living in a new place

Baltimore is an interesting place. Here are a few things that I've learned my short time here and some answers to some frequently asked questions:

1. The people are FANTASTIC! You hear all those things about East Coast people being inconsiderate and rude, but not here in Bawlmer, Hon.

2. Which leads me to the next thing: apparently locals call this place Bawl-mer. I thought removing syllables from words was an east Texas thing but I was sorely mistaken.

3. And another east Texas reminder is calling everyone Hon - short for Honey. I haven't actually encountered this but I've heard about it. There is a restaurant and festival with the name-sake, Cafe Hon (http://www.cafehon.com/) and Hon Fest (http://www.honfest.net/). Celebrating big-hair, blue eyeshadow, and crazy accents and phrases like J'eet? (a.k.a. did you eat?). Really, Bawlmer is not much different than Texas.

4. I wish that GoogleMaps supported an avoid shady areas feature like they have an avoid toll roads feature. Luckily this has only happened during the day and while I was in a car but I have a felling I will be encountering many more shady areas before too long.

5. No, I haven't seen The Wire. But I will after I have lived here a little longer.

6. I haven't seen Duff Goldman (but really I want to meet Jeff) or Michael Phelps but I'll let you know when it happens. I plan on playing it real cool and make friends rather than ask for a picture...yeah right, I'll do both!

7. I have to make some friends so I can go try the ever increasing list of restaurants.

8. And that leads me to my last note: I'm trying a church tomorrow. It's a little further away that I had hoped but I have to start somewhere.

That's it for now. More to come.

adventures

Tomorrow marks the day in which I will start a new adventure. I'm officially moving to Baltimore. Though I don't know how long I will call Charm City my home, I'm moving. The car is packed, I have a riding buddy (one of my best friends from college, Jen), and have had the last night with my parents. We went to dinner (seafood was not such a good idea) and and movie - Julie & Julia. I guess it was fitting for the foodie that I am. It was such a blessing. I know it is weird to say that a movie about two people that I have never met was a blessing but it was. I have not laughed nor cried that much in months. I think this was mainly to do with the two main characters (I'm going to try to explain without giving away the movie...this may prove difficult). They both moved at the beginning of the movie - something I'm about the embark on. They both have friends and family that support them - people that I often take for granted. And they both want to feel like they have accomplished great in their lives - don't we all? Through adversity and commitment and challenges and pain and determination, they both overcame obstacles of worthiness (and self-doubt to do something for themselves while touching others along the way. pray that I do this as well and to not give up when it isn't in my timeline.

So, my new adventure starts tomorrow. A 10 hour drive to Nashville. Here's to many others to follow. Bon Appetite.