Week 3

Its the start of my third week in Salem. Here is a little recap on what I’ve seen so far and my overall state of mind after my “new beginning.”

Salem drivers aren’t as safe and mild mannered as I originally thought. Truthfully, they may rival Arizona drivers for craziness. No near misses thus far, but I’ve noticed there have been quite a few incidents of speeding and pulling out in front of me on roads I thought were supposed to be a little more laid back on (like the one leading into my apartment complex).

Work has gone well so far. It took me until week 2 to get all of my gear, but I am set up really well now. I’m actually typing this blog post on my 17 inch Mac Book Pro. I’ve got all my software, mouse, monitors and even a company issued iPhone 3Gs. It only took – well, FOREVER – for that to happen at my last job. It is really nice to not have to fight with your IT department or justify the software and hardware you need to do your job. So, thats an overwhelmingly major improvement for me.

The highlight so far of my new job was going to visit one of our retirement communities. I had a great time playing bean bag baseball with the seniors there. It put a smile on my face to see so many of them truly happy, not to mention the direct feedback that they loved the staff.

We signed a rental agreement for our new place here in West Salem but so far have not found tenants for our own house. Unfortunately, that is the one thing keeping Kelly from moving out here which, well, sucks. I am starting to feel irritable about her not being here. Of course there isn’t anything we can do about it. We actually had a registered sex offender apply to rent our place. So, it is just a balancing act of finding the right person to rent it. I just don’t feel like i can relax and really begin to enjoy my surroundings until she is here.

Aside from that, a lot of WoW with some of my friends which has been a good way to just keep my mind off being separated from my wife. As works though kicks in I will need to put that aside to focus on other things.

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Categories: Work.

By William Smith

— February 7, 2010 at 11:46 pm

Arrival

If i were a little less exhausted, I might come up with a better recap of the trip to Salem. However, given my current state of mind (e.g. tired) this abbreviated recap and observation will have to do.

I am sure I got a automated traffic camera ticket on my way out of Phoenix. I literally got one a week living in Phoenix, it is ridiculous. I just remember being blinded by a flash in the wee hours of the morning as I left town – sure it wasn’t God trying to tell me something.

The drive to Palm Desert/Palm Springs wasn’t nearly as boring as it had been in past trips. I think this is mostly because it was done entirely in the dark. But, sunrise over the Coachella Valley sure was nice.

Rain from the mega storm hovering over California first hit me past Palm Desert, near the wind farms. That was pretty much the last time I saw blue skies until I reached Oregon.

LA wasn’t nearly as impressive (from a skyline perspective) as I thought it would be. In fact, the downtown area was downright puny. Stopped in Burbank to visit with my friend Gary.

Rolled into Westley, California sometime around 6pm on Friday. It was dark, I was tired and hungry, and had a cat who had peed on herself in her crate so it was time to call it a day. After washing her blanket I turned in.

Alarm was set for 5am, but i woke up instead to my cat bitchin at me. We got on the road and started the long drive to Redding, which I never thought i’d get to.

Somewhere around Willows I get framed for a ticket (yeah, I said it) by California Highway Patrol. I must be the only person in this WORLD who has gotten a speeding ticket from “behind” a cop. I followed this guy 5-10 car lengths for at least 30 miles. He slowed down and switched lanes after coming up on a semi, waited for me to go ahead, then immediately pulled me over. It was the most ridiculous thing I have ever witnessed.

Finally made it to Redding and got my snow chains. The weather looked bad there (very gloomy, rainy, icy). Fortunately, I didn’t need the chains and the mountain drive through Mount Shasta National Park took a few hours. Once I made it out I was in Oregon.

Beautiful drive through Southern Oregon made me realize how blessed I was to get this job and have this opportunity to move here. Arrived in Salem around 4pm in the afternoon on Saturday and got about half of my stuff moved in.

Now, time to get some sleep!

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Categories: Trips.