Busy in Chapel Hill

Its been only a week from yesterday since we moved in to our house on Hanford Rd. Since then we have moved all the furniture in, unpacked the kitchen, cleaned the guttters, raked the yard, emptied almost 90% of our boxes, gotten me a painting show, met some cool people, been to an art opening....and now onto cake decorating tonight!

Our friend is a talented baker and cook (of course, shes from Italy...) She and a friend enter a local cake decorating competition every year, and have won the past few years. So tonight is the cake decorating party. Drew and I are gonna put on our artist/cake decorating caps and get down to cake decorating! I think we are using marzipan instead of fondant so it will be interesting.

Now that I think of it, I dont think we have spent a night in...well maybe sunday because it was raining, but every other night its been out...lots of fun! We are in such a great location, so happy we are finally here!!

Its Official!

Its official, 103 Hanford is ours now! WOW our first home! We are so excited/overwhelmed and tired!! Got the keys yesterday at 3pm, emptied one of our moving storage containers in less than 2 hrs, and just have one more to go (tho this one will be harder, its the furniture and big stuff and I am going to tackle it myself today).

How awesome is this, we started looking 2 years ago down here, looked at some pretty scary short sales, some really old battered houses that needed total renovation. In the end it all worked out perfectly. We are in a nice house, great updated kitchen and master bath, hardwood floors, and awesome trail system that connects to each part of the neighborhood.

Well onto more packing!!

Closing is closing in on us!

Well thanksgiving is just a hop skip and a jump away...ok more like a hop and a skip now. Which means our closing is coming up soon! We are so excited for this, have been waiting for a house and a move out of Maryland for so many years, and its finally coming true!

I think what Drew and I are most thankful for this year is how everything worked out for the best! We have our first home together, our first real home...not some apartment, or rented townhome, but something we will repaint, and fix up and take care of, something to be proud of and put our hearts into. I know a house is just a house, and we have just been in a "dwelling" so many years now...it will be really strange to have something we can be proud to live in. Drew has already started poking around at furniture around the area for sale, and I am thinking about how i will coordinate cleaning, and unpacking, and probably repainting! WOW next week!

I am so grateful for my family and friends who have helped us pack, and move, and given us a bed (and a dog bed) while we have been in transition. I truely am thankful this Thanksgiving!

Drew's last day

Today is Drew's last day at Euler.

So funny to think its the only place he has ever worked since college. They were lucky to have him, and he was lucky to have found a steady work place for so many years. (unlike this job hopper, I have had at least 6 since college) I know he will be sad in a way, closing one chapter in his life. However, he is also ready for the start of a new chapter! Excited to get a house, be in a new place, work in an exciting field, and embark together on a new adventure...this time with dog in tow!

Emmitt and I have been taking long walks together lately as a break from packing for us both! Last night while Drew went out with coworkers, Emmitt and i found a back way to hike to the school here. I found a ball in the field and we chased eachother, and he chased the ball around for a good hour. I was so tired from running around that I fell asleep last night at 830, really i was nodding off at 8. Emmitt now sits on my lap when i sit on our rocking chair...he was nice and warm and his rhythmic breathing was lulling me to sleep...

A house huntin' we will go

So this weekend is the big weekend! We have gotten our preapproval for a loan, we have gathered up some money for a down payment, (thanks mom and dad!) packed up most of Drew's clothes, and are heading down to NC in 2 days to look at houses! WOW our first house, its been a long time.
Drew and I were talking about the last time we lived in a house, I think for both of us it was really 11 years ago when we were 18 and living in our parent's houses. Ever since we have been renting, pretty crazy!

Tonight will be our last night in the "mill" together. Drew heads off tomorrow night. I am sure he will be back one of the next few weekends, but it will be totally different...

Packing is coming along. Today is the kitchen. I am running the dishwasher now so the plates will go in clean and dry this afternoon. I'll probably just get some plastic dishware for the rest of the month.

Weird and exciting all at once. It just doesnt feel real yet, and probably won't until we have moved and settled into a house...so we will be living in weird suspension for the next few weeks!

I guess this means I have to come up with a new name for this blog.

RB in NC..
Tarheel tales..
Kelley's in Carolina
Livin' in the "Hill"

hmm I will have to think about that one...time to get started on the day!

little dog is too big for his britches...

Oh man, Emmitt is on a tear. I dont know if its the packing, I don't know if its the change of seasons, maybe the cooler air...but man this pup is CRAZY. Joe and I took Emmitt and Ellie to the elementary yesterday to let them run around....the wind was blowing the leaves all around in the beautiful sunset pink light...

...aaaand whoosh, they were off like a bolt! Doooowwwn the hill, across the field to the fence, and then back uuup the hill (now mind you this is a very steep hill, often they get all nuts and tumble rather than run down the hill) back and forth and back and forth. Emmitt had his sights set on Ellie's ankles (yes i am the proud dog owner of an ankle biter) meanwhile she was doing her crazy "leave my heels alone" butt tuck run....I ducked behind Joe's much larger and sturdier frame so I would not get bulldozed by the crazies...

This continued for a good 20 mins, it was hysterical!! Finally, tongues wagging out of their mouths, they flopped down and were ready to walk home...

So anyway, today..same thing...Emmitt is totally wound up! We walked, we walked with Ellie, we walked alone, we walked with Gatsby...all in all this pooch walked at least 4 hrs today, with some fetch and dog play inbetween....so we went to the dog park thinking he'd be a little more laid back and able to play with the dogs...nope...he was sniffing here and sniffing there, marking here and marking there....until "Monster" came along. Now that was the dogs name, and it was aptly named....He was a 200lb pit! HUGE doesnt even begin to describe this dog's size...I knew, I knew right away that Emmitt would have to just go bug him....Well Monster marked all of Emmitts well planned out marking spots, and then proceeded to go harass Ellie...Ellie is at least twice Emmitt's size and out weighs him by 70lbs, she looked tiny next to "Monster!"
So over trotts Emmitt...with me in tow knowing full well that my tiny 36lb pup is going to pick a fight with..."MONSTER!" no sooner do I start to call his name than he goes and barks at Monster...and Monster..bellows back...eek! Fortunately Emmitt is a good listener and came back before it escalated more.. I turned to get the leash to go, and over comes Monster...behind my back. I knew he had to be there, right between my legs ready to bite because I could see it in Emmitts eyes...I heard Jess say, "rachel don't move...I'll distract the dog he's right there.."

Ohhh I sooo almost lost both a leg and 70% of my dog...would have been gone all in one bite!
Seriously, first of all...who buys and doesnt fix a dog that size, and second...if u did and your dog was aggressive, why would you bring it to a dog park where it specifically states if your dog bullies other dogs, please do not come..?

Phew...Emmitt shook the whole car ride back...my little man tries so hard to act all big...one of these days hes going to find out he isnt...just hope I am around to keep him safe when it happens!! silly dog...

Movin 'n Groovin

Well after this morning, its 100% official. Drew is going into work very early and giving his notice. Its been almost 7 long years at the company...I can remember when it was new and fun and exciting for Drew to go in and make a difference there. As time changed, and people rearranged, it kept getting worse for him..no longer appreciated, belittled by his jackass of a boss...
With a few major, and successful projects under his belt, he is MORE than ready to find something new. He commented that he could be one of those guys that is at his office...who has been there for 30 yrs, still makes a meager earning, sorta zombies through his day and his life...he could just slip into that, but then in 10 yrs would probably wake up and wonder why the hell he just let life pass him by, why he didnt ever try to get out and find a job he was passionate about...well now he is doing that.
Labcorp sounds like a good starting off place to get into more biotech and research jobs..maybe it will be just a jumping off point, maybe it will be a place he really likes and stays at another 5-7 yrs. He came home with tons on his mind, after his interview...but was very excited about the genetic projects they do, and the people he will be working with...much better than previous bosses.

As for me, I will be SO sad to leave Jess, Joe, Ellie, Katie, and Chris! Took 6 years for Drew and I to find "real" friends here in Maryland. People you can just be comfortable around, not put on "airs" or feel like you cant be honest with. Its been so nice, if we are going out for a walk, we just stop by and see if Jess Joe and Ellie want to come, and vice versa. Need a dog sitter? someone to go to the grocery store with you...just pop on by Jess's
I will miss the lunch time walks with her, and the chats, seeing and feeling her baby bump kick and move, and how excited she is to meet her new baby!! soon soon!!

But now I am wandering off subject.
Aside from the bit of sadness, I am very looking forward to a house of our own, a new life, new experiences, a community to get involved with...and a family soon I hope!

Anyway, so I guess this posting will have to be changed...no longer "livin' in the Mill"......

umm Fall?

Ok, so last week it was crisp and cool...not cold at all, just comfortable. I'm happy we haven't gotten any cold snaps yet, but speaking of no cold snaps...its like 85 and really really muggy. Where did this come from? Not sure. Emmitt and I like it though.
Kinda funny to see leaves that turned last week, yet if we go walk emmitt pants and I sweat!

Silly weather

First Day of Fall

Its the first day of fall today..Grace's birthday too.
Lots a-changing in the air...leaves, a new baby neighbor soon.
Things here and there. I think it will be a good fall, I can only
be positive. Shorter and cooler days mean fewer kids
wandering around harassing emmitt and I, smoking
and having public sex in our park....it will be nice going for
a walk and not accidentally walking past a BJ or something
haha!

So comon fall, we are ready!

blog lazy

Well I am just getting blogger lazy.
I think the last post was 3 weeks ago. On my birthday..
so lets see, went to Italy!! that was awesome!
saw venice, verona, mantua, and the foothills of the alps
and a lake where European royalty still visits today. (can think of the name)
It was the best vacation/8 days of my life (after my wedding of course)

Had a dog sitting day yesterday. Ellie and emmitt have been taking
turns going over our houses when its raining
or too hot to play outside. Yesterday was my turn. Jess has the flu so she
got to sleep. They were funny, its the first time Ellie has been here with out
Jess so she was pretty subdued. We walked, we played ball, and then they each
got a peanutbutter and apple kong.

Had some great thunderstorms here the last few days. its been really nice!

Art show is coming up. Totally bummed none of my family will b able to come.
My mom cant take off work on a monday (so she and my dad will come the following
sat) eryn has no car, and grace just got a new job and doesnt have time off for vacation until
after the fall....my friends and neighbors are all excited to support me though. It means so
much to me since I have no family that is close. Even my old boss from art camp will show up.
Drew has people from his work coming too, so that will be nice. With any luck people will feel
bad and buy something...haha just kidding!!

Anyway, I am almost ready for it. Got business cards, and invitations have been handed out,
got a price list, and matts. Just need to get the paintings matted finally and measure the space
and hang!

28 come and gone..

Wow 29. That just sounds so old, its like just leaning over that precipice that is 30...so close, but ugh 30....why is it that we feel so weird about age? Its just a number? Maybe its because we are no longer supposed to be joyful and carefree anymore...maybe its because in our culture we are supposed to have certain things by a certain age...house, mortgage, suv, 2.3 kids, soccer games, a dog in the back yard....etc...

30 just sounds like a whole lot of NO FUN! No more crazy road trips Drew and I used to just randomly embark on in our early 20s, renting is no longer acceptable....can we laugh and smile anymore? Or is it just down to serious business...?

So many people hit their mid life crisis now so much younger because we can only stand so long with out cracking a smile, letting our hair down, or driving without the wind in our hair! I feel like joy will no longer be a part of my life....not only that but my life will no longer be my life....

Hopefully this 30 business is just all in my head. For now I am going to make the most of my final year in my 20s. Going to Italy, killing myself to get to NC, getting an art show (and hopefully selling art or at least getting some commissions out there.) Be more artistically prolific...and find a job that allows me to get my art out or at least let my creativity shine through...or at least a job I can stomach for more than 2-3 years like my usual ones...

Ok so heres to making the most of 29!

Yea for Beer....

Well never thought I would say that before.,...but there it is.
An upscale wine bar/brewery/restaurant called "the Brewers Art" is lookin for painters to hang their artwork, for free...no commission...in their dining room, and guess who got choosen!? I am meeting with them this weekend to figure out the details, and then I will have an opening sometime in may or june...exciting!!

Jess has been so nice to offer to help invite people there so its not just like Drew and I there alone at the bar...haha! She has lived here all her life, has a big family and I know can get bodies in the door if she asks :) Lucky to have found her...not just because shes becoming such a great friend, but Emmitt has never been happier having Ellie around to chew on hehehehe...

Speaking of, I have been working on an ocean scape. Its kinda your typical sandy beach, few clouds and beach chairs, but its for a friend, as payment for taking Emmitt and other things. Was soo beautiful out yesterday, I was totally inspired....lost track of time...good thing Drew emailed or I would have forgotten to get dinner together :) I love that its lighter later now, it was 8 and still light out last night....gorgeous rainbow and firy sunset after the thunderstorms we had!

Anyway, pics and more info to come once things get nailed down about the art show!!

sadly no paintings sold...

Ahh it was so great Susie and Hilary thought of adding my paintings to the store for their "Spring Fling." Wasn't too surprised that nothing sold, however....
Though now that I have mounted a bunch of artwork, I am motivated to get other places to hang them and try to sell them around here! Would be great! Ugh gotta sell some paintings! I know I have sold some here and there when the economy was great...now I feel like its been such a dry spell...even Drew doesn't believe in my artwork anymore :( sad

somebody, please buy me....

Morning Green Yogi Tea

"love is where compassion prevails and kindness rules"

At this time a few days ago I would be out running with Grace and Emmitt. I always love when my family comes to visit, but its never long enough. So nice to be up at 6 with someone else, and out running together, even if the pace was a bit slower haha...

Its so much more quiet and lonely here now. Drew is always at work or off in his own mind thinking about work. It was nice to have companionship, someone to talk to, to hang out with...we even went shopping, but not real shopping, we ran some errands, Erin tried some thing on at Old Navy, wow haven't been to a store in soooo long....I can't stand expensive places, gimme a target or old navy or marshalls or tj maxx where i can just buy some fun tshirt for $3.99 or something like that.

It was a good time, I just wish we lived closer so we could do it more often...Its funny Erin and Grace prob live 2 miles from eachother (ihave walked it many times before with them) just across the river from eachother.) however, they only see eachother when I see them....well maybe a bit more, but its usually when they both go home to visit my mom....curious. Maybe there are 3 of us because we are all such polar opposites we somehow all balance eachother out when we are together hahaha...just kidding.

Either way, it was a great surprise...so glad they decided to come down, if only for a few days. Tho they just left on wed, I miss them already :(

Bouncing off Clouds

Well thats the title of the music flavor of the moment. As I have written before, I get obsessed with songs...this one is just a happy go lucky kind of song by Tori Amos. It just makes me think of a happy sunny day outside...so its what I have been listening to lately (much to Drew's chagrin) He is NOT a fan of Tori. As a matter of fact, he downloaded the song for me, and in a note he wrote (I quote) "more than happy to download songs for you, but when I did the Tori songs, I think I threw up a little in my mouth..." haha funny boy...(eye roll here hahaha) Im just in a Tori mood, also been listening to her "raspberry swirl", "blue sky" and some others from the Choir Girl Hotel. I think I tend to like her more obscure songs than the ones on her main stream cds. I have no idea what albums these songs came off of, think they are sort of "B" side or unrleased songs. Very un-tori like if you are used to "under the pink" or something like that...they are almost techno like songs...happy quick bouncy, but still somehow moody songs.

So its been awhile since my last post, a few weeks anyway. Not too much to report. My parents came, had a good V-day weekend with them...they left, and when they left they also left a nasty chest cold I am still tring to get rid of. I hate being sick, its like being in a tired achy sickly cocoon where the world just kinda passes by and I dont want to do anything but sleep...blah! Hopefully it will leave me alone soon!!

Other than that, back to the usual, job searching, sending resumes, dreaming about houses and looking at real estate in NC. Doggie play dates with Ellie the chocolate lab next door...and back to taking Emmitt on runs now that its not too fridgid for him.

Stranger things have happened.

So as I stated in my last blog, its been..well lets just say windy. The siding of the houses have been coming off and the gusts have been up to 65 mph! Needless to say I have been hiding out in the gym for fear of decapitation by cheap metal house siding. Now where I go to the gym I am basically the only little white girl, so the music is ahhh shall we say "ethnic." Nothing I ever listen to, I always wear my headphones when I go so I can block out the pounding of the ghetto music. Until recently....Now I have a very eccletic arrangement of music on my ipod. Thanks to growing up in the 80s and 90s I have everything from Color Me Badd, to Enya, to Flock of Seagulls and lots of "dance" house and techno music. Its happened now 4 times...when I look up from reading or whatever, the music in the gym is the same as the song playing on my ipod...maybe a few seconds off. First time it was the Cars, "you might think," then Color Me Badd "i wanna sex you up," and today Cut Copy...cant remember wich song...but it was STRANGE...how does that happen? Usually its like madonna, mariah carey, justin timberlake or lots of pop artists i dont know, and dont care to know that they play....it just strikes me as very very odd.

I did go on a short run today, let my legs and my mind wander. I realize I havent done what really "feeds" me...now everyone knows I like the outdoors, but what I truley love (and part of the draw to AZ) is going out in my car with a map up into the mts or the woods or somewhere realy remote to just explore and go on an adventure. My friends and I used to just go with my wagon (sowe could put the seats down,) food, water, hiking stuff and sleeping bags and drive into the mts and go hiking and swimming and exploring, sometimes fishing....There is nothing better (I think) than going to Colorado and sleeping out under the Milky Way...yes the sky is that clear. I miss those adventures....I mean I'm not a go to a resort and stay at a hotel and shop for vacation kind of girl....I think if Drew came to me and said..."lets just go away to the middle of nowhere Colorado or Montanna and explore" I would drop everything and go in a second! Nature, and the beauty of it just moves me.....I have been known to be stargazing or watching a beautiful sunset over mountains and just cry for the beauty of it....Oh I miss miss miss that...I hate hate hate the city...the archetecture, the streets, the people...Often when I am in teh city I get annoyed and think about how we have ruined the natural beauty of the earth by our ugly cement, cinder, and pavement. I think I am in some serious need of a road trip out west...who's with me (and yes, this means prob no nice showers...) hehehehe

Oh the wiiiiinnnnd!

Wow, can anyone believe this wind? We live in like a wind tunnel, the way they just leveled all the trees and then made streets with houses on both sides. Its brutal, thank goodness its warm. Emmitt and I had a quick jog around the neighborhoods here, he hated it as much as I. I assume he gets sand in his eyes too, cause I know I certainly do, and I'm at a much higher elevation off the ground than he. It kept me up all night, I love the sound of gentle wind thruough evergreen's like we have here...it started out pleasant, so I opened the windows to let it lull me to sleep...tho by the time Drew came to bed it was getting violent out there, and we had to shut the window. I could still hear it, hear the random branches breaking off, and things flying by the window.

Yea Hil, I hear ya about the sounds I am that way with smells too. Do you ever get the strong feelings of de ja vou? I often feel like situations I have already had in a dream. That whole week last year seemed surreal, and at the same time I sort of also felt like I had dreamt parts. That sunday you went with your dad in the ambulance, I woke up knowing I had to call the house, not Drew's cell phone, didn't even bother with thinking about what number to call, just automatically dialed the 717#, no hesitation or trying to remember it. It was like I called it often (tho prob hadn't since like 2001 or something. Very strange. I remember that whole week feeling pulled in random directions, and cant remember why I did or said things. Maybe it was just lack of sleep, too much emotion, stress or just the surreality of the situation....

Anyway, I am rambling now.
I am excited for the promise of spring, I always like to think of these winds and weird weather patterns as the warm weather's way of pushing its way back. Yesterday Drew and I took Emmitt on a nice run/walk and stayed out later than usual. I could smell the earth thawing, and feel soft warm air...it was almost 70 yesterday. Yeah for SPRING!

68 is Grrreat!

Wow 68 degrees....Emmitt was in love! He was so chill on our walk, I practically had to pull him along, all he wanted to do way lay in the sun anywhere he could! haha.
I opened our door, and he just slept in the sun, waking only to watch whatever was moving go by. He was in heaven! Such a good dog too, didn't move an inch when he saw a car or person go by. Unfortunately there are so many kids under 3 in the neighborhood, all outside now too...so I had to close the door. Hes not happy with me, he is laying by the front door waiting for me to open it again....not gonna happen dog! You make the kids nervous! Plus they Loooove his tail, its so enticing. The three year old next door got a hold of it, pretty quickly. He has a spaniel, so no tail to pull there. He saw Emmitt's and grabbed it as fast as he could! haha. Fortunately for just that reason I pull his tail so he's not so startled by it. He jsut sorta gave the little boy (harry) a wet nose nudge..good thing I'm such a child! hehe.

Boo for the Flu!

Ugh, nothing I hate more than being sick! Yesterday at 4 I started to get dizzy, and feel all weird. Pounding headache, and that urge to be sick everywhere! I laid down on the couch until about 8pm, finally felt ok enough to head to bed...of course this morning, wonderful surprise...I got my period on top of it...so headache backache dizzyness and just absolute exhaustion! Like I needed both at the same time! Oh well, i usually hav to get this at least one time a year...so hopefully this is my yearly sickness! Its nice out so I can go groan outside in the sun :)

On the plus side, my parents have decided to come visit next weekend for 3 days! yeah! I know I saw them in dec, but it always feels like FOREVER!!

Sniff it, sniff it good...

This is a little tidbit of information you all might not know, Drew is a singer/songwriter at heart. Usually he doesn't stray from singing my name, singing about things I do or say or wear....Though lately he has been singing about Emmitts unusual habits.
Emmitt tends to be a connoisseur of poop spots. He may be freezing his little tail off, but he can't go until he finds just the right one..So last night it was cold (oh what shocker) and Emmitt had to go BAD! He was nearly bursting, but he refused to just go..so he sniffs the ground as he practically runs down the sidewalk insearch of the perfect place to soil.
So to the tune of Devo's "whip it" Drew started singing....if your walkin down the stree...he will sniff it, every dog butt that he meet's he will sniff it...now sniff it, sniff it good....and so on, the song went as long as the walk for Emmitt to relieve himself took...just more and more lines about the dog sniffing trees, and knees...etc...hahaha!
Emmitt, you are a nut!! But we looove you :)