Helping a friend move

Well, we've been in Tennessee for about two weeks now. Our stay here has been very nice. So far, we've cleaned out the gutters, mowed the lawn, trimmed all the hedges back and front, swept the porch, hung up some shutters, filled in some holes in the lawn, and planted flowers in the flower box out front. Were staying in a one room studio apartment out behind Tiffanys Grandmother's house. We have our own bathroom, and mini-kitchen and Annabell has a big fenced in yard to run around in, So everyone's happy. Our plan is to stay here and make some money, so we can get our car fixed; (4 new tires, new windshield wiper blades, and new rear brakes). Once those things get taken care of, it's on to a 100 acre peach and apple orchard in Kentucky. Tiffanys Birthday is coming up on the 26th, and mine is on July first, so if anyone has any money just lying around their house, just know we are taking donations.

This past weekend was interesting. Tiffany and I drove to North Carolina to help a friend of ours move. As soon as we walked in the door we felt a thick weight climb into our chest, followed by rolling migraines. My mother, who came up from Florida, had only been there for a day before we got there, and already I could see her walking heavier than usual, her stress level was almost at a breaking point. Tiffany and I sat down on the couch and took a look around the room to see what we were dealing with. One bookshelf was covered front to back top to bottom with Coca-Cola memorabilia, another bookshelf held about 300 old Coca-Cola bottles, and the third bookshelf supported a television nestled between stacks of paper, trinkets, and more Coca-Cola paraphernalia. the floor was filthy and there were things piled up on the floor everywhere you looked. And this is after my mother and sister Alicia spent the entire day before cleaning the house. The person who we were helping move was coming home from the hospital today, where she had to undergo 2 knee surgeries after wreaking her electric scooter on her way to work a couple weeks ago. After getting back from the hospital, we all ate dinner, and then it was time for bed. There wasn't enough room in the house for Tiffany and I to sleep comfortably, so we decided to sleep in the car. Even with our sleeping-bags and pillows, there just wasn't a comfortable position to fall asleep in. After a couple of hours tossing and turning, we finally found some rest. After waking up to a stiff neck and my father knocking on the car window, we rolled out of our sleeping bags, and had some coffee.

Now this person got divorced about a year ago, and she's been in a depressive funk ever since. So we started cleaning by dragging out trash bag after trash bag of dirty clothes that had been piling up over the last six months, and taking them to the laundry mat. 7 loads later, it was time to head back to the house. As soon as we got there, we started breaking down the bookshelves piece by piece, wrapping things in packing paper and neatly organizing them into boxes. The boxes started piling up and my my hands started getting tired. Once everything was boxed up, and everything was taken off the walls. We all went out to dinner. After dinner, Tiffany and I visited my brother-in-law Daryl. There, we played pool, drank some beers, and talked about old times. It was alot of fun and a much needed change from cleaning and packing. After getting back to her house, we managed to clean the stuff off the couch and crash there for the night. We were much happier sleeping there instead of in the car, and woke up the next morning with far less back pain.

The next day played out much like the last, more packing, more cleaning, and even more dirty laundry was found once we started moving furniture. By the fourth day we were all completely exhausted and Tiffany and I were ready to head home. So we packed the car and made it out by Ten in the morning. Committed to another 9 hour drive back to Tennessee, we had to plan in a rest stop. So we made it a point to visit Boone, (A beautiful little town tucked away, high in the Appalachian Mountains). There, we walked around downtown and visited the gift shops, art galleries, and cafe's. We were there for about an hour before getting back on the road for the long drive home. We made sure to take the senic ruits down the windy roads to make the trip more entertaining. We enjoyed the peace and quiet of the open road, a night and day difference from the chaos of cleaning and packing. We arrived safely in Tenneessee that night and really appreciated having a clean room and warm bed to fall asleep in.

Although helping our friend move was stressful, it was really nice being able to spend time with my family again. Not really knowing when the next time I'll get to see them will be.

pics

Long roads and Black Bears

Well, we are in Tennessee now. Staying with Tiffany's Grandmother. We left the farm in Burnsville, and stopped in to see Nick in Franklin before going camping in the Smokey Mountain National Park. It was beautiful! Green and blue Mountains as far as the eye could see; filled with trees, streams, and birds. We saw a bobcat, and we almost had a close run-in with a Black Bear. We were driving thru the park looking for a good campsite, when we stopped along the side of the road and got out to take some pictures, we walked away from the road into the woods. Past a slew of boulders and fallen trees, we came upon a small streem. we rested there, and took alot of pictures. Then we felt the need to leave, and find the ranger station to get our camping permit. Just after getting inside the building, a child runs up to the front desk shouting about a Black Bear that he saw just down the road at the same location where we just were 10 minutes ago. Which tells us we left that location just before the bear got there. Later we walked along another riverbank, and jumped around from rock to rock, on the lookout for possible bears coming to drink.

We had alot of fun in the woods, but when we pulled out of the park to leave for Tennessee it was like the difference between day and night. as soon as the thick tree line disappeared, it was like being dropped right into the middle of downtown Orlando. Huge neon signs, huge moving neon signs, giant statues advertising giant gift shops, Ferris wheels, and sidewalks packed elbow to elbow with tourists clutching their sodas and ice cream cones. It was definitely a sight to to see, especially at night with all the signs and marquee's lite up. It was just completely unexpected after being in the middle of a Forrest all day. The rest of the drive wasn't bad, the traffic was just a little chaotic going threw Knoxville. We got to see the official Red Bull Nascar semi hauling the official Redbull car #9 (on their way to the next big race). We got into Gallaton around midnight, Tiffany's Uncle and Grandmother were there to greet us, and make sure we made it in safe. As soon as our heads hit the pillow, we were out cold. exhausted from the long drive.