We made it to Cleveland...early...because my mom's aunt's 80th birthday party got moved up to Saturday. So we left Louisville and drove to Canton to go to the football hall of fame. I never thought I'd go to any sports hall of fame in my life, and now I've gone to one, and will be close enough to go to the baseball hall of fame while I'm living out here. It was pretty awesome, with a lot of history and stuff I didn't know. Merchandise was a little disappointing though, all the Bears stuff was sold out. Took a ton of pictures too.
I swear it seems like we have "we're from california" tattooed on our foreheads. Everywhere we go people seem to stare at us. I do admit, it's a totally different world out here. I never knew our country was so GREEN! And so many trees that aren't palm trees. Ohio is way laid back though. Freeway speed limit is 55 in the cities. It's kind of hard to explain, but it is just different here.
So there is no one really to watch the boys next weekend, so it looks like my mom and Ryan will be leaving me on Wednesday morning. It doesn't give us much time to get me a car, couch and bed and it is making me enjoy our trip a little less knowing that soon I'm going to be totally alone. However, a small part of me is still excited, and a little anxious to go back to school (sick right? I know).
Nothing really odd or funny to report...unless you count that my mom said she's learned a few new words on this trip...none of which I'll put here...although our favorite expression has been "eh hoser." I guess it's from the movie Strange Brew, but we've been calling each other that the whole trip.
I'm about ready for bed. We got a suite for the next 2 nights, so I get to sleep with Ryan, oh joy. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
I'm all shook up
Today was awesome...although it was also very HOT. At one point in Tennessee, it was 109 with probably 90% humidity. I could never live there!
We went to Graceland. We detoured first to Walgreens and bought aviater glasses and I got an Elvis t-shirt and Ryan got an Elvis hat, and we both got matching earrings to wear into Graceland. We also bought a bunch of other stuff there too, since we figured it would be the same as the stuff at Graceland, just way cheaper and we were right.
Graceland was so totally awesome! It's amazing to stand in a place where someone so famous and historial actually lived for 20 years. I kept thinking Graceland seemed so much bigger, not that it wasn't big...but...just seemed small. Guess I'm too used to MTV Cribs and stuff. Although Elvis had 24 k gold plated seatbeat clips on his jet airplane, so you can't deny he was stylish. It was so amazing to see all his gold albums and jumpsuits. What a lifestyle. His cars and his planes...we really enjoyed ourselves there. Then we ended up at another souvenir shop outside Graceland and scored some more stuff. This was by far the number one stop on the trip for me, so I went a little wild buying stuff.
Then we headed to this bbq place that was listed in my book. Ryan had actually seen it featured on the food channel and we ended up in Mississippi, so it was a two for one deal: good bbq AND another state. Interstate BBQ...ohmygod...it was the best bbq EVER! We had bbq spaghetti and ribs...mmm mmmm. Bought some bbq sauce for my new place too. We were the only white people in the place too. Talk about an experience.
So we had to skip Dollywood because Aunt Dolores' 80th birthday party got moved up to Saturday instead of sunday, so we mapped to Cleveland, and ended up driving to Louisville (Lullville according to locals) to stay the night. We're right across the street from Six Flag Kentucky and the Cardinals (college) hall of fame cafe, so Ryan and I ended up going over there to have a refreshing beer. There was an absolute annoying jerk in the bar that said he was from a "shitty little town in Pennsylvania." We sure hope he's not my neighbor.
I'm pretty sure I missed something that my mom and Ryan wanted me to post on here, but I'm getting tired so I'm going to wrap this up for tonight. Tomorrow we head to Cleveland and perhaps the Rock and Roll hall of fame. We're also officially in east coast time, so it's weird to think it's still early in Cali. I think I'm already adjusted to the time though.
Ryan is on the phone with Nicholas right now. He wants to know where we are right now, so he went downstairs to check out the states map I bought the boys that is a magnet. Sometimes I forget he can't be a cute little 8 year old boy. Ryan just told him he'd be surprised that I bought him a gift. I got him a bookmark from Graceland. We listened to the cd Nick made me last night when I was driving too. I won't bore all with details...but it's a cool cd because he knows the bands I like and is starting to like them too. And then he threw on the Harry Potter theme song for me, and the "I've been everywhere" song since we're traveling.
Ok now I'm really heading to bed.
We went to Graceland. We detoured first to Walgreens and bought aviater glasses and I got an Elvis t-shirt and Ryan got an Elvis hat, and we both got matching earrings to wear into Graceland. We also bought a bunch of other stuff there too, since we figured it would be the same as the stuff at Graceland, just way cheaper and we were right.
Graceland was so totally awesome! It's amazing to stand in a place where someone so famous and historial actually lived for 20 years. I kept thinking Graceland seemed so much bigger, not that it wasn't big...but...just seemed small. Guess I'm too used to MTV Cribs and stuff. Although Elvis had 24 k gold plated seatbeat clips on his jet airplane, so you can't deny he was stylish. It was so amazing to see all his gold albums and jumpsuits. What a lifestyle. His cars and his planes...we really enjoyed ourselves there. Then we ended up at another souvenir shop outside Graceland and scored some more stuff. This was by far the number one stop on the trip for me, so I went a little wild buying stuff.
Then we headed to this bbq place that was listed in my book. Ryan had actually seen it featured on the food channel and we ended up in Mississippi, so it was a two for one deal: good bbq AND another state. Interstate BBQ...ohmygod...it was the best bbq EVER! We had bbq spaghetti and ribs...mmm mmmm. Bought some bbq sauce for my new place too. We were the only white people in the place too. Talk about an experience.
So we had to skip Dollywood because Aunt Dolores' 80th birthday party got moved up to Saturday instead of sunday, so we mapped to Cleveland, and ended up driving to Louisville (Lullville according to locals) to stay the night. We're right across the street from Six Flag Kentucky and the Cardinals (college) hall of fame cafe, so Ryan and I ended up going over there to have a refreshing beer. There was an absolute annoying jerk in the bar that said he was from a "shitty little town in Pennsylvania." We sure hope he's not my neighbor.
I'm pretty sure I missed something that my mom and Ryan wanted me to post on here, but I'm getting tired so I'm going to wrap this up for tonight. Tomorrow we head to Cleveland and perhaps the Rock and Roll hall of fame. We're also officially in east coast time, so it's weird to think it's still early in Cali. I think I'm already adjusted to the time though.
Ryan is on the phone with Nicholas right now. He wants to know where we are right now, so he went downstairs to check out the states map I bought the boys that is a magnet. Sometimes I forget he can't be a cute little 8 year old boy. Ryan just told him he'd be surprised that I bought him a gift. I got him a bookmark from Graceland. We listened to the cd Nick made me last night when I was driving too. I won't bore all with details...but it's a cool cd because he knows the bands I like and is starting to like them too. And then he threw on the Harry Potter theme song for me, and the "I've been everywhere" song since we're traveling.
Ok now I'm really heading to bed.
Thursday morning
Just a quick note before we head out to Graceland...I got up this morning and got coffee and the iron for us. Ryan just took the iron back out to the front desk and the lady told him "MY aren't you a cute thang!" She's black and Ryan says the black ladies love him. I just thought it was funny and wanted to share. Tell you how Graceland was later! We're on the hunt for Elvis glasses and wigs!
Halfway there
I have to say...I'm actually having fun on this trip and enjoying myself. Even better...I'm getting excited about getting to my new place. My very own home of my own.
We're in West Memphis right now. Wow I guess I have a lot to report, so here it goes.
Roswell was a bust. We did however pay $2 to go in this little room where you could pose with aliens in different scenes, so I took my picture with an alien on a couch, a motorcycle, one with Ryan in jail and at a bar...it was the best money we spent in Roswell. We went to Carlsbad Caverns. My lower body still aches from the mile long, dark winding trail down 750 feet into caves. But it was an awesome sight to see. Texas is what everyone said it would be...a whole lot of nothing, but a lot more greener than I thought it would be. We saw where my dad was born in Loraine, Texas. Ryan has decided to call him Shrek now because all that was there in Loraine was a swamp. We were trying to get into Dallas, and then decided on Fort Worth...and then Ryan got a speeding ticket doing 82. So we ended up in Weatherford, in a dive of a motel, so we've decided only Super 8's from now on. Today we went to Dallas and saw where JFK was assissinated, which actually was really cool since it's so historical. It was so hot though! Oh and the bugs at the gas stations in Texas...ick! Crickets in every bathroom we went to, so people aren't kidding about the bugs either. Because we got a late start leaving in the morning though, we missed the Clinton library because it closes at 5, so instead we went to McClard's bbq in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was great bbq, featured in my book 1000 places to see in US and Canada before you die. And to eat in such a small town was neat because everyone knew each other there. And the houses in Arkansas...wow. Makes me almost want to live there. Almost...
Ryan drove most of the trip so far, but I finally took over about 80 miles outside Little Rock. We drove through the entire state, and made it here to Memphis at a decent hour: 10pm. Ryan and I went over to the little gift shop by our motel and he won me a stuffed dog for my new place and every time I walk past it I can say "What up dog?" We bought my dad something too.
Anyhow...having a great time. Our country is pretty. Tomorrow is Graceland and then we'll drive to Pigeon Forge to go to Dollywood tomorrow, and from there to Indiana...but I think we'll have to stop somewhere inbetween. Check in hopefully tomorrow night...
We're in West Memphis right now. Wow I guess I have a lot to report, so here it goes.
Roswell was a bust. We did however pay $2 to go in this little room where you could pose with aliens in different scenes, so I took my picture with an alien on a couch, a motorcycle, one with Ryan in jail and at a bar...it was the best money we spent in Roswell. We went to Carlsbad Caverns. My lower body still aches from the mile long, dark winding trail down 750 feet into caves. But it was an awesome sight to see. Texas is what everyone said it would be...a whole lot of nothing, but a lot more greener than I thought it would be. We saw where my dad was born in Loraine, Texas. Ryan has decided to call him Shrek now because all that was there in Loraine was a swamp. We were trying to get into Dallas, and then decided on Fort Worth...and then Ryan got a speeding ticket doing 82. So we ended up in Weatherford, in a dive of a motel, so we've decided only Super 8's from now on. Today we went to Dallas and saw where JFK was assissinated, which actually was really cool since it's so historical. It was so hot though! Oh and the bugs at the gas stations in Texas...ick! Crickets in every bathroom we went to, so people aren't kidding about the bugs either. Because we got a late start leaving in the morning though, we missed the Clinton library because it closes at 5, so instead we went to McClard's bbq in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was great bbq, featured in my book 1000 places to see in US and Canada before you die. And to eat in such a small town was neat because everyone knew each other there. And the houses in Arkansas...wow. Makes me almost want to live there. Almost...
Ryan drove most of the trip so far, but I finally took over about 80 miles outside Little Rock. We drove through the entire state, and made it here to Memphis at a decent hour: 10pm. Ryan and I went over to the little gift shop by our motel and he won me a stuffed dog for my new place and every time I walk past it I can say "What up dog?" We bought my dad something too.
Anyhow...having a great time. Our country is pretty. Tomorrow is Graceland and then we'll drive to Pigeon Forge to go to Dollywood tomorrow, and from there to Indiana...but I think we'll have to stop somewhere inbetween. Check in hopefully tomorrow night...
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
We're in Roswell, NM right now, relaxing a bit before we head to the UFO museum and then the Carlsbad Caverns. The trip did take a good 9 hours from Sarah and Ryan's house. Ryan drove the entire trip, and we all managed to enjoy the drive by listening to classic rock. We hit a little bit of rain, and there was a lot of lightning. We've decided this trip is all about "signs" too. We keep seeing signs about God and Jesus, we've seen a few rainbows (including one that you could see from ground to ground, it was awesome!) and we even found a horse ranch with my intitials on the sign (JEH) so we turned around and took a picture. Speaking of turning around, we left the Gray's and had to go back to get Ryan's cds, we missed the "welcome to New Mexico" sign and had to turn around and go back...a few detours, but we haven't gotten lost. We named our GPS guide Cliff, and he's the man. After dinner to get us back on track, he guided us down a partially paved road. It was freaky, but he was right, so our GPS guide thingy turned out to be a good investment.
So nothing really exciting to report at this time. We'll be spending the night somewhere in Texas tonight. Love to all...
So nothing really exciting to report at this time. We'll be spending the night somewhere in Texas tonight. Love to all...
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