So the party was good. I made a ton of food and the bonfire was AWESOME. Only bummer was the last night of Riverbend was Saturday night too. Some peeps didn't make it out :( FYI--Riverbend is a music festival where ALL the rednecks from the mountains come down for a "good ol'time." They make a pig-stye of our town and clog up the streets with their giant stupid trucks and drive wickedly drunk everywhere. *Suggestion: do not come to visit Chattanooga during the second week of June. The horror. The horror.
Even with the attraction of Riverbend, there were a lot of people that came out to party with us. The one that wins the prize for farthest traveled is my father-in-law Larry! He drove all the way down from Kappa, IL to hang with us. He also helped us with some major "honey do" projects we had on the list. Larry power washed the deck, fixed our air conditioner, cut down a tree (with Loyd's help), and put together Andy's new wheelbarrow...I think Larry will need a vacation after his "vacation" with us.
We still don't have internet! Ugh. If I have to talk to another customer service representative I am gonna go out and buy me a big a$# gun! After over 1.5 hours with these "experts" I came to the same result. They don't have the equipment to install satellite dish internet. I wonder... let's play a little game... if someone were to come into the restaurant I work at and give me $100 would they wait over 3 weeks for their food? Hell no! They would bitch and moan in less than 30 minutes. Why the F should I be expected to patiently wait for a service I have ALREADY paid for????? Double Ugh. Living in the sticks, you are at the mercy of many many others.
I have thought about doing this for sometime, but I think I am actually going to implement this into each blog I post. In the old days, you know when people actually used to write letters to each other? With a pen and paper? Use a stamp? No? Ok, modern day correspondence is the blog/e-mail/text. Back to my point, sorry. It is weather. We are dialed into www.weather.com all day, but we don't take the opportunity to tell each other what is happening in each other's "neck of the woods." So here goes...
Chattanooga, TN at 5:45 pm it is 92* feels like 96* wind from the WSW at 13 mph with 46% humidity.
Bloomington, IL at 4:45 pm it is 85* feels like 87* wind from the WNW at 7 mph with 51% humidity.
Aurora, IL at 4:45 pm it is 78* feels like 78* wind from the NW at 6 mph with 63% humidity.
Looks like Chattanooga wins for the most "hot" but Aurora is the most humid...strange.
Much love y'all,
Heather
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Home Sweet Home.
We moved into our house on Jones Gap Rd. on May 25, 2009 and closed on our house June 3, 2009. The seller was kind enough to let us "pay rent" to her until we closed. Good thing because we were supposed to move out of our rental house on Love Lane on May 8th...we got an extension until the 25th. Whew.
So we have been in the house for almost 3 weeks. In that time we have discovered a couple things:
Memorial Day weekend Andy was in Atlanta for a friend's wedding. That Saturday I came home from the grocery store very excited to make rice crispy treats for my work buddies. I pull up in our drive and our neighbor Loyd is walking across the yard. At this point, I haven't met him yet, but Andy has. Loyd is a really nice guy, but a little intimidating. He looks like a bald lumber jack/mountain-man with a huge smile. Loyd says to me right off, "Great day today, right?" Of course I agree. I am about to do some pseudo baking. He then says, "It is a great day to cut grass too." Oh darn. Well Andy is out of town so I am off the hook, right? Nope. Loyd escorts me over to his very fancy lawn mower. Asks me to get on it and start it up. Ummmm. Ok. After a very quick tutorial on how to start the darn thing Loyd suggests I go ahead and cut over an acre of grass. Ummmm. Ok. Here is a picture of the beast...
So we have been in the house for almost 3 weeks. In that time we have discovered a couple things:
- The dogs LOVE the back deck, and so do we ;-)
- There are A LOT of critters in the woods--so far I have seen a ton of butterflies/bees/wasps/carpenter bees, 1 black widow spider (she was eating a moth-very cool), 2 toads, a bijillion rabbits, 5 blue tailed skinks (lizards), and a multitude of insects. More to come for sure. I have heard the coyotes, but thankfully we haven't seen them.
- Our neighbors are really cool
- The house is perfect for us and we are so happy
- We have a big yard
Memorial Day weekend Andy was in Atlanta for a friend's wedding. That Saturday I came home from the grocery store very excited to make rice crispy treats for my work buddies. I pull up in our drive and our neighbor Loyd is walking across the yard. At this point, I haven't met him yet, but Andy has. Loyd is a really nice guy, but a little intimidating. He looks like a bald lumber jack/mountain-man with a huge smile. Loyd says to me right off, "Great day today, right?" Of course I agree. I am about to do some pseudo baking. He then says, "It is a great day to cut grass too." Oh darn. Well Andy is out of town so I am off the hook, right? Nope. Loyd escorts me over to his very fancy lawn mower. Asks me to get on it and start it up. Ummmm. Ok. After a very quick tutorial on how to start the darn thing Loyd suggests I go ahead and cut over an acre of grass. Ummmm. Ok. Here is a picture of the beast...
If good ol' Loyd had a video camera he would have made some serious money on America's Funniest Home Videos. Loyd forgot to tell me how to steer the darn thing! I ran over so many things -- that weren't grass! I also ran into a couple trees and Loyd and Denie's rock wall! After about 10 minutes I got the hang of it. Then it was the most fun thing I have driven since I was 16. I felt like I was in a video game. This thing turns on a dime and goes FAST! I was done cutting the grass (over 1.5 acres of just grass to cut) in less than 45 minutes. It would have taken me a couple days to do that with the push mower. Fun times.
We are still without internet access. Bummer. We are planning on getting DishNetwork, but they had trouble getting "a part" this weekend and have postponed our installation until next Sunday (6/14). Once we get our computer up and going, and maybe a new digital camera, the pictures of the house and yard will come rolling out. Our current camera takes great pictures outside, but total blackness occurs when we attempt to capture images of the inside of our beautiful house. Good thing, I guess. We are still unpacking all of our boxes. Hopefully, we can get the boxes sorted out before the weekend because we are having our first party at the house. We are having a "stock the bar" and BONFIRE party! Whoo Hoo. Hopefully someone will have a camera and we can document the carnage for you all.
A small request from you all, we want to name our new home. So far Andy has come up with The Lucky Duck Ranch. That got vetoed right away and for some reason he can't think of anything else. Personally, I think he is pulling my leg. ;-) So if anyone can come up with something cool and fitting, I would really appreciate it :)
Take care, Heather
Thursday, May 28, 2009
This is IT.
Our financing is A-P-P-R-O-V-E-D!
Yup. That's right folks. Andy and I are officially buying our first house! We close on June 3rd. With all the closing extensions we have had over the past 2 months, I still am holding my breath a little. On the other hand, our realtor and mortgage guy says it is a GO. So, for the next 5 days we will be hovering between elation and frustration.
It is so strange, I went on a run today because I am so tired of putting our lives on hold until we find out about the house. Not sure if that is what we have done, but it feels like that. I will speak for myself here, but I have been so preoccupied with THE HOUSE, I have not been able to relax. Not really truly relax. So I figured today, rain or shine I was going to go on a run. A nice easy relaxing run. No watches. No mile markers. Just running...running and praying. I prayed most of the run. I prayed for us and the house, for others, for guidance, & some other stuff.
I got back into the Trek Store and Tyler said, "So Wednesday is the big day, uh?" I had no clue what he was talking about and said so. He was really apologetic and sorry he spilled the beans. I said, "So we are closing next Wednesday? I don't care who tells me, as long as it's true! You better be telling the truth or I am gonna get you!" I have to admit, I think Tyler was a little scared ;-) I found Andy and he confirmed Tyler's babbling. Whew. I am really happy. Tyler is too.
We put an offer on the house at the beginning of April, and it was accepted on April 3rd. We are closing on June 3rd. Only 2 months of torture. It sure seemed a lot longer than that. I guess when you are in the mix of it, it is consuming and overwhelming. I am just so happy it is over and we can start to really unpack, decorate, landscape, and start making our first house our home.
Thank you to everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. I know it helped. Andy and I are very lucky to have such great friends and family. We can't wait for you all to come and visit. I may have to post a calendar of sorts, seems like we have become a popular vacation spot ;-) Thanks again. Talk to you all soon.
Heather
PS-If anyone applies for a rural development loan...give your self at least a month and a half for it to go through. ;-)
Friday, May 8, 2009
The House Saga Continues...
I just can't wait any longer.
Andy and I found this great house up on top of Flat Top Mountain in Soddy Daisy, TN 6 weeks ago. Since then, we have been in financing limbo/purgatory/hell -- whatever.
The first hurdle we ran into was the mortgage guy our realtor suggested wasn't really what we were looking for. He did not want to even consider my income because it is commission based and I have been there for less than a year. Then, he was really pushing for us to get a co-signer. Andy and I made the decision if we couldn't get a house on our own, we didn't want to get one until we could. Ergo no co-signer. He also wouldn't consider any other types of loans besides a FHA.
Then we spoke with Dale Whaley here in Chattanooga. He is great. He looked at all of our finances and said the same thing about my income. Total bummer. But then he said that since the house we found was "outside the city limits" we could apply for a federal loan. Specifically, a USDA Rural Development loan (United State Department of Agriculture) not the Department of Drugs and Alcohol ;-)
Dale mentioned, with only Andy's income we would have a really great shot at getting this type of loan. Long story short, when you deal with the government, you get a lot of red tape. Lots of hoops to jump through and longer deadlines.
At this point we are set to close on May 15th. We have extended the close date 3 times previously (First it was April 30th, then May 1st, then May 4th.) If this doesn't happen on the 15th. I think Andy and I are going to be back to square one. Grrrrr. Although, Dale is really really confident we are going to get the loan and we will be able to close on the 15th, Andy and I are a little apprehensive. Below is a link to the rural development loan we are going to be looking at...
I spoke to our current landlord and she said we could stay until May 18th. Whew. We thought we were going to have to move into a hotel/motel until we got into our new house. Not fun with dogs and a "tight" budget.
We are keeping our fingers crossed and our chins up. On the whole, we are trying to stay positive and are thinking this is all going to go through in a timely fashion.
Stress. Stress. Stress. Now onto the fun part...the house.
It is being sold by a Prudential realtor. The MLS listing is 1124781. It is a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath home on 2.4 acres on Jones Gap Road in Soddy Daisy, TN. The Cumberland Trail goes through our back yard and the bike riding routes are amazing! There currently is a fence out back for the dogs, but that will need to be updated in the next couple of months. There is also a HUGE deck for entertaining. The 2 bedroom thing was a concern of mine, but once we got into the house to look around, we realized it won't be a problem at all. The large family room on the east side of the house has a bathroom and a door. When guests stay, they can stay there until we remodel.
We already had our inspection and appraisal. Things are moving right along...we hope.
So there it is. We have been waiting to post something until we had the security of it actually going through, but I just can't wait any longer. I have been getting a lot of interested and concerned family and friend e-mails and phone calls. I didn't want to blow any of you off, but I have been worried I would jinx it if I spoke about it. But oh well, there it is. It is out there. I posted it. It is almost like it is written in stone, right ;-) Just kidding.
Take care and we will post something more "concrete" as soon as we know.
Heather
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Excuses excuses excuses...
I know I have been really positive about all the fun things we are doing down here, but truth be told I have not been doing what I said I was going to do...
The "plan," back in December, was to be in the best shape of my life going into Memphis in May. To PR at the Olympic distance tri and "go out" on top. Not that I am quitting tris, just thinking about starting a family in the distant future...I will go into that in more detail later. ;-) Anyway, with moving, starting a new job, and all the new obstacles that go along with moving to a new state...I have done less training than EVER. Ugh. I am so depressed.
I was all set (in my mind) to do this sprint triathlon today. Really, I was as of last Wednesday. I thought, ok I am not in the best shape, but it it only a sprint. I can pull that out of my arse any day, right? Then I got to thinking. Ugh. The race was $65. Andy and I have not renewed our USAT memberships, so it would have been an additional $35 to get that up to date. Then I realized that when I packed up all our stuff in February, my racing flats were garbage and I threw them out. Not a big deal right? Wrong. The running shoes I got for Florida were a half size too big (thanks to the sales guy not listening to me and my last minute decision to get new shoes before an IM). So if I ran in sloppy running shoes with out socks then I was sure to get blisters. Waitresses + blisters = unhappy working environment. So I decided not to do the sprint today.
Andy and I were talking the other night, and we are so happy we moved and are starting a new life, but with living in a rental house (poopy), STILL waiting to hear about financing on the house we found (double crap), and trying to stay positive through it all; training and racing have really taken a back seat to pretty much everything. We feel really disconnected from our life. For me, I won't speak for Andy, being active and healthy means more to me than I thought. Maybe if I had an expensive Ironman out there looming in the future... Not sure. I thought MIM would be a good motivator. I have got to dig deep and find a reason to feel good about myself or I am going to be 200 lbs. the next time any of you see me ;-) Just kidding.
All I know is it is a beautiful day here in the dirty south and I can NOT seem to get my butt out there to run, bike, or swim! Grrrr.
Not sure if you all really wanted to hear me ramble on about my poor racing attitude, but thought this was the best way to get this off my chest. Thanks for reading.
Hope you all are having a better day.
Take care, Heather
The "plan," back in December, was to be in the best shape of my life going into Memphis in May. To PR at the Olympic distance tri and "go out" on top. Not that I am quitting tris, just thinking about starting a family in the distant future...I will go into that in more detail later. ;-) Anyway, with moving, starting a new job, and all the new obstacles that go along with moving to a new state...I have done less training than EVER. Ugh. I am so depressed.
I was all set (in my mind) to do this sprint triathlon today. Really, I was as of last Wednesday. I thought, ok I am not in the best shape, but it it only a sprint. I can pull that out of my arse any day, right? Then I got to thinking. Ugh. The race was $65. Andy and I have not renewed our USAT memberships, so it would have been an additional $35 to get that up to date. Then I realized that when I packed up all our stuff in February, my racing flats were garbage and I threw them out. Not a big deal right? Wrong. The running shoes I got for Florida were a half size too big (thanks to the sales guy not listening to me and my last minute decision to get new shoes before an IM). So if I ran in sloppy running shoes with out socks then I was sure to get blisters. Waitresses + blisters = unhappy working environment. So I decided not to do the sprint today.
Andy and I were talking the other night, and we are so happy we moved and are starting a new life, but with living in a rental house (poopy), STILL waiting to hear about financing on the house we found (double crap), and trying to stay positive through it all; training and racing have really taken a back seat to pretty much everything. We feel really disconnected from our life. For me, I won't speak for Andy, being active and healthy means more to me than I thought. Maybe if I had an expensive Ironman out there looming in the future... Not sure. I thought MIM would be a good motivator. I have got to dig deep and find a reason to feel good about myself or I am going to be 200 lbs. the next time any of you see me ;-) Just kidding.
All I know is it is a beautiful day here in the dirty south and I can NOT seem to get my butt out there to run, bike, or swim! Grrrr.
Not sure if you all really wanted to hear me ramble on about my poor racing attitude, but thought this was the best way to get this off my chest. Thanks for reading.
Hope you all are having a better day.
Take care, Heather
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Heather Sweet: Travel Agent/Tour Guide
Our first family visit has come and gone, I have been doing some thinking about what is there to do here when people come to visit? Elaine was really good about getting me thinking about these things...
My biggest aggravation is sitting around the house watching TV. That is NOT my thang...so if you come to visit, be prepared to get out and do stuff.
Here are somethings I thought would be good...
My biggest aggravation is sitting around the house watching TV. That is NOT my thang...so if you come to visit, be prepared to get out and do stuff.
Here are somethings I thought would be good...
- Lookout Mountain (Rock City and Ruby Falls)
- Raccoon Mountain (mountain biking, TVA visitor's center, and hiking).
- TN Aquarium
- Chattanooga Zoo
- Coolidge Park in downtown (ride a carousel)
- Georgia Winery
- Hunter Art Museum
- Hang Gliding in the Sequatchie Valley or Lookout Mountain Valley
- Chattanooga Nature Center
- Shopping on the North Shore
- Chattanooga Ducks on the TN River
- Outdoor Chattanooga (white water rafting on the Ocoee, rock climbing, hiking/mountain biking.)
- Chattanooga Ghost tours
- Chattanooga Symphony and Opera
- Murder Myster dinner in downtown
- Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game
- Chickamauga/Chattanooga National Military Park
- Hike the Cumberland Trail
- Tons and tons and tons of great restaurants
*Keep these in mind when you visit.
Thanks, Heather
Visit from the In-Laws...
This past weekend Andy and I got a visit from his mom and step-dad, Elaine and Al.
Yup...this is the same "top of the mountain" I rode my bike up in the 70 mile bike ride I did a couple of weeks ago. We were able to show them some of the mountain bike trails we have ridden on too. We also drove down the 20 minute steep climb Andy and I did. I think Elaine and Al were surprised at how steep the road was and how long it was too ;-)
After sightseeing, we went to pick up Jacqueline, Andy's cousin, for dinner. We went to the Curry Pot on the far east side of town. Great Indian food. We loved it. Got a ton of food for very little.
After dinner, it was time to say good bye. I was really choked up and tried not to cry. It was a good visit and it was so nice to see family. I have been away for only 6 weeks, while Andy hasn't seen anyone from home since November 7th!
POST visit: I did a 50 mile bike ride with a really cool group on Wednesday morning. My legs are thrashed...yeah! Then I went to work. Work is going well. I am feeling more and more confident about the menu and computer. Things there are looking good.
Training is sporadic at best. MIM (Memphis in May) is just around the corner and I am getting nervous. To add to the nervousness...one of the ladies I ride with on Wednesday was asking me a lot about trialthon and my training. She is an adventure racer and roadie. Hmmm why the interest? Come to find out...they (a couple of ladies on her road team) are rooting for me to "crush some of the local competition." I asked her not to tell me any of their names...too much pressure for this gal from IL with hardly any training under her belt this season. The Scenic City tri on April 26th could be very interesting. I have done well at Sullivan in the past, but there was not the "usual" competition that was at the mid season races. Hard to judge how things will turn out...
Right now we are in the middle of getting financing on a beautiful home in the woods in north Soddy Daisy. Hopefully by the weekend we will have some good news to post/call about.
I guess that is all for now, catch up with you all later.
Heather
They got into town on Saturday afternoon. While Andy was working, I was able to show them downtown and the riverwalk along the TN river that cuts through the center of Chattanooga. After that, I headed to work and Andy, Elaine, and Al all headed back to our rental house for some dinner and a visit.
The next morning (Sunday) Andy and I headed to rural Georgia for Andy's first road bike race of the 2009 season. Since he is just starting out, he had to enter into Category 5 for this race. There are 5 categories (1-5) in addition to a masters category in road bike racing. You start off in 5 and have to move your way up by winning races or completing a certain amount of races. Andy was going to enter into the TT on Saturday morning, but a) he doesn't have a full ready to go TT bike and b) he would have been late to work if he would have done it. Anyway...he finished the Chattanooga Georgia Cup Road Race Cat. 5 in second place! If he would have done the TT it would have been a stellar overall finish, but oh well. Next time ;-)
Andy just got word that he got his advance and is now a Cat. 4. Hopefully, by the end of the season, he will be Cat. 3. :) So proud of you baby.
...back to the visit :) Elaine and Al were able to get to the race to see Andy finish and get some great pictures. When we get those from Elaine, I will post them.
After the race, Andy headed back to Chattanooga for work; and Elaine, Al, and I headed to the Chickamauga Battlefield in GA. We got our civil war history lesson for the day. I passed out in the car ride back home and got ready for work.
Elaine and Al came into work Sunday night for some dinner at Hennen's. I think they had a wonderful dinner...and the service wasn't bad either ;-)
Monday I had to work a double. Grrrr. So it was Andy's day to hang with his mom and Al. They drove to see the house we hopefully are going to buy (still waiting to hear about financing) and drove to Lookout Mountain and did some sightseeing in the Sequatchie Valley.
Tuesday morning we headed to my favorite breakfast spot, Aretha Frankenstein's. Best pancakes EVER!!! If anyone comes for a visit...we are going there. Be prepared to be satisfied and eat your weight in pancakes. Yummmmmmm.
After breakfast, we headed to the Georgia Winery in GA and sampled some wines. Yeah drinking on my day off! The winery was fun, but they grow sweet thick skinned Georgia Muscadine grapes. Consequently, sweet wine. Andy and I found 2 bottles we liked, but not a type of wine we usually go for. I was thinking, this wine would be perfect for my mom. ;-)
We drove to Raccoon Mountain and went to the visitor's center at TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) and got some information about the reservoir and the hydroelectric power they produce on the top of Raccoon Mountain.
Yup...this is the same "top of the mountain" I rode my bike up in the 70 mile bike ride I did a couple of weeks ago. We were able to show them some of the mountain bike trails we have ridden on too. We also drove down the 20 minute steep climb Andy and I did. I think Elaine and Al were surprised at how steep the road was and how long it was too ;-)
After sightseeing, we went to pick up Jacqueline, Andy's cousin, for dinner. We went to the Curry Pot on the far east side of town. Great Indian food. We loved it. Got a ton of food for very little.
After dinner, it was time to say good bye. I was really choked up and tried not to cry. It was a good visit and it was so nice to see family. I have been away for only 6 weeks, while Andy hasn't seen anyone from home since November 7th!
POST visit: I did a 50 mile bike ride with a really cool group on Wednesday morning. My legs are thrashed...yeah! Then I went to work. Work is going well. I am feeling more and more confident about the menu and computer. Things there are looking good.
Training is sporadic at best. MIM (Memphis in May) is just around the corner and I am getting nervous. To add to the nervousness...one of the ladies I ride with on Wednesday was asking me a lot about trialthon and my training. She is an adventure racer and roadie. Hmmm why the interest? Come to find out...they (a couple of ladies on her road team) are rooting for me to "crush some of the local competition." I asked her not to tell me any of their names...too much pressure for this gal from IL with hardly any training under her belt this season. The Scenic City tri on April 26th could be very interesting. I have done well at Sullivan in the past, but there was not the "usual" competition that was at the mid season races. Hard to judge how things will turn out...
Right now we are in the middle of getting financing on a beautiful home in the woods in north Soddy Daisy. Hopefully by the weekend we will have some good news to post/call about.
I guess that is all for now, catch up with you all later.
Heather
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