEW I PICKED THE RIGHT SPOT TO LIVE... HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ORANGE AND PINK SIGN SINCE MISSOURI!

SPENT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AROUND THE POOL (TEMPS HIT 79 THURSDAY--7 DAY FORECAST? SUNNY EVERY DAY IN THE 80'S...SORRY, BUT THAT'S "MY" IDEA OF A WINTER)...AROUND 4 PM I WENT IN AND WATCHED THE HYPE SURROUNDING THE JETS-PATRIOTS SHOWDOWN ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL...

I WATCHED THE FIRST HALF DOWN IN THE BAR AT THE RADISSON AND WAS MIGHTY IMPRESSED WITH THOSE JETS (EXCEPT WHEN THEY GAVE UP THE LAST MINUTE TOUCHDOWN BEFORE HALFTIME)... BUT I AM A LONG SUFFERING JETS FAN AND I KNEW THE GAME WOULDN'T BE THAT EASY TO WIN... TOO MANY TIMES I HAVE WATCHED THE JETS SNATCH DEFEAT FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY! SO WHEN NEW ENGLAND RALLIED TO TIE AT 24-24 I WAS SICK BUT NOT SURPRISED... I WENT TO MY ROOM FOR THE SECOND HALF (I WAS OVERDOSING ON COCA-COLA DOWN AT THE BAR...) WHEN THE JETS TOOK THE LEAD AT 31-24 (TOUGH CALL ON VRABLE FOR HOLDING) I STILL HAD WAS WORRIED...THEN THEY STOPPED THE PATS! ONE FIRST DOWN FOR THE WIN (BUT NO!!!!! NEVER THAT EASY)... THEN THE REMARKABLE CATCH BY RANDY MOSS (WHY DID THEY CHANGE THE COVERAGE THAT WORKED ALL NIGHT ON THAT PLAY?!)...

BUT THE JETS RE-IMPRESSED ME BY TAKING THE BALL AND DRIVING METHODICALLY DOWNFIELD AND WINNING THE GAME WITHOUT LETTING NEW ENGLAND TOUCH THE BALL (HEY FEELEY! A LITTLE MORE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UPRIGHTS PLEASE!)...SO I WILL ENJOY BEING THE "FIRST-PLACE" TEAM FOR 10 DAYS UNTIL THEY TAKE ON THE TENNESSEE TITANS A WEEK FROM SUNDAY... (DON'T WORRY GIANT FANS--THE JETS ARE "FAVRE" FROM BEING IN YOUR CALIBER, YET!)
BUT, IT SURE IS NICE TO WIN AFTER 4-12 LAST YEAR...

MY EPISODE OF "COPS-TUCSON"

LAST ROUND OF GOLF IN TUCSON REMINDED ME OF PLAYING IN NEW JERSEY... (EXCEPT THE COURSE AND WEATHER WERE NICER)... TOOK ALMOST 5 1/2 HOURS TO PLAY... PLAYED WITH A THREESOME OF OLDER PEOPLE FROM THE PITTSBURGH AREA...(ONE OF THEM HAS A WINTER HOME IN THE TUCSON AREA)... SHOT 38 ON THE FRONT NINE WITH A 35 FOOT BIRDIE PUTT ON THE 3RD HOLE AND 40 ON THE BACK NINE... FINISHED THE DAY AROUND 4:30 TIRED, BUT PHYSICALLY IN ONE PIECE...

SO OFF I WENT FROM TUCSON ON THE LAST LONG LEG OF THE "INCREDIBLE JOURNEY"TO THE CITY I HAVE CHOSEN AS MY NEW HOME (CHANDLER, AZ)... PARIS SAID IT WAS ABOUT 97 MILES (A "BAG OF SHELLS" COMPARED TO SOME OF THE LENGTHS I'VE BEEN DRIVING)... GOT ON "THE 10" (PEOPLE DON'T SAY ROUTE OR HIGHWAY OUT HERE JUST "THE") AND HEADED WEST... LOTS OF CONSTRUCTION AND A LOT OF POLICE PRESENCE AS THE SPEED LIMITS CONTINUALLY CHANGED FROM 75 TO 65 TO 55 IN SOME AREAS... I NOTICED A HIGHWAY PATROL CAR GET ON BEHIND ME, BUT I WAS DOING THE SPEED LIMIT AND ADJUSTING THROUGH ALL THE CHANGES...

NEXT THING I KNOW, THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND I'M PULLED OVER!! ALMOST 3,000 MILES OF DRIVING AND I'M 60 MILES FROM "HOME" AND I'M YANKED OFF THE HIGHWAY BY TUCSON'S FINEST... I ROLL DOWN THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND HE COMES TO THE PASSENGER SIDE! I ROLL DOWN THAT WINDOW AND HE ASKS IF NEW JERSEY HAS THE STICKERS YOU PUT ON LICENSE PLATES TO SHOW THE EXPIRATION DATE. I EXPLAIN ABOUT THE WINDOW STICKER AND GIVE HIM MY LICENSE, REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE CARD... HE PULLED ME OVER FOR FOLLOWING A VEHICLE TOO CLOSELY AND WAS GOING TO ISSUE A WARNING... SO, OUT OF THE CAR I GO AND STAND NEXT TO HIS CRUISER WHILE HE WRITES THE WARNING... ALL THE WHILE, HE'S ASKING ME WHERE I'M HEADED, WHERE I'M COMING FROM, DID I GO OVER THE BORDER, DID ANYONE APPROACH ME TO CARRY ANYTHING, WHAT'S MY NEW ADDRESS, ETC... VERY PROFESSIONAL AND COURTEOUS... WHILE HE WAS WRITING, I WAS WATCHING ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR SUNSETS OVER THE MOUNTAINS I HAVE EVER SEEN!

SO HE FINISHED THE WARNING (NO NEED TO DO ANYTHING, JUST FILE IT) AND HE ASKED ME IF I WOULD MIND IF HE SEARCHED THE CAR (BECAUSE WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE BORDER AND "THE 10" IS A KNOWN DRUG TRAFFICKING HIGHWAY)... TOLD HIM NO PROBLEM, JUST GOT A BUNCH OF JUNK FROM JERSEY IN THERE... HE SAID HE WASN'T GOING TO, BUT FOR TRAINING PURPOSES WAS IT OKAY IF HE RAN HIS DOG AROUND THE CAR... HE HAD A DRUG SNIFFING DOG IN THE BACKSEAT! I SAID SURE, GO AHEAD AND THE DOG SNIFFED AROUND THE CAR TWICE AND HE RETURNED HIM TO THE BACKSEAT... THEN THE OFFICER HANDED ME MY PAPERWORK AND SHOOK MY HAND AND TOLD ME TO BE CAREFUL... THAT WAS THE COOLEST TRAFFIC STOP (AND ONE I CAN ACTUALLY REMEMBER) I HAVE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN...

THE REST OF THE RIDE WAS PRETTY CALM AFTER THAT... ARRIVED IN CHANDLER AROUND 8:00 AND CRAWLED INTO BED EXHAUSTED...

TAKING IT UP A NOTCH

ANOTHER EARLY ROUND OF GOLF TUESDAY AT LA PALOMA (THE DOVE)... MORE OF THE SAME: BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND CHALLENGING LAYOUT... I PLAYED WITH ALVY FROM RENO, NV. AND 2 MEMBERS OF THE CLUB WHO SHARED SOME LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WITH US ABOUT THE COURSES... SHOT 84 (STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TEE SHOTS, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL WHEN YOU PLAY A DESERT COURSE)...

WE FINISHED AROUND 12:30 AND ALVY ASKED IF I WANTED TO DO A REPLAY...(MOST COURSES OFFER ANOTHER ROUND AT A DISCOUNTED RATE)... WE WENT TO THE CLUBHOUSE AND INQUIRED ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD SET US BACK... THEY TOLD US JUST GO AND PLAY! (FREE REPLAY!)...I WAS IN HOG HEAVEN... WE PLAYED THE 3RD NINE AT LA PALOMA AND THEN REPLAYED THE HILL NINE... SHOT 78 THIS TIME BY PLAYING THE COURSE AND TAKING WHAT I COULD GET (REMINDED ME A LOT OF PINE BARRENS IN LAKEWOOD NEW JERSEY)... SO THE GOLF WHORE PLAYED 36 HOLES AND CAME BACK TO THE CONDO A TIRED BUT HAPPY MAN...

STARTED PACKING UP THE CAR FOR THE TRIP TO MY NEW CITY... AFTER GOLF AGAIN AT ARIZONA NATIONAL ON WEDNESDAY, I AM DRIVING UP TO CHANDLER (THE NEXT TO LAST LEG OF THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY)... I AM STAYING IN CHANDLER THE NEXT FEW DAYS UNTIL MOVE IN DAY SATURDAY...(NEED TO COLLECT FORWARDED MAIL, DO SOME BANKING, GET SOME POSTAL MONEY ORDERS FOR THE PARTIAL RENT AND THE REST OF THE MOVER'S FEES, ETC.)....

THE COURSE I'M PLAYING ON WEDNESDAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST OF THE 3 I WILL PLAY...(CAN'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE-BUT I WILL)... THE BACK HAS HELD UP NICELY AND HOPEFULLY SO WILL MY GAME...

VENTANA CANYON-MOUNTAIN COURSE

MONDAY MORNING... EARLY RISE TEMP OUTSIDE IN THE UPPER 40'S BUT THE SUNRISE IS SPECTACULAR COMING UP OVER THE MOUNTAINS... THE COURSE IS ONLY 5 MILES AWAY AND I MAKE IT WITH A LITTLE TROUBLE...(PARIS COULD NOT MATCH THE ADDRESS AND THE RESORT DOESN'T OWN THE GOLF COURSE, SO IT TOOK MORE TIME THAN I FIGURED)... 8:00 SHOTGUN START AND WE STARTED ON THE 5TH HOLE... WHAT A COURSE! LINKS STYLE MEANDERING THROUGH THE FOOTHILLS OF THE MOUNTAINS...(YOU HAD TO CLIMB UP THE CLIFFS ON SEVERAL HOLES TO REACH THE BACK TEES)... DEFINITELY A MUST RETURN COURSE...

AFTER GOLF BACK TO THE CONDO FOR A NAP... THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS DRIVING HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL AND I'M WORN OUT...(STILL HAVE THE REMNANTS OF THE ENTITY MAKING AN APPEARANCE, BUT FEELING MUCH BETTER)...TEMPS MADE IT TO 70 BUT THE BREEZE WAS COOL (THE DRY HEAT THING--HUMIDITY LOW KEPT THE TEMPS VERY COMFORTABLE)... BRILLIANT SUNSHINE... SOAKED IN THE HOT TUB, DROVE AROUND TUCSON FOR A WHILE AND CAME BACK, MADE DINNER AND JUST CHILLED WATCHING THE GAME (6:30 START--WHAT A GREAT CONCEPT)...NICE WIN FOR THE ADOPTED TEAM...(WOULD BE PRETTY COOL IF THE CARDS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS)....

MORE OF THE SAME TOMORROW... ANOTHER EARLY TEE TIME AT A DIFFERENT COURSE..

TRUCKIN' INTO TUCSON

WHAT'S ANOTHER 300+ MILES AFTER A DAY OF DRIVING 500+? A PAIN IN THE ASS IN ALL SENSES OF THE WORD... TODAY'S RIDE WAS DEFINITELY FILLED WITH FIRSTS I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED... FIRST BORDER PATROL STOP...(THE GUARD WAS SHOCKED I DRIVING FROM NEW JERSEY TO ARIZONA)...FIRST DUST STORM...(WASN'T TOO BAD BUT I CAN IMAGINE HOW FIERCE THEY CAN GET---SIGNS WARNING OF DUST STORMS ALL ACROSS NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA)... FIRST ATTACK BY A TUMBLEWEED...(BOUNCED RIGHT OFF MY DRIVER'S DOOR)...

ARRIVED AT THE CONDO (THE DEAL I BOOKED INCLUDED 3 NIGHTS, 3 ROUNDS OF GOLF AT 3 DIFFERENT COURSES (I AM SUCH A WHORE!))... INSTEAD OF THE 1 BEDROOM, THEY UPGRADED ME TO A 2 BEDROOM CONDO OVERLOOKING THE MOUNTAIN RANGE SURROUNDING TUCSON (CATALINA MTS. I THINK)... THE VIEW FROM MY FRONT DOOR IS AWESOME! THE CONDO IS LOADED WITH AMENITIES SO I WENT FOOD SHOPPING AND COOKED FOR MYSELF (NEED TO START DOING THAT)... THEN I HAD A CIGAR OUT ON THE PATIO AND WATCHED THE GIANTS BOOT THE EAGLES (GREAT GAME G-MEN---AND A WOO-HOO FOR MY JETS DESTROYING THE HAPLESS RAMS)...

OK, GOTTA GET SOME SLEEP... 8 AM TEE TIME MONDAY AND I WANT TO GET THERE EARLY AND HIT BALLS IF I CAN... MAY NEED A SWEATER... MIGHT GET DOWN IN THE 40'S OVERNIGHT (BRRR!) AND THEN UP TO 70 DURING THE DAY... BOOKED MY LAST HOTEL STAY FOR THE DAYS BEFORE THE BIG MOVE IN ON SATURDAY... CAN'T WAIT TO EMPTY THE JEEP OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL AND PARK IT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS...(IT SURE HAS EARNED A REST--SO DOES MY BUTT!)...

OUT IN THE WEST TEXAS TOWN OF EL PASO...

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG RIDE WHEN YOUR GPS UNIT ANNOUNCES "PROCEED 544 MILES" BEFORE YOUR NEXT TURN!! THAT'S WHAT PARIS SAID TO ME AS I GOT ON THE 10 AND HEADED WEST...

NOW I KNOW WHERE THEY CAME UP WITH TERM "WIDE OPEN SPACES". WESTERN TEXAS IS BIG AND OPEN. LOTS OF OIL PUMPING STATIONS AND A BIG SECTION OF WINDMILLS ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS, BUT THE TOWNS ARE FEW AND VERY SMALL... IT WAS ONE CONTINUOUS SCENE OF EVERY WESTERN YOU'VE SEEN... (THE GUY GALLOPING ACROSS THE PLAIN, DRY CREEK BEDS, SCRUB BUSHES AND TREES, PASSES THROUGH THE HILLS...). THE RADIO PICKED UP NO STATIONS (YOU HIT SEEK AND IT JUST CIRCLED THE DIAL OVER AND OVER) SO IT WAS LUCKY THE CD PLAYER WAS WORKING...

AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MAJOR PROPS TO MY JEEP AND THE GUYS WHO GOT IT READY FOR THIS TRIP... KNOCK WOOD I HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT YET...

MADE IT TO EL PASO AROUND 4:30 PM MOUNTAIN TIME, CHECKED IN AND PASSED OUT. WOKE UP AROUND 8, GRABBED SOME TAKE OUT AND WATCHED THE GAMES... TO MY IOWA FRIENDS, "HOW BOUT THEM HAWKEYES!" KNOCKING JOE PA OUT OF THE PICTURE... IT'S A SHAME ALABAMA WON BUT I'M GLAD FOR THE RED RAIDERS OF TEXAS TECH (GO HOME TEAM)... FELL ASLEEP IN THE SECOND HALF AND WOKE UP AROUND 3 SUNDAY MORNING...

SO, I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO FIND ROSE'S CANTINA... BUT I KNOW THE WAY INTO THE BADLANDS OF NEW MEXICO... THAT SONG HAS BEEN A FAVORITE OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS AND IT'S VERY COOL TO BE IN THE TOWN IT MADE FAMOUS...

SAN ANTONIO STROLL--TANYA TUCKER

ANOTHER DAY OF GOLF FOR THE THE GOLF "WHORE". CANYON SPRINGS WAS NICE, BUT THE GAME DIDN'T MATCH THE NICENESS OF THE COURSE OR THE WEATHER... SHOT 85 AND WAS BOTHERED THE WHOLE ROUND BY THE RETURN OF A HACKING COUGH THAT I JUST COULDN'T CONTROL... (GOT SOME COUGH SYRUP--IT HELPED)...

CAME BACK AND TOOK ANOTHER STROLL ALONG THE RIVER WALK, THEN TOOK THE WATER TAXI RIDE ALONG THE MAIN BRANCH WHERE THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THE BUILDINGS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RIVER WALK... LUNCH AT HOOTERS AND SOME MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SPURS WITH ASHLEY AND DEB... THEN WALKED DOWN TO THE NEW HOTEL FOR A NAP AND A SOAK IN THE HOT TUB...(NEITHER ASHLEY NOR DEB WERE AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION...)

GOING TO CALL IT A NIGHT EARLY... WANT TO GET A JUMP ON THE NEXT LEG AS SOON AS I CAN TOMORROW MORNING... IT'S A LONG WAY TO EL PASO AND I WANT TO MAKE IT IN TIME TO SEE THE TEXAS TECH-OKLAHOMA STATE GAME TOMORROW NIGHT... CALLED ABOUT A THREE DAY STAY AND PLAY IN TUCSON AND GOT A GREAT PRICE, SO IT'S TUCSON INSTEAD OF ALBUQUERQUE... WILL BE ARRIVING IN THE NEW HOME STATE SOMETIME SUNDAY AFTERNOON... YEE HAW!!!

QUIET DAY IN SAN ANTONIO

AND THEN... I ALMOST MISSED MY TEE TIME... LUCKILY IT WAS CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN AND I MADE IT WITH TIME TO SPARE... PLAYED A COURSE CALLED THE QUARRY BECAUSE HALF THE COURSE IS BUILT INTO THE OLD ALAMO QUARRY... NICE COURSE, TOUGH TEST... (PLAYED THE FRONT NINE VERY WELL, BUT RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE BACK, HAD TO SETTLE FOR 81...)

SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY CATCHING UP ON SLEEP, LYING BY THE POOL, GOT A SHIATSU MASSAGE IN THE MALL, AND EARLY DINNER ON THE RIVER...

CHECKING OUT OF THE MENGER THURSDAY (WITH THE MONEY I SAVED ON THE RATES BY NOT STAYING FRIDAY, I BOOKED A CHEAP STAY FOR FRIDAY NIGHT)... PLAYING GOLF AGAIN FRIDAY AT A GOOD LOCAL COURSE CALLED CANYON SPRINGS (THANKS TO CHRIS, MY PLAYING PARTNER AT THE QUARRY) AND STAYING OVERNIGHT IN SAN ANTONIO TO REST UP FOR THE TREK ACROSS TEXAS TO EL PASO ON SATURDAY MORNING...

BEGINNING TO LOOK FORWARD TO REACHING ARIZONA AND MAY MAKE SOME TRIP CHANGES (ALBUQUERQUE MAY BE TRADED FOR TUCSON--GOLF PACKAGE?) GOING TO TALK TO MY BOY AT SONORAN SUITES (HE HOOKED ME UP FOR THE PALM SPRINGS TRIP) AND SEE IF HE CAN GET ME A DEAL...

ONE WEEK FROM TOMORROW I WILL OFFICIALLY MOVE IN TO THE NEW APARTMENT... HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE CABLE HOOK-UP ALREADY AND SRP ELECTRIC IS READY TO GO... LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING "HOME"...

REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

THE DAY BEGAN WITH A TRIP BACK IN TIME TO 1836 JUST BY CROSSING THE STREET... THE FACT THAT THE ALAMO SHRINE IS IN THE HEART OF THE CITY FLIPS ME OUT... ALL THE PICTURES I'VE SEEN JUST SHOW THE BUILDING WITH NOTHING AROUND... BUT WHEN YOU ENTER THE BUILDINGS, TIME STANDS STILL AND IT'S EASY TO PUT YOURSELF BACK IN THAT TIME FRAME. THE WALLS QUIET THE OUTSIDE NOISE AND YOU CAN "FEEL" THE HISTORY OF THE PLACE... NO PICTURES INSIDE BUT IF IT MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU, YOU HAVE TO VISIT... ANOTHER REASON TO VISIT IS THE RIVER WALK...

THIS MODERN "VENICE" MEANDERS THROUGH THE CITY JUST BELOW THE MAIN STREETS... WITH WALKWAYS ON BOTH SIDES, IT IS COVERED WITH SHOPS, HOTELS, CONDOS, RESTAURANTS, THE RIVERCENTER MALL AND MORE... THERE ARE WATER TAXIS THAT TAKE YOU ON TOURS UP AND DOWN THE RIVER... IT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR...

GOT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND A MESSAGE WAS WAITING FOR ME! I HAD A DINNER DATE FOR THE EVENING... GOT MYSELF READY (I LIKE TO THINK I CLEAN UP NICE) AND MET THE LADIES AT THE RESTAURANT IN THE WESTIN RIVERFRONT HOTEL... HAD A FABULOUS MEAL (THEY PAID-- OVER MY OBJECTIONS--BONUS!) ONE OF THE WOMEN BEGGED OFF A WALK ALONG THE RIVER (HAD TO PACK--THOUGHT IT WAS A SET-UP) SO I HAD A LITTLE ALONE TIME... WENT FOR A NICE LEISURELY WALK ALONG THE RIVER (TRES ROMANTIC!) I WALKED HER BACK TO HER ROOM AND SHE PLANTED A LIPLOCK ON ME THAT THREW ME FOR A LOOP! OF COURSE, I RETURNED THE KISS... AND THEN...

DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS

LEFT DALLAS AROUND 10:00 AM... AFTER THE RESTLESS NIGHT OF WORRYING ABOUT THE CAR, I FELL ASLEEP AT DAWN AND WOKE UP AND GOT OUT BEFORE THE DEADLINE... WHILE I WAS ON SECURITY WATCH I MANAGED TO BOOK AHEAD THE NEXT LEG OF THE TRIP...(SAN ANTONIO AND EL PASO).

THE DRIVE DOWN TO SAN ANTONIO WENT THROUGH WACO (REMEMBER THE BRANCH DAVIDIANS AND JANET RENO? OUR OWN LITTLE JONESTOWN) AND THE CAPITAL CITY OF AUSTIN... THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS TAKES UP THREE HIGHWAY EXITS ON 35 SOUTH... (HOOK 'EM HORNS!) THEY SURE KNOW HOW TO TO BIG IN TEXAS... SPOKE WITH VICTOR ON THE WAY (VICTOR TURNED 50 YESTERDAY---HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN, BROTHER) AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE ENJOYED THE BLOGS BUT HE WAS WONDERING WHEN I WOULD RESUME THE ROLE OF SINGLE MAN ON THIS TRIP AND DO A LITTLE ADULT ENTERTAINMENT FOR MYSELF... ( I ENJOYED THE "FAMILY LIFE" I WAS EXPOSED TO, DON'T GET ME WRONG)... SO I TOLD HIM I WOULD TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO EXPLORE SOMETHING OTHER THAN HISTORICAL SITES...

I BOOKED A ROOM FOR THREE NIGHTS AT THE HISTORIC MENGER HOTEL WHICH IS DOWNTOWN, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ALAMO, A BLOCK FROM THE RIVERWALK AND IN THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING SAN ANTONIO...(MY ROOM OVERLOOKS THE ALAMO)... ERNESTO THE VALET, ASKED ME IF I WAS HERE FOR THE SPURS GAME TONITE AND THAT HE COULD HOOK ME UP WITH TICKETS... THE PRICE INCLUDED A FREE SHUTTLE BUS TRIP BACK AND FORTH TO THE AT&T CENTER (THEY DON'T PLAY AT THE ALAMODOME ANYMORE)... SO I PICKED UP A CENTER COURT SEAT AND WENT UPSTAIRS AND GOT READY FOR THE GAME...(THEY DELIVERED THE TICKET RIGHT TO MY ROOM) SO I TOOK THE BUS TO THE GAME...

MY SEAT WAS GREAT... CENTER COURT ABOUT HALFWAY UP FROM THE COURT... THE AT& T CENTER WAS ROCKING (THE HATED DALLAS MAVERICKS WERE IN TOWN.) I SAT NEXT TO A TRANSPLANTED WOMAN FROM SYRACUSE NY LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO NOW AND TO MY RIGHT WERE TWO FEMALE CONVENTIONERS IN TOWN UNTIL THURSDAY NIGHT... EXCITING GAME BUT DALLAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE SPURS IN THE 4TH QUARTER... THE WOMEN TO MY RIGHT WONDERED IF I WAS INTERESTED IN GOING TO DINNER WITH THEM WEDNESDAY NIGHT (THEY'D BEEN HANGING WITH WORK FRIENDS AND WERE BORED) AND BEING A GENTLEMAN OF COURSE I ACCEPTED... THEY HAD MEETINGS TOMORROW BUT THEY WOULD CALL THE HOTEL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE WHERE TO MEET THEM...(WE'LL SEE IF THEY CALL)...

HOPPED THE BUS BACK TO THE HOTEL AND WENT TO MORTON'S FOR A QUICK STEAK AND THEN BACK TO THE ROOM FOR SOME WELL NEEDED SLEEP... CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA... NOW LET'S GET THIS COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK, AND KICK THAT MORON (W) OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE... THAT'S ALL FOR POLITICAL COMMENTARY.... A LITTLE SIGHT-SEEING TOMORROW AND A RIVER WALK AND HOPEFULY A DINNER DATE TOMORROW NIGHT... WILL KEEP YOU POSTED...

OKLAHOMA IS OK WITH ME, BUT I BLEW IT OFF FOR A NIGHT IN "BIG D"

WOKE UP YESTERDAY AND SAID GOODBYE TO ANNA AND HER FAMILY AND THEN HEADED OUT IN SEARCH OF AN OIL CHANGE... FOUND A PLACE AND GOT THE OIL CHANGED, NEW WIPER BLADES (FOR THE BUGS, I GUESS), THEN FILLED UP AT 1.99 A GALLON (CAN'T BELIEVE IT) AND MADE MY WAY SOUTH FROM KANSAS CITY...

WITH 12 DAYS LEFT ON MY ADVENTURE (THE TRAVELING PART, ANYWAY) IT WAS TIME TO DO SOME SERIOUS DRIVING, SO INSTEAD OF STOPPING IN OKLAHOMA CITY, I DECIDED TO BLOW THROUGH OKLAHOMA AND ARRIVED IN DALLAS, TEXAS AROUND 7 PM... MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS WHILE DRIVING, PARIS (MY GPS) HANDLED THE DIRECTIONS AND HERE I AM... WHAT A RIDE... MY ASS WAS NUMB BY THE TIME I REACHED THE HOTEL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT THANKS TO THE REPACK OF THE JEEP... THE PLAN NOW IS TO CONTINUE TODAY ON TO SAN ANTONIO AND SPEND A FEW DAYS THERE AND THEN HEAD WEST...

OKLAHOMA IS SOME BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY... ONCE YOU LEAVE THE PLAINS OF KANSAS, THE TERRAIN CHANGES AND YOU ENTER THE CHEROKEE NATION... I DROVE ON THE INDIAN NATION PARKWAY THE WHOLE THROUGH (CHEROKEE, CREEK AND CHOCTAW)... THE TERRAIN LOOKED LIKE I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A WESTERN MOVIE... (WAS EXPECTING TO SEE THE INDIAN SCOUT ON THE HILLS OFF THE "TRAIL")...WHAT I DID SEE WAS A LOT OF CASINOS AND THE CONTRASTING POVERTY OF THE SMALL TOWNS NOT FAR FROM ALL THAT WEALTH... (REMINDED ME OF ATLANTIC CITY IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE CASINOS, ONLY WORSE)... AND, OF COURSE THEY WERE PACKED WITH CUSTOMERS... THIS TRIP IS ENOUGH OF A GAMBLE FOR ME SO I JUST KEPT ON TRUCKING... THERE WERE LOTS OF RANCHES AND HORSES AND CATTLE...(A LITTLE BETTER SCENERY THIS LEG)... I ALSO PAID THE FIRST TOLL SINCE I LEFT VIRGINIA ($1.75) ON THE WAY THROUGH THE NATIONS...(NOT GONNA MISS THE TRI-STATE AREA THAT WAY)...

SO, AFTER ABOUT 9 HOURS IN THE CAR, COUNTING FREQUENT STRETCH AND WATER STOPS, AND OVER 400 MILES, I MADE IT TO "BIG D". I HAPPENED TO FIND THE LOCAL SPORTS RADIO STATION AND I WISH I COULD HAVE RECORDED IT FOR MY GIANT FAN FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY WERE KILLING THE COWBOYS AND WHINING ABOUT THEIR INJURIES AND HOW THEY NEED TO DISMANTLE THE TEAM...(I WAS ENJOYING EVERY MINUTE)... ACTUALLY, IT REMINDED ME OF HOW THE NEW YORK MEDIA TREATS MY FAVORITE TEAMS EVERY YEAR... NICE TO KNOW THAT "AMERICA'S TEAM" IS NOT IMMUNE FROM MAJOR CRITICISM... ("HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS?")

AS I CHECK IN TO THE HOTEL, THE FRONT DESK DUDE TELLS ME I CAN PARK AROUND BACK CLOSER TO MY ROOM AND USE THE ENTRANCE ON THAT SIDE... AS I PULL INTO A SPOT I SEE THE REMNANTS OF SOMEONE'S WINDOW IN THE PARKING LOT... I ASK THE DUDE WHEN IT HAPPENED AND HE SAID "LIKE AN HOUR AGO... AS SOON AS IT GETS DARK, THEY COME OUT..." SO I IMMEDIATELY MOVED MY CAR BY MY ROOM WINDOW AND EMPTIED IT ALMOST COMPLETELY, RECORDED THE LICENSE PLATES OF THE CARS AROUND AND FREQUENTLY LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW...(NICE). BUT I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND THE CAR IS INTACT...(NOTE TO SELF...NO MORE RESERVATIONS ON THE FLY)

BOOMER SOONER! BOOMER SOONER!

SORRY ABOUT THAT... THAT'S TWICE NOW I SENT THE TITLE ONLY AS A BLOG AND I APOLOGIZE... THE FINGERS GET A LITTLE FATTER AND SLOWER AS THE THE DAY WINDS DOWN... AND WHAT A DAY IT WAS!

DAY TWO OF THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT WHERE THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THREE (3) STATES IS PARTICIPATING! (JUST SEEMS LIKE IT, OK?)... A NIFTY PIECE OF DRIVING BY ANNA (VERY IMPRESSIVE CONSIDERING SHE COULDN'T MANEUVER OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY THE OTHER DAY) NETTED US A PRIME PARKING SPOT FOR MOLLY'S THIRD AND FINAL GAME... IT WAS AGAINST A TEAM MORE ON THEIR SKILL LEVEL AND A HARD FOUGHT GAME ENDED IN A 0-0 TIE... MOLLY PLAYED WELL AND I WAS IMPRESSED AT HOW WELL THE GIRLS LISTENED TO THEIR COACHES AND STAYED DISCIPLINED THROUGHOUT THE GAME... LITTLE MAGGIE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND INTO EVERYTHING...(WHAT A FOUNTAIN OF ENERGY!)... WE CAME BACK AND MET DADDY MIKE (HE HAS A PAYING GIG PLAYING MUSIC FOR A CHURCH IN TOWN) AND HAD A PICNIC IN THE BACKYARD, (GRILLIN' AND CHILLIN').

AFTER A ROUND OF NAPS FOR ALL, MOLLY CAME DOWN AND ASKED ME TO JOIN A HUGE RAKE-A-THON ON THE FRONT LAWN. WE AMASSED A HUGE PILE OF LEAVES AND EACH TOOK A TURN DIVING INTO THEM...(NOT AS SOFT AS THEY LOOK--THAT'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK!)...THEN WE TOOK A RIDE OVER TO THE CHURCH WHERE MIKE AND ANNA BELONG FOR SERVICES... VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE CHURCH AND THE CONGREGATION... AGAIN, THE CHILDREN ARE BROUGHT TO A SEPARATE WORSHIP AREA SO THE PARENTS CAN HAVE SOME ALONE TIME... THE SERMON WAS ABOUT A SUBJECT THAT ONCE AGAIN REAFFIRMED THAT THE DECISION I HAVE MADE IS THE CORRECT ONE... (I WILL NOT PREACH, YOU'LL HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD ON FAITH---BUT YOU CAN UPLOAD THE SERMON, IT WAS VIDEOTAPED.) A VERY COMFORTABLE EXPERIENCE ALL AROUND...

CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AND PACKED UP MY "VALUABLES" AGAIN...(THE REPACK OF THE JEEP WENT WELL---I NOW HAVE SUPERIOR LEG ROOM)...WATCHED SPORTSCENTER TO CATCH UP ON SOME FOOTBALL (GIANTS RULE, J-E-T-S JETS, JETS, JETS!) AND SAT DOWN WITH MIKE AND ANNA AND GAVE THEM THE REAL STORY ABOUT MY PAST...TALKING ABOUT IT WAS A BIT PAINFUL, BUT I NEED TO KEEP IT FRESH IN MY MIND...TALKING ABOUT IT MAKES MY COMMITTMENT TO BE CLEAN AND SOBER THAT MUCH STRONGER...KEEPING IT FRESH REMINDS ME OF WHAT I COULD LOSE...AND IT RELEASES THOSE MEMORIES AGAIN AND IT FEELS GOOD TO LET GO OF THEM...

OK, I'M OUT OF GAS AND NEED SOME SLEEP... I HOPE TO MAKE OKLAHOMA CITY TOMORROW, MAYBE MORE IF THE FEELING MOVES ME... MY THANKS TO COUSIN ANNA, MIKE, MOLLY AND MAGGIE FOR WELCOMING ME INTO THEIR HOME AND LIVES FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS...THANKS TO THEIR FRIENDS FOR MAKING ME FEEL WELCOME IN THE COMMUNITY... AFTER TOMORROW "YOU'RE NOT IN KANSAS, ANYMORE."

TOURNAMENTTIME IN KANSAS CITY

SATURDAY BEGAN AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT SOCCER... MOLLY'S TEAM WAS INVOLVED IN A TOURNAMENT ACROSS TOWN... I THOUGHT IT WAS A LOCAL DEAL WITH A COUPLE DOZEN TEAMS... (WRONG!). THIS WAS A HUGE TOURNAMENT FOR KIDS IN ALL AGE GROUPS AND NOT JUST KANSAS EITHER (THERE WERE CARS FROM IOWA AND MISSOURI ALSO)... THE "COMPLEX" THIS WAS HELD AT HAD 18 FIELDS AND ALL WERE IN USE! AND IN USE ALL DAY TOO! IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE MASS OF PLAYERS AND SOCCER MOMS AND DADS (AND MAY I ADD, THERE ARE SOME VERY LOVELY SOCCER MOMS IN KANSAS...)

MOLLY HAD A GAME IN THE MORNING AND THEN ANOTHER GAME LATER IN THE DAY SO IN BETWEEN WE ESCAPED AND MIKE TOOK US ON A TOUR OF DOWNTOWN AND WE PARKED BY THE MISSOURI RIVER AND TOOK SOME PICTURES... THE WEATHER IS STILL UNSEASONABLY WARM (HIGHS IN THE 70'S...). THE AFTERNOON GAME WAS EXCITING. THE GIRLS HELD THEIR OWN AGAINST AN OLDER TEAM. I CAUGHT SOME SERIOUS RAYS STANDING ON THE SIDELINES...

WE DINED IN THE "DINING ROOM" AND RETIRED TO THE DOWNSTAIRS AND MIKE LIT THE FIRST FIRE OF THE SEASON (I AM TRULY HONORED)... WE THEN SAT AND WATCHED THE TEXAS-TEXAS TECH FOOTBALL GAME (GREAT ENDING!) AND ENJOYED THE FIRE AND TALKED... ALL IN ALL, A PRETTY TYPICAL DAY IN SUBURBAN KANSAS CITY... THIS EXPOSURE TO THE FAMILY LIFE HAS BEEN PRETTY EYE OPENING... I'M USED TO HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING FOR MYSELF, BUT I ADMIRE THE HARD WORK AND PLANNING AND SELF-SACRIFICING THAT THESE FAMILIES EXHIBIT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS... AND THEY EACH WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO ADD IN SOME QUALITY TIME FOR THE "TRAVELER." BIG PROPS TO ALL INVOLVED AND I'M GLAD I WAS ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR COMPANY...

ON A WEIRD NOTE, I AM OFFICIALLY "HOMELESS" ON NOVEMBER 1, 2008... MY LEASE IN NEW JERSEY EXPIRED ON 10/31/08 AND MY ARIZONA LEASE BEGINS ON 11/15/08... SO "HOBO JIM" MAKES HIS ROAD DEBUT STARTING MONDAY... GOT TO DECIDE WHERE THE NEXT LEG OF THE TRIP LEADS....

TRICK OR TREAT

FEELING A LITTLE BETTER TODAY... (CAN'T SEEM TO SHAKE THE HEADACHE... FEELS LIKE MY HEAD IS STUFFED WITH SOCKS... WHICH COULD EXPLAIN A LOT)... EMPTIED THE TRUCK INTO MY DOWNSTAIRS LIVING QUARTERS AT THE "TERLOUW ARMS." MUST REDISTRIBUTE THE JEEP SO I CAN GET THAT LEG ROOM...

ANNA TOOK ME AND MAGGIE ON A DRIVING TOUR OF THE KANSAS CITIES (KANSAS AND MISSOURI). WE WENT DOWN WARD PARKWAY WHICH HAD SOME BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND THROUGH THE PLAZA SHOPPING AREA (REMINDED ME OF 5TH AVE. IN NYC... LOTS OF HIGH-END SHOPS AND STORES, BISTROS, SPECIALTY STORES, ETC.), THEN PAST THE ART MUSEUM AND THE MISSION HILLS DISTRICT (UBER-RICH!)... SAW MISSION HILLS COUNTRY CLUB...(NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH MISSION HILLS IN RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIFORNIA, BUT VERY NICE ALL THE SAME)...CAME BACK AND HA SOME LUNCH AND BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR THE TRICK OR TREATING...

ONE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS DOWN THE STREET ARRANGED A SMALL GATHERING WITH SOME FOOD AND DRINK FOR THE PARENTS AND KIDS (AND OUT-OF-STATE RELATIVES) BEFORE THE ACTUAL "DRIVE TO AMASS GREAT AMOUNTS OF SWEETS." THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP OF KIDS AND SEVERAL PARENTS AND WE WALKED THE NEIGHBORHOODS COLLECTING GOODIES (MAGGIE WAS RED RIDING HOOD, MOLLY WAS CAPTAIN LIGHTNING, SUPER HERO, ANNA WAS "FRAZZLED MOM", MIKE WAS "DAD WHO JUST GOT HOME FROM MINUTES BEFORE WE HAD TO GO", AND UNCLE JIM WAS A COWBOY IN HIS NEW BOOTS AND COWBOY HAT...

THE ONLY SNAG WAS WHEN A DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR AND HAD A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A TREE ON A ROAD THE GIRLS (MOLLY WAS WITH HER SOCCER TEAM) WERE TRICK OR TREATING ON AND THEY SAW THE ACCIDENT... SHE WAS BADLY SHAKEN BUT THANK GOD NOBODY WAS HURT OUTSIDE OF THE DRIVER...WE LATER FOUND OUT THE DRIVER HAD A SEIZURE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR... WHICH IS NOT THE EXCUSE THAT ANNA COULD HAVE USED WHEN SHE BACKED INTO THE SIDE OF MIKE'S JEEP!! SHE WAS TRYING TO AVOID THE BASKETBALL HOOP AND CRUNCHED HIS PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. LUCKILY, SHE STOPPED BEFORE HITTING MINE...(I WAS PARKED BEHIND MIKE)...

WE CONTINUED CLOSE TO HOME...(WE MET A DEAD RINGER FOR SANTA CLAUS-HE ACTUALLY PLAYS HIM AS A BUSINESS) AND THEN WE WENT HOME TO COUNT UP THE LOOT. HUGE HAUL FOR BOTH GIRLS...

ON A SIDE NOTE...MIKE (ANNA) WON THE CHILI COOK-OFF AT HIS OFFICE...WAS THINKING OF PLAYING A ROUND OF GOLF BUT WANT TO SHAKE THIS COLD FIRST...DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE THINGS (1700 MILES SO FAR AND MORE TO COME...GOING TO WATCH MOLLY PLAY SOCCER TOMORROW...

A DAY IN THE INFIRMARY

WOKE UP WITH A KILLER HEADACHE THURSDAY MORNING... WENT ACROSS TO THE GENERAL STORE AND GOT SOME HEADACHE AND SINUS RELIEF, THE NON-DROWSY KIND...(YEAH, RIGHT!) AND JUMPED IN THE TRUCK AND HEADED FOR KANSAS CITY... I FOUND AN EVEN MORE DESOLATE HIGHWAY TO DRIVE ON (THANKS, GARMIN)... AS I BEGAN TO NOD OFF WITH NOTHING TO LOOK AT BUT WIDE OPEN SPACES, I STARTED TO SING THE THEME SONG TO "GREEN ACRES" TO PASS THE TIME...(I KNEW I WAS GETTING SICKER BY THE MINUTE)... FOR THOSE OF YOU TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER GREEN ACRES, LOOK IT UP OR ASK SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS...(SOME HOTCAKES WOULD HAVE TASTED PRETTY GOOD OUT THERE)...

I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY DESTINATION WITHOUT INCIDENT... AND IN TIME TO GO PICK UP MOLLY FROM SCHOOL... MIKE AND ANNA ARE WALKING DISTANCE FROM MOLLY'S SCHOOL... I THEN WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND SAT IN THE RECLINER AND GOT THE CHILLS SOMETHING AWFUL... ANNA WAS RIGHT THERE WITH SOME NYQUIL AND 40 LBS. OF BLANKETS AND I WENT OUT LIKE A LIGHT... BROKE A SWEAT WHILE I WAS SLEEPING (NOT SURE IF IT WAS A FEVER BREAKING OR THE 40 LBS. OF BLANKETS BUT I FELT BETTER WHEN I WOKE UP)... I LEARNED THAT THEY CHECKED ON ME A FEW TIMES TO MAKE SURE I WAS STILL BREATHING...

I THEN WENT UPSTAIRS TO WATCH THE MASTER PUMPKIN CARVER AT WORK (MIKE). HE HAD ALL THE TOOLS AND PATTERNS AND REALLY DID A GREAT JOB... ANNA MADE SOME CHILI FOR THE COOK OFF IN MIKE'S OFFICE ON FRIDAY (GOOD CHILI) AND I LASTED UNTIL AROUND 12:30... MIKE WAS STARTING ANOTHER PUMPKIN BUT I WENT DOWN TO SLEEP. ANOTHER ROUND OF CHILLS (NOT AS LONG THIS TIME) AND I WENT OUT FAIRLY QUICKLY...

GOING TO EMPTY THE TRUCK FRIDAY AND REPACK IT AGAIN... I NEED ABOUT 6 INCHES MORE LEG ROOM BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE AN AIRLINE SEAT WHEN I'M DRIVING, I CAN'T STRETCH OUT... HALLOWEEN PARTY BEFORE TRICK OR TREATING WITH THE GIRLS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SOCCER GAME OR GAMES ON SATURDAY... (I MAY SNEAK IN A ROUND OF GOLF SATURDAY AFTERNOON IF I FEEL BETTER...

I'M GOING TO KANSAS CITY, KANSAS CITY HERE I COME

SPENT A VERY RELAXING DAY IN KEOKUK, IOWA...(USED THE POOL AND HOT TUB AFTER SLEEPING IN...) GOTTA GIVE PROPS TO PEOPLE WHO DRIVE AND TRAVEL FOR A LIVING... IT DEFINITELY TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR BODY... (I'M GLAD THERE'S NO RUSH TO GET TO ARIZONA SO I CAN TAKE IT EASY ONCE IN AWHILE...)

AFTER SPENDING THE MORNING ONLINE DOING SOME BILL PAYING AND THE LIKE, I TOOK A TRIP BACK IN TIME AGAIN AND VISITED A TOWN CALLED NAUVOO, ILLINOIS... JON AND ANGELA TOLD ME ABOUT HOW THE MORMONS HAVE BEEN BUYING UP THE LAND AND RESTORING THE TOWN TO THE WAY IT WAS WHEN JOSEPH SMITH WAS AROUND... TO GET THERE YOU FOLLOW THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER (SOME BEAUTIFUL SCENERY) AND ARRIVE TO A PRETTY BIG SETTLEMENT...THE ROADS ARE NARROW LIKE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN HORSES AND CARRIAGES WERE THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND THE BUILDINGS ARE METICULOUSLY RESTORED...(THE BUTCHER SHOP, PRINTING SHOP, BLACKSMITH, ETC.) AND THE TEMPLE IS A HUGE WHITE BUILDING OVERLOOKING THE MISSISSIPPI... THERE ARE HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE TOURS (THEY REALLY NEED TO GIVE THAT HORSE A BATH---YUK! I WAS 3 BLOCKS AWAY AND MY EYES WERE BURNING...POOR TOURISTS)... THE MAIN STREET IN TOWN WAS ALSO REDONE...VERY QUAINT... AND NO ONE CAME OUT OF THE WOODWORK TO PREACH AT ME...

I THEN TOOK A RIDE BACK TO THE COMPOUND... ANGELA CALLED AND SAID SHE WOULD BE LATE (I HAVE A FEELING THAT HAPPENS MORE TIMES THAN NOT--SHE RUNS THE ICU AT THE HOSPITAL IN KEOKUK AND SOMETHING IS ALWAYS GOING ON) SO RACHEL AND I WENT THROUGH SOME HIGHLIGHTS MAGAZINES AND FOUND THE MISSING PICTURES AND THEN PLAYED SOME HANDS OF GIN RUMMY (SHE WON A LOT MORE THAN I DID!)

DINNER WAS FANTASTIC AGAIN, ESPECIALLY THE HOMEMADE APPLE PIE! THE CONVERSATION WAS GREAT... (JON AND ANGELA TOLD ME SOME STORIES ABOUT THE FLOOD OF '93 AND THE RECENT FLOOD THIS PAST JUNE...) IT'S HARD TO VISUALIZE WATER THAT IS 8 FEET ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE! PEOPLE STARTING TO SANDBAG ALONG THE ROADS WEEKS IN ADVANCE OF THE RISING WATER...WHOLE TOWNS DISAPPEARING UNDER WATER...AMAZING STUFF...

MANY THANKS TO COUSIN ANGELA AND HER FAMILY... I HAD A GREAT VISIT AND ENJOYED THEIR COMPANY IMMENSELY... ON THE ROAD AGAIN THURSDAY... GOING TO KANSAS TO VISIT COUSIN ANNA AND MIKE AND MOLLY AND MAGGIE...(AND DOROTHY, TOTO AND THE SCARECROW)... I JUST HOPE AUNTIE M DOESN'T THROW A TWISTER AT ME BECAUSE OZ ISN'T ON MY LIST OF PLACES TO VISIT...

ON THE BANKS OF "BIG MUDDY"

GREETINGS FROM KEOKUK, IOWA, ON THE SHORES OF THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI RIVER... MY HOTEL IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE RIVER AND THE STATE LINE BETWEEN IOWA AND ILLINOIS...I'M IN A TIME WARP, BUT IN A GOOD WAY...MAIN STREET IS LIKE A THROW BACK OF THE MAIN STREETS WE HAD WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP. THERE'S A GENERAL STORE, LOTS OF FARMLAND WITH MASSIVE MACHINES SPORTING THE UNGODLY HUGE TIRES WE USED TO GET IN BY TRAILER...

I AM AMAZED AT EXPANSES OF LAND WITH ONE HOUSE FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE MILES...THERE ARE TWO THINGS YOU CAN FIND ALL OVER THE RADIO OUT HERE...COUNTRY MUSIC (WHICH IS OK WITH ME) AND THE LORD (WHICH IS OK WITH ME TOO)...AND A LOT OF FARM REPORTS AND FARM EQUIPMENT COMMERCIALS...

I TOOK A RIDE INTO ST. LOUIS TUESDAY MORNING AND DROVE BY THE ARCH, BUSCH STADIUM AND A PLACE I BELIEVE I HELPED MAKE A LOT OF MONEY BACK IN THE DAY, ANHEUSER BUSCH BREWERY...CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI THIS TIME MEANT A LOT TO ME...I HAVE DONE IT IN PLANES BUT NEVER IN A VEHICLE...I HAVE CROSSED THE GATEWAY TO THE WEST. I THEN MOVED ON THROUGH MISSOURI UP ROUTE 61 NORTH. I SAW THE SIGN SAYING HANNIBAL, MISSOURI AND I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHY IT WAS FAMOUS AT FIRST, BUT THEN IT CAME TO ME...MARK TWAIN...DO I STOP AND VISIT HIS ANCESTRAL HOME? HELL NO! MARK TWIAN IS CREDITED WITH THE QUOTE THAT "GOLF IS A GOOD WALK WASTED." WELL, I BELIEVE THAT TOURING HIS HOME IS GOOD TIME WASTED AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. BESIDES, I NEEDED TO GET TO KEOKUK TO FOLLOW ANGELA TO HER HOME BECAUSE OF ROAD CLOSURES.

ANGELA MET ME AT THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS AND I FOLLOWED HER TO THE "COMPOUND". I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE SINCE THE SLOCA REUNION WHEN MY SISTER WAS PREGNANT WITH HER FIRST CHILD, BUT I REMEMBER THAT DRIVEWAY! AND THE SAME THOUGHT RAN THROUGH MY HEAD AGAIN...HOW DO THEY DEAL WITH THAT STEEP ONE LANE DRIVEWAY IN THE SNOW? ANGELA SHOWED ME THE ALTERNATE EXIT (I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT IT, BUT I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU)...THE MAIN HOUSE (BUILT IN 1860) IS GOING THROUGH A MAJOR REMODELING PROJECT, BUT I GOT THE WALKING TOUR OF THE GROUNDS (AND THERE IS LOTS OF GROUNDS) AND SAW THE LAKE WITH THE WATER SLIDE AND THE HOMEMADE RAFT (I CAN'T DIVULGE THE BUILDING MATERIALS, THERE MAY BE A PATENT PENDING).

DINNER WAS DELICIOUS (THE GIRL HAS SKILLS!) AND I GOT TO MEET THE EXTENDED FAMILY (SANDY THE DOG AND THE SEVEN KITTIES). SITTING AROUND THE DINNER TABLE AND TALKING AND SWAPPING STORIES WITH ANGELA, JON AND RACHEL (THEIR DAUGHTER) WAS A WELCOME CHANGE FROM RESTAURANTS AND MEALS ON THE RUN...IT'S A SIMPLER LIFESTYLE BUT IT'S NOT SIMPLE...THERE'S ALOT OF HARD WORK INVOLVED AND ALOT GOING ON AT ALL TIMES...

THE RIDE BACK TO THE HOTEL WAS A CHALLENGE BUT I MADE IT WITHOUT INCIDENT...SLEPT IN A LITTLE LONGER THAN I PLANNED, BUT I GUESS I NEEDED IT. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATENESS OF THE BLOG. OK, BUSY DAY TODAY...

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, LOUIE

SO THIS IS THE MIDWEST...LOTS OF ROOM OUT HERE...TONS OF FARMS...NOT MUCH TO SEE ON THIS LEG OF THE JOURNEY, BUT IT WAS A SAFE AND UNEVENTFUL TRIP... LOTS OF CRITTERS DIDN'T MAKE IT TO WHERE THEY WERE GOING, SO I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY...(OF COURSE, I WASN'T CHALLENGING AN 18-WHEELER TRYING TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY)...

I DID ENJOY CROSSING THE OHIO RIVER. AND I DID LIKE THE FACT THAT I WAS IN 3 DIFFERENT STATES YESTERDAY (TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY, AND ILLINOIS) AND COULD HAVE DONE MISSOURI ALSO BUT I DECIDED TO STAY IN SHILOH, ILLINOIS WHICH IS 20 MILES OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS... I WAS GOING TO GO INTO THE CITY LAST NIGHT AND WATCH THE GAMES BUT THE HOTEL WOULDN'T LET ME... LET ME EXPLAIN...

YOU KNOW HOW WHEN YOU STAY AT A HOTEL OR HOTEL CHAIN AND THEY OFFER YOU A FREE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THEIR "PRIORITY CLUB"? WELL, I JOINED HOLIDAY INN'S CLUB AND HAVE BEEN COLLECTING POINTS AND NOT GETTING MUCH OF ANYTHING (BUT IT'S FREE, RIGHT?)...I CHECKED INTO THE HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS HERE IN SHILOH MONDAY AFTERNOON AND WAS TOLD I WAS GETTING A FREE UPGRADE TO A SUITE...(SWEET!) THE ROOM HAD TWO TV'S AND A COUCH(SO I COULD WATCH THE FOOTBALL GAME AND WORLD SERIES SIMULTANEOUSLY)...THEY ALSO HAD 3 LOCAL RESTAURANTS THAT DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO THE ROOM...AND (DRUM ROLL, PLEASE) A HEATED INDOOR POOL AND HOT TUB!!! PLUS THE FACT I DIDN'T WANT TO PARK MY TRUCK FULL OF MY "VALUABLES" SOMEWHERE IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS. DON'T HAVE TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO REALIZE I HAD A SWEET DEAL (BUT I DID STAY AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LAST NIGHT!)

TALKED WITH ANGELA LAST NIGHT AND WILL BE IN HER AREA TUESDAY... WILL VISIT AFTER I CHECK-IN TO HOTEL TUESDAY AFTERNOON...WILL MAKE A QUICK TRIP INTO ST. LOUIS THIS MORNING BEFORE HEADING NORTH TO KEOKUK...

NASHVILLE AND NEW JERSEY

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR GOLF...(ACTUALLY, ANY DAY IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR GOLF). I ARRIVED EARLY FOR A LITTLE PRACTICE AND BREAKFAST AND MET MY GOLF BUDDIES FOR THE DAY...JODY FROM MISSISSIPPI WHO NOW LIVES IN NASHVILLE AND WOODY AND NAN FROM ROCHESTER NY...

WHEN I TOLD WOODY I WAS FROM NEW JERSEY, HE TOLD ME HE GREW UP THERE... I ASKED HIM WHERE AND HE TOLD ME I PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF IT...A LITTLE TOWN CALLED WINFIELD PARK!! HE ACTUALLY GREW UP ABOUT 1 MILE FROM WHERE I GREW UP! HE GRADUATED FROM ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE (MY GRAMMAR SCHOOL) IN 1958 (THE YEAR I WAS BORN). WE TALKED ABOUT WILLICK'S FARM AND THE WING COMPANY... TALK ABOUT A SMALL WORLD...

PLAYED MUCH BETTER TODAY...JODY PLAYS HERE REGULARLY AND GAVE ME SOME EXTRA LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND EVEN WITH A DOUBLE BOGEY ON THE LAST I WAS ABLE TO SHOOT 78 (SIX OVER PAR). I HAVE DEVELOPED A KNOCK DOWN SHOT TO USE IN THE WIND AND IT WORKED ALL DAY... THE PLACE WHERE THE COURSE IS IS LIKE A BOWL AND THE WIND SWIRLS AND CHANGES DIRECTION(SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOLE) SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL... VERY HAPPY WITH MY ROUND BUT IT STILL NEEDS SOME WORK... WEATHER GETTING MORE FALL-LIKE SO I THINK THE CLUBS WILL BE AWAY UNTIL AFTER I VISIT KANSAS...(BUT YOU NEVER KNOW)

SPENT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING EXPLORING THE GAYLORD... THE GARDEN CONSERVATORY AND RIVERWALK ARE GORGEOUS...IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT'S AVAILABLE UNDER ONE(ACTUALLY SEVERAL) ROOF. HAD LUNCH AT THE SPORTS BAR AND WATCHED THE FOOTBALL GAMES AND WATCHED THE FIRST FEW INNINGS OF BASEBALL...HAD DINNER AT JACK DANIELS SALOON AND RETIRED EARLY...

BACK IN THE JEEP MONDAY FOR THE NEXT LEG... HEADING TO THE "GATEWAY TO THE WEST" ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI... I WILL PASS THE 1,000 MILES TRAVELED SOMETIME MONDAY (KEEPING A RECORD SO I'LL HAVE A TOTAL WHEN I ARRIVE IN CHANDLER, AZ.). THE MOVERS ESTIMATED THE MILEAGE AT 2450 MILES... ENJOYED THE STAY IN NASHVILLE...WILL DEFINITELY RETURN...

THE OPRYLAND HOTEL

AFTER A DAY OF RAIN AND WALKING THROUGH HISTORY (WITH PRESIDENT JACKSON), SATURDAY ARRIVED WITH BRIGHT SUNSHINE AND MILDER TEMPERATURES...ARRIVED AT THE GOLF COURSE AROUND A HALF HOUR BEFORE TEE TIME AND WALKED AROUND THE CLUBHOUSE ABSORBING THE ATMOSPHERE...(BEAUTIFUL LINKS COURSE, LOTS OF WATER AROUND, VERY CLOSE TO THE HOTEL)...

PLAYED WITH A FATHER AND HIS TWO SONS FROM INDIANA...THE BOYS WERE A JUNIOR AND SOPHMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND HAD DRIVEN DOWN TO PLAY SOME GOLF FOR THE WEEKEND...I WAS THE SHORTEST GUY IN THE GROUP AT 6'1'' AND THEY WERE PRETTY GOOD GOLFERS. I HAD A ROCKY START (3 PUTTED THE FIRST THREE HOLES) BUT I CAUGHT FIRE LATER IN THE ROUND (PLAYED A STRETCH FROM 9 THROUGH 14 AT 2 UNDER PAR) BUT RAN OUT OF GAS AND FINISHED WITH 81...MATT, MY CART PARTNER AND I, WON THE BRAGGING RIGHTS MATCH 3 AND 2... AFTER THE ROUND I WENT INSIDE FOR LUNCH AND TALKED WITH THE BARTENDER IN THE GRILLE ROOM FOR 2 HOURS (AS YOU MIGHT HAVE GUESSED, SHE HAD A DRAWL AND HAD NEVER BEEN NORTH OF TENNESSEE)...

I WENT BACK TO THE HOTEL AND TOURED THE COMPLEX... I THOUGHT I WALKED A LOT ON THE COURSE BUT THIS PLACE IS HUGE! I DECIDED TO HANG OUT AND WATCH THE GAMES ON TV... THERE WERE A LOT OF DISAPPOINTED TENNESSEE FANS (THEY LOST TO ALABAMA) AND THE WORLD SERIES GAME STARTED LATE...WAS SITTING WITH A GROUP FROM WISCONSIN WHO WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW YORK CITY (THEY WERE PLANNING A TRIP) SO I REGALED THEM WITH SOME LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AND POSSIBLE PLACES TO VISIT...WENT BACK TO THE ROOM AND FELL ASLEEP WITH THE GAME ON...(TOO MUCH FRESH AIR FOR THIS OLD MAN)...

GOLF AGAIN ON SUNDAY...SAME COURSE SO I AM LOOKING TO IMPROVE ON YESTERDAY'S ROUND...I HAVE DECIDED THAT THIS IS A TRIP I MUST MAKE AGAIN... THERE IS TOO MUCH TO DO AND I DON'T WANT TO TRY TO CRAM EVERYTHING IN...COULDN'T GET TICKETS TO THE OPRY...SO THIS WILL BE A GOLFING HOLIDAY AND I'LL DO THE TOURIST THING ON MY NEXT VISIT...BESIDES I NEED TO REST UP FOR THE NEXT LEG TOMORROW...OFF TO ST. LOUIS ON MONDAY (GLAD I PACKED SOME WARM CLOTHES...HIGH OF 51 HERE TOMORROW...BUT IT WILL BE IN 70'S TODAY)...

THIS IS A HUGE WEEKEND AT THE OPRYLAND (ACCORDING TO THE BELL HOP)... THE REGISTRATION DESK HAS BEEN PACKED SINCE I GOT HERE ON FRIDAY AND THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE... MUST BE SOMETHING GOING ON AT THE CONVENTION CENTER...

MY DAY WITH "OLD HICKORY"

WOKE UP TO A DISMAL DAY IN TENNESSEE... WHILE I WAS ONLINE THE POWER WENT OUT IN THE HOTEL; AND DUNKIN' DONUTS WAS CLOSED!! OH NO! NOT TOO BAD THOUGH, POWER CAME BACK ON IN ABOUT A HALF HOUR AND I GOT MY COFFEE... TOOK A RIDE NORTH THROUGH THE CITY AND VISITED THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE...THE ONLY OTHER TIME I SAW THAT MUCH ORANGE WAS WHEN I WENT PUMPKIN PICKING! THE NATIVES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR VOLS!! THAT'S WHAT THEY TALK ABOUT AND THEY WEAR THEIR ORANGE PROUDLY. I BOUGHT A T-SHIRT ON CAMPUS AND HAD A HEATED DISCUSSION ABOUT COACH FULMER AND THE TOUGHNESS OF THE S.E.C. (I HELD MY OWN IN THE EXCHANGE)...GOT OUT OF THERE WITH A "GO VOLS" YELL AND HIT THE HIGHWAY TO NASHVILLE...

RAIN AND MORE RAIN COMING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS ON I-40 TO NASHVILLE. THIS LEG WAS ONLY 175 MILES SO I HAD PLENTY OF TIME...(CHECK IN WASN'T UNTIL 3 AND I GAINED AN HOUR TODAY...CST)... THE RAIN WAS STARTING TO LET UP WHEN I SAW A SIGN FOR ANDREW JACKSON'S HOME (THE HERMITAGE) ON THE WAY INTO NASHVILLE... I FIGURED I WOULD DRIVE OVER AND SEE IT... WHAT A GREAT IDEA. IT WAS A COMBINATION OF MOVIE PRESENTATION, GUIDED TOUR THROUGH THE HOME AND WALKING TOUR OF THE GROUNDS WITH AN AUDIO PACK AND HEADPHONES... ALL FOR $16.00...(WHICH I PAID FOR WITH A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL IN HONOR OF MR. JACKSON)...WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A DRIVE BY THE HOUSE AND TAKE A PICTURE TURNED INTO A GILLIGAN-ESQUE ADVENTURE BACK IN TIME (3 HOUR TOUR FOR THE YOUNGSTERS)... I SPENT SO LONG ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE WOMAN WHO GAVE ME THE HEADPHONES SENT OUT A SEARCH PARTY! I WAS IN MY ELEMENT... (HISTORY MAJOR'S DREAM!)

LEFT "OLD HICKORY'S" HOUSE AND DROVE INTO THE GAYLORD OPRYLAND RESORT AND CONVENTION CENTER...WHAT A COMPLEX! A CITY WITHIN ITSELF AND ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR!! GREAT ROOM AND EVEN BETTER IN-ROOM DINING (JUST BECAUSE ANDREW JACKSON LIVED SIMPLY DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO...) I HAVE A 10:10AM TEE TIME AT THE RESORT COURSE TOMORROW AND AM GOING BOOT SHOPPING TOMORROW AFTERNOON...GOING TO FIND A PLACE TO WATCH THE WORLD SERIES AND VOLS GAME TOMORROW NIGHT (FUNNY STORY: WHILE BUYING MY TENNESSEE T-SHIRT A WELL-DRAWLED MAN ASKED ME IF I WAS A VOL FAN---I REPLIED NOT REALLY "BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN IN ROME..." TO WHICH HE REPLIED "THIS AIN'T ROME, IT'S KNOXVILLE!"... TENNESSEE,TENNESSEE, THERE AIN'T NO PLACE I'D RATHER BE, BABY, WON'T YOU CARRY ME, BACK TO TENNESSEE! (MY APOLOGIES TO THE GRATEFUL DEAD IF I QUOTED THE WRONG SONG LYRICS)...

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

WELL, HERE GOES NOTHING...DROPPED OFF THE GIRLS AT THE BUS STOP (LOTS OF HUGS), SHOOK HANDS AND THANKED CRAIG FOR THE HOSPITALITY, AND CLIMBED IN THE JEEP AND HEADED SOUTH TO TENNESSEE...GOT A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO TRAVEL AND THE SCENERY IN THE MOUNTAINS WAS TERRIFIC...

STOPPED AT THE CRACKER BARREL (LOVE THIS PLACE) FOR BREAKFAST AND A LEG STRETCH (DID THAT SEVERAL TIMES... OVER 400 MILES TODAY! MY LOWER EXTREMITY; BELOW THE BACK AND ABOVE THE LEGS, WAS HOWLING FROM SITTING SO LONG...THE TRUCK WASN'T TOO HAPPY EITHER I GUESS CLIMBING UP AND OVER THESE MOUNTAINS, BUTT (PUN INTENDED) WE BOTH SURVIVED AND I ARRIVED SAFELY IN KNOXVILLE (GO VOLS!) TENNESSEE. THEY CLOSED I-40 JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY SO PARIS (MY GPS UNIT) HAD TO WORK OVERTIME TO GET ME AROUND AND TO THE HOTEL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CONSTRUCTION...

THIS IS JUST A STOP OVER SPOT...PASSED OUT AT 8:00PM AND WOKE UP THIS MORNING AT 3:45 AND WORKED ON THE NEXT LEG OF THE TRIP AFTER NASHVILLE.
DECIDED TO STAY AT THE GAYLORD OPRYLAND HOTEL IN NASHVILLE (THANKS, SHERYL)...I BOOKED A ROOM IN ST. LOUIS FOR MONDAY NIGHT AND 2 NIGHTS IN KEOKUK, IOWA TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY FOR MY VISIT TO COUSIN ANGELA AND HER FAMILY...I'M NOT A TRAVEL AGENT, BUT I DID STAY AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS LAST NIGHT...

CHECK IN TIME AT THE GAYLORD IS 3:00 PM AND I'M ONLY 177 MILES AWAY SO I'M GOING TO GO SEE THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE CAMPUS WHILE I'M HERE...THERE'S A DUNKIN' DONUTS RIGHT ACROSS THE PARKING LOT (THE LUCK IS STILL RUNNING GOOD) SO I'M READY TO FUEL UP FOR MY MINI TOUR OF KNOXVILLE...JUST FINISHED A BOOK LAST WEEK THAT WAS BASED IN THIS AREA (BY THE CREATOR OF THE BODY FARM) SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND LOCATE SOME OF THE LANDMARKS...(BUT NOT THE BODY FARM!)...

THEN, IT'S OFF TO MUSIC CITY FOR THE WEEKEND...RAIN IN THE FORECAST FOR TODAY BUT SHOULD CLEAR UP TOMORROW MORNING (10:10 TEE TIME) WITH A HIGH IN THE 60'S AND NEAR 70 AND SUNNY FOR SUNDAY...Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY, NOW...

LAST DAY IN VIRGINIA

PLAYED GOLF AGAIN THIS MORNING AT HUNTING HAWK GOLF CLUB, NOT TOO FAR FROM SHERYL AND CRAIG'S HOME. MIGHTY CHILLY TO START, BUT I TOOK OFF THE JACKET AROUND 10:30. IT WAS IN THE 50'S AND WINDY, BUT I'M FROM THE NORTHEAST AND THIS IS "NOT" COLD! PLAYED REALLY WELL TODAY...LOTS OF PARS. BEAUTIFUL COURSE...WILL PLAY THERE AGAIN ON MY NEXT VISIT TO VIRGINIA...WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO PICK UP THE GIRLS AT THE BUS STOP...

CRAIG LET ME USE THE WASHER/DRYER SO ALL MY CLOTHES ARE CLEAN AND READY TO MOVE ON. CAR IS GASSED UP AND RE-PACKED SO I'LL BE ABLE TO LEAVE RIGHT AFTER THE GIRLS GET ON THE BUS...THE PLAN IS TO DRIVE TO KNOXVILLE TOMORROW AND SLEEP THERE, THEN GET UP EARLY AND CONTINUE ON TO NASHVILLE FRIDAY MORNING... GOING TO STAY AT THE OPRYLAND HOTEL AND GET IN TOUCH WITH MY "COUNTRY" ROOTS. PLUS I CAN PLAY GOLF AT THE RESORT COURSE IF THE WEATHER COOPERATES...

REALLY ENJOYED MY STAY HERE IN VIRGINIA...NEEDED TO RE-CONNECT WITH MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY. I AM SO IMPRESSED BY THE LIFE THEY HAVE BUILT HERE. YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT YOUR "LITTLE SISTER" BUT AFTER SEEING THE WAY THEY LIVE DOWN HERE (THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEIR CHURCH, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THEIR FRIENDS), I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF THEM... NOT THEY NEED MY APPROVAL, BUT I NEEDED TO SAY IT...EVERYBODY NEEDS TO HEAR THAT EVERY NOW AND THEN... GREAT JOB GUYS!

WORLD SERIES STARTED TONIGHT (COULD THEY MAKE THE GAMES ANY LATER?!)... SPOKE TO ANGELA AND ANNA AND CONFIRMED VISITS WITH THE COUSINS FOR NEXT WEEK (BETTER NOT BE ANY SNOW!) AND THEN IT'S SOUTH UNTIL I HIT 80 DEGREES OR HIGHER...

GOING TO SLEEP LIKE A ROCK TONIGHT...WALKED 18 HOLES AND CARRIED THE CLUBS AGAIN...IF I CAN MOVE TOMORROW, IT'S OFF TO KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE AND THE NEXT LEG OF THE TRIP...OH YEAH, HAD BISCUITS AND GRAVY AND A SIDE OF GRITS THIS MORNING AT THE DINER... (Y'ALL COME BACK NOW!). WORTH THE TRIP.

BACK TO SCHOOL

TODAY WAS NATALIE'S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY (THE ACTUAL DATE OF BIRTH). SHE GOT A HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE...ANOTHER PRESENT (THIS ONE FROM HER SISTER--LOTS OF PRESENTS!!) AND A BIG SURPRISE THAT WE SPRUNG ON HER LATER IN THE DAY...

SHERYL WENT TO HER SCHOOL AROUND NINE AND HELPED WITH A PROJECT (IT'S READ ALOUD TO A CHILD WEEK IN VIRGINIA) INCORPORATING THE SLIPS YOU FILL OUT WHEN YOU READ A BOOK (THE SLIPS ARE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, SO THEY ARE MAKING A HUGE AMERICAN FLAG!). THEN SHE CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AND AT 11:45 WE ALL WENT TO NAT'S SCHOOL AND JOINED HER FOR LUNCH (THE PARENTS CAN JOIN THEIR CHILDREN ANYTIME THEY WANT). SHE WAS VERY SURPRISED! WE SAT IN THE CAFETERIA WITH ALL HER FRIENDS AND HAD CAFETERIA FOOD FROM THE LUNCH LADIES(I HAD A HOT DOG--IT LOOKED SAFE.) DADDY BROUGHT A SMALL CAKE AND HER FRIENDS SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY... THEN HER TEACHER ALLOWED UNCLE JIMMY TO TOUR THEIR CLASSROOM AFTER LUNCH...VERY IMPRESSIVE (THE SCHOOL IS VERY NEW AND THE PRINCIPAL IS A HIGH TECH ENTHUSIAST SO THE CLASSROOMS ARE VERY STATE-OF -THE-ART)...

BACK TO THE HOUSE AND A QUICK NAP ON THE DECK IN THE SUN AND SOME MORE READING (CROSS BY JAMES PATTERSON...STARTED IT YESTERDAY, WILL FINISH TODAY---VERY GOOD!)...SHERYL HAD TO PACK FOR A TRIP TO WEST VIRGINIA AND LEAVE RIGHT AFTER THE GIRLS GOT HOME FROM SCHOOL. SHE'LL BE BACK ON THURSDAY SO I SAID MY GOODBYES AND THANKED HER FOR A GREAT START TO THE ADVENTURE...

GOTTA RUN...HAVE A TEE TIME THIS MORNING! LOVE THAT GOLF YOU KNOW!!!

GOLF--VIRGINIA STYLE

WHAT'S UP WITH THE COLD WEATHER HERE? I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS! 39 DEGREES ON THE WALK TO THE BUS STOP THIS MORNING...I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD NEED THE PAIR OF GLOVES I PACKED(AS A JOKE!)...BUT BY MID-MORNING THE SUN HAD WARMED UP TO ALMOST 70...

CALLED SOME GOLF COURSES TO SEE IF I COULD GET OUT AND PLAY...4 PHONE CALLS LATER I GOT THE "COME ON DOWN, ANYTIME" FROM A PLACE ABOUT A HALF HOUR AWAY (HIGHLAND SPRINGS)...THE OTHER COURSES I CALLED ALL HAD OUTINGS AND BECAUSE OF FROST IN THE MORNING, DELAYED PEOPLE FROM GOING OUT...(WALKING ON THE GREENS WITH FROST ON THEM KILLS THE GRASS BECAUSE IT'S MOWED SO SHORT)...HIGHLAND SPRINGS WAS A LOCAL MUNICIPAL COURSE (NOTHING SPECTACULAR BUT IT HAD NICE GREENS AND WATER ON EVERY HOLE)... THERE WERE 6 GROUPS WAITING ON THE FIRST HOLE AND I WAS BY MYSELF SO THE GUY SAID I COULD START ON THE BACK NINE... HAD THE COURSE TO MYSELF...CARRIED MY BAG, PLAYED TWO BALLS, ALL FOR $20.00!!! I FINISHED NINE HOLES, SAW NO ONE BEHIND ME AND PLAYED THE LAST 3 HOLES AGAIN PLUS THE NINTH HOLE JUST FOR FUN...

I COULD HAVE PLAYED MORE BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I CARRIED MY BAG AND WALKED WHILE PLAYING (MOST COURSES FORCE YOU TO RIDE)...SO I DECIDED TO LEAVE AFTER 13 HOLES...BESIDES, I WANTED TO GET BACK TO WATCH NATALIE SWIM AT THE YMCA...CRAIG AND SHERYL HAVE THEIR GIRLS IN A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND THEY LOVE IT SO IT WAS COOL TO GO AND WATCH...

DINNER AT BUFFALO WILD WINGS (I FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING HOTTER THAN I CAN STAND..."BLAZIN" SAUCE, THE HIGHEST HEAT IN THEIR WING SAUCE CHOICES) I HAD TWO WINGS AND THE HEAT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! CRAIG, (OLD IRON GUT) POLISHED OFF THE OTHER FOUR. ALL THE OTHER SAUCES WERE GOOD TOO...

I GUESS THE THING THAT AMAZES ME THE MOST DOWN HERE IS THE POLITENESS AND NICENESS OF EVERYONE (IT'S A SHAME IT AMAZES ME)...IT REALLY IS A PLEASURE TO BE AROUND, MAKES YOU FEEL WELCOME AND JUST MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD. THE ONLY THING IS THAT VIRGINIANS SEEM TO LOVE RUNNING RED LIGHTS! CRAIG TOLD ME ABOUT IT AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM, BUT I SAW IT FIRSTHAND AND IT'S SCARY! I WAS STOPPING AT A LIGHT (IT WAS ALREADY RED) WHEN A GUY CAME UP FROM BEHIND ME AND JUST BLEW THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT EVEN SLOWING DOWN! SHERYL SAID TO HESITATE WHEN THE GREEN LIGHT COMES JUST TO BE SAFE AND NOBODY BLOWS THE HORN TO HURRY UP!

NATALIE'S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY TOMORROW (TODAY)....THESE GIRLS SURE HAVE A LOT OF CELEBRATIONS! VERONICA WAS ALREADY ASKING HER MOM ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S PARTY...TOO FUNNY.

HISTORIC RICHMOND

THE DAY BEGAN FAIRLY EARLY...WE GOT UP AND WENT TO THE 9:00 AM SERVICE AT AT THE COMMUNITY CHURCH...VERY INTERESTING SERVICE. VERONICA AND HER CHOIR MATES WERE SINGING AND RIGHT AFTER THE OPENING PRAYERS THEY TAKE THE YOUNGEST CHILDREN AND BRING THEM TO A DIFFERENT AREA WHILE THE READINGS AND SERMON ARE DONE. TAKES AWAY THE "SQUIRM FACTOR" AND THEY TEACH THE KIDS WHILE THEY ARE TOGETHER. AFTER SERVICE, THE GIRLS WENT TO SUNDAY SCHOOL WHERE EACH WEEK THEY DO DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES FOR AN HOUR. I CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE TO WRITE YESTERDAY'S BLOG AND SHERYL AND CRAIG WENT BACK TO PICK UP THE GIRLS...

WHEN THEY GOT BACK WE WENT INTO RICHMOND FOR BRUNCH...THEY HAD BISCUITS AND GRAVY AND GRITS ON THE SALAD BAR BUFFET AND I WAS IN HEAVEN!!! FIRST TASTED THEM BACK IN THE 80"S IN GOODYEAR SCHOOL (TRAINING CENTER IN OHIO) AND EVER SINCE, EVERY TIME I'M IN THE SOUTH, I GOTTA HAVE THEM. THEN WE RODE AROUND RICHMOND AND THEY SHOWED ME SOME OOF THE SIGHTS, MONUMENTS AND PLACES THEY LIKED TO GO...

BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR A WELL NEEDED NAP...(NOTHING COMPARES TO A NAP!) THEN SOME DINNER AND THE MATH OLYMPIAD (VERONICA'S MATH QUESTIONS THAT DROVE US MAD!! BUT WE WORKED THEM OUT TOGETHER AND WAS A GOOD BRAIN EXERCISE...

WELL, TAMPA BAY IS IN THE WORLD SERIES AND I HAVE TO ROOT FOR THEM AGAINST THE HATED PHILLIES... GOING TO PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF TOMORROW SO I NEED TO SIGN OFF UNTIL TOMORROW...WILL CALL THE COUSINS AND SEE IF I CAN FIRM UP MY "VISITS" AND NEED TO MAKE RESERVATIONS FOR NASHVILLE...

PARTY TIME IN VIRGINIA

SATURDAY IS PARTY DAY IN VIRGINIA...THE BIG BIRTHDAY BASH FOR VERONICA AND NATALIE IS HERE! WHAT A PRODUCTION. DAD AND MOM WENT ALL OUT FOR THIS BASH...SEATING IN THE MAIN DINING ROOM FOR SIXTEEN YOUNG LADIES, BUFFET DINNER (ALL MADE BY CHEF CRAIG)...BALLOONS, DECORATIONS, GOODY BAGS, ARTS & CRAFTS, PLUS ADULT BEVERAGES FOR THE GROWN-UPS...(THEY INVITED THE PARENTS OF THE GIRLS ALSO).

UNCLE JIM, COMPLETE WITH COWBOY HAT (WANTED TO GET IN THE SOUTHERN AND SOUTHWESTERN MOOD) GOT TO MEET THE FRIENDS MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND HAVE MADE THROUGH THE GIRLS... IT WAS LIKE I NEVER LEFT NEW JERSEY!! ONLY ONE OF THE SIX COUPLES WAS NATIVE VIRGINIAN...THE REST WERE FROM THE NEW YORK AREA OR OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. IT WAS LIKE A REUNION. THE GIRLS WERE A FEW DECIBEL LEVELS UNDER A F-16 FIGHTER PLANE WARMING UP FOR MOST OF THE DAY (EXCEPT WHEN THERE WAS CAKE) BUT ALL IN ALL IT WAS A TERRIFIC PARTY... THEY HAVE SOME TERRIFIC FRIENDS DOWN HERE AND THE GIRLS HAVE SOME GREAT FRIENDS TOO...

UP LATE WATCHING THE BASEBALL GAME AND BS-ING WITH CRAIG AND SHERYL AND TWO OF THEIR FRIENDS THAT STAYED LATER. VERONICA IS SINGING IN THE CHOIR AT THE CHURCH SERVICE SUNDAY, SO I'LL BE IN ATTENDANCE...THEIR CHURCH COMMUNITY IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE (LOTS TO DO FOR THE KIDS AND THE PARENTS, VERY USER-FRIENDLY AND COMMUNITY-ORIENTED CONGREGATION)...

RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD

FIRST BAD DAY WEATHER-WISE IN AWHILE...IT PROBABLY RAINED A WHOLE YEAR'S WORTH OF ARIZONA RAIN HERE TODAY...TEMPS DIDN'T GET UP MUCH HIGHER THAN 60...(IT WAS IN THE 90'S IN MY NEW HOMESTATE---BUT I'LL TRY NOT TO RUB IT IN TOO MUCH!)...

AFTER DROPPING THE GIRLS AT THE BUS STOP IN THE CAR I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY UPDATING MY ADDRESS CHANGES WITH EVERYONE I COULD THINK OF...(CREDIT CARDS, CLUBS, MAGAZINES, ETC.--WHAT A LIST!) AND TRYING TO PLAN MY NEXT MOVE AFTER I LEAVE VIRGINIA. NASHVILLE IS TOO FAR TO DO IN ONE DAY, SO I'LL DRIVE TO KNOXVILLE, STAY OVERNIGHT AND DRIVE INTO NASHVILLE THE NEXT MORNING...I HAVE ADDED TWO VISITS TO TWO COUSINS WHILE I'M ON THE ROAD SO I HAVE TO TWEAK THE TRIP... ANGELA LIVES IN DALLAS CITY, ILLINOIS AND ANNA LIVES IN PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KANSAS AND I HAVEN'T SEEN EITHER IN A LONG TIME SO THIS IS A WONDERFUL DEVELOPMENT...I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THEM...

SHERYL GOT BACK THIS MORNING FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND SHE AND CRAIG HAVE BEEN GOING NON-STOP GETTING READY TO HOST THE PARTY OF THE CENTURY TOMORROW FOR THE GIRLS...(IT'S GONNA BE A HOOT!) CRAIG IS DOING ALL THE COOKING, SHERYL DECORATED AND I LENT A HAND NOW AND THEN... THE GIRLS ARE VERY EXCITED...

I HOPE TO GET A ROUND OF GOLF IN BEFORE I MOVE ON, PROBABLY ON MONDAY...IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN THE ROLE THAT GOLF HAS PLAYED IN MY LIFE...MY DAD INTRODUCED ME TO THE GAME WHEN I WAS 12 AND I USED TO PULL HIS CLUBS AROUND THE COURSE AND HE LET ME HIT SOME SHOTS. I CAUGHT THE BUG AND IT WAS THE WAY WE HUNG OUT TOGETHER. I BECAME OBSESSED WITH THE GAME AND PRACTICED ALL THE TIME. MY DAD AND I PLAYED IN OUTINGS AND I PLAYED ON THE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM... THROUGH EVERYTHING I HAVE GONE THROUGH, BOTH GOOD AND BAD, GOLF HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE...IT CALMS ME, EVEN THOUGH THE GAME CAN BE VERY FRUSTRATING; IT ALLOWS ME TO ESCAPE THE STRESS AND TROUBLES OF LIFE, IF ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE; IT PRESERVED MY SANITY AND HELPED ME ME HOLD ON WHEN THE WORLD CRASHED DOWN ON ME WITH MY STRUGGLE WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUGS; I PLAY THE GAME WITH A PASSION BOTH TO EXCEL AT IT AND IN AWE OF IT...THE BEAUTY OF THE GOLF COURSES, THE FRIENDS AND CAMARADERIE ENJOYED DURING THE ROUNDS, THE PURE JOY OF EXECUTING A GREAT SHOT AND THE PURE MADNESS OF NOT EXECUTING THE GREAT SHOT...I AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE...A GOLFER.

WOW! WHAT A RAMBLE! SO THERE'S A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO THE "INNER" ME. THAT'S WHY I TRULY WISH TO MAKE GOLF MY NEXT CAREER...TO PASS ON MY PASSION AND LOVE OF THE GAME TO SOMEONE ELSE THE WAY MY DAD PASSED IT ON TO ME...TO HELP SOMEONE BECOME BETTER AND GET EVEN MORE ENJOYMENT OUT OF PLAYING...TO GIVE BACK.

SO THIS IS A NORMAL DAY

WHAT A GREAT DAY I HAD TODAY! I DIDN'T HAVE TO RUN AROUND ANYWHERE, CANCEL ANY SERVICES, MAKE ANY PHONE CALLS, OR DRIVE...WOKE UP AT 6 AM (BEFORE THE ALARM CLOCK OF COURSE) GOT DRESSED AND ACCOMPANIED THE NIECES AND THEIR DADDY DOWN THE BLOCK TO THE BUS STOP TO SEE THE GIRLS OFF TO SCHOOL AT 7:05. MET THE OTHER PARENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WALKED BACK TO THE HOUSE AND HAD COFFEE AND TALKED WITH CRAIG IN THE ALL SEASON ROOM BY THE BACK DECK...

THEN WE WENT TO THE GARAGE AND PULLED OUT THE TABLES AND CHAIRS THEY NEEDED FOR THE BIG BIRTHDAY PARTY ON SATURDAY (50 PEOPLE AND UNCLE JIM) AND WHILE CRAIG CLEANED THE HOUSE I GOT SOME COMPUTER WORK DONE IN THE GUEST WING...THEN WE WENT TO LUNCH TOGETHER (HOOTER'S HAS GREAT WINGS--WINK!WINK!) AND CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE AND DID SOME CHORES (I REPACKED AND CONSOLIDATED MY JEEP) AND THEN WE WALKED UP THE CORNER AND MET THE GIRLS AT THE SCHOOL BUS...

THE GIRLS DID THEIR HOMEWORK (WITH SOME PRODDING FROM ME AND DAD) AND WE PLAYED SOME COMPUTER GAMES, WENT OUT FOR SOME PIZZA AND CAME BACK. THE GIRLS WENT TO BED AND NOW I'M IN FRONT OF THE TV WATCHING THE GAME AND SENDING OUT MY BLOG...

THAT'S ABOUT IT FOR TODAY... IT WAS GREAT TO HANGING OUT WITH THE BROTHER-IN-LAW AND JUST DOING REGULAR THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE...SHERYL STAYED AN EXTRA NIGHT IN NORTH CAROLINA (WORK) AND WILL BE HOME TOMORROW...RESTING UP FOR THE CONTINUING JOURNEY THAT BEGINS AGAIN NEXT WEEK...

FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST

THE DAY HAS ARRIVED AND I AM OFFICIALLY ON THE ROAD! MUCH TO DO THIS MORNING...A TRIP TO THE BANK, A TRIP TO TIRE BARN (TO SAY SEE YA TO MY CUSTOMER FRIENDS), A FINAL TRIP TO FINKELSTEIN TO SAY FAREWELL TO MY FORMER CO-WORKERS, THE FINAL WALK THROUGH THE OLD APARTMENT (AND THE OFFICIAL RETURN OF THE KEYS) AND THEN GETTING IN THE CAR AND FIRING UP THE THEME SONG (SUGARLAND'S "GOTTA BE SOMETHING MORE") AND HEADING SOUTH ON THE TURNPIKE TO MEET VIC AT THE REST AREA BELOW EXIT 7A...

VICTOR IS MY OLDEST AND DEAREST FRIEND...WE'VE BEEN THROUGH AN AWFUL LOT OVER THE YEARS (OVER 40 YEARS!!! YIKES!)... IT'S TOUGH LEAVING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO DO. THE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER FAR OUTWEIGHED MY NEED TO REMAIN IN NEW JERSEY... SOME THINK OF THIS MOVE AS EARLY RETIREMENT BUT IT'S NOT...IT'S A MOVE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MY LIFE...THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST DECISIONS I'VE HAD TO MAKE BUT EACH DAY I'M MORE AND MORE CONVINCED IT'S FOR THE BEST...
SEEING VIC AND HEARING THE SUPPORT AND LOVE FROM HIM AND LORETTA (HIS WIFE AND ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS) WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TODAY...

THANKS TO CHRISTINA FOR HER VERY THOUGHTFUL GIFTS...THANKS TO ALL MY FINKELSTEIN FRIENDS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND BEST WISHES...THANKS TO THE MULTITUDE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO WISH ME THE BEST...

BACK TO THE RIDE...WHEN I SAW THE SIGN "WELCOME TO DELAWARE" I LET OUT A CHEER (SEE BLOG TITLE)... WITH EACH MILE THE EXCITEMENT GREW (I WAS ACTUALLY DOING THIS!) THEN I REALIZED THAT TECHNICALLY I WAS HOMELESS. I CAN'T MOVE INTO MY NEW PLACE UNTIL NOVEMBER 15. THAT THOUGHT FLEW OUT THE WINDOW WHEN I HIT VIRGINIA AND THE WORST TRAFFIC I'VE BEEN IN SINCE I WORKED IN NEW YORK CITY...IT WAS AN INTERESTING INTRODUCTION TO LIFE "ON THE ROAD." BUT I SURVIVED AND HERE I AM IN GLEN ALLEN, VIRGINIA WITH MY SISTER, MY BROTHER-IN-LAW AND MY TWO NIECES. NICE!

DAY ONE ON THE ROAD WAS A ROLLERCOASTER OF EMOTION AND ONE I WILL NEVER FORGET...IF THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT'S IN STORE, THEN THIS TRIP AND MY NEW LIFE ARE GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLE "RIDE"...

LAST NIGHT IN NEW JERSEY

"ALL MY BAGS ARE PACKED, I'M READY TO GO..." THIS IS THE FINAL NIGHT IN NEW JERSEY. EVEN THOUGH I'VE BEEN COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S HERE ALREADY... SPENT THE WHOLE DAY CLEANING OUT THE LAST REMNANTS OF JIM FROM FRESH PONDS VILLAGE APT. D9... THE LANDLORD WILL DO A FINAL WALK THROUGH WITH ME TOMORROW. NOT TO BRAG, BUT THE PLACE IS MUCH CLEANER THAN WHEN I MOVED IN...

EVERYTHING IS PACKED IN THE JEEP, EXCEPT FOR ME AND THE LAST MINUTE THINGS I HAVE TO USE IN THE MORNING...SOME LAST MINUTE VISITS ARE IN ORDER...WORK TO SAY FAREWELL TO THE OFFICE FRIENDS AND WAREHOUSE FRIENDS, TIRE BARN TO SEE ENVER AND BILL, THE BANK (OF COURSE) WALK THROUGH WITH THE LANDLORD, HAND IN MY KEYS AND MEET LORETTA AND VIC (MY OLDEST FRIEND...SINCE 2ND GRADE!!) AT THE REST AREA PASSED EXIT 7A ON THE TURNPIKE FOR A CUP OF JOE AND OFF I GO! I WILL STOP AT THE BORDERLINE OF NEW JERSEY AND GIVE THIS STATE A FINAL RASPBERRY(THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE---I LOVE YOU GUYS---BUT NEW JERSEY CAN KISS MY ASS!!)

FROM THERE IT'S OFF TO VIRGINIA TO STAY WITH MY SISTER'S FAMILY FOR A WEEK OR SO...THEN IT'S OFF TO POINTS UNKNOWN, BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO READ THIS WILL KNOW BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHERE I'M GOING...

TO ALL THE FRIENDS WHO I WAS ABLE TO SEE BEFORE I LEFT, THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE POSITIVE ENERGY AND SUPPORT YOU GAVE ME...IT HELPED ME PUSH FORWARD WITH THIS PRETTY SCARY AND PRETTY WONDERFUL ENTERPRISE I'M EMBARKING ON... TO ALL THE FRIENDS I COULDN'T GET TO SEE BECAUSE OF TIME CONSTRAINTS AND POOR TIME MANAGEMENT ON MY PART, PLEASE KNOW THAT I CHERISH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU...(ALL OF YOU ARE MAKING THIS TRIP WITH ME IN MY HEART)...IT'S A NICE FEELING TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE PULLING FOR YOU AND WISHING YOU LUCK...

I REALLY WANT TO MAKE THIS WORK, FOR MYSELF OF COURSE, BUT ALSO FOR ANYYONE WHO ASPIRES TO DO THIS...IF IT WORKS OUT THEN MAYBE SOMEONE ELSE WILL TAKE THE LEAP OF FAITH THAT I DID...IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, THEN I'LL HAVE TO THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE...(AND PROBABLY IN A HURRY!!)

GOODNIGHT FOR NOW, MY FRIENDS...JIM HAS OFFICIALLY LEFT THE BUILDING! TALK TO YOU FROM THE ROAD. "GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!" (ONLY IN MY CASE, IT'S OLD MAN).