On Day 942...
It has been a while since I have talked about Asheville. However, it still remains a very weird place. Here is yet another example of Asheville's "uniqueness":
Patton Ave-
Every Friday and Saturday night around 10:15 the entire population of Asheville between the ages of 17 & 23 head to Patton Ave for reasons I will don't understand (they tell me it is just to be eye candy). However, hundreds of cars line both sides of the median for about 3 miles and just drive in a long circle and look at each other. Well, the Zetterholm children (the three older ones) decided that I needed to experience this to really understand Asheville. So we headed out in Jonathon's acura and drove up and down Patton Ave. Everything in my head was saying: DUCK! JUST SINK DOWN INTO THE SEAT AND DON'T LOOK, AND ROLL UP THE WINDOW. But Jonathon locked the window down and Andrew kept me propped up and looking back at the other people. I felt horrible for the poor people that were trying to turn left, and had NO idea while everyone was driving 2mph in the turn lane, and never turning! I don't know what else to say, other than it is something I would rather not do again. :)
L
7.25.2005
Cleaning Night
On Day 942...
Well, in case you were thinking that my last post was a little too mushy, here is the reality of date nights every night... your house becomes a wreck! I would much rather spend the time with Drew doing nothing and everything, but the poor house suffers.
The weekend before last we bought an amour for our computer (it did look beautiful with all the wires all over the dining room, but I was ready for a new look), bookshelf (yes, #5, what can I say, Andrew loves library book sales) and a media shelf (he loves cheap movies too) and we managed to get all of them put together and set up last weekend. However, once we had nailed, screwed & glued everything together we were exhausted. So the house was strewn all week with cardboard, styrofoam and paper shreds (I organized all of our bills into binders and cleaned out the filing cabinet too).
Well, yesterday I couldn't stand it any more. (For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a little on the particular side of the spectrum). So, gone was last night's date night as we vacuumed, swept, organized, dusted and scrubbed. However, it was all worth it because now we can have another week of date nights without guilt!
L
P.S. I would like to clarify, regarding my last post, that I was not at all implying that things are the same once you have kids. From the friends I have with children, I know that your entire life is turned upside down and that date nights must be scheduled, but for now we are enjoying the post-marriage-pre-children dates.
Well, in case you were thinking that my last post was a little too mushy, here is the reality of date nights every night... your house becomes a wreck! I would much rather spend the time with Drew doing nothing and everything, but the poor house suffers.
The weekend before last we bought an amour for our computer (it did look beautiful with all the wires all over the dining room, but I was ready for a new look), bookshelf (yes, #5, what can I say, Andrew loves library book sales) and a media shelf (he loves cheap movies too) and we managed to get all of them put together and set up last weekend. However, once we had nailed, screwed & glued everything together we were exhausted. So the house was strewn all week with cardboard, styrofoam and paper shreds (I organized all of our bills into binders and cleaned out the filing cabinet too).
Well, yesterday I couldn't stand it any more. (For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a little on the particular side of the spectrum). So, gone was last night's date night as we vacuumed, swept, organized, dusted and scrubbed. However, it was all worth it because now we can have another week of date nights without guilt!
L
P.S. I would like to clarify, regarding my last post, that I was not at all implying that things are the same once you have kids. From the friends I have with children, I know that your entire life is turned upside down and that date nights must be scheduled, but for now we are enjoying the post-marriage-pre-children dates.
7.21.2005
Date Night
On Day 938...
A little over a year ago, my (then current, extremely nosy) boss asked if Drew and I still date, now that we are married. I hesitated for a moment, which gave him time to launch into a soapbox speach about how you need to date after you are married to "keep the passion going" and not to get bored with each other.
Well, what constitutes a date anyway? Is it just going out on a planned evening of dinner and a movie? What about just going out for coffee? Does it have to be planned? Can it be dinner at home?
Well, last night Drew and I searched and printed a list of houses for sale that were in our price range. Then we headed to starbucks to map out a plan of attack while drinking highly-addictivie coffe, and then we spend the majority of the evening driving all over Buncombe County looking at houses that were for sale (although I don't think you can call a double-wide a house, pictures are very decieving). We talked, laughed and had a great time.
Well, if he were to ask me the same question (which won't happen since I don't work for him anymore and I don't even live in the same state) I would tell him that for us, every night is a date night, and that in this state of life we will enjoy every one that we have together.
L
Stepping off Soapbox
A little over a year ago, my (then current, extremely nosy) boss asked if Drew and I still date, now that we are married. I hesitated for a moment, which gave him time to launch into a soapbox speach about how you need to date after you are married to "keep the passion going" and not to get bored with each other.
Well, what constitutes a date anyway? Is it just going out on a planned evening of dinner and a movie? What about just going out for coffee? Does it have to be planned? Can it be dinner at home?
Well, last night Drew and I searched and printed a list of houses for sale that were in our price range. Then we headed to starbucks to map out a plan of attack while drinking highly-addictivie coffe, and then we spend the majority of the evening driving all over Buncombe County looking at houses that were for sale (although I don't think you can call a double-wide a house, pictures are very decieving). We talked, laughed and had a great time.
Well, if he were to ask me the same question (which won't happen since I don't work for him anymore and I don't even live in the same state) I would tell him that for us, every night is a date night, and that in this state of life we will enjoy every one that we have together.
L
Stepping off Soapbox
7.20.2005
AAAHHHH!
On Day 937...
For the past few weeks, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, I have been working in our Model Home. I have been entering selections into a computer system that willcomputerize all our selection process. Our Sales agent works Friday - Tuesday, so Wednesdays and Thursdays are the only days I can really get anything done.
Well, during my time there I have had a few interesting experiences with less-than-nice people. First, I would like to say that there is a LARGE sign on the door that CLEARLY states that we are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays of every week. Well, no one seems to care, and once they have read the sign and tried the door three times (which I keep locked) they peer through the tinted glass (smudging up the nice clean door) and proceed to knock furiously until I answer the door. (If I see them coming I will usually run further into the house until they leave, but I have my back to the door I can't always make it in time.). After reluctantly opening the door and explaining that I am not from our sales staff and I work for the builder they still don't get the hint (Hint: LEAVE) and ask to see the house. Well, once they have seen the house they want to look at other models and I end up spending an hour walking up and down the street showing them different models. If they are nice and I am not busy, it is not a huge deal.... but that is not always the case. Here are a couple experiences from the last few weeks:
1. 3 Older Ladies
Ladies: Oh, would you mind showing up some of the one floor models, I am looking for somewhere to retire, and I don't want two floors.
Me: Sure, are you up for walking?
Them: Yes (as we leave the model). Who owns the property around the subdivision?
Me: I am not sure.
Them: Well, that is something that a lot of people are going to want to know, they don't want to end up with a shopping mall in their backyard.
Me: Well, in Buncombe County, we don't have zoning, so unfortunately they could do that, and we couldn't do anything about it. But I believe that they are all owned by private individuals at the moment. Our Sales agent who is here Friday-Tuesday would know the answer to that question.
Them: Well, you really should know the answer to that question if you want to sell anything.
2. Nasty Realtor
NR: Where is Leslie, she said she would be here today?
Me: Today is her day off, so she is not here, is there something I can help you with?
NR: Well I need to show my client shutter colors today!
Me: Well Sir, here are the colors that we offer.
NR: Oh.
Me: Went back to what I was doing.
NR: SLLAAMM! (Nasty Realtor leaves the building).
I found out later that day that he has called Leslie (our sales agent) and told her that some person in street clothes (gasp in horror) was in her office.
I guess such is the life in the Real Estate business! :)
L
For the past few weeks, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, I have been working in our Model Home. I have been entering selections into a computer system that willcomputerize all our selection process. Our Sales agent works Friday - Tuesday, so Wednesdays and Thursdays are the only days I can really get anything done.
Well, during my time there I have had a few interesting experiences with less-than-nice people. First, I would like to say that there is a LARGE sign on the door that CLEARLY states that we are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays of every week. Well, no one seems to care, and once they have read the sign and tried the door three times (which I keep locked) they peer through the tinted glass (smudging up the nice clean door) and proceed to knock furiously until I answer the door. (If I see them coming I will usually run further into the house until they leave, but I have my back to the door I can't always make it in time.). After reluctantly opening the door and explaining that I am not from our sales staff and I work for the builder they still don't get the hint (Hint: LEAVE) and ask to see the house. Well, once they have seen the house they want to look at other models and I end up spending an hour walking up and down the street showing them different models. If they are nice and I am not busy, it is not a huge deal.... but that is not always the case. Here are a couple experiences from the last few weeks:
1. 3 Older Ladies
Ladies: Oh, would you mind showing up some of the one floor models, I am looking for somewhere to retire, and I don't want two floors.
Me: Sure, are you up for walking?
Them: Yes (as we leave the model). Who owns the property around the subdivision?
Me: I am not sure.
Them: Well, that is something that a lot of people are going to want to know, they don't want to end up with a shopping mall in their backyard.
Me: Well, in Buncombe County, we don't have zoning, so unfortunately they could do that, and we couldn't do anything about it. But I believe that they are all owned by private individuals at the moment. Our Sales agent who is here Friday-Tuesday would know the answer to that question.
Them: Well, you really should know the answer to that question if you want to sell anything.
2. Nasty Realtor
NR: Where is Leslie, she said she would be here today?
Me: Today is her day off, so she is not here, is there something I can help you with?
NR: Well I need to show my client shutter colors today!
Me: Well Sir, here are the colors that we offer.
NR: Oh.
Me: Went back to what I was doing.
NR: SLLAAMM! (Nasty Realtor leaves the building).
I found out later that day that he has called Leslie (our sales agent) and told her that some person in street clothes (gasp in horror) was in her office.
I guess such is the life in the Real Estate business! :)
L
7.14.2005
Real Life
On Day 931...
I haven't had anything to say lately, because it seems that nothing interesting has happened in my life. However, I suppose I can blog about the boring things as well. :)
During my week in Florida I had a lot of time to think/pray and just be alone with God. It was so refreshing to just relax and take in His amazing creation and it was also a time to reflect on where I am and where I want to be, and who I want to become.
When we decided to move to Asheville, it was far more than just moving for a job, or even moving to be closer to family. It was a move that brought us closer to what we want out of life. Some people thrive off of the DC environment, but we are not those people. We came here to live a calmer, and (in our definition) a more balanced life. We wanted life to be more than work, and climbing the (50 million foot) corporate ladder. We valued having time to spend volunteering and becoming involved in other's lives. And although we now have a much slower pace of life, there are parts of the DC community that we greatly miss. White Drew's uncle was here this weekend (a well-read, pastor and military chaplin) I had more intellectual stimulation from one of our conversations than I have had in months. I miss having conversations/discussion about ideas and concepts, instead of just the weather. I missed it more than I ever realized.
It has also been harder than I thought to make friends here. Yes, we have some friends that we can do things with occasionally, but no one with whom to go grocery shopping, or to just invite yourself over and spend the day with or who drop in and love spur-of-the-moment dinners as much as you.
It has now been 5 1/2 months and I should be patient, but it isn't always easy. I keep reminding myself that it took 5 years (2 of which was spent pretty much living with the other people) to make the friends that I have in VA, and chances are that I will probably never have the same kinds of friends again. As hard and painful as PHC was, the difficulty is what created the rich friendships that I have now, and that situation will never be duplicated. We have moved into a different stage of life, and with that come different friendships. Change is not always fun, and changing expectations is not something that comes naturally, but any means. But through His grace I am taking one day at a time, and you never know what tomorrow may hold.
L
I haven't had anything to say lately, because it seems that nothing interesting has happened in my life. However, I suppose I can blog about the boring things as well. :)
During my week in Florida I had a lot of time to think/pray and just be alone with God. It was so refreshing to just relax and take in His amazing creation and it was also a time to reflect on where I am and where I want to be, and who I want to become.
When we decided to move to Asheville, it was far more than just moving for a job, or even moving to be closer to family. It was a move that brought us closer to what we want out of life. Some people thrive off of the DC environment, but we are not those people. We came here to live a calmer, and (in our definition) a more balanced life. We wanted life to be more than work, and climbing the (50 million foot) corporate ladder. We valued having time to spend volunteering and becoming involved in other's lives. And although we now have a much slower pace of life, there are parts of the DC community that we greatly miss. White Drew's uncle was here this weekend (a well-read, pastor and military chaplin) I had more intellectual stimulation from one of our conversations than I have had in months. I miss having conversations/discussion about ideas and concepts, instead of just the weather. I missed it more than I ever realized.
It has also been harder than I thought to make friends here. Yes, we have some friends that we can do things with occasionally, but no one with whom to go grocery shopping, or to just invite yourself over and spend the day with or who drop in and love spur-of-the-moment dinners as much as you.
It has now been 5 1/2 months and I should be patient, but it isn't always easy. I keep reminding myself that it took 5 years (2 of which was spent pretty much living with the other people) to make the friends that I have in VA, and chances are that I will probably never have the same kinds of friends again. As hard and painful as PHC was, the difficulty is what created the rich friendships that I have now, and that situation will never be duplicated. We have moved into a different stage of life, and with that come different friendships. Change is not always fun, and changing expectations is not something that comes naturally, but any means. But through His grace I am taking one day at a time, and you never know what tomorrow may hold.
L
7.05.2005
Ok, I Feel Old
On Day 922...
Today my little brother (#2 of 4) turns 18! 18! He is an adult! (Or at least according to the government). Well, Micah... welcome to the voting, cigarette-buying, world. :)
L
Today my little brother (#2 of 4) turns 18! 18! He is an adult! (Or at least according to the government). Well, Micah... welcome to the voting, cigarette-buying, world. :)
L
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