One down

It's just over a year ago that we backed up our 26 foot Penske truck into this driveway, not knowing what we were in for in this new stage of life. That seems like just yesterday and yet living back in SLC seems like so long ago. But it's been a year. 1 down. 5 to go. Dave is finishing up his "intern" year and will be getting a HUGE raise to pay off all of student loans. (NOT!) Our life here is pretty settled and it's been fun and having so much change. Although change is sometimes uncomfortable and hard. But it's good. And I'm learning a lot.

I've been meaning to write a post about our life here really since we got here. Just the boring stuff. What's it like? What's different? etc. I actually started this post last August I think. So it's about right that I'm posting it now. I'm always late. If you've ever invited me somewhere, you already know that. I have time denial issues. I always think there's more of it than there really is.


So here's just a little randomness about our new life here. What it's been like, my impressions of our city, etc. In case I haven't filled you in on the boring details yet. This will be totally random and I'm in a weird mood, so we'll see what pops up...

• Just to clarify, we live in the South. Yes, it's the south, even though we're in North Carolina. I'm surprised how many people are surprised by this. And something that I've learned since I've been here, Alabama, Mississippi, etc. are the deep south. And Florida isn't really considered "southern" at all. (culturally, not geographically of course.)
• Southern Hospitality is real. Everyone's nice here. People drive by and wave at you. I love it! They don't know you, but you're both on the street so you might as well wave. People are friendlier and polite. And I think it's quite charming.
• The roads don't make sense. Instead of North/South, East/West streets, most of the streets here are diagonal, but then they turn and wind and really you have to drive in a horseshoe to get somewhere that should just be a straight shot. But that's just me, coming from Brigham Young's grid system. Where numbers actually meant something. No disrespect to the Moravians, but seriously, when it comes to street planning, leave it to the mormons. Actually I bet it really has something to do with old farm roads and all of the dense woods and hills here. Maybe. I have no idea what I'm talking about really. All I know is that it takes longer to get 10 miles here than it does in SLC.
  
• There are no sno-shacks! yes, really! I don't understand this because it gets really hot here in the summer. It seems like an obvious solution to hot summer day, but I haven't seen one. Okay, one. At the fair. But it's the old chunky ice kind. Doesn't count. And last summer, I really missed my pina colada with cream sno cone. Maybe I'll start my own shack this summer. The overhead is cheap, right? I have found some divine custard though. Nielsons has nothin on this place!


• There are WAY too many bugs here. I'm not one of those girls that shrieks at the sight of a bug. I'm usually the one that had to kill all of the bugs. (Except in Hawaii when Sara was the bug master. She killed a centipede and many a cockroaches for us) But there are just so many here. And weird ones that I've never seen before. And my neighbor told me that last year he found a black widow in his yard. And so he caught it and released it in our greenway. What?! If you catch a black widow, why on earth don't you kill it? Sure, I love Charlotte as much as anyone, but until I see "terrific" in a web, that spider is going down the toilet. But the real reason I don't like bugs is because they LOVE me. If I go outside for 5 minutes, I've got 5 new bites. And I really hate bug repellent, but I must use it if I want to be a fun outside mom for Anna. I guess this just means that my blood has a really good flavor. Which is good news, in case I ever meet Edward.
• The plus side of this is that we have Fireflies! I'm looking out my window at some right now. Love those cute little lightening bugs!


• Get ready for this one...they don't have cinnamon bears here! Not even lips, or Santas, or any holiday shape gummy. I know. It's a travesty. I don't understand why. Although I did see some in Myrtle Beach at a "Dylan's Candy" copycat store. But this was before I knew they were a rarity out here. This is a problem for me because for some reason I crave these on occasion. There were a few times at work where I would try and hunt some down, but it wasn't something people kept in their desk drawer. Weird, huh? Well, maybe my teeth will be thankful for this.


• Hot Chocolate selection is dismal, but they have a huge variety of tea, sweet tea, and grits. Sweet tea seems to be much more popular than Starbucks.
• I miss sidewalks. Only the really nice neighborhoods have them here.


• Garbage pick up - silly! Instead of the truck picking up each trash can. A guy goes around and collects everyone's bags into one trash can. Then the tuck picks that one up to dump. I don't get it.
• Did I mention it's really green here? If you've been East you know, but just to reiterate, it's pure green lusciousness. I really have no idea how big our city is because I can't see it all.
• The falls and springs here are REAL! It's so beautiful. I'll try and post some pics one day. Beauty, beauty all around. Trees and flowers blossom in the spring. And the trees glow in the fall.
• I really like the fact that I only had to wear my winter coat 5 times or less last winter. That's my favorite kind of winter. Although in some ways this is too bad, because I do love cute coats.
• Instead of putting Christmas lights up, people put candle lights in their windows at Christmas time. Which I love because it's cute and colonial. But I missed all the adorned rooftops too.
• I LOVE the fact that we're a few hours from the beach. It's rare for Dave to have a whole weekend off, but we try to take advantage of this as much as possible! The beaches here are beautiful and peaceful and warm. And I don't miss all the seaweed from the Cali beaches. We haven't made it up to the Outerbanks yet, but I'm excited to see what that's all about too.
• We've explored so many new places here. Little nearby towns and the big cities. I love going new places and learning new things about people and history. We have much more ground to cover, so hopefully Dave's schedule and our funds will allow us too.
• Having a two car attached garage and a car with keyless entry has changed my life. Really. I am grateful every day.
• Purses are pocketbooks. Shopping carts are buggies. A BBQ party is a cook out. Just a few of the new terms that I've learned here. I also really like it when the ladies at the store tell Anna how "smart" she looks. Although I think she's smart, I think they mean she's cute.
• I think I kind of like Christian Rock.
• Most people love God here and it's okay to talk about it. I really appreciate that.
• I can't do as much on my own as I thought. But I just try my best. Sometimes I don't. I think I used to be "together" and now I'm just, well, not. And I'm working on balance in my life, right now there isn't any! I admire any mother that has found it.
• I have aged 5 years in one year. Really. I've recently noticed that I look old now. My face has wrinkles. I look at pictures and think how different and "younger" I look - and it was just last year! I wonder what did it to me. The moving, the residency, or the 2 year old? hmmmm. Maybe I'll have to have Dave sample Botox on me some day.
• Dave's schedule hasn't been as bad as I expected. Sure, he's gone a lot, more than most husbands, but I really expected it to be worse. I think I did that on purpose so I would be happy instead of disappointed. He's had some rough rotations, but he'll get a good one some months where he only has to work 40-60 hours per week instead of 80-100. And those months are the best. He's doing a great job and has enjoyed most of his intern year. Next year should be better, so we're looking forward to that. I must give him credit that part of the reason it has been a good year is because of him. Even though he is worked to death, he doesn't complain much and has a good attitude. When he has time off he wants to go and do stuff with us. Which I am very grateful for. If I worked that much, I might be curled up in my bed crying on all my days off! Sorry to call you out, but thank you for being so great Dave!

How's that for random facts? I know there's more to say, but I'm done for tonight. Maybe I'll continue to add to this list for fun.

It's been a good year. Lots of adjusting, but a good year. Dave and I have said all year that I really don't think there's a better place for us to be right now. It suits us great. Even without cinnamon bears. We've met some really great people that have made our year much more enjoyable too. Especially for me. I'm so grateful for my friends here! They will probably laugh at my random list. I'm such a rookie.

Here's to hoping the next 5 are as good or better than the first!