Day in the Garden of Good and Evil August 15, 2008

Booking it from Atlanta we arrived in Savannah last night. It’s only a 3 hour drive but it felt like forever. Maybe because we could feel the humidity creep up on us. Our air conditioner had to keep being turned up the closer we got. By the time we were 20 miles out there was a fog on all the windows. Stepping out of the car my glasses fogged up and so did the lens on my camera. It was muggy and HOT. Wow. We were really sweating by the time we got to our hotel room. It was after 10 p.m. and it was still 85 degrees with at least 75% humidity. Insane.

But I am so excited to be in Savannah. I have wanted to be visit forever! I don’t know why. I’m sure I’ve seen too many movies, read too many stories or entertained too many romantic notions about the South, but nevertheless I’m fulfilling a long-time desire.

We started the day taking in an overview of the city on the Old Town Trolley Tour. It offers on and off service at over 14 locations in Savannah. It’s a great way to get the layout of the city and figure out what you want to see.

Our day itinerary included: lunch at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding house, tours of the Telfair’s Owen’s Thomas and Davenport House.

If you’re ever in Savannah you must go to Mrs. Wilkes Boarding house. It is a treat! Served family style you eat with perfect strangers and quickly become friends. The table is set and full of food when you sit down. We were given: fried chicken, beef stew, ribs, collard greens, mashed potatoes, gravy, rice, sweet potatoes, macaroni salad, cabbage, black-eyed peas, corn muffins, biscuits, stuffing, creamed corn, and more I can’t even remember. It was all delicious. We were all so full and happy when we left. It’s a good thing we planned on walking a lot.

Our next stop were the house tours. We started with Telfair’s Owens-Thomas house, designed by English architect William Jay in 1819. He is a man after my own heart and designed this English Regency house on balance and symmetry. Every door, window, column and staircase has its mirror, even if it has to be a false front. The house itself is beautiful and beautifully restored.

The Davenport House (1820), which someone today described as a common man’s house. It is the project that sparked a historic preservation movement in Savannah in the 1950s. I didn’t particularly care for how the Davenport House was restored. It felt cheap, gaudy and awfully decorated. Now, I’m not a restoration expert, but I have toured a lot of restored homes. (I’m not a doctor but I play one on tv). And Debbie kind of is - she headed up the design team that restored the Queen Mary. So she knows her stuff. To us, it didn’t feel authentic or typical of its period. The colors were too bright. The wallpaper was loudly patterned and distracting. The doors were poorly stained and designs on the floor. There were three or four people on our tour who kept asking the docent if she was sure the wallpaper, flooring and colors were accurate. So it wasn’t just us.

On a sidenote I’m amazed at how much of the South has been destroyed, not in the civil war, but in the states own lack of interest in preserving its past. This was definitely the case with Atlanta and also seen here in Savannah. “Why are we doing to ourselves what we hated Sherman for doing.” (Margret Mitchell).

We had dinner at a local favorite, Blowin’ Smoke BBQ. Just outside the historic district, down by Forsyth Park. Debbie and I both had pulled pork. It had been slow-smoked for 24 hours and it showed, deliciously moist and juicy. It was nice to be out of the touristy area for a bit. There was live jazz, water spritzers on the patio and a fun bean-bag toss while you wait for your table. The restaurant also has a done of microbrews to try, which we did not. Still a fun place to visit.

My favorite part of the day, even though it was 92 with 89% humidity, was just walking around the city squares with the amazing architecture, beautiful live oak trees with spanish moss (that is neither spanish or moss and is full of bugs), and soaking up the peaceful, laid back atmosphere of the city.

So great to be here.

Marti in the City August 12, 2008

It’s been four months since my last trip out of Canton. Only this time I’m not in California. I’m in Georgia. Atlanta to be specific.

I was excited for the break. I was excited to see Debbie, who flew out from CA to hang with me. I was excited to see a new place. But I didn’t realize how happy I would be to return to an actual city - with freeways, lots of tall buildings, traffic, smog, lots of cars, history, culture and many non-chain restaurants.

Aaahh a real city.

I had some time to kill this afternoon so I drove around and soaked it all in. It is gloriously lovely. I did a little drive-by siteseeing and saw Centennial Olympic Park, Underground Atlanta, art deco architecture of the government building, CNN building, Buckhead and several historic districts.

Tonight we had dinner at Pitty Pat’s Porch. It boasts as “the place” for downhome southern food. So we checked it out. It was good. I had the fried chicken and Debbie had the pork tenderloin (dressed up with raisins and pureed sweet potatoes). A little pricey for what it is, a kitchily decorated southern plantation, ala Disney. Very touristy. Nothing fancy. Average price is $22/entree.

The best part was driving around the city at dusk. Armed with a GPS we did another drive-by of the downtown and even ventured over to find Ebenezer Baptist Church. It was a little scary for two white girls after dark, but still worth it. We want to make it back during the day to check out the historic preservation center.

Six more days of city goodness.

Shedding PST May 1, 2008

No I don’t have some weird skin condition. Instead I am still on Pacific Standard Time in a very EST (Eastern Standard Time) world. I was in CA just long enough to get three hours behind. Now its 1:36 in the morning and I’m wide-awake. Three hours is just long enough to be ridiculously off schedule for no real good reason. I mean I didn’t go to China or New Zealand.

So now I’m up. Watching re-runs of Little People Big World. I love that show. I am also attempting to catch up on emails, organize photos and convince myself I’m tired and should go lay down. But I don’t really want to. UGH!

I feel like I’m in a weird lala land. I miss California tremendously, or more precisely I miss my friends. Coming back to Ohio is always a shock to the system. I’ve decided that I need to more deliberately engage in life here in the big city. I’m going to attempt to look for a church and volunteer somewhere.

I’m also in a bit of a panic because the tags on my car expire this month. I’m not worried about the renewal fee or anything silly like that, but because with the simple thing my life in California will be officially over. I will have to hand over the two things that tangibly tie me to my former life - my California license plates and my California driver’s license. I am so proud of those two things. I love them. I like seeing them when in the parking lot or a store. It somehow reminds me of who I was.

They almost make me feel snobby. It is how I keep myself separate from Ohio, not that there is anything wrong with it, but still. I like letting people know that I’m not from here, I’m just passing through. But am I? I have no idea. And the odd thing is I am kind of from here. I lived a lot of my life before the age of 12 in the great Buckeye State. Maybe I need to reconnect with a different part of myself. I know I’m being ridiculous. It took me years to feel at home in CA. I used to reject the notion of being there too.

I think I am just resistant to change. I need to learn a more healthy way to let go and move on.

Trip to the City: Pittsburgh March 30, 2008

This weekend mom and I took a quick overnight trip to Pittsburgh. It’s only two hours away but we got a great rate on Hotwire for the historic Omni William Penn and decided to make an adventure of it.

We left early Saturday morning and wound our way through the backroads of Ohio, WV and PA to reach Pittsburgh. There are some seriously small towns out there. I decided that what determined exactly how middle of nowhere someplace is, is how far away Wal-Mart is. If Wal-Mart decided it was too small to build you knew it was too small to live in. Forget about measuring with Target, that place is to shi-shi-la-la for the backwoods. The drive was beautiful though, but I was happy to get to the city.

Our first stop was the Duquesne Incline. I have no idea how to pronounce it but its an amazing view of the city. You see the sweeping views of the river, the stadium, the bridges and the skyline. It reminded me of Angels Flight in LA. I got to ride it in 2000, a year before someone died on it and it closed indefinitely. Honestly though, in PA, you can drive to the top of the ride (1220 Grandview St) and you don’t really need to ride it unless you really feel the need.

Then we drove to the University of Pittsburgh to tour the Cathedral of Learning. 24 classrooms were created representing the different nationalities that make up Pittsburgh: Lithuian, Irish, Polish, Indian, Hungarian, Scottish, English, Chinese, Yugoslavian, Swedish, Romanian, German, Italian, Czech, Syria-Lebanon, Russian, Norwegian, French, Austrian, African, Armenian, Ukranian, Israeli and Japanese. Each room is decorated to represent the countries’ highest periods of creativity. Many of the countries sent over their own artisans, architects and planners to decorate their rooms.

What’s funny is that to tour the rooms you’re given a tape-recorder and cassette with the narration. I kid you not. My favorite rooms were the English room because of the history. It was decorated with actual materials from the house of commons that was bombed during WWII. My other favorite was the Romanian. It was just spectacularly simple and beautiful with deep rich reds, black wrought iron and an incredible mural with encrusted gold leaf designs of the kings of a march of somesort.

It took us about two hours to tour, and that was rushing through the second floor. We needed at least 30 minutes more. Across the quad we went to see the Heinz Memorial Chapel, spectacular stained glass, so beautiful. The University of Pittsburgh is great. However some event was happening and we got locked on campus. All exit roads were closed. The GPS was freaking out practically screaming to turn left and we could not. Finally a policeman sensing our dismay opened a barricade and let us out.

Exhausted we headed towards the hotel. Upon arrival we discovered that they have an afternoon tea in the terrace room. Oh yea. I love tea. So we made reservations immediately. They had about 8 different teas - I opted for the Orange Pekoe and mom got the black currant. I liked her better. We got the Victorian Tea (for $17). It was fun, a good way to relax and absorb everything. The lobby of the hotel was beautiful. We wanted to get a manicure at the in-hotel spa but they were booked, so we went shopping at an 11-story Macy’s instead.

For dinner we went Church Brew Works. A restaurant in former Catholic Church built in 1902. As a former Catholic we felt slightly blasphemous eating. Deciding it was no worse than a coffeeshop/restuarant most mega churchs have. Besides, we got over it when we tasted the pierogies, so good. The food was great, I highly recommend it.

On Sunday, we had brunch across the river at Grand Concourse in Station Square. It is a converted railway station. It is gorgeous, full of stained glass and amazing views of the city across the river. Food was good too.

Then we headed home. As we drove down the freeway we passed the closest Ikea to us and my mom casually informed me that she’d never been. So we had to stop there too. I missed Ikea. But I quickly realized its no fun to shop there when you don’t have a space of your own to decorate. I got a little sad walking through there.

But now it was time to head back over the river, through the woods to mom and dad’s house in OH. There is a lot more in Pittsburgh I want to explore. It will have to be another weekend. I also can’t wait to see the drive when all of the trees are full of leaves and life. It will be beautiful.

Day 5: Arrival in Ohio February 5, 2008

Missing his family Mike, the primary driver, was determined to get from Kansas to Ohio today. We made the 783 mile trip in about eight hours of heavy rain. At one point we hydroplaned across the freeway it was so wet. Mike said that if we hadn’t been so weighed down with all my stuff the car would have ended up in the ditch. So thank God for his protection and all my junk.

Undaunted Mike pressed on. I went to sleep. As the cold of the rain settled into my bones my general enthusiasm for the trip faded. We were in the home stretch. This was it. No turning back.

I took a video at the state line of Ohio, waiting for my official welcome from the state. Then at about 60 miles away I started to sob. All of the emotion was caught in my chest and throat. I couldn’t stop crying. I did not want to be there.

But we rolled in and my parents were so excited. I tried to put on a brave face until my mom hugged me and I lost it. She cried with me and we talked until about 12:30 a.m. and then I went to sleep.

It’s going to be an interesting ride.

Day 4: Time with God and Friends in KS and MO February 4, 2008

We started out the day in Wichita KS. After a lovely hot breakfast at our hotel we were off in search of IHOP in Kansas City, MO.

Not to eat but to spend time with God. See, it’s the International House of Prayer. Since 1999 people have spent 24/7 in prayer for the world and for revelation from God for our times. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Mike has friends that have been there and he’s heard stories of people healed in the parking lot, prophesy, vision and dreams emerging from this place. Now I was just a little scared.

So we arrived at a coverted strip mall with a coffee shop, bookstore, offices and a sanctuary. I was hoping to go into one of the prayer rooms, to be prayed over as I seek God’s direction, presence and peace for my next step in life. It turns out those rooms aren’t available until Thursday of this week.

So we went into the main prayer room where there is ongoing worship and well, prayer. It was a generic sanctuary full of people on laptops, some are praying, others are whispering, some are reading, and some are singing. It was very normal, for lack of a better word. I think in my head I was expecting something strange to be going on. But there wasn’t, just normal people seeking God.

So we sit down and just start praying, listening, and observing. Mike, who is much more familiar with this than I am immediately gets immersed into the moment. It takes me a little longer. Of course my mind is going 8 gamilion miles an hour. Wondering, what should I be doing? Will God speak to me? Should I sing? Should I pray? What do I pray for? So many questions. It reminded me of the first three hours of my experience with the movie Into Great Silence. Again I was having trouble surrendering to the moment. This time my mind is full of worries about the future, getting back to Ohio, all that I left behind in CA. I can’t hear God because I’m talking too much and its way too noisy in my head and heart.

But the environment is so peaceful. There is a calming presence. I began to be still. I was able to rest, after a while. I’m glad we went. I needed to stop and surrender everything to God. I needed to give him the pain, the expectations, the fear, the anxiety, the hope and my plans. I’m a little bit more ready to face the final leg of our journey and the beginning of this next phase of my life.

We spent the second half of our day with a former co-worker and his wife. They were gracious enough to let us stay with them in Kansas City and give us an official tour. We had delicious Kansas City BBQ, saw The Plaza, walked around the shops and saw some great architecture. I really liked it, I highly recommend visiting. If you know Dave, give him a call and get a tour We deemed him the official ambassador of Kansas City.

It was a good day.

Day 3: Big Texan, Back Roads, Dorothy in Oz February 3, 2008

Today was a mixture of emotions, landscapes and sites.

We started in Albuquerque, New Mexico, travelled through the Texas panhandle, the Oklahoma lowlands and have ended the day in Kansas. That’s a whole lot of nothing. Honestly the most boring landscape on the planet. It’s flat, bland and we encountered some seriously weird people. It’s the heartland of America no one wants to talk about.

Our first siteseeing stop of the day was in Amarillo, Texas. The goal was to see Cadillac Ranch and the Big Texan. We only made it to the Big Texan. If you’re anywhere near Amarillo you really need to stop to see this homegrown kitsch that reeks of tackyliciousness. The steaks were good. The deserts were big and the tea was fresh brewed.

Our GPS had no idea where the ranch was and we decided to press on. However what it did find for us were the back roads of America. We travelled to Wichita, over 300 miles, through the small blips on the map that you wish you could avoid. You know the roads where its 70 mph one second and then you enter a 45 mph zone, which is where the cops catch you in a speed trap and give you a ticket. Yep, Mike got one. But he was a very nice cop. One of the nicest I’ve ever met.

The highlight of the flat, ugly lands was that it took us through Liberal, KS where we got to see Dorothy’s house. That’s right we got to visit Auntie Em’s home. It was closed when we got there but it didn’t stop us from taking lots of pictures and taking the time to swing. It was fun.

I also got to see the small hamlet where my brother spent one very eventful year of his life in college. It is the infinitesimal town of Haviland, KS. Population is 700 whopping peeps. Entering into the town my heart sank. I just can’t imagine living there. I don’t know how he survived. But it was a glimpse into a part of his life that I was not apart of. So it was good.

Finally we arrived in Wichita at 11 p.m. The hard part was finding out hotel. The clerks, who speak little to no English has no idea how to get us from the road to their business. We gave up and just found another hotel. Talk about frustrating.

Nothing about today went as we expected. It was the height of frustration and irritation. As I sat on these yesteryear roads, waiting over 100 miles to find an open gas station to pee and fill up the tank I began to wonder what in the hell I was doing. I just wanted to go home, home to CA. I want to go back to our condo, with my roommates and just watch a movie. I longed for the familar. My chest began to tighten and it was a little harder to breathe. A sense of panic tried to settle into my bones. What in the world am I doing? I have no idea, I just know that I have to do this to grow in a way that I couldn’t in CA.

There were a lot of forced breaths, panicked text messages to friends and some tears. I have no idea what’s going to happen.

There is some metaphor for my life right now on those back roads and everything that we experienced today but I’m too tired to find it. All I pray is that God fill every minute with his peace, presence, clarity, wisdom and guidance. Help me Jesus.

Day 2: Grand Canyon, Painted Desert February 2, 2008

We started off the day in snowy Flagstaff. It felt like it was about 5 degrees outside, but Mike informs me that it was actually 20. But honestly at those temperatures what’s the difference?

After a dismal continental breakfast at the hotel we headed for the grand canyon. I’ve been once, right after college but Mike had never seen it. So we drove the hour into the part and I forgot how majestic it is. The grand canyon is so spectacularly beautiful. Standing on the edge of the rim I was mesmerized. A friend recently told me that looking at the grand canyon made him more aware of how amazing God is. He created something so expansive and awesome and yet knows him intimately. While he feels so small he knows that God is so very big.

After wandering around Mather Point for over an hour we walked around the park a little and then headed out. I was so tired. I think it was exercising at 8000 feet, or maybe the chaos of the last 3 weeks finally caught up with me. I have no idea but once we got back in the car I was out. I woke up about an hour or so later and remember that I wanted to see the Painted Desert.

So off we went on the 180 towards the Petrified Wood National Park. Once we were on Route 66 we passed the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ. Each teepee has a classic car in front of it. It’s tackily delicious.

We arrived at the park at 3:30 and it closes at 5 p.m. so we drove the 28-mile road through the park in just an hour. We didn’t have the time to give it, it’s due. But my favorite sections are the blue mesa, the teepees and the painted desert. IThe range of color is fantastic from purple, to gray, to red. After a while it was overwhelming, to much to take in. Too big to contemplate. Then our time was up and we ended out day in Albuquerque.

A great day of beauty and conversation. I think Mike and I are getting used to each other. We haven’t spent this much time together since I was in high school. We have to learn how to be friends again. We were best friends growing up, but as adults our lives have gone in two very different directions. He got married and had kids. I went to college, grad school and focused on my job and friends. We’re pretty different people.

I realized before I left that my closest friends in CA know me better and different than my real family does, who only see me once a year. Learning to know them again is going to be interesting. I already miss my friends terribly. I’m also petrified about having to make all new friends in Ohio. I’m so not ready to have the same conversation over and over again. I don’t want to have to date for friends. Since you know that finding good friends is like finding a good man, almost a downright miracle. UGH. I’m sick of dating.

I’m tired. I would even go as far to say weary. At 800 miles into my trip back to Ohio I can’t remember why I’m doing it. I am so heavy with the knowledge and feeling of what I’ve left behind. I’m sure my feelings will contrinue to fluctuate. I just have to rest in the knowledge that this is a journey for growth in Christ, a journey to heal and a journey to discover what God has next for me.

But in the meantime I’m just a bit sad.

Day 1:Out of CA February 2, 2008

After a crazy week of saying goodbye, packing and working full time Mike and I are on our way to Ohio.

It was a lot harder to pack up, prep to move and work full time than I imagined. Sometimes you just can’t do everything. I know I left some loose ends, things undone and I didn’t get to see everyone I wanted to before I left. But the ending was still good.

I really don’t think I would have made it without my brother. He was quite the support, helping me to stay on track, load boxes, get stuff shipped out and make sure all of my crap actually fit in the car. I am so glad he was there with me.

Last night I had a great prayer time with Tina and Janine as we left our apartment. Then Lisa graciously let us stay at her house last night. It was fun to hang out with her.

Today I had my exit interview, where I was very honest about why I was leaving the organization, worked a few hours, packed up my office, closed my bank account in CA, went to lunch and THEN we left. LOL. It was insane.

We got on the road at about 3:30. It took us about two hours to go about 50 miles, but then we sailed on through to Flagstaff, our first stop. We arrived at midnight to about a foot of snow. It was odd. I really didn’t recognize it. It is really cold here.

Overall, the drive today went pretty fast. I was still overwhelmed, sad and stressed. The first few hours were the hardest emotionally.

Mike asked me an interesting question, has the sense of adventure kicked in yet? I don’t think it has. Now I need to fight to live in this moment with him, experience the trip, have fun. Hard to balance all the emotion at once. Some moments I’m happy, energetic and excited, other times I’m sad and think I was crazy. It really is a crap shoot to see which emotion wins in any given second.

But overall I know it will all be okay and this will all eventually subside and I’ll get back to a status quo.

New Orleans October 31, 2007

This year, in our 2nd annual vacation together, my brother’s fam and I will be venturing to New Orleans.

We’ve never been before and have little to no idea what to do there. I’m only sorry we’re visiting for the first time after Katrina. But at least now we can help infuse some cash to rebuild.

We’ve purchased tickets but now I’m trying to research where to stay and what to do. Most of the books were written pre-Katrina so they’re useless. Many of the web sites haven’t really been updated since January of 2007 (if you’re lucky).

So if you’ve been there since Katrina and have some suggestions send them my way.