Weekend Update - April 24, 2010 +Addendum

Nothing all that exciting.

Been very busy at work. And, my team and I got together to plan out our upcoming schedule. NC School of Science and Math, NC Central University, UNC Penbroke and East Carolina University. We're set through at least July and possibly into August. I think we've over scheduled - but we'll see.

I watched some DVDs this week.

The Blind Side - absolutely great - a must see.

Up - pretty good. Well, more like OK.

Star Trek - one and done. If you want to lamely go where every B list sci / fi action movie has gone before . . . Knock yourself out.

Next week I have to get a crown and filling replaced. Both have small cracks in them that will only get worse. So, it's preventive replacement. Even with insurance I'm still going to be out about a thousand co-pay.

Oh well, it's gotta be done.

Sunday 6 PM Addendum

Usually my critters show up after sunset. But the gentle one showed up early. I went ahead and fed her.

Since it was still daylight, I took these 2 photos. Even though she was eating, when I opened the door, she came right over to investigate.

 

 

No, the close up is not a zoom shot or cropped - this one will come up and check out just about anything. Usually hoping it's a special treat like peanut butter on crackers or something.

Hay Street

 

 

 

Worked at Fayetteville State University last week. FSU has a very nice compact campus and it’s well maintained.

Drove around town after work one evening. It’s amazing how much has changed and yet stayed the same.

Downtown has changed the most. When I was growing up there, Hay Street was the main commercial area. Once Cross Creek Mall opened (I was in high school) – Hay Street pretty much died. All the stores and shops closed. The only things left were strip bars and low rent clothing stores.

Hay Street has been completely renovated – very much like Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. I counted 12 different restaurants. My co-worker and I ate lunch at this one, The Fresh Cafe:

 

I had a chilled split pea and white wine soup and veggie quiche and triple chocolate cheesecake for dessert. It was great.

There are now condos, townhouses and a number of shops including a couple of spas. I also saw a yoga place.

I took a number of photos to send to my sister. If you're interested, click on Bill's Online Photos.

The recession has hurt it – but not completely. I saw several places that were being up fitted for opening. I think the Hay Street revitalization and surrounding area is going to be a pretty vibrant place in a couple of years.

Odds and Ends

The pollen this past week has been awful. Thursday's rain finally washed it down. Friday I swept off the porch. I couldn't believe how much pollen there was. Should have taken a photo. Of course, my sinuses went nuts Friday night and all day Saturday.

Last weekend I went to St. James to visit JN and his folks. He's got a nice little place down there.

St. J's is a huge gated community that eventually incorporated into a town. It's pretty nice. It's all about golf down there. Lot's of people walking and biking. I could live there.

JN and I spent some time hanging out at the Tiki bar at the marina. The next day we took his parent's 2 dogs over to the St. James Beach Club where they saw the ocean for the first time. They were not impressed. They were interested in digging in the sand.

I also took my Fuji bicycle down there. I haven't ridden it in years so I figured JN could use it. St. James is the perfect place to have a bicycle.

I've kept it in good shape and had it tuned up last year. Took it for a little spin - still rides like it's brand new.

I really enjoyed the Duke - Butler game Monday. What a great game. I think this year's NCAAT was the best ever.

Last night I made homemade tomato sauce with mushrooms, onion, and fresh garlic and spices. Very simple, very fresh, very good. Pasta and some homemade bread (given to me by a co-worker) with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (with fresh cracked pepper). A great dinner which took all of 20 minutes to fix up.

Let's see . . . work has been typical.

That's about it.

Rocks and Raccoons

 

I have a bowl fountain with a solar powered pump. It used to be part of a cascading fountain but the raccoons kept climbing on it, knocking it over, and eventually breaking all the bowls except the largest bottom one.

I've filled the remaining bowl with small stones and let it go at that. I have some spray nozzles but during the brightest sun, the pump sprayed the water out of the bowl. So, without the nozzles, I let it burble. Works just fine.

It also serves as a birdbath and watering spot for the squirrls and raccoons.

Raccoons have very sensitive pads and fingers. They see by touch almost as much as they do with their eyes. At night I hear them playing around the water bowl. They like to grasp the rocks in the water and move them around. Often they'll lift the small stones out.

 

I took this photo this morning. You can see one rock they've taken out of the bowl and two others they've tried to lift out (the two that are poking above the water).

Good Guys

Monday - Butler vs. Duke



Clean, good, programs.

Honest to goodness real college student athletes.

The Cinderella vs. the Blue Blood Elite.

Final buzzer . . . They are all winners.