Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Leaving Kalamazoo for a new job in Bad Axe: Staying at a charming motel

I’m in Port Austin staying at a motel a block from the beach after my first day at the Huron Daily Tribune. I think I’m still in a slight state of shock from all the changes during the last week, so I’m hoping writing this down will help clairfy things a little bit for me. After I write bout the move, I will finish telling the story of how I proposed last week.

Yesterday we went out to eat at Uncle Ernie’s in Kalamazoo for breakfast. We had a nice meal of country fried steak and drank coffee, trying not to talk about how much on how we would miss each other during the week. We went back home after stopping by the bookstore to pick up somee things for me to read while I’m up here.

Rheila slept as I watched the Detroit Lions beat the Chicago Bears. It was very nice to have her in the same room as me resting peacefully. We walked the dog when she woke up and than ran to the store to grab some last supplies for my trip before dinner. The plan was to grab some pizza and cuddle while watching a movie, but the Hot & Ready  pizza place was all out of cheese to make pizza. So we decided to go to Red Lobster for the last dinner we would have together for a the week, even though we both work there.

It was also my manager Mike’s last night at Red Lobster before he gets transferred to another location and it was nice seeing him; after all he was the one who hired me almost three years ago. I ate too much and this time at a meal Rhelia and I were able to talk about how things were going to be great at the new job,  although we would miss each other. She agreees it will be a great opertunity for me to start writing again.

When we got home we talked to Tony about the Lion Bears game. He’s a Bears fan and said that the Detroit faithful were not kind to him although they thought his number 55 jersey was pretty cool. He also told a nice story about how he tailgated with a homeless person in a parking lot outside Ford Field.

Afterwards Rheila and I went to bed and watch the new Muppett Movie and cuddled with the dog and cat in bed. We held hands and tried to savor the night sleeping next to each other.

I went to bed at 1 a.m. and woke up at 4 a.m. ready to hit the road. It wasn’t until I was about to get in the shower that I realized that the alarm hadn’t gone off  yet and I got back into bed to get another hour of sleep. I don’t think I did though, instead I just laid there restless, and when the alarm did go off I jumped right up and got ready.

I was putting the suitcase into the trunk when Rheila woke up to say goodbye. We ran to the bank so I could get some cash and walked the dog around the block before we hugged each other for a long time. The sun was just starting to come up when I turned out of the parking lot.

The highway was busy on the way up to Bad Axe and traffic slowed to 50 mph on I-69 because of  heavy fog. I had a strong caffine buzz from a few Starbucks double energy drinks and listened to mostly classic rock radio, I was singing along way to loudly to “Let it Be” by The Beatles and was glad I was on the highway.

There was a note saying welcome at my desk at the Huron Daily News when I first got to my “office” area. Dave is the Editor of the neewspaper and a really great guy. I talked for a while about the area as I filled out tax forms and such. When it was time to try to get to work,  I called for an interview in order to write an article on United Way but couldn’t get an interview the first day.

There was situation with the computers so that needs to be changed, but other than that it seems that it will be a very exciting  and cool place to work. I was feeling very sick because of the drive and too much caffine and left a little early because I didn’t have much else work to do.

I stopped and got grocerys at a small supermarket calle Mcdonald’s in town. There is a lot of fruit stands around Bad Axe as well, and that makes me really happy because I was afraid that  Walmart would be the only place to shop.
Port Austin seems somewhat deserted right now because the summer season is over. A few deer were grazing on the side of the road when I pulled up and they looked at me calmly when I pulled up as if to say “What are you doing here, this is were we live.”

The Port Austin Motel is run by a gentleman name Michael, who has a very heavy accent I can’t place. He and his wife seem nice and they have a dog that barked when I came into the office. I’m staying in room 11 and it’s a cheerful if maybe a little bit dated room. There is seagull art everywhere and it reminds me of my grandfathers house from when I was a child.

Lake Huron is less than a block away and I have a great view from the motel, I could walk right up to the beach if I wanted. I wish Rheila was here because it’s so beautiful up here. When I unloaded I took a much needed nap. When I woke up I read for a while and watched baseball game on mute, looking up while I read a short story about a detective out of my Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps. I think that this is a very good place to geet used to being a reporter again

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