Advertisement
Hilton
June 1 thru June 5 Get ready. Get set. Go.
Well, I'm at it again. But this time the travel is born of necessity. I need to sell a property in Mobile, AL. Don't know how long it will take to prepare the house so I've given myself 22 days between leaving and returning to LAX. How to pack for three weeks when you don't know what to expect or exactly what you'll be doing. Ah, the decisions. Lots of T shirts a few pair of pants as well as underwear and every pair of socks I have. The longer I can go without washing clothes the better I'll like it. But want to pack my computer and my Nikon Digital with two lenses so I end up taking a padded back pack for the electronics, and a separate back pack for pills, a few items of clothing in case luggage gets lost, a book, snacks for plane, and a light jacket. That was two carry-on bags and an additional bag filled with 3-weeks worth of clothes for check in. That bag cost me over $20. Not used to the new charges.
So June 1, I fly to Mobile via Atlanta. By the time I land in
My house in Mobile
First time I've seen it in person. I just love it. Wish I could ship it to LA Atlanta, my flight to Mobile is already being boarded. Luckily I had looked over the diagram of the Atlanta airport before landing so it didn't surprise me that I would have to go down one flight, catch a tram, go four stops, up a flight, scurry to the last gate at the end of the corridor, and then down another flight of stairs where I board the plane which is being held for me. Thanks Delta for making a connecting flight an adventure. One that I could have done without.
The flight to Mobile is uneventful but marked by a surprising view while descending into the city. From the air it's a stunning patchwork of dark rich greens juxtaposed with bright red earth gouged out of a plethora of flora for development. Here a house, there a house. Of course, my luggage didn't make it with me. Not enough time for handlers to make the switch, I guess. So after my bag enjoys its own brief vacation in Atlanta, it finally arrives at my hotel about midnight. That's why we pack a few items in our carry-on, fellow travelers. Just in case. Staying at the Hilton hotel for my first
Univ of Southern Alabama
Reproduction of Greek rotunda few days. Figure I'd be under a great deal of stress by day so wanted some comfort at night. Good move I think. Yummy freshly made chocolate chip cookies at the desk every night. Nice touch.
Talk about stress
June 2 sort of stuck with business stuff. Checking out the house and talking to people about how much it will cost to get it ready for sale. House doesn't look bad, but the former tenants smoked and the house reeks. No good news. Cleaning walls and painting at a minimum. May need new carpets. The competition is fierce and it's a matter of keeping my losses to a minimum. Ouch.
I'm used to jumping on the freeway to get anywhere and here it's pretty much stop and go roads with lots and lots of traffic lights. Figure about 20 to 30 minutes to go six miles. I really hope I can explore this city before I leave. Anxious to get out my camera and shoot some of the parks, churches, harbor, and historical buildings.
A little better
June 3 Another bid on painting, repairing, patching, landscape. But dorun out to a movie in the evening to see 'Prince of Persia'. Mindless entertainment.
Lots of construction on campus
Just look at that beautiful red Alabama earth Just what I need to forget for awhile. One note about the vicinity where I'm staying. It's the most unusual road arrangement I've ever seen. A two-way road on the south side of a six-lane 45-mph road with those lanes separated by a divider, and on the north side another two-lane road. Confused? You should try and drive it. Scary.
And better still
June 4. Hire a contractor, a woman. She starts Monday. And I’m working with a new realtor, also a woman. The realtor I had been talking to wanted me to invest another $4000 in the house beyond the $3500 it will take just to clean and paint it. This might be the time to mention it's probably a bad idea to invest in a house 1000s of miles away from where you live at the height of a real estate craze. Just a thought.
Spent the afternoon at the University of Southern Alabama. Huge campus. Have a great time hopping in and out of my car, exploring the landscape and architecture. Hope I get some good shots.
Make it 'home' just in time to go to another movie. This time the science fiction film, 'Splice'. Dreadful.
Trying to
decide what to explore next. Tomorrow I must pack up and leave this lovely but expensive hotel (Hilton) and find some cheap, but, hopefully clean, motel.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.113s; Tpl: 0.01s; cc: 10; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0629s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Dot Whitelaw
non-member comment
Good to hear from you
I HAVE REALLY MISSED HEARING FROM YOU - COULD NOT BELIEVE YOU WERE IN MY PART OF THE COUNTRY. I AM ONLY 20 MILES FROM THE AIR PORT - ST. MTN. GA. PARK SPRINGS RETIREMENT CENTER IS A PART OF ST.MTN. GOLF COURSE CONNECTS - HAVE GATE THAT WE WALK THROUGH TO GET INTO PARK. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HAD YOU VISIT OR EVEN STAY OVER NEXT TRIP THROUGH ATLANTA. YOU ARE STILL A WONDERFUL , UNBELIVEABLE LADY. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FAMILY ALSO. PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH- I LIVE IN A LOVELY PLACE - WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU VISIT NEXT TRIP SOUTH. I HAVE MISSED HEARING ABOUT YOUR TRIPS - ALL WAYS MADE ME FILL THAT I HAD MADE THE JOURNEY WITH YOU. GOOD LUCH IN YOUR NEW PLACE. DOT.WHITELAW