Category: Moving

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And So, We Give Thanks

Sometimes you have to strike while the iron is hot.  I just had this text conversation with my friend, my go to guy for all things southern, the internationally renowned podcaster and the pride of southern Arkansas, Seth.

Seth: “I’ve got a super southern thing to tell you.”

Me: “Oh?”

Seth: “Met a man called Possum whose dog’s name was Ray.  Ray and Possum get paid to search for deer that get shot and can’t be found.”

Me: “Not only did I literally lol, I can’t stop.”

Seth: “True story.”

Me: “That’s amazing.”

As we wheel into the Thanksgiving holiday, there are so many things for which I’m not only thankful, but grateful.  First and foremost; friends and family.  I may be biased, but I think I’ve got the best of each.  And if I don’t tell you that often enough, shame on me.  I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.

Speaking of which, I’m thankful for what I’ve found here in my newly adopted home.  As a new Asheborower (Ashboroian? Asheborogian?  Asheborologist?) I’ve been welcomed in to the neighborhood, at least by the neighbors I’ve met.  And even the ones I haven’t yet met still use all their fingers when they wave at me, so that’s a plus.  And I’ve only gotten honked at once by someone that was less than satisfied by my driving skills.  Also a plus.

I told myself I wouldn’t stoop to “weather shaming” when I’m asked about my new environs.  I’ve slipped a couple times, but really unless someone specifically mentions the weather I’ve held back.  It hasn’t been spectacular, but in all honesty, it’s been pretty nice.  Coolish, a little rain here or there, but certainly nothing like what I’ve heard it’s been like back home.  No snow, really not even what I’d call a hard frost.  So I’m thankful for that too.  Since climate was one of the reasons I chose to relocate.

I’m thankful for my new-found sense of restraint too.  As most of you know, a couple months ago, I had to have Sophie put down *skypoint* and I thought I’d get a puppy after I got down here.  I started watching a site that featured rescue Labs.  I found several I wanted to see, even went and looked at one although three other visits fell through for a variety of reasons.  I planned on going to a puppy adoption event last weekend to check out a bunch of puppies but, as the time to leave came and went, I found myself questioning my motives.  I decided I didn’t really want I puppy right now, rather, I wanted Sophie.  I miss having her around more than I miss having a dog around, if that makes any sense.  I kind of enjoy, for now anyway, the freedom of not having to watch the clock to get back home in time to let the dog out/feed the dog/whatever else  particular need the dog may have.  I  know the time will come when I’m ready.  But, just like the time for me to start saying “y’all” hasn’t arrived yet, neither has the time come for me to take on a puppy.

Lastly, and kind of circling back a bit, I’m thankful the kids and the littles are all coming to visit soon.  The Boy Child and PhoJoMama™ and their brood are coming for Thanksgiving, Oldest One and the Heir for Christmas, and the Quiet Child, Boy Genius and Reigning Princess will help me welcome in the New Year.

So, yes, life in general and retired life in particular are pretty good for yours truly.  I hope each of you can find the things in life for which you’re thankful and celebrate it with the ones you love.  If not, call me.  I’m more than happy to listen.  Because we’re all in this together, like it or not.

I’m still laughing btw…

Peace.

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Welcome To The Neighborhood

Seeing as how this is the place I go to write and you, in turn, come to read, I figured it was about time I held up my end of the deal.  So…

The move was… interesting… I think I need to refine the aforementioned Funkenwinkel Nuisance Ranking Scale.  Btw, any suggestions for that are welcomed and will be given full consideration based on creativity of both description and cursing.  However, instead of dragging you through all the gory details of late arrivals, nonexistent customer service and the frustration of trying to understand and be understood by a person for whom english is a second language (side note; the fact that people speak more than one language now makes me, as a rule of thumb, far more tolerant than I used to be.  Once I realized that I only speak, ya know, ONE language, I figured it was only fair that I cut them some slack for at least attempting multiple languages.) I decided instead to just leave it at this; I got 99% of my stuff here and in the same shape it was in when it left Illinois.  With minimal effort on my part.  After all, while my stuff was being loaded, I literally stood in the kitchen and ate chips.  Pretty much similar to when it was unloaded here in North Carolina.  All in all, I can’t complain about it too loudly.

In the midst of trying to figure out where I want to put things etc. I’ve managed to take a little time to explore my new surroundings.  Among the things I’ve learned so far; apparently the globe of my front porch light has been the final resting place for every insect that has died in the state over the course of the last millennia.  I said a few kind words over the tiny, desiccated, corpses of a variety of winged insects just before I washed them out onto the grass though, so we’re all good.

Also, I learned the neighbor two doors (I think) down has a beagle that’s quite fond of his own voice.  The beagle’s, not the owner’s.  Just sayin’.  Now, I’m not one to “breed shame” as I know or have known dogs of a variety of breeds that are deemed “dangerous” or “inherently stupid”  or what have you and, of course, it’s the individual animal and the way it’s trained and not an entire breed that should be lumped into a category.  Having said that, there’s something about the incessant baying of a beagle that rankles me.  More so than almost any other breed.  So, I’ve got that going for me.

I discovered a local treat (by “local” I mean Virginia and North Carolina) named Biscuitville.  Think breakfast sandwiches like you’d find at the golden arches (NOT the golden arcs) and you get an idea.  Now multiply the flavor of said sandwhich by a factor of about 12,683 and you have an idea of how amazing country ham on a biscuit tastes.  Side note; if you think it’s hard to understand a voice over the intercom of a fast food place, try throwing in a southern accent on top of it.  Yikes.  My response to something (and by “something” I mean, I have no idea what I was asked) this morning was, literally “Ummm, yes?” but I got the food I requested, so I’ll take that as a win. Let’s see, what else?  Oh yeah, I found a wonderful BBQ place not far from my house.  A large plate of coarse chopped bbq with fries, cole slaw, and hush puppies for under $10 and I can’t eat all the food they give me.  Also, win!

This part of the country once produced a large portion of the furniture America bought.  And, while much has gone off shore (I’ll spare you my rant on this topic) (for now) there are still many fine, locally owned stores, outlets, etc in the area.  This works out well for me, since I need to furnish a couple rooms and I’m kind of a cheapskate.  

This piece for example –

I found this gem in a local auction/consignment store.  After long distance discussions with the daughters as well as a couple friends with much better design sense than I have, I made an offer on it.  As you can see, it fits nicely right inside the front door of the new place.

So thanks to all that gave input on this one, I promise I’ll try (prolly not too hard though tbh) not to overload your text/minutes/data/emails with my questions/comments/pictures regarding future purchases.  Maybe.  We’ll see.  If I can keep my impulsivity reigned in by my cheapskatedness that would be a big help too.

 

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Moving On

As I sit here, waiting for the sun to break the horizon, I am not yet “homeless” but I am, in fact, bedless.  I took that apart and boxed it up last night, since the movers are coming today to load up the truck with my stuff so that same stuff can be reunited with me on Thursday after I close on my home.  My retirement home, you might say.  You might, but I won’t.  At least not for a few years yet.  I hope.

On the Funkenwinkel Nuisance Ranking Scale  (That’s a made up term btw so don’t bother GTSing it) I’d rate this experience so far as a solid “it’s not so bad” which is more than “why did I wait this long?” but far less than “WTF was I thinking?”.  I can’t really complain too much about it.  Other than unfortunate timing on the pick up, which will most likely, cause me to miss an evening with some of the guys from the firehouse.  Since I don’t have the power to reroute a moving van, I guess I have to grin and bear it.

One of the things that has really helped buffer the process, and in turn keep the FNRS score low has been a steady stream of music blaring into my ears.  This has helped pass the time while I’ve been crazy busy packing my stuff.  Of course it hasn’t stopped me from occasionally bouncing from room-to-room as I see something sparkly that distracts me from whatever I was packing and sends me spinning off in a different direction packing some other, random household item.  I kind of wish I could watch myself (from a safe distance) while I packed up.  I would have probably had many snarky observations about me and about my organizational skills.

Hint; I have none.

On the plus side; I have made many new friends at the local U-Haul Store…

As the realization that last night was literally the last night I’ll spend in my humble, little apartment, one that has served me so well for the last few years, I naturally look back on one of the best parts.  As realtors like to say; it’s location, location, location.  And it’s not just the proximity to downtown or mass transit.  It’s about the neighborhood.  At least in my case.  The people in this neighborhood are pretty great.  Sophie (pour one out for a great dog) and I met so many of them, and I’ll always have fond memories of them.  Marie, Ken and their boys took Sophie in for me a couple of times when the Boy Child and PhojoMama™ were unable to take her for me.  And they doted on her.  John, from upstairs took care of her, and gave her great care, while I was on shift.  And, for the last couple weeks, Amy and her kids have kind of taken me in and kept me fed.

And entertained.

This is the family I referred to recently, the one whose dogs I help walk.  Amy is an absolute sweetheart and the kids are a trip.  Case in point; I was down there the other evening doing a load of laundry while the kids were doing their homework.  Aviator (not her real name because obvs) was working on her spelling.  As you may have figured out, I’m kind of a word guy.  So I was looking over her shoulder as she worked on it.  One of the assignments was to write a paragraph using five of her vocabulary words.

She wrote it about me. (sniff, sniff)

She not only wrote a funny piece, in addition to her vocabulary words, she managed to incorporate all three of my names.  Joe, Joel, and Joelson.  Yes, I’ve added a new nickname as that’s how the Aviator refers to me.  I’ve got to hand it to her, it made me laugh when she threw that one at me.  She’s a bright kid, they both are, no question, but with this one’s wit, one day she’ll either make a lot of money making people laugh or rule the world.  She may not be the funniest kid I’ve met, but she’s the one photobombing the class picture of funny kids, no doubt.

So, briefly, to Amy, Aviator and to my dog walking partner in crime (DWPC) I can’t thank you all enough for the kindness you’ve shown me.  I so wish we had gotten to know each other sooner.  I promise we’ll stay in touch (as I told my friend Wendy, it’s up here in public now, so the pressure is on me to stick to it!) and I hope your futures hold nothing but wonderfulness.  You’ve got my digits, as the cool kids say (at least they used to.  Do they still?) so reach out any time.  If you come to NC, you’ve always got a place to stay.  You’ve touched my heart at a time when I needed it most and I hope you all (I guess I have to start saying y’all eventually but now is not that time) enjoyed hanging out with me as much as I’ve enjoyed hanging out with you.

Peace