Well, Memphis passed the test. Surprisingly, I actually really liked it! The fact that it was 80 and sunny (over the 50s we left) certainly didn't hurt either. It's very different from Minnesota. Much like the southern cities where I have lived before (Atlanta, Winston-Salem). As much as Mark and I liked being anti-urban sprawl city dwellers in our cute and small (and feeling less and less convenient every day) house, we are comfortable with embracing our inner suburbanite for this next move. Some of it has to do with the fact that Minneapolis has a lot of great things going for it in and around the city and crime rates are low, etc. and Memphis, not so much. Plus, now that we have Wyatt and I spend so many hours in my house, we have been lured to the other side by the mighty square foot.
We saw about 25 houses over two days. I'm kicking myself for not bringing my camera inside to take some photos. That and taking better notes. We spend each evening asking each other "now was that one the one with the blue room?" and stuff like that. We have a lot to think about and surely another trip to take in the near future, but we're on our way for sure.
On the total flip-side the little one did great as he was shuffled between three caregivers. We're so proud of him (and I'm secretly wondering why he isn't always so agreeable for me...) He was treated to an afternoon watching the cement mixer pour the foundation for our neighbors new garage one day, and a trip to the zoo the next. We could tell he was happy to see us when we got home though. Our usually very busy boy didn't want me to set him down (a nice way for a non-talker to make his mommy feel loved).
Here are a few quick highlights from the weekend:
1. We had to eat authentic barbeque. On Friday night we went to the
Germantown Commissary. I felt a little silly having my photo taken in front of it but I thought I would do it for the sake of the blog. Don't tell anyone, but Mark and I think
Famous Dave's is just as good.
2. Mark decided that he needed to go to Arkansas, so we did. We drove across the river (the Mississippi for those geographically challenged). No joke, there was nothing there. Kind of just like you would expect. We were treated to a pretty sunset en route though.
3. I am going to have to learn to turn off my inner b-s meter. I overheard a woman who was clearing tables at the free hotel breakfast ask a man if he enjoyed his breakfast. When he said yes she responded "Well I am just so very glad to hear that". The Minnesota cynic in me wanted to say "Whatever, I am sure you really could care less."
4. Saturday night we headed to downtown Memphis for a night on
Beale Street. We had a great dinner at Itta Bena, a new restaurant above
BB King's. After dinner we headed down to listen to some music. It was really fun. It wasn't designed to be a vacation but it was such a treat to not worry about getting home to a sitter. We were in bed by 10:30. Some habits die hard.
5. For my girly-girlfriends: The suburb we are looking in is called
Collierville. A while back it used to just be a small town surrounded by horse farms. It still has it's cute little town square. It's full of great gift shops, a little toy shop and an authentic hardware store that sells little red wagons (too bad Dubs has already been hooked up). I can't wait to take all my visitors there (hint, hint). Another fun thing is that one thing I wanted in my new house was room for my craft stuff. Actually, I think Mark wanted it more so he never, ever had to see it. A few of the houses had actual rooms off the bonus room (read: basement upstairs) all set-up for it with shelves, and pegboards and everything. Pure heaven!
