We are heading out to the hometown of Mark Martin. This is Joe's favorite NASCAR driver. Our day in "The Ark" started with rain --- go figure. On the way to Arkansas, I spotted an amusing billboard. I made Joe stop so I could capture it with my camera. Mark Martin's museum was so impressive. We also drove to the track where Mark started his career in racing. FYI: My favorite driver is Clint Bowyer and his hometown is Emporia, Kansas. We might get to make a trip there some day. Mark Martin is a lot older and has been racing [View Full Entry]

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A grime covered my skin and clothes as I entered the car for hike #2 on a warm Saturday afternoon in early September 2008 in northwest Arkansas. After completing the hike at Lost Valley, I was preparing myself for a hike of a different kind. The Lost Valley hike was one of curiosity. I sought to uncover the strange rock formations of the Ozarks, the seeping waterfall that provided a soundtrack to the hidden cave just above it, and the solitude that is possible even in the midst of the large population of wildlife inundating the region. Whitaker Point was a [View Full Entry]

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After taking the Ph.D. qualifying exam last August, I decided to reward myself with a long weekend in southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas. This is a demonstrably underrated portion of the country, with scenic hills, beautiful forests, and an abundance of lazily flowing water. I was inspired by Rand McNally's photograph of Whitaker Point, located in Newton County, AR, slightly over an hour southward from Branson, MO. There are several attractions in the Ozarks of northwest Arkansas, probably most notably Eureka Springs. Eureka Springs is a gorgeous tourist attraction. Dozens of shops a [View Full Entry]

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So I'm finally starting to work things out at work, at least I hope so lol. Apparently there were some new systems that have been put into place before I came that not everyone is completely comfortable with and not all the kinks have been worked out yet. So that is cause of the majority of the confusion and the "who does what when" type of stuff. We are starting to get it worked out (my coworkers and I) and we are planning to have a meeting with the three of us involved and the boss to try to come up [View Full Entry]

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Well I'm pretty much all settled in the apartment and with my job. I'm still trying to learn things at the job, like what paperwork to fill out when, and how and all that good stuff. what to do if I'm not going to pick a client up on my caseload, what to do when military staff is going to come in and observe meetings and such over clients.. a little nerve racking but it should be ok. I have an assistant at work, he's pretty cool. I think we'll get along ok, of course he doesn't really know anything about [View Full Entry]

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On my way to Texas I decide to make a little detour to Hot Springs, Arkansas. A little town, whose center wraps itself around 50 square miles of forest and hills that is Hot Springs National Forest. The name comes from the towns main attraction, the hot springs that have been used in the town's baths for over a hundred years. Back in the late 19th century the wealthy from all over the country would come here to relax in the hot waters. Why is the water so hot and healthy? It is rainwater that is absorbed into the rock and [View Full Entry]

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So let me just say that I was unable to write yesterday due to an overload of stress and frustration. I woke up yesterday because I had to go to work at 915 to start orientation (since I can do that without an OT license)... and I couldn't find my keys. I tore the hotel room apart looking for my keys. Those of you who know me.. probably aren't surprised. You shouldn't be anyway lol. I had to call my job and tell them I had lost my keys and was going to be late to work (great on the first [View Full Entry]

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Well, so slowly but surely things are beginning to fall together. I am going to get the apartment. I'm still not thrilled about the idea, but it's a place to live, it's a nice area, and there is plenty to do and I'll probably meet some people my age. The facility has a hot tub, tanning beds, a sauna, two pools, it's on a golf course and I get free access to the course as well as free access to the golf cart, it has a tennis court, and a country club.. very nice. I like the idea of having things [View Full Entry]

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Well my first night in Arkansas was officially Friday the 21st of August. My best friend April and I made the 8 hour trip with a Uhaul trailer and my dog Kubby, without anything really exciting happening. The first thing we noticed about Arkansas was the foliage, and that it was much flatter than I had anticipated. There weren't as many trees or rock that I had expected to see, although, I do believe we were just not in the right part of Arkansas to see those things. When we arrived in Benton Arkansas we drove by the house my company [View Full Entry]

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So I know everyone is expecting me to talk about the great new place I found and how everything worked out. Sorry to disappoint you, who knows, maybe next post. As of today, it seems like a wasted day. It is pretty difficult to find a place to live on a Sunday. Between the "house" and the apartment.. looks like it is going to be the apartment. However, I'm still looking. The house turned out to be a mobile home that was not in very god condition, and extremely dirty and run down. The people who were renting it were extremely [View Full Entry]

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