Thursday
Sep082011
Home Sweet High Rise
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 1:42AM
We're here.
I'm going to do a run-down in the form of a bullet post because, hi, I just moved away from my home state that I lived in my entire life and I do not need the pressure of writing a whole post, so why don't you back off already...
Um. So, that was me talking to myself. Okay... bullets...
"My kids at hour seven of their second day of traveling."
"This is my hood, yo."
"Calm down, Dad. This is not going to happen."
"The bridge to Wal Mart. In Arkansas. As seen from our building's roof."
That's all I have for now.
Photos taken with my SONY DSLR-A230. Cough::SEE, Britt?::cough.
I'm going to do a run-down in the form of a bullet post because, hi, I just moved away from my home state that I lived in my entire life and I do not need the pressure of writing a whole post, so why don't you back off already...
Um. So, that was me talking to myself. Okay... bullets...
- Road trip. We split the drive to Memphis up over two days this past weekend. It would've been 13 hours straight, but someone in this family hates road trips. That someone is also the only other licensed driver in the family.
- Tariq drove. The entire time. I suggested this was because he's a control freak. He explained that it was because he wanted me to relax and didn't want me to stress about having to drive, too. He apparently does not have any problem with making me feel like the biggest jerk on the planet for saying that other thing.
- We stopped in Atlanta. Where some of THE coolest and most awesome people I know live. I'm a huge jerk. Again. In my defense, we got in at 8p.m. and left at 11a.m.
- The kids were terrific. Seriously.
"My kids at hour seven of their second day of traveling." - Weather. Checking the weather before you leave is a good idea and something I will remember to do before the next road trip we take. We drove through a tropical storm for about a third of our trip. Good thing we're Floridians and we eat tropical storms for breakfast.
- Alabama, I love you, but your road signs are bipolar. One minute I'm horrified by the sign that is proclaiming homosexuality to be a sin, another moment I'm equally horrified by the sign that's boasting that their strippers were featured on "Jerry Springer," and I just shook my head at the one with an older black lady, a young white woman and an older white man proclaiming that they were Republicans. These signs were all within ten minutes of each other. I guess the section of Alabama we drove through is fine with straight Republican strippers of various races and ages. Everyone else? Move it along.
- We finally got to our place on Monday evening. It.is.AWESOME!!! Let me put it this way, we have a concierge. I totally belong in a building like this. It's like my mother ship, really.
"This is my hood, yo."- Oh, and there's a law school around the corner, too.
"Calm down, Dad. This is not going to happen."- I kinda love it here already. It's only been two days, but I think downtown living suits me. Every day is an adventure. In fact, yesterday, Tariq drove to Arkansas just to get to the nearest Wal Mart. He returned from this trip every bit as horrified as you're imagining. It seems that while he was in the electronics section, someone asked a salesperson what a "ringtone" was and how they could get one.
"The bridge to Wal Mart. In Arkansas. As seen from our building's roof." - And, finally, I AM COMPLETELY UNPACKED. Yes. In one day. All my stuff. Out of sixty (big) boxes. I didn't realize this was a big deal until Britt told me she was impressed, like, four hundred times.
That's all I have for now.
Photos taken with my SONY DSLR-A230. Cough::SEE, Britt?::cough.
Reader Comments (28)
I am your #1 promptest commenter! Give me prizes. So, wow. Looks like quite an adventure you're embarking on. Skyscrapers and everything.
yay for a safe trip and y'all are so much closer to me now!
I don't live anywhere near those creepy signs though. Phew. Just near the worlds largest confederate flag and a sign that says "go to church or the devil will get you."
Sweet home Alabama my ass.
Let's all move to New Orleans please? ; p
Dude. I am more than a little impressed that you unpacked so quickly. I was feeling pretty good about myself when I was done in a week. I can't wait to hear about all of your adventures in your new home/city!
Lovely. So happy you arrived safe to your new home!
Alabama can be a bit disheartening. The first sign I saw was "IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE, DON'T BOTHER STOPPING." A part of me was curious to know how they verify somebody's beliefs, but I kept driving just in case a cavity search was involved.
Congrats on making it there!
As for Alabama, don't even ask me. I have spent way too much time there visiting relatives and the place still puzzles me.
And your new home? If I didn't think you were so great, I'd hate you. Because that is so my ideal home. Now trying to figure out how to pack up the cats again for another move. Because this is so not our permanent home.
Have I mentioned that the last time I was in Memphis was in 1997 and I've been dreaming about returning one day?
I saw an episode of House Hunters recently that was based in Memphis. The city looks beautiful and I love the picture of your building. I am jealous of your concierge :)
I'm not even mentioning the unpacking thing. I've lived here for 5 years and still have one box I've never unpacked.
Yes!!
It's awesome that you're completely unpacked (which is soooo like me), but even better that I am quite sure I could totally go right to your house right now - I know exactly where that is!
Stalking made easy. :)
Make sure you take the kids to the Memphis Zoo and become members. Membership gives you free parking, invites to special after hours events, discounts on food and merch, and free admission for a year! We loved that zoo. I knew one of the main folks there through Miss Cordelia's and Eldest got a special tour of the China exhibit before the Zoo opened for a project for school!
You are amazing to have unpacked in a day! Incredible! Congrats and I'm excited for all of you! :)
That's some pretty impressive unpacking! I'm fast, but not that fast. I love driving through the south - it's very educational. I'm interested to hear your stories about living there because it's a whole different world. My dad lived in Jonesboro, about 90 min from Memphis, so I kncw that bridge well! I'm glad you are home. High rise and all.
@Blondefabulous,
And if you do go, say HI to Cranbearry for us in the Northwest Passage!
Welcome home....now go get some awesome bar b q sauce. Or a peanut butter and nanner sandwhich at graceland. Wal Mart in Arkansas huh, Tariq is braver than I thought! In Alabama did you see my favorite road sign (Go to church, or go to hell)? That one cracks me up. Welcome home. I hope someday to come and visit. Memphis is a city I have always wanted to go see.
Welcome home, and wow. Already unpacked? You're like a superhero!
I'm preparing my list of questions to quiz your concierge with.
I'm sorry - with which to quiz your concierge. I have a feeling you can't end sentences with prepositions in that hood.
oh my fuck, you are already unpacked??!?!!! i just don't even know what to say other than i am all about amazed and impressed. #damn.
also, i love that your beautiful children were well behaved on the long journey to their new home. you are raisin them right!
i think tariq just thought quickly and said nice stuff about not wanting you to stress, but he i probably a control freak. show him this comment, please. :)
*is*
probably is.
fuck. i need an EDIT button. or to not attempt the poking the bear thing in your comments. really, i should stick to being nice and friendly. feels more natural.
Very jealous of your current not-in-Florida-anymore state. I want to know all about Memphis, especially the barbeque - unless it's all pork, of course.
Unpacked already. Damn, talk about giving the rest of us a complex. I feel like a slacker now.
Congratulations! How exciting. And what a beautiful building. In my secret fantasy life I live in the top floor of one of those puppies and have a rooftop garden. Thanks for letting those of us trapped in suburbia hell live vicariously through your great adventure. Good luck :)
Congratulations! How exciting. And what a beautiful building. In my secret fantasy life I live in the top floor of one of those puppies and have a rooftop garden. Thanks for letting those of us trapped in suburbia hell live vicariously through your great adventure. Good luck :)
Consider me impressed.
It takes me at least a couple of weeks just to unpack from vacation.
And for the record, we moved in almost three months ago and I still haven't finished unpacking or figuring out where crap is gonna go.
Woman. You unpacked 60 boxes in a week. That is a FEAT. I am a type-A OCD cleaning-and-organizing maniac and it took me three weeks to unpack 70 boxes.
I bow to you.
Welcome to your new home!!! Yay for a concierge!!!!!!!!!!
Do ALL Wal-marts in Arkansas have fancy bridges leading to them?
I'm sure your new life is going to be amazing!
Excited! Living in a downtown apartment is on my life bucket list.
What an exciting new adventure! All of you (y'all!) are going to have so much fun!
Bullet lists are awesome!
1. I'm glad you arrived safely.
2. I want to live in a building with a concierge.
3. I am now more afraid of Alabama that I already was which was PRETTY DAMN SCARED.
4. Wal-Mart also scares me.
5. I might be a big gay scaredy cat.
Sounds like a good move, you know, barring the tropical storm thingy and all. (your comment about Floridians eating them for breakfast made me laugh)