School books, goodbyes and drug addicted city planners.

Well, the past few days have been a blur. While Le'Rae and her mother were here, we worked on getting the downstairs area of this house liveable for me; and believe you me, that's not an easy task for one as O.C.D. as I am. The place will do until Jeff gets back and we finish everything.

We were also able to get over to the campus and get a few things done. The books are all purchased (one still needs to be picked up) and the campus has been explored. I found a back entrance to the campus from Wards Road (equivalent to U.S. 41). The road practically goes up a sixty degree incline, so that will be fun during the winter when there's ice! I cannot get my parking sticker until the first day of classes because, like all institutions of higher education, they want to make nothing simple and practical. I guess they thought I would have nothing else to do my first day of classes!

I am totally convinced that the city planners for Lynchburg were taking every kind of recreational drug known to man when they designed these roads! Now, I consider myself to be an understanding and lenient person when it comes to the limitations of cities to cater to everyone, but this place is absolutely ridiculous when it comes to roads. I have successfully navigated Tampa, Miami and Orlando road systems. All three of those cities are larger and more hectic than this sleepy little farming town, but yet they are much easier to get around in. Not only will the same road have two or even three different names all at the same time, but the north and south (or east and west) parts of the road will be on opposite sides of town. The roads also have a nasty habit of instantly changing from one road into another just for the heck of it. For instance, Wards Road is also business 29 North, but that's totally OK because back home, U.S. 41 is also called Cleveland Ave. and Tamiami trail at times. State highways sometimes have distinct names depending on the town they pass through. The problem arises when Business 29 North decides it no longer wants anything to do with Wards Road, so it splits off from the thoroughfare completely while Wards Road changes its name to another state highway and then promptly ceases to exist!! If you are on Wards Road/Business 29 North and you know a certain destination is up the road, you would logically assume that when you come upon a highway exchange from Hell, if you take the exit for Business 29 North ramp, you would remain on the road you had been on...WRONG!! You find yourself traveling through back wooded hillbilly-land hearing nothing but banjo music!! Anyway, if you want a visual of what I'm talking about, go to Google maps and look up Lynchburg...its guaranteed to turn your logical little mind into mush!

Anyway, Le'Rae and her mom left Tuesday via Roanoke airport. It isn't fun saying goodbye to your girlfriend for months at a time, but that's life. We will still see each other almost every night thanks to the wonderful internet (thanks Al).

Well, if I don't post anything for a week or more, its because I followed the road signs on my way to the store. I'll probably wind up in Canada or something...