Meaning What They Say

During our recent adventure to Memphis we stayed at a Hampton Inn and Suites instead of our normal Residence Inn (they are GREAT for families our size). We were generally pleased with our visit. The few missing items or items needing replacement were done quickly and courteously and we thought we got our monies worth. The breakfast was the only let down.

So when we received an online survey we responded to it giving our input and shared our opinion of the breakfast. A week later as I was updated our finances, I noticed a credit from the Hampton Inn. It seems that they have a satisfaction guarantee or your money back - they meant what they said - we didn't even ask. What a refreshing idea!

Unexpected Sightings

Every once in a while you see something that stands out from the norm; an interesting unexpected visual sighting. Recently I have had a few of those:

1. An email from my sister with a link to pictures of a wedding cake the bride had made look just like her....in full size

2. Last night at our ball game seeing a grown man with a full mullet (don't see those too often in San Diego)

3. Our hunt for Easter eggs turned up spotting one green egg that turned out to be a frog on our chair

4. The most disturbing sight....sitting eating Easter dinner in our dining room only to look up and see our neighbor from across the street walking up and down the sidewalk on his cell phone without his shirt. We closed the blinds

Road Trip - the final day

Our final day of our trip was actually a day early. We were getting ready to visit Graceland and at least take our pictures in front of it. Our plan was to leave after lunch and head to Little Rock - maybe see the Clinton Presidential Library.

A check on the Internet to see weather conditions showed our entire route for Tuesday in red with a severe storm warning. There was not one inch not covered in red. The hasty decision was made to load up and head straight home and avoid it all. Everyone pitched in and we were amazed how quickly it all came together. By 9:30 a.m. we were on the road ready for our 10+ hour drive. Once again thankful for technology, DVDs and multiple drivers.

We were all sad we had to leave Memphis and friends so soon. Definitely need another road trip - soon!

Road Trip Day Three

Day three started with church and seeing the best youth facility I have ever seen. We headed off to lunch where we waited for "10 minutes" to eat GREAT BarBQ ( I wish I had a plate right now) with a great appetizer of sausage and cheese.

We visited the Peabody Hotel where we saw ducks in the lobby and a piano used by Frances Scott Key. On the roof we saw amazing views of Memphis. We then took a trolley ride that cost $1 a person that gave us a view of downtown and the Mississippi river. On part of the ride we passed the Civil Rights Museum. It was the actual hotel where Martin Luther King Jr was shot. We passed by and saw the actual balcony. It is hard to describe the feeling seeing it in person - the balcony I saw in text books and in the papers right there in front of me. It made it all very real.

Road Trip Day Two

Our day began with the realization that the breakfast cheerfully being served we had seen on the billboards did not exist. I opted for danish and fruit, while a few decided to try what turned out to be powdered eggs.

Day two also meant freeway driving hours for our aspiring driver. I have to admit it is hard to ride in the backseat at such times. While she did a great job overall there were times I held my breath. Fortunately I was able to be distracted by the saving grace of the road trip the TV with DVD - ours the old school version of an actual TV on the floor of the van. A bit of a crick in the neck but it worked.

We drove across the entire state of Arkansas and appreciated the fact that the speed stayed the same - unlike Texas where the speeds went from 70 to 60 to 55 to whatever the town decided. We were blessed with wonderful weather the entire way.

We finally arrived in Memphis excited to see familiar faces. We were in awe of the home they were renting and appreciated "the wing" that our family could call their own. It's not too many people who would venture to house a family of our size.

That evening we dined in downtown Collierville (the home of FedEx World Headquarters). It was a cute area of little shops (all closed early on Saturday) and trains that came through for added ambiance. We also began to learn our lesson that a "only 10 to 15 minute wait" translates to over a half hour.

Road Trip - non-real time - Day One

The intention was to bring the computer along and blog our road trip. The reality was in the frenzy of getting everyone in the car, the computer was forgotten. Perhaps a blessing in disguise. Undaunted - I will still blog our events - even though they aren't really happening right now. Not that our trip is so profound, but it gives me a way of reliving it if even for a moment.

DAY ONE - We got the kids out of school an hour early so we could hit the road. Our plan was to shave a few hours off of the 10 hour trip. We assumed traffic would be bad and that our 3 hour first day could indeed be much longer. Reality - the drive wasn't that bad at all - in fact we could have driven more but we had reservations and checked into our hotel with the person at the front desk bearing the name tag "Steveo". Didn't want to ask if it was pronounced "Steve-O".

We drove around Stephen F. Austin University and realized that there is really nothing to do in the town but study. We did find "Texas' largest Azalea Trail" much to three teenagers delight. Handed my camera off to my son who took some great shots to make up for his lack of enthusiasm. I have a feeling "the azalea trail" will be left off their descriptions of vacation.

We ended day one with a trip to Dairy Queen where we saw more cowboy hats per capita than we have in all of our time in Texas.

Redundancy

Hard to tell by our rainy afternoon, but this morning was nice and I headed outside for a walk with the dog.

As soon as I headed out the door it was hard to miss that pungent aroma the permeates Houston this time of year, freshly laid mulch. It is hard to describe the smell when it hits you in volumes - all to say it isn't pleasant. And so I began my walk trying to breath only through my mouth. As we finished our neighborhood walk, I headed to the pocket park where there was mulch around every tree and then some. In their zeal the landscapers had also mulched every single lamp post along the walk. Perhaps they didn't notice the trunks were perfect squares and made of metal.

With each tree I passed - all with mulch stacked high - I couldn't help but think of the arborist who unburied our trees from the unnecessary mulch saying it was harming the tree. At the very least leave space around the trunk. Obviously these landscapers don't hang around with arborists. It made me wonder though if mulch can damage trees growth, what will it do to our lighting?

On Voting

Yesterday was my first voting experience in Texas. It made me realize how different states are - even in voting. I waited eagerly, watching the mail for my voter's ballot and accompanying unbiased "blurbs" on the candidates. I waited and waited, then asked. Texas doesn't do that. You read the papers for that info (the curse of recycling I guess).

Other differences between Texas and California:
*Voter ID cards
*Electronic voting (do they REALLY get my vote?)
*Separate voting locations for Democrats and Republicans (was there a precedent that made this necessary?)
*Want to know where you vote? No pamphlet no handy "this is where you vote". Off to the Internet.
*I miss voting at a home (especially the one where they dressed a fake duck in patriotic garb)

There was an excitement to voting in Texas. Like I had never seen in California. People waited two hours in early voting to cast their vote. Would that have happened in California - or would we have gone to the beach?