So, what's the house like?

As I make my way back to the working world this week (woo freakin' hoo!), I began to realize that I'll be back in an office setting a good portion of the day, and not in our new digs. Thus, for the curious, I give you several places that I won't be spending much time in during the day...

Here in the living room, where, due to size restraints, the bridge that usually connects our shelving has been put to the side. The built-ins have taken all our books, and the shelving that was used for tapes and dvd's is now pretty much a culinary library...

Or the kitchen, with a nice little breakfast nook, though the table is used more for updating this here blog, and for playing Ball Park Baseball (replaying the 1905 season), and Skeetersoft NP3 baseball (replaying the 1930 season). BTW, if any of you are ever stuck on what to give me for a present, season card sets from these two companies would do just fine...

This is probably my favorite spot of the house - the three season screened porch, where one can relax, sip a cool libation, watch the grass/shrubbery grow, and scurry away the occasional chipmunk that sneaks in (cute, but I hear they bite)...the porch leads to the...

Backyard! (freshly mowed!) Great spot for the little boy, since he's really into running around, wearing his 49er helmet, or playing baseball, soccer, frisbee, and, as long as your well protected from the MANY BUGS that swarm around, perfect for just chillaxing. And, now that we have a full tank attached to the grill, let the summer barbeque season begin.

This is our cat's favorite place of the house, the bay window where she can watch joggers, cars, bikers, chipmunks, squirrels, foxes, birds, and the occasional letter carrier pass by...all while getting a nice sun tan...

So, that's a brief rundown of our new living quarters. Let us know when y'all want to visit!

Moving Cross Country, Or, a Little Sadness a Lot of FML

44 Years. 10 Months. 328 Days.

This is how long I’ve called the San Francisco Bay Area home. And now, it’s off to a brand new home, and a brand new chapter in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Besides the oncoming sadness that comes with the knowledge that my days in the Bay Area are numbered, adding to the stress level has been a series of trying times with an auto shipper that will remain nameless - let's just say that what I'd like to do to the sales rep and the "customer service" reps has everything to do with how the cows and chickens are treated in the movie "Food Inc."

Normally, when I tell a company what I expect, I believe that they'll follow through, then I remember this is 2010, not 1941; so when the expected date of picking up the car (Monday, 4/26) came and went without even a courtesy phone call (one that I had been promised , by the sales rep), I, of course followed through, only to have my blood pressure rise, along with my voice, as the poor customer service reps felt the wrath of Rob. Fortunately, the company that our mover suggested was able to take our car, and we now await its arrival. With regards to our stuff, the moving company was quite impressed with the amount of boxes ready to load; apparently if we left it up to the movers to do everything, it would take about 2 days; since we were using the past 10 days to pack, they were in and out in 4 hours. Again, we anxiously await the arrival, but, in the meantime, it's a great opportunity to plan how we want the new house to look, and get some of the necessities for it.

It’s quite easy to say that I’ll miss the Bay Area, and San Francisco especially. But, it’s also quite easy to say that while I am no longer living in the Bay Area, today’s technology makes the distance apart much, much shorter.

I didn’t join Facebook as quickly as my friends and family; I did join Twitter rather early, mostly because 140 characters is all I can muster most of the time. Now, these two platforms for social networking will be my lifeline to the place that was home. I’ll be able to see what everyone is up to (at least what they want the public to know). I’ll be able to keep tabs on my nieces and nephews as they reach milestones, and I’ll be able to see how my newest niece is doing come August.

With all the sites that are San Francisco driven, it will not be hard to stay in the know with regards to food, music, arts, gossip.

With all the sites that are Bay Area driven, it will not be hard to get caught up with friends whose endeavors I’ve followed, or will follow.

Likewise, to those of you who choose to spend quality time perusing my ramblings, I hope to keep you entertained, either by my wit/charm/grace (not likely), or by the occasional appearance by a certain 3-year old who continues to amaze…

The new adventures have begun!