Wow! What a week is has already been. I can say that I love being the first into the office every morning. I get more work done between 7-9am than I can do with others here from 10am on. I love having the office to myself in the mornings. I can work at my desk with a venti Starbucks coffee and no interruptions (well, except the few random phone calls before 9am). It's wonderful to have some time to organize things around the office without disturbing or explaining to everyone what I am doing. I really want to hang a few things on the walls, but with my prior record, it's best that I get some help for that. It can wait.
Paul is on a flight somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on his way to Melbourne, Australia. Last time I checked he was just over 1/2 way between LA and MEL. It's just over 15 hours in the air. I can't begin to imagine. However, he is being treated quite well in business class once again. He'll be gone until next Thursday at least. We knew that there was a chance he'd be going soon, but I don't think that either of us expected that he would leave yesterday. I have not figured out what I'm going to do with my time while he is away. Last night was incredibly long... and I even had a FRESH Gilmore Girls to entertain me. I also have a new book of "movie music" from the 20th century to challenge my piano skills. I did master "Moon River" and most of the theme to Forrest Gump ("Feather Song"). I am slightly concerned about our grass... it is growing like a weed (well, that may be b/c there are quite a few weeds mixed in with the fescue). I do not do grass. I do not have the slightest clue how to start the mower, let alone how to drag it across the yard and make it look decent. Hopefully the HOA won't notice. Eh, I don't care!
Totally random and off topic... I've been following the primary race for a NC House seat in Buncombe County. I met the candidate, Doug Jones, my freshman year of college. I had just lost in the freshmen senator election and wanted to somehow be involved with Student Government. I was directed to Doug as he was forming a committee of non-SGA members to look at ... um... something I cannot recall at the moment, but it was important, I'm fairly certain. Anyway, he got me involved with SGA and the next semester a seat in the senate opened and I was in... long story short, I served in SGA in various capacities from then on. It was an important part of my college career, although I was NEVER the SGA type. It was great fun. Anyway, back to my point, Doug Jones was in the running for the Dem. primary, he won. I can't say that I am in agreement with his party and platform, but I know he has a passion and I am excited to see him win the primary. Here are the results:
NC HOUSE DISTRICT 116
Dem. Primary
23 of 23 (100%) Precincts Reporting
Doug Jones 1,605 52%
Jim Hughes 938 30%
James Latimore 388 12%
Gregory Cathcart 177 6%
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Monday, May 01, 2006
Our patio - ready for good times
Ok, so this past weekend we made it without going to Lowe's, Home Depot or Super Wal-Mart, however, we did not escape the draw of Super Target. We did WALK to Target on Sunday evening after dinner. It was a perfect night for a walk and we can now cut through the construction area that connects our neighborhood to the wonderful Retail Drive :) It is GREAT! One day there will be sidewalks, but for now we are content to walk along the concrete curbs high above the waist-deep mud.
We have been eyeing the oh-so-fanciful outdoor lights that Target has been selling since February. We both knew that ONE DAY they would go on sale and we would feel like great shoppers if we held out for the sale we knew would happen any day now. We kinda held out... all their fun and exciting outdoor light sets were FINALLY on sale for a whooping 20% off. It was clear that some of the more exciting sets were long gone, so we jumped at the chance and bought 2 sets of lights for our recently built patio gazebo. While at Target I also couldn't resist buying some very fun and colorful placemats, some tongs, ink for the printer, a rice steamer basket thingie (only a $1! Alton uses them for all kinds of things) and something else... you cannot leave Target without at least 10 items! At least we were bound by our lack of transportation and we couldn't buy all the lamps that were 50% off... oh so tempting! You can always use another lamp [sigh].
We had to put them up last night to check them out... and of course I had to take a picture to show everyone. We are *so ready* for a spring/summer cookout in our backyard! Anyone wanna come?! Party at our house!
Looking back at the house from the far back of the yard (you can almost see the outline of the house) You can also see the 3 other solar lights that line the pathway leading up to the patio
Lights up close
Paul
We have been eyeing the oh-so-fanciful outdoor lights that Target has been selling since February. We both knew that ONE DAY they would go on sale and we would feel like great shoppers if we held out for the sale we knew would happen any day now. We kinda held out... all their fun and exciting outdoor light sets were FINALLY on sale for a whooping 20% off. It was clear that some of the more exciting sets were long gone, so we jumped at the chance and bought 2 sets of lights for our recently built patio gazebo. While at Target I also couldn't resist buying some very fun and colorful placemats, some tongs, ink for the printer, a rice steamer basket thingie (only a $1! Alton uses them for all kinds of things) and something else... you cannot leave Target without at least 10 items! At least we were bound by our lack of transportation and we couldn't buy all the lamps that were 50% off... oh so tempting! You can always use another lamp [sigh].
We had to put them up last night to check them out... and of course I had to take a picture to show everyone. We are *so ready* for a spring/summer cookout in our backyard! Anyone wanna come?! Party at our house!
Looking back at the house from the far back of the yard (you can almost see the outline of the house) You can also see the 3 other solar lights that line the pathway leading up to the patio
Lights up close
Paul
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Visit to Myrtle Beach.... in January
Paul and I took a quick weekend trip down to North Myrtle Beach back in January. I had started a post about it and then it somehow just got left unposted. Although the finer details of the trip are faded on my memory, I wanted to share one place we visited while there.
North Myrtle Beach
After deciding that North Myrtle was fairly boring, and Myrtle Beach proper just didn't suit us for the day we drove south to Huntington Beach State Park.
The park land was once the winter home of Archer and Anna Huntington. They built their home and called it Atalaya, which means "watch tower." Their beloved sculpture garden, Brookgreen, is across Hwy 17 and is still privately held.
Here's some cool info that I've gleaned off a few sites:
-- Historical Significance: Atalaya, a National Historic Landmark, stands as monument to the creativity and generosity of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.
A noted scholar of Spanish culture and art, Archer Huntington modeled the couple’s winter home in the style of the Moorish architecture of the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
-- Significant Natural Features: Perhaps the best known "studiers" of wildlife at Huntington Beach State Park are the birders who for years have been coming to see some of the more than 300 species that have been recorded here, giving the park a reputation as a top spot on the East Coast.
In addition to three miles of beach, much of the park is salt marshes, one of the world’s most productive eco-systems.
Freshwater pond with native waterfowl
Much of Huntington Beach’s marsh is now registered under the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program to help preserve its unusually pristine nature.
Here are my pictures
Windows in Anna's winter art studio
Courtyard
Exterior facing the beachfront
Window detail (copper, original)
Window detail in color
North Myrtle Beach
After deciding that North Myrtle was fairly boring, and Myrtle Beach proper just didn't suit us for the day we drove south to Huntington Beach State Park.
The park land was once the winter home of Archer and Anna Huntington. They built their home and called it Atalaya, which means "watch tower." Their beloved sculpture garden, Brookgreen, is across Hwy 17 and is still privately held.
Here's some cool info that I've gleaned off a few sites:
-- Historical Significance: Atalaya, a National Historic Landmark, stands as monument to the creativity and generosity of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington.
A noted scholar of Spanish culture and art, Archer Huntington modeled the couple’s winter home in the style of the Moorish architecture of the Spanish Mediterranean coast.
-- Significant Natural Features: Perhaps the best known "studiers" of wildlife at Huntington Beach State Park are the birders who for years have been coming to see some of the more than 300 species that have been recorded here, giving the park a reputation as a top spot on the East Coast.
In addition to three miles of beach, much of the park is salt marshes, one of the world’s most productive eco-systems.
Freshwater pond with native waterfowl
Much of Huntington Beach’s marsh is now registered under the South Carolina Heritage Trust Program to help preserve its unusually pristine nature.
Here are my pictures
Windows in Anna's winter art studio
Courtyard
Exterior facing the beachfront
Window detail (copper, original)
Window detail in color
Monday, April 17, 2006
The Garden - 2006
On Saturday Paul and I planted our garden. Paul designed and built the 4 raised beds and we have been slowly buying dirt and filling them in. We planted dozens of seeds and seedlings on Saturday afternoon in hopes of a lush and successful garden this summer. Thankfully we only got a little sunburned and walked away with some good hard working soreness. :)
For notes go to the Flickr page
Quick rundown -
Veggies: tomatoes (6 varieties), peppers (7 varieties), carrots (2 varieties), squash, zucchini, spinach, onion, garlic
Herbs: Basil (3 varieties), rosemary, dill, cilantro, Greek oregano, Italian flat leaf parsley
Flowers: marigolds (for root protection), zinnias (5 varieties), strawflower, bachelor buttons
For reference, this is the garden last year (a few weeks after planting)
For notes go to the Flickr page
Quick rundown -
Veggies: tomatoes (6 varieties), peppers (7 varieties), carrots (2 varieties), squash, zucchini, spinach, onion, garlic
Herbs: Basil (3 varieties), rosemary, dill, cilantro, Greek oregano, Italian flat leaf parsley
Flowers: marigolds (for root protection), zinnias (5 varieties), strawflower, bachelor buttons
For reference, this is the garden last year (a few weeks after planting)
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