It has been a while since I went on a true vacation. Everything else has been holiday related, or short trips to and fro.
This year, I went to Missouri. While there, I visited friends, family, and saw some attractions.
The first half of the trip was spent in Kansas City. While there, I saw a Royals game, the Kansas City Zoo, and other stuff. We stayed with my friend, Liz, at her home. Also while out there, we visited my aunt and uncle. They gave us a few items, including a Canon AE-1. I think the camera belonged to my late uncle. I wish we had more time out in Kansas City.
We also stopped a many other places and took photos.
For baseball, we had a 1-1 record. The Royals lost; Cardinals won.
And now, I am back in Georgia. I return to work tomorrow. I would have gone back today, had I not had a bad case of swollen ankles when I went to bed last night.
For my holiday weekend, I went home to Savannah. I didn’t see any of my friends. I feel bad, but for me, this past weekend was a Me Vacation. I just needed solitary time down there.
Saturday, my father and I went down to the Smallest Church in America and toured the perimeter ruins of Harris Neck Army Airfield. The weather in the region was cooler than normal for this time of year, but even with temps of 86°F, it was took hot to tour the place on foot. Until this weekend, neither my father, nor I, even knew about Harris Neck AAF. As we were driving around the wildlife refuge in its place, we noticed a vast part of deteriorating asphalt. I joked it was an abandoned airfield, before we read the marker about it.
See, you learn something new everyday.
Prior to going home for the rest of the day, I stopped and got a picture of The Wienermobile. It was in Savannah over the weekend.
I spent the evening of the 4th at the SavannahSandGnats game. The team won against the Rome Braves, 1-0. It was a short game, so we had to wait a bit for post-game fireworks. The game was a blast, and weather was perfect. That was the only time I was wish I had been hanging out with a friend, but it’s not the end of the world.
The only problem I had at home was finding out about a charge the city added to the water bill down there. To me, it’s a stupid charge and the city is just trying to charge you for any and everything they can get away with. I can’t call the city a Fascist town because there is too much liberalism in the government. However, I can’t call it a Socialist city, either. I think the government is composed of people that take the horrid extremes of both sides of the spectrum and apply them to how the city operates. Maybe if the people of the city kept their noses in their own business and not dictated how everyone should live, the town would be better off than it is. If I ever did move back to the Savannah area, it would definitely not be in the Savannah City limits.
I came home yesterday. I took my time and just stopped and took photos of other parts of Georgia. I would have returned to work today, but Nicki and I had car issues today. I had to stay home to take care of that. What fun that was. My father and I are working on getting the vehicles repaired, but I am going to have to bit a bullet soon and get a new car. I don’t even know where to begin.
Listening to: Chicago -”If She Would Have Been Faithful”
I’m sitting here watching CSI: Miami. There is a ghost in this episode. I think it has jumped he shark, if it hasn’t already. Also, I can’t stand Wolf. He always jumps to conclusions and never has an open mind. And now Calleigh sees the ghost.
I went home to Savannah this weekend. I didn’t want to leave. I went to help my dad with understanding some bills from his hospitalization from February. We went to Charleston for the day. We didn’t know an air show was happening in town, so as we were driving into town, we saw the Blue Angels flying. My father had trouble driving and watching the show at the same time. LOL
We drove over there to visit the SC Aquarium. I hadn’t been since before my mother died. My father took me and Beth. Beth went we were going to Columbia to the zoo there and that we’d be seeing penguins. She was sad to hear we were going to the aquarium.
OK, this is lame storyline. Seems like the writers were mailing it in.
We stopped at a welcome center on an old plantation on the way up there. We picked up Charleston book. There was an ad in the book about a penguin exhibit. Beth was excited that she would be seeing penguins after all. Compared to the TN Aquarium, the SC one seems like nothing. But, for a day trip close to home, it did the trick. I also got a ride looking at the Low Country countryside.
I wish I could have my job in Savannah. I miss Savannah, but I also enjoy my job. It’s such a hard choice. With Nicki living with me now, it’s hard to just go back to Savannah now.
On my way home from Savannah, I stopped at the hospital. My friend, Lindsey, had her baby. He’s a beautiful, healthy boy. The time was perfect, for me, that he was born the same time I was in town. I also took a long and winding route home, stopping at Cochran, GA and Pembroke, GA just to take a look at small town life.
I only wish there was a high speed, inexpensive train between Atlanta and Savannah. Or even a cheap flight. I really hate the drive between the two cities.
Sunday, March 21st, 2010 / Travel / Author: Shawn / Comments Off
This summer, I am planning a trip with my sister, Nicki, to Missouri. I want to see the Arch, and it just exploded from there.
So far, I have the OK for a week off this summer, as well as tickets to a Royals baseball game and tickets to a Cardinals game. Other stuff will have to wait.
The plan at the moment is to go to Kansas City, first. I have an online friend, Liz, out there. She, her husband, and daughter will be attending the Royals game with us. I’m still trying to find out what more to do out there.
We’re hitting St. Louis on the way back to Atlanta. Nicki has a friend out there. She’ll be going with us to a Cardinals game. I want to go to the Arch. I want to go up in the Arch. Never got to do that the last time I went to Missouri, 23 years ago. I was lucky to see the Arch from the Interstate. I want to go to the zoo, and the friend wants us to visit Grant’s Farm.
This trip is going to cost a pretty penny. So, if you have tips and know of free places to visit in both those areas, let me know.
Until February 28, 2010, Callaway Gardens has free admission. So, Nicki and I took advantage of this offer this past week. I grabbed my camera and took some photos. The picture above is a random shot of a stained glass window at the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel. I would have loved to have stayed longer if Nicki didn’t have to return to Atlanta by 4. She joked I was taking her to the boonies to drop her off. It’s been a while since she’s been in that part of the state.
I’ve got to start looking into a new zoom lens for my Canon camera. I need to get my Fujiflim camera fixed. I’ve still been active at the 365 Days – 2010 set. Most of the photos have been taken with the Polaroid i1037 camera.
Since my last personal post, I’ve been busy with work. This time of the year when work is busy and all the big money projects are sent to my team. I’m usually put on the big money projects. I’ve been spending my free time with my family. Nicki, Daddy, and I watched the Super Bowl. It was a good game. My favorite commercial was the Snickers ad.
Yesterday, my father and I each were able to take some time off from work. He was told not to return until Tuesday. My boss, knowing the day was going to be slow, let me take the day off as well. After getting a new tire rim for my car, we went to the US Space & Rocket Center.
It was a nice day. Not only did we get to see many items used in space exploration, we got a nice view of Alabama. To get to Huntsvile, we drove on I-20 over to Birmingham and then took I-65 and I-565 to Huntsville. We took a different way home. We took US 72 east to South Pittsburg, TN to I-24. From I-24, we took it to I-75 back to my apartment. We both agreed that the way home felt faster between Hunstville and Atlanta. There is no direct route between the two cities.
On our way home, I spotted a small cemetery on the side of the road. I took a few photos of it, along with photos from our visit of the US Space & Rocket Center.
I enjoyed the trip. I would like to go back to North Alabama. I want to see the Unclaimed Baggage Center, revisit the Helen Keller Birthplace, and revisit Ave Maria Grotto. So, does anyone want to go to Alabama with me?
I celebrated my 31st birthday this weekend with my friends Lindsey and Chris. They came over to West Georgia and we spent the weekend in Pine Mountain and Warm Springs. We spent Saturday at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain. We saw the butterfly center and the lights. At this time of the years, Callaway is all about the Christmas lights. We stayed the night in Warm Springs, spending the next morning at the Little White House. We had a great time, as usual.
On my way to Middle West Georgia, I heard the new Foreigner single, “When It Comes to Love.” It’s kind of haunting, at least to me.
Don’t worry, this not a post about who I am and what I should have been or expect to be. Right now, my philosophy in life is just about who I am in this moment. I’ll embrace my past, but my future is wide open.
My father celebrated my birthday by getting me a new camera. I used the camera on our trip. I have to read the manual on it to figure out how to us it better than I did this weekend. He also got me a limited edition Gone with the Wind DVD set after seeing me glance it over. We made sure I got a cake.
Today was the office complex’s Christmas party. It was a good time. We even had Thrash the Thrasher appear at the party. The complex had 3 chocolate fondue fountains – in three different chocolates, and had gingerbread houses on display. It was a festive celebration. A few of us even posed with Thrash for a photo. The complex is a nice atmosphere to work in. They often have tenant appreciation events like this Christmas party.
This weekend will be a busy one again with Beth and Ben coming to visit and see Christmas lights. I promised her a trip to Stone Mountain. I might see about taking her to Life University to see the lights there, too. It’s not far and has a great display, or so I read.
Thanksgiving was cool. Prior to going to Nashville, the sisters and I went to Zoo Atlanta. We spent time with the extended family. My only regret was not getting a group photos of the family. In fact, some of my younger 2nd cousins ended up annoying me. I don’t know if it’s the Gen X/Gen Y difference. Some of us are Gen X, but most of them are Gen Y. After dinner was over, my clan went back to the family home and spent the rest of the evening playing games like Cranium.
We came home Friday. We took our time getting back to Atlanta. Prior to leaving Nashville, we visited the graves of my grandparents buried there and my father’s maternal grandparents. We stopped at White Castle so Beth could try it. My dad and I passed on going home to Savannah for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday, I took Beth and my father to the World of Coca-Cola. Drove by the Varsity and it looked like Athens had invaded. Of course, Tech lost to UGA. After we got home, we put up my Christmas tree. We even had Christmas music playing.
In other sad news, looks like my nice Fujifilm S5200 camera has died. Thankfully, my birthday is close enough that I can justify a new camera. I’m also going to look into getting the 5200 fixed.
I have had a busy past 2 weeks. Since my last post, thanks have been busy here at Inicio Latta del norte. On the 12th, Beth came up with some friends and Nicki. She dropped Nicki off at my place and then went to a concert. On the way home to Savannah, they hit a deer. The van is now in the shop until sometime after my birthday.
On the 14th, Daddy and Nicki went home to Savannah for a few days. I stayed behind and drove around Troup County before enjoying the rest of my quiet weekend.
When Daddy returned to Atlanta, Nicki came back with him and has been here ever since. She’s been using her time here to recover from surgery. During this time, I have been busy with work. However, I was woken around midnight last Thursday to give Jessica directions to my apartment. No one told me that she was coming to town, nor that Matthew was with her. She ended up dropping Matthew off to sleep here while she stayed with a friend before they did what they came to North Georgia to do.
Beth came, this time with Ben, on Friday. She planned on spending her birthday weekend up here. While waiting for Beth to arrive, since I got off work early on Friday, Nicki and I went to the World of Coca-Cola again. Beth finally got to my apartment a few minutes after Nicki and I got home. She wanted Steak ‘N’ Shake for dinner, so I took her and Ben there.
Yesterday, to celebrate Beth’s birthday, we went to Chattanooga, TN for the day. We went to the Tennessee Aquarium and Ruby Falls. We had a blast. I took both my cameras, letting Beth hold the Polaroid i1037. At first, she didn’t want to use it, but once we got to the penguin exhibit, she whipped out the camera from her pocket and went crazy with snapping photos. The rest of the day, she kept saying, “Wanna look at my penguin photos?” She used the camera the rest of the day. Between the aquariums and the falls, I stopped to get her new batteries and a new memory card for the camera.
Ruby Falls Cave got got to a few members of our party. They had panic attacks about being in a cave. However, it was worth the adventure when we got to the waterfall in the cave. Beth took video of the falls with the camera she used. I will admit it takes better video than my Fujifilm camera. After we got back to the Marietta are, we went and tried Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q. My father saw it the other night when we went somewhere else for dinner and thought it would be a good place to take Beth for ribs. The girl was very pleased with her rib order. She considered this her best birthday ever.
Now, I’m getting ready for a 2 day work week prior to Thanksgiving festivities. My sisters and Ben are staying one more night before having to go back to Savannah for their pre-Thanksgiving obligations.
Listening to Backstreet Boys – “It’s Gotta Be You”
I have made it safely home to Atlanta. Nicki seemed to get better as days progressed. She’s still in pain, but she’s going to get better.
I did work while in Savannah, remotely. And when I wasn’t working, I was visiting friends and places that are home. I stopped at my pre-college place of employment and said hello to the only co-worker left there from my days. Caught up with her a bit with both my life, her life, and the life of the office. She introduced me to all her co-workers, and had to show me quickly to the boss. The boss said it looked like I hadn’t aged a bit in the 7 years I last worked there. However, I sure do feel it! Seeing the co-worker did me good. She reminded me of a tale of something my mother did for her family and how she always remember it. She said my mother would be proud of where I’m at.
That’s the thing with me. I always feel like I’ve let me mother down. I wish I knew why.
I also had dinner with Chris and Lindsey. It’s always great to see them. The are some of the best friends I have ever had. I’m so glad to have them in my life. I also had lunch with Melinda. I owed her a few minutes of my time while in Savannah.
I also spent time out at Wormsloe. I had never been out there while living in Savannah, because I had always heard it was a couple of rocks in the ground. However, I decided to finally check it out. When I stopped to pay my entry fee, I noticed there was a sign about a photography fee. Because I only had my Polaroid i1037, I was not charged a fee. Had I had my Fujifilm S5200 (which I left in Atlanta), I may have been charged it. I sent a message to Gennie about the fee, and she did some research. As a person who only uses her camera as a hobby, such a fee is discouraging.
On my way home today, I stopped briefly in Statesboro and Barnesville to take a few photos. I would like to go back to Barnesville to use my better camera. The town had a great photography feel to it.
Now that I am home, I have one little Graysie wanting me to hold her. She missed me while I was gone. I missed her, too, along with Scooter.
My father and I are working on getting the vehicles repaired, but I am going to have to bit a bullet soon and get a new car. I don’t even know where to begin.
