I'm Home!

Got home last Friday just in time to have Easter with the family. I'm not really a big holiday person but seems holidays are the only time I see the extended family. It was nice to pull into the driveway and see my daffodils and forsythia in bloom. My azaleas are budding and will be blooming soon.

Went to Charleston to see my pal Valerie. We had planned to go to Atlanta but changed our minds and drove up to Asheville, NC to visit the Biltmore. If you've not been there, it's a sight to see. This house was built around the turn of the century and has gargoyles! This house had a staff of 21 maids & servants. It is supposed to be the first house in the United States that had a heated indoor swimming pool complete with electric lights on the bottom. Can you believe it?

The Vanderbilts lived on the main floor. Beautiful wood carvings and mouldings were everywhere. There is a huge music room complete with pipe organ. It was amazing. Elaborately turned out guest rooms were on the second floor complete with individual bathroom with running water, toilets & bathtubs.

Of course the floor where the maids lived were very sparse. No bathrooms for them, just chamber pots & wash basins. Talk about class distinctions!

The male staff members lived about the stables, so there was no hanky panky. "as if" (That's valley speak for "Yeah Right".) LOL

I had recently read the House at Riverton by Kate Morton. What a great story. It was quite easy to imagine the folks at Riverton living at the Biltmore or being a guest or perhaps one of the characters being a maid.

The Forgotten Garden also by Kate Morton was an excellent story. I read that last year when I was sick with a bug. It made laying around in bed not so terrible.

On my drive down to Charleston, I had to do a conference call with work. Can you believe it? What a way to start a vacation.

I listened to Valerie Bertinelli's book. She talked about her relationship with Eddie Van Halen and her weight issues. She also admitted to having affairs while she was married. I was stunned! I'd be taking that information to the grave.

Anyway, I also listened to David Balducci's, The Camel Club on my drive home. One of the nice ladies who reads my blog recommended it. Also, a great story! I wonder if there is a sequel. These characters are too good to just end.

I picked up these books on CD at the Cracker Barrel. They have a deal where you buy the book but you can return it to any Cracker Barrel and get your money back. They just charge you $3 for each week you have it. What a deal!

This has been a long week of work. I spend most of Monday answering email. Of course, I had to deal with email while I was off. Is that sad or what?

Have you ever had a dream that was too good to be true. I had one this morning. I was getting a massage by that very handsome blond haired guy from Spartucus, Blood & Sand, that show on Starz. We were having a nice time and my roommate's mother comes in talking about coffee. I don't even have a roommate but got rid of the roommate's mother any way to get back to my massage. It's time to turn over and Blondie leans over and rubs his face next to mine and is blowing in my ear. I couldn't figure out what he was trying to say with his whispery breath but it's fun anyway.

Then I open my eyes and it's Simba rubbing his face on mine. It's 8:30 and I'm an hour late getting his breakfast. All the other kitties will let me sleep in but Simba is insistent that he gets his food on time. Breakfast at 7:30 am, dinner at 6pm. Oh well, the dream was nice while it lasted.

Today, I'm back doing house stuff, talking to contractors about the work that needs to be done to repair the damage done during the blizzard and grocery shopping for the Stitch and Bitch group coming tomorrow.

It will be nice to do some sewing and bitching. Wish ya'll could come. LOL

ttfn :) Yuki