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Submitted by darrow on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 10:52am.
29 days and counting until my family arrives in Olympia! My mind is racing with thoughts of everything that I have been reading on OlyBlog and in other places...I'm excited!!
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I Hope They're Good Thoughts!
Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 11:37am.I'm not sure if you live here now & your extended family is visiting or you're visiting as a family but Oly has great places share!
Have a great time and if you need any pointers, there's always somebody here offering good suggestions!
My suggestion, make sure you eat at Dockside Cafe & Wine Bar on the wharf! Lunch is very affordable and good! Then you can walk off your fabulous lunch with a gorgeous walk along the wharf!
"Do not mistake for conspiracy and intrigue what can best be explained by stupidity and incompetence." - Unknown
I keep forgetting
Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 11:39am.Welcome and welcome again!
Submitted by enpen on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 12:51pm.A 29 day and counting welcome to Olympia, then. Last year at this same time my family moved here and was first acquainted with the place and its people from OlyBlog. It's been wonderful and welcoming. I hope your move goes well and when you get in and settled enough we should make some plans to meet up and welcome you in person. It's good to be an Olympian.
I was just going to mention
Submitted by Rob Richards on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 3:43pm.Is everything all set? If
Submitted by Norm on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 4:15pm.Is everything all set? If you have any questions about local stuff please post them. And an early "Welcome" for you too.
Wow!
Submitted by darrow on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 2:47am.OK, a little more specifics about us...we will be arriving in toto (husband, myself, two stepsons (13 and 11), two dogs, and one cat who is in fact in charge of everything) around October 17, 2007 after bisecting the U.S. via (rented) RV from the Augusta, GA area to Washington.
We have made arrangements to rent a house on "60th Loop, S.E., Olympia" which of course is a bit of a gamble but my husband and I decided renting sight unseen would be better than making an offer on a bit of property sight unseen. The leasing agent is a place called "Madrona Mortgage." I'm just crossing my fingers that you all don't come back and yell, "SLUM LORDS!" (argh...) The specific person that I am dealing with, Rachel Dillingham, has been very nice and will work with us to have the house open and accessible so we will be able to deposit children, dogs etc. ASAP.
My husband will start working for the Department of Information Services for the State of Washington after we arrive. I have the dubious honor of "housewife" for the first time in my career...although I went to the trouble of getting a nursing degree and a law degree, my multiple sclerosis has caught up with me and I am on disability. I'm still trying to balance that concept--stay challenged but don't overdo things so much that I'm just fried. It's a strange existence.
Point of view wise, my husband and I both would have been quite happy being born a generation earlier (we're 34). We believe in sustainability, organic food (to the extent possible--where we are at least it is expensive!), health promotion, and the general tenets espoused by "humanism" (although I'm still not sure how I feel about the after life).
My 11-year-old stepson is wild about Kung Fu and just passed his test for "yellow sash, 1st degree." My 13-year-old stepson is a bit of a computer whiz (at least per this area's standards). They both consistently surprise me with their topics of conversation (I have to remember I'm talking to kids and not two little adults--or Statler and Waldorf from the "Muppet Show"....)
At any rate, sorry for the tome, but I wanted to give you all a bit of description. We would be honored to meet up with people whenever that could be arranged.
Cheers,
Holly "Darrow" (chose that screen name in honor of the greatest litigator who ever lived IMHO)
Within four hours drive...
Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 6:19am.If you are comfortable in a car for long periods, you'll find an ocean, two mountain ranges, a rain forest a few huge fresh water lakes, a huge saltwater sound, islands, range land, canyons and a desert. Not much more you can ask for. We substitute glaciers for icebergs.
Enjoy!
http://thurstonblog.blogspot.com/
Happy trails.
Submitted by Rick on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 7:35am.We'll be seeing ya soon!
ps: someone really should warn her about the caimans, don't ya think?
When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow
Shhhh!
Submitted by Norm on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 8:48am.Wait till they get here and
Submitted by OperaGirl on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 8:50am.Wait till they get here and it's too late to leave! Mwahahahaha.....
"Anytime I see something screech across a room and latch onto someone's neck, and the guy screams and tries to get it off, I have to laugh, because what is that thing."
Welcome
Submitted by DC on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 8:44am.I think it's pretty cool you're using this board to get in touch with the community before you arrive. I have some feedback on a few things in your post.
The neighborhood you chose is just fine. I like the shared greenbelt it looks like you and your new neighbors have (checked out google maps). I can't vouch for the house itself, but it's a middle-class suburban area, with many conveniences and easy accessibility to just about everything. The only complaint you might have is the rapid development that's happened in that part of town, but I think that only bothers those who have been here awhile and are used to thing the way they are
For organic, sustainable living, Olympia has a lot to choose from. There's the very popular Olympia Food Co-op:
http://www.olympiafood.coop/
The seasonal farmers market (which is totally awesome): http://www.olympiafarmersmarket.com/
And probably many more organic living resources that I don't know.
I don't have first hand experience, but I have heard House of Kung Fu has some really great teachers and classes:
http://houseofkungfu.org/
You should know, that the rumors are true, it does rain here.
Just be prepared for that...
and caimans.
Your new neighborhood
Submitted by Meta Hogan on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 8:33am.The only complaint you might have is the rapid development that's happened in that part of town...
The really cool part is that your new neighborhood is well-organized against irresponsible development. Many residents of this neighborhood understand the environmental implications of living in a watershed, as well as the livability issues around stormwater management, and they are actively working to educate the city council and the public about these issues. Check it out here.
Has anyone told them
Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 9:07am.Not Sure What Your Budget is But...
Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 9:55am.There are some really nice houses for sale in my neighborhood on the west side if you want to PM or email me for more info!
And they're NOT postage size lots with thousands of houses crammed in!
JstPlnOnry
jstplnonry@yahoo.com
"Do not mistake for conspiracy and intrigue what can best be explained by stupidity and incompetence." - Unknown
A late welcome from me too.
Submitted by oldtimeydave on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 12:43pm.A late welcome from me too. I am also an Oly transplant but a third generation Northwesterner so it isn't quite the same.
Yeah about the House of Kung Fu. I heard great things about that guy and his classes. He's gotta be the best in town.
Oly has lots to offer that is in line with your interests however you should know that you might arrive right at the beginning of our 8 months of overcast/rainy season. The other 4 months make it all worth while.
Dave White - "Old Timey Dave"
Oldtime Design & Beverage Blog
Hey,
Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 1:15pm.Yeah, for those 8 months
Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 1:27pm.that is one of those poems
Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 1:43pm.Agreed. I grew up with it so
Submitted by oldtimeydave on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 2:38pm.Agreed. I grew up with it so not only am I used to it, I also look forward to it.
Although by the time the 8 month kicks in thos of us who didn't take a sunny vacation somewhere in February are ready for a little sun.
Dave White - "Old Timey Dave"
Oldtime Design & Beverage Blog
true
Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 4:43pm.Ha ha... Its funny because
Submitted by oldtimeydave on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 9:50pm.Ha ha... Its funny because its true.
Dave White - "Old Timey Dave"
Oldtime Design & Beverage Blog
Ahh the Northwest is calling to me...
Submitted by darrow on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 3:05pm.As a hack genealogist (imperfect technique, really doing it more for fun than precision), I came a possible link in my distant past to one Thorfinn "Skullsplitter," Earl of Orkney. Perhaps a bit of Viking lurking in my past, or perhaps the fact that my mostly Swedish husband grew up in Eatonville, WA, or some predisposition for cold and rainy climes causes me to be absolutely ecstatic at the chance to escape the sweltering heat of Georgia and move toward a place much more to my liking :)
And you bring up WB Yeats too! This is fantastic...I was just reading "The Second Coming" the other day and actually thinking about the abomination created by the Bush dynasty and the "New World Order..." As Yeats predicted:
"And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
"...The blood-dimmed tide is loosed..."
Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 3:26pm.Nice tie-in of poetry to Northwest phenomena,
Submitted by Debmonstrative on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 5:40pm.G. Also, I will be self-promoting here and refer to more of the same on my little bitty recent thread about fog.
One thing you MUST investigate when you are out here is the Mima Mounds. (Pronounced MY-MA, I am sure.)
Besides the stark Mima Mounds, the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
Submitted by Debmonstrative on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 6:05pm.is a must-see at all times of the year, but if you can walk the loop in the autumn when the weather first starts to hit, it's exhilarating, and also offers a view of large types and numbers of migrating birds.
About half of the 5.5 mile loop closes sometime in October, though, and doesn't open again until January.
http://www.fws.gov/nisqually/trails.html
Welcome
Submitted by stevenl on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 11:02pm.And have a fun and safe trip. I'm sure if you scan through OlyBlog you'll get a realistic idea of the positives and negatives of the Olympia area. The Books/Collections feature here is a nice little classification of this area you might find of use.
We do not have lightning bugs, but we do have enormous slugs.
we do not have lightning
Submitted by Rob Richards on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 11:32am.bu we do have frightening slugs
The derth of lightening
Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 12:06pm.Once, my friends and I had a
Submitted by OperaGirl on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 12:45pm.Once, my friends and I had a slug fight where we spent about 20 minutes hurling giant slugs at eachother after a rain had brought them all out in the yard. As I flung a giant one it hit my friend square on the forehead and just stuck there. Both highly disgusting yet amusing as he sat there looking befuddled.
"Anytime I see something screech across a room and latch onto someone's neck, and the guy screams and tries to get it off, I have to laugh, because what is that thing."
That's a good way to contract
Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 12:49pm.That's cruel! I was never
Submitted by Mary Baker Eddy on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 1:04pm.That's nasty
Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 1:13pm.Ha Ha If Olympians can do
Submitted by oldtimeydave on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 2:56pm.Ha Ha If Olympians can do anything it is divert a good forum topic to something completely irrelevent. I love it!
Dave White - "Old Timey Dave"
Oldtime Design & Beverage Blog
We're welcoming people to
Submitted by Mary Baker Eddy on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 3:21pm.(Be careful of buying the generic brand Cream of Mushrooms at the dollar stores here - The northwest brand uses slugs instead of 'shrooms)
Olympia is concidered on of the nation's
Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 3:03pm.How many ADD kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Submitted by Rob Richards on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 3:23pm.How many AD&D kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Submitted by Mary Baker Eddy on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 3:27pm.or..
Submitted by Rob Richards on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 3:30pm.No way
Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 3:34pm.Speaking of geeks...
Submitted by darrow on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 3:38pm.That's awesome.
Submitted by Rick on Thu, 09/20/2007 - 9:05pm.The Northwest has one of the highest concentrations of endangered languages in North America.
When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow