Our house....

I always loved the CSN song Our House and now Stacy and I can say "our house" and mean it.  We bought a house together on Monday.  For our new life.  This is just what I needed to feel part of San Antonio.  Right now, I'm living in the house Stacy has had for 24 years.

It's very hard to feel at home and like you aren't in transition when it's not "your house".  I've had to fit into what already existed and live in a house that wasn't my choice, nothing I'd pick.  Becoming a couple really seems real when you create something that is new to both of you.  This is what I'm looking forward to.

So much, so fast

Be careful what you ask for.....

Stacy is a firm believer in the power of visualization.  I haven't grasped that entirely yet but I do know when I'm told "let's do...." to me it means "GO!"  Things tend to happen fast when I'm put on them.

In Decembere Stacy threw out the "let's move closer to your job since I'm retired and we are starting a new life."  Words I never thought I'd hear as I know how much his house has meant to him.  Nothing I pursued, figured in time.....plus we had a wedding we were planning and a child at home still.

Life keeps changing, child moves out, we get married, I get promoted to director.  That last means that any alarm that goes off or any issue....guess who gets called and needs to get in?  30 minute commute, minimum.

Stacy's shoulder has been an issue for 2.5 years since his motorcycle accident and he has already had two surgeries, he's been convinced things are still wrong and is pursuing a third as the muscle seems to have been cut and healed wrong, bones, not setting in place right and the biggie is the constant pain.  Big pain.

One week ago....Stacy says "GO!" to me on house and he's in middle of doc stuff, CT scans, tests etc for his shoulder.  I issue the warning.....it could happen you know....

This house is a mess, not level, old, lots of miscellaneous things to do to make it sellable.  Lots.  And even then it would need to be a special buyer.  Talk to the agent.....21 days before we put on market so we can get things done, etc, and "oh by the way, here's the name of an investor we know you might want to contact for us as he could be interested in buying our house."

Next day....investor looks and makes an offer.  Yup.  Not listed, house is sold.  21 day closing.  Rent back for 30 days.  ZOOOM!!!!

Tonight I do prequalification paperwork and Monday we look for a new home.  Better start visualizing what we want.....

All spur fans wonder....WWKD??

What will Kawhi Do?

The San Antonio Spurs were the champs last year, Kawhi Leonard earning MVP.  Though he's only been with the Spurs three years, it sure seems this last year he's come into his own.  We've all enjoyed his spots in the HEB ads with the Big Three, this year adding Patty Mills to that lineup.  But most important, Kawhi's skills on the court have just blossomed incredibly  He's become comfortable with his role on the team and currently holds top spot on steals per game at 2.2 as of this writing.

Die hard Spurs fans know that the Big Three (Duncan, Parker and Ginobili) have been together YEARS and have taken cuts in pay and playing time to build a team.  The Spurs sport a team of many great players and a deep bench.  Pop's coaching and Holt's ownership lead the team to a modest overall image....not one BIG name that IS the team, but MANY names with great skills and spreading the money so that the team is deep. That means that sometimes these great players that could earn so much more elsewhere will not set some records because they do not play as much as someone like LeBron.

Less money per year, less playing time as one doesn't hog the limelight, GREAT team building and morale. Fans that are incredibly dedicated and love the entire team.

This is why many are talking.  Kawhi is HUGE.  Making incredible plays.  He will be a free agent at end of year.  Will he go for a team that will offer him mega bucks?  He's going to be very sought after.  Or....will he show Spurs mentality and take a less to maintain the incredibly well rounded team?  The team that doesn't depend on ONE man, the team whose performance doesn't depend if one man is well or injured?  Can Tim, Tony and Manu have influence on him to stay? Will money talk?

Personally I hope Kawhi stays a Spur, but he's young and I'm afraid he will go for the allure of money.  Time will tell.

Bucket list of sorts....

Stacy has lived in San Antonio since 1979 if I remember right.  You know how it is when you live somewhere, you don't do the things the tourists do.  He hasn't EVER been to the Alamo and he's a native Texan.  Being the tourist type brain I am, I want to see and do all the things around here and explore.  So....we have an agreement.  Every weekend we are going to do "something".  Whether it's hunt out a new coffee shop, walk to the stores down the way, go to one of the many nearby museums or sites....  San Antonio, seventh largest city in the USA, there is plenty to do.  Most of those posts are going to be in my Vagabond blog, tab above.  That is the "Texas and beyond" blog.  But this week....

Last Friday night we went to Earl Abels, a local spot with food much better than I expected.  I guess it's a San Antonio institution and been around for ages.  Now this isn't the first time we've been here, but this time we actually accomplished one of the things we wanted....Stacy got his picture taken with the maitre d'.   Next time it's my turn.

He's a statue of sorts, by the way.  The maitre d', not Stacy.  

Drumroll please....

Talk about big life changes....here it is.  All out in the open all official like.

I'm getting married to Stacy Underwood....amazing man that came into my life via okcupid.com.  Yes, online dating and look what happened.  No wedding for a while, lots to accomplish before then.  Give it 6 months to a year.  Things to do.....

Secure a new job.  Oh wait!  Did that.  Well, a temporary part time job to start anyway. Hope to work it into full time as they need to hire the position just haven't yet.  Hope I"m the gem they've been waiting for.  It's at Palo Alto College in San Antonio which is part of the Alamo Colleges system.  Reference Librarian.

List house for sale.  Talking to Shane tomorrow to talk about listing and what I need to do then will bust my butt to get it done to list by start of October.  The market has been very hot here....hope it continues.

Last day full time at Liberty Hill will be end of September.  Starting October 1, I will continue on part time, working from home via computer and making the 1.5 hour trip weekly and staying a night or two. But end of September, Melissa, the dogs and I are San Antonio bound to stay.  All this while working part time at Palo Alto College too.  BUSY????

Move...soon as the house sells the furniture has to join me.

With all this, Stacy's brother lives upstairs in the house....he's moving to the back house so we can be in the main house.....upstairs instead of down in the guest area where Stacy's been living.  Probably around November will start painting and getting moved in to our space.

Whew.  Tired yet?  I don't even want to start thinking about the stuff to be done in my current house.....replace microwave, replace some baseboards, a door....carpet cleaning.  Positive outlook....it will all work and be wonderful.  Good things to look forward to!!!

A new beginning.....

So, as I've mentioned, I am moving to San Antonio.  This is the man I'm in love with, Mr. John Stacy Underwood (goes by Stacy) that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with.  We have a goal to have a beautiful rest of life together and to better ourselves doing it.  So.....goals have now been set.  November 8 is my drop dead date.  House will go on the market start of October (gotta do some repair, fix up etc).

Night of November 8 I move to live in San Antonio.  Oh, that includes Melissa too.  We've worked at fixing up the studio apartment she will live in that is inside the house.  She's all set.  Now our weekends are all about getting us settled there and him coming here to help me get the house ready.

If I don't have a job and the house hasn't sold by November 8 I will continue working in Liberty Hill....using the massive amounts of vacation I've built up.  I can come in at noon on Tuesdays, work late, stay at the house on Tuesday and Wednesday night and drive home at 4 pm on Thursday.  That gives me two nights away from home staying in the house that is for sale.  Use 1.5 - 2 days of vacation a week.  Full pay.  I have enough vacation to do that for at least a month and a half.  That gives me the rest of the time in SA to look for jobs and get the house ready.  It's a fall back anyway.

Major goal is San Antonio job.  Rough in this world where everything is online application only.  How do I really know they got my application?  If I can get in their face I can get the job.  But even phone calls disqualify you at most places.  Ugly world, I have to say this is one place I really don't like technology.

Anyway....was wandering through my blog and realized I don't have pics of Stacy in it really....and I like pics of Stacy :).  Oh.....I'm going to meet his mom on Sunday.  Must be serious.

Peter Frampton at the Majestic

July 24 brought Peter Frampton to the Majestic Theater in San Antonio.  Back in Marcxh or April or so, my favorite man asked me to the concert.  Of course, back then things were still pretty new and I thought he was brave asking me for a date a couple months or more away.  So I felt obligated to date him, til the concert at least......ok that was a JOKE.  I had already fallen in love with the guy and wasn't going to tell him that any time soon, and took comfort in the fact that he felt secure enough to commit to a date that far out.

Back in my senior year in high school, the FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE tour made its way through Honolulu and my bff Sharon and I went.  Who else went, not sure.  Age remember, 52 here and that was waaaay back in 1978 or 1979.  Frampton used to play on my little stereo, on an ALBUM....you know those grooved vinyl things that a needle had to run over.  Double album set.  Sharon and I draped over my bed.  Topic:  boys.  What else?  Specially with Sharon as a bestie!!  :)  

Second time around with Frampton....this time I'm with my new bestie, Stacy, and starting a beautiful new chapter in my life.  I'd never been into the Majestic and yes, it is Majestic.

Glare from the lights is bad, but at least got a bit of the look of the theater, although the website does it justice, not this.  These are just my satisfaction that I really was here.

 Little less glary and looking to side boxes.  What a great setting to watch a show in.  I'd love to come back for more concerts and stage shows.  Think I can pull the man along.

Kenny Wayne Sheppard opened the show for Frampton, a country rock guitar player and his band.  Best song was Black on Blue.  Rest.....ok, not my style and nothing stand out.

But then there was Frampton.  Boy have we all aged.  Bald on top, fringe of white hair.....hated when he looked like a little old man to me cause it reinforced how old I have gotten.  BUT MAN can he plan and perform.  Still sounds like the same young guy that rolled through town 25 years ago.  I'm sure in his head he is am I'm still no older than 29 and Stacy is 31.  

Yes, he played the Comes Alive songs.  Tears rolled down my cheeks and I fought to steady my lip.  Memories slammed into me and thoughts of Sharon ran through my head.  Wonder that she is still my friend all these 35 years later.  And yes, now as I sit here typing this....weeks later, tears again.  Ok, ok, it's an old person thing.  Sheesh.  It's valuing people and the precious memories and realizing that is all that counts.  

Frampton brought Steve Lukather out on stage, a friend for many many years, the 80s I believe he said. Lukather is formerly of Toto and played some incredible guitar with Peter.  

Peter Frampton, of all people, guitar player that he is.....could get away with playing some covers.  He did Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun which he covered on his 2006 instrumental album FINGERPRINTS.  He also slipped a very appropriate While My Guitar Gently Weeps into his ovation songs.  Peter recorded this Beatles song on his 2009 album NOW.  

During the ovations, Stacy made the comment that everyone was really dancing.  Then he laughed and said...."they are stretching!!!".  Well yea we were swaying and dancing and stretching or attempting to camouflage the stretches into something else, but yes, he was right on with this crowd!

The Majestic Theater was magical to me.  I'll be back for more.

Fiesta!

Took my daughter with me on a whirlwind 24 hour trip to San Antonio to get a "Stacy-fix".  We ended up parking, walking and exploring.  It happened to be the first weekend of FIESTA and we strolled along the Riverwalk  to get to Market Square.   You've got to read the Fiesta website to get an idea what this is, but even then, I think it eludes you.  Probably takes living her and experiencing it a bit to understand.

Anyway as I understand it's hispanic culture, a bit tongue in cheek humor, fun.  Think Mardi Gras hispanic style.  Bright colors everywhere, party city!  There are events for 10 days and MANY all over town.  Parades (plural), music galore.....I've only hit the tip of the iceberg.  Fiesta de los Reyes is what we experienced at Market Square.  CROWDS.  And with Stacy's shoulder/collarbone situation that made me nervous. 

10 days of wild celebration.  I missed the river parade but apparently it was televised so I'll be looking for it on the interwebz.  So much to see and do in San Antonio.....much more to come.