Hedging your bets

The economy has everyone scared. Lots of people are taking on second jobs if they can find them. Case in point, check out our new neighborhood pretzel vendor. He gave me extra mustard because I knew his name.

The J Quarter Circle finds a home

With this in our doorway in Austin we were often asked "What does the J stand for?" Some thought it was for Jan and many thought it stood for Jesus. I wonder what our New York friends will think it represents? The Jets! The Jiants! or maybe The Jankees!

Home Sweet Home, finally...

Paul and I celebrated Saturday night by actually sitting on our sofa for the first time in four weeks. All of our furniture has been covered during the painting and crown moulding project in the condo. The last of the painting was completed Saturday night and now we can begin cleaning up and unpacking. The construction dust is everywhere so it will take a good week to get that cleaned up, but at least we are walking on wood floors and not drop cloths, sitting in chairs and not on our bed, and the best part, I don't have to go down to the gym to go to the bathroom during the day.
We did have a problem finding window treatments, but came up with the best solution and they look great. Let's just say that if the stock in Velcro went up last week, we can take credit for that. Finding the right furniture is our next challenge, but we are up for it. Once we hang up the J Quarter Circle brand, you'll know we have finally made it our home.

North Carolina on my mind

Paul and I spent Labor Day Weekend with Pat, Mer, Kendall, Berkeley and Emery Jane. Emery was given a beautiful blessing on Sunday by her dad and then we just a great time with everyone. We went to a local parade,visited the library which has books AND dress-ups, bonded with Emery, sent Kendall to her first week of kindergarten, read books, played games, made cookies, visited Berkeley's pre-school, and basically had a great time. Paul helped Patrick with a few out door projects and now rain gutters are flowing freely and dead bushes have been taken away by the trash guys. Thanks for letting us share some wonderful days with you.

I didn't even cry

Paul and I went to get our new driver's licenses today and to register our car in NY. Paul's admin was joking about notifying our next of kin when we didn't return for two weeks and our doorman asked if I had a sleeping bag and can of bean with me when I told him where I was headed. Well, let me tell you, we were finished with everything in 45 minutes! We stepped up and they said, need your application. Got it. Need your original social security card. Got it. Need your old driver's license. Got it. Need your passport. Got it. And this is where they thought they had us. Need a letter from Texas with your driving record. Got it!!! I also had taken our birth certificates and our citizenship grades from elementary school. Appreciated, but not necessary. Look at us being New Yorkers!!!