it's been too darn many days since i've written anything! we haven't spent much time just sitting around doing "nothing" when i could really write. also, my brain is taking in so much new info it's hard to sort it all out & categorize it. i feel excited to be on this new journey where almost anything can happen. i'm thrilled at the prospect of starting a new life with a new job, a new apartment, a new city. but i'm also anxious about the possibilities. what if things don't work out? what if i can't find a job? all the uncertainties are nerve-wracking, but i think they would be for anybody. so, with all this stuff rolling around in my head, blogging hasn't really been in the front of my brain. i was also a bit homesick today. J was at school, it was dreary & rainy & hotels aren't exactly the most homey places on earth. i also saw pictures of my cats while i was playing with my photoblog & i really miss the kitties. this is the first time i've been away from sabina for more than a couple days in her whole life or adidas in the 5 years i've had him. i miss those little stinkers. so, we got here last wednesday. i think... the days have run together a little. i don't think i can even remember what it was we did each day. i know it was friday that we went to J's school & got everything settled up there. i got some cool pics of stuff in that area but blogger doesn't seem to want to upload them for my photoblog. saturday, we went to westport & walked around. i found a great little shop called "the better cheddar" where i know i want to get my brother's christmas present. we ate at california pizza kitchen for a late supper. a lot of our exploring has either centered on or resulted in us trying new restaurants. there's a local place called winstead where i got the 2nd best blt of my life (#1 was at ed debevic's in chicago). we found a local hooters for dinner one night & got an orange hooters rubber ducky. last night we tried to have bbq. we had asked a cop about restaurants on our first night here, figuring cops must eat out a lot. she suggested a place called "oklahoma joe's" but we found out upon arrival that they are closed on sunday. it's in an area with a LOT of restaurants & shops so we drove around while trying to decide what we wanted to eat. J had suggested, and i agreed, that we should expand our dining adventures by severly limiting the times we visit restaurants that we already know (read: chain restaurants). i saw a place called "texas road house" and decided that's where i wanted to go if it wasn't too pricey. well, it happens that this place is not a local kc thing, it is a small chain, but the food was super good & very reasonable. we got like 2 meals worth of food for around $20. we also had to request more rolls & butter right before we left so we could take a bunch of them home with our leftovers. they take butter & add honey & cinnamon. soooo yummy on a hot roll! besides eating, we've done lots of driving around to find stuff, often driving to a location that isn't the closest but then discovering new things on the way & eventually finding the closest location (for example, i think we've been to 4 different walmarts now). J had his first day of class today and, judging by his giddy mood when he got "home", i'd say he had a good day. i'm so excited for him & proud of him. i know he's stressed out about finding a job, going to school, not having money coming in, etc... but i think he's dealing with it a little better than i am. at least, he seems to be. i love this boy so darned much and i'm really happy & excited that we are taking this journey together. i know that we'll both be successful here, it's just hard for us both to have to wait for things. now my ass is starting to hurt from sitting in this chair & typing. i should get some sleep so i can get some stuff done tommorrow. now that the late late show with craig ferguson is over, there's not really anything to stay up & watch anyway. plus, J isn't entertaining me by talking in his sleep tonight. one last smoke & i think i'll hit the hay. i hope everyone had a great halloween!