Oh... The Places We Should Go!

Being in a city like Philadelphia, we have tons of things to do at our fingertips. Good shopping... good food... cool places to visit.

Top of my list is the Eastern State Penitentiary. Each season, the tour is different. I am really, really anxious to visit this place. It is the prison that Al Capone spent 8 months in during his mob career. From my readings, he had a "5-star" cell. It was decorated with oil paintings, oriental rugs, and a desk top radio.

Of course, I must visit the zoo. I have to see the animals that call the Phila Zoo home. I love the zoo... the thought of visiting the wildlife makes me giggle like a little girl. I know the concerns of people and caged animals, but I like to think of it like the animals chose to be there and are paying large amounts of peanuts to live there!

Our next option is the Gregor Mendel exhibit. For those of you who say... that name sounds familiar... think of 8th grade science and the Punnett Square. This guy is the father of genetics, and I would just L-O-V-E to see their take on his great discovery.

And, finally... The Real Pirates exhibit. This is at the Franklin Institute and commented to be artifacts from the only recovered Pirate Ship. I am sure that photography will be prohibited, but like The Betsy Ross House, if we go to the exhibit... I'll sneak a few.

Anyway... there are links to each exhibit and place and a poll to the left. Help us decide where to go... this is too big of a decision to make on our own!!!

Extra... Extra... Read All About It!!

I don't have a little boy in crop pants and a beanie to scream the news, but I wanted to let you know of our blog updates!

As some of you know... the blog got a face lift a few weeks ago. It got a new background and color scheme with a few layout changes. I really like the new appearance, and it seems to like the improvements as well.

Tonight, I have added a "Favorite Links" sidebar and a Slide show. The slide show is of my latest walking tour of Center City. It was a lot of fun. I learned my way around and found some interesting sights in the city. You can see my comments on each picture by visiting our web album link. This will take you to Picasa Web. Click the link to the left under the Favorite Links sidebar to visit.

TTFN!

If It Walks Like A Duck and Quacks Like A Duck...

It's amazing to me how popular our furbabies (new nickname for the pups, courtesy of Wendy... aka Sally Sunshine!) Every time we go on walks, they get sooo much attention. It depends on the person as to which is the most popular.

On Tuesday, TB takes them to LOVE Park and this Irish guy says about Marlee, (must be read in an Irish accent), "I used to have one of these when I was in college." Then while they were in the park on a potty walk, these Greek guys were snapping pictures of them... WITH A FILM CAMERA. The dogs weren't paying attention so they were wasting a lot of film!

Then, on Wednesday, I took them out, and we were stopped by the loading dock lady who was very interested in both of them. Then, the GreenPeace guy, who wasn't interested in them at all, got a very stern furbaby mom speech. You know the one... "I am green where I can be... recycling on the street... using green chemicals... but we are on a potty walk. They have to go... RIGHT NOW. I am proud of you for being green and support your habit, but get out of our way." When I was to be stopped again, this time by a Philly police officer.

He proceeds to ask... "mam... is that your dog?" While pointing at Max. My heart started beating fast... my breaths became short and shallow... and I said, "yes, sir." He then said, "he's the cutest dog I've ever seen! I'd like to get on for my wife." I was so relieved, I almost sobbed. Then... he started asking about our big girl (remember... we haven't made it to the park yet). He thought she was cute and a Setter.

I know that most people here in the city do not own pets, and I understand the fascination with animals. I am obsessed with all the dogs around town... just love to talk in furbaby talk to them, but I mean... come on! I have seem numerous Bush's Baked Beans commercials and remarkably... Marlee resembles Duke. I know it's a long shot that two Golden Retrievers look similar. It's amazing how many people don't have a CLUE about what kind of dog she is. Now, Max... I could understand, but not Marlee.

When we finally made it to the park, we spent quite a bit of time there. They were pooped when they finally got home. We rested on the couch together and awaited our next outing.

Anyway... we have two very, very popular pups. We love them very much, but so do the passers-by, the police, the valets, and the other tenants. I think that if they were in high school, they'd be voted cutest, most popular, and most likely to turn heads!

We're Moving On Up... To The Eastside!

The East-side of the US, that is! On Tuesday and Wednesday, Mayflower Moving Company diligently packed our belongings and brought them to Philly. Where in Philly, one may ask? We're not really sure... all we know is that they are to be warehoused for up to 60 days for us.

It was weird seeing all of our belongings being wrapped in paper, shoved in boxes, and taped up with a serial number and little blue packing sticker. And... I didn't have to do any of it. I did help the guys out with our clothes. I couldn't just sit still while they were packing up, and it made the days pass faster.

What was really strange was seeing the house completely empty. I know that when we get our apartment/loft/condo up here that it will seem like home when we get our stuff in there, but for now... it felt like our house was moving away from us!

I've pretty much detached myself from our house in Brandon. It was alot easier than I thought it would be, but I think moving here with the dogs before the movers came helped out alot. It would have been hard to see it all go and see the pups confused. I can't really believe that it isn't our house anymore, but we are so excited about being here in the city that I think that our disappointment is being transferred to excitement.

Hmmm... this was a pretty boring post... sorry for the lack of entertainment in this one. I'll do better next time... until then!

The House of Mouse... Part II

As the day progressed, it turned out to be that the little brown rodent was just an icebreaker.

First, I almost missed my flight in Chicago because of the Blackberry. The Blackberry doesn't change the time according to the "network time zone." You are where you are and your time is where you were.

Then, I made it to our house only to realize that the movers and packers were lost. It took me two-hours to navigate the semi-truck down Lakeland Drive and to Willow Grande. For some reason, people assume that I don't know what I am talking about when I give directions. They took the left at the Willows instead of continuing to Willow Grande and taking left. I've only driven to our subdivision and our house a trillion times, but yet my directions always seem to be a little off to people. Yes, it's a long way to the very back of Castlewoods, but it's there... I promise. Just keep going straight!

Then, the movers got all of our belongings packed up. They jumped in the semi and headed... well, I really don't know where they headed, and I am honestly not sure they can make it back. I am meeting them at 7 AM in the morning to get the ball rolling on the final day of the move, so we'll see.

It's about bedtime here in MS. It's been bedtime in Philly... I think I'll retire for tonight. I am sure that I can promise quite a blog for tomorrow, which will probably come on Thursday after I awake from my coma!!

The House of Mouse... Part I

Good morning, all! It's early, and I am at the airport on my way BACK to MS. Yes... So soon!!

The movers and packers (not to be confused with movers and shakers!) are coming this morning to secure our belongings and haul them to PA.

Well... After an extremely long day yesterday which followed an extremely long day on Sunday, I have another extremely long day today. A 3 AM day is always long, but combine that with dealing with a moving company for two days, the second day being that I will not be home until 1 AM on Thursday morning after my 610 PM departure from JAN on Wednesday, will make for a fragile emotional and physical state (handle with care should be stamped on my forehead at this point!).

Anyway... Things have gone pretty smooth after many long travels piled on many long travels, nothing would surprise me at this point. Its about time something happen. I get to the gate and take my seat to board my flight, and what runs out from under the one seat I choose? A mouse... Yes, ladies and gentleman. A little brown mouse is scurring around the gate in fear of screams from weak, easily frightened patrons like myself. He not only runs from under my chair but also proceeds to stay in the area until soon he was out of sight. Needless to say, I kept my feet propped on the kiddie stool until it was imperative that I put them down again... And by imperative, I mean until I had to board the plane!

Should I be worried about the outcome of the day, or was the mouse just an icebreaker? I don't know, but I'm not really excited if this is the start of a day of chaos!

To be continued...

Putt... Putt... and Away!!

On Saturday, Golfer TB managed to weasel his way out of work at 11:30 AM to play in a charity golf tournament (wouldn't you just L-O-V-E to have that job... work for a few hours... golf for a lot of hours?!?). It was for a guy who worked in PHL and died a few years back. All proceeds were donated to a trust fund for his children... it was for a good cause!

He played on a team with a their Ramp Admin, Mike. Mike was a pro-golfer before he began his career with SWA. The other PHL Team was their construction manager, Bob Henry, and the station manager, John Minor.

At the end of the tourney, there was putting contest. It was $10 per golfer, and they had to make one of three shots in the first round to advance to the second round. TB was one of two to make these shots! He and another guy putted it out to the very end... TB WON!! Only to find out that he and Mike also won the tournament with a combined score of 67.

With a borrowed set of golf clubs, and a Saturday afternoon of fun and sun, he made his way back to our borrowed apartment with our borrowed furniture with our new, non-borrowed 26" LCD HDTV and an under the cabinet Sony Radio/CD player. Who'da thought?!?

He was supposed to play in another tournament today but didn't because of other plans we had tonight. I told him when I found out about our loot that I would like an HD DVD player... he concurred. I suppose that we shouldn't be begging for more after what he won on Saturday... but one can dream, right?!?