We loaded up the truck on the 29th with help from our friend Rich Miller. Rich rules, as he took a day off from work to help. You never know how much crap you have until you have to fit it into a 15' truck. We went with Budget' I hoped to get one of those blue trucks with the funny moving tips ("Do not pack dog and cat in same box") on the side, but we just got a plain white one. I'm just happy it was there when I went to pick it up, ran okay, and had windshield wipers. We stayed with Rich and Laura that night, then left at about 7:00 on the 30th for Rock Hill.

The drive down was uneventful. Sarah played Bandit to my Snowman, drving the car while I drove the truck.

We had lots of help unloading -- Dad, Andre, and our friends Lee and Marianne who brought their son Ben. Ben is very cute and was extrordinarily helpful at, say, putting our brooms and mops in a straight line in the garage floor. Big props to all of those folks who helped unload in the heat (it was 90 or so and probably 90% humidity -- Ah, South Carolina).

We hung out in Rock Hill for the next day, unpacking and getting stuff for the house. That night (the 1st, I think) we went over to my cousin Robert's place. He and his family live in Rock Hill. They also have a big 4th of July weekend party every year, with relatives coming in and staying (typically in campers) for the weekend. We ate some good food and watched NASCAR on Robert's 52 inch TV. I learned all about Qualifying, why some driver's race in the Bush race, and heard some theories about why Jr (that's Dale Earnhart Jr., for the uninitiated) isn't doing well this year. Yep, I now live in South Carolina.

Saturday we lit out for the West, leaving at about 7:00. We rocked the I-Trip some of the way and even managed to hear some of the Live 8 concerts on a radio station out of Atlanta. We rolled into Jackson, Mississippi about 5:00. I had made a reservation there, since I had no idea how crowded things were going to be on the holiday weekend.

Jackson was alright, I suppose. Some interesting home architecture in a neighborhood we drove into looking for a place to eat dinner -- Frank Lloyd Right-ish, which one would not expect in Jackson.

Jackson was also the first Whataburger sigting of the trip. Had to have a BOB for breakfast the next day as we rolled out and onto Irving. I have no idea whay makes sausage, egg, and cheese on a hamburger bun so appealing, but the BOB is awesome.

After getting into Irving about 3:00, I napped. Later that night, we went to Addison (a Dallas neighborhood/suburb) where Jackopierce was playing a free 4th of July concert. Sarah loves the Jackopierce. It was good acoustic duo stuff and was good to see Sarah so excited. There were fireworks after. Then, HELLISH traffic getting out of there. I'm talking sit-in-your-car-unmoving-for-half-an-hour, worried about running out of gas, don't care where you go as long as it's out of the traffic traffic. It was just silly how hard it was to get out of there and it kinda marred the whole evening for me.

The 4th of July marked Nakia's first ever trip to a Hooters, with his in-laws, no less, but that's another story. . .