A New Year!

"The New Year and it's high TIME to post!"

It seems that time passes much too quickly and I find myself writing a new post eight months since my last. Have we been busy? Yes, without a doubt, but far too much time has gone by since my last update, so here goes.........

Last I checked in, it was April 2008 and we had just sold our house, packed up our stuff into storage (in North Haven, CT!) and headed down to Lawrenceville, Georgia to a three bedroom corporate rental apt. that we would live in until we could find a house. The boat had been sold and Alan had started a new job as the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Gwinnett Medical Health System.

And, as everyone is aware, we ended up doing this in the middle of an economic meltdown. Well, not exactly - no one really knew what we were headed for last Spring - it hadn't really been noticed by the general public at that point. But, there were ominous signs. And the impact of the meltdown ended up derailing our hopeful optimism and best laid plans to get settled into a new house in no time flat!

"House Hunters - Atlanta style"

No, it's not a new HGTV series, but there should be one based on our travails. Without going into detail, we ended up changing Realtors a few times, and still have not been able to make a home purchase. Not that we didn't try. We actually had offers on several homes, but for various and sundry reasons, none have worked out.

The last home we came very close to buying (see pic) -

3246 Birkdale Ave., Duluth, GA

We were supposed to close in Mid-December. But it was a foreclosure and ended up having major title issues that made it impossible for the bank to sell the house to us. Sooooooooooo, we are now renting a house next door to it while we wait for the bank to resolve the title issues in order to convey the house. If we find something else in the meantime, that's fine, but if not, we'll just move next door once they can sell the house to us.

Now you're probably wondering why it has taken so long to buy? Well, as I mentioned earlier, it has mostly to do with the economic meltdown of America. When we first came to "Hotlanta" last spring the market seemed just fine - no one here thought there was any housing slowdown, and it was "business as usual". Alan and I, however, were beginning to sense trouble ahead and, oh boy, were we right. It seemed to us that we needed to be prudent and cautious in our real estate offerings - something no one else seemed to think was necessary. But, by the time Fall "08 rolled around it was apparent that even the Atlanta market, which up to last summer seemed untouched by any slowdowns, was finally capitulating. Fast forward to today, and this area is deep into it. So, over the last 8 months we have seen a ton of foreclosures here, but also people who presumably want to sell their homes, but for more than they are now worth. A mine field might be a suitable description of the housing market in this area. It's very important before you buy to know this market intimately, or you could get very burned. And because we don't have a crystal ball, we're being very careful. The house we are waiting for title issues to be resolved on in order to buy is in the perfect location for us and a very fair deal. But it has been hard to find the right combination of factors - so renting for the moment (with a 60 day opt out) seems to feel right for the moment.

Effective 2-1-09 new address:

3236 Birkdale Avenue, Duluth, GA 30097

(Yes, Duluth is where Michael Vick owned a house (in the neighborhood across the street (Sugarloaf Country Club) from where we will be living (Stonebrier) and where the "real" runaway bride was from!)

Our cell phone numbers (liz: 860-227-6685 and Alan: 860-227-6289) and email remain unchanged.

Liz and Alan News

Picture taken Oct. '08 at Tallulah Gorge State Park

Well, I've been having all sorts of fun! But, surprisingly, despite not working I find I still don't have enough minutes in my day!!! Go figure!

Between house hunting and endless hours at Lifetime Fitness I am having a great time shopping, sleeping late, getting mani's and doing a little sightseeing. Life is very easy down here, and I currently have the benefit of not having to commit myself to a work schedule. I confess, with a certain amount of guilt, that I derive great pleasure from this (mostly). Although, lately I am making more of an effort to start waking up earlier and focus on getting at least something done on a daily basis. The first few months here consisted of primarily meeting up with the realtor, living on my computer and pouring over listings, working out at Lifetime Fitness and sitting with Alan every evening out on the porch (yes, we have a porch!) over a glass of wine and hors d'oeuvre's. But as the colder air began to settle in and the days shortened it seemed that our "wine-thirty" tete et tete faded with the past and we are in a more realistic and practical daily mode. Alan is working longer hours these days and sometimes isn't getting home until 7-8 p.m., which certainly feels like our (old) usual routine. We still spend time each evening together, but for the moment, and at least until spring arrives, it is in front of the new 52" flat screen tv he recently bought. Neither of us seem to mind!

Alan loves his new job and the move has been good for him. He keeps very busy there, but he has a terrific staff, and lots of support. The people at the hospital are all great and he is enjoying the new position. The hospital is growing and a new wing of 150 beds will be opening this summer. They are anticipating adding around 300 new doctors in the next few years, so with that and everything else he's got plenty to do!

Winter down here is certainly different from CT. The days are almost always in the 50's, but temps in the 60's and even the low 70's isn't unusual. We are anticipating a short bout of "real winter" weather later this week, but it is certain to be short lived. So, for both of us the climate feels almost perfect. We loved the summer - it didn't feel too hot at all! It is certainly a 4 season climate, but without the bitter cold of Jan-Mar that is inevitable up north. And we're enjoying the change! In fact, we just had our bicycles tuned up in hopes of riding during the winter months here.

We had a chance to go to NYC the first week of December and enjoyed the city very much. I power walked the avenues in the morning while Alan did his thing, and then we hooked up and had a few adventures in the afternoon and evening. While there we went to Lincoln Center for the symphony (Beethoven's fifth 6th row center orchestra seats!), had an Irish coffee at Tavern on the Green, saw Momma Mia (not so good), ate at B. Smith's restaurant and while there met her and had our picture taken, and I went to Saturday morning sabbath services at the reform temple by the park on 5th avenue, an absolutely stunningly beautiful synagogue, that was much too empty.

Mike and Lally Steckman with Alan

Following our visit to NYC we were able to visit our favorite Kingston, NY couple, Mike and Lally followed by a visit with Alan's parents who are snug as 2 bugs and doing great in their lovely condo by the sea in South Dartmouth, Mass.

Mom and Dad!

Afterward, Alan flew back to Atlanta and I continued my travels to CT and New Jersey. Unfortunately, I was planning a visit to my dear Aunt Gloria while up north, however, she passed away very suddenly and I ended up at her funeral instead of enjoying her lovely company in person. More on that later. After the funeral I stayed in New Jersey for several days, visiting with my cousins. I had a lovely visit staying with Beth and Edmund and got to see all my cousins on my Aunt Nettie's side before leaving on the drive back to Georgia. They just got some new puppies and they were so cute! My cousins, Beth and Edmund

My cousin Kevin and daughter, Erin, a student at FIT in NYC!

Arrived back in GA mid December and since have been busy with visits from our kids, house hunt dilemmas, and the usual everyday stuff.

New Years rang in for us without a hitch and we enjoyed the company of some new friends that afternoon. Thankfully the new year found us both in good spirits and very healthy. For that I am grateful!

"The Kids = Jenn and Maxine"

Jennifer is in her final semester now at UFL vet school and is graduating mid-May! Her years at vet school have truly flown by, and she is anxiously looking for a job. She was truly lucky to find her passion in life, which is obvious when you talk to her about being a veterinarian. The job market is a bit slow now, thanks to the economy, but we are sure she will find something good. She is hoping she can find a position in the Washington D.C. area so keep your fingers crossed!

Maxine came to visit us over vacation and also got a chance to fly to LA to visit with a good friend of hers, Sarah Zoller, who is in Graduate school there. She had a real vacation in every way and loved Los Angeles. They did all the touristy things to do and she has lots of stories to tell. It wouldn't surprise me if she made a move out there some day. She really loved it. We had a good time together while she was here with us in Atlanta, and she successfully managed to get me to buy her all sorts of clothes! Seems that neither of my kids has much interest in shopping unless they are with me - I don't wonder why! Maxine just started her spring semester at College of Charleston in South Carolina. She needs to take one extra semester next fall to finish up her college requirements due to the number of courses in her double major - French and Political Science. After graduation next December she is not quite sure what comes next, but is spending a lot of time thinking things over. We'll keep you posted. Maybe Israel, France or LA!

"Two wonderful Aunts"

This year has been wonderful in so many ways, but it was also marked with the loss of two of my wonderful and loving aunts, Aunt Nettie and Aunt Gloria. My Aunt Nettie left us last July after an extended illness that lasted several weeks. She was all set to go home, and we all thought she was on her way to recovery, but she never did get to leave the hospital. I was so grateful to have visited with her on my way to Georgia in April. My Aunt Gloria left us in December, very suddenly. I was all set to visit with her while on my travels up north that month, but she passed away unexpectedly 5 days before my scheduled visit. Losing both of these dear, wonderful aunts who I loved so very much, and who I know loved me so much also, has been very hard. They were the last of my aunts, and I was so close to them both. But to see their wonderful families that they were responsible for bringing into this world, and knowing what great cousins and family I have brings joy to me. I miss their smiling faces and their laughter so much. But their love and joy for life lives on in their kids and grand kids. How wonderful for that. I really have a fabulous family that I am so grateful for - what a great bunch of cousins! They mean so much to me. Aunt Nettie and Aunt Gloria live on!

"Down the Road"

Well, for the next few weeks we are looking forward to getting settled into our rental home. After that I hope to get together with my dear friend, Patti Lifland and her daughter, Leah and head down to Charleston for a visit with Maxine. Our good friends, Patti and Howard Lifland relocated to Columbia, SC last fall, so they are only a few hours away and we look forward to our visits with them. Helps us feel like we're not the only ones down here! In March, Alan and I plan on driving up to North Carolina to meet up with our friends,and old neighbors from New Hartford, John and Shelley Lloyd for their son's, Gregory's, graduate recital. Gregory did a graduate program at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Trumpet performance! We wish him the best on his graduation this spring!

So much to be thankful for! Life is good down here! Looking forward to new adventures - we'll keep you posted!