We have a baby

... turtle!

In our last weekend before leaving South Carolina for her northern sister state, One Way found a hatchling box turtle, who was promptly named Yoda (Jedi-mind-control likeness: "Feed me and love me, you must").

Yoda secured himself a very comfy terrarium and is supplied with crickets and worms (which in turn supplies us with entertainment). Yoda is quite the avid hunter. He stalks his prey and engages in mighty battles to fell his foes. I'll try to get it on video one of these days!



Anyway, Yoda loves battling and sleeping. If he isn't hunting, he's sleeping. He is the first reptile in our family, so it has been quite an adjustment for us mammals used to constant activity (with exception of Missy Cat, haha).



We have received some helpful turtle hints from my former executive editor Judy, who raises box turtles. She has a 70 year old turtle, and said that some Japanese families hand down turtles through the generations. So, our future kid has a pet, haha.

Home, sweet home

Greetings from our new home in Newport NC!!!

Last Monday, the packers came and packed up all of our stuff in Charleston. On Tuesday, the movers came and took all of our stuff. Then, that night, we slept on the hard wood floors (the dogs loved it ... we did not).

Wednesday, after my last day at work, One Way and I drove up in our separate cars to our first-ever "our" home. It was a long trip fraught with getting lost outside Myrtle Beach and an unexpected detour through Wilmington (don't ask, haha). After less than 6 hours, we had arrived! (But, not before One Way was pulled over for doing a running stop in at one of the plethora of stop signs near our neighborhood. Luckily, the cop took pity on him)

We spent the night on the floor again on Wednesday night. But this time, we went out and purchased a blow-up mattress -- which are not fun to sleep in when your husband outweighs you by 70 pounds and likes to move around in the night.

After a bouncy night, our boxes and furniture arrived one day early on Thursday! Our bed couldn't have come too soon!

We have been furiously unpacking and establishing ourselves. The neighborhood is great. We live near the small downtown area (very small).

We were so caught up in everything, we had no idea what the date was or anything! Which, led to me missing my own father's birthday on Friday (I am so sorry, Dad!). To make matters worse, I nearly missed my own brother's birthday the next day. But no worries y'all, I have my calendar set up now. I will not miss another important date!

Anyway, we still don't have everything set up, but I figured you might want to see what we do have set up.

First off, the living room. We just purchases a new entertainment stand for our new TV. We are going to stain it to match our fireplace in the coming weeks.

Next, we have the guest bedroom. We just bought brand new linens for the room for the comfort of our future guests! No more hodge podge of sheets and comforters -- we got it all to match!

Now, here is our kitchen. My favorite room in the house (mmmm ... food ...). We have a disposal and a microwave for the first time in years. The laundry room is also indoors (for those of you who do not know what it is like to have an outdoor laundry room: it is a bad idea).

Here is our office area -- which can accommodate our blowup mattress when we have visitors. It doubles as Missy's room, too.

Onto the commode! (Our other bathroom has not been touched since the movers defiled it) The whites with the bold red and the subdued yellow is reminiscent of Costa Rica. I also plan on putting a heliconia (the flower used in our wedding) in there. The white shower curtain also helps open up this very tiny room (don't you love HGTV?).

Now, the backyard. We just picked up some outdoor furniture. The yard needs tending and the porch is unfinished. But, give us a little bit of time and we'll have that completed.

Sorry about the picture quality! I had to take photos with my phone. My camera was lost in the Caribbean earlier this year and my work took back their camera and laptop when I left (crazy policy, I know).

I will be posting more photos and descriptions of our house and new life as time comes available. I start work on Wednesday. One Way doesn't start for another week or so.

It's official

The Street family are homeowners!!! Well ... I guess with the 30 year mortgage the wordage should be: The Street family is owned by the bank.

We drove up from Charleston to Newport Friday morning. We loaded up Buttercup and took her with us. She is going into training with a reputable trainer in the area. We left Charleston at 7:30 and arrived in Newport at 2 p.m. One hour past when we were supposed to do the house closing! It was also an hour and a half past when I was looking to meeting with a prospective employer and only a half hour until I was supposed to meet with another one. Long story short, I did not meet with any of them.

However, while driving to our closing I got a call from Walter, the editor of the Carteret County News-Times in Morehead City (nearby Newport). He wants me to become the editor of a weekly supplement to his paper. Barely able to speak due to joy, I told him I'd meet him at 4:30 to discuss the details.

The paperwork for the closing wasn't nearly the nightmare we expected. And we pretty much breezed through it -- trusting that everyone wasn't working for us to sign our first born child away.

Afterward, I met with Walter. We determined a 12% pay increase from my current salary. Of course this is after the 8% increase that I received in February from switching jobs. So, within the last 6 months, I have increased my pay by nearly 22%. Holy smokes ... we are almost millionaires!

Once I had met with everyone I needed to meet with, my coworker Kim dropped me off at a chain restaurant to meet with One Way. He and I had the best dinner at the place -- completely high after such an elating day!

We decided to spend the night in our new house -- but the electricity could not be turned on until Monday. So, we purchased some candles and made sure the water was turned on. We took the coldest showers ever! We also slept on the floor of our furniture-less house. It was wonderful.

One down, decades to go

Today is our one year anniversary! Hooray!!!

We celebrated on Saturday with a lovely dinner at our favorite Charleston restaurant, Tristan. It was a great evening! We also went on a kayaking trip down the Edisto River earlier on Saturday -- which was great!

I love my life with my true love!

Masters of the couch

Ana and One Way have won the first annual Masters of the Couch tournament, held in beautiful West Ashley, South Carolina. The tournament was held in conjunction with the Masters golf tournament on TV.

Not only is this the first time in Couching history that two have claimed the title, it is also the first time that the two competing for the win weren't husband and wife -- they were owner and pet! The wife was completely off the leader board when she admitted to judges she was called away to work.

Though One Way spent more time on the couch than Ana, she remained a viable competitor due to her passion for being on the couch and quickness to get snuggled in. Once she held the lead, longtime couch competitor Street Mutt was unable to regain her position due to the 60 lb heavy weight.

When asked about the upset, Street Mutt replied: "I was unable to claim the position. Not only is Ana a formidable opponent, but I also had to give up the round due to work interference."

Ana, who gobbled up her prize of dog food, responded with a muffled burp on whether or not she'll compete next year.

"Ana's a serious competitor," One Way said. "At one point, I was afraid to go get a sandwich because she might encroach on my position. Next year, though, I plan to get a better position which will secure a win."

At one point, the competition between the two became so fierce, that Ana tried to finish off her opponent by snuggling on top of him -- causing him to become too hot and move from the couch. But her efforts were defeated.

One Way also briefly gained ground when he told Ana to get off the couch. When she did, she gave a sorrowful look which led to her regaining her position.

What a day in couching history!

Death in the family

The Streets were rocked this weekend when Grandma Shirley of Kingstree passed in her sleep Thursday night.

Grandma Shirley Street was a guiding light for my husband and the rest of her family. She took me in like her own granddaughter. She will be missed.

She died at 72. The funeral services will held yesterday. Please keep her name in your prayers. She is with God and her husband now.

Mourner's Kaddish: (translated into English)

May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified
in the world that He created as He willed.
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel,
swiftly and soon. Now say:
Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled,
mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One
Blessed is He.
beyond any blessing and song,
praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. Now say:
Amen
May there be abundant peace from Heaven
and life upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:
Amen
He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace,
upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:
Amen

One step closer to homeownership

Well, the home appraisal came back today. Now the Street family is one step closer to homeownership!!!

Now all that is left is the home inspection ... and a whole lot of paperwork.

I'm still waiting on hearing back on that job in Jacksonville. Let's hope!

Here are some more photos of the house for your viewing pleasure:

Backyard



Living room (note fire place)



Kitchen



Dining area (next to kitchen)