How we got here

The company I work for (Southern Audio Visual) recently acquired a contract with a brand new hotel in Raleigh. The Raleigh Marriott City Center has not even opened yet, and is shaping up to be a beautiful hotel with a fantastic convention space. Southern AV offered me a position at the hotel and, since Bronwen and I had actually talked about moving to the Carolinas (we weren't particular which one) at some point, it seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up.

So, like millions of Americans before us, we packed all of our precious, precious belongings (minus the ones we sold, gave away or threw out, which was a considerable amount) into the back of a moving truck and drove 700 miles north.

It was a bizarre feeling, in fact, because it was very similar to road trips that we had taken, but every mile we drove was a mile closer to home. We would not travel those miles back unless we were visiting. Both of us grew up in Central Florida - I have lived there for 25 years - and this is the first time I have lived in a new place. And it amazes me. A new city, new roads, new climate, new plants and animals, new dirt, new people... we have been here for a week now and I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

Anyway, it is certainly a good thing that we moved, and we are very glad for the opportunity, despite the stress and trouble of moving, and the obnoxious inconveniences (no Washington Mutual, no T-Mobile, no Publix).

And let me again apologize for not telling everyone that we were moving. It was such a rapid transition - I don't recall exactly, but we found out about three weeks before the move, and there was so much to do that we didn't have time to make all of the social calls that we should have.

Let me take this opportunity to invite everyone (not all at once, of course) to visit. It is truly beautiful here, and we have a fully-functioning guest bedroom. The invitation is completely serious; we would absolutely love to have anyone visit.