Independence Day, Indeed

We have a contract on our house! Celebrations to follow. As soon as we can figure out a way to transact all the paperwork from the deep woods. Fingers crossed...

Last Year I Kissed a Dolfin...

Today I kissed a refrigerator. And a bed. I'll spare you the photos. My epic whine a couple days ago apparently changed our fortunes, and for that we are thankful. (Or maybe it was the sage...)

Seriously, How Can So Many Things Go Wrong?!...

We closed on our townhome on May 22nd and expected to be in it by the end of the month. But first we figured we’d add matching hardwood floors in the bedrooms and get the place painted. “No problem,” the guy from the flooring company said, “That’s a common product that’s always in stock.” Then came the call that they didn’t have enough to do all of the rooms and more of the product wouldn’t even hit this country for another month. In the meantime, our “contractor” hired some kid to paint the walls. Took it literally and even did the garage—no, no, NO!—but was much more effective in getting the paint on the floors, windows, cabinets, and appliances than anywhere it was supposed to go. After the third re-do, we still don’t have good coverage. Last weekend I opened the side-by-side the previous owners left to find both the refrigerator and freezer oven hot. I mean the water in the ice cube trays was steaming. We realize we’re fortunate we didn’t have a fire, but that meant buying a new refrigerator, which was delivered today. We thought we might be getting close to a move in, but nooooo. The new unit is too big for the space so we’d need to pull the counter-depth refrigerator 8” out from the wall to open the freezer. Tom reports that the delivery and uninstall really messed up the paint job. Just great. And let’s not forget the new bed I ordered. First the shipping company lost it and then delivered it with a huge gash in the leather headboard. The model, of course, has been discontinued. Tom is also having a terrible time installing the new light fixtures and rewiring a switch in the closet, and now the home owners' association wants us to cut back one of our huge hedges before we leave. I've leaving stuff out, but so far two things have gone off without a hitch. Seriously, I just want to get moved in and head off for my summer break, but today’s disasters have set back that timeline by at least another week. Aargh!

Month in a Minute

Time flies! I've been too busy to blog, so here's the quickest of updates... We celebrated Tom's birthday in Sarasota and spent spring break snorkeling our way across the Caribbean. I've also been to a conference in New Orleans. In our free time--hahaha--we've been trying to sell Vango and hunt for a new place. (Yup! Looking for an easy-care townhome closer to work.) I recently read an occasional blogger who does flashbacks. What a great idea! Hope to do that some time soon. In fact, I still owe you a post from a trip to San Antonio almost a year ago. Wonderful time!

Got our Manatee Fix

Spent a great weekend with summer neighbors who winter nearby. Talked them in to a manatee swim, which they enjoyed greatly. Here are some pix of our friends, biped and aquatic. The star of most of the underwater shots is a large juvenile who bonded with us. Every time Tom and I tried to move away, he'd swim up underneath us and take us for a ride. Actually had trouble getting good shots because they were so close. Another peak experience that we intend to repeat next year. Who's up for it?!

Thar She Blows!...

Just got our first inflatayak for Vango and travel purposes. Decided to give the assembly a dry run, so to speak, rather than attempt Clowns-R-Us inflation at the river. Now we just need to deflate and get it back into its travel backpack... (Holly is not amused with what is going on in her living room.)

Scenes from this Weekend's Hike