East La Loma Park

This blog entry is especially for my sister Stephanie so I hope she reads it. Evidently she really got into the Lacy Peterson case and informed me that Modesto is where they (her and Scott) was from. I saw part of a documentary on the case and East La Loma Park is near where she lived and Scott said it was the last place he knew of her to go......Well we all know the end of that horrible story but I had to go to the park just to check it out. It is in a residential neighbor hood, appears middle class. There were several families out enjoying the weekend. Some jogging, some biking, some walking, and some playing on various playgrounds with their children. I enjoyed a nice jog there this morning and I am sure I will go back. So thanks Steph for bringing this to my attention. I will be working the next 3 nights so it will be at least that many days before I blog again. So here is wishing every one a happy Memorial Day and lets remember why we celebrate!!

Saturday at the Farmers Market

California has the best farmers markets with all the produce that is grown around the state you can always find fresh produce at the best prices. I knew Modesto must have a farmers market so I set out to find it Saturday morning and as luck would have it, it is located about 5 miles from the house next to the county library down town. I bought fresh strawberries, cherries, asparagus, potatoes......yum yum. And I got a library card to boot. How about that for a saturday outing. Oh and the apartments have a gym so with all the fresh produce and a gym at my disposal maybe I can loose a few pounds too.

Yea for the internet!!

I just got my internet hooked up yesterday so I can now resume my blogging!! I know yall are so excited. I arrived in Modesto, CA on Friday afternoon around 2pm. I am living in an apartment complex 1.3 miles from the hospital which makes my commute about 5 minutes. I can walk to work if needed or if I want to.....neither of which has happened thus far. The apartments are Willow Grove Apartments. I have a one bedroom on the third floor and guess what???? Your right no elevator!!! Thank God I didn't have much to carry up but the poor guys moving the furniture......I sure felt sorry for them, but hey better them than me. I even have my own washer and dryer, how awesome is that? I think my favorite part of the apartment is the huge deck.... as you can see I splurged on some patio furniture!!lol. I enjoy sitting outside having my cup of coffee in the mornings or having a glass of wine in the afternoons!!!of course only on my off nights!!! (Watch it Tiffany I know what your thinking)

Janie Ann

I was just looking at some of the pictures I have taken while staying with Tiffany, Seth and Janie Ann and thought I would share a few....these will keep me from being so lonely while out on the road...As you can see the date on some of these they range from Feb. of this year to the most recent at relay for life.

Day 4 on the road

I spent the night in Flagstaff Arizona. I ended up staying in the same hotel I did on the first trip out in Nov 2008, and I thought at that time Iwould probably not be that way again...how funny life can be. There was still snow on the mountains just like before but in May? I left this morning headed West on I40. (Last time I went to the Grand Canyon) so this was all new to me. When I left it was 71 degrees and sunny. A beautiful day! About 2 hours later I crossed the Colorado River into California and into the Mojave Desert. I missed this on the first trip and I didn't miss much. As you can see from the pictures posted it's hard to tell it from the desert in New Mexico except that it was 100 degrees by now!!! It's funny and I know you've heard it before but it really didn't feel like it would at 100 degrees in Alabama. I stopped at a rest area and it was nice and breezy. An older couple was even having a picnic. It was rather pleasant. I was pleasantly surprised. However it was not a pleasant surprise at how long it took me to get out of the desert!! I finally arrived at Barstow California, it was around 81 degrees sunny and again breezy. I then headed west on Hwy 58 and now I am in Bakersfield where I will be staying the night. I had to travel through the mountains, (I don't know what range I will have to google it but could be the Sierra Mountain Range) and speaking of temperatures at one point at the highest part of my journey it was 58 degrees!!! How is that for a range of temperatures in a matter of about 6 hours!!! It was a beautiful drive and I stopped and took a few pictures coming off the mountain. You will be able to tell the desert from mountain pics I hope if not let me know. I am only about 200 miles away from my new temporary home and I will post more pics when internet is available. I love and miss yall and hope everything back home is well!

Wed May 19,2010

I left Amarillo around 9 am. I made it thru Texas, New Mexico and now I am in Flagstaff Arizona. Not much to really tell about today. There is not much to say about the Desert....I just kept thinking about the Indians and how in the world did they live on this land....I mean it is absolute nothingness!! I saw some kids practicing baseball and back home the infield is dirt but the outfield is grass.....not here the whole thing is nothing but dirt. And the yards....no need for a lawn mower. Flagstaff is prettier with more trees and grass and I noticed there is still snow on the mountains. Well, time for bed...at least I did gain 2 hours today!!!Yea!

Tuesday May 18, 2010

I made it thru Arkansas, Oklahoma, and ended up in Amarillo, Texas. During the drive I kept my eyes toward the North where the sky was dark blue and appeared a tornado could form at any time. I met a couple in the pool that night and we were discussing our journey and she stated that tornado watches and warnings have been out all day. There were several tornadoes during the night to the north of me so I was happy to get out of Texas!!! Thank God as far as I know no one was harmed!

Tuesday May 18, 2010

Second day of Travel.. I spent the night in Clarksville Arkansas. It is really a pretty state all the lush green foilage and the lakes...like most of the southern states. We dream about going to foreign countries when we have so much beauty in the USA!!! I left the hotel about 10am and about 30 minutes up the road what did I see???? A sign for a winery....winery in Arkansas, what could they possibly know about making wine? Well I had no intention of stopping, why it's too early in the morning isn't it? Well you do drink grape juice for breakfast.....hum...what to do?? Well about 15 minutes later those who know me ....know what happened next.... My car pulled up to the Winery. I went inside and come to find out these people are pretty good at making wine!! I enjoyed learning about the history of the winery and doing a little tasting. I did practice restraint because I am driving and I have a lot of miles to go. I found out that the road I was on is the "Official Wine Trail of Arkansas" which consisted of 4 winery's. I only stopped at this one and enjoyed my little tour.

First day on the Road May 17, 2010

Okay, as Tiffany explained I have not done this in a while so I will have to get back into the swing of things. It took 3 days for me to get back to blogging with Tiffany's help. Thanks Tiffany. I left Alex City at around 9:30am after having a wonderful breakfast with my Dad, Myra, Stephanie, Drew and Janie Ann. I was okay with telling everyone goodbye until it came to Janie Ann.....I just love that little girl so much!!! But this is something that I am doing for me!! Most people do this kind of thing when they are young right out of college with no responsiblities. Well I done things a little differently...and I don't regret anything but I feel like this is my time and I am embracing life and everything it has to offer.....the good and the bad because its about the journey!! and I appreciate having such a wonderful and understanding family... Just a few goodbye pics....I love you all and hope you enjoy this journey with me!!!

May 17, 2010

Crossing the Mississippi state line. I wanted to get pics crossing into TN but evidently the state is not too proud of Memphis because there was not a Welcome to TN sign and when I crossed into Arkansas the state line was on a bridge with no option to stop!

End of the first day of travel.....May 17, 2010

AHHH...hot tub.....glass of wine......need I say more?

New Blog!

During my down time at home I stopped blogging- in turn I forgot my email/password combination for my other website!! So my wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, caring, loving, did I mention beautiful? daughter fixed this one for me to begin again as I travel back out to California!