AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

There. I feel better.

There's a lot to say, and it's hard to know where to start. I guess I should blog more often. I've been more than two weeks by myself in Philadelphia now, and I've discovered what missing my family really means. They'll finally be here the end of this week, and I can't wait to tickle the crap out of the kids. I've certainly had a lot of down and lonely times since I've been here, but I can also say that I've had moments of sheer giddiness while driving around up here.

There's a lot to do and see up here, and much of it is very unexpected. I've found places that are out 'in the country,' but only minutes away. There's a pick-your-own-fruit orchard that I can't wait to visit with the family this summer. There are numerous little active downtown areas in the small burroughs around the area, which tend to each feel like a mini Eureka Springs. There is a place just a few miles from our apartment called the Newtown Farmers Market that has nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes with each visit...

OK, a little more on the farmers market, 'cause it warrants it. This place has quite frankly made me ashamed to have ever bought fresh food at Wal-Mart (which, by the way, we should have very little reason to visit up here... YAY!). There is an amazing fruit and veggie stand where I've caught them immediately replacing fruit that is taken from the stack and trimming the ugly grapes from the bunch before putting them out. There's a Mexican spot that cooks up some killer chimichangas. There is fresh seafood, fresh and cured pork and beef. There are a couple of bakeries (apple fritter the size of my fist - 75 cents). There is a middle-eastern spot with some groovy gyros and baklava. Sushi, fresh salads, hickory-smoked meats, pretzels & sausage, and a great dairy stand. To top it off, there is a little market spot with exceptional dry goods and sweets. I'm highly confident that this place will be a weekly ritual for us.

Quick notes:
I finally had a cheesesteak, and me likey.
The pets are adjusting well, but are obviously lonely.
I played paintball for the first time in a year-and-a-half.
I can barely stand up now due to the above.
I'm really enjoying my job!

Amanda's been working her rarse off with packing and cleaning and finalizing and goodbyes. She's held it together quite well, considering. I gotta tell ya, I've got one amazing wife. She's sold just about everything big we own through Craigslist. I think as of now she's almost completely packed up and ready to head this way. This is of course thanks to the great friends who volunteered to help with the actual packing of the moving container. You guys rock!

This week's certainly had its troubles. My grandpa passed away on Tuesday, and with everything going on I couldn't even make it down to the funeral. The good news is that he went quickly and quietly in bed, rather than hanging out sick in a nursing home for months or years. I'll miss him, but he's been deep in Alzheimer's for years, so really I've missed him for quite some time.

There was apparently a major dounpour in Fayetteville today, and our newly-finished laundry room was defaced with a roof leak. Selling this house is looking to get more difficult. We had a couple who claimed to be VERY serious about purchasing it, but in the last couple of days they seem to have fallen off the earth. Their excitement about the house led us to great hopes of a perfect-timing sale, but with their now unknown status, we've had to seek the advice of a Realtor. I really hoped to avoid the fees and have a successful FSBO again, but that's a lot harder to do from a thousand miles away. And unfortunately the Realtor isn't valuing our property where we had hoped. There's a chance now we'll end up only marginally breaking even on this one. Add to that that we're overstretched with my not having a paycheck for a month, and it's beginning to look like we'll be renting for some time to come. Sheesh.

But the bad stuff comes and goes. We're all alive and healthy, and very soon to be reunited. I may be ass broke for a while, but I'm family rich and that's worth all the headache of budgeting. Give us a few months or so and we'll be delighted to have you visit!