I’ve had a busy weekend and it’s only been two days!

Last night and today i went to new places, experienced new things and met new people, how could it be bad?

Last night, after my dinner plans got cancelled, I needed to find some food and Lauren, at the front desk, recommended I go to Saline, a ten minute drive down the road, so off I went. When I got there, the Saline Summerfest, http://salinesummerfest.org/, was going on.

A few of the streets were blocked off, there were about twenty vendors, food tents and live music, what a treat! I walked around and looked at all the booths, bought myself a little bracelet [the one with the tree of life on it], listened to some music and then went in search of food.

I ended up at Mangiamo Italian Grill and sat down at the end of the bar and ordered some dinner. Just as I was finishing, a woman sat down at the corner of the bar and we started talking. Her name is SG and she is a very fun and funny chick. We are the same height and when we exchanged names I asked if she ever gets called by my name and she said all the time, it’s crazy! I have that happen to me all the time too!

I think we talked for almost two hours; about our kids, jobs, traveling, everything and at the end, realized that we wanted to exchange numbers and maybe get together as long as I’m still here! I think she, KLS and I will have a great time!

I left the restaurant when they closed and headed back to the hotel, chatted with Sean and Johnathan for a long time, then came up stairs to talk to you guys.

This morning came way too early and the phone ringing at 10:30, but it was time to get up, lots to do. I decided to head to Dexter, MI for Dexter Daze, http://www.dexterdaze.org/, their two day community celebration: music, food, vendor, magicians, fun.

I got there about 12:30 and heard music coming from the gazebo and started walking. I went into a lot of booths and talk to some of the artists as I was going through.I ended up at this one booth where the artist was selling necklaces, bracelets and rings. Some were hematite, some were magnetic, to help with arthritis, circulation, etc.

We started talking and then the next thing you know, I’m in the tent, hanging out talking to Rob about his work, travel, kids, grand-kids, you name it, we covered it all! And the next thing you know, I’m selling his stuff alongside him!

I had a lot of fun and one thing let to another and I ended up staying there all day helping him sell, then tearing down and packing up his suburban to head home, then as a thank you, he took me out for dinner when we were all done.

I had such a great time selling and talking to people and helping little kids find something that just MUST have and with almost everything being five dollars, how could you go wrong!

He gave me the spoon charm and when I tried to pay for something else, he refused, thanked me for helping him. I actually had to tell him that someone else bought the steam-punk bracelet and ring so I could give him the money for it! He did, however give me two steam-punk bobby pins and a killer spoon charm [all pictured] as a thank you.

We parted company about 10pm and here we all are! I am exhausted!

Today started normal enough, for a travel day. 

I was wide awake at 6:45, of course, since the alarm was set to go off at 7:30, sure, why not. I got up, got motivated and out the door at 8am for the airport. I dropped off the car, fingers crossed I get another Beetle on Sunday! The flight was uneventful, after dealing with the car and finally getting to the terminal, I got to my gate in time to board, don’t you love that, no waiting. This was after getting a yummy egg mcgriddle from McDonalds, yum! Eggs, pancakes, syrup all in a neat sandwich, what could be better?

Saw JCT’s brother GC at the airport, he is a manager with Hertz, and we caught up for a few minutes, I haven’t seen him in a few years, it was nice. Then pick up my car from Avis, $20 a day, not bad! But $36 in taxes and fees? what? Oh well. It’s nice, an upgrade to an SUV, can’t beat that!

On the way to my house, I stopped for something I know I shouldn’t have, but I was craving it and by gosh, I wanted it and so I got it! Fellini’s Pizza is on the way and it’s near my first solo apartment in the Virginia Highland area of Atlanta. I used to go all the time and then it became a tradition after I moved to the burbs to stop there on the way home from the airport, so why break tradition? A NY style slice and a coke, both a BIG NO-NO to my stomache, but it was so worth it! And no, I did not use the knife and fork, they bring those with every meal. I got some grief on FaceBook for it, but I can assure you “No self respecting NY’er eats pizza with a knife and fork!” you fold the slice! http://www.fellinisatlanta.com/fellinis.html

Then home to see what the situation was like and then to Walmart for supplies. I don’t know if I’ve told you, I found a renter for my house! WAHOO! That’s the great part, the ugh part…they wanted to move in TODAY! What? Not happening! We moved it to next Friday, so…I have to get EVERYTHING out! Not a huge deal since I moved almost everything when I went to Denver last year, but all the stuff for staging and furniture is still here! Oh my!

I am selling almost every piece of furniture [bedroom, living room, dining room, office, you name it!] The only pieces I am keeping are my armoire and roll top desk. Whatever doesn’t get sold is going to consignment or donation. I already sold my kitchen table and chairs! Go me! [she’s interested in the dining room, fingers crossed!] If you’re wondering why I don’t want any of it, it’s furniture I bought when I was married, don’t need to take it with me and someone else may love on it! It’s great stuff! I am hoping to have to sleep on the floor tomorrow!!

The rest of the stuff are the knick-knacky things I had when the house was staged for sale, we see how well that worked out! So, tonight, I pulled everything out of cabinets, shelves, drawers, you name it, it’s all on a table, chair, middle of the floor! I am finding more things I want to put up for sale, isn’t that amazing!

Tomorrow will be selling and showing and packing what’s in the garage, tomorrow afternoon, after the sale will be packing the boxes of stuff for storage. I am going to rent a storage unit here until I can get everything back to Denver.

I took a break to head downtown to meet JCT and AB for dinner at the Brick Store Pub, a place I love and haven’t been to in a while. It’s a great ‘English style neighborhood pub’, loud, friendly and with great food. So good to catch up with friends! http://www.brickstorepub.com/intro

On the way downtown, I dropped off some pieces to a neighbor who had bought them last year and I promised to give them to her when the house sold or rented, there you go! The best part is she is fostering kittens and brought me in to look at the five week old babies! OMG! SOOOO cute! tiny and furry and sweet and wanting to play! I got out of there quick or I would have left with some! Two is enough! I told you…more than three and you’re the crazy cat lady, especially if you live alone!

After I got home, I got to work, continuing to move the things off the walls and shelves, ready to be packed and that will be tomorrow and Sunday.

I was going to talk about my feelings and how it is being in the house for the first of the last two nights, but I’ve talked enough and I’ll tell you more tomorrow. Besides, I have to get up in a few hours to get ready! 

Wish me luck, send me good vibes and make all this stuff go away!

Good night!

July 16-19, 2014 brings over 500,000 people to Ann Arbor, MI for the 55th year of Art Fair.

This is one of the largest art festivals in the country. Their mission “To increase public knowledge and appreciation for contemporary fine arts and fine crafts by creating opportunities that connect artists, the Ann Arbor community and the general public to their mutual benefit, culminating in a top quality juried street art fair.”

If you have been to an art festival anywhere, you have an idea of what this festival was like. Tent after tent after tent of photographers, jewelers, sculptors, metal workers, painters, clay, mixed media, glass, wood, if you can think it, it’s probably there, not to mention food and music. They closed off all the streets in the center of Ann Arbor and the surrounding streets and the tents went up, it’s crazy! There is something on every street and street corner.

Not only tents went up, but businesses opened their doors and put up their own tents and extended their stores to have some fabulous sidewalk sales.

When friends from all over, who went to undergrad or graduate school at U of M or were from Ann Arbor, found out I was in Ann Arbor for a few months said I had to go to Art Fest, must go to Art Fest, it’s a huge deal! And I was so excited that I would be here and here I am!

I didn’t buy very much, as I don’t have anywhere to put it, but I still had fun “window shopping”. I bought two things for myself and explored some of the alleys that the town has to offer. I thought about and thought about and thought about the Storm Trooper Sugar Skull, isn’t it the most! To say the least?

I hope if you’re in the area you have a chance to get out and check out the 55th annual Ann Arbor Art Festival!

http://www.artfair.org/

You know the expression, what are the odds? Well here you go.

The day started normally enough.  Got up, got some work done, went to lunch at The Lunchbox, that great vegan restaurant I told you about. The reason we went to The Lunchbox, Angelo’s was closed for vacation, go figure.  The Lunchbox it is and KLS loved it, so we can go back! Score one for the veg-heads!

After lunch, I took KLS to work at the hospital and I headed of to a local Avis to take care of some issues with the rental car.  The experience was less than stellar so I left, I am going to be at the airport Thursday, I’m going to take care of it then.  I did call Avis to express my concerns, I’m getting a $25 off coupon for my troubles. I only have to wait 7-10 days because they’re mailing it. What happened to email? Is it lost to us forever?

I headed back to the hotel and decided to do some laundry. While I was in the laundry room, I started talking to a very nice woman who is moving to Michigan from Philadelphia and the more we talk the more find out about each other.

When we started talking about where we were from, she said her husband was from Staten Island, which you know that is where I come from. I then asked her if she knew about Denino’s and her response was priceless! Her husband took her to Denino’s and Ralph’s on their first date! How small is the world!  Seems to be getting smaller every day.

I met a friend for dinner, the food was ok, company was great, which made up for the did and that’s what really counts!

After dinner, I had some errands to run and finish up my laundry and while I was in the bar talking to Nel, I met four very nice guys who were watching the Home Run Derby.

It was fun chatting with them, Jeff, Paul and Chris were all with the same company and in town for their monthly catch up and Doug is in from Syracuse.

We talked and laughed about traveling, both for work and pleasure, Michigan, our time here and after a while Chris bade us good night, then Paul and Jeff, Doug and I talked about the All Star Game, some sports, work and travel and then we realized it was 2:30 am and time for us all to turn back into pumpkins!

So here I am at 3am trying to keep my eyes open! Good night!