I’m baacck!

Well, the Blog is working again. Which turned out okay, because I wasn’t around a computer to post, anyway.

Where have I been? Wednesday, driving with Carla to South Carolina. Thursday and Friday, helping Carla unpack while Jake was at work. And Saturday, flying back home.

I’ll hit the highlights, as I didn’t write anything down.

The drive down was long and tiring. We had loaded the cars up Tuesday night and pulled out at 7:45 AM. We made just three or four stops during the 11 hours we were on the road. All at fast-food restaurants both to use the “facilities” and to grab a quick bite. It was also a chance for poor Whiskey to walk around a bit and use the outdoor facilities. Then we’d jump back in the car and eat on the road.

It seemed like it took forever to get out of Ohio. Then we were on I-77 through West Virginia (the Blue Ridge Mountains were beautifully blue), Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

We finally made it around 9:00 PM and got a great surprise. We thought we would have to unload the rental truck her brother drove down the day before. But he had grabbed his son and some of his friends and unloaded it all, putting boxes in the rooms he thought they might go.

So, we were able to just unload the two cars, check out the house (it’s beautiful) and then go to bed.

Jake went to work first thing Thursday morning, so Carla and I started unpacking boxes, washing out cupboards, etc., etc., etc.

We took a break and went to Walmart’s to get some stuff they needed on the list we started. Back home, Carla continued to put stuff away while I assembled some shelving in the garage for her appliances. This house has much less cabinet space as their old one.

Since they had no food, we did have to eat out. At various and sundry times we went to Cracker Barrel, a breakfast place (I had the eggs Benedict with lump crab meat instead of Canadian Bacon and it was great!) and the one place Carla swore I had to try: Chick fil-a. Okay, it was fast food, but it was damn good and there is nothing like that in Michigan (at least not around me).

Friday was more of the same, but this time we went grocery shopping for just the basics. The “basics” ended up being two full shopping carts of food, and staples. Back home again, I unloaded the car while Carla unpack the groceries. Later, I drove the rental truck, following Carla in the car, and dropped it off.

When Jake got home, Carla said she wanted a home-cooked meal for a change. So while Jake unwound a bit (he’s going through computer withdrawal as their cable will not be hooked up until Tuesday), Carla and I made dinner.

Well, I should say, Carla (as the chef) made dinner while I (as the sous chef) fine diced shallots, cut garlic into thin slices and chopped fresh parsley. I made the pasta while she sautéed the shrimp. We checked the taste several times until it was perfect. Finally we all ate the shrimp scampi over pasta. It was excellent, BTW. The only thing missing was the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (the grocery store we went to didn’t carry it, but there is a Whole Foods store down here, so she can get it).

BTW, all of the stores we went to are in a place called a lifestyle center. It’s a 300 acre complex that has a huge amount of stores, restaurants, and even apartments over some of the stores you can rent. I’ve never seen anything like it (and I thought Lakeside or Great Lakes Crossing were big).

Saturday, we went out to breakfast and then Jake showed us around where he works. Finally, it was time to go to the airport. The closest airport is even smaller than the Richmond one, BTW. We said our goodbyes and I went to get my tickets.

I, of course, set off the alarm with my knee and, for the first time, got the new full-body search. The guard called for a male search guy and I briefly thought about saying I’d take a female one, but he didn’t look like he would have been amused.

I got a puddle jumper that had no first class, no beverage service and could only carry 50 people max. I had to check my bag (for $25.00) because it’s now too big for the overhead, they say. It dawned on me later that the book I bought to read on the trip home was still in my bag! So, I found a book store and bought another book.

We made our first destination and I spent my lay-over hour trying to find a place that sold those big hot pretzels. No luck!

The next plane was a big boy, with a first class section and seating for 444 regular passengers. I got a ginger ale for my drink (I was going to get coffee, but there was a lot of turbulence and I didn’t want to spill hot stuff in my lap). Hmmm... they don't pass out peanuts anymore? I read my book and we finally got into Detroit at 6:30 PM.

I retrieve my bag and found “Ground Transportation.” I’d reserved a Metro Car for the ride home, so I climbed into the Caddy and a nice young guy gently drove me home.

When I got there, I waved to the neighbors to let them know I was here and they could stop watching the house. Caley ran away when I came in, but Scruffy was all over me. Eventually, Caley came out for her treats.

They still had plenty of water and cat food, nothing in the house was destroyed and there were no hairballs, so I guess the trip was a success at home as well.

I talked briefly with my daughter Melissa, who was p*ssed that I was so close but didn’t come to see her. I explained I had only two actual days on the ground and that I was helping Jake and Carla get somewhat situated (By no means was every box emptied and stuff put away, but I did what I could). But, she didn’t get it.

I was hungry, so I made a can of roast beef hash. It was cold and windy here in Michigan (and I had just spent time in 80+ degrees – so hot in fact that I had trouble breathing when we walked out of the grocery store) so I took out a roast to thaw for Sunday’s dinner. I was planning on grilling, but it’s too cold!

I finished eating around 9:00 PM, thought about watching TV or reading, but I just went to bed, instead.