A Glimpse at Life at the Lindsays

Back on the Blog for 2010

2010-02-09T20:41:00.002-05:00

Pam, Elaine, Kerry and Me celebrating Super Bowl at Rick and Alicia's house

Bathroom views

The proud handyman

Sorry about the absence from the blog. We have had lots going on so far in January 2010. Keith started a new semester with a whole new crop of seniors, and he's been hard at work continuing the project upstairs. As you can see, the bathroom is done! Now, it's on to the flooring in our bedroom and closet...

I had knee surgery mid-January and am still recovering. It's progressing slowly, but I am doing everything my doctors tell me and more. Here's to healing soon!

Our Christmas Tree

2009-12-10T16:46:00.003-05:00

We managed to get our tree decorated Sunday evening, and we've enjoyed sitting in our den with just the tree lights on each evening.

The Holidays Have Arrived!

2009-12-07T09:02:00.004-05:00

Patrick and Susan's Wedding- December 6th, 2009

Brrr... It's cold! Donna and Keith get warm before the wedding...

Work Holiday Party - December 3rd, 2009

We've started off the holiday season with a bang! My work party was this past Thursday night, and we braved the cold and light rain to get our tree Friday night after work. Saturday, we ventured to Greensboro for dinner and "A Christmas Carol" at the High Point Theater with our friends, Noel and Britta. (The production was amazing- it's put on by the North Carolina Shakespeare Theater yearly.) Sunday, we braved the cold once again for a beautiful outdoor wedding in Smithfield at the Rosefield Plantation. (Luckily, the reception was indoors!) We decorated our tree last night, and spent time before bed relaxing on the couch by the light of the tree.

Yard Conquered!

2009-11-21T23:29:00.005-05:00

This machine is amazing....

We can't believe that December is just around the corner.... We spent the majority of today bagging up all of the leaves in our yard. We have lots of old trees, and the project is usually completed over the course of several days. Thankfully, our wonderful neighbors (Heather and Tom) allowed us to borrow their "leaf destroyer," and we were able to crush the job in four hours, record time!

We have the opportunity for two pre-Thanksgiving dinners this weekend. I had one this evening with several girlfriends, and tomorrow night, we'll have our annual friends' dinner, which is always fun.

November News

2009-11-06T10:35:00.004-05:00

Avon Walk Charlotte- Cheering on walkers at mile 26

Captain Cleavage in the flesh- Don't you love his new costume?

Mom and I displaying our new flashy team sign

Keith's Halloween scary look

My ghoulish side

Yes, I have not been very diligent with my postings over the past few months. An early New Year's resolution of mine is to get back in the swing of posting at least once a week....

October was filled with lots of fun for us. My parents were here for a visit during the middle of the month, and we visited the State Fair, went to see West Side Story, and ate lots of delicious delights both at the fair at at our place. (No fried Ho Ho's or chocolate-covered bacon though... We just couldn't do it!)

We also volunteered for the annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Charlotte. We have served lunch to the walkers and crew for the past five years, and it's an amazing experience that we always look forward to.

2009-10-04T16:13:00.005-04:00

Painting the upstairs bedroom- We didn't expect this much of a purple hue, but it's more greyish/blue with the second coat.

Keith has borrowed a guitar from our neighbor Tom and is working on teaching himself to play!

Stacey and Keith toasting this year's Oktoberfest

This fall has been an especially busy one for us. Over the past month, we've had a lot going on! Here are a few of the highlights...

1) Keith went diving with Dan and Stacey at a quarry in Rolesville. This was his first time diving in five years, and he's officially hooked again.

2) We went to the annual Oktoberfest at a local church. Not as much dancing this year, but our crew expanded to fill four tables full.

3) Keith and I joined friends for the U2 show at Carter-Finley stadium. This was my third time seeing them, and they did not disappoint!

4) Keith's still hard at work finishing the upstairs. Tentative move-in date is Thanksgiving...

Back to School...

2009-08-21T11:55:00.002-04:00

Keith had his first week of teacher workdays in preparation for the start of school next Tuesday. He'll be teaching two sections of English IV this semester, along with managing the online learning lab for one period a day. He has a male student teacher from NCSU who will be joining him as well this semester. (Another MALE English teacher! )

He'll be spending all day tomorrow putting the first coat of real, colored paint on the walls upstairs. We'll post photos as soon as we can.

I'll be spending the weekend relaxing for the most part. (Before you give me a hard time, remember that Keith has such high standards of work performance that I am not allowed to work on the house. I just provide food, snacks, and refreshments as needed.)

We're going to try and catch up with our neighbors at some point, and our friend Stacey is coming for dinner Saturday night. My friend Kerry has free tickets to the OAR concert Sunday night, so a few of us will be heading out for that too.

Summer Beach Time and House Updates

2009-08-04T20:02:00.003-04:00

11th Annual Girls' Beach Trip

As per tradition, seven of my girlfriends and I made the trek to Atlantic Beach for weekend of sun and fun. Most of us are friends from NCSU days, but we have one lovely lady who has joined our tradition within the past five years. A good time was had by all, and we're already looking forward to year twelve, can't you tell?

With the start of school fast-approaching, Keith has been hard at work trying to finish up the projects here at the house. He's had to postpone the final outdoor painting pieces because of all of the rain we've had here. He has been spending most of that time upstairs working to get things finished. (We now have running water in both sinks, a functioning toilet, and shower!)

He did head to Charlotte this past weekend for a weekend away with friends Dan and Stacy. They have been talking about a diving trip for a while and finally made it a reality. There are already more dives planned for September I'm told....

House Painting Update

2009-07-15T16:07:00.003-04:00

The first time our shutters have been on in two years- YEAH!

The man at work- note his sun protection- Panama Jack style!

This gives you an idea of the color difference....

Keith has been working tirelessly to finish the house painting. At this point, all he has left are the upper peaks and the dormers. Everything looks fabulous, as you can see! Once this is done, it's on to the upstairs....

Home Improvements Start Back...

2009-06-25T17:42:00.003-04:00

Close up view

And now you can see how high up he really is...

So summer is officially here, which means that the project master is at work once again. This week, he finished caulking the house, power-washed the whole place, and is now painting BY HAND. Yes folks, my husband is crazy, but I love him for it.

Thankfully, our neighbors across the street work from home, and their office windows face the house. They have promised to "keep watch" during this project and anything else that ensues...

This project will be finished next week. Up next- finishing the upstairs!

Summer Punch Party

2009-06-14T15:20:00.003-04:00

Stacey, Me, Alicia, Elaine, and Erica catching up

Impressive set up by our buddy Dan

Keith and I have a busy few weeks. He's been closing out the school year, and I've had lots of work projects going on. We hosted our annual Summer Punch Party yesterday, which is always lots of fun. We had sixty guests in attendance this year, and everyone enjoyed our homemade BBQ, the delicious contributions from our guests, our buddy Dan's homebrew, and the usual SoCo punch. Dan outdid himself this year, providing SIX varieties of brew for everyone.

Doughman Challenge

2009-05-24T16:44:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, Keith and I read about "The Doughman Challenge" in the Raleigh paper and decided to volunteer for the event which took place Saturday in downtown Durham. The deal is that a four-person relay team eats various delicious foods, then has to run, swim, and/or bike a leg of the relay without "losing" anything. Crazy, huh? (especially considering that the first person had to down mac and cheese with blue crab and a fried egg before a 2 mile run and short swim...)

Go to http://www.newsobserver.com and look for the story. Proceeds from the event benefit Seeds, which is a program that teaches Durham youth how to grow their own sustainable gardens, which they then sell at the Farmers' Market.

Keith with Bruce???

2009-05-21T00:05:00.003-04:00

We check out "Bruce in the USA" every time they are nearby. What a fantastic show.... It's the next best thing to the Boss. They played a local club in Raleigh tonight, and we had to take in the spectacle. Now, off to bed!

Good Times

2009-05-17T10:31:00.003-04:00

Enjoying drinks at "The Federal" in Durham

Kerri and Keith on their way to the prom!

Friday night, I cooked a delicious dinner for Kerri and Keith before they headed out to the Millbrook Prom. Our friend Stacey and two neighbors came over, and we enjoyed conversation on the deck until the prom-goers returned and joined us.

Saturday, a group of girlfriends and I went to see "The Color Purple" at the DPAC. Wow- incredible show, amazing performances, go see it! We then went to Vin Rouge, a French restaurant near Duke University, and indulged in their early-bird dinner specials (three-course meal for $20.) Incredible and delicious! We finished the night at "The Federal" hanging out and catching up before heading home.

Today, we were supposed to go with a group of eleven friends to the Durham Bulls baseball game. Looks like the weather is going to wash this one out. Oh well... More time for Keith to finish grading his final twenty research papers. Only four more days with his seniors!

Keith's Birthday Week

2009-05-05T07:44:00.002-04:00

Keith sporting one of his birthday gifts

Keith's birthday was last week, and per our usual tradition, we celebrated for an entire week. I gave him small gifts each day, but there were two larger gifts that were the highlights of the celebration. We went to The Pit for dinner Wednesday night, and the food was fabulous! http://www.thepit-raleigh.com/ I encourage you to head here on your next trip to Raleigh. It's been featured in several magazines and on several TV shows as of late.

Keith's favorite musician of all time, Bruce Springsteen, was in Greensboro Saturday night, so a group of us ventured out for the show. Noel and Britta hosted us for an afternoon cookout before the show, and, as always, Bruce kicked butt for a solid three-plus hours. Hard to believe that man's sixty years old....

Lovely Wedding Under a Carolina Sky!

2009-04-25T10:15:00.003-04:00

Hanging out with our friends Chuck and Donna

Isn't she lovely????

My co-worker Teresa got married in a gorgeous outdoor ceremony Friday night, and Keith and I were fortunate to be able to attend the festivities. Nearly everyone from our office was there, and we all had a marvelous time toasting the bride and groom. The site of the festivities was an old home in downtown Clayton, NC called "The Wagner House." The home was built in 1912 and is incredible both inside and out. http://www.historicwagnerhouse.com/ to take a look for yourself!

Catching Up With Friends- Easter 2009

2009-04-12T21:08:00.004-04:00

Easter Dinner at Pam's House

Stacey and I show off our winnings! (Can you believe this got us a football and a pen?)

Girls (Britta and Stacey) vs. Boys (Keith and Noel) Air Hockey

The boys proved victorious at Air Hockey, but the girls kicked butt in the batting cages!

Keith and I were able to relax a bit this weekend thanks to an extra few days off for Spring Break. Friday, we had a date night out- tried a new NY-style pizza place in town and then went to see "Gran Torino." (FANTASTIC!!) Saturday, we hung out at Frankie's Fun Park with some of our friends from Greensboro and fired up a little competition over the batting cages, Skee-Ball, and Air Hockey tables. Our friend Pam hosted a magnificent Easter feast for friends today- needless to say, we are stuffed and are prepping to head back to reality tomorrow.

Getting Vitamin D...

2009-04-05T08:13:00.002-04:00

We have taken every opportunity to soak in some Vitamin D this weekend! Friday, we both got home from work and were exhausted, but we decided it was too gorgeous not to be outside. We walked the short route (3.5 miles) around our neighborhood before coming home to crash for the night.

I spent yesterday attending a seminar about the 1950's at UNC. (http://www.adventuresinideas.unc.edu for more information.) This is the second session that I've been to, and they just keep getting better. We spent last night out on the Rudino's deck with friends watching basketball. Unfortunately, my team to win, Villanova, couldn't pull it out, and I'm out of our pool. It's down to Keith and our neighbor Heather in the final game for the $110 prize!)

Pierogies!

2009-03-31T07:16:00.004-04:00

Finished Product! (Reverse order...)

Front Yard- Sunny Spring Flowers

Our friend Natalie Meador shared a family tradition with us on Sunday. We LOVE Pierogies, and she welcomed us into her kitchen to show us how to make them. It takes hours to make them but only minutes to cook them. They were DELICIOUS!!! Maybe one day, I will get brave and try to make them...... Until then, it's Mrs. P's from the freezer!

1st Annual Cookie Run

2009-03-28T17:00:00.004-04:00

Pre-race with the Millbrook Wildcat

The rain held out long enough for the 1st annual "Cookies on the Run" to take place at Millbrook High School this morning. The idea behind this is similar to the Krispy Kreme Challenge in that you run halfway, eat 13 cookies, and then finish the 5K. (3.1 miles total) Needless to say, we only ate three each, but hey, that's still points for participation! Our friends Lynne and John Petersen, Jessica Martz, Alicia Gruenebaum, and Rick Suter also came out to support the Millbrook High "Class of 2009."

Spring Flowers

2009-03-26T07:40:00.002-04:00

First Tulip!

It's cold, rainy, and dreary in Raleigh once again, but we have lovely Spring flowers in bloom! We'll take more photos once the sunshine comes back...

Playing Catch-up...

2009-03-22T13:05:00.002-04:00

Keith and I are both sitting on opposite sides of our dining room table playing catch-up with work. We're hoping we can finish up soon so we can enjoy a bit of the gorgeous sunshine today! (Did I mention that sunshine time will be spent pulling the mass amount of weeds in our front yard???)

We've both been feeling under the weather the past two weeks and have sort of hibernated as a result. We did have the pleasure of hosting my parents here this past weekend. We all spent quite a bit of time watching basketball - I organize a yearly pool, and we were all eagerly checking our standings after each game - but we did manage to get out and enjoy a bit of culture around town. ("Miss Saigon" in Raleigh on Friday night and "Fiddler on the Roof" in Durham on Saturday.)

St. Baldrick's 2009 - Team Hardy ROCKS!

2009-03-01T17:26:00.005-05:00

Keith bald for the third year in a row!

Hamming it up for the camera

Festive gals cheer on the shaving from the front row

Grayson and Kerry Heckle came out to show their support

Team Hardy pre-shave

This year, our neighbor, Tom Dowd, organized Team Hardy in memory of his cousin, Brad Appleby, who lost his fight against cancer as a child. The seven members of the team raised over 10,000. As you can see, bald on these boys is truly beautiful!

Upstairs' Update Plus...

2009-02-22T14:49:00.003-05:00

Check out the new light and recessed cabinet work in the upstairs bathroom!

I spent last weekend visiting my friend Nikki and her family in Birmingham, Alabama. I also squeezed in a quick lunch date with my friend, Tatum, whom I"ve known since kindergarten at Concordia.

Friday night, Keith and I went to see Willie and the Wheel (Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel) at the new Durham Performing Arts Center. Saturday, we stopped by a fundraiser for "Team Hardy" for St. Baldricks' at Jerry's Artarama, managed by team leader Tom. (Check out http://www.teamhardy.org for more info. The boys get shaved Saturday!) Keith also did some handywork upstairs as you can see above.

Slack in Posting...

2009-02-12T17:47:00.002-05:00

Taking advantage of the 70 degree weather on the deck at Sawmill Tap Room. NCSU friends Pam, Tracy (in from Michigan,) and Stephanie (in from Spartanburg.)

Lovebirds Tracy and Brian Dixon enjoying beers at the Big Boss Brewery.

SuperBowl party hosts Rick and Alicia

Yes, we have been slack in our postings as of late, but we will try and get back on schedule. Work for both of us has been busy as usual, and I have been nursing a frustrating knee injury. We've still managed to squeeze in many good times with friends both near and far.

Super Bowl Sunday was spent first at a party with friends at Rick and Alicia's house. We stayed through the 1st half and arrived at our neighbors' party just in time to see BRUCE!! You can only imagine how excited Keith was about that... (We did get tickets for the Greensboro show, and yes, the plan is to push to the front of the stage...)

Last weekend, we had a NCSU reunion of sorts. Our friends Tracy and Brian Dixon came in from Michigan, and the crowds followed, all the way from Edenton, Wisconsin, and Spartanburg. The highlight of the weekend was our ten-person feast at Tasca Brava. (Our table finished five bottles of wine and managed to run others out of our room, only because we were having such a fabulous time!)

Snow Day - January 20th, 2009

2009-01-20T11:12:00.007-05:00

Keith and I decided to head out for a stroll in the snow before settling in to watch the Inaugural Festivities. We have around five inches so far, and it's still coming down without signs of stopping! We may have yet another day off tomorrow...... ?

Back in the Swing of Things...

2009-01-11T11:29:00.004-05:00

Cocktail party celebrating Susan and Ken's marriage! (L to R Ashley, Susan, and Beverly)

We clean up well don't we? And doesn't Keith look like Ryan Stiles from "Whose Line is it Anyway?"

NCSU friends toasting Dave (tall guy in the middle) on the completion of his Master's Degree!

Christmas 2008 was the first time that we've both had two full weeks off of work, so this past week was a struggle! We both had gotten comfortable with sleeping until 9, staying up past midnight, so getting up at 5 AM again was a bit of a challenge to say the least....

Keith is almost done grading his 90 research papers (he's sitting at the dining room table grading his last five as we speak) so he'll be all smiles soon. The photos above show some of the fun things that we've done this weekend. In addition, on Sunday, I participated in a 5K run in memory of a young man who was killed in a drunk driving accident two years ago. His church youth group organized this in his memory, and proceeds go towards drunk driving prevention programs for area high schools.

Ringing in 2009

2009-01-04T17:59:00.003-05:00

Keith was the victor in the first game...

The ladies beat the boys in game two...

Keith and Kris - buddies and college roommates from UNCW

Strange but cool shot...

Happy New Year!!! Here's to a fabulous 2009 to you and those you love.....

We have spent the first few days of 2009 sharing meals and good times with friends in Raleigh and Greensboro. Unfortunately, we both return to work/reality tomorrow.....

Happy Holidays 2008

2008-12-30T16:55:00.002-05:00

Mom, Keith, and I enjoy Smith Family Christmas in Grover, NC

Alicia and Pam, two close friends from NCSU, and I pose with part of the floor from the old Reynolds' Collesium. If you've never been to a game there, you have to go. The RBC Center is nice, but there's nothing like a game at Reynolds!

Christmas Eve Midnight Service

We hope that each of you has had a restful and enjoyable holiday. We have been keeping the roads hot and have had a busy first week off work. We spent some time in Conover with my parents and then traveled to Elkin to spend time with Keith's family. From there, it was back to Conover and visits with old high school friends Suzanne Cadwallader, Amanda Moose, and Tatum Preston and their families. Then, it was off to Grover, NC for Smith Family Christmas and then, finally, back home to Raleigh! We spent yesterday cheering the Wolfpack on with friends - despite the football loss, we were happy to witness the basketball win live and in person. Not sure what will be going on the rest of the week. Hopefully, lots of lounging on the couch!

Holiday Fun 2008

2008-12-21T19:09:00.003-05:00

Portsmouth Lane's own Team Hardy four months before their St. Baldrick's shearing!

Marshall Loew, our resident Santa, and Pammy Sue

Captain Cleavage action figure (made by Britta) is coming to a store near you!

Elaine, Carolyn, and Jane catch up

Sharing good times at my work holiday party

Last week started the week of parties for us. We spent Monday night at my boss' house with most of my work colleagues. Her husband is a gourmet chef, so we ate well that night.

Friday night, we hosted around fifty of our friends and neighbors for our annual Holiday HooHa. This year, we decided to collect donations for the Triangle Girls on the Run program which I have become involved with. (The program works to build self esteem and a love of fitness and overall wellness in girls grades three through eight.) We collected four large boxes of items and over $200 in cash. We are lucky to have such fabulous and generous friends!

NSDC Conference in Washington D.C.

2008-12-11T07:31:00.002-05:00

Gorgeous views from the downstairs atrium at the Gaylord on the Potomac

These were all over the many trees in the lobby

Looking down the lobby of the hotel- These trees lined both sides.

Three of my colleagues from the school system and I just returned from four full days at the NSDC Conference. We presented during two of the session times and also attended many fantastic and informative classes during our time there. If you get a chance, Google this hotel. It's absolutely GORGEOUS- right on the water, has shops that are in houses in the middle of the atrium, has four restaurants, a night club, WOW!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T18:18:00.002-05:00

Digging in some pumpkin pie!

Mom and Dad with the feast

Mom and Dad came to Raleigh to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. We've spent the majority of today chilling out feasting, watching "The Godfather" marathon and football and even managed to squeeze in a walk through the neighborhood. We hope to get a bit of shopping in tomorrow (not at 4 AM!,) and Dad has promised to take all of us to see "Australia" at some point. We'll be heading to see the Wolfpack beat up on Miami on Saturday.

Fun Times with Friends

2008-11-25T20:56:00.002-05:00

Jess and Catherine

Bridget, Stacy, and I say Cheers!

This weekend was another fun-filled one! We spent Friday night babysitting for our friends Dave and Natalie. Keith and I had a blast hanging out with their two girls while they enjoyed an evening out to celebrate their birthdays. Saturday was filled with yard work and cheering on the Wolfpack as they slaughtered the Tarheels!!! Later that evening, we ventured across the street to our neighbors Sara and George's house for a feast and sing-along with lots of 80's metal classics. On Sunday, we attended a performance of the Free Spirits Ensemble (if you live in the Triangle and get the chance to see them, do it!) and then, I enjoyed an early Thanksgiving feast with eight of my favorite ladies!

Another Fun Fall Weekend

2008-11-16T22:19:00.003-05:00

Grayson Heckle and me having fun

Showing some Thanksgiving Love...

Cheers with Jess and Pammy Sue

Another busy weekend here in Raleigh. We spent Friday night with our friends Matt and Shannon Aycock enjoying a movie and conversation. Saturday was spent test-driving Ford vehicles in the AM- fundraiser for Millbrook High School PTSA- and then had lunch with friends after they finished their test-drive. That evening, we went out with Rick, Alicia, and Pam for the Rescues/Kate York show at the Pour House and then ventured to Tir Na Nog for a rolicking good time listening to a local Irish duo. Keith and I spent about three hours in the yard finishing up round two of leaf collection before going to the Heckle home for the annual Thanksgiving dinner with friends.

Loving the Fall!

2008-11-09T16:50:00.003-05:00

These are views from our neighborhood. The fall colors are gorgeous as you can see!

Sunny and 60-plus degrees in November, love it!

View from our front door.

Got Guinness??? Enjoying a pint after the Black Crowes' show....

We've been having a blast enjoying the gorgeous weather these past few weeks. Last Sunday, I ran in the City of Oaks 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles) and had one of my best long runs ever. We've been running outside as much as we can since the scenery is so beautiful, and we want to take advantage of the favorable weather while it lasts.

I worked the polls for the first time ever on Tuesday and was proud to be part of such a historic election! (Did I mention that I was a JUDGE and got to sign off on everything?????)

This weekend, we hosted our friend Pam over for dinner on Friday night and went to a concert event downtown featuring the Black Crowes on Saturday evening. It was an outdoor show, and luckily for the crowd, the temps didn't drop below 50 degrees and the sky was clear and starry.

Avon Walk Charlotte 2008

2008-10-29T21:01:00.003-04:00

We had a blast serving lunch and cheering on the nearly 1100 walkers in Charlotte this year. We're already working to plan and improve our theme and costumes for next year! I'm in the middle on the front row, and Keith, well, you can easily see him.... : )

Weekend update

2008-10-19T11:22:00.003-04:00

This is a quick update as typed from the dining room table on Sunday morning. (Keith is on one end working, and I'm on the other. Looks like dueling laptops!)

Keith's parents visited us this weekend, and we enjoyed our time together. Saturday included a day at the fair, and we couldn't have asked for better weather or tamer crowds. I got my usual fair food fix of Kettle Corn and a Grilled Chicken Pita. Just couldn't stomach trying this year's new delights- Fried Mac and Cheese and Fried Pecan Pie.

Dinner Dance with the Family

2008-10-14T21:45:00.003-04:00

Keith and I ventured to Conover Saturday evening for a silent auction, dinner, and dance to benefit Concordia Lutheran School. (This is the school affiliated with my home church that I went to, my sister went to, my mom went to, you get the picture!) I still have many friends from my childhood days at Concordia, which is nearly unheard of.

We won several items- Queen mattress set for our new guest bedroom, a NCSU fan pack, a bottle of Cabernet, and a new toolbox for Keith,- and all proceeds benefit the school. Good times!

Oktoberfest Fun

2008-10-11T10:03:00.004-04:00

Enjoying some good times with Bryan and Todd

We made our yearly outing to the Oktoberfest held at St. Rafael's Catholic Church here in Raleigh. They usually hold the festivities in their fellowship hall, but this year, they moved everything into an outdoor tent. We had a crew of about ten folks join in the fun of German food, music, dancing and plenty of Oktoberfest beer!

NCSU Homecoming

2008-10-05T09:36:00.002-04:00

NCSU Homecoming Tailgate 2008- Alicia, Pam, and Ashley

In years past, many of you remember me talking about the yearly BAT (AKA Big Ass Tailgate) that we'd host for NCSU's homecoming. Due to stricter tailgating/parking restrictions and the rise of football tickets, we had to end the large party, but a smaller version was held on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium with nearly twelve folks in attendance. The Pack lost but put up a good fight against Boston College. The weather was gorgeous- perfect for tailgating!

These ladies are a team of twelve who will be walking Charlotte in a few weeks. They had several banners set up all along their tailgating area, and we're going to make sure we hang their banners at our lunch stops also.

Two Week Update

2008-09-28T08:25:00.002-04:00

Things have been a whirlwind since coming back from LA, hence the lack of postings!

When we got back from LA, both of us were working ten-hour days just to catch up. I came back and jumped right into multiple training sessions, and Keith had a huge stack of grading awaiting him. I also spent all day Saturday and Sunday of last week attending a fitness conference in Cary. It was fabulous ( I go every year and love it) but unfortunately, I injured my back during one of the classes, and a week later, it's still not happy with me.

This past week was another whirlwind between work stuff, cleaning house, etc... I also attended my first voter training meeting (am working the polls this year for the first time!) which was rough after a full day of work. (6-9 on a Wednesday night- hard to keep focused....) This past weekend, we've had lots of much-needed down time. We did meet up with our friends Rick and Alicia to go see the Rolling Stones concert film "Shine a Light" outside at the art museum. We made it a little over halfway through the movie when the rain and wind started. Really wanted to watch until the end, but we decided to pack things up and call it a day.

I was supposed to run in the Anna's Angels ten-miler this morning, but with this back injury, I decided against it, hence, here I am finally updating our blog!

Avon Walk LA

2008-09-16T21:38:00.003-04:00

Getting started on Day One

Keith, Elaine, and me finishing up the 26.2 on day one

We had such a fabulous trip to LA this past weekend!

Thursday, we arrived at LAX early afternoon, picked up our rental car, and tackled the crazy California highways. We traveled along the PCH through Santa Monica and Malibu, then drove into the hills via Mulholland Drive, then into Hollywood and Beverly Hills via Sunset Boulevard. We then ventured back to Santa Monica for an overnight stay at the quaint Hotel California which was right by the Santa Monica Pier.

Friday, we walked along the beach and then picked our friend Elaine up from the airport. We then ventured back up the PCH, stopping in at Venice Beach for a quick visit along the boardwalk, before heading back to Long Beach to get ready for the walk.

Saturday and Sunday's walk took us through Long Beach and Seal Beach with many gorgeous views along the coast and the main thoroughfares of the city. On Sunday, we traveled back into the city to stay at the posh Chamberlain hotel off Sunset. We visited the La Brea Tar Pits, drove around Hollywood, and then ate a much-deserved delicious meal at a French restaurant near our hotel.

Thanks to our many friends, family members, and colleagues who donated and/or wished us well in our walk efforts. With your support and assistance, our team of three raised nearly $6000 for cancer research, early detection, and treatment programs for under-served populations in the LA area.

Sunday Parties

2008-09-07T21:07:00.002-04:00

We spent Sunday afternoon between two fantastic parties in town. First, we hit a "Welcome Back and Happy Birthday Alicia" party at her boyfriend Rick's house. We had a chance to catch up with lots of folks we hadn't seen in a while, and Alicia's happy to be back in Raleigh again. From there, we went to a co-worker's house for a fun pool party and cookout. All in all, a fantastic way to end a weekend!

All Work and No Play- NEVER!

2008-09-07T10:34:00.003-04:00

Mr. Lindsay dispensing infinite wisdom.

Hanging out at the Raleigh Times with Jessica and Alicia.

After working for many hours Saturday afternoon, we hit the gym and then made our way to downtown Raleigh for the big weekend festivities. (opening of the new convention center, downtown festival, International Festival, many stages with a variety of music.) First, we ventured to the Pour House Music Hall (fabulous place to see live music) and saw Ellery http://www.ellerymusic.com/ and Kyler England http://www.kylerengland.com/. Kyler is an NCSU grad - small world- and it's been really cool to see her live shows over the past few years. Check out both sites- fabulous singer/songwriters!

Then, Jessica and Alicia met us, and we made a quick breeze through the International Festival at the new Convention Center (long enough to eat some delicious Crab Ragoons and see an Indian dancing group,) caught a bit of Lou Gramm from Foreigner outside ("Cold as Ice" was the song...) and then ventured to the Raleigh Times for dinner and drinks.

The Weekend Warrior Returns!

2008-09-06T13:30:00.003-04:00

Tropical Storm Hanna made her way through Raleigh last night and this morning without much fanfare. We are apparently having lots of flooding issues around town, but they aren't showing any images on the news. My parents in Conover saw and knew more than we did, and we live here!

We're leaving for the Avon Walk in LA on Thursday, and as a result, Keith AKA "The Weekend Warrior" has stationed himself at our dining room table to get ready for his three-day absence. I'm also pitching in a bit to help him get it all done before we go.

Update on the Upstairs- Just a Bit of Laboring...

2008-09-01T17:43:00.003-04:00

The shower is officially in!

Check out this marble countertop that we found at the Habitat store for $21!

Today, Keith officially put the shower in and installed the final two windows upstairs. Estimated move-in date is the end of October....

Labor Day Weekend Break- Not a Moment too Soon!

2008-08-31T09:38:00.002-04:00

Don't we look like we need a day off?

Kim, Robert, and Tink

We are thoroughly enjoying a relaxing weekend here in town. Keith just finished his first week of work- his students are wonderful, and all has gone well, but he's exhausted and will be catching up on sleep and rest this weekend. We spent Friday night at the Millbrook Football game- well, we spent about thirty minutes there and left when the thunder and lightening began. Had a delicious meal out and spent most of the day on Saturday either at the gym, relaxing at home, or at a Pinot Noir tasting in town.

We did have the pleasure of going over to Kim and Robert's home for a delicious Mexican Fiesta Saturday night. I have known Kim for nearly ten years- we met teaching classes at a ladies' only gym in town, and have been friends ever since.

Visiting with Nikki and the Kiddies

2008-08-24T21:04:00.003-04:00

Dannah and I talking about important business. I believe she was telling me about the meaning of life or something like that...

John Hinton checking out the great outdoors

Unfortunately, there are no photos of Nik and I, but we did have the opportunity to catch up for a while, which was wonderful. I'm hoping to be able to head to Birmingham at the start of 2009 to visit with the Lane crew. I did have a "Pudding Poke Cake" for the first time in my life, served up by Ms. Dannah, and it was fabulous. If you've never had one, you're missing out my friend!

Keith starts back to school tomorrow and is already prepared for a night of little sleep. (Typical every year on the night before his first day of school.) He'll be teaching all seniors again and will have his favorite Shakespeare elective in the Spring. He also has a student teacher for the first time in his career and is excited about mentoring a newbie, especially since she's from NCSU!

Back Porch Cinema

2008-08-24T08:31:00.003-04:00

Lovely flowers that Chuck and Donna brought to us

Our friends Donna and Chuck joined us Saturday night for dinner and a movie on our back porch. We've only done the backyard movie once before, and it's so fabulous that we will definitely be doing it more often. The feature of the evening was "Almost Famous." Note the captain in his daddy-mack chair....... He starts back to school on Monday!

Photos from Thank You Dinner

2008-08-18T07:02:00.002-04:00

Shannon and Sam Aycock

Keith and Jordan ponder the meaning of life.....

Two of our favorite Portsmouth Lane people- Sara and George

We got Jordan, and he never gets got.... Email me for details.... : )

Weekend update

2008-08-17T15:55:00.002-04:00

We've had quite a busy weekend here in town. Spent Saturday AM/early afternoon on an eighteen-mile walk through North Raleigh, and then spent way too much time at AT&T switching phone providers. Saturday night was spent at the NC Museum of Art with friends watching "Juno" on the big screen outdoors under a perfect starry summer NC sky.

I spent part of today at the pool with some girlfriends enjoying mimosas and girl talk. We're getting ready to host an appreciation dinner for folks who have helped work on the upstairs. Will try and post some pictures from tonight's dinner later...

Walk Rained Out

2008-08-10T18:03:00.004-04:00

Amy Myers joined Elaine and me for a sixteen-mile walk today. The skies were a bit cloudy, but we thought we would be fortunate enough to have cool temps for the duration unlike the ninety-degree weather that we've faced thus far. We made it about one mile in and had to call our friend Jane to rescue us from heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. We enjoyed breakfast out and then, Elaine and I hit the treadmill for a four-hour jaunt. Let's just say that we don't care to spend any more time on a treadmill anytime soon......

Construction Update

2008-08-10T17:56:00.003-04:00

Keith's neck and back are back to normal again, and he was feeling adventurous Friday afternoon. I came home from work that afternoon and was surprised to find that the first upstairs wall had been taken down. These photos will give you an idea what it looks like at this point. We will be putting up a banister for those of you who were worried about safety issues near the stairs... : )

Our friend, Dan came in this weekend, and he and Keith finished most of the sheet rock, took loads of construction trash to the dump, finished tiling the bathroom, and picked up some furniture. The new estimated move-in date is mid-October since Keith will return to his real job in a week.

Avon Walk LA fast approaching....

2008-08-04T14:01:00.000-04:00

Charlotte Walk 2007 - Cleavage Crusader Elaine Whitford reporting for duty!

This should have been our wedding portrait!

Keith and I, along with our lovely friend Elaine Whitford, will be traveling to LA on September 11th to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. We will walk a total of 40 miles over the course of Saturday and Sunday to raise awareness and funds for early detection and treatment programs in the LA area.

We have been training for about a month and are now up to 16 miles on our long walks. Yesterday, my co-worker Donna, her husband Chuck, their two dogs, and Amy Myers joined in the fun. I'll add some walk photos soon, all pre-walk of course. We are all gorgeous in our own way, but no one is gorgeous after 16 miles in the NC HEAT!

Home Project Progress

2008-08-04T13:45:00.000-04:00

Keith is working like a madman to finish our upstairs before heading back to work in two weeks. Once this is finished, we'll add on nearly 800 square feet to our home which will include an office/sitting area, master bed and bath, and large walk-in closet. Photos above include Keith installing windows and a view into our soon-to-be bedroom. We are ETERNALLY grateful to the many friends who have helped work on the various necessary projects.

Welcome to our world!

2008-08-04T13:39:00.000-04:00

Hello party people!

I feel like I"m constantly emailing different group of folks with updates, information, etc.. and thought I'd join the modern world and use technology to my advantage. Please add this blog site to your bookmarks and check back periodically to see what we're up to.