The day of the move was one of the hottest of the summer thus far, which was saying something considering that there had been a fair number of 100-110+ (and humid) days since my return from Michigan. I spent the Wednesday before the move packing my entire apartment, and that evening with some friends, packing my Lil’ Sammy U-Haul moving truck. We’d hoped to move in that evening while it was cool, but had to wait until the next morning.
Thursday the 16th started early for Sally and I as we met at the house to get our keys. While she made a trip to her house in Newport News for her things, I unloaded my truck. It didn’t take too long for it to get hot. Jack had come over to help unload my truck and we definitely had to pace ourselves. For the rest of the afternoon, we were all taking turns to try to find ways to get out of working in the heat any more than necessary. With a brief nip back to my apartment to get the last load and to clean the last bit, we spent the day unloading, unpacking, and cleaning. Many of our moving assistants stayed later to relax on our new fantastic couch for a movie. We were all glad the day was over, but I was off to work the next day and had to put off the rest of my unpacking for a few days. (photos: Our cute house from the outside; Stephanie mooching our internet and trying to make "the face"; and some of the crazy storm clouds as we're at Circuit City in Newport News buying our cute router.)
The day after our move was the staff picnic. Apparently smaller than in years past, the picnic had all sorts of homemade food and activities. Jeff was very excited to get a squirrel painted on his face and some of us even attempted the watermelon seed spitting contest. The big feature was the band currently called “Live Music,” a group of interpreters (mostly) that performed at previous picnics. Some of their wives even distributed racy panties to spectators to fling at the band after their set. Pretty fantastic. (photos: Jeff getting his face painted; Ashley excited about her racy underwear to fling; Live Music -- Duane on guitar, Frank's stepson on bass, Todd on drums, Jaie on vocals, and Frank on guitar; Mark showing his love for live music (and his love for Jaie on his face); and Jeff showing Callie how to shoot the monkey.)
The following Thursday after our move was our housewarming party. In the end, we had thirty or so friends and coworkers come over to hang out, chat, eat, shoot screaming monkeys, and drink over 100 bottles beer. We were really glad to have so many of our friends over and it was a fun, chill evening. (photos: Jack and Baby Armand; the boys in green -- Green Mark and Scott; Jeff perplexed at my insistance that his shirt really is a show of affection for me and not some Californian city; Jeff also left his car door open, so some of the boys decided to open all of his car doors, allowing Mike to crawl right in; and Jeff's housewarming gift protecting my tomato plants.)
That Friday, the Honor Guard (plus Joyce to replace Kai) was off to Deltaville for the Rendezvous of the John Smith Shallops for the weekend. Deltaville was a very small town with friendly people. Joyce and I stayed at a B&B with a circa 90 year-old “unrepented hippie” complete with a half dozen “kitty cats” and a goat. The residents of Deltaville had a few events to which we were invited, including a dinner at a house (that probably cost a couple of million dollars) and a fundraising reception. The final day of the event, we even got to go rowing in the shallop to help the local museum prepare for the big shallop race. (photos: The gypsies perusing a yard sale (mostly old tea cups and fishing/boating gear) in Deltaville, with Jack in his best about-town ensebmle; the sign we all enjoyed on the dock where the Deltaville shallop is usually moored in front of its museum; stairway to nowhere; the Deltaville shallop arrives at the reception on the Piankatank River; and how I was often spotted that weekend as I tinkered with and organized my new phone (I was in this case checking the weather as it was noticeably quite hot and humid).)
(photos: The Dove and the three shallops docked at the Fishing Bay Yacht Club for the Rendezvous; Grace the pirate reenactor, Mike, and the old sailor guy singing sea shanties; Jack's feet hurt; and the shallop races.)
Coming up at the end of the month, there are plans to go to the German Pantry in Norfolk for my birthday and some birthday shnitzel, the start of UofM football, and the first official gig of Jeff’s heavy metal band. Should be fun!
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