Finally!

Yes..., we are finally back in the city! And much to our surprise - we love living in the apartment. No home maintenance to worry about, no yard to mow, no flooding basement with mold growing everywhere, a dishwasher, and central heat & air! Two pools, streams and fountains, lots of hilly green way adorned with large, old trees, a work out room with top notch equipment and a management staff of three wonderful, friendly, outgoing people. "Stop by and visit," is their motto and you can tell it is one that they all enjoy. They are definitely not forcing themselves to be friendly with the residents - it's genuine.

And yes..., this woman has made several new friends in the laundry room located in our section of the complex and while swimming at the pool. Most of the residents are welcoming; however, you still find those people who can't seem to smile and completely ignore the "hello," that you provide them with in passing. Too bad, they are the ones forcing themselves to live a mundane, boring life.

M. and her roommate K., have already been down to spend the night. Turns out, our apartment is very similar to the one they have located very close to the Northwest campus. Erin stopped by on her visit from Wichita, where she just recently moved, and chatted for a couple of hours. Her relationship with her husband is quickly deteriorating and she just needed to vent for a while. So..., she caught us up on all of the latest drama in her relationship as we listened and offered encouragement.

Saturday, Sylvia invited us to her apartment warming party and we gladly accepted. I tell you what, we walked in and there were several of the residents that I had met, the majority of the office staff and a whole host of strangers. Babe and I got to meet a gay couple that had moved from Wisconsin in March, Sylvia's girlfriend, Zack's female roommate, Peggy's husband, Earl's wife, etc.... Kim Ky was there - Peggy had dyed and trimmed Kim's hair that day - she looked great sporting her new style! We met Peggy's husband and her two grand babies, Bob and John's 3 month old puppy named Max, Sylvia's little dog named Sweet Pea....

It was a great time had by all, as the crowd slowly became intoxicated. Yep..., I don't drink because I either throw it up after about half a glass or, hmm..., I will most certainly have us ALL dancing in the nude! So I chatted away, while sipping on my Mt. Dews, making sure Babe wasn't uncomfortable (she is not comfortable around people that she doesn't know well) and enjoyed myself. Babe was becoming increasingly quite as the night went on and parked herself against various pieces of furniture as she sipped on her drinks. The next thing I knew, Babe was yawning away and blinking her eyes alot! Yep..., my wife had become intoxicated (something that I have never seen in the 10 years that we have been together!) Turns out she had drank several of Sylvia's limeade martinis, Earl's margaritas and was working on a beer. She was adorable as she slowly wobbled away with a slight teeter on our way home!

Paula, "Babe..., are you drunk?" Grinning at my wife as I opened the door leading out of Sylvia's apartment building.

Babe, "Honey Doooooodles..., I'm fine!" She exclaimed, as she gripped on to the railing of the wooden bridge that crosses a small creek on the property.

"I see!" I replied as I followed behind her. "How much did you have to drink?" Grinning even more as she sort of stepped/stumbled off of the end of the bridge.

"Some mar-ti-nis..., strrroooong mar-ga-ri-taaaaas and...., and..., beeeeer!" She pauses, looks down at the side walk for a few seconds, as if it were moving, "I'm fine!" She chuckles, grins at me, "I might have a head-ache tomooooorrrrrroooow!"