Southern Directions

[dejavoodoo114]

I had an interesting night and felt like sharing. I often have problems figuring out where I am going here in TN because of the lack of road signs, roads that don't look like roads, no reception, people who use landmarks that haven't been there for decades (no joke!) etc...

Last night I received a call at 11 pm saying a doe was having complications in delivery. (Late night calls about goats are not unusual) So I start gathering my delivery kit together. Then I get a call back saying no, its a doe that kidded last week but she is down, head was twisted back, doesn't want to stand. OK then, different kit...

Then come the directions! I have been to their barn but only from their house a on gator, which is the only way to travel those back roads. Last night I had to get to it from the main road with my minivan. "Take a right where that house burned down 3 years ago." (What house???) "Then take the first left, oh yeah, its a dirt road." (there is no way out here to tell the difference between a dirt road and a dirt driveway...) "Drive between the house and the shop." (What house and what shop? Oh, the nonexistent road in between... Of course, that makes perfect sense.) "And you will recognize our barn." (at 2330 when I'm rock climbing/mudding with my minivan when I have only been there once and wasn't exactly sight seeing????) "Oh yeah, we don't have reception out there." (well, how convenient since I never do either! In other words, DON'T get LOST! Easier said then done. )

Ah well. Poor doe has mastitis and at least they know what is wrong and I brought everything they needed to treat her except Today. I was home by 0130 and, for no more than 2 seconds, thought "I am crazy". Then I remembered, I love this! This is why I am going to vet school! Now I just have to hope I don't need any of the stuff that I left with them.

 

[lcertuche]

I know what you mean people here was always giving me directions and saying you know go past McConaughey's or turn across from McConaughey's... It turns out after 2 years I learned it is a convenience store across from my church.

 

[babsbag]

Turn at the big rock next to the big tree. You know the tree, it was the one that fell a few years ago. Oh yeah, the was before you lived here. But I am sure you can find the rock...it's gray.

 

[dejavoodoo114]

Yes! Exactly! So many times I was given direction to go past a church that closed and was torn down 20 years ago! And the times they name the different "hallers" and I'm like, "what the heck is a haller?" Took me two years to learn they meant hollow... then I had to google what the heck that was exactly! Isn't it fun moving to a whole new culture?

 

[babsbag]

I have lived in CA my entire life but Northern CA is a different mindset and I love it. Unfortunately the people from the big city are moving here to "get away" and bringing their culture and their "gang banger" children with them. Even in 11 years I have noticed the changes. It's sad to see it change.

 

[dejavoodoo114]

Getting away from city culture was one of the reasons we moved out to the country. But country in OR is way different from country in TN. But then, both places are different from CO and MA and SC etc... All places I have lived. But home is always the green NW even though I will probably end up living here in the humid hot south for the rest of my life. lol I have also noticed more people moving out to this area we are now and don't like any more than the "real" locals.

 

[babsbag]

I could never live in the humid south. I would have a tough time with parts of OR, I could do Medford or Grants Pass but not Corvalis. I like the sun too much so I am stuck in CA; unfortunately it is becoming so ridiculous in many of its laws and restrictions that it is getting really hard for me to stay here.

 

[dejavoodoo114]

I know all about the laws! My dad keeps me well informed. He always says that what CA starts will eventually make its way north. They keep talking about moving away from those dang laws but they love the NW too much I think. Not that I blame them. TN was not where I wanted to end up but my husbands work brought us here and here we are. He promised me a home with a screened in porch so I didn't have to deal with bugs and a library for my books if we moved here. He upheld his part of the bargain for sure!

You know, OR really isn't humid. It rains a lot but it just isn't humid. After the rains it is just fresh and clean. No sticky heat like the south! And not nearly as many bugs!!!!

 

[dejavoodoo114]

I am actually from a town named Boring. Portland Metro area. Corvalis is on the border between the Willamette Valley (nice and green and clean) and the dessert so Corvalis may actually get a bit of humidity... I sure do miss the ocean now that I am landlocked. And the mountains... Shhhh, I am getting nostalgic! The pastures in this state seem to grow all year long. They are great!

 

[babsbag]

I have always had the ocean a few hours away at the most and the mountains usually closer. But since I started raising goats I haven't had the time to enjoy (or miss) either one. What made you move to TN?