Busy, Busy, Busy

 The new job has been very busy lately.  No complaints here.  I still love it. 

I went to a meeting in Rogers, AR the other day.  I had to leave super early since the meeting began in the morning.  I try to avoid hotel stays when possible.  Sleeping in a bed without a 45 pound mutt using your legs as a pillow just isn't home.

I took the above picture of the fog rolling off the flooded rice fields.

On Wednesday me, my boss and one of the state veterans' commissioners visited Birdeye, AR (northeast part of the state) where the new state veterans cemetery is being built.  On the way we made a stop in Bald Knob (I know, right) where Train No. 844, a Union Pacific locomotive built in 1945 was leaving for Little Rock.  The historic steam engine was brought to Arkansas because of a recent contest where people voted on the state the train would visit.  Our state won (we may be little but we are mighty...online voters.)

Governor Beebe met the train in Bald Knob and rode it to Little Rock.  Because the commissioner we were with is good friends with the governor, he suggested we see the train and visit with Beebe for a little while.

 The train was impressive.  I love the sound of the steaming whistle.

What kind of Arkansan would I be if I didn't get a picture next to the train? 

Here is the governor before they left.

 Once we made it to Birdeye we got to see the cemetery construction.  Seeing a cemetery being built was a first for me. The day we were there was the day they were placing the crypts. It is odd, I must admit, being in an environment where burying people is the daily norm but it is so important that our veterans have a dignified and deserving final resting place.  Of course we do a lot more than cemeteries.

The cemetery will be beautiful when it opens in the fall.  The tree in the picture is a Red Oak, the oldest type of tree in the state.  There are three (I think) Red Oaks on the cemetery grounds.  We have a tree scientist that visits often to make sure the trees are not being disturbed by the construction.  He has placed lightening rodes around the trees to make sure they do not get hit in a storm.  Part of the construction includes preserving the trees so the public will be able to admire them for years to come.

After our visit we had lunch at the above building.  I thought the same thing you are probably thinking when we pulled up, "There is no way the health department allows this place to operate."  I love a good hole-in-the-wall restaurant but come on, this?  Well the food was amazing.  They have great plate lunches with a meat, three sides and fried cornbread.   I ate a cheeseburger after reading this sign at the counter, "Best burgers in Birdeye.  There's no competition."  Get it?  As you can imagine, there is no other restaurant (or business for that matter) in the town.

On Thursday I got a personal tour of Camp Robinson (Arkansas National Guard and Air Guard base).  A very nice major who is their government liaison showed me the ins and outs of all I will need to know.  We work closely with the Guard on different projects and events so they are important contacts. 

I'm not sure if it was the heat, information overload or the traveling from the days before but once I got back to my office Thursday afternoon, I could have gone to sleep at my desk.  Friday was even worse (we had dinner at some friends' house and got home past my bedtime the night before).  It felt like I was thinking at turtle speed.  I'm glad to report that I have taken a nap every day since Friday and slept hard during the nights in between.  I feel incredibly rested and ready for another busy week, although I'm not sure what is in store yet.