After TVA training today I took a stroll around downtown Chattanooga and stopped for a sampling of micro-brews at the Big River Brewing Company. Inside the brewing company, a restored and historic trolley station, the air was filled with the sweet smell of cigar smoke and the ambiance was kind of giant chain brew pub (that is, nothing special). The music inside was a bit too loud for my liking so I relocated to the outside dining area (also nothing special). It was there that I laid eyes on a couple of really handsome fellas - my waiter whom had sexy arm hair (yes, arm hair) and sculpted forearms; the other fella was a trainer of Navy pilots and was wearing a green helicopter jumpsuit (oh yeah!). Sexy arm hair man and I had several nice chats during my dinner and we decided to take a walk over the pedestrain bridge that straddles the Tennessee River after he got off work. We ended up having a beer at an open air coffee shop that faces the river, bridge, mountains, and downtown Chattanooga. Side note: Morgantown WV should model their downtown riverfront after Chattanooga; it is really cool, fresh, and well-used. So, the beer at the Stonecup Coffeehouse- Espresso Stout - was one of the best ever, the chemistry with sexy arm hair man, Travis, was pretty good too. I'll see him next time I travel to Chattanooga, whenever that will be. There was no exchange of numbers and no promise to see eachother again - we just had a nice walk and life talk. People are generally friendly and interesting here, but I will always be a yankee, an outsider. I thought of Maria several times while walking tonight. I was missing the self introspection we shared while walking on the Huckleberry together and I felt like I was cheating on her tonight since I felt so comfortable being this way with someone else.
The talk with Travis gave me strength as he reminded me that love cannot be taken for granted and love doesn't grow on trees. The high I experienced today was realizing that a TVA career and member of the Cherokee-Douglas watershed team is an ideal fit and exciting challenge. I am looking forward to itemizing my performance goals and diving into my job responsibilities at my watershed office. On Friday I report to my watershed office in Mo-town TN!!!! I will meet my co-workers, a team of ~15, and I will be assigned a 5 ft * 5 ft cubicle. I have been told I won't spend too much time in cubicle exile since as a recreation specialist and planner I am expected to be out in the field facilitating public comment and contacting visitors to TVA lands and reserviors and contacting private landowners and concessionaires that share shoreline with TVA reservoirs. Another important lesson from today: I have felt God's presence in Chattanooga. Peace and happiness have infiltrated my attitude and disposition, and I am confident in myself, my career goals, and my spiritual self. I am still not happy being alone though. Tonight I will spend another night in a posh hotel missing the companionship and love of friends and family. Being alone is a new adventure and it is not an adventure that I want to last long. On a brighter note, I am going to see my sister tomorrow night!!!!!!! I am travelling to Smyrna GA after work tomorrow to visit her and meet her fiancee for the first time.
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