Nashville Leaf Peeping

October 23, 2011.

I am in Nashville to get pictures of the leaves changing and to spend time with Kate and Charles. I arrived about 8 pm tonight...Blackberry/Verizon Navigation thank you...

I had scheduled to rent a car with Budget. It was to be a compact...they didn't care for my credit score so I had to go to Dollar rental. So it cost me 80ish dollars more (so far) and I am driving a mini SUV..(Dodge Journey)...really, I could easily haul 6 people around.

This all transpired at the airport while my ride to the airport was waiting, needless to say (and yet I am saying it) the beginning of the trip raised my cortisol level and I'm pretty sure I gained 10 lbs of abdominal fat just standing at the counter. I then left the airport to start my journey. But wait...first I get a frantic call from my ride to the airport. She is at the parking booth to pay and she can't find her ticket and if she can't find it she has to pay for all day. I am not sure what, exactly, I was suppose to do for her since I was 3 miles from the airport and didn't have her ticket but I stayed on the phone until she found it. Whew...crisis averted...again...and I haven't even left Pensacola.

So I set out on my way. I then saw a red tail hawk circling over Creighton Road. This was the second RTH I had seen, the first was catching a squirrel at Dr. Litvak's old office on Davis when we were en route to the airport. Going up HWY 29 I saw 2 bald eagles circling...and 2 more RTH. I also saw a water fowl that I didn't recognize but plan to look up tomorrow and a hawk that wasn't a red tail but I couldn't tell what kind it was. It was smaller than a red tail.

Drive, drive, drive, drive. It was nice to see the colors as I got further north. There is a deep purple/red that I can't wait to get. I arrive at the Watkins residence and was welcomed by Catbird! I finally get to meet the deer. (okay, Catbird is actually a dog but is....interesting looking) Kate and Charles are as cute as ever and I am so glad to see them. Now I am in bed and Oakly has abandoned his owners in order to sleep with me. (Oakly is the cat). Tomorrow will bring more adventures and I will keep you posted. May even throw in some pics.

Well...it's been almost a year so it must be time to blog again....let's catch up.

With me:

I moved from the beach, the lease was up. I have a different roomie, ended an 8 month relationship (okay, he ended it) got fired from my job of 5 years. So a few changes.

With Pensacola:

The oilspill is still causing issues. Lot's of tarballs are visible right now and there isn't an end in sight. I wonder if we are doing more damage by bringing in the heavy equipment than if we just left it alone.

With the world:

Presidential primaries are in full force so nothing is getting done in Washington. Wall street is being occupied by Americans who are fed up. The same people who supported the tea party protests are denouncing the wall street protesters (shocking, I know). There have been significant changes in parts of the Middle East and no changes in other parts. Social Media is changing the world. Literally.

Back to me. I've been looking for work since August 6. To No avail! I have launched a couple of websites for my photography and am a stringer for Sunshine Slate.com. but no monies yet!!!!

Yesterday I went to the beach with Colleen and we saw a sea turtle. It was her first time seeing one and she was very excited!. Today I went back and snorkeled. Lot's of jellies! a couple of stings but nothing major. lot's of tarballs. The water was clear and the surf was flat. I'm going to try to keep up better. I have a trip planned at the end of October to see Kate and Krista and take pics.