The Sound of Freedom: Week 2

The Sound of Freedom has been relatively quite this week, possibly due to the turbulently windy days we've had (some with 30-40 mph gusts).


Most of this week has been spent getting into a routine. We started running again, I started back to work, and Chris has been cooking for us every night. There were a few smoke-filled moments earlier in the week as we learned to cook on electric, after 10 years with gas.

For those of you who know Chris well, you won't be surprised to learn that he found a grill near the apartment. Last night we had ribeye and asparagus off the grill. It's not easy cooking on a park grill, but after two weeks of cooking on electric, I think fire made him feel at home.

Monday evening, when I opened the door for Chris, a wide-eyed tabby who seemed to think he lived here burst into our apartment. Holly's never seen a cat in her living room, but it was clear she knew it was something to be concerned about. Luckily she was in her cage, and the tabby was friendly enough to be scooped up quickly. No harm, no fowl. I mean, foul!

After the tabby incident, we visited a house we were interested in renting. It was as close to perfect as our money will get us, so we made a verbal agreement with the owner, and we'll submit our application tonight. It's similar to our San Diego house: three bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, hardwood floors, and a large backyard. And, now that we think we have a place to live, we can get down to the business of exploring this new region of ours...

The Sound of Freedom: Week 1

We've been here most of the week, and I'm beginning to get a grasp on a couple of the major routes around town. Don't get me wrong, I still have a map and the Garmin out and ready anytime I leave the apartment. I love GPS! Having the Garmin makes me remember how found my way around San Diego when we first moved there: I circled help wanted ads, wrote down addresses, plotted addresses on the map, decided which order the map dictated I visit them, wrote directions to each place in the most linear fashion...

Other than local roads and how to calm a frenzied parrot, I have learned that I've been spoiled by living in a house my whole life. Here, I need to take my trash to one of the two giant trash compactors on the premises. The closest one is 2/10 mile, round trip (and ours is one of the closest buildings). It's not about the walk; I like to run (ok, I jog, but you get the point). It's about walking 1/10 mile with my garbage!

The weather's been beautiful all week, but it's supposed to rain this weekend; our official welcome to the east. I think my favorite part so far is that we made it just in time for the break of spring. There are trees full of white blossoms and baby leaves, and there are golden daffodils everywhere!
We're getting settled in the apartment. It's comfortable and quiet, except for the Navy jets taking off from the nearby Naval Air Station. Apparently, Chris read my shock (at the noise) when the first one flew over Monday evening, and he cheerfully exclaimed, "That's the sound of freedom"!

Holly doesn't appear to be bothered by the Sound of Freedom. She watches the seagulls flying overhead, but it seems that jets aren't something a parrot needs to worry about. She likes to look out the window to inspect the resident mallard and plump red-breasted robins in the grass below, and she's very curious about the apartment. I carry her from room to room (there are only 2), so she can investigate her new surroundings. It's magical to watch her eyes brighten with curiosity. I'm convinced that cat owners beat parrot owners to the curiosity quote ("...killed the cat"). Parrots are intensely curious creatures!