Green means..... stop?

So I have lived in North Carolina for almost six weeks now (crazy!) and my biggest complaint HAS to be the driving. These are the three things I have learned so far:

1. When a light turns green, you should count to at least 30 and then go.
2. When you approach a green light you should stop for good measure.
3. Lines in a parking lot are just there for decoration. Parking between them is a personal choice.

To get pretty much anywhere, there are a few main roads you must travel (that I know of at least) and they all have about five hundred traffic lights. This is why I must figure out how to stage an intervention to teach everyone the red light stop, green light go rules of the North. Seriously, I cannot tell you how infuriating it is to constantly be STOPPING at a GREEN light.  It is green people, hit the damn gas already. Or learn to multi-task. It's not that difficult to sing along to a song (which, if you are listening to the radio is from the early 90's- and this is not considered retro), talk on the phone, or smoke a cigarette AND move your foot from the brake pedal to the gas pedal. I have already had several road-rage meltdowns (Kristina has witnessed a few good ones) as I applied my break when approaching a green light.

They also have a left turn/U-turn system that is scary and quite dangerous. I sometimes fear for my life when I have to make a left or u-turn on a certain road (while U-turns where I come from are usually illegal, they are highly encouraged here). I am even more frightened when someone makes a left or U-turn onto MY road, mainly because they don't give themselves enough time to complete a turn before I catch up.

I wish I could find a highway or something without lights that runs parallel to the local roads. It's like driving on Central Avenue every time you have to run an errand, and if you have driven on Central Avenue, you know it is no bueno!

Rain, rain, go away!

So we've made it through our first week in North Carolina. It doesn't feel like home- it kind of feels like I'm in college without the people and classes. Weird.

There are no good radio stations here- they are about a decade (decade and a half?) behind New York and it's getting old- quick. There are two stations like this, and then the rest are either God or country. You get to a song that sounds normal and then .... yup, all about God.

Listening to country music is like learning a brand new language. What the heck is honkey tonk? If anyone could fill me it, it would be greatly appreciated.

That's about it from here. I have an interview tomorrow, so hopefully that goes somewhere. Miss and love you all!!!

One week down....

Well, almost a week. I know I said I would start blogging before I left New York, but things got too busy and by the time I realized I hadn't started .... it was today. We will sum up the moving experience by saying it was sad, the drive was long, and lugging everything up three flights of stairs was no bueno. Thankfully, our amazing Uncle John took the trip with us and we couldn't have done it without him!!!

We have now been here for six days and this is what I have learned so far:

1. The people here are nice and learning to be nice back is a process. It really is kind of strange- I'm not in New York anymore! Maybe this will be a good thing for my people-hating problem.
2. Gas is so much cheaper here- almost 70 cents a gallon. That is a huge plus. Food, however, is not cheaper. Weird.
3.Being an Extra on One Tree Hill is not as fun and glamours as it sounds. Cool to do once, but I don't think I'd do it twice. The super long day and super strange company didn't help the matter, but at the end of the day I did get to enjoy some time in Tree Hill with Brooke Davis and got paid for it, so life could be worse.
4. Cooking on an old electric stove top is no bueno. I miss cooking with gas!
5. The organic, free range movement has not really hit grocery stores here, which is totally lame. So far I have only found chicken and I'm getting bored!
6. There are fresh produce stands ALL over the place. Literally on the side of the road. We have checked out Port City Produce and I'm a huge fan. Great prices and everything supports local farmers. Come to think of it, I should ask them about the free range meat....
7. They enjoy their super stores here- Super Walmart, Super Target.... the only thing I wish would happen is having super stores double coupons!

That's all I can come up with right now. I am still not unpacked, much to Kristina's horror. She unpacked the first day we got here... me not so much. I am so sick of packing and unpacking (thanks to Eastern's office move at the same time as my personal move!), that I just haven't gotten around to it.

I miss you all and life isn't the same without my morning coffee with SPP, my TV chats with Abby, making fun of Dave or coming home and catching up about the day with Mom, but eventually a new normal will come to be, but it won't be the same! We have a queen size pull out here, so everyone is welcome on the beach!!!!

Until next time....

S