2025: Real Estate Edition

As I've been thinking about the past year, our biggest accomplishment was our move to Essex. I hadn't listed it as as a written goal, but Jeff and I agreed that we wanted to move by October. Moving day was October 3rd. 

Of course, I can't say that we've finished moving. Most of our clothes are still in boxes in our closet (thank God for a walk-in bedroom closet.) Boxes took over our dining room/library on day one and show few signs of retreating. We'll get there someday Our next focus is bureaus/drawers in the bedroom.

I've been thinking a lot about the whole moving process, our options, and the choice we made. First, I'm glad we didn't select Delaware. We would have been settling. The first place we really liked wasn't dog friendly and didn't have a good neighborhood to walk in. We didn't like the ownership/condominium status in the Milford condos we visited. We also looked into having a single family home built for us, but the builder was the defendant in a class action lawsuit. The allegations were disturbing.

We decided to look in Maryland. We seriously considered a unit we saw in Perryville, Maryland. It had three bedrooms, two baths, two balconies, a wonderful soaking tub, a walk-in shower, covered parking, indoor mailboxes, and a view of the Susquehanna River.

It was the town itself that was the problem. It was a little too isolated--about a half hour from medical facilities. After Jeff had been hospitalized in October, he said "Imagine if we were in Perryville." I would never have been able to rely on Annette and George. 

Then we headed down to the Baltimore area. We liked a a unit in this complex--Hopewell Pointe. We took a return trip to see it and the Perryville unit. We saw another four or five condos in the Baltimore area. 

This place was by far the best for us. I liked Essex from the first time we saw it September 2024. I like our location. Our street consists of two condominium complexes. The buildings are 20-25 years old--a far cry from Sheffield Ridge. 

We are half a mile from Old Eastern Road, near the pool, the boat slips, and the trails. Jace and I have been on all the trails and walked around the neighborhood as well. When it gets warmer, we'll walk down Old Eastern to a nearby park. We'll also get a chance to enjoy the pool; it closed in mid-September. It will be nicer to explore, in general. 

Here's to 2026.

Christmas Movies 2025

We mixed things up a bit with our holiday films this year. 

First, I only caught parts of It's a Wonderful Like and The Man Who Came to Dinner. I may watch them over the weekend--it's still Christmas week. We did see all of Christmas in Connecticut.

We watched The Bishop's Wife for the first time. I wasn't impressed, though I can't explain exactly why. Something was just missing for me. 

We rewatched Die Hard and Home Alone. Both hold up well. It's been years since I've seen Home Alone--I forgot the initial set-up with Joe Pesci as a crooked cop.

Maybe I'll get around to White Christmas and Holiday Inn some day.

Revisiting 2025: Reading Edition

I'm currently in the middle of The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel--it will be Book 17 if I finish it in the next five days.

I've read the following: 

Five Points The 19th-Century New York City Neighborhood That Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections, and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum by Tyler Anbinder

Anne Boleyn A King's Obsession by Alison Weir

Henry VIII and His Court by Neville Williams

Road of Bones A Billy Boyle World War II Mystery by James R. Benn

The Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr

The Autobiography of Henry VIII With Notes by His Fool Will Sommers by Margaret George

Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: A Savannah Story by John Berendt

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler

Green Darkness by Anya Seton

Catharine of Aragon by Garrett Mattingly 

Anne Neville Queen to Richard III by Michael Hicks

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Mothers of Invention Women of the Slaveholding South in the American Civil War by Drew Gilpin Faust.

I've re-read these books:

The Mystery of the Tolling Bell by Carolyne Keene

The Concubine by Norah Lofts

Neptune Noir Edited by Rob Thomas

The Last Hollywood Romance by Beverly Bloomberg

Of the 16 books, five were histories, four were historical fiction, two science fiction, and five other fiction.  Tudor England was well represented in five books completed, one in the progress and one a re-read.

My favorite books of the year were Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler.

My reading total of 16 books was my lowest since 2017 when I started tracking number of books read. There were two main reasons for my low total. First is the move: I spent so much time decluttering, packing, and organizing that I didn't have much leisure time. Some nights, I just passed out as soon as I hit the pillow. I'm also spending too much time reading things online. Yes, I like to keep up with the news, but there's so much frivolous, if not actual garbage content that it's not the best use of my reading time.

I need to check out the Essex Public Library soon. 

Our First Christmas in Essex

Another quiet Christmas at home, but it's our new home. After Christmas breakfast, fruit, and champagne, we opened gifts in the living room in front of the fireplace--not the greatest picture, but I'm too lazy to take another. 

Now, we're watching Christmas in Connecticut--a favorite screwball Christmas comedy. I'm happy to be home; glad that I don't have to go anywhere. 

Happy Festivus to All!

I wonder if the Seinfeld cast and crew had any idea how many people would embrace Festivus and make it a part of their lives. 

Even if it is just us crazy people.

To Spike

It was ten years ago today that we said goodbye to Spike. He was a wonderful dog, and we think of him often.

Spike was just over a year old when we brought him home; he spent 13 years with us.

Spike was fun--he loved to chase and be chased by other dogs. He loved running and swimming after his balls. He was a good traveler too. 

Here's to Spike. 

Homebody as Winter Arrives

It's been a quiet weekend. I try to avoid errands on the weekends, especially in the Christmas season. I'm also trying not to spend too much money, and the weather has been cold, so I'm happy to stay home.

I cleaned, did a lot of laundry, cooked, made a shopping list for our Christmas meals, unpacked and organized, and read. 

I had been so obsessed with this move, the expense, and issues with our Norwalk condo--how could I have been so naive to think it would sell quickly--that I almost forgot that this is our first holiday season in our beautiful new home. Cause for celebration.

It will be just the three of us this Christmas, and that's good. We can get started on new traditions. 

Jace and I had a wonderful walk yesterday afternoon. It was sunny, about 50 degrees and the wind that seems to have been plaguing us for weeks was absent. I insisted we walk on the trails and boardwalk, even though Jace made it a shorter walk than I would have liked. It was the best walk in weeks. 

I like to call today the darkest day of the year rather than the shortest one. Everyday will be lighter from now on. Another thing worth celebrating.

TCM Movie Nght: In Our Time (1944)

I had never seen this film, but I like Ida Lupino and Paul Henreid and fighting the Nazis, so we watched. Unfortunately, it wasn't that good. 

The opening setup is similar to that of Rebecca: a young woman, traveling in Europe with her employer, has a whirlwind romance with a handsome aristocrat.  The film took too long setting up the whirlwind romance before moving on to Jennifer's and Stephan's married life which includes updating farming practices and relationships with the peasants. The script was all over the place.

In the background, the threat of the Nazis is brewing. When the Nazis invade Poland, the film deteriorates into schmaltzy wartime propaganda. 

A good idea, badly executed.

Catch-up Post: Snow, Celebrations, and Holiday Prep

We had our first measurable snowfall last Saturday night--two to three inches. Previously we had only experienced flurries. Funny, my friend insisted it doesn't snow here. Well, this has been the coldest December in 20 years.

Our building had a bite and sip holiday party last Friday. My salmon spread was a big hit. Jeff and I enjoyed ourselves. After about an hour, we brought Jace downstairs to join us. Talk about a big hit--he was quite charming. 

On Monday, I went to a celebration of life for my cousin's husband. There were many people there--I only knew two beside my cousins. It was very cold, but Sunday's snowstorm didn't cause any problems. I was happy I could attend. It truly was a celebration of Tom's life. 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we didn't do much in the way of Christmas decorating, but I can still see Christmas things I love around the living room. 

I'm going to cook this Christmas. I wasn't happy with the Whole Foods Thanksgiving meal and catering options for two or four are limited. I'm making filet mignon for Christmas Eve with scalloped potatoes, sauteed spinach, baby bella mushrooms, and crescent rolls. Jeff bought a Christmas pudding for dessert. I also have cheese with cranberries as an appetizer as well as soups. 

I'll make Christmas breakfast on Christmas Day. I haven't decided on dinner yet, but I want something easy. 

Two Months in Essex

Last Wednesday was the two-month anniversary of our moving day. 

We've done a lot of things in those two months.

• We bought new furniture: kitchen table and chairs, living room couch and chairs, bedside tables, Sleep Number bed. 
• We found a primary care physician and other doctors. 
• I got my Maryland driver's license and registration, including a Maryland Safety Inspection.
• We got a new TV and cellphones when old ones broke.

We did that even with a five day break to return to Connecticut and five days for Jeff in the hospital when I did virtually nothing.

Of course, there's a lot more to do. I am trying my best not to get overwhelmed. I need to focus and stick to my plans.

I underestimated  how long it would take me to acclimate myself to a new area. I'm still using GPS to get around, but less often. I've been frustrated with the various grocery stores. It's been hard to find things/brands I like. It's getting easier; having kandykakes readily available helps. 

We were here at Halloween and the neighborhood is into decorating. Even a part of the trail/boardwalk was decorated. Unfortunately, Jeff was in the hospital, so we weren't up for celebrating. 

Christmas decorations are pretty big too. I did our Christmas decorating on Sunday. It's pretty sparse. We decided not to buy a tree this year. In January, we trashed our old shedding artificial tree and don't want to deal with getting a new one. Hey, we need furniture. But if there are good post-Christmas sales, we'll keep our options open. 

Looking ahead to ringing in the New Year in our new home.