Tornado Warnings...Thunderstorms...Welcome to Florida!

OUR LAST DAY OF DRIVING!!!!



5 Days of driving, too many gas stations to count, 9 states, one near accident, and memories of a lifetime....
WE MADE IT!


We pulled into Jacksonville yesterday at 3pm, just in time to SURPRISE the twins! Sam's favorite little friends had NO idea we were coming today, they thought we would be in Florida in a week or two. We tricked them good! They got off the bus and saw a rugby ball get kicked out of their garage and they said, "they knew it was him!" It was so fun seeing them and getting to surprise them.



We also pulled into Tornado warnings and a massive thunderstorm last night! Sam and I looked at each other and just laughed...why would there not be Tornado warnings our first day in Florida!

We hung out with the Jensen family for awhile, then headed off to Mama's (Sam's grandma's) for our first look at our new home for awhile. She is SO gracious and had everything all ready for us...I took some pictures of my room so you can see where I spent my first night in Jacksonville


The room actually made me think of my Aunt Velma and Aunt Alamay so I did okay my first night in a new place.









I also, in tornado weather, went and looked at apartments and hunted for jobs today while Sam worked. It was quite ridiculous for me to be doing that but...I needed to, for my own sanity if nothing else. After living in LA apartments are so cheap, I feel like they are giving them to me! I found some great ones by the beach and by a fun shopping area. I have a job interview tomorrow and even gave my resume to one of the apt. places that was hiring...we will see.

We are glad to be in Jacksonville and excited to see what this new adventure holds...already the stories make me smile!!!

The Trip Of A Lifetime...(Part 5)

4 States....YIKES! Who does that on Easter...we do :)



We set off from Baton Rouge today and headed for historic New Orleans (can you tell I have been reading lots of travel books?) It was so surreal to be in the French Quarter on Easter. I can GUARANTEE you that I would have never guessed I would be doing that this Easter.

It was also really important to us to see the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, almost 4 years ago now. It was humbling to see so much devastation still present in the city. You didn't see it in the main strip as much, but you saw SO many homes still water logged and condemned and just completely unlivable. It was sad to put yourself there 4 years ago...we drove across the bridges/overpasses that so many were trying desperately to get away from the massive flooding. It was so startling to realize they were running to safety, or what they hoped was safety, but as they turned to look they weren't able to see their town, shops, or homes any longer. I am so glad that I saw it and feel a sense of ownership as an American for the tragedy.

There was not only serious moments, by any means while we were in New Orleans. We had a fun Creole lunch, after strolling the French Quarter. It was a crazy place...I even found a candy shop called "Evans Creole Candy Factory" That made me smile!



And in true crazy New Orleans style there was a RANDOM Easter parade...Complete with drunk old people throwing Mardi Gras Beads



Notice the woman in the yellow...she was screaming at them to throw them to her...along with the other of 100's on the side of the street doing that same. I just laughed all the way down the street...Sam didn't find it as funny :)


Famous Bourbon St.




After New Orleans, we said good bye to Louisiana and heading East, passing through...


Then..


And finally...our destination...


We were SO happy to see the Florida state sign, kind of surreal. The combination of seeing Florida and realizing how much I love doing life with Sam...even this crazy life we have led, this was my face...



We are pretty excited to start this new chapter in life...we didn't quite make it to Jacksonville today...we were so wasted from the driving and the time zone changes and a couple of bad night of sleep. So we stopped in Tallahassee for the night..had Easter dinner at Crackerbarrel (Stac and Aim remember that place?!) and start tomorrow with only 3 hours left to drive! We need a good night of sleep to face real life tomorrow...

Real Life HERE WE COME!

The Trip Of A Lifetime...(Part 4)

(and we're off for the day!)


Texas was long, I admit that, but we did one of the coolest things here today...went to the NASA Space Center!

(Trying a real Space Helmet!)


(Sam landing a Space Shuttle)

I am embarrassed to say that Sam knew more about Space Program in America than I did. I constantly was asking him questions through the whole day! Really though? Did you know we don't go to the moon any more and just go to the Space Station? Did you know that we are going back to the moon in 2020 and to Mars in 2030? In new spaceships? And that the Space Station has 3 people on it, One America, One Japanese (their first ever) and One Russian? I didn't.

It was like Disneyland for guys I think, but I was super impressed the whole time! We saw the first space shuttles, where they do all the simulations and trainings, saw the new space ship that will carry people to the moon and Mars! It was such a cool experience. I even cried when I heard a recording of one of the flight directors (the guy in Houston directing the Space Shuttles--Gene Hackman's character in Apollo 13) say, "Welcome home, we are glad you here." I'm not gonna lie, I was SO proud to be an American!



(In the observation deck of the training center)


(One of the first rockets in space)


(Me trying to take a cute picture in front of the HUGE engines...Sam being silly)

The whole time I was there I thought that my nephew Tyler and my little buddy Jacob would have LOVED It! I had to get them cool post cards from there for sure!!! The other reason I loved it...their motto...

FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

That could be my life quote!!! I LOVED that line in Apollo 13...which I wanted to watch SO BAD when we left there. And get this? It was on TV when we finally stopped for the night!!! I am so not even joking!! I was so excited, I might have squealed :) I was SO excited to see all that I just saw on TV!!!

We also made it through a new state line! I never thought I would be so happy to see Louisiana!!!



We are off to New Orleans tomorrow and I am really looking forward to that! Then on to Jacksonville! Our friend Kimi double checked for us tonight...only 7 & 1/2 hours from New Orleans to Jacksonville! I can't believe how close we are!!!

Until tomorrow!

The Trip Of A Lifetime...(Part 3)

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!!! Those are the only words I have...

The 2 Time Zone change killed us this morning...we were dying to get going this morning...didn't leave til 9:30...




We will definitely be taking 3 days to get across Texas!! I think Texas kicked our butts! We were so bored at some points we went a little stir crazy for sure!!


There was one memorable moment...I had to go to the bathroom SOOOO bad. There was nothing for miles. So I opted to stop at this little hole in the wall gas station/country store. I walked in and giggled to myself at what I saw, but it wasn't that bad. Everyone seemed to know everyone, though, which made me smile. Then it happened...that moment when you see the bathroom and know that you can go...then you have to go REALLY BAD. But...there was a lovely man cleaning it and the other women's bathroom was taken, with no sign of being untaken any time soon. So as I stood there doing a little dance, so annoyed, 20 or more Sheriffs poor in the door (which we had see them each in their own Sheriff SUV on our drive) along with....Inmates, clad in the proverbial black and white attire. I just shook my had and laughed and thought, "where am I?" In the middle of NOWHERE, aka South Texas!


Oh and do you know this? There are MORE Texas state flags than American flags on the drive...there is. I counted.



And when we finally made it to San Antonio (the first sign of real civilization) we were so excited. I was explaining our national anthem to Sam and then missed the turn off for the 10! This is how annoyed we were...


We FINALLY made it through the vast nothingness that is south Texas on the 10 and saw signs for Houston!! We were so happy!!!

Until tomorrow!!

The Trip Of A Lifetime...(Part 2)

We finally made it to Texas! Wow is New Mexico boring! Arizona wasn't that much more exciting I have to say. We laughed a lot today...I guess there isn't much else to do on a 10 hour drive, with 2 time zone changes and 2 state lines, stopping for a few fun pictures..

(Day 2! We're Off!)


(Sam and his best friend Andy have a weird fascination with Dragon's...or really they like to make fun of people that like them...so we couldn't resist this picture!)


(Notice the VAST NOTHINGNES behind us at this rest stop in Arizona...finally a picture not with a beach behind us)


(We finally made it out of Arizona! Not gonna lie...we didn't see much enchantment)


After a few gas stops, bathroom stops and stops to buy Jacob post cards with the state's map we were driving through, we finally saw it...

(Notice in the far left the Texas Monument with the GIANT star welcoming us to Texas....Everything is BIGGER in Texas)


(Here is the Welcome to Texas Official Sign)


The best part was when we were nearing where we wanted to stop about 2 and 1/2 hours into Texas...the moon looked SO big and like it was right off the freeway. It looked like an ENORMOUS sugar cookie. I tried to take a picture, of course, but it didn't work. It was SO beautiful and reminded me how big our world is and incredible God is...I think that he really did make it look like a cookie...I betcha God LOVES sweets...just my opinion of course :)

Tomorrow we are trying to head to Louisiana, but Texas is a BIG state. We will see how we do. I am really excited to see the Gulf of Mexico and see New Orleans. We are both wanting to see the devastation that wreaked havoc on that city not very long ago, and I would love to see the French Quarter. I loved watching when Food Network people went there :)

I wish there was more exciting stuff that we did today...but really, driving in three states in one day...pretty cool :)

The Trip Of A Lifetime...(Part 1)

Well I might be a bit optimistic with that title...but it might be a trip of a lifetime...I am thinking after today's drive alone I might not want to do this again :) Lots of desserts and lots and lots of cactus.....We clearly made it to...(11 and 1/2 hours later!!!!)



After good byes to friends in Redding, and good byes to Aunt Velma, Nana, and Grandma, repacking my stuff to be moved out to Florida, repacking my car to organize our suitcases once we got there...we were ready to set off. This was the good bye at 7:30AM from my parents house.



It was SUPER emotional! I have left my parents house more times than I could ever count...but this time seemed so different. I have never gone on one of my adventures with someone I loved before and the good bye this time just seemed to be a bit sad as I said good bye to my mom and dad. I hated to leave before Easter, I hated to leave my parents there with both me and Mike gone, and I hated that they were a bit teary...but I know that this is the right thing. Still I cried until I was on the other side of Turlock. Then the fun reality of what I was doing hit me!

Someone in the car with me might have been a bit grouchy...I won't say who but it wasn't me :) We found the middle of nowhere...well the very end of my life in CA as I know it. It was at a rest stop right before we crossed the Arizona border.



The day was LONG for sure, but we really wanted to make it to Phoenix (we did it Aunt Delores!!) In fact, in our tiredness and frustration we passed Phoenix because we couldn't find a strip of hotels and landed on the other side of Tempe. But we found a great place for really cheap...and there wasn't just a complimentary breakfast...but a complimentary dinner!!!



Even though today was long (and I remembered my last drive across the country (there and back!) with Stacie, Amy and I and we all HATED Nebraska...we felt like we were in that state for weeks, but I have a feeling that my whole drive is going to look much like that...) it was such a good feeling to be setting out for a new adventure with Sam. And I even got a call on a job our friend Kimi, in Florida had forwarded me from Craigs List. I have an interview on Tuesday! That was pretty encouraging to get that and realize that there are jobs out there to be had.

I am off to bed now...ready to do it all again tomorrow! Texas here we come!!

40 Hours + 9 States + LOTS of Diet Coke in 4 Days = My Next Adventure....I'm Moving to Jacksonville, Florida!!!

Life never seems to go the way I plan, but man is it ALWAYS full of adventure! The lack of blogs has been, quite frankly, PATHETIC! But without a schedule, I don't always do so good. But a schedule is coming soon! Sam and I are moving to Jacksonville, FL this week. We are SO excited about this next adventure, and I am not going to lie...one of the most exciting things to me is having an apartment again and having a washer and dryer!

This last month has been FULL of life decisions, saying good byes, sorting SO many details I thought my mind was going to explode, and trying to find jobs. Sam has a job in Florida and I am well on my way to finding one. I can have an apartment (YAY!!!)and Sam can live for free with family.

I have to say Florida was NEVER EVER in my life plan (but we know how my life plans have been going lately) While in Florida, which was PURELY a visit, so many things fell together that we looked at each other one night and had to laugh at the turn of events. I also laughed one night in Florida, as I was watching the news and they were saying the top 3 worst states to find a job....yep, California was one of them. I shook my head and thought, what the heck are we doing trying to make it in CA?! Little did I know less than a week later we would really be contemplating moving out of California!

We are filled with such mixed emotions, sad to leave and excited to start this new adventure. Plus we are pretty excited to get to live by the beach again!!! YAY for warm weather! Saying good byes this last week was torture, but I reminded myself how many times I say good bye, only to come back and visist with new stories and experiences to share.

I will keep you updated on life as we go and I am sure that there will be many BLOG WORTHY moments in the next month...how can all that driving and moving to a new city not be!