Arrival in Houston

Hello!  I'm not dead.  In fact, I have arrived safely in Houston, Texas!

Upon debarking the plane, I turned left and did a little dance to see a NASA gift shop right there.  The first thing I see at my new destination.  I took this as a good omen.

I did not plan my arrive too well.  I saw a Camden food Co, thought, "Oh wow!  I should eat something!  No wait!  I should get my luggage first!"  Upon receiving my luggage, I thought, "I should get a taxi straight away!"  Only to arrive at my residence with no food and no grocery store within walking distance.  Clever girl.

I was actually quite impressed during the taxi ride, despite traversing the outskirts of Houston suburbs instead of through the downtown core.  I had never seen an interstate highway before, so the 12 lane monstrosity that we cruised down broke my mind.  The interstate intersections(?) were aerial labyrinths of overhead passe spiraling and cutting across one another.  It honestly looked like something from a science-fiction film from my perspective.  I found it amusing how the Shell and McDonald's signs were at least 40 feet up in order to be seen from the highway.

Upon arrival, the taxi driver courteously lent me his phone to call the building manager, given that I had arriven after hours.  I promptly filled out some forms and was handed my keys.  All good.  My apartment was an empty mess.  Less good.   I resolved to do a sweep, and buy a shower curtain and toilet paper as soon as possible.

My fantastically generous roommate, Allie, was away the evening of my arrival, but she left a note on the counter saying that I could make myself a cheese sandwich if I needed.  I gratefully did just that.

I used my free time that evening to tour the gated apartment grounds.  I'm delighted to report that our accommodations have an outdoors pool, hot tub, volleyball court, picnic tables and BBQ.  I suspect we'll have a pool party in the near future (perhaps for my birthday?).  The common room is also equipped with a t.v. and a piano.  Perhaps I'll make use of my evenings and learn to play, or at least finally be able to work through, "Un Comptine d'un autre été" completely- a task I had abandoned since the piano in Boddington Hall back in England.

It's time for a new adventure.