Dolly, Gustav and Ike

Well, we have worked all three hurricanes that have hit the US this year--WOW!!! Many miles and many friends made, looks like our year is winding down. We finally have some time to breath a little. Our claims have slowed way down and we have actually gotten to sleep in the last 2 mornings--it has felt great.
Cory came and spent 10 days with us here in Houston helping and learning. It was a great time and we enjoyed it so much. You will see some pictures that I took while he was here, one being the dangerous move to use a ladder as a bridge to get from one roof to another and the other enjoying the ocean side in Galveston. We currently have a friend from Oklahoma working in Galveston, so we took Sunday afternoon sight seeing the damages of Ike. It seemed so surreal seeing such damage and being 2 months since the storm has hit and everything still so far from being repaired. Some of the pictures makes you think that the storm just hit. Down town Galveston seemed as a ghost town, not one business is open, they are all gutted and just have studs showing. Totally amazing to see such devastation. We spent 2-3 hours just driving and looking--we still were not able to take the ferry across to Port Bolivar (where the eye of storm actually hit)--only emergency personnel allowed, after 2 months, still only emergency personnel--one would think that all emergencies would be handled by now.
As I said Cory stayed 10 days with us, he did all the hard climbing and steep roofs for Curtis. It was amazing see him just trek right up those 2 story steep roofs like nothing to it. I have witnessed Curtis hugging the ridge and both of us wondering just how he was going to get down. We have many humorous memories of these moments---not having a seat in his pants once he scooted all the way to the ladder. Today was one of the scariest moments for me, I really thought he was going to slide off the roof, he screamed for me to hold the ladder, he was coming down on his stomach. I held the ladder with all my might and his foot caught him---way to dangerous.
Today our boss confirmed this storm too is coming to a close, we have no idea how long we will be here, but we do know our work is slowing to a crawl. It is so hard to re-gear yourself when we are so used to working 12-14 hours per day, then go to working 6 hrs or so. Makes us take a look at how much time has passed since we have really be plugged in with the rest of the world, our family and our friends. I personally am ready to stay at home for a while, we just never know when and for how long but I do know it is looking like soon, no complaints from me!!! I will keep updating more often and keep posting things that we are doing--at least we are in a huge city to site see a little.
We have a couple of friends that we have met and have worked the 2 storms with, they too work as couples, one being from Lafayette, La, (Mike and Robin) and the other Harrel and Kelly from Ohio. We are planning a reunion together this weekend for all of to get together, we haven't all been together since Dolly in Harlingen, Texas, but we have stayed in close contact with one another.
We did meet Mike and Robin last Saturday evening and spent a long time visiting with them, I will take pictures and post so I can share our friends that we have met with everyone.
Until Then................................................................

I know, I know--Its been way to long!

I spoke with Cory today and he informed me that I needed to update the blog----I really have not had a minute to think about it, until now!!
We have had another fun exciting learning time--on the road!! We arrived home from Hurricane Dolly the end of April knowing we would only be in town for a few short nights, little did we know it was 5 short nights and the call was received to head to New Orleans--Hurricane Gustav has arrived. We packed back up and hit the road, but this time our journey was not alone. We had Jeff H. from Ruidoso, Nm, formally from Muleshoe, join us on our fast life of adjusting. He had been inquiring about the work since June, and thankfully he was able to leave with us, get a job along side Coli (another great thing, he worked with us also for 5 weeks) and travel the long road to New Orleans, LA. An adventure it has been!! We stayed 3 days in Huntsville, Tx taking some quick learning classes before heading to Baton Rouge, La for the first week of our stay. We arrive in Baton Rouge, 3 days after the hurricane landed to find electricity at our motel, but no internet. I know it doesn't sound so bad not having internet, but when that is how you take care of ALL your work---it is a must. Anyways--we found internet 3 miles from the motel at a coffee house that wasn't re-opened after the storm--so we ventured 2-3 times a day to the coffee house to get our work notices---it was quiet a sight and so mad at myself that I didn't take a picture of 6 people crowded in a vehicle with all laptops on at night sitting in front of a coffe house with our computers on, taking notes, reading emails, learning the adjuster firm system--and to top it off---the town had a curfew!!! 10:00 pm everyone had to be in homes, businesses closed and off the streets--we would find ourselvs trying to beat the time, do our work, answer phone calls and try to explain to family at home that we didn't have time to talk because we were under curfew!!! It was funny.
We stayed in Baton Rouge for 1 week, driving to our claims in Houma, La 90 miles away. Way to far--we would all leave early early and arrive late late--but if you have ever been a part of a storm-motels are so hard to find and if you do find convienence--it cost way to much. Luckily we found a motel in Metairie, La and were able to stay at that location for 7 weeks. We were all so fortunate to be able to stay on the same floor, help one another and have social time together. I became so accustomed to getting home ( I know its sad when you call motel home) to listen to everyones experiences, we literally did not go to bed till midnight every night.
We had such a Muleshoe Clan--after the first week there we had another Muleshoe Friend join us, Gary G.. He arrived to learn the business--hired the very next morning--and his ambition and eargerness payed off for him. So another room down the hall to venture to.
He was there for 1 week--then Cory's father in law called and wanted to come learn if possible--He flew in from Amarillo, stayed 1 week and took off with the business too. He stayed with Gary G. and they too built a great friendship---
Thankfully, Curtis and I would complete our work before arriving back to the motel each night, to help everyone else, BUT it was so much fun!! Tiring but alot of fun!!
Coli was the first to leave us all----he has decided to take over the business of Joe's Boot Shop, and knew that he would only be staying 5 weeks, so his work was cut out for him. He was very successful with adjusting and has been very successful with Joes' Boot Shop too. He is very happy with his decision and we are so excited that the boot shop will carry on!! (more on this another blog).
Before Coli left us, he and his dad were down stairs one evening and giving that big Texas "HELLO" to two strangers that arrived at the motel, conversations started--friendships long lasting---Two men from Florida, taking on the new life of adjusting!! School started immediately!! (Both men are shark divers--WHEW---they shared videos that were for Discovery channel and National Geographic--that they both videoed for the channels--it was so interesting to listen to their experiences)--BUT--we had more nightly learning time---daily ride alongs--they were able to go and work with Coli and Jeff--and believe it or not--they are both still with it and doing great! We all hit if off quickly and Gary and Rich will always be a part of the Hunt family!!
Sadly, we were notified that we were to be leaving to transfer to Houston for Hurricane Ike!! We left on Wednesday morning to be at orientation in Houston on Thursday morning. We sadly said our good-byes to Jeff, Gary and Kevin along with Gary and Rich and made our way back to the great state of Texas.
We are now located in Texas working our third hurricane of this season--we never know how long we will be at any one place, but the friendships and the memories made have all been worth it!!!
We are here in Houston--with noone else along side us--social time has ended--SOOOO I should be able to blog a lot more often!! I want to try to blog all kinds of different story we have experienced the last few weeks, a goal I will try to make!!
So Until then................................................................................

Were gonna be grandparents!!!! WHOOHOO!!

Yes, Coli and Jenna notified us while we were in Harlingen, Texas with this ecard---you have to check it out!!


We are so EXCITED and ready to join the great club of being grandparents. She is due on May 2nd.

If you recognize this name, click the link to see your E-Card.http://www.hallmark.com/ECardWeb/ECV.jsp?a=EG2351492913450M270693830Y&product_id=

Padre Island

We finally took a day to tour a little bit, we decided to travel to Padre Island and enjoy the day. Padre Island is a very nice place and lots smaller than I remember as going as a little girl. All I could really remember about Padre Island was the long bridge across to it and my grandaddy walking and looking for sea shells. We really chose a great day to go because it was a very quiet, not to many people and slow rainy day. So as for the beach---we didn't get to experience it, but we did decide to take a Dolphin Watch tour, and it was much more enjoyable to me. When you sign up for things like this you always wonder if it will really be as good as they make it out to be. Well it WAS!! We watched dolphins for almost an hour, so peaceful seeing how they just enter in and out of the water. We took probably 30 or so pictures to try to get a glimpse of them on camera, Curtis had lots more patience than me so the pictures you see are the ones he was able to capture. It was a 2 hour tour and along with the dolphins the tour guide dropped a net to catch just anything out of the ocean--it was very intersting too. Thankfully he was very knowledgeabel of marine life and explained everything that was caught. The most exciting thing was seeing a "Butterfly Ray", family to the sting ray. It was huge to us---

Looks like we will be in Harlingen for another week. We really felt we would have been moving on by now, but it seems just as we get wrapped up, they drop another 10-20 claims for us. We are so thankful!! All of our friends that we have become acquainted with in Oklahoma left us this past Thursday morning, so we feel like company has left us and we are having to find new friends. We were so fortunate to have some of our friends from Oklahoma here with us.

We have met a great couple from Lafayette, Louisiana, they too have been doing this since Wilma and have been on the road for a year now. They have 3 grown children going to college and all still living at home. We have really enjoyed getting to know them and know that we will be in contact from now on. In this business you may see someone here and work together for 2-3 months and never see them again. .

Our claim load now has stretched form Mission, Tx to Brownsville, Tx. The whole valley area. When we arrived in McAllen a month ago(wow, that doesn't seem possible), it brought back so many memories of my grandparents living here many years ago. I can remember their orange grove, their lovely friends that came for winter visiting and the wonderful smell that was in the air.

After the hurricane, there was no "good smell", it actually smelled bad, dirty and yucky. We have thankfully been here long enough for the sweet aroma to return to the air. It is so amazing how fast God's creations can come back to life so fast. All flowers are blooming again, trees are blooming and if it wasn't for the blue tarps and tree debris stacked on the side of the road you would never know a hurricane was here one month ago.
Padre Island had more damage to structures, several motels and restaurants still closed, I am posting a picture of one of the motels with a big hole in the side. I cannot imagine staying and riding one of those storms out. Way to scary for me!

Our claims are getting smaller and smaller and lots less damages. Other than having a communication barrier at times, the work is getting faster and faster. So it is much less stressful now. The first two weeks of any storm is very hectic and takes time to get into the groove with all the new bosses and trying to get the most severe damages handled first.

I hope to post again soon with report as to where we will be next, that is the most exciting thing about this job, we never know when, where or for how long, but we just pack and go and take each day at a time.
Until then.............

Harlingen, Tx

Well, I really thought I would be able to blog a little more often, but no such luck!! Today I am able to blog because we got home before 8:30 or 9:00 and I don't have 3 claims to finish, or laundry to do. The last 2 nights have been very stressful and lots and lots of mental thinking, but thankfully we are getting to move closer to our claims tomorrow. We have been driving back and forth from McAllen to Harlingen everyday, to work, having NO motel rooms in a 50 mile radius, we are thankful we found a room closer to work. Our office for State Farm was set up in a old Michaels building right in the center of town so we too will have a office close to work out of. We go by the office at least once a day to retrieve messages and touch base with our many bosses their. This place is HUGE!! They set up a complete satelite office in 24 hours, it just seems so increcible to me to set back and watch how fast things can be done and still have everything available to 65 plus adjusters.
We scoped our first home on Monday morning and arrived to find incredible damages. The home had 1/2 of the roof totally gone and all the belongings wet, soggy, insulation, and all the personal property ruined. No electricity, water standing in all the light fixtures, water standing in the kitchen cabinets, mattresses soaked and mosquitos everywhere. It was so sad and the home owner still had a great big smile on his face and gave GOD the glory for saving his and his families lifes. Luckily everyone safe--.
We have experienced lots of "NEW" with this storm. Until now, we had never worked anything but regular home policies--we have had our first Farm Policy (2) homes, (2) barns--(1) home non liveable after the storm and (1) barn totally gone, which was a airplane hangar-made us think of Cory as we drove up!! These people did not use it as a hangar, didn't matter, it is gone. It was our first Policy Limit claim--meaning write the check for what they have it insured for---very interesting, you just never think it can really happen. The other first is Commercial work. We drove up to a 48 room medical building that (1) doctor was building to have his own business in. (2) story, 4000 SF on each floor and is to be used for a complete psychiatric clinic. (3) spas and physical therapy unit on the top floor. I had to sketch complete blueprints of building before accesssing any damages. I got it done after some lengthy mind checking, but thankfully the boss approved. Never thought I would be doing work that an architech does. As Curtis was taking photos that we needed I had the oppurtunity to visit with DR. Nanjappa himself, I ask him if he could tell how my mind was just visiting with him. He laughed and commented that he hoped my mind was sound--I would be the one determining his check amount!! lol. I have never, thankfully, had the chance to speak with a doctor of his mentality, but was very impressed and could have listened to his objectives thoughts on how our brains and our bodies do work.
I will post again this week with more updates and adventures--with some photos, I hope. We work with a State Farm computer and camera, so its hard to remember to get photos with our personal camera.
Unitl then........

Well HELLO!! I am back FINALLY!! And lots has happened to Curtis and I and we have been very busy. Thankfully we were hired in May to work for State Farm thru a company called Worley Claim Services. This was a dream come true. We had been working in Corpus Christie, Texas for John Deere doing some crop work and completed that work on May 2nd. That very evening we had the call that we have been waiting on for 2 years!! A bad hail storm had hit Oklahoma City and they needed help, since Curtis has his Oklahoma licenses. When we arrived in Norman, Oklahoma on May 3rd, we were told that we would be working for 3 weeks, well it seemed it would not quit hailing in Oklahoma City, we received 5 more hail storms while we were there and we ended up spending right up to 3 months there. The work was good and we both learned so much!! We love State Farm!! Learning State Farm was a huge process and the first 2 weeks seem like a big blur, but we finally got in cync with things and got off to a great start to complete 21/2 months, last Friday.
We got to go home and see the kids and friends and family and the next call came on Wednesday afternoon to work hurricane "DOLLY".
We left home on Thursday to drive the 14 long hours to arrive in McAllen, Tx to an area of complete chaos!! We spent 5 hours looking for a place to stay. We finally located a nice room in Rio Grande City, Tx which is about 45 miles west from our service center in McAllen. We are planning to stay here for 3 nights and hopefully find a place in Brownsville, Tx to stay for the rest of our work here. We have orientation Saturday morning to find out exactly where and how many claims there will be. We are excited to be working and know that we are in for alot more learning.
Damages can be seen in McAllen and Edinburg, but we are told the heavier damages are east of us and due to the roads being closed we were unable to travel that direction.
McAllen still did not have complete electricity through out the town today, so all businesses and resturaunts were closed. Funny feeling to drive the streets with 1000's others with no red lights working and no businesses open.
I will be posting pictures and experiences through out this venture, and hope to be posting on a daily basis. No promises, but I will try!
Keep checking--until then......

Whewww---We made the rounds!

 
 
 
 

As you can see, we made alot of miles on our day of outing. We started out going to have just a slow peaceful ride along the beach.... When we got to the beach and it was so windy, we decided to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway 1 to check out Malibu (which is a beautiful drive and lots of great homes to look at).

It was only 15 miles north, we could do that and enjoy it, right?

Well, we made the 15 mile ride and ended up in a traffic jam. We had to creap along the road with no way to turn around and realized we were only 15 miles from Los Angeles, so we decided to go ahead and make the jaunt up the road to visit and do some more sight seeing. After much stress in traffic (which I hate) we did get to drive down the famous RODEO DRIVE. After seeing all the fancy mancy shops and high dollar vehicles parked out front, we knew we were not in our league at all. It was definitely something to see, but my desires to ever go back---NO! Not being a shopper anyway--I didn't care who we might have seen.

After we completed the drive down that famous street we ventured up to Hollywood boulevard to find the Manns Chinese theatre to see the "famous" stars with hand and foot imprints in concrete. It was real interesting to see the different people we had heard of but surprised to see so many that we had never heard their names. With this theatre being so popular it was really crowded,needless to say--.

We spent about 1 hour in the Kodak theatre plaze and this place is truley amazing. It would be an awesome experience to be there for the Oscars, that seems to me would be the time to visit.

This whole Hollywood experience reminded me so much of New York City. The smell, the people and oh yes the TRAFFIC!!

We finally made it out to our freeway HWY 101 and the opposite direction was in the most horrible traffic jam. Curtis decided to treck just how many miles this jam was, it was 22 miles long, 6 lanes wide and they were moving nowhere. Later we found out that Brittany Spears had a slight vendor bender and that was the cause of such chaos. So thankful that we were on our way out of there.

Hollywood--a place that I am happy to say that I have been---but a place that I don't care to ever see again. Send me back for avocados and I will rejoice---send me back to sight see---Never!! Famous people and famous things just have never excited me much--it would have been nice to see someone of popularity--but no big deal that it didn't happen.

It was a long day, alot of miles and lots and lots of beautiful country. Thankfully we get to see the beatiful country without chaos of "Hollywood"!

San Diego to Los Angeles

We are still in sunny California!! After we worked for the short 5 days in San Diego, we were moved north about 150 miles, 60 miles north west of Los Angeles. But, before we left the San Deigo area, we were able to visit Oceanside, California as well as the famous San Diego Zoo. The Zoo was the most fabulous zoo we have ever been to. It was a great Sunday outing for the both of us. Never have we seen such animals in their own habitat and frankly was difficult to find some of the them. Everything is so green here and everything is blooming, so the habitat was beautiful! Monkeys have always been my favorite thing to see and this zoo had the largest monkey exibit that we have seen. We spent much of our time in Monkey jungle just admiring these great creatures.

Oceanside was very cold and breezy. We spent about 1 hour there and really was not impresssed. The odor was very dirty and the water was not pretty. In the picture you can't really tell the difference between the sand and the water. We walked out on the pier to get some pictures and it was so cool, we didn't stay long. But, it was a day worth spending touring the great sunny California.

You know it is so much fun getting to do some of the tourists things when we are traveling around, but we both seem to enjoy our work experiences so much more. The things we happen upon are much more exciting and seeing how the people work and live is much more interesting. We have been many places and have visited many different farms and farming operations---and one thing is the same every where we go---farmers are just ordinary hard working American people. We find ourselves wanting to know more about their lives and what their individual techniques are and what is the most popular thing in the area that we are in.

We currently are staying in Oxnard, California which is in Ventura County. Yes, we are here for the avocado crop, but 1/2 of all our avocado farmers are Lemon farmers as well. This county is the largest lemon and strawberry growing county in the U.S. There are lemon and strawberries everywhere. Among strawberries, we have seen celery being grown and harvested as well. We actually are staying in a motel that is right in the heart of warehouses after warehouses that are packaging produce that we consume in Muleshoe. I find that so intersting and realize why our prices are the way they are.

We left an inspection that was located in Thousand Oaks, California, exiting on the highway right out of the farmers drive we notice a sign stating that we were only 1/2 mile from the entrance to the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum. We decided, what the heck, and lets go see what it is all about. We only got to stay for about an hour, due to having another appointment, but it was so educational and would love to have the time to go back and actually see Air Force One. This presidents library is the only library that has Air Force One on display.
But, we were so fortunate to visited at a time that the Williamsburg, Virginia, Red Coat, members where set up and giving life like examples of what it was like when the British were fighting. They had 20 different booths set up--showing how the British lived, ate, fought and even had a doctor that had numerous tools and knowledge to share with us. It was such a learning experience and again I have to say, wish I would have listened more in school!!

Curtis has much more history knowledge than I do and President Reagan just happens to be one of his favorite Presidents. When President Reagan past away--we were two people that watched the whole burial process on t.v.--so it was nice seeing exactly where he is buried.

Ok--going to do the Hollywood thing tomorrow will be posting more--

Until then...................

Avocado-Oranges-Grapefruits--LuJuans??

Temecula, California---97,0000 population---and for every person their is 10 cars on the freeway. Way to much traffic for the both of us. This is a central location that we are staying at. We are 50 miles North of San Diego and 70 miles South of Los Angeles. We are 30 miles from Oceanside--which is right over the mountain from where we are staying. Right in the heart of all the wildfires. I have taken pictures of the hillsides that you can see where the fire killed some trees and others survived. We haven't seen any homesteads where the fires took them, but the homes we have seen are very extravagant. Most all our farm owners are doctors, lawyers, dentist and large family inheritance. Everyone we have visited have been very nice and willing to explain to these two ignorant Texas common folks. We don't understand Avocados---they don't understand cotton??? Simply amazing!!
We have got up and going and really getting some work done. This has been the best experience we have had so far with this job. This is the most beautiful place we have been and the weather has been unbelievable. Even though this is where the fires were last fall, we are here doing irrigation inspections for the company. The local water districts here have limited the farmers to lower water availability and the company wants us to access the farms and what the farmer is doing to allocate this water limitation. The farmer has to reduce his tree population to accomodate lower water rates, and in doing this reduction this process is called STUMPING. They cut the tree back to 3-4 foot for re-growth in 3 years. They have to paint the stump white to prevent sun blistering the bark and killing the tree. We have a 3 page interview sheet and have to visually look at the trees. The largest farm has been 57 acres, but most of the farms are 5-15 acres. And all the acres all on the mountain sides. I have never seen a avocado tree before and never imagined that it would be on such steep grades on the hillsides. Some pickers hang from ropes off the side of cliffs to pick the trees.
While Curtis was in an interview, I was able to visit with a picker (Fele). He said he had been doing this job since he was very little, but had worked for this farmer for 3 years. He and 1 other man works for this man year round and they pick the whole orchard, just the 2 of them---1 sack at a time. You will see in the pictures how the picking works and then they fill up the bins and put them on the edge of their property and late evening the packing plants pick up the bins. So I hope to bring home lots of avocadoes to share. From the time they are picked it takes 10 days to 2 weeks before they can be eaten.
We have also seen so many kinds of fruits. Oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes are the most common, but today, we tasted a fruit called LuJuan. It is a very small fruit and grows in clusters on the trees. You do have to peel it just like an orange, but it is a clear pulp and very very sweet.
This trip has reminded me so much of my grandparents orchard that they owned in the valley. We arrived at a farm today and as soon as the door opened I smelled the most beautiful smell of citrus trees blooming. My memories came back instantly and I was a very young girl then. I would say I was 10-12 years old the last time I visited them in their orchard. If you have ever smelled that odor---you will never forget it. I wanted to cut some blooms and bring them back to the room, but we are not allowed to accept anything from the farm owners. Conflict of interest, but before we come home--we plan to load up on fruit and avocados.
I will be keeping you up to date and on our where abouts---we plan to do some sight seeing this weekend and I will be posting again.
Until then...................

California---HERE WE COME!

We just got news that we are to be working Avocadoes in Califonia!! We left home on Tuesday morning and arrived here in Temecula California tuesday evening. It was extremely long drive but we are here and I will keep everyone posted. All we know is its the avocadoes that were damaged by fire. I will also get to be working---its going to be an exciting time and a great learning experience!!! As soon as I get some news---I will be posting!
Until then..................

Time in Tennessee coming to an End

Our time in Tennessee looks like it will be coming to a close the end of this week. Our claim status has dwindeled considerably!! Strange as it may sounds, most farmers that we lack are farmers that have been in TEXAS to custom harvest. We laughed thinking that we could have done most of this work in January right from our home, for the Southern Division of the company that we are working for. Kinda crazy huh?? Looks like we will be home next weekend--and we will acutally get to stay home for a week before attending a school in Dallas. We both are looking forward to it!!
I had spoken about tornado sirens in my previous blog, and I have posted a couple of pictures of damages that we saw. The tornado was 5 miles from our motel and did quiet a bit of damage to the small town of Popular Grove. It is so sickening to be driving by and witnessing families trying to gather what belongings that they have left after such a storm. Friends, neighbors helping clean up the mess along beside the families is extraordinary! We have since passed this sight many times and it is amazing to see just what 3 days does, you can hardly tell anything had happened--except the two homes that were destroyed.
Our weekends get extremely long away from home and we always try to find something to pass some time on Saturday---Last weekend we drove over to Memphis and visited the Memphis Zoo. If you are ever near Memphis and have some time, I highly recommend the zoo. It was great! We couldn't have ask for better weather--60 degrees and absolutely no wind. We spent a considerable amount of time looking at all the animals--but while we were there--the monkeys began communicating to one another--and my goodness, the noise was indescribable. One began its squawk, then another joined in--then another, then another. It did not matter our where abouts in the zoo, it could be heard. We ran back to see first hand and the crowds made no difference to these monkeys!! They were a riot!!
This Saturday we again had lots of time on our hands and we went back to Memphis for the annual RV show. We made note last week that there was going to be a boat show and thought we would enjoy attending something like that. Low and behold we had the wrong dates down and got to see a convention center full of RV's. Now I am telling you--these RV's are better than our home. It was an adventure and quiet interesting to say the least. These salesman pushing to sell us an RV for $300,000.00 was amazing. We have often talked about getting an RV for our work, but after seeing the prices and putting a pencil to our work--we will continue to choose the motel!! There are so many pros and cons about fellow employees having their own home to take with them--but I personally do like the motel. It is really hard to believe that we have spent 41/2 complete months in a motel room. We have learned pack light, pack organized and use all the essentials the motel has to offer.
Being downtown Memphis we visited the world known "RENDEVOUS" restuarant. This place is known for its ribs and bbq. It is in an old basement and all meat is cooked by the broiler to heat a old motel. They are known for their famous "RUB" on their ribs. Elvis, Rolling Stones and many other famous people have eaten here. It was an experience finding it in an alley and underground. Besides FREEZING, we had a great day.
We woke today with it being 20 degrees!! To cold to do anything outside. We attended church and have settled ourselves in to a day to watch the next to the last football games of the seaon.(To bad for Dallas)
Not knowing our next adventure I will be keeping you posted...
Until then.......

In a New Year---

Unbeleivable that another year is upon us! I realize it has been such a long break in between blogs, but we were able to go home and see all the family and spend alot of great time with everyone! We left Tennessee on December 22 to go home for 10 days. Thankfully we were able to go back to Tennessee to do work through the month of January. Being home with the kids was so much fun and we had such a great Christmas. I actually didn't do any decorating--except for the last minute thought of the table decoration for our family meal. Curtis went across the street and cut the evergreen pieces off our neighbors evergreen tree, I then gathered up some decorations that I had put away from Cory and Angels wedding. It was so much fun and so fast---decorating and undecorating for Christmas. We spent so much time playing games and introducing the old game of "PIT" to the kids. If you are not familiar with the game---lets just say---a WHOLE lot of hollering goes on. I think Jenna lost her voice from screaming--but we laughed and had such a great time!! We spent Christmas eve at Granny Hunts home and had everyone there in Curtis's family but Tori. She was not able to come this year.
The actual Christmas eve, Curtis and I put together a traveling Christmas video scavenger for a bunch of kids. We had 17 participate and had a blast. I think the kids did a great creative job on what they put together. They had to put the 12 days of Christmas together with each day being from a different house-and those at that house had to do the singing. I am going to try to add 1 small part of a video to share--hopefully I will get it to work. It was a nice way to celebrate Christmas-- We spent Christmas day at the movies--that has become a tradition that we started 4 years ago. Cory and Angel were able to go with us, along with Sam, Lisa and Dal. Coli and Jenna were spending Christmas with her grandmother--they were missed but we totally understand!!
The rest of the week just flew by--we had my family Christmas at my mothers on the 30th of December. My sister and her family were not able to come home this year, so it was just us. We had a nice relaxing day and thankfully my parents had 3 days off--in a row!!!!
New years eve--we planned a 4 wheeling trip to Kermit Texas. It is all sand dunes--and there was 10 of us that got to go. We had a great time--other than so many wrecks (thankfully noone got hurt badly) we had an awesome time. We got home at 10:00 p.m.--so needless to say--we slept for the arrival of the New Year!
We left home on January 4th to arrive back in Tennesee on the 5th. We are expected to stay here until the end of January. The work is very easy--just working alot of paper work because there is nothing left in the fields. It did get 74 degrees here on the 7th and so beautiful. We acutally have not had that many sunny days--it has rained 3/4 of the time we have been in Tennessee. We had a bit of a scare on Tuesday the 8th, the bad storms came in and the tornado warning sirens went off 4 times. We decided we would take cover here in the motel room---lying in the bathtub. Dyersburg did have 2 tornadoes--1, 3 miles south of town, and 1, 5 miles east of town. We haven't heard how much damage has been done yet, but we are so thankful that we are SAFE.
My pictures that I have posted are very random--but I did want to share something. Maybe it won't be that long for me to be posting again--
Until then....................