Chapter 35

She Says: Once again I think it has been a no news week, but then I look though pictures I have taken and this a lot has happened! I took today off to jump start my chores so I could really participate in the holiday and not labor...

Monday started with our new tradition of going to Mezza for wine tasting night. $7 allows one to sample four good wines and have an appetizer or two. Not quite filling us up we then had an order of Falafel and Foul Mouddamas, yummy!!!!

Tuesday brought the effects of Isaac to South Carolina. The picture is actually of New Orleans the day after it hit courtesy of John Harvey. What he saw when he walked out of his apartment.

It was also the night I went for volunteer orientation at the new Nick. It is amazing and they are looking for more volunteers to fill additional needs in the new space. Each shift earns you a free ticket! Glad to tell you more about it. Kind of ironic that Beasts of the Southern Wild is the opening movie with the weather we were experiencing.

I will say that the sound of rain isn't as good here at the condo as it was on Shalimar, but it isn't too bad either. Nothing I love more than curling up in a chair to read a good book and have rain in the background.

 
Had I been brave I would have taken a picture of this car in our garage a bit earlier. The puddle to the left of the car was formerly a bag of ice propped next to a cooler. The car is overlapping two spaces allotted to a condo owned by Wet Willies. Now just ask me in person what the special tag on the car is... The car does magically appear every couple of weeks for a few nights and it isn't a legislator...

Did my first two morning sessions with Angie at Fit Columbia. I will have to devote an entry to the people there. It is complete with a native Vermonter who works for SCANA and a gentleman who had the opportunity to spend the night in a "plastic" canoe in the Cayce PD. Of course he was booked erroneously. 

Also have to do a shout out to Teri at Communities in Schools of the Midlands (CISM). Still the best non-profit around to help youth be successful in life!!! We had a great catch up lunch and she actually looked at the blog!!!!

Wednesday was Louisa's birthday (best sister in the entire planet!) and we had a chance to catch up. Sounds like it was the best Ravaris reunion ever at the Trout Club (even Gwen and Don joined the celebration). And I got to hear a little about her recent connection with her Aunt. I never knew Luther had a half sister living in Maine till a few months ago. So glad Louisa is having a chance to get to know her Dad better through her Aunt.
 
Last night kicked off Carolina football with a victory against Vanderbilt. It was celebrated at the Tree House Tavern and yours truly was DD:) I did get a chance to catch up with Dawn who has been busy journeying across the US while the fans were watching!

This morning did not start out so great. I had made an appointment for the boys to get a mani/pedi (yes, those are Neko's eyes in the carrier) in an attempt to eliminate the chair scratching, but is was pretty much a failure before it even started. Jason had caught Macka red handed defacing the chair earlier this week (my perfect Slovakian doing something bad?). When I arrived at the vets I was told Maaeo and the girls were overdo for their annual (forwarding mail wasn't perfect during the move???). Girls will go in three weeks and Maeeo's was squeezed in to today's appointment. And just to keep my gold medal status in cats with weird conditions, Maeeo has pillow paw (you can Google for ugle picture) and poor guy is in pain. He was ready to tear up the vet and vet tech when they tried to clip his talons. Neko was the perfect patient. Four Paws is worth the drive, but the ensemble singing isn't convinced.

Sad that the Famously Hot Music Festival  was about 1000 attendees short of breaking even. Wonder if they will try something again next year. No Finlay park concerts this weekend, what will we do?!!?

Chapter 34

She Says: Please note that the fire truck here on Saturday was because of an elevator issue. That being said this has been a weekend of ups and downs.

Friday we introduced ourselves to the Oyster Bar, YUMMY!!!!! While it is a bit loud, we will be back for more scallops with Greek seasoning, will try the Cajun seasoning on shrimp next (Old Bay was yummy, but Cajun sounds good) and I am sure Jason will test the oysters again.

Saturday we ventured bright and not so early to the State Farmer's Market for breakfast and to collect our made to order walking stick holder. Jason also added a new cane to the collection, no preaching from our horseshoe artist this weekend. We skipped the boiled peanut festival, not sure if that was a good or bad thing to do.

Jason then met up with everyone at D's and I on to errands.  I should get the message by now, everyone goes to D's when I don't. Jason reported that Ms. Virginia joined and when he asked her if she'd like a drink, she announced she was already drunk. I'll go shopping with them if Ms. Virginia is drinking anytime! My errands included investigative work for keeping cats from exploring beyond bars on the balcony at Fishy Business, pots for more flowers at Southeastern Salvage (of course someone left behind only one of the perfect color pot) and washing a dirty Isig (my car)... D's would have been a lot more fun.

Saturday late afternoon we were introduced to the building wide fire alarm... lots of noise for a false elevator issue. Only took police seven plus minutes to get here... The non-event delayed our trek to the Famously Hot Music Festival in Finlay Park. Bands we heard on this rock day were Seven Mary Three, Filter, Buckcherry and Collective Soul. I had hear of two and thought I didn't know the other two, but they did have one hit wonders that I have heard. A bit harder rock that my usual taste, but fun overall. Saw more tattoos and smokers in one place that I have seen in a long time... great people watching. Had thought we'd run into more people we know, just Cat and Stephanie.  I guess the $35 price kept folks away cause it sure wasn't the weather. Hope the organizer doesn't take a loss, he got no public finding. Will get VIP tickets next year if there is a next year. The higher cost would be worth to it if one has access to cleaner toilets in addition to the AC, free drinks including wine and food. Listening to Country day now as I type on the patio.

I reiterate, the fire truck came Saturday... I set out to replace the white outlets with black ones in the granite counter top by the kitchen sink. With Chris' advice, YouTube and directions from the box read twice, I got to work. Yes, I turned off the breakers and tested to make sure no live current before getting to work. But, I was unsuccessful:(

My next kinda bummer was working my last shift in the old Nick. I heard we have a new soda fountain and depending on who you talk to it is better or the same. I am forewarned that the new popcorn machine will eliminate the falling off pan, but no guarantee just yet the popcorn will be as good. I will be optimistic about not working along side Bradley any more... There is good stuff to look forward to, no broken seats, the sinks will function, good AC, and more to realize. We have volunteer orientation Tuesday night with the new staff person. I hope to be pleased with all the new!

To purge me of my woes I hit Lowe's and bought  nice petunias for my new pots. Hope they get enough sun on their mostly shady spot. I am thrilled that the Confederate Jasmine is already weaving its way around the and blocking cats from stepping out onto the edge. Will have to get some fishing line to weave around other sections. My former idea of pond netting has been outvoted. And I still don't think the majority of our cats are smart enough to know better.

I also fortunately bumped into Andrea and Eric at Lowe's...Eric says he will come and share his electrical engineering knowledge and look into what I did wrong (he does lean towards Jason's pesimism about me trying to do it myself). We just have to get a pass from Jason to let them in before everything is completed to Jason's unrealistic requirement of perfection (so far he has only overlooked this rule for family and out of town friends).

Hope everyone has a great week and the storm only causes havoc on some convention in Tampa. We do still need some rain. And I have a massage Monday after work!!!!!

33.1

She Says: And then it begins to look like a home! I even have perennials planted!! Just waiting on the bookshelf for the guest bedroom (third try will be the is the charm) and need to finish re-framing and hanging pictures to finish round one.

Jason's leather chair accommodates long legs.

The living area,  Katy's chair accommodates short legs.

Guest sleeper sofa, no more solid fabric (a big step)!

  

Headboard... for me the jury is still out on the value of these things.

Confederate Jasmin and Trailing Antique Rose

Confederate and Candytuft

 

A good luck wine rack.

 

 

 

So it is really beginning to settle into a home. There is of course a new list of next steps, but that is what a home is all about (much to someone's chagrin). 

 

I long for the bookcase so all boxes can be unpacked, but we are basically there! Will consult with Jason to schedule our open house.

Chapter 33

She Says: The most beautiful words.... "Your complete order has arrived".  Monday the rest of the furniture will be delivered by Maryt Rae's and I'll have a comphy chair to put my butt in!

My observation about our new life is the feel of a neighborhood is meant for suburbia. So far this feels more like a hotel, well we do talk to our next door neighbor (but I still can't remember her name, it is written down somewhere). A wave while passing in your car, a brief hello in the hall and maybe a short conversation in the parking lot... is about it. 

Even Koska is getting into it!

But there is a routine... Every late afternoon a couple from the "A" building (we are snobs about living in Buckingham, the "B" building) come down with their floppy hats and floats to bob in the pool. And at dusk a lady from the live and work units comes with her dog (maybe a Spaniel) and her flashlight to walk the sidewalks around the pool, taking the stairs down very cautiously. Me, I am sitting on the porch... So maybe I am the resident, maybe the creepy lady, that no one knows but is always watching. So once again I will, at some point, put up a note in the Buckingham elevator for a meet and greet and maybe after that I will have neighbors.

But we do have a new happy hour family. Not sure if this has anything to do with our urban transition. Went back to Wheeler's for Ede's birthday and felt I had to send Jasmine a text explaining why we weren't at Blue. She replied we were missed and I don't think she was just being nice.

Our Saturday morning has started out in our new normal pattern. I am working on the blog while Jason packs up to go to the gym in his office. I'll head to Whaley Street Market next, maybe venture out of downtown to Rosewood Market. And then stop by D's to say hello to that group then off to the State Farmer's Market. I am going to plant my planters for sure today! Tonight is the last of the summer concert series. Hoping the weather once again miraculously holds out for us.

Chapter 32

She Says: It all started in January 2011 "... The idea is to start a blog about our journey... for those who know us it should be entertaining if nothing else! Jason and I will not blog daily, but only when we have something to say about the relocation process. So we strayed a bit.

Last night The Vista became New Orleans! John Harvey was back in town for a visit with 20 lbs of Mardi Gras beads. Blue was the starting point with the regular crowd, Laura and Jasmine. My normal act of returning food (didn't even try the calamari, new breading and tiny pieces of mostly whole calamari) and then on to poor service at the Carolina Ale House. When will I learn? No more eating at Blue and no more stopping off at Ale House. Maybe the newness of the we don't have to drive behavior will ease up...

So today I will venture to Publix on Rosewood. Maybe they will have all the favorite stuff our former Publix had. I understand it is a small store in the Vista, but they never have tilapia and the good fake chicken and meatballs. I have to work on becoming friends with the manager so I can become credible when suggesting which products to do away with an which ones to try. That may be a job for Jason. I also need to find an in-town plant nursery.

And we did rule out trash in the storage closet as the source of the odd smell. Not sure where Jason will go next with this fixation. He may have moved on to getting "Pink Floyd" (his name for the curved wall) fixed and maybe repainted better...

The condo did pass the Mom test! Mom and family friend Jean Henshaw came for a brief one night visit Monday. It was hot and humid but the New Englanders braved the zoo (cute baby koala was the highlight) and then on to dinner at M Cafe with John and Marcia to celebrate Jason's birthday. Springhill Suites across the street was approved by the travelers to be a good guest house should our accommodations be full (only a few more weeks till the rest of the furniture arrives).

Hoping the weather clears for jazz night in the park!

31.2

She Says: Pictures are worth a thousand words!

Pedestrian tunnel under Hampton

And then they had their stuff!

Finesse was best band yet!

The picnic, nice cup holders!

The boys first time on the porch.

No justice the amazing lightening show last week,

Chapter 31

She Says: Most devout follower Holly, I apologize. May not update or make it to D's (gotta get long overdo toe-nalis painted and Jason has a toastmaster convention that will delay him till noon). I do have a week in review picture story planned from my new not perfect Iphone 8gb...
Note to all, crazy Saturday at Finlay Park, we will show up close to 8 for r&b night (it is National night out night starting at 4 lots of family stuff, Zumba at 7, music at 8).
Oh, we can now hang clothes in our closet! Yippee, thank you Chris for an offordable closet, not perfect but affordable).
AND FIRST SUNDAY AT THE FIVE POINTS IDIOT - BOGO!!!!!
Side note, new movies at Nick!
And see me about Cheers game with Blue creww (take old cast an assign characters from new scene...Jasmine and welcome back Phillip already cast....