Greensboro, North Carolina

Southwards we did travel, through the great state of North Carolina. A little about my history: my first professional/college graduate/real world job was with Lincoln Financial in a professional development rotational program. They placed me in Greensboro for my first position. I was blessed to work with some wonderful people there, on the 10th floor of the Jefferson Pilot building:

It was a good place to work but it was 5 hours from my beloved Shelley. Of course that didn't keep us apart - many a weekend was spent traversing 95 from Gaithersburg, MD to Greensboro, NC. It's a long trip. Especially on July 4 weekend. But it was well worth it. It made surprises difficult but I still managed to pull a few off.

There were some enjoyable moments to the long year we spent long distance dating. We found fun places to hang out in vain attempts to stretch out the weekend hours.

So on our anniversary trip, we planned to swing by a few of our favorite Greensboro hotspots. If you ever find yourself down there, we cannot recommend these enough.

First, in the middle of the UNC Greensboro campus is the lovely hippie-magnet: Tate Street Coffee shop. Complete with homemade (excuse me, organic) art and equally creative coffee mixes that were delicious.

Apparently we were there for the 18 year anniversary. We have spent hours playing cards, sipping funky lattes, trying very hard not to laugh and point at the various clothing combinations on fellow patrons (ok that was just me, not Shelley), and listening to live music.

I also have to recommend another hippie hotspot. Also strangely decorated, this place has some delicious pizza. And an impressive beer selection. It's a chain so you may have experienced them elsewhere. Behold, Mellow Mushroom (the mushroom part may have been code for something, or just a pizza topping, I'm not sure):


Next stop: the largest private residence in America.

Day 3 (our Anniversary Trip remember?)

So I have been grossly negligent when it comes to posting those pictures from that anniversary trip we did earlier this year. I suppose I could blame the fact that the computer crashed but I really don't have an excuse. Anyway, our third day was spent half in Waynesboro and half in Williamsburg, Virginia. Some traveling thrown in too of course.

Here is where we stayed:Oh, look at these lovely people:

Sheepies, and Bassett Hall (city hall):
















This is the Bruton Parish Church with a cool clock (I want one of those...the clock i mean):





















The colonials definitely believed in guns, lots of them. This is my definition of diversity:




















And of course horses, furniture shops, and other farm animals (is this Williamsburg or Lancaster?):



































Well, I hope you enjoyed this step into the past as much as we did! I'm really excited about the next stop, it's dear to my heart because I have spent a considerable amount of time there. And there are some special memories too. Next post: further south!

Since our last broadcast...

Ladies and Gents, I apologize that it has been so long since we've opened up the blog to fill you in on anything.  And so much has happened!  I will give you a quick run-down and countdown and, in the process, try to promote a few products.

Count-down first: about 5 weeks until we land on US soil!  (If you can help it, don't send anymore packages and as little mail/letters as possible because time is short and mailing is less reliable now.)

Run-down (chronological order, not order of importance)

1. Purchased Toshiba Thrive from Amazon to replace the dying computer.  Tablets take some getting-used-to, but it works wonderfully for communication back home.

2. Baby niece was born! My sister, Emily, and her husband Bryan had a beautiful and red-headed baby girl on the 18th around 3:14 am - Genevieve Helen Siwicki! Thank goodness the Steelers won the game that weekend so Genevieve didn't get laughed at in her Black & Yellow onesy while in the nursery...

3. Read The Hunger Games trilogy and recommend it.  Very intense and thought provoking, well-written with a captivating plot.  My suggestion is to just pick it up and read it without researching it and reading more about it.  The surprise makes it that much more breath-taking.  Also read Poisonwood Bible on Abbie's suggestion and The Help as suggested by my fellow nurses here...both good, thoughtful and intriguing books.

This whole time, Jonathan and Reagan have been traveling and visiting around.  You'll hear more about their adventures later.

Done promoting and reviewing.  Hunkering down, preparing for home now.  As always, thank you for your continued support and prayers!