Melancholy

Heading Home

I can’t take this realm called Florida no more! I’m heading home in a couple hours. Again I am leaving later then usual, but such is life. It was good to see my mum again, but we are starting to bicker.

I love her and we accomplished quite a lot, but my work here is complete.

Hello (Turn Your Radio On)

 

I love this song. The video is great too. It's from one of my favourite bands, Shakespeares Sister. This song is from their most gothic album. I guess this is why I enjoy it so. It's a shame the two of them are no longer together.

Florida Continued

Today I scrubbed my mothers drive. Apparently around here no one may have a drive that looks as if it has been used. They are a bunch of lunatics, these people!

Florida

I arrived around 8:30 PM last Wednesday. The drive took me 9 ½ hours to get to Fort Myers! I left Savannah later then normal and ended up in end of the day rush hour traffic in Tampa. It was bumper to bumper for quite awhile. Then it all came to a standstill in Sarasota.

Apparently there was an accident somewhere far up ahead on I-75. It caused traffic to come to a complete stop for a while and then it would start up again. Traffic only managed to go roughly 10 MPH, then stop, then start again, then stop.

This went on for an hour or so. By the time the traffic moved freely the accident was all cleared up and gone.

I have been rather busy since being here. I have been helping my mum de-clutter and get rid of things. I have removed all items from the garage attic. She may no longer use the attic. Recently she fell down the drop stairs. My siblings and I in a rare moment of solidarity declared the attic off limits.

One of the chores I have lined up is to clear out the garage and re-stain the floor. I never could understand why some people stain or paint their garage floors. My mother thinks it keeps the floor cleaner. I beg to differ. Her garage floor is messy like an unfinished floor. However since she chose to have hers stained she created extra maintenance because it requires to be refinished every couple years or so.

On Thursday I removed everything out of the garage and went through a bunch of things such as forty years of paperwork from my father’s corporation. Mind you my mum sold my fathers business 17 years ago. Apparently she is under the impression she must hold on to such items because something legal may come back to bite us in the ass. I think the legal threshold has passed.

On Friday I essentially had to clean the garage floor with some kind of noxious solvent and then I had to hose it down with water and let it dry. I had to use a large squeegee thingy to pull the water out of the garage. Later in the day we worked on more paper work. … So much paperwork!

Saturday morning I was up and early preparing the garage floor to be re-stained. You would think it would be easy, but NO! I was told I had to seal the cracks on the cement floor. What the hell! Goddess forbid our floors shows any signs of history. Essentially there is this stuff, which is rather like caulk. You squeeze it into the cracks and then use a putty knife to smooth it out. I had to do this to all the cracks and nicks in the cement!

I spent about a 1 ½ doing this and finally was able to start the staining process. My gods what an obnoxious odor that stuff has! It took me several hours, but I finished and it looks nice. If I do say so myself, but you know what? I can still see those damned cracks!
I was reunited with my wonderful scooter. I gave it to my mum when I moved here briefly after I lost my last mindless job. When I lived downtown it was the perfect vehicle to use, but now that I am Southside it just won’t do.

My scooter isn’t as pristine as it was when I gave it to her. Unfortunately my mum “crashed” it a few times. More or less she would fall off of it or knock it over with her car when pulling into the garage. It’s all scratched up now and both mirrors are broken and it also has two flat tyres.

She said I may have it back now. Wow, thanks mum! I won’t bring it back with me this time because I forgot to bring the hitch. So I shall be returning one more time before moving to North Carolina.

Today is Champagne Sunday … all by myself, but hey someone has to do it! It’s not all pleasure though because I did manage to caulk around a bedroom window and clean out a closet.

Now I am looking at replacement pieces of silver and china online while enjoying champagne in a Marie Antoinette glass. Life is good.

Florida

I am leaving later then expected, but I keep telling myself it is okay. There’s no rush. I am leaving a day later because I was not feeling 100% and my mum was still in Seattle. This morning I'm dragging my heels too.

I’ve got the car all packed and now it’s time to crab the children and toss them into the car. Oh the joy! Claws are going to flail and I’m going to be bleeding in a moment. Once Nora-Grace and Tabitha are in the car they usually calm down in about 30 minutes. It’s usually at this point they realise they aren’t on their way to veterinary and then they know they are on their way to grandmas.

Eight hours from now I’ll be in Fort Myers. I really don’t like Florida… pray for me!

Well I’m off like a prom dress!

It's Going Around

I brought a wicked cold back from North Carolina. The above image is how I have been dealing with it. In fact this was my Thanksgiving. No Tofurky this year! However I did manage a bottle of Champagne and NyQuil. What a wonderful combination.

Here it is Saturday and I'm still sick. I hope I get well soon because I leave for Florida on Tuesday. Ugh!

Change

Tarboro Court House

I have returned from a wonderful time in North Carolina. My friends and I had a blast. It looks like I will be moving back to North Carolina next year! My friend Emma is planning on opening a nightclub in Durham and she wishes for me to design the interior. I am excited for the possible project as well as moving my business up there and hopefully getting some new clients in the Raleigh area.

The triangle area is much larger then Savannah and I believe my business will thrive better in that region. I am also excited about experiencing the four seasons once again and cold weather... and the variety of trees... and hills... and FRESH AIR!

If I do go through with this move I already have a great place to live. I would live in Tarboro, which is an hour outside Raleigh. Emma's mum has a business in an old 19th Century Belk department store building. I was offered the upper level to convert into a loft. The whole idea is just too awesome!

Now I have a lot of thinking to do.

Home Away From Home

I’m off on a road trip to North Carolina for a few days. I need to take care of some business and future possibilities as well as visit with Emma and David.

Money and Banks

I would like to take this moment and let y'all know I hate money and I'm really not liking my bank at the moment. That is all.

Brilliant

Being a child of gothic persuasion and sensibility I find this most amusing. This is exactly how I envisioned Mary Poppins when I was a wee lad. That and any other Disney movie and now someone has put it to visual. Brilliant!

Halloween

Jimmy, Erin and the children drove down to Savannah last week. I got to have breakfast and tea with them last Sunday before they continued their journey to Florida. Jimmy needed to pick up some parts for an electric car he is building.

On the way back to North Carolina they decided to stop back in and visit with me again, which is a pleasant surprise. Iris and Mezmer wished to go trick or treating. So we did! I wasn’t intending to dress up so I had no planned costume so I dug out last years Harry Potter costume. We had a good time. The kids got a ton of candy. They’re going to be wired for months!

Afterwards we went to Sakurra’s for sushi. It was a quick, but nice visit and again I shall miss them.

The Gang

Erin, Pina and Mezmer (I think he's coming off a sugar high!)

Me and Iris


Jimmy and Iris

I've lost my mind!

Cooler Weather

FINALLY cooler weather has descended upon Savannah. I can feel human again!

The Stench and A Thought

I have been waiting patiently for cooler weather and finally it has arrived. BUT the damn paper mills figure people in Savannah don’t open their windows in cool weather so they are pumping out the stench full force.

It started last night. I awoke with an itchy nose and watery eyes. I had to get up and close the windows. I had the windows open today, but now I had to close them because the stench is creeping over the land.

Most Savannahians don’t complain about it because they accept it as a way of life and besides they have all their windows painted shut. You see to most people here you need to have your air conditioner on for seven to eight months out of the year and then switch to heat.

They also have the windows painted shut out of fear. You know, for security reasons and then for allergies. Savannah is always blooming so people are suffering with sinus infections quite often.

I believe many of these allergies and sinus infections come more from a closed up home then what is outside. If they would allow their bodies to acclimate more to their natural surroundings it probably won’t be so bad. ...That and they need to learn to fart more.

It’s true! There are way too many sickly, pale people walking around this town. It’s because passing gas is considered a no-no. It’s all backing up in their systems and poisoning their bodies. I am not advocating uncontrolled flatulence in the face of social responsibility, but I mean come on. It’s okay to do so when one is alone.

However I have met people who are uptight about it even when they are alone. What a crazy way to live your life!

Okay I am finished with my nonsensical rant.

Crazy Weather

The weather has been rather crazy of late. My state is in the midst of the worst drought of its history. Eighty-five of our 159 counties have been declared a disaster zone.

The capital, Atlanta is having a severe water shortage. Lake Lanier, which is more or less Atlanta’s water playground, is all but about dried up. I have never seen the lake like that before. Our governor has asked for Federal assistance and would also like to shut off the water to Florida and Alabama.

Georgia, Florida and Alabama have had “water wars” for years. Most of the bickering is over water which keeps certain eco systems stable down stream as well as drinking water for smaller communities. Atlanta has grown so monstrous over the years it really sucks up more then it’s share of water. Just thinking about all those foolish people purchasing McMansions with humongous lawns. So much water goes to keeping them green. It’s sad.

I believe it’s just a glimpse of the future when we will have real wars over water resources.

I think water desalination should be made more available. There is the argument it’s too expensive, but I don’t believe this. I am certain the up keep is expensive, but isn’t war more expensive. I mean, look at Bush’s folly in Iraq. Do you realise how many desalination plants could be constructed and maintained with those funds?

In a capitalist society war is an industry like any other, but can’t there be profit in an industry, which brings the gift of life? Think of all the development and opportunity around an area such as a desert that would spring from desalination.

Here in South Georgia the weather is different. We too have had a touch of drought, but it’s still wet here. We have had less rain, but it’s still horribly humid and there is water everywhere. Everything is very green as usual. It’s amazing because only four hours away in Atlanta everything is parched.

For Emma

Emma, perhaps come this February it will all come to fruition!

Marshall Continued

On Monday Jimmy had a project to work on so Erin, myself and the kids went on a picnick up river on some land they recently purchased.

Running our errands in Marshall to prepare for our picnic.

We ate good food and enjoyed the fresh air while the kids played in the river.

Erin, Pinatuba and Mezmer enjoying the water.

Iris and Mezmer in the river.

Mezmer was being like an otter. He stripped down to practically nothing and was just splashing around and having a grand ol' time. Iris was a little more cautious, but enjoyed it just the same.

North Carolina is experiencing a drought and so the French Broad River is extremely low right now. Iris kept trying to go out further and further. We had to keep reeling him in.

Later that night we went into town (Asheville) and stopped in to one of my favourite book stores, Malaprops. Then we went for sushi.

Jimmy and Mezmer

Erin and Pinatuba

Me and Iris

The whole gang

Afterwards we went for a walk and pickeup some tea and coffee. I really miss Asheville. :( It was nice to see everything and everyone again.

Heh, heh...

Someone has a good sense of humour. What a great name for a band!

Leaving North Carolina was difficult. I really didn't want to return home to Savannah. It was rather sad because Iris really didn't want for me to leave. He became rather upset and difficult. He actually packed a bag of all his favourite books and said he was going with me. He tried to hide from his parents so they would not know what he was up to and then when it came time for me to go things got dramatic.

Needless to say there were a lot of tears from everyone. When I got into my car to leave Iris grabbed hold of one of my car door handles and would not let go. Erin had to pry him off. It was a tearjerker!

Anyway I'm home now and I'm kind of sad.

Marshall

Downtown Marshall

I arrived in Marshall safely. It's wonderful to see Jimmy and Erin again as well as their two son's Iris and Mezmer and their new daughter, Pinatuba.

Jimmy's expression say's it all about my arrival. (mobile phone image)

Erin, Pinatuba and Mezmer.

Iris running circles around me.

After settling in we went over to the island that sits in the French Broad River and visited the farmers market. We talked with friends and local farmers and purchased some food stuffs for our evening meal. We also purchase a bunch of beautiful flowers.





Later Erin made a wonderful meal. We sat around and talked about things and just got caught up on our lives. We ended the evening lying out on the deck counting planets and shooting stars. Iris and I kept count on the satellites and alien spacecraft and watched out for fiery bird poop falling from the sky. You know, from the occasional passing phoenix.

Mountains

The drive from Chapel Hill to Asheville takes about four hours. Then it's roughly another 25 minutes to Marshall. Driving on I-40 and seeing the mountains begin to rise on the horizon is very exciting to me. I start to feel my soul lift because I am returning to my element.

It's been almost ten years since I lived in Asheville... and I still miss it.

Good Friends

David and Emma

I arrived in North Carolina safely yesterday. Emma and David were happy to see me as I them. We went out last night to the opening of the Eccentrik Festival art exhibit in Raleigh. It was fun. We drank wine and ate cheese. You know, the normal stuff at a gallery opening.

At the gallery opening.

Then we ended up at a nightclub called Flex. It’s full of big burly gay men. I was fresh meat, but Emma protected me. When we arrived the music was really good, but then about and hour and a half later… it sucked so we went to the Hibernian for food.

This is a mirror picture. That is to say the picture is taken of us in a mirror at Flex.

The Sarah look.

David and Emma at the Hibernian eating some kind of meat covered home fries.

Kara, Joe, Sarah and Mike at the Hibernian.

Me and Kara. For some reason she is clutching Emma's purse real scary like.

Sarah and cute Mike. ;)

Today Emma had a radio interview at NC State University. I went along to the studio and laughed at her. ;) The rest of the day we hung out with her friend Leech and ate Mexican.

Emma, Leech and myself speeding down I-40.

This evening we are laying low because Emma has a migraine and I have to be up early in the morning. I have decided to head up to the Asheville area and visit with my friends Jimmy and Erin.

Road Trip

I’ve been feeling slightly "postal" these days so I am getting away from here for a little while. I’m heading to my beloved North Carolina. I’ll be visiting with my good friends Emma and David in Chapel Hill for a couple days. We will have great fun.


I’m certain the paparazzi will hunt Emma and myself down like before!

Wonderful Art

I met with Scott Griffin today. He's a fantastic painter. His paintings are of mix media. He uses photography, oil paint and resin, building layers and dimensions within the painting. I am using real art for the sales office and model home at Hidden Pointe Town homes. I think it's important to support local artists.

We were at college together around the same time, but never hung out or knew one another. We both agree we remember seeing one another during that time because of the familiarity. He seems like a nice guy. Anyway here are some examples of his work. If you have the time check out his web site.

Lifescape No.26

Lifescape No.30

Photo of The Moment

Today while at the Gallery a wedding reception was happening next door. Then the newly weds arrived... on the back end of a fire engine.

T'ai Chi Ch'uan

I found this neat site where you can create animated avatars of yourself. It's called Meez.com. I practice T'ai Chi Ch'uan, a form of martial arts, which promotes health and longevity. It's also great in managing stress as well as bringing balance into ones own life.

Anyhow I decided to create my animated avatar based on this. You may also select various backgrounds. I chose a painting by Van Gogh.



I just realised when posting your Meez image the animation is shortened due to the size of the file. When I chose the T'ai Chi animation it looked like I was doing a strange dance. So I changed my selection to a Wushu animation, which has similar moves to T'ai Chi. Wushua is type of martial arts that focuses on self-defense. T'ai Chi is the path of least resistance, but when force is applied it too becomes a method of self-defense.

However it now looks like I am doing the Safety Dance! Oh well, you can dance if you want to ...

* 1 October. Apparently when you go into Meez.com and make changes to your animation it changes the original so that is why I no longer have a Van Gogh background.

Inner Geek

Well this morning I am channeling my inner geek. See how this image captures my geekiness? We moved out of the BOC (Box of Chaos) and into our new sales office, the UFH (Unit From Hell). Actually calling it that is not fair because the space is very nice and a definite improvement upon the BOC. There are some issues which need to be worked out such as the cabinets are still a mess and the second bedroom has no power and I have run an extension cord down the hall to run the computers and such.

However it is a wonderful place. I mean it's a house. We have space AND most of all we have working TOILETS! Right now I am trying to get the computer systems hooked up. After this I will then get to the decorating. Yay!

The weather is actually cool this morning. Currently it’s 68 degrees and we will have a high of 85. Finally cooler weather! Well I guess I better get back to work, but first I need to run to Starbucks and deal with the Starbitch.

Starbucks & the Starbitch

I have been frequenting the Starbucks in the Kroger out by the Savannah Mall lately because I am often at the construction site, which is right next to it. Generally I won’t frequent such a place because I prefer independently own stores such as Gallery Espresso, but when I need a fix, I need a fix.

There is a new barista at this location that has taken it to a whole new level with me. She is now known as the Starbitch of Starbucks. She really yanks my chain. This is the second time she has rubbed me the wrong way.

What did she do you ask? Well, I always get iced soy mocha without whipped cream and she always refuses to stir the damn thing. I asked her why she doesn’t stir it and she told me it was corporate policy! WTF?

Okay everyone else stirs it for me. Heck when I go to the Gallery they stir it, and pour it into another cup twice so all that chocolaty goodness is mixed quite well.

Starbitch tells me that the chocolate and coffee is supposed to sit at the bottom of the cup and the milk on top. I said this is ridiculous. It’s supposed to be a mixed coffee drink. She went on to tell me (with attitude) she had worked in a Starbucks in two other locations and this is the way they were told to do it.

I asked her to stir it anyway and she told me it would be easier if I stir it with my straw and handed it me my cup! WTF? What kind of customer service is this?

Clear The Air

Today I received a somewhat annoying post to an earlier post of mine, entitled People (Part 2) accusing me of being an angry person. I originally responded to this person within that post, but I got to thinking I need to explain myself better and add a couple things and re-post it here for all to see.

This person goes by “Anonymous”. Here is their reactionary post to my rant.

“Even though someone did arrive, you still condemn them.

Did they arrive casually, seemingly upset that there was an argument over jurisdiction, or did have concern?


Ever look at the times the police were dispatched, or just simply cast a stone because you were upset? CAD records are available under the Open Records Act.


Call the MPC, you'll find out that the roadway is Metro responsibility, and the car dealership is Thunderbolt's. It has been that way for YEARS.


Who showed up first though?


I think you would have condemned ANYONE who showed up because you were angry to start with.”

Dear Anonymous,
I don’t think I condemned anyone. It was merely an observation as to when the police arrived. No, I don’t think I need to telephone the MPC or look into CAD records because I was there as were two others involved in the accident.

I was not the only one to say it took the police some time to arrive. In fact the two young men that were in the accident with me commented the same thing as did the individuals in the dealership.

As far as the roadway being the responsibility of Metro and the dealership Thunderbolt this really means nothing to me. There isn’t a sign on the roadway. “In case of accident on Victory Drive please call Metro, but if it happens in the car park, please call Thunderbolt”. I am certain it probably has been this way for YEARS and there probably is some logical reason for it, but I am a civilian and would not know this. It’s not in the driver manual!

As far as me being angry at the situation this is further from the truth. I am someone who rarely gets angry. I do tend to get annoyed easily and fed up easily. Perhaps it’s a character flaw. I try to be aware of it and quite often I am critical of myself because of it. Ask anyone who knows me and they will say I am rather easy going. Sometimes it has been said too easy going. In certain situations they have been amazed I don’t get angry when they would have. I tell them I just don’t see the point and I rather not waste my energy. Anger leads to disease and shortens the life span. I certainly don’t want any part of it.

The family members of the two who were in the accident stated to me they were grateful I was so calm. I basically said accidents happen and I am happy everyone is okay. Perhaps it may have seemed I was angry in my posting. I was recently rear-ended and was without my car for some time. I envisioned having to go through the whole process again and I was also on my way to an important client. 

Again there was no real anger. I stood there chatting, joking and laughing with the other two guys in the accident. One guy was nervous and not sure how to go about things. I helped him out. I joked with their families while we waited for things to finish up. An angry person would not have done this.

If you actually took the time to read anything in my blog you will be hard pressed to find signs of real anger.

Your response makes me think you may be an officer or perhaps related to one or just well versed in obscure police jurisdiction information. In all honesty when the officers did arrive they were quite nice and helpful and I mean both Thunderbolt and Metro officers. AND for the record it was Thunderbolt who arrived first. (I think this is what you really want me to clarify) They did their job professionally and I am grateful.

Life happens. We move on and I certainly have.

Morning Drive

Driving out to the site seems like it takes forever, but in reality it's only 15 minutes. I guess it's the drive on the Veterans Parkway that make it seem this way. It cuts through the marshes so there is nothing around. It's nice to see open spaces like this in city limits. Sometimes you can see an alligator or wild boar frolicking about. (Actually wild boar frolick and alligators just kind of sit there.)

It makes for a relatively peaceful journey, though I still think downtown is much better.

This image was taken on this crazy bridge that goes out over the marsh and practically corkscrews back around onto highway 80. Sometimes people tend to drive too fast on the extreme turn and flip over.

OH.MY.GOD!

"The Love Machine"

Chaos

Things are a little chaotic right now. We are finally nearing completion of Unit #14 which will be our sales office. However there are some things, which still need to be completed before we may move in and I have some issues. Such as the kitchen!

Here the backsplash is being installed. It should have been done last week.

Oh look! The refrigerator is too short and where the hell is the stainless steel panels. Oh and while I'm at it why is my double oven laying on the floor in the breakfast area and not installed in the wall? AND don't get me started on the cabinets. They look like crap!

Wait is that furniture delivery? OH.MY.GOD.

Quick clean the floors! They were filthy. The plaster and dry wall dust got through the paper covering the floors and then ground in. On top of all this the painter’s tape that was used to keep the paper down has stained the floor. The floors may need to be replaced!

My wonderful dinning room selection. WHAT THE HELL! Why is there a toilet in my dining room? Oh I see it's for convenience and extra seating.

There is no electric, no A/C and no running water as of yet. I'm losing my mind and I need a drink!