The Sound of Freedom: Week 2

The Sound of Freedom has been relatively quite this week, possibly due to the turbulently windy days we've had (some with 30-40 mph gusts).


Most of this week has been spent getting into a routine. We started running again, I started back to work, and Chris has been cooking for us every night. There were a few smoke-filled moments earlier in the week as we learned to cook on electric, after 10 years with gas.

For those of you who know Chris well, you won't be surprised to learn that he found a grill near the apartment. Last night we had ribeye and asparagus off the grill. It's not easy cooking on a park grill, but after two weeks of cooking on electric, I think fire made him feel at home.

Monday evening, when I opened the door for Chris, a wide-eyed tabby who seemed to think he lived here burst into our apartment. Holly's never seen a cat in her living room, but it was clear she knew it was something to be concerned about. Luckily she was in her cage, and the tabby was friendly enough to be scooped up quickly. No harm, no fowl. I mean, foul!

After the tabby incident, we visited a house we were interested in renting. It was as close to perfect as our money will get us, so we made a verbal agreement with the owner, and we'll submit our application tonight. It's similar to our San Diego house: three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, hardwood floors, and a large backyard. And, now that we think we have a place to live, we can get down to the business of exploring this new region of ours...

The Sound of Freedom: Week 1

We've been here most of the week, and I'm beginning to get a grasp on a couple of the major routes around town. Don't get me wrong, I still have a map and the Garmin out and ready anytime I leave the apartment. I love GPS! Having the Garmin makes me remember how found my way around San Diego when we first moved there: I circled help wanted ads, wrote down addresses, plotted addresses on the map, decided which order the map dictated I visit them, wrote directions to each place in the most linear fashion...

Other than local roads and how to calm a frenzied parrot, I have learned that I've been spoiled by living in a house my whole life. Here, I need to take my trash to one of the two giant trash compactors on the premises. The closest one is 2/10 mile, round trip (and ours is one of the closest buildings). It's not about the walk; it's about walking 1/10 mile with my garbage!

The weather's been beautiful all week, but it's supposed to rain this weekend; our official welcome to the east. I think my favorite part so far is that we made it just in time for the break of spring. There are trees full of white blossoms and baby leaves, and there are golden daffodils everywhere!
We're getting settled in the apartment. It's comfortable and quiet, except for the Navy jets taking off from the nearby Naval Air Station. Apparently, Chris read my shock (at the noise) when the first one flew over Monday evening, and he cheerfully exclaimed, "That's the sound of freedom"!

Holly doesn't appear to be bothered by the Sound of Freedom. She watches the seagulls flying overhead, but it seems that jets aren't something a parrot needs to worry about. She likes to look out the window to inspect the resident mallard and plump red-breasted robins in the grass below, and she's very curious about the apartment. I carry her from room to room (there are only 2), so she can investigate her new surroundings. It's magical to watch her eyes brighten with curiosity. I'm convinced that cat owners beat parrot owners to the curiosity quote ("...killed the cat"). Parrots are intensely curious creatures!

3000 miles and a parrot

The moving vans pulled out of the driveway around 2 pm on Saturday. We finished cleaning the house, ran a few errands, loaded the car, and hit the road.

(Holly took the trip well)

We spent our first night in Yuma in a spruced-up, ''60s-style roadside motel called Best Western. The room was way too small for two adults and a parrot, but it was comfy and clean.

(The famous saguaro cactus ~somewhere in Arizona)

We spent Sunday on the road in a giant dust storm. The winds made our '07 Mazda whistle like an old VW bus. We made it to El Paso feeling a little gritty and exhausted from dodging flying cardboard boxes and suicidal tumbleweeds.

(I'm still finding dust in the crevasses of my car!)

(suicidal tumbleweed, but not the 4' one that attacked the car)

We drove across desolate west Texas in more strong winds and blowing snow on Monday. Fortunately, there was no sand...just snow and hail. The scenery was more exciting than I expected. There are spectacular mountains that extend hours east of El Paso, and there was snow over much of the higher elevations of west Texas.

(snow & sleet in west Texas)

(probably the Sierra Juarez range, striped with snow)

We arrived in San Antonio in time for a hearty spaghetti dinner with family. We'll spend a few days here, before continuing eastward again...

(my brother and sister)

. . .

...We spent two warm, sunny days in San Antonio with family, and then began our travels again by driving northeast through Texas on back roads. The small towns passed the time quickly, and I never knew there were so many different shapes of cows! After a BBQ stop in Nacogdoches, Texas (all those cows must have slipped into our subconscious), we picked up the interstate in Louisiana and headed toward our day's destination (Jackson, Mississippi).

We spent another wonderful evening with family in Jackson and hit the road Friday morning under the threat of snow. Good sense told us to beat a path to Memphis -or beyond. But we had been looking forward to spending this day in the Mississippi delta and so, after giving the winter storm warning careful consideration, we made a backup plan and headed for the delta anyway.

Our first stop was Satartia ~pronounced "Satasha" (yes, this is where I get my name). Satartia is a very small town along the Yazoo River; downtown has a cotton gin and a small general store. There are a couple small churches and some scattered houses on the wooded approach to town. After passing the cotton gin, the road curves, crosses the Yazoo River, and flattens out into the agricultural fields of the delta.

(The general store in Satartia)

(This sign used to hang in the question mark-shaped holder in the picture above)

For lunch, we happened upon a great meal of cornbread, fried okra, and catfish. While we were eating, it began to sleet, so we hurried the rest of our day…as much as one can hurry in the delta. We followed the main delta routes in the snow, directly to Memphis. The rarity of snow in Mississippi kept most people indoors this day, and the snow added a hazy layer of gray over the barren winter fields, making them appear desolate and cold.

(The Mississippi Delta in winter)

We reached Memphis without any trouble, but it soon became clear we wouldn't leave until Mother Nature cleared the roads. We found a restaurant within walking-in-the-wind-and-snow distance from our hotel.

(Snow outside of our hotel room)

(The snow is license plate deep!)

By mid-morning, the main roads were clear enough to meet an old friend for breakfast, wash off the 5" of snow from the car, and hit the road. We spent the next two nights enjoying great food and conversation with San Diego friends who have just moved to the mountains of Virginia.

(Fun with friends!)

(Man, it's cold out here!)

We arrived in Virginia Beach around 3:30 Monday afternoon, unloaded the car, and headed for our favorite crab cake dinner (crab cakes and broccoli, with an appetizer of broccoli and crab soup).

(One of the tunnels coming into the city)

************
We already miss San Diego...

(San Diego)

...but we're excited about our opportunity here.

We'll keep you posted.