The grande exit was a mix of birdseed, thunder/lightning, wind and rain! An evening I will remember fondly.
Congrats and best wishes newlyweds!
Monday, July 24, 2006
Congratulations Shea Lynn!
Congrats to Shea and Micah! It was an absolutely beautiful wedding ceremony and fun reception.
-The SLOBs:
Lu, Lee, Lester, Lynn & Lars
(aka: Becky, Julie, Beth, Shea and Amanda)
-The SLOBs:
Lu, Lee, Lester, Lynn & Lars
(aka: Becky, Julie, Beth, Shea and Amanda)
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Quick flashback
This was the house exactly 2 years ago....
Wow. Time flies!
And sadly, I haven't taken a picture since spring... but here we are at the front door in March
Ahhh, I love our house.
Wow. Time flies!
And sadly, I haven't taken a picture since spring... but here we are at the front door in March
Ahhh, I love our house.
UGH! Toll road in Wake County
"I-540 Toll Road Closer To Lawmakers' Final Approval"
RALEIGH, N.C. -- State lawmakers are close to giving final approval to a bill that would allow the first toll road to be built in North Carolina -- and the Triangle area.
Seriously?! Are you kidding me?!? The road that we as taxpayers have already shelled out money to build? We're paying for it again? What is up with that? I've already had a discussion with someone who thought it was a grande idea and thinks that all of I-540, even the parts that have been open since 1997, should be a TOLL ROAD. This brought me to nearly raise my voice and use choice words. Are you kidding me?! It's insane! What a racket, just like the 'lottery is for education,' riiiiiiiiiiight - AKA the governor's 'slush fund!'
Amen to Mayor Meeker who said, "If you put a toll on an existing road that's already paid for, then the public has to pay for it twice: once through gas taxes, once through tolls," Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said. "And that really is just too much."
--Rant over--
RALEIGH, N.C. -- State lawmakers are close to giving final approval to a bill that would allow the first toll road to be built in North Carolina -- and the Triangle area.
Seriously?! Are you kidding me?!? The road that we as taxpayers have already shelled out money to build? We're paying for it again? What is up with that? I've already had a discussion with someone who thought it was a grande idea and thinks that all of I-540, even the parts that have been open since 1997, should be a TOLL ROAD. This brought me to nearly raise my voice and use choice words. Are you kidding me?! It's insane! What a racket, just like the 'lottery is for education,' riiiiiiiiiiight - AKA the governor's 'slush fund!'
Amen to Mayor Meeker who said, "If you put a toll on an existing road that's already paid for, then the public has to pay for it twice: once through gas taxes, once through tolls," Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker said. "And that really is just too much."
--Rant over--
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
2006 Hurricane season, Atlantic storm #2
I was a little surprised watching the news last night when they started talking about "Tropical Storm Beryl," um, when did that form? It has been insanely hot (and pretty dry) so it would have been a little relief to have tropical rain blow through, but apparently it's pushing north and, besides some waves, NC won't see much from it.
And for just a moment, can I crack on the name? First there was Alberto - it's kinda funny and exotic. It will be remembered around here for the wild flooding we had (8 inches!).
But Beryl? I had to look it up for kicks to see what it means...
"Beryl: Pale Green Gem, Olde English" or "From the English word for the clear or pale green precious stone, ultimately deriving from Sanskrit."
The next 2 names are pretty normal/common... Chris & Debby, then we go back to the exotic with "Ernesto" (check out the Atlantic hurricane names for the next 6 years, will they use yours?!)
Want to know what your name means? Or mindlessly waste time looking up meanings?
"Behind the Name"
"Baby name addicts"
"Baby names - top names, meanings, name generator"
Monday, July 17, 2006
Weekend wedding in Asheville
Congratulations Dave and Kerry! :)
The wedding was great fun despite the short trip (the return roadtrip is still too fresh, staying out until the 'wee hours' was probably not the best idea, but it sure was fun!). We had a great time with old friends and being a part of a beautiful wedding.
Since my camera with pictures somehow found its way to Canada with Paul, I don't have much to post... but I did want to post 2 photos from the evening taken by the lovely Becky-Lu and delightfully funny Kevin.
We caught the groom and held him hostage for a picture
(his smile was holding up after hundreds of photos! Go Dave :)
A decent picture of Paul and I near the end of the evening
More pictures to come... and another wedding is on tap for the upcoming weekend! YAY for Shea-Lynn and Micah!!! Roadtrip to Salisbury! I love wedding season :)
The wedding was great fun despite the short trip (the return roadtrip is still too fresh, staying out until the 'wee hours' was probably not the best idea, but it sure was fun!). We had a great time with old friends and being a part of a beautiful wedding.
Since my camera with pictures somehow found its way to Canada with Paul, I don't have much to post... but I did want to post 2 photos from the evening taken by the lovely Becky-Lu and delightfully funny Kevin.
We caught the groom and held him hostage for a picture
(his smile was holding up after hundreds of photos! Go Dave :)
A decent picture of Paul and I near the end of the evening
More pictures to come... and another wedding is on tap for the upcoming weekend! YAY for Shea-Lynn and Micah!!! Roadtrip to Salisbury! I love wedding season :)
Friday, July 14, 2006
Ugh
The last post gives me a headache reading it. I am so sorry everyone, I will not over indulge myself with chocolate and sugar again for a LONG time.
My deepest & sincerest apologies, I will never overuse bold and italics again. I hope to make up for the previous post with an entry after our trip to Asheville (which was delayed this evening) with lots of photos. :)
Have a great weekend (I know I will once we get on the road!)
My deepest & sincerest apologies, I will never overuse bold and italics again. I hope to make up for the previous post with an entry after our trip to Asheville (which was delayed this evening) with lots of photos. :)
Have a great weekend (I know I will once we get on the road!)
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
SuGaR bUzZ - CHOCOLATE!
It's 9:45pm, just a little bit before my bedtime (yes, I am a geek, but 5am comes too soon) and I just INHALED a piece of CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE and washed it down with a glass of SUPER chocolate milk (at least it was 1% milk) (what makes it SUPER you ask? 3 tablespoons of NesQuik. Oh, me and NesQuik go back a long way, a really long way... just ask my parents).
Ya'll, I am CHOCOLATE buzzin'! I have not had THIS MUCH sugar in, well, a really long long long LONG time! My teeth HURT from the sugar sweeeeeeeetness. I couldn't finish the last gulp of my milk... it was TOO MUCH.
I blame my [most recent] CHOCOLATE obsession on a recent trip to visit Philip & Jennifer in Wilmington and our introduction to the mocha, chocolate, frozen, milkshake madness. It is a concoction of chocolaty, coffee, rich goodness. Once you have one you will forever CRAVE the cold, creamy, rich and velvety smooth drink that will make you twitch within minutes. It's GREAT! I want one now! Thankfully there are only 2 locations nearby that serve this magnificent drink... and there is even one on campus! Good thing I don't work ON campus! Oh my gosh, I would be 300lbs if I worked closer to it (and the Taco Bell and Chick-fil-a and oh-so-many other fat/calorie packed foods that I crave!) .
mmmmmmmmmmm, mocha madness shake.....
Ya'll, I am CHOCOLATE buzzin'! I have not had THIS MUCH sugar in, well, a really long long long LONG time! My teeth HURT from the sugar sweeeeeeeetness. I couldn't finish the last gulp of my milk... it was TOO MUCH.
I blame my [most recent] CHOCOLATE obsession on a recent trip to visit Philip & Jennifer in Wilmington and our introduction to the mocha, chocolate, frozen, milkshake madness. It is a concoction of chocolaty, coffee, rich goodness. Once you have one you will forever CRAVE the cold, creamy, rich and velvety smooth drink that will make you twitch within minutes. It's GREAT! I want one now! Thankfully there are only 2 locations nearby that serve this magnificent drink... and there is even one on campus! Good thing I don't work ON campus! Oh my gosh, I would be 300lbs if I worked closer to it (and the Taco Bell and Chick-fil-a and oh-so-many other fat/calorie packed foods that I crave!) .
mmmmmmmmmmm, mocha madness shake.....
Monday, July 10, 2006
Lazy summer afternoons
Jackson Lake at sunset (June 2006)
Whew, it is hot, muggy and buggy out there. I tried to take a nice walk at sunset, but the stifling heat and cloud of mosquitoes forced me back inside. The garden, is well, gardening. We're got tomatoes and peppers (the poor squash just isn't going to make it and the okra & carrots are growing but aren't impressive). The herbs look good and my flowers are really starting to come in. However, the weeds are doing the best. Much to my dismay and hours of pulling weeds, they are winning!
We are going to Asheville this weekend for a wedding of college friends. We were last in A-ville in February and it was SO COLD! I am really looking forward to seeing old friends and spending some time up in the mountains. I've already got a running list of places we HAVE to eat; Barley's is at the top!
Sunet at Grove Park, November 2005
Friday, July 07, 2006
Primitive camping
Primitive camping - we've done it, I can check it off my list of things I needed to do in my lifetime. It wasn't bad, but in all honestly, I really like having fresh water and a toilet. I can live without a shower and power for a few days, but not the two aforementioned items.
I really meant to post something earlier this week while the trip was still fresh on my mind, but work was BUSY. Guess that's where the last 3 days went.
Anyway...
Quick recap of our July 4th weekend:
Saturday, July 1
Decide to visit our 'long distance neighbors' Philip and Jennifer in Wilmington
Arrive about lunchtime (traffic on I-40 was pooo - everyone else wanted to hit the beach!)
Decide that we should camp out at Carolina Beach
Go lunch, go shopping (Sam's, Target, Harris Teeter)
Buy tent/air mattresses, misc. food and gear
Wait for thunderstorm to pass
Arrive at beach around 6pm
Wait for more space to open up at our 'camp site' and start the set-up
Put up new tent in the dark
Eat hamburgers, hotdogs, lots of random food and 'frosty beverages'
Enjoy the campfire, the sounds of the surf and unfortunately, rednecks parked next door
Quick trip out to the surf to, uh, go
Get sleeeeeeeepy and head into tent around midnight
Stay awake until the drunk, loud, annoying and loud revilers leave/passout (3am)
Sunday, July 2
Wake up 6am to random dog sniffing tent
Watch sunrise over ocean (really missing my camera about now)
Eat breakfast of eggs, bacon, donuts and juice
Get in ocean, again to, uh, go
Pack up tents
Play in ocean (me chicken out, I don't care for big waves and strange currents)
Head back for showers around noon
Get back to P&J's house, unpack and wash/air out all items we used on beach (it's amazing how much sand can stick to things....)
Take wonderful shower, lay around in exhaustion
Finally decide to leave to find food
Drive around and decide on Japanese (the billboard looked so good!)
See show, eat Japanese, wait until 4pm for Sushi, drink green tea in coffee mug from tea bag
Head out to explore a little
Check out new construction houses, find selves amused with land price
Walk the riverfront in historic Wilmington
People watch, people watch, people watch and more people watch (it was THAT good)
See sun set (wow, see it rise and set in one day)
Wander a little more
Go the The Little Dipper (fondue)
Order cheese, wine and chocolate
Enjoy cheese, wine and chocolate
Drive back to their house
Fall asleep in front of TV
Monday, July 3 (decide to take the day off, work can wait!)
Head out and back to Raleigh at 8am
Eat Bojo's for breakfast
Make record time getting back to Raleigh
Run a few errands
Get home, shower, sleeeeeeeeep
??? something here ???
Grab a Sonic shake and slush
Watch fireworks the town put on
Tuesday, July 4
Yardwork - watering, mowing, etc...
Go to work with Paul(for 4 hours!)
Pick up dinner from grocery store
Open bottle of Shiraz from Australia (YUM)
Make the most awesome bruschtta from home grown tomatoes and herbs
Cook strip steaks, asparagus, red potatoes (another YUM)
Watch the DC July 4th show on PBS
Take a walk and watch crazy neighbor's fireworks
See Raleigh's fireworks from about 20 miles away (it was sweet!)
Find ourselves a ways from home at the start of a thunderstorm, RUN
Get home, finish laundry and get Paul packed for Canada
It was a great way to spend the long weekend and sadly, I have no pictures of it. However, Jennifer did bring along her camera and I hope to get some of those pictures.
I hope that you had a great holiday!
I really meant to post something earlier this week while the trip was still fresh on my mind, but work was BUSY. Guess that's where the last 3 days went.
Anyway...
Quick recap of our July 4th weekend:
Saturday, July 1
Decide to visit our 'long distance neighbors' Philip and Jennifer in Wilmington
Arrive about lunchtime (traffic on I-40 was pooo - everyone else wanted to hit the beach!)
Decide that we should camp out at Carolina Beach
Go lunch, go shopping (Sam's, Target, Harris Teeter)
Buy tent/air mattresses, misc. food and gear
Wait for thunderstorm to pass
Arrive at beach around 6pm
Wait for more space to open up at our 'camp site' and start the set-up
Put up new tent in the dark
Eat hamburgers, hotdogs, lots of random food and 'frosty beverages'
Enjoy the campfire, the sounds of the surf and unfortunately, rednecks parked next door
Quick trip out to the surf to, uh, go
Get sleeeeeeeepy and head into tent around midnight
Stay awake until the drunk, loud, annoying and loud revilers leave/passout (3am)
Sunday, July 2
Wake up 6am to random dog sniffing tent
Watch sunrise over ocean (really missing my camera about now)
Eat breakfast of eggs, bacon, donuts and juice
Get in ocean, again to, uh, go
Pack up tents
Play in ocean (me chicken out, I don't care for big waves and strange currents)
Head back for showers around noon
Get back to P&J's house, unpack and wash/air out all items we used on beach (it's amazing how much sand can stick to things....)
Take wonderful shower, lay around in exhaustion
Finally decide to leave to find food
Drive around and decide on Japanese (the billboard looked so good!)
See show, eat Japanese, wait until 4pm for Sushi, drink green tea in coffee mug from tea bag
Head out to explore a little
Check out new construction houses, find selves amused with land price
Walk the riverfront in historic Wilmington
People watch, people watch, people watch and more people watch (it was THAT good)
See sun set (wow, see it rise and set in one day)
Wander a little more
Go the The Little Dipper (fondue)
Order cheese, wine and chocolate
Enjoy cheese, wine and chocolate
Drive back to their house
Fall asleep in front of TV
Monday, July 3 (decide to take the day off, work can wait!)
Head out and back to Raleigh at 8am
Eat Bojo's for breakfast
Make record time getting back to Raleigh
Run a few errands
Get home, shower, sleeeeeeeeep
??? something here ???
Grab a Sonic shake and slush
Watch fireworks the town put on
Tuesday, July 4
Yardwork - watering, mowing, etc...
Go to work with Paul(for 4 hours!)
Pick up dinner from grocery store
Open bottle of Shiraz from Australia (YUM)
Make the most awesome bruschtta from home grown tomatoes and herbs
Cook strip steaks, asparagus, red potatoes (another YUM)
Watch the DC July 4th show on PBS
Take a walk and watch crazy neighbor's fireworks
See Raleigh's fireworks from about 20 miles away (it was sweet!)
Find ourselves a ways from home at the start of a thunderstorm, RUN
Get home, finish laundry and get Paul packed for Canada
It was a great way to spend the long weekend and sadly, I have no pictures of it. However, Jennifer did bring along her camera and I hope to get some of those pictures.
I hope that you had a great holiday!
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