Catching Up
I've been off here for a while, but here's what's been going on...
July 3
I went to a big holiday party at my friend Ed's parent's house in Hollywood, Florida. The day was about as beautiful as it could have been, which was a welcome change from the weeks of rain we'd been having. Ed's parents live on a lake and we had four jet skis there. I love jet skiing. It was difficult for them to get me off of them. But, there were about 20 or so of us there, so I was good and took turns. Of course, in my jet ski excitement, I forgot to put on sunblock for the better part of the day, so I got pretty crispy on my face, shoulders, and back of my neck.
Ed's parents had made so much food, and for some reason, I thought it was my duty to eat it all. Eventually, I rolled myself home, belly-stuffed and burnt, but happy.
July 4
This was the two-phase party day. My morning started bright and early with a call from my friend Kathy. I answered the phone to "This is phase 1 calling phase 2. How are things going at your place?"
Everyone was going to Kathy and Eddie's house during the day for a pool party (phase 1) and then to my condo to watch the fireworks they shoot off from a barge in the ocean right off my balcony (phase 2).
I rushed around all morning, setting up food displays and making sure that everything was organized so I could go to the pool party and then come back to my condo to set out the food quickly before the group moved between phases.
Phase 1 was a blast. There were about 20 people at the pool party, almost all of whom were in the pool at once. I had to leave at about 4:30 so that I could get my condo ready. Everyone made their way over at about 6:00 since the bridges were going to be closed from 7:00-11:00 to control traffic.
Phase 2 was very emotional. The fireworks were great, but then my close friends started giving me unexpected gifts. Ed and Kelly had framed a special dollar bill that had been circulating in our poker games and gave it to me. Ed had once made me give it to him at the end of a night of poker because he thought I was going to lose or spend it. It was very sweet that they gave it back to me. It will always remind me of the fun poker games we've had.
Kathy and Eddie gave me a picture frame with four pictures in it... me in my banker's visor holding up the poker chips, me and Kathy, me and Tricia, and me and the whole posse (me, Tricia, Keith, Kathy, Eddie, Kelly, and Ed) sitting around the poker table. Kathy also gave me a "pocket angel" just like the one she carries around and rubs when she needs a big win in poker. She said it would protect me in my journeys.
Tricia and Keith gave me a frame that matched the one that Kathy and Eddie had given me. In it was a poem that Tricia wrote for me about our relationship. It was one of the most amazing gifts anyone has ever given me. When she read the poem aloud in front of the whole group, there wasn't a dry eye in the room, and I don't think that I could even see through the tears.
When I could collect myself, I went around the room and told each of my friends what I admired most about them and how much they mean to me. More waterworks ensued, of course.
The party then resumed and one-by-one everyone left and I fell asleep in my awesome condo for the last time. It was an amazing couple of days.
July 5-6
I woke up to Kathy on the phone again. "This is phase 1 calling phase 2. Eddie's making breakfast, so get up, get dressed, and get over here." I did.
I had a nice brunch with Kathy, Eddie, Tricia, and Keith, followed by tearful good-byes again.
Then I headed back to the condo, loaded my car up with clothes and essentials, and set off for Gainesville where I was going to stay with my friend Ken (ufcub) for a couple days. We had a couple of really great days. It was yet another amazing couple of days. I can't wait to see him again. :)
July 7-10
I had lunch with Ken and then set out for Auburn. I decided to stay at Black Bear Camp (www.blackbearcamp.net) while I looked for a place to rent in Auburn. It is a very interesting little private camp on the owner's property... nice and secluded. They have a main lodge, a couple small cabins, a play cabin with a sling, a small pool and deck, and a hot tub. It wasn't very busy, probably because of the threat of Hurricane Dennis. But, those who did make it out on the weekend were very friendly. Everyone pretty much goes around naked, so that's always fun.
On Friday, I went to campus and got the keys to my office, filled out some paperwork, and ordered my computer. Everyone at Auburn University is so nice and helpful and they all said how excited they were to have me joining the faculty there. That made me feel really good.
Saturday was spent driving around Auburn to look at various places for rent. Of course, the one I decided I wanted to rent in the end was the first place I looked at that morning, so I could have just stopped after that and had the rest of the day free. But, at least I got to see a little more of Auburn.
Hurricane Dennis hit land today, which kept most people indoors. Of course, the guys at Black Bear Camp were blaming me for bringing the hurricanes up to Alabama with me from Florida. The good news is that it went fairly west of Auburn, so we only got hit with some heavy rain and moderate wind.
Tomorrow, I'm going to go rent the condo I found. It's in a fairly new development close to just about everything and has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, and a one-car garage. Then I should be headed back to Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday so that I can have a couple days and meet the movers on Friday. They'll deliver here next Sunday and I start at Auburn University the next day.
Everything seems to be going as planned. *knocking on wood*
July 3
I went to a big holiday party at my friend Ed's parent's house in Hollywood, Florida. The day was about as beautiful as it could have been, which was a welcome change from the weeks of rain we'd been having. Ed's parents live on a lake and we had four jet skis there. I love jet skiing. It was difficult for them to get me off of them. But, there were about 20 or so of us there, so I was good and took turns. Of course, in my jet ski excitement, I forgot to put on sunblock for the better part of the day, so I got pretty crispy on my face, shoulders, and back of my neck.
Ed's parents had made so much food, and for some reason, I thought it was my duty to eat it all. Eventually, I rolled myself home, belly-stuffed and burnt, but happy.
July 4
This was the two-phase party day. My morning started bright and early with a call from my friend Kathy. I answered the phone to "This is phase 1 calling phase 2. How are things going at your place?"
Everyone was going to Kathy and Eddie's house during the day for a pool party (phase 1) and then to my condo to watch the fireworks they shoot off from a barge in the ocean right off my balcony (phase 2).
I rushed around all morning, setting up food displays and making sure that everything was organized so I could go to the pool party and then come back to my condo to set out the food quickly before the group moved between phases.
Phase 1 was a blast. There were about 20 people at the pool party, almost all of whom were in the pool at once. I had to leave at about 4:30 so that I could get my condo ready. Everyone made their way over at about 6:00 since the bridges were going to be closed from 7:00-11:00 to control traffic.
Phase 2 was very emotional. The fireworks were great, but then my close friends started giving me unexpected gifts. Ed and Kelly had framed a special dollar bill that had been circulating in our poker games and gave it to me. Ed had once made me give it to him at the end of a night of poker because he thought I was going to lose or spend it. It was very sweet that they gave it back to me. It will always remind me of the fun poker games we've had.
Kathy and Eddie gave me a picture frame with four pictures in it... me in my banker's visor holding up the poker chips, me and Kathy, me and Tricia, and me and the whole posse (me, Tricia, Keith, Kathy, Eddie, Kelly, and Ed) sitting around the poker table. Kathy also gave me a "pocket angel" just like the one she carries around and rubs when she needs a big win in poker. She said it would protect me in my journeys.
Tricia and Keith gave me a frame that matched the one that Kathy and Eddie had given me. In it was a poem that Tricia wrote for me about our relationship. It was one of the most amazing gifts anyone has ever given me. When she read the poem aloud in front of the whole group, there wasn't a dry eye in the room, and I don't think that I could even see through the tears.
When I could collect myself, I went around the room and told each of my friends what I admired most about them and how much they mean to me. More waterworks ensued, of course.
The party then resumed and one-by-one everyone left and I fell asleep in my awesome condo for the last time. It was an amazing couple of days.
July 5-6
I woke up to Kathy on the phone again. "This is phase 1 calling phase 2. Eddie's making breakfast, so get up, get dressed, and get over here." I did.
I had a nice brunch with Kathy, Eddie, Tricia, and Keith, followed by tearful good-byes again.
Then I headed back to the condo, loaded my car up with clothes and essentials, and set off for Gainesville where I was going to stay with my friend Ken (ufcub) for a couple days. We had a couple of really great days. It was yet another amazing couple of days. I can't wait to see him again. :)
July 7-10
I had lunch with Ken and then set out for Auburn. I decided to stay at Black Bear Camp (www.blackbearcamp.net) while I looked for a place to rent in Auburn. It is a very interesting little private camp on the owner's property... nice and secluded. They have a main lodge, a couple small cabins, a play cabin with a sling, a small pool and deck, and a hot tub. It wasn't very busy, probably because of the threat of Hurricane Dennis. But, those who did make it out on the weekend were very friendly. Everyone pretty much goes around naked, so that's always fun.
On Friday, I went to campus and got the keys to my office, filled out some paperwork, and ordered my computer. Everyone at Auburn University is so nice and helpful and they all said how excited they were to have me joining the faculty there. That made me feel really good.
Saturday was spent driving around Auburn to look at various places for rent. Of course, the one I decided I wanted to rent in the end was the first place I looked at that morning, so I could have just stopped after that and had the rest of the day free. But, at least I got to see a little more of Auburn.
Hurricane Dennis hit land today, which kept most people indoors. Of course, the guys at Black Bear Camp were blaming me for bringing the hurricanes up to Alabama with me from Florida. The good news is that it went fairly west of Auburn, so we only got hit with some heavy rain and moderate wind.
Tomorrow, I'm going to go rent the condo I found. It's in a fairly new development close to just about everything and has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, and a one-car garage. Then I should be headed back to Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday so that I can have a couple days and meet the movers on Friday. They'll deliver here next Sunday and I start at Auburn University the next day.
Everything seems to be going as planned. *knocking on wood*