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The Home Page. Hi All,
The Steel Magnolia goes cross country one more time. Hopefully this will be my last move for a long time.
Well, Miss Katherine and I left Sunnyvale last Thursday and headed south towards Los Angles. The trip was mostly uneventful. The central valley that runs through California is an agricultural center and that is exactly what we saw...except for the dreadful smell part way down the state. Then, we got to Grapevine. Grapevine is a small town/stop just before the road goes straight up the mountain to Tejon Pass. It was a hoot getting up the mountain. I discovered/suspected very early in our trip that my truck did not have a towing package and we were pulling a heavy load. Bummer Trip Ahead!!!!!
Okay. We got to Los Angles and spent the night with Carol and Murray (aka 'Great People'). Murray is a painter, not the house variety, and we were surrounded by wonderful paintings...stacks and stacks of treasures getting ready for their trip to the gallery showing. Carol is a Gem Dealer. Her toys were all over, too. Oh my. We were both overcome with toys from all over the world. Shiny rocks with neat names like garnet, emerald, amethyst, and so on. Oh my. Carol drove us downtown for a midnight tour of Hollywood. It reminded me a lot of Peachtree St. and 14th in Atlanta. I also did not ask to get out of the car. Still, it was fascinating. Next came a visit to the local pie shop. Of course I tried the chocolate creme pie. Miss Katherine wants to go back for a shopping trip as soon as she can talk me into it.
Friday saw us heading east in I-10. About 40 miles east of the California state line we started to notice a brown smudgy layer hanging over the valley. Then we started to count the dust devils. The mini tornadoes were everywhere. You could see them tearing across the valley floor, ripping up the soil and sending it swirling up into the air in a column of dust. Then...the dust scattered as the air lost its circular grip on the dirt and left it hanging above the valley floor. We saw them for the next 100 miles and lost count of how many there were. Mostly it was a hot, awful day. Enough said.
Saturday was a hot, awful day. Enough said. Without the trailer, it would have been nice. Arizona is a grand place to look around.
Sunday was a hot, awful day. Enough said. New Mexico is also one of my favorite places to look around, but it was too hot and we just wanted to get to Dallas.
We arrived in Dallas around noon on Monday. Hot and tired puppies we were. The real estate agent had the papers ready for me to sign, and then we had the pleasure of unloading the U-HAUL trailer. It was hot and awful. Enough said. We were very tired by the time we finished the task.
It really is hot here, and humid. But, we both love it. Texas has been a favorite place for a long time and we are happy to be here. Being in California spoiled us as far as the heat goes and we will have to adjust to it again. The heat index has been nearly 110 for the last week. My fan is never far from my side. Even the rubber chicken is looking a trifle wilted.
My new office is a great place and I am very happy with it. This is a permanent move for my family, it is a great adventure I think. I leave behind the world of contracting and once again enter the regular work force. Wow, what a change. I'll have to see if I can stand being in one place for more than six months at a time. But, Tbear will be here soon and that will make it all better.
I wish all of my friends a Happy Holiday. Take care and have fun while celebrating the birth of our independence. Light a candle for our founding fathers and call your Momma. Enjoy.
Take care and write when you can.
If you would like to trade stories, email me at steel_magnolia@mindspring.com
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