For Charlotte

I'm now halfway settled into my new apartment in Amarillo. Halfway because I only have half of my things (that is another story for another day). But I was listening to the Wicked soundtrack during my trip and this song always makes me think of friends I've made in every place I've lived....for now, I dedicate these words to all my friends in Charlotte--thank you for the memories and hope we stay in touch!

"For Good" lyrics from the musical, Wicked:

I'VE HEARD IT SAID
THAT PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES FOR A REASON
BRINGING SOMETHING WE MUST LEARN
AND WE ARE LED
TO THOSE WHO HELP US MOST TO GROW
IF WE LET THEM
AND WE HELP THEM IN RETURN
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE
BUT I KNOW I'M WHO I AM TODAY
BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM ORBIT
AS IT PASSES A SUN

LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A BOULDER
HALFWAY THROUGH THE WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD …

IT WELL MAY BE
THAT WE WILL NEVER MEET AGAIN
IN THIS LIFETIME
SO LET ME SAY BEFORE WE PART
SO MUCH OF ME
IS MADE OF WHAT I LEARNED FROM YOU
YOU'LL BE WITH ME
LIKE A HANDPRINT ON MY HEART
AND NOW WHATEVER WAY OUR STORIES END
I KNOW YOU HAVE RE-WRITTEN MINE
BY BEING MY FRIEND...

LIKE A SHIP BLOWN FROM ITS MOORING
BY A WIND OFF THE SEA
LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A SKYBIRD
IN A DISTANT WOOD
WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
BUT BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

BECAUSE I KNEW YOU
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD...

LIKE A COMET PULLED FROM
ORBIT/AS IT PASSES A SUN/
LIKE A STREAM THAT MEETS A
BOULDER/ HALF-WAY
THROUGH THE WOOD

LIKE A SHIP BLOWN OFF ITS
MOORING/BY A WIND OFF THE
SEA/ LIKE A SEED DROPPED BY A
BIRD IN
THE WOOD

WHO CAN SAY IF I'VE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER?
I DO BELIEVE I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR THE BETTER

AND BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...

BECAUSE I KNEW YOU...
I HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOR GOOD.

Posted in: on Friday, October 30, 2009 at at 12:44 PM 1 comments  

Awful movers

Attention:

Do NOT ever, I mean NEVER, use DeHaven's Transfer & Storage moving company that is associated with North American Van Lines in North Carolina. This is the absolute worst moving experience I have ever had with a moving company.

I had agreed with the company that my belongings would be delivered safely to Amarillo by Oct 26 or 27 in ONE load. This has been drastically changed to where half of my possessions will arrive on Oct 27. I was not notified of this change until the movers arrived at my house to load my things. I have to WAIT a full WEEK to receive the second half of my load on Nov 2 or 3. This was not in the agreed estimate. This change was due to their lack of planning with another mover who went over their estimated weight limit and took the space that was supposed to be mine in the truck.

Update: My first load arrived successfully on Tuesday, Oct 27. I received most of my kitchen things, my bed, and dining table. The movers agreed to deliver my 2nd load on Monday, Nov 2 (um today!). Now they are telling me it will not be until Nov 3 after 5:30pm. Ugh! Not to mention the driver didn't even bother to call me and let me know this---I had to call the company and get his number to contact him directly. Very unprofessional and terrible customer service!

(For those of you not familiar with this type of moving company, they load several people's things onto one huge truck that is heading in the same direction. Each load is estimated in advance for weight. I was actually under my estimated weight, while the other customer went over their weight estimate. However, my load was the one that has been divided and I am the one who is inconvenienced.)

This type of move costs over $2000. DeHaven's is only offering me $180 discount for my inconvenience. This does not even seem fair! I have contacted the company headquarters in Durham and they seem to be more on top of things to make this up to me. Hopefully there will be a better end to this story. They can make it up to me by delivering my things safely and quickly.

FINAL UPDATE: I got the rest of my things delivered a day late on Tuesday this week. All is ok. Just lost a shoe rack--so not too terrible. Just some minor scratches and damages on some furniture, but nothing awful. I'm just glad to have all of my things in one place again! I'll be moving myself next time with a trusty yellow Penske truck :)

Posted in: on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at at 3:42 PM 0 comments  

The Yellow Rose of Texas

Just some tidbits of my soon to be new city:


- Amarillo means "yellow" in Spanish and is often called the "Yellow Rose of Texas"
- It is the largest city in the panhandle of Texas
- Was once the "helium capital of the world" with the country's most productive helium fields (really, who knew?)
- Supplies about 1/4 of the country's beef through its cattle ranching industry
- Is home to the Palo Duro Canyon, the country's 2nd largest canyon system (with the Grand Canyon as #1 of course)
- Home to local weirdo Stanley Marsh who created the Cadillac Ranch and other eccentricities (weird signs, random "artwork").
- City boasts these decorative horse statues located throughout the city
- Oprah relocated her show's filming to Amarillo in 1998 during the "mad cow disease" beef lawsuit and was sued by local cattlemen in Amarillo.
- Is located on the historic Route 66
- Can be easily traveled from NC on I-40 :)
- Amarillo is mentioned in several songs: "Amarillo by Morning," "Get Your Kicks on Route 66," "Is this the way to Amarillo."
- Airport is named after a native Amarilloan NASA astronaut, Rick Husband, who died on the Columbia space shuttle.

Posted in: on Sunday, October 11, 2009 at at 10:19 PM 0 comments  

Dear Charlotte,

My Samford friend, Callie (see her blog link to the right), does these top 10 lists on her blog. Thought I'd do the same about all the things I love and I'll miss about Charlotte. These are in no particular order and I may end up with more than 10...but you get the idea here :)


Dear Charlotte, It's been a great 5 years.....

1. My amazing friends that have become my family here. Thank you for being there for me in the good and not-so-good times. Thanks for all the fun memories over the past few years! I will miss you all tremendously--but thankfully we have the miracle of facebook hehe :)

2. The fact that this is the first city I have really learned streets and can give directions by street names (even when it changes 4 times) instead of landmarks. I am so proud that I know all of the Queens and Providence Roads and even a few shortcuts!

3. Freedom Park. Oh how I will miss all of your trees and green-ness when I move to the "wide open spaces" of Texas.

4. The Greek festival. Baklava. Gyros. Yum!

5. Charlotte Cafe, because I like to eat with old people.

6. Elizabeth Creamery. That little Korean man makes the best homemade chocolate mint ice cream ever!

7. Myers Park UMC and my church family there.

8. Harris Teeter, Trader Joe's....I sure hope Amarillo has a really good grocery store, I'm spoiled!

9. Ann Taylor Loft. I may go into mourning over this loss. Thankfully I can make a 2 hr trip to the Loft in Lubbock or visit my sister in Dallas for a shopping weekend. Melissa--get ready!

10. My furry friends, especially Ambrose :) I love all my "pets" but I will miss that sweet mutt!

11. My "children" that I have babysat for years. I will miss seeing them grow up. Note to their parents: please stay in touch via email and facebook!

12. Monthly dinner club. I may have to start this tradition with new friends in Amarillo to try out the restaurants there.

13. Pops in the Park because there is nothing better than enjoying music, food, and friends on a nice summer night.

14. Duke vs. UNC rivalry, especially during basketball season and March madness. I may never understand---but it is fun to watch the crazy fans!

15. Bojangles. I never liked you much anyway (except for a good boberry biscuit every now and then), and still stand firm that Popeye's is much better. However, I will miss seeing you around. I am very excited to move where there is a Popeye's and Sonic. It's the little things in life :)

Posted in: on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at at 12:46 PM 1 comments  

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