Robin ~
Oh, my!
You have a lot to do in the next few weeks, don't you? Packing, moving, hunting for a new place to live, I assume a new job to begin, etc.
New surroundings, time zone and climatic changes, and yet...we remain the constant in your life - your Medi-friends go with you wherever you are!
It will be important for you to keep your water and meal intake on schedule as much as you are able as there won't be much you can do to eliminate the stress, strain and sleep pattern changes.
Our best to you as you prepare for your move, Robin!
Yup, the cockroaches are HUMONGOUS there - Texas size!
I stayed for two summers in San Antonio and my two experiences certainly are not meant to paint a sweeping description of how it will be for you. This was just my little experience at that particular point in time.
I was initiated into bugdom when I arrived at the townhouse condo where I would stay for the summer. I had never ever seen one before so a cockroach of any size seemed big.
The school district had rented the condo for me and it was located in a nice neighborhood within walking distance of a Kmart, a Storage store, restaurants, etc.
I had sent 10 or more boxes of books, teaching materials, etc. by UPS to the school directly prior to my arrival and was dropped off at the door with three huge suitcases and a tote bag or two. (Leopard Woman needs a lot of stuff). I placed my luggage inside the door and took a peeky poo around my summer place. It had a small galley kitchen, a dining room and a spacious living room. I turned on the light in the BR across from the kitchen.
There were several honkin' black beetles in there, some scrambled. I decided I had waited about 5 hours to use the BR during my flight, what's a few minutes longer, eh?
I dragged my luggage up the stairs to look over my bedroom. I didn't see any critters in the bedroom or the adjoining BR. Whew! I unpacked, hung up my clothes, put things in the drawers, put my make up and toiletries in the bathroom and set out my shower gear, including a can of Spray 'n Wash for hand-laundering.
When I sat down on the throne, something happened to catch my eye...to my utter horror, a creature from the bowels of the tub crawled out of the drain! It began to crawl around in the tub. Well, I was not in a position to stop mid-stream right there and whack it with a shoe so I grabbed the bottle of Spray n' Wash and shot a line of the laundry stain lifter right onto the cockroach.
No kiddin' - it flipped over and croaked right there!
I made a note of it...always carry Spray n' Kill Bug and Laundry Stain Lifter with me.
I learned to look in my shoes before putting them on.
I kept ALL food in the refrigerator and put nothing in the cupboards.
I was so freaked about having a few hitch hike home in my suitcases upon my return to Portland that I bought bug bombs. I took all my clothes out of the drawers and set them on the bed. I opened my suitcases on the closet floor and separated the hangers, closed the door bombed the closet. I bombed the bedroom and the clothes on the bed.
My clothes were probably toxic and hazardous but I didn't want any bugs riding home with me.
I saw the Alamo, armadillos and deer. I loved the hill country and went to Sea World – imagine! I saw beluga whales and dolphins in Texas!
The buildings are tall and stately; the malls are abundant.
The people are truly wonderful. The women were beautiful and the children enchanting. I have never been mam’d so many times in my life – in fact, it was the first mamming by a child ever! Very polite children.
I loved the influence of Mexico everywhere – the colors are bright and it seems like a fiesta all the time. Remember, I live in the northwest and we have our own culture and climate here but our days are often gray and overcast in the late fall, the winter and spring and people wear a lot of dark foresty colors. People here are totally into nature, really into biking, jogging, etc. and wear a lot of casual clothing, sweats and many women go au naturale with their hair styles and make up…Texan women live in Mary Kay country and there are a lot of beauty pageant winners in Texas – the women dress nicely and look beautiful, IMHO.
Robin, we wish you the best…check your shoes before you put them on!