Chicago Again then Wilmington, DE

 The Charleston International Airport has been going through an upgrade over the past couple of years and is starting to take shape.  Gone is much of the old brown carpet and low ceilings.  New terminals and baggage claim shoots are opening up and I'm looking forward to the finish.  They will actually have TSA Pre-check lanes and seating area with power charging stations.

Taking off for Chicago

 

Flying over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge

Then leaving Chicago and headed to Wilmington, DE for the start of vacation!!  It took six cities in one day to get there; Chicago, Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Philadelphia and then Wilmington, DE but all worth it to see Tyler, Gabrielle and Mimi who was prepped for my visit in her "What Happens at Grandma's" shirt.

 

So first night I got to re-experience what it's like to have an eight day old baby who has the ability to sleep only 1 to 2 hours at a time, but oh so precious.

 

Then one of Gabby's friends came over with her daughter so we got to step outside and experience some of the lovely autumn air.

 

Next day - ahhhh

 

And getting ready for bath time

 


 

Then taking a walk one afternoon I came upon an old golf course that still has some of the remnants of the tee boxes, fairways and greens.  The fall colors are gorgeous in this part of the country.

A family shot . . . Proud Parents

 

But boy are they are so tired

 

Wonderful Father

 

Thank you Tyler and Gabby for having me stay with you and meet my Granddaughter Naomi.  She is lovely, alert and I think will be quite wise.  I am looking forward to watching her grow and seeing what terrific parents you both will be. 

 

 

Waiting for Mimi's arrival and Ft Lauderdale, FL

I did some shopping while in New Orleans the previous week and couldn't resist stocking up on a few items. 

At this point, the waiting is the hardest part . . . https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrBTzooAhlWLdoAiDFXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMDgyYjJiBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Waiting+Is+the+Hardest+Part&fr=mcafee#id=1&vid=2ebec0a80112fc6fd2614849864925af&action=view

So to distract I stayed busy in Charleston the early part of the week catching up with people and "goings on" in town and in the I'On neighborhood. At our own amphitheater we had a Brazilian music band, Porto Seguro play one evening with a acrobatic martial arts group, dancing, drumming and singing.  We even had a Caribbean Creole food truck on hand serving delicious tacos.

  

Chris and I 

And for dessert later that night at another neighbor's house, a couple that I recently met, Jessica and Thibaut Fagonde (they are French), we had chocolate avocado pudding.

 It was actually very good.  And speaking of Thibaut (pronounced Tibeau - with emphasis on the Beau, although the people around here call him TBo with emphasis on the T). I learned that he's a film maker and one of his films, "Overalls and Aprons" is set to show at Charleston Music Hall coming up in a couple of weeks.  How very cool - hope I'm in town to get to check it out.

  And before heading out of town I had to show off the fruits of my labor to obtain a SC drivers license and plates.

 

And in the mail this week a bag of coffee beans from one of my Austin, TX friends.  Can't wait to try these!

 

And then it happened . . .  Gabrielle Rose gave birth to Naomi Victoria on October 13, 2015, just two days before Gabby and Tyler's second wedding anniversary (October 15, 2013). 

 

What a precious gift for them and the whole family. 

It was tough getting my head back in the work game, I really just wanted to head north to spend time with the new family, but I had a commitment to a meeting in Ft Lauderdale for a day.  Another great resort with beautiful pool area - at least I got to enjoy it through the meeting room window.

 

 

In book news this week, the National Book Foundation presented the finalists for the National Book awards.  The one I am reading, "Fates and Furies" made the list, and a book I picked up in New Orleans last week, "Mislaid", made the long list.  I also downloaded (hate hate that it's so convenient to do this rather than buy the actual book) "Dispatches from Pluto" which I'm looking forward to reading.  And, "A Brief History of Seven Killings" by Marlon James just won the 2015 Man Booker Prize for Fiction. And, (Ooh Ahh) the Texas Book festival is this weekend.  I'll miss it for the first time in many years, but happy reading.

Finally goodbye to an old friend. 

 

U S Airways makes it's last flight - they are scheduled to cease operations October 17th, when its final flight marks the next step in the airline's merger with American Airlines.  The flight is bittersweet as US Airways is itself the product of many earlier mergers and acquirements, among them Allegheny Airlines, Piedmont Airlines, Pacific Southwest (PSA), and America West. I began my business travel in earnest, out of Lynchburg, VA flying Piedmont in the early 1990's.







Charleston flooding and New Orleans, LA

Rain Rain Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IKMXfI5hzE - Gem stayed in her raincoat for almost a week. We were lucky we didn't have it as bad in Mt Pleasant as some of the other areas in Charleston (or Columbia) did,

 

but Jake & Gina's backyard was swampy and the Ashley River started creeping up.

 

 

 
 



Gina half way to "baby pony" arrival.
















Breast Cancer awareness month - even the flight attendants (Delta) are representing.  This lady was really sweet too. 

 

Then NOLA.  What a fun place.  Business travel to this location for the week.  I got there a day early to hang out with Frank.  We stopped by Faulkner House Bookstore.

 

 

It's an alluring dreamy place with inspiration in every corner. 

It's within earshot of the bells of St. Louis Cathedral, off the bustle of Jackson Square.

 

It is charming and has both new and used books.  Located at 624 Pirate’s Alley, it’s appropriately named, as William Faulkner lived here in 1925. Within eight months of moving in, he had written and published his first novel, Soldier’s Pay. He came to New Orleans an unrecognized poet of 27 and left for Paris a year later a literary up-and-comer.

 

Then we checked out a street band and put in a request for a song, they were awesome.

 

 And we were invited to participate in a parade.

Then went to one of the Bourbon Street restaurants to eat and people watch.

 

With one of my customers, Donna Marder, that I've been working with for at least 30 years.

And loss toll for the week only a pair of reading glasses.  Let the good times roll.

 

Charleston

A much needed week at home to get caught up on things like yard work, unpacking, housecleaning, updating auto insurance, laundry, watching full blood moon and eclipse

and all else that randomly occurs in any given week.

Fall is now officially here and the pumpkins and fall decorations are starting to show up. 

I've made up some Halloween bags for a few neighbor children and friends I know.

Thankfully it's still warm enough to bike ride and walk the neighborhood in shorts and tank tops (I love the South).

And, hanging out after work on National Good Neighbor Day with my neighbor and local "bestie" Chris.

And practicing playing this lovely sounding guitar - I've just about nailed "Ode to Joy", at least the beginners version.

And later in the week "and this was a biggie", finally applying for TSA Pre-Check Known Traveler program rather than just relying on my airline status.  This will come in handy in the future for ease of travel.

Then dinner with Gina one night - I really stepped it up with a recipe I had never made before: Garlic Butter Fettuccini and Shrimp; and for dessert, baked apples.  I made some mistakes but definitely edible, just need more practice, practice, practice.  Gina's looking great and was full of news about the recent baby shower in Florida.

SC car registration, plates and license.  What  a  chore. I was beginning to think it would be easier to enter the country as an illegal alien than it would be to get this accomplished.  Requirements:  1) Birth certificate or passport.  2) Social Security card or W2.  3) Proof of marriage(s) and or divorce(s) if last name is different than birth (this is where being a guy can come in handy), and I don't know about you but I haven't hung on to 30+ year old documents.  4) Title, or information on lien holder. 5) Proof of insurance.  6) Utility bill to prove residency.  Maybe this is standard in most parts of the country (including the full security search of person and belongings before you could even enter the building) but they sure didn't do it that way in Texas.  Bottom line, I failed on the first two attempts to present myself and documents adequately and was turned away.  Third time it only took 2 hours in line.  Luckily I live within an 11 mile radius and had a vacation day to blow.  Seriously, I really don't think I'm ever moving again.

Then I received an invitation to the I'On club for "First Friday" event.  Yes a blast . . .

An about mid week sad news of another school shooting and Hurricane Joaquin began to make it's presence felt.  Sheets of rain by Thursday.  Charleston city schools were actually closed on Friday due to the heavy downpours.

I received my first issue of Garden & Gun this week.  Best magazine ever.  Thank you Jake for the house warming gift.

Looking forward to getting back out on the road to do some reading.