Friday, July 23, 2004
Tennessee - Not Quite Deliverance
Before we headed for the Beautiful South, we went over to Canada so that Ren could have her eye surgery. She got LASIK treatment to correct her -4.75 prescription vision to better than 20/20 - although right now, it's still a little blurry. I watched the operation - sick, but fascinating.
The road trip to TN was long, but pretty easy-going... it's a good 12-hour journey, but Ren's Mom (sic) is a trooper when it comes to driving, and the rest of us slept most of the way. It's absolutely stunning down there, a lot greener than the Mid-West or Florida, with endless rolling hills and woodland. The people too, are so friendly and hospitable - I don't think I've been hugged, kissed and stood with my arm around near-complete strangers so much in all my life. Well, not sober, anyway! We went to Nashville - a real live-music city, and had such a good time, that we don't remember the last 40 minutes of the evening - at all!
We're back in MI now, and a collective 30 pounds heavier, preparing for the arrival of Steve, Paul and Rich. We've eaten so much that we've taken to missing meals because we're still full. I'm NOT joking - Phill "enormous appetite" Lintern today shared a meal with Ren, just to get the portion size down!
The road trip to TN was long, but pretty easy-going... it's a good 12-hour journey, but Ren's Mom (sic) is a trooper when it comes to driving, and the rest of us slept most of the way. It's absolutely stunning down there, a lot greener than the Mid-West or Florida, with endless rolling hills and woodland. The people too, are so friendly and hospitable - I don't think I've been hugged, kissed and stood with my arm around near-complete strangers so much in all my life. Well, not sober, anyway! We went to Nashville - a real live-music city, and had such a good time, that we don't remember the last 40 minutes of the evening - at all!
We're back in MI now, and a collective 30 pounds heavier, preparing for the arrival of Steve, Paul and Rich. We've eaten so much that we've taken to missing meals because we're still full. I'm NOT joking - Phill "enormous appetite" Lintern today shared a meal with Ren, just to get the portion size down!
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Michigan, USA
Well, we've arrived on the first leg of our trip - visiting Ren's folks in Michigan, USA. Quite the opposite of the slumming it that we'll be doing for the next year, but hey we figured we needed a holiday after the immense stress of packing, cleaning, storing and sorting that went on for the last two weeks. Lots of eating and drinking being done here, and have already had the unusual experience of attending my first ever Country & Western concert.
There's a certain 'element' of people that go to these things... I mean, you couldn't even play the "Spot the Mullet" game, because you'd be overwhelmed instantly! Pick-up trucks, blue jeans, missing teeth, wife-beater-vests and cowboy hats everywhere!. Mind you... I've always found cowboy hats quite endearing on ladies. ;-)
Still to go - a trip to the South (Tennessee), Renee having her eyes LASIK'd in Canada, Cedar Point the most extreme coaster park in the world, and then up to Wisconsin with the gang.
There's a certain 'element' of people that go to these things... I mean, you couldn't even play the "Spot the Mullet" game, because you'd be overwhelmed instantly! Pick-up trucks, blue jeans, missing teeth, wife-beater-vests and cowboy hats everywhere!. Mind you... I've always found cowboy hats quite endearing on ladies. ;-)
Still to go - a trip to the South (Tennessee), Renee having her eyes LASIK'd in Canada, Cedar Point the most extreme coaster park in the world, and then up to Wisconsin with the gang.
