Jul 1, 2009 - Coming Home: Thanks for the support

It's with a mixture of excitement and sadness that I leave Moscow for a 20 hour, 6,000 mile flight home (it's that long because of stops in Warsaw and Chicago). Without a doubt it will be nice to be home. Seeing friends and family, waking up in your own bed, speaking your own language... and actually knowing where you are without having to consult a map... all these things are going to be welcome. But the adventure is over now. The freedom to decide “today” to go somewhere new “tomorrow” for a $50 to $200 plane, train, or bus ticket is no...

Jun 30, 2009 - On foreign languages and alphabets...

Arriving in Russia was a bit like arriving in Japan: English is not spoken as much as in other countries and the written language uses another alphabet. The result of the communication barrier is that you quickly lose confidence in your ability to do simple things: order food from a menu, buy supplies at the grocery store, or use a map to find a location (and if lost, ask for directions). Truthfully, when I first got off the plane in Moscow it took me a moment of studying signs to decide which bathroom to use... fortunately I chose wisely...

Jun 23, 2009 - I Hope the Russians Love Their Children Too

You know, people ask me if this trip "changed" me. I don't think so, but it did impress upon how me much we are all alike. Even though we come from different parts of the world, have different customs... dress differently... eat different things... even follow different religions... when you sit down and get to know that person from the other country, you find that they aren't so different than yourself, a family member, or maybe a good friend. So with that thought in my head, I was in a Russian pub when Sting's “I hope the Russians love...

Jun 8, 2009 - And Chuck's surprise is .......

We left the park about 7:00am. We wanted to make sure we were through Charlotte before rush hour traffic. When I told Chuck the exit to get off, he knew we were headed to Concord, NC, home of the Lowes Motor Speedway. So I told him we have a track tour at the Speedway and we were going to Hendricks Motor Sports, team owner of Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jr., Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin. And yes, he was very excited! Hendricks is Chuck’s favorite racing team. We got to Hendricks MS about an hour before they were open to the public. Chuck met...

Jun 7, 2009 - Shelby's Surprise

We stayed at Golden Isles Resort in Brunswick, GA last night. We stopped about 6:45. The place was a dump, but it gave us a night's rest. We got up and out of the campground about 6:00am. Bribes do wonders for kids, don't they? Shelby kept begging for me to tell her where we were going. About 80 miles out of Charlotte, I gave her the Carowinds Brochure. Carowinds is an 112 acres theme park on the SC and NC border south of Charlotte, NC. She was so excited, she loves rollercoasters and theme parks. Only problem is, I don't like...

Mar 11, 2009 - We did it ... we are finally beginning our journey!

It has been a month since the last entry and what a unbelievable 4 weeks! We sold the lake house all of the furniture, plus sold and gave away furniture from the Charlotte house and have it on the rental market. All corporate suits, etc. have found new homes and the Wachovia corporate card and keys have been turned in, effective March 10. If emptying the houses was hard, it was nothing compared to Art's seemingly unending job of emptying out his garages and finding homes for tools, trailers, truck, cars, a couple of waverunners and other...

Feb 25, 2009 - In the snow at the China Grove house

We moved out of the lake house on February 20 and are now living in the driveway of our rental house in China Grove, NC. China Grove is a small, rural town about 20 minutes outside of Mooresville. We will be here for a couple of weeks until I finish up at Wachovia on March 10. We received a surprise of about 6 inches of snow in China Grove while we were up in Brevard, NC visiting with Art's mother. I have attached pictures of the motorhome, trailer and my bicycle covered in snow!

Feb 12, 2009 - Oops ... we sold the house!

Oh my, how did this happen so quickly? One day we are talking about renting the house and waiting until the economy is better and home prices go up, the next day the house is sold! Art is in the neighborhood bar and overhears a conversation about someone who is in the throes of buying the house a few doors down from us. He leans over and says he heard what they were talking about and that he may have a house for rent, possibly for sale. Fast forward several days and the person comes by to check out our house and decides he would rather have...

Nov 13, 2008 - We arrive in Florida!

We're here!!! WOO-HOO! Because of my broken ankle, I couldn't drive obviously. I usually don't mind the drive to Florida as we take turns driving which makes it less yawn-producing. Not being able to help with the driving this time made it more monotonous than usual so we were both very happy when we pulled into the Port Orleans French Quarter parking lot late Thursday afternoon. Check-in was a breeze and we were quickly in our room. We loved it. This was our third time staying at a Disney World resort (not counting camping twice in the...

Oct 2, 2008 - Charlotte

A big drive on a rainy day landed us in Charlotte NC to meet up with Dan's old boss from Tip Top Amie. Big thanks to Amie and Shane for hosting us in their awesome southern house and taking us to the Clemson football game! The South is like a whole different country within a country we soon found out. Firstly, apparently there is like a massive fuel shortage in the area and literally gas station after gas station were out of gas, it felt like the apocalypse :) It took a redneck in overalls to tell Dan that 'there aint no gas in these pumps...

Sep 21, 2008 - And away I go.....

Well, right now i'm in north carolina waiting in the airport wathing old people being carted around in red wheel chairs and obnoxious golf carts that keep a persistant beeping. Also there are these british boys playing catch with a nurf ball as the token chubby friend stands to the side awkwardly giggling when the ball lands his way. I am that boy. I started reading this book "Nothing Special - Living Zen" by Charlotte Joko Beck for anyone who feels like life is nothing but a mess of worries and judgements i HIGHLY recomend this book. Joko...

Sep 19, 2008 - Charlotte, NC

On Wednesday, we drove from Fletcher/Asheville, NC to Charlotte, NC. We arrived early enough to get in a run around the Carowinds Park where we are staying. On Thursday, Krista flew to San Francisco, CA for her ex-coworker/friend, Hanh Kihara and her husband, Cary's 25th wedding anniversary celebration. It was held at the Round Hill Country Club in Pleasanton - a spectacularly beautiful location and event. Krista had a great time seeing old coworkers/friends from Bedford Property Investors.