Chapter 36.1

She Says: Moving into a condo complex that has mucho security allows one to be more free in saying publically they are out of town. We are at the beach for a long weekend, so the brain is allowed to get a bit mushy... so I think this post is 36.1 cause I usually start the week on Saturdays, and today is Friday. Last week I was late and started on Sunday so I am confused...aka mushy brain.

Yesterday was spent like every first day on a mini vacation should be spent; I did nothing but read and eat good food.  Today I got off to a better start and walked for 45 minutes on the beach. High tide was slipping away and people not to plentiful. The reward of getting up while others slumber is a good IOP beach breakfast; eggs with goat cheese sandwich, grapes and a tiny slice of key lime pie (it felt bad, only tree people at 1/4 of the pie for dessert last night). Yummy:)

The keys to having a nice mini vacation are:

#1 is a very good friend to look in on the four legged kids. I do hope Mary is relaxing by the pool or on the porch with the kiddos. Delighted Neko is becoming his old self and socializing with Miranda. I know Mary is going overboard spoiling and glad Maaeo still likes his treat (steroid in a pill pocket that I'm not sure is working o cure pillow foot).

#2 is a good book. Thank you Holly! The Knight Circus was a great read. I'll admit the changing of years back and forth was a bit hard to follow, but it was a great fun read with a wonderful ending. The imagery was masterful and I could smell it! No worries, no live animals that could be having a less than stellar lifestyle. A bit of mystery and a hint of love story.

I have been reflecting lately... We have passed the one year mark of the start of this journey to an urban condo lifestyle. Change is always hard, but this was a great change for us! If I haven't voiced it loud enough please hear me now. Moving to a a condo in the Vista was the right thing for us to do!

I have said before and I'll say it again we lived in the best house in the best neighborhood. I was apprehensive about moving but knew my greater loves in my life were Jason and the cats, so a compromise was necessary. Since we have moved I spend more time out doors, read more, exercise more (well, more lately), participate in more community activities and my list of things to do isn't nearly as long. My new guilt surrounds not cooking more (too easy to run out and get healthy food that support the local small businesses) and not participating in every walkable community event. So yes, this was the right thing to do.

And on to stories of the progression of the condo,  the artist has been hired! The wall will be fixed
and natural light added to the guest/music room. No timeline yet, but hopeful by December. Will have to see how urgent repainting is once the wall and molding is corrected...

Maybe more tomorrow so I can start week 37 and cure my mushy brain!

Chapter 36

She says: This week was mostly a slower paced week! Probably prompted by my slide from allergies acting up to sinusitis (in case you were wondering grass, ragweed and mold pollens are high right now and tree pollen moderate). So of course when I announced it is wonderful and cool outside this morning, Jason opened all three windows. I'd rather sniffle with the windows open than closed. Doesn't get better than this!

sun	mon	tue	wed	thu	fri
sep 09 P Cloudy 85° 69°	sep 10 Sunny 83° 59°	sep 11 M Sunny 83° 62°	sep 12 M Sunny 82° 59°	sep 13 M Sunny 85° 65°	sep 14 P Cloudy

Was sad to miss the Jazz Under The Stars on the statehouse lawn due to crazy weather. But loved the inaugural picnic dinner at home and watching a movie (but I don't recommend The Rum Diary).

Of note this week is the opening of the new Nick and proving the IRS isn't perfect. Yes everyone gets goosebumps when they have to go to he post office to sign for mail from the IRS... but in our case some IRS agent decided to credit the last BIG tax payment to 2012 instead of the exact balance due for 2011...

The Nick you say? Bumpy first week if you are an insider, but smooth if you were a customer. I played what I call at work "that volunteer" for a bit, but like to think it has helped some. Beasts of the Southern Wild is a great show to debut the new projector and theater. Popcorn not as good, but with time this new slower popper will get seasoned. The theater definitely has more of a multiplex theater kind of feel, but the 99 seats (with cup holders!), sound and picture quality are really nice.

My next update is  more closely aligned with the intent of this blog, should be told by Jason... I will try to do the story justice.  The expert in walls (or mudding of walls) finally came to look at "the wall". Jason said he was a nice laid back guy, about our age.  Per Jason " He walked in,  felt the wall at the seam gently with is hand, and slowly said "this (pause) is sooooo saaaad" in a very depressed tone. So we will get an estimate Monday. He does like the idea of cuts in the wall and suggested a semi circle type cut. We shall see:)

My task of getting in a licensed electrician was not as successful. Hopefully this week after work I'll be able to get some people in, my connection duo was re-wiring one of  their own houses this weekend!

We did get our new refrigerator installed, it is nice!!!!!! Big, not sure how two people could fill it up, but I love that it is quiet and that ice shaving don't fall to the floor when teh freezer is opened.


Only other comment is my football widow days have dawned once again. Gamecocks won again and we will see what happens to the Packers later today. The Packer Backer gang Jason hangs with had a new addition with the heads of the club having a baby. Will wait and see how this year turns out!

Credits: From Google search of football widow from cartoonstock.com

35.1

She Says: Things that make you go hmm?

< The white object to the left and just below her knee is a cup holder. It  holds a Dunkin Donuts drink (with straw)...

> 19" flat screen TV is about the same (if on sale) as a 19" monitor (yes I talked Jason into it, promised no cable or antenna (at least until the Olympics).

And last but no least, drum roll please...

 Who is the smallest government spender since Eisenhower?

(Source - Forbes.com)

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.