It's Been A While

Wow---time flies when you're having fun!?! I was ever so gently reminded that it's been months since I posted anything on this blog and people are wondering where their updates are. Well, I'll try to keep it to the highlights---but here goes!

So---January-we got the closings done on both houses, all went fairly well with the move itself. Man, do we have a lot of stuff! The moving truck was packed full of stuff, and then the outdoor stuff was on a platform on the back. It's a good thing we didn't have one more piece of furniture, or we might have been leaving it behind!

The Florida house is F A B U L O U S. I absolutely love it. The neighborhood is great, I've met some great friends and the house, while it has its builder quirks, is all good! I've had some issue with the plumbing contractor that takes care of the warranty work, it's an uphill battle getting them to show up when they're scheduled, and to be able to do the job they have scheduled in the first visit, and correctly at that. They've been here 8 times, for two different things, almost every time I've had to take off work and wait for them...sometimes they don't show up. Needless to say-my appointments with them are now on Saturday's upon my angry demands. If that's the worst thing we have an issue with, it's all good!

The rest of the things with the house are going well. Everything is unpacked, but it's hard to hang stuff on the walls when you're the only one ever in the house...my arms aren't long enough to hold something up and stand back to see how it looks, ya know?! I have a list that grows every day of improvements that I want to do...from simple things like get the garage door opener installed and hang the ceiling fans to more difficult tasks such as hanging pendant lights over the island. Lucky for me, I have some great friends, and one just happens to be a remodeling contractor ... while they live in Tampa, we're trying to work out a deal to invite them up so Tina and I can hang out, she gets a relaxing weekend and Chris can work~I can pay him to do all the stuff that needs to be done. If I have to pay someone, I'd rather pay someone I know and trust to do the work!

The new job is great. The Florida marketing team is a great group, and we have a lot of fun when we're together. The management team meets usually every 6-8 weeks with our product department from Georgia--usually someplace fun like Orlando (where traffic is a NIGHTMARE!). In April I had the opportunity to spend a few days on the road with the University component of our company, meeting agents in Orlando and Tampa along the way. I was able to take advantage of being in Tampa by extending my trip through the weekend and spending some time catching up with friends. It was a much-needed escape and proved to be tons of fun!

I have become involved with the Junior League in Jacksonville already. I decided to jump right into placements and took on a small leadership role for next year. The JLJ's largest fundraiser is a 1200 family tag sale, called Whale Of A Sale and the night before the sale, there is a huge preview party and silent auction. I was asked to head up the silent auction component for the 2008 event. My 'goal' is to raise $20,000 during the auction. Pressure's on, although, I'm sure I'll have a great team to work with and it will be seamless :-)

While all of this sounds like a great, easy and smooth transition to Florida, I have to say now that it certainly has not been. I've been here 3 1/2 months, and Tom has yet to sell his route in Connecticut and join me. We really thought he'd be here by now, but the route sale just hasn't gone in our favor. He stayed with some friends of ours until the beginning of April, then they needed their space back and he is now renting a room in a house in CT while he waits to close on the route and move down. Things have been a bit stressed to say the least. On top of the extra money we spend on rent, the fact that we've been apart for 3 1/2 months and that the route hasn't sold---it's just a little annoying, ya know??!!??! We're hoping there is light at the end of the tunnel very, very soon. He has a route here in Jacksonville that he has to close on prior to the middle of June. Just pray that it works out. If the Jacksonville route doesn't go through, we'll be in a big mess. More on all of this as it unfolds.

Well, this is enough for now, although this is by far not all! I'll start posting more regularly so that you can all keep up. Look for the story of the church home that I found this past week, tomorrow!

Until next time~All the best