Well, the first real update in a week or so. It's been a great, but exhausting, first week on the new job. I've had to go to the main station in Columbus, GA, everyday. It's about 45 minutes away from the bureau and from home. I'm not a morning person, and getting up every morning at 6 a.m. was not my cup of tea. It's odd going from central to eastern time, but oh well. Anyhow, I'll be working out of the bureau from here on out. I met Elizabeth, the girl who I'll be working with on a daily basis. She seems very nice and very energetic.

The station is great. Everyone has made me feel right at home. I've also learned that the whole news staff is majority Republican. You don't find that too often in news. It's a welcome change. I've seen some of my old friends and co-workers. It's actually nice to be back down here. However, I'd come back to Tuscaloosa in heartbeat.

The apartment is coming together. We've got a few more boxes to empty out, but it's almost finished.

Not a lot else to say right now, I guess. I'll close for now!

We're in our new place. Today was my first day of work. It was a lot of fun, but you'll have to wait for the details. I'm tired and very cranky. We haven't had a day's rest in over a week. Later…

Today, I will say adios to our post office box. I will also say goodbye to our Comcast internet service. That's going to be hard not having the internet this evening and tomorrow. However, when we get to our new home Saturday, I will have BellSouth DSL Xtreme waiting on me. I just hope the new modem and stuff shows up before then.

So, with this post, I say farewell to Tuscaloosa. It has been a great couple of years in this place. I love this town and just maybe one day we can come back here. Granted, the only way that will ever happen is if one of the Birmingham stations hires me for the T-Town bureau spot. I don't see that happening any time in the near future. It's hard enough just to get into that city. I digress… We love the town, but this is a new beginning for us. I'll start work Monday morning at 8 a.m. CST. I have to be at my new station at 9 a.m. EST. See the confusion I'm going to have to live with everyday now? I'm happy to be working out of the East Alabama bureau, though. It's in a very nice office building. I don't know what the girl I'll be working with is like. I don't know what stories to pull out of my hat just yet. I like the uncertainty of things so far. File the last couple of sentences under “random tangents.” I just woke up.

It looks like we'll be coming back here Sunday, though. Got to get my car. Also, depending on if I can get my haircut today or tomorrow, I'll have to see Suzy one last time. She's always done a good job on my hair. That's another thing I have to look for in our new place.

Well, I need to quit before my mind becomes absolute mush. I need to finish packing the last remaining boxes. Justin is coming by today and taking to me to run some errands. If I move my car, I'll lose my good parking space. I'll need it in the morning for the U-Haul.

That's it for now. The next post will be from our new home across the state. So long, Tuscaloosa. See you again soon.

I wish it would be a better day. This week has been hectic so far. All I did Monday was load the U-Haul. Yesterday, we went to our new place where my dad and cousin-in-law, Wes, helped us to unload everything. I can't even express how grateful I am for those two being there. Dad was a last minute addition to the crew. He called late Monday and wouldn't take “no” for an answer about helping us. I had wanted to wait until Saturday for his help, but he wanted to come down yesterday, too. It took me almost 12 hours to load the truck by myself Monday, and less than an hour yesterday to unload it at the storage unit. We even got to set some stuff up inside the apartment. The more I stayed in there yesterday, the more I like it. It will do just fine for the next few months while we search for a house.

My boss has yet to reply to me. I've e-mailed and called him, but still wait to hear from him. I need to know what he wants me to do Monday. Granted, he's just moved into a new house and finally has his family down from Indiana. It wouldn't surprise me if he's not even in the office a lot this week.

I'm sore like a champ. My shoulders and lower back are killing me. I can sort of relax and rest today and tomorrow, but Friday it all starts again. I'm still struggling to find someone to help me that day. I will certainly need it because that's furniture day. The couch, dressers, washer, and dryer all have to be moved. I won't be able to do those on my own. I could if it weren't for these stairs outside. I have furniture carts available, but the stairs don't make it that easy. So… if you're reading this and you're free… Please? I'll buy you dinner!

Enough for now. I need to get to the post office and try to locate more boxes. There are a few more things to pack, but thankfully not anywhere close to the number of things that we've already moved. It's all over in three days…

I've been loading the U-Haul all day. I've come in for a break to eat and relax. I also came into a good piece of news:

Supreme Court Preserves 'God' in Pledge

That should chap the rear of a few venom-spewing atheists/liberals I know. I can only imagine the hatred I'll have to listen to now.

Anyhow… on to less controversial subjects… Justin is coming over in a couple of hours to help me load the furniture. I've been working all day by myself. It's not been a lot of fun, but it's not been that bad. Jennifer's dad let me borrow a set of heavy-duty hand trucks. That has absolutely saved me from some trips down the stairs and an aching back. I feel okay for now.

Not too much else going on. This is only one-half of the move. We'll get another truck Friday and then be completely moved by Saturday. I need to let my stomach settle and then it's back to work!