Soo, yes. I am on my Very First Business Trip. It’s actually a residency, so for the next 3 weeks I’m in Poughkeepsie, NY (oh joy!) working on this team to improve the stuff my department works on. It’s a nice change of pace from my normal job in that I get to see and talk to other people a lot more often. In RTP sometimes you wonder if there are actually people there or what. Silly cubicles.
Probably the best part is the fact that I have a 2004 Ford Mustang to cruise around Poughkeepsie in. A definite upgrade from Greenlee. Some noted features: auto windows, v6, CD changer, security system, smooth accelleration, the keyless entry actually works right….(It doesn’t take much to impress me). This is likely a big mistake by Hertz that I’m in the process of figuring out. I’ll no doubt be driving a dorky Ford Focus or something in the near future. *Sigh*
Everything in Poughkeepsie is on Route 9. This makes navigating around very easy. I didn’t have to spend any time to figure out how to get to the mall, any grocery stores, etc. Raleigh and Cary seem to have these tangles of circular roads that make things more difficult. Pok keeps it all simple, yo.
So. Can I please extend more hatred of Walmart? So, where I am now, Walmart seemed more convenient than Target which as far as I know is just in the mall. So, I went to Walmart even though I am beginning to hate it. And it wasn’t just a normal Walmart, it was one of those ones where you can get your nails done, and a haircut, and buy groceries, and have a funeral.. etc etc. I choose my 5 items and get in the Express line. 15 minutes later… I actually pay. The best part was that the guy behind me had a canister of iodized salt (?! Shira taught me Iodized salt is CRAP). The total of his bill was 36 cents. And he had to wait 15 minutes to buy the dumb thing. The $3 or whatever you might save by going to Walmart seems to just not be worth this stress and waste of time. Maybe the key is to go at 3am when nobody is there. 
But until I decide to wake up in the middle of the night to shop, I will be a faithful Target customer.
So, yeah. Moving. Always a fun experience. I complained last year, I’m sure, when packing up my college dorm. This year though – there is just so much MORE. It’s amazing how much we’ve accumulated in a year. Couches, all sorts of furniture, 27″ television, huge bed, washer, dryer.. it goes on and on, really. The thing is – we really do use all of it. I don’t think the people on Clean Sweep would be too mad at me (ok, except my 15 stuffed animals and Barbie collection – can I help I was an extremely spoiled child?).
Tommorrow at noon we will have the keys to our new place. Essential first “new apartment” purchases? First, a bistro table for our new deck with a cute little battery-operated lantern to sit on it. Getting that whole thing was an experience, but not amusing enough to merit being in my weblog.
I also went crazy and bought 2 different shower curtains for the guest bathroom. So, what do you think? Swell Stripes or Eva Bubbles? Actually, it’s up to Oak to decide when he gets home from work tonight.
Don’t worry – I plan to take “before” and “after” pictures of our new apartment. Please note that “after” may not actually come for 2 months, ok?
It’s amazing the things that excite you when you are Old.
‘Twas a very nice weekend. Did we get any packing done whatsoever? No. But we had a nice time indeed.
Yesterday – THE BEACH. Let me tell you, it might not be the Caribbean or even Florida, but being 2 hours away from a nice sandy beach is a nice luxury. It feels like you’re on vacation for the day.
After a little while at the beach – the cold water, and crowded beach with little room for Frisbee, we decided to explore downtown Wilmington. We were driving around and I spotted a sign for Chandler’s Wharf, which is on the historic waterfront. It’s very pretty; they just built a big boardwalk so you can get in between all the shops and whatnot. We wandered into a hand made soap store and were befriended by the shop owner and her daughter, who went on to tell us all the essentials of Southern culture. We were talking so long I forgot to actually buy some soap. I have some samples so perhaps next time I will give these friendly ladies some business!
Then, Oak’s favorite, Front Street Brewery for din-din. This is actually my favorite brew-pub as yet; I highly enjoy their raspberry wheat beer so I don’t argue with Oak about eating there. I actually consider it the perfect conclusion to a day at the beach. Hot
Today we went on an adventure; trying to find strawberries to pick and garage sales to buy stuff at without much luck. After a few hours of searching, we decided to try the Dim Sum at Neo China, which is practically in walking distance of our new apartment complex. It was a lot of fun! The waiters and waitresses go around with little carts, mostly of appetizer-sized food, and you just pick what you want as it’s going by. You’re even allowed to eat dessert in the middle of the meal if you so choose. Ding!
Speaking of food, the warm weather here has me in the mood for many different leafy salads. This guide to greens is an educational guide to choosing, preparing, and combining your greens with many an ingredient. (Of course, none of that iceberg kind!)
The highlight of today so far was when I was leaving the apartment (late, I might add, because of staying up too late once again). I saw this giant black thing on the floor.. and immediately said EWW! and ran away.
I made Oak go examine the situation. This is good because he discovered it definitely was a giant bug of some sort. He proceeded to squash it with my shoe and then pick it up (NOT EVEN WITH A TOWEL) and throw it in the garbage. *Shudder*
I’ve never seen a bug that big in our apartment before ( I swear, I usually handle bugs pretty well.. this thing was just like 2 inches long), but it was definitely a horrifying experience, that makes us want to move that much more. Yikes. Only a week left.
Now I must go do lots of other people’s uber boring work that I somehow managed to take over. *sigh*
