Driving into the Arctic

So we have experienced all the seasons rolled into one week so far. Left Boston where it felt like Spring. Headed into Virginia beach and Savannah where I lived in a mini skirt for two days. Louisiana felt like fall, light jacket required, well the second night. Texas started feeling cold and today we drove through freezing fog! Twice!

The drive started super well. I-40 W for 300 miles going 90 on cruise control the whole way.

........then we got to 285N.  This is a one lane highway marked w a 75mph speed limit with big trucks and passing lanes. Ugh I hate passing big ole trucks. But whatever ya gotta do whatcha gotta do!

At the end of this road the fog began.
This weird hazy snow covered roads where you can only see 15 feet ahead of you and now I'm out of wind shield wiper fluid! It takes us an hour just to stop to get some wiper fluid and get to the Starbucks that was just 4.2 miles away.

Just 3 more hours to go.

We make it to Sarah's right about 6pm. That sweetheart made us an amazing homemade meal of Mac and cheese with crispy onions on top, garlicky broccoli and pan seared chicken. We drink some beers and head to their local dive bar.

Travel day

I We got a late 1pm checkout so we got to tool around New Orleans in the daylight

Listened to a little more jazz 

And did a little outdoor shopping

Tommy let his inner Frenchmen out

And we walked and walked

Then we were off to San Antonio.

At this point it's still 60 degrees plus

Tommy badger don't give a fuck

San Antonio is rad

We got into town at like 10pm and we didn't eat dinner yet so we start looking for some rest area places but are very unsuccessful. Finally we get to eat some Cabana Taco place which was maybe better than Taco Bell??? But at this point it's just food.

We get to Millie's and her place is beautiful. She shows us a room and a futon to choose from both with TVs and fans. I found Beetlejuice saved in her movies and slept so freaking good.

In the morning we have coffee and talk about what we want to do. First things first -PANCAKE HOUSE!

After the 30 minute wait on a Tuesday, yumminess ensued and we made our way to downtown.

The river walk was gorgeous 

We head over to the Alamo, which appears quite tiny from the outside.

It's still pretty cool though and we take in a history lesson.

We do a little shopping at Lavita which is a little shopping center. Then walk to a cathedral.

We head back to Millie's to grab Tito and get our drink on. We end up going to Blanco's BBQ joint. And we were going to go on the night riverboat tour, but it's like 40 degrees and drizzly so we scrap it. Gotta wake up at 6am and drive 11 hours tomorrow 😕

N’awlins Round 3

New Orleans is a place I always thought I could live in, since my first  visit.  A place that threw a non stop party, filled with like-minded people that all wanted to dance, drink and eat their faces off. However, due to the fact that most people carry weapons, I decided I would never feel fully comfortable and moved to Boston instead. That was back in 2005.  

We decided to re arrange our itinerary on this here ride to Louisiana.  We left my aunts 7:45am in an attempt to make it to New Orleans in good time.  That actually put us in our hotel at 5pm!  Also factoring in the extra hour we gained in the Central Time zone.

We check in and unpack our stuff.  As Roni gets ready, I call my Mom and Aunt to let them know I made it there safe and a tornado didn’t hammer down and fly off with us.  The day before we left there was a  tornado that hit Alabama, as well as Dallas/Fort Worth Texas and left two inches of snow in Albuquerque NM. 

Our ride was a little hazy as for the weather, but still mid 70’s and feels like summer as I am wearing a tank top and jean skirt.

The sky opens up as we cross the long bridge into Louisiana.

Finally, we leave the hotel and I squeal with delight, “We are in New Orleans!”

I first get my bearings and walk towards the fun. The tree on the waterfront is lit up with a fleur-de-lis on top!

Man do I freaking love this place. 

I spent 3 days in 2005 then 4 days in like 2007/8 and haven’t been back since.  I first bring Roni to Bourbon Street and grab us some slushee grain alcohol drinks.  The Jester, a curiously strong concoction, intrigues Roni and I opt for the Passionfruit.

  This thing is so good and refreshing I am giving myself brainfreeze chugging it down.

To me, a beach vacation doesn’t start officially until I have a Piña Collada in my hand and here I am two days after Christmas in 80 degree weather, loving life.

The streets smell of feces more than I remember.

Our first stop in for a drink on Bourbon Street is the Funky Pirate. Lured in by the music coming from the back we grab beers and sing for a few songs then meander away. Next is a dueling piano bar that features a guy dressed in a tin man shirt, who I later realize is creating music via spoons. He comes over to me and I start dancing with him.  He quickly pulls me to the dance floor, even though no one else is dancing. Then he hands me a cow bell and we rock out for a song. 

We eat at Pier 424 upon the bartender recommendation.  I have a blackened redfish and Roni gets a fried gator po boy, when in Rome my friends! Then we head over to Frenchman Street.

Frenchman is the more authentic jazz area. You can catch some amazing musicians without even a cover and dance the night away. We swing into a few places and get our dance on again.

We leave early because Roni doesn't feel too well and vomits on the street. We make our way down Bourbon one last time. I grab a $4 hurricaine and an ice water for her and dance our way to Walgreens for some wine and twix bars. I only drink a half a glass...

Sweet Savannah!

Having been to Savannah only once when I was about 11, I didn’t know what to expect.  The town of Savannah is a colorful mix of people young and old, both tourists and street performers.

We parked on a cobble stone street right near the golden cathedral.  Walked along a cobblestone street where some historic artifacts remain.  Then headed down to River Street.

  River Street is right on a little river and immersed with little shops and restaurants block after block.

Did I mention I had my Aunt take her first selfie?

We were after some true southern fare so we passed by every Outback Steakhouse and other chain joint until we stopped at The Shrimp Factory.  Turns out they feature local blue crabs, shrimp and some other seafood.

For apps we got fried green tomatoes and blue crab stuffed mushrooms.  Both were incredibly good.  These green tomatoes were thicker cut then I was used to, so they still had a crunch factor and a thick buttermilk batter breading.

I got a local IPA called Sweet Water, which was pretty shitty.  Not real cold and kinda flat.  But Roni got some fancy punch, which wasn’t too sweet but packed a punch.

My lunch was Crab and shrimp in a cheesy mornay sauce with a breadcrumb top and a side of rice and broccoli.  Super rich and buttery, this was easily the most I have eaten in a sitting all week.

After I thought we would pop into a candy store and buy some sweet and chocolate but my aunt said we should go to the nut shop.  Called something Peanut House, this place was lined throughout the store with samples upon samples.  Everything from wasabi and mole to milk and dark chocolate covered.   My favorite was a caramel sea salt peanut, but I knew I had little room to move in my car let alone carry a jar of peanuts so I bought Ken a container and headed off.

My aunt then brought us through the historic district by car.  We drove around each square following Bernard Street that was surround by old fashioned houses all featuring main staircases that brought them up to their front doors about 12 feet off the ground.

We headed back when it got dark and proceeded to check out some of her neighborhood Christmas lights.  Now would be the last chance because the people of Savannah always take them down right after Christmas so they start the new year off on a clean start.

At night we thought we would hit the town.  There is a dueling piano bar and a drag queen show, but we got sucked into Ken’s raspberry margaritas and the rest was history.

Warmest Christmas Ever

Waking up in a super comfy bed in the AC all the while 2 blocks from the ocean in muggy 75 degree weather on Christmas was strange but freaking amazing.

So far I have barely felt holiday joy but can always appreciate some sweet delicious decorations.  Since leaving Wednesday we have experienced:

Long Island holiday traffic

Baltimore's square all decked out for the holidays

VA Beaches holiday lights, presented by McDonald's

Tomorrow Savannah GA's Christmas getup

Wish I could say that I did something crazy in Virginia Beach but mostly I just enjoyed the boardwalk. And the location of this lil vacation town. And the make your own Belgian waffle table they had.

We hit the road intending to hit up Myrtle Beach but the last thing my aunt said was that she would wait to fix supper until we got there. So we skipped Myrtle beach since we just came from a beach anywho.

Today my head is clear. I don't feel stressed or panicked. I call my mom and dad and tell them about VA Beach and the weather, they sound great.

Multiple times people have questioned me why I didn't I stay w them on Christmas, but my family gets it. We've lived in different states for ten years now and I will always see them and just do the holiday thing when I see them. This year it was 2 days before Xmas is all.

Roni begins the ride so she can start weaning herself off of the Dramamine she took over the course of the last two days.  So I start off in the passenger seat holding my Tommy pup. After an hour or two she can't keep her eyes open, the Dramamine plus the lack of sleep the last 3 nights has got her good.  It actually worked out because I was ready to change positions and the passenger seat of the car comes with having an 18 inch Guinea pig cage at your feet.

I think Roni was asleep sitting up within 10 minutes. It was all good I sang to my favorite CDs and took in all the beautiful scenery the Carolinas has to offer.

And the sun didn't go completely down until 6pm! I already like Savannah.

When I show up at my aunts, my cousin Kurt had just arrived. I don't even know when I saw him last. I only met his wife once at their wedding when I was 15 years old and hungover as shit.

I almost knock my Aunt Louise over giving her a hug. She is one of my most favorite people in the world. She reminds me so much of my dad. The same big brown loving eyes, dry sense of humor and ultra white ish grey thin hair. Damn, I know that gene is coming for me!!

We gather right outside the kitchen talking about where our travels lead us next and Ken (Louise's husband) is the most gracious and super talkative host.

They put out an amazing spread. Local shrimp, sweet potato purée, mixed veggies, baked potatoes and a stuffed turkey for the meat eaters at the table. Oh and pumpkin pie and cool whip for dessert!

72 degrees in Virginia Beach!

So now that all of the heavy stuff is out of the way, I can start to kick back, rock out to some of the 500 CDs I have in my car and enjoy this wonderful country.

Last night ended for me around 3am.   

I am actually shocked I made it that long because when it got to about 9:15pm at my parents house all I wanted to do was go to sleep for days.  

I texted Mike Miller I was leaving and then get a call from Gavin like 10 minutes later that he was there and waiting for me and I am freaking pumped! I describe my plans for an early retirement in the form of a laid back west coast lifestyle.  And how I figure Portland is going to be like.  My friend Roger drove all the way from Florida and shows up at 12:30am.  We get a growler of La Chouffe (this awesome hoppy Belgian style of beer) and head back to Magoo's around one.

The morning began with Magoo's great boyfriend Keith offering us bagels and coffee.  I forgot how great a NY bagel is.  Light whipped cream cheese on a cinnamon raison bagel - oh so good!!!

I was worried about traffic leaving Long Island but we barely hit any!  Just some gridlock before the Verrazano, per usual.  I remembered my Six Flags shortcut and we flew right down south.  We took a decent sized Jersey rest stop break.  Tommy was so comfortable he didn't even want to leave the car.  I'm pretty sure that this is his dream vacation.  All of my attention plus Roni's for 11 days on the road.  He sits up front with us in a lil bed type car seat where he can stretch at will and face me or Roni.

Roni finds a dog friendly place to eat in Maryland, in search of some blue crabs.  

Unfortunately this particular place doesn't serve them but we had a fantastic dinner in any case al fresco! on Christmas Eve!!!

We leave a little later than planned because we still have 4 hours until Virginia Beach, but the drive is smooth and are bellies are full. 

This drive gets emotional from time to time, I just keep imagining the last kiss I gave Michael. Would that be our last? An emotional teary eyed kiss? God, why do I think about these things?! Luckily Roni doesn't bug me every time I tear up. She knows.

Our place here is one block from the ocean.  There is a giant boardwalk and there are a bunch of 15 foot high Christmas decorations all along the beach.  Still don't feel like Christmas while in a T-shirt, but man is it nice!

Back in a NY groove

Somehow I managed to pack an additional 3 bags in the course of the night in the morning and know I can't worry about it.  I think to myself, "Just throw it on the passenger seat and get to Roni's."  I am a few blocks away when she texts me, "Do you want anything from Dunkin Donuts?"  I can't respond let alone think about eating.  I show up as she's walking over to DD's and ask for a sesame bagel w cream cheese and a water.  I think I took a total of 3 bites.

She's so friendly and sweet it puts me at ease.  I give her a hug and start to cry.  "I'm actually moving to Portland!"  She tells me that I can still back out, but I won't.

Now there has been an issue with one of her guinea pigs eyes.  She needs drops 3-4 times a day or her eyes will get crusty and give her head a paralysis which makes it tilt in one direction, which she already slightly has.  Hazel the guinea pig is coming with us.  Luckily she fits in front of Roni's feet.

We re-organize the car and roll out.

Driving through Boston was a breeze.  It's somehow 60 degrees in the end of December and the sun really was trying to come out.  Somewhere in Connecticut it starts to drizzle and spit rain at us.  As I play a blues CD I start to think of Michael's mom and how much we have bonded over the years and of the glass guardian angel she gave me to watch over my journey.  I need to change this CD!!!

I open a CD case I haven''t looked in awhile and Weezer's blue album is the first one.  I excitedly throw it in.  "This one reminds of Long Island", I tell Roni.

Entering NY we start hitting traffic.  The rain starts hammering down and somehow we got into Yonkers????.  It's now almost 4pm and we haven't even went over the Throgs Neck Bridge yet.  I know we are going to get stuck in bad traffic from here on out.

Tommy, my dog is an 11.5 pound chihuahua/papillon who is also taking this journey with us.  His puppy seat was originally intended to fit on the console but there is no freaking way that this is possible.  However, it fits diagonally in front of the console so he is practically on me and Roni's lap.  Somehow it works.

He was my major variable this trip.  How is he going to do in the car for so long?

In this new little car seat he sleeps and kisses Roni's hand to the point that she is hysterically laughing.  He has a short leash on his harness so he can't do more than turn around in his little puppy seat, but I am so happy to report he barely budged for all of the 7 hours we sit in the car.

Once I hit the Throgs Neck it takes me almost 2 hours to drive around 20 miles to get to Magoo's job.  Here I need her keys to drop off the pets and get my butt over to my parents.  6pm turns into 8pm when I finally get at my parents front door.

I am prepping my Xmas gifts to them when I hear my mom say, "Jim?"

"No ma, it's me!"

And I finally get my mothers hug.

My dad shows up and we eat pizza and talk about where I am going next.  My mom said her nerves have been shot all day, knowing this was the day I was leaving.  I told her my hard part was over.

Although I will have a lot of stress on the road in a packed car with another girl, her guinea pig and a dog.  This begins my journey.  And for that I am grateful.

I get to Mr. Beery's at almost 10pm, where I attempted to meet a couple dozen friends, but it's pouring rain and I know most people won't show.  Roni texted me when she got there at 9pm, "this place is empty and divey."  I tell her she's in the right place.

A handful of friends show up and it's perfect.  We drink good beer and catch up and tell each other where this next year of our lives will take us.  It's a good freaking night.

MANIC

The only way I can describe the rest of Tuesday is manic ups and downs and deep breaths and mini panic attacks.

Today I had to close one bank account start another, all while explaining to some Russian woman I no longer have a permanent address nor job to speak of.  Meanwhile, she sees that I have owned a BoA card for more than ten years and have had the same email account since email has existed and "seem" like a normal person.....  Still she wishes me luck and thanks me for my business.

I meet Michael in the Canal.  It's all beautifully decorated and playing Christmas songs.  I think I had tears in my eyes before my first beer was poured.  Louise is there too recapping the events of my Farewell party there a few nights earlier.  The tears keep flowing.

Although I disclosed we were planning on having some fancy dinner, I am in no condition to be in public so Michael suggests some Maggiano's delivery. I am psyched.

After a big ole plate of salad and a half a plate of pasta and stuffed mushrooms I can't finish even a half glass of wine.  And now I feel like I am going to vomit.

Michael is cool and collected and I am focusing on not throwing up, breathing and generally 'being a normal human' procedures.

Once some of that food digests, I start packing the rest of my clothes.  Some from the laundry, some from a giant drawer of T shirts, I roll each one to hope they all can be crammed in.  As I look over how many boxes and bags I have, I am sizing up what is going to fit in my Honda Civic coupe.

Is it gonna fit????  Oh my goodness its not going to.  There is no way its going to.  How can I fit my life for the last 10 years in a sedan?  Why did I think I could pack my life into a sedan???

It takes me two hours to get over this thought and re pack/organize my clothes as I prepare a box of items I will not need immediately to have FedEx pick up later.  At this moment, I finally pull my car into the basement to figure out what actually fits.

First load...looks good. I am feeling hopeful.  Second load, contains the 24x24x12 box that I wasn't sure if I could even lift let alone fit in my car.  I slide it through slowly but surely and continue to load stuff around it.  Now I am not sure what else is going to fit.  Still have my big suitcase, my backpack and some garbage bags of clothes.  With a little organizing and reorganizing I fit it all in and think I have room my Roni as well as her suitcase, when I pick her up tomorrow.

Now I pace.

Through every room.  Rummage every closet.  Circle around till I lose track of what I'm doing and start on something else.  I probably don't sit down to relax until midnight.

Mike and I have good conversation and talk about the future.  What the heck we should do with our lives and recap the last decade of our lives.  Because I have known him for 3 months short of a decade.  We started dating about 5 months after we met.  He says he'll never date another person again because we weren't meant to fail.

26 hours till my journey begins

I woke up at 7am today...  Just found my eyeglasses an hour later which were not so conveniently on the side table next to the couch in the living room.  I thought I was on pretty good behavior yesterday?...

It was my last day at NEBO.  A gig I have gave my all to for the past 5 years plus.  Honestly, it felt good to get out of my apartment.  My apartment right now is a strong reality of my life that I am leaving behind.  Anywhere outside of the apartment doors is freedom.

Work had a tension in the air.  I think it was nerves of the final week of the holiday.  Maybe it was just because it was a Monday and all the financial douches were eager to start their vacations whatever it was, it was a busy Monday and only few knew it was my last day before I got there.  Hell, I wasn't even 100% sure considering there is a party of 100 people tomorrow I might have been needed for.

Today is going to be a clusterfuck of getting everything ready.  New bank account.  Finalize Christmas gifts.  Wash the dog.  Pack my life into a car.  Then celebrate my last Boston night, least for awhile.  The plan is to hit up Abe and Louie's.  Eat a fabulously delicious lobster of some sort, then hit up the rum district.

 Leaving Porter's last night I realized I wouldn't see my Rummy Steve in awhile as he is not working the bar tonight.  This is another kid who will always put a smile on my face.  He always wants to be surly, but he is just hilarious.  Porter's has always had a thing for some innocent gambling.  Mostly over/unders that end with the loser taking the worst possible shot the other can think of.  At first it was as simple as tabasco.  Gin & tabasco.  Sambuca & tabasco.  Then malt vinegar got involved.  Then parmesan cheese.  Imagine all of the condiments one might have in a restaurant bar and hope the combination doesn't make you hurl right after.

Anywho, as I thought I composed myself before hugging Steve goodbye I lost it and tears ran rampant.  He reinforced what others have told me, "We will always be here when ya come back, ya rummy."

God love him!

Well I got me some stuff to do so I'm out for now.  We'll be off to NY tomorrow :)

So you're moving to Portland?

It's funny how certain moments stand out.  How a simple sentence has a underlying meaning that pierces you, triggering a thought, emotion, or memory.  All the while at the end of the day is nothing more than an ordinary sentence that you've said before and yet it doesn't resinate the same way.
 
This week has been nothing but those weird triggering moments.  Heading into work for my last Saturday night shift, I entered the downstairs kitchen as I do 5-6 nights a week and shout Hola! to my kitchen co workers.  Meanwhile in the back of my head, I'm realizing this is one of the last moments I have with these people.  It's sweet really, how 5 years working with the same people bonds you, heck some of them 2 years and I freaking love them.

My Farewell party was last night at The Grand Canal in Boston so I may be extra sentimental.  I had a drink at Porter's first because their Christmas Party was happening and I knew that party had started first.  Maybe it was a bit of nerves that needed fending off too, to enter a happy yet emotional night.

As I approached the Canal at 10pm, my first vision is Rewell smoking a butt.  I have known this man for almost 10 years.  I helped train him on the bar back in the day.  I was there when I saw the spark between him and the woman that would soon after become his wife.  And now I stare back at him saying I'm going away for awhile.....

The bar is slow.  A handful of my friends are on two separate corners of the Buskers side of the bar.  This lovely miss mash of co workers over the years and friends who I consider family.  As the shots of Jameson get flowing everyone socializes and dance and laugh and cry.  Moments like these I treasure.  Bittersweet with ongoing excitement, I dance on.

The night gets fuzzier as the ugly Christmas sweaters start showing up.  Wave after wave more friends make appearances.  Old friends get to catch up as they will do again the next time I roll into town.  I don't consider myself leaving these people, I am just expanding their places to go vacation.

Portland Oregon you might just be my own permanent vacation.

I want to find that job that doesn't feel like work.  Maybe outdoors and with animals.  Maybe in a garden or in a raft.  One things for sure.... it's out there.