BEST FRIENDS

Regarding the previous post: for some reason you have to tab onto the small vertical line after the second photo and that will reveal the third photo...


BEST FRIENDS Animal Sanctuary!

Sue, Antwan and I are at the largest no-kill animal sanctuary on the western side of the US. It's AWESOME! We are working here for a week and it's in Kanab, UT, in the beautiful mountains just north of the Grand Canyon. They have cats (a whole "town"), dogs (another whole "town" that is on a TV show), horses, bunnies, birds and pot-bellied pigs. It's stunning up here right now and working with the animals is a blast: sometimes we're cleaning; sometimes walking the animals; sometimes just sitting with them in our laps (not the horses, though). I, of course, chose the cats - natch! I encourage you to google the sanctuary and check it out. Will upload my Lake Powell photos with some of the sanctuary, probably tomorrow.

Julie turned me on to traveling on 2 ships that are perfect copies of the Nina and the Santa Maria - I'll learn more about that and get back to you. If I can go on them, you know I will!!

Still having a blast!
(PS: if you can't get me on the phone, it's because ATT sucks up here; sorry. You can email me or "comment" on this blog...

Balloons!

The balloons started very early in the morning so we didn't get the beginning of the take-off, but we did get some cool shots. Then we drove on to Kanab, UT for the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Also have a few photos of Lake Powell to show you as soon as I figure out my new camera better.

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The blue one in the last shot is a buffalo!

I'll have some kitty photos from the sanctuary in a day or two. In the meantime, ENJOY...

Albuquerque!

Just arrived tonight in Albuquerque in time to see the giant balloon festival, but it's been postponed because of winds - I thought that was the point (HAHA). Long drive from Dallas this morning. Did you know there's a Memphis in Texas? I didn't. I thought I was on the wrong freaking highway for a minute- WTF?! Did you know there's a Chunky, Mississippi? That's funny.

Hopefully, the balloons will take off before we have to leave Albuquerque in the morning, because we have to get to our next destination (me and Sue, that is) before dark tomorrow. I hoped to have photos of balloons, but no. If any are flying tomorrow morning, I promise!

Sue is an early to bed, early to rise person, and anyone who knows me knows that's NOT me. This should be interesting in one hotel room...

Finally!

Holy Cow! I'm finally on the road. I had no idea I owned so much CRAP! It took way more time than I had ever imagined and never would have finished if it weren't for Julie. Not only did she work her tushie off with me, but she is way more organized and a better planner than I! I would still be in a corner of my apartment wimpering and deranged. Thank You Julie! Or, I'd still be sprauled out on the sidewalk where I tripped Sunday night and took a few layers off of my elbow and hand. Didn't break any bones, thank God, but I will be cringing when I sneeze or cough and shake my ribs for a week or two.

My retirement lunch/party was low-key and fabulous! Thanks so much to everybody who came and/or contributed, truly. I really have enjoyed B'ham the last 3 years. 

I had lunch with Patty and Karen and Tom. Boy, you make retirement look fabulous, Tom. These three are the last of my friends I had to leave in Brunswick 3 years ago. Then I went to see my boys and Beth in Valdosta.

NOW, for the traveling part! I left Birmingham around 2pm (2 1/2 days later than I had planned, mind you) and drove towards Dallas. Had dinner at a nice little family place in an outlet mall in Vicksburg, called Billy's Italian Cafe. Didn't look like much but the lasagne was killer! I asked them to add mushrooms, of course, and they did. It was wonderful, even the cold part on the road the next morning - haha.

Got into what I thought was Tyler, TX after 11pm and stayed in a motel. Found out it wasn't Tyler the next morning when I drove through Tyler about 40 minutes after leaving the motel - hmmmm -still don't know where I slept, then. Drove across the Mighty Mississippi at night, so I didn't get to see it much. I will plan to cross in the day time next trip through this way.

Arrived at Sue's house around noon today (Wednesday). Got some new tires for the back of the car (will get new front ones next paycheck) and wandered around the mall a bit. Got some funny postcards for my girls - Hi Kelsey and Kayla in Yorba Linda. Had some barbque - good, but not nearly as good as Full Moon! I haven't seen Sue since she left Brunswick, ahead of my departure. Sue retired just ahead of me from the same agency, so I brought a bottle of one of my favorites so we could toast!!!

I need to keep up with my journal too, of the stops and stuff I see. I planned to take some photos here of the arboretum (and maybe even some drawings) but not enough time now. I will be back in mid-November and will definitely take care of that then. Looking forward to seeing a hot-air balloon festival in Albaquerque tomorrow, so we need to leave early enough in the morning to get there before dark. If we are able to see it well, I'll get some photos and share them with you all.

Still nursing booboos on my arms, but definitely on the road...

Countdown & Thanks

It's getting a little crazed now - 4 days until retirement! I am SO not packed yet because I ran out of bubble wrap and I it rained all weekend. I have GOT to get the rest of the boxes in storage, but I have to figure out how to get the rest of my shelving unit to storage first. Then, I can just put the boxes on the shelves like they were meant to be and have more space for the actual furniture.

I am going to say goodbye and thank you to some people who have made my (almost) 3 years in Birmingham such a joy! The only things I haven't liked in B'ham are the summers and crazy drivers and walkers (who seem to think they can walk wherever drivers drive)!

I would like to send my love, appreciation and happies to the following businesses: the entire RAC/Birmingham ICE office; Karen & Debbie at Dixon/Ballogg Glass Gallery in Pelham; the folks at O'Carrs in Homewood; Lisa at Dave's Pizza, also in Homewood; Jennifer and Donnie from Jennifer Harwell Arts; Joe, Paige and Remy at Sloss Furnice, Wendy and Katie from the Sips 'N Strokes shops; Ivan and the folks at Full Moon BBQ; Fran at Imagination pottery studio; that cute, tall, dark-haired guy at Zoe's in Homewood; Dr. Hinkle and the folks at Cat Haven; the nice lady at the Public Storage; those great guys at the oil change place behind the Texico who took such good care of my baby; Lori and the gals from Studio 21 Salon; the crew from Mr. Wang's and whoever made the crab angels; the folks at Papa Saia's down in Alabaster; Dr. Pino and Elizabeth; and the nice ladies downstairs who bought Avon from me. If I've forgotten anyone, I apologize profusely.

I also need to send out love and kisses to all the wonderful downtowners who adopted me and helped me live a dream of mine. I loved my loft and the time I spent there!

Closer

I was able to have a wonderful dinner with more wonderful friends before leaving at one of my favorite Birmingham haunts, John's City Diner. If you're ever in B'ham you HAVE to go there! It's been one of my greatest joys while living here and will be one of my fondest memories. Thanks to Shannon and Shana Gober and thanks to all the lovely downtowners who have made the last (almost) 3 years so special!!!

I went on a small road trip this weekend and I'll try to upload a couple of photos from it. I went to the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC, in the southwestern corner of the state. I took a weaving class for the weekend. Very intense set up necessary of which I was not aware, but very important set up because it sets the grid for all of the patterns for the entire piece. I will definately have more respect for hand-woven items I see in the future! I met some more lovely people and I'm very gratefull to Geri and Annie for putting up with me. ; - )

If the pictures upload correctly (I am computer and electronically challanged, you know) you will see photos of the Ocoee River where Tennessee and NC are joined and my scarf (poor, pathetic little thing) in the process of being woven on the loom. Enjoy!

So Close

Wow - 16 days to retirement! I've still got a lot of stuff to pack, the little stuff. My son Ryan (Will) was very helpful at the storage units on Saturday. He made enough room for more more furniture and boxes of stuff by making the piles I already have even higher. Getting them down will be not be pretty or graceful but I don't plan to have to worry about that for a few years.

I've been saying goodbye to some really nice people, which is not easy, of course. Some really wonderful people threw me a little party and more wonderful people came to it! One of my dreams has always been to live in the smack-dab middle of a city and do the downtown thing, and now I've lived that dream - right in the middle of downtown Birmingham! Another dream come true.  ; - D

Going over my To Do list again. Got all my shots; passport is on the way; retirement papers in order; closing down some accounts/bills; etc. If you can think of anything I may have forgotten, feel free to remind me!

Just waiting for my show-up date in Africa now...