Thirty-One Frequently Asked Questions About Thirty-One
Please see the January 5, 2011 blog post for updated questions and answers!
Blog Hopping
Did you notice that I reorganized my links over there —->
Let me introduce you around. I’m sure most people who read my blog also read the other Sanford blogs, but we’ll start with those anyway! I’m too lazy to insert the hyperlinks so you’ll have to click on the links in the bar over there —-> to visit a site.
Anyone Hungry? is written by Lindsay. (On a side note, almost everyone else has her blog listed as Lindsay Rose but I love the name “Anyone Hungry” so I am sticking with it!) Lindsay is one of my very best friends. We have worked together for 3 years and she is like an aunt to my girls as well as being the other half of my brain more often than I care to admit. We keep each other sane at work. Lindsay is an incredible cook and she actually ENJOYS cooking. Go figure. She has this insane need to use mushrooms and tomatoes (both of which I hate), but I overlook that because she makes so many more awesome things. Check out her blog for the best cheesecake recipe ever!
Billy Liggett is the editor of The Sanford Herald and the host of The Rant radio show. Billy is fun to be around…unless he is watching Lost…then you must be s-i-l-e-n-t 
. I love Billy’s blog because you never know what he is going to write about…politics, TV, movies, food, newspapers, etc. Billy has an uncanny ability to write about topics that make people comment like crazy…who knew so many people would be so passionate about Dennis the Menace?
Born and Bred Ed just so happens to be my incredible husband. Although there may be a random political, personal, or religious post now and then, this blog is mainly about Tar Heel sports. I love my Tar Heels but I can only take so much sports talk before my eyes glaze over so I am thrilled that he has this blog to “talk” to people who understand more about sports than I do.
Brooke Wolfe Photography showcases the work of Sanford Herald photographer, Brooke Wolfe. I really admire Brooke’s photography and believe that she has an amazing career in front of her.
Amy Burns write the Burns’ Family Blog and The Confection Chronicles. Amy was born and bred in Sanford and has some great posts about things to see and do in Sanford. Amy is one of only two people on my Sanford list whom I have never met which is really strange since I feel like I know her! Amy has a shop inside Shops of Steele Street where she sells her confections. I’m told the Carolina Cake Truffles are to die for, but I wouldn’t know because every time I think I am going to try it, I end up buying toffee or chocolate covered marshmallows instead. yum!
Chelsea Kellner is the Education and City Government Report for The Sanford Herald. Obviously she posts on topics related to education and government, but I really enjoy the random posts (like about the origins of the chicken dance).
Gordon Anderson is a reporter for The Sanford Herald…and a co-host on The Rant…and in the band, Dr. Powerful. The fact that he shaved his head to raise money for charity should clue you in to the fact that he is a great person. I’m not sure what allowing himself to be tased by the Sheriff’s office should clue you in to though…:)
Melissa is “The Mama” in “I am the Mama”. Melissa is pregnant with baby #3 but finds time to blog about more than just being pregnant (I think it is amazing she finds time to blog at all)! Melissa also blogs about a wide range of topics which makes her blog interesting and fun to keep up with.
Jennifer St. Clair is a great friend, a good poker player, and an awesome cook (among other things). Our friendship began in a pretty wild way that maybe I’ll write about someday. Jennifer is married to Billy Liggett and works at the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce. Her blog is entitled “Life with Miles” and Miles has made it his mission in life to ensure that Jennifer never runs out of things to write about. I love reading about the crazy things Miles does. He is one smart dog.
Joe Jon moved in to my old neighborhood as I was moving out so we did not meet until the Stepping Stones Carnival. I was thrilled that he would come out to our event on a day when he had other things to do and other places to be. You can tell by reading his blog that he is a really great person with a good heart. He is passionate about many things, but it is evident that God and his family are at the top of the list.
OK, I keep telling myself I can’t stop yet because I don’t want the next person on my list to be offended (I am such a people pleaser)…but I really have to do some work so I will continue this tomorrow!
Celebrate Independence Day With Us!
Stepping Stones is running the Kids Area at the Fourth of July Celebration at Depot Park in Sanford. Come visit us from 2-5:30 this Friday. Bring your kids and come have some fun with us! If you would like to volunteer, please call me at 708-5599. Activities we have planned include:
- Huge Coffee Filter Hats – kids get to decorate their own hat and wear them home!
- Games (with prizes!)
- Parachute Play
- Obstacle Course
- Mural Painting (no worries moms…it is washable finger paint!)
- Bubbles
- Music and Movement
- Storytelling
- Face Painting (provided by Abundant Life)
Receive a patriotic gift with your donation of $1 or more to ESUCP Stepping Stones! We will also have our raffle tickets on sale! Don’t miss out on your chance to win an HD-TV and other fabulous prizes! For more information and a complete listing of raffle items and silent auction items, visit the Stepping Stones website.
My Vote for Best Vet
I have always loved All Animals because they are so sweet to our dogs. I love that they can board at Rae-Zor and have vet services from All Animals while they are there. I still love All Animals but Dr. Schaller and Willow Creek Animal Hospital get my vote for BEST VET! How many vets do you know that would call you at 9:00 at night just to let you know how great your cat was doing? Not only have they not made me feel like a pain when I call to check up on him, but Dr. Schaller actually reminded me tonight to call tomorrow to check on how he was doing.
I had just told Ed less than two minutes before she called that I really missed him and couldn’t wait to see him. It was so wonderful to have her call and tell me that he was so sweet and playful with everyone. She said he puts his paw out of his cage when people come near or walk by. He clanked his food dish up against the side of his cage at lunch today and they said he was ringing the dinner bell. He went from having to be hand fed yesterday to being a pig today and licking the bottom of the bowl and then hitting the bowl against the cage to indicate his desire for more food.
The best thing she told me is that she let him play in the office some today and he was throwing a toy mouse up in the air and batting at it. I obviously have no regrets at having his leg amputated, but I was sad that he would not be able to throw his toys up in the air and catch then with his paws as this is something he loves to do. I know in the grand scheme of things, it is a very small thing, but I am so happy that he is still throwing toys in the air with his front paw.
He also loved to grab Daisy’s face with both paws. I’m sure he’ll find a new way to play with and torture her.
I chose to take Buster to Dr. Schaller for several reasons. My friends Jenn and Kelly both raved about her and said they would be taking their dogs to her new office. However, the main reason I chose her is because my sister is friends with her and spoke highly of her and told me she has a tripod kitty that she rescued and operated on. I knew she would treat Buster as if he was her own. After talking to her tonight, I know without a doubt that she did just that and will continue to do so until we are able to take him home.
Buster
For those of you that don’t know, we adopted our neighborhood stray in December of this year. At that time, the vets determined that he was about 5 or 6 months old. Buster is a very special member of our family – he even plays with the dogs!
After weeks of two different antibiotics and pain medications, Buster’s x-ray showed that his leg is worse. We will be dropping Buster off at Willow Creek Animal Hospital on Monday. Dr Schaller will put him under anesthesia and perform a chest x-ray. I hope and pray that the x-ray is clear and that she does not see anything suspicious to indicate that the cancer has spread beyond his leg. If she does, there will be no need to go forward with surgery.
If the x-ray is clear, Dr. Schaller will be amputating Buster’s front left leg (you can see him holding it up in the picture above). His beautiful fur will have to be shaved and he will have a super long incision. We will not be able to see him for days, but I am confidant that the staff at Wilow Creek will love him like their own. They have all been so wonderful through this whole ordeal. Buster has been there several times lately for x-rays and tests and they have all commented on how gorgeous and sweet he is.
They will be able to make sure he is doing well and not jumping up and down off of furniture and counters. They can adjust his pain meds and watch for infection. We won’t have to worry about Daisy licking his incision and he won’t have to be home alone. (Can you tell I am having to convince myself that it is a good thing that he will be with them and not us??)
Buster hasn’t been using his paw very much at all for weeks so I know he will adapt very easily to being a “tripod” kitty. Dr. Schaller said someone once told her that God gives cats and dogs 3 legs and a spare. My only concern really (besides the cost!) is the result of the chest x-ray. Please, please, please let it be clear so that we can have our Buster with us for many more years!
My Best of Lee County
I am so shamelessly stealing this blog idea from Billy Liggett…thanks for the idea, Billy!
In the category of FOOD:
Best Milkshake – Java Express – this is a new discovery for me. I treated Leah to a milkshake today while Hailey was at art. It was WAY too big for a 2 year old so I HAD to sneak some tastes. It was the perfect amount of chocolate, it was creamy without being too sweet and it was thick without feeling like you were going to suck the straw up through your brain.
Best Appetizers/Bar Food – Local Joe’s - the Potato Skins are super thick and covered in cheese and bacon and the onion rings are just right.
Best Spinach Dip – Jennifer St. Clair…but you can’t just call up and order take-out from her house. La Dolce Vita has the creamiest, but Hams wins my vote by virtue of the bacon on top. Bacon makes just about anything better!
Best Bacon Cheeseburger (see, there’s the bacon again!) – For years I would have said Big T’s but Andy’s wins the prize. I just wish they wouldn’t all yell hello at you when you walk in. It annoys me. Also try Local Joe’s burgers as a wrap!
Best Frozen Mocha – Java Express. hands down.
Best Breakfast – Waffle House – we love having breakfast for dinner!
Best Chinese Food – King Chinese Buffet
Best Sandwich – Vidalia Chicken Salad at Java Express – make sure you get it with a side of warmed potato salad.
Best Comfort Food – Dairy Bar!
In the category of SHOPPING:
Best place to buy clothes – Maurice’s - cute and affordable
Best place to buy “trendy” clothes, purses, and shoes – Hallmark
Best place to buy accessories – Tie between Shops of Steele Street and Maurice’s
Best place to buy gifts – Shops of Steele Street
Best place to buy art supplies – Hobby Shop
Best place to buy educational supplies – Building Knowledge
Best place to buy dance shoes – Payless
In the category of SERVICES:
Best Lawyer/Law Firm - Ed Page at Page Law Office, of course!
Best Child Care – Easter Seals UCP Stepping Stones Children’s Center
Best Home Repair – RSJ Construction
Best Heating/Air – 72 degrees - We had to get a new furnace and all new duct-work and they were awesome!
Best Realtors – Linda McNeill (Central Carolina Realty) and Shane Cox (Prudential)
Best Security System Provider – CPI
Best Car Repair Shop – Perry Brothers
Best OBGYN/Midwife – Wesley Tyler
Best Pediatrician – Andy Tuss…except he moved to TN (traitor) so the jury is still out on this one!
Best Dentist – Dr. Thomas Hincks
Best Dog Boarding – Rae-Zor Boarding, Grooming, and Daycare - finally a place our dogs LOVE to be while we are on vacation!
Best “class” for kids – Art classes by Lisa Mathis at Art Studio
Best Bargain – Gymnastics and Dance classes through Lee County Parks and Recreation
I’m sure there are plenty of things that I missed that I will kick myself for later…but I have been writing this outside on my deck and Leah just came outside wearing a shirt, panties, and two different colored socks.
Page Law Office Updates
- This is Ed’s first week on the appointed counsel list. He had 7 clients yesterday and several asked for his card after he handled their case. A great start!
- AFTER we ordered stationary, postcards, and business cards from Vistaprint.com with Ed’s phone number, he was told the number was retired. Thankfully, since he had been told the number was available, they took the number out of retirement and hopefully that is all set now.
- The big bonus for me in all of this is that we got new living room furniture thanks to the new office (and my birthday). Ed needed a bookshelf and a table for the waiting room so he took our living room bookshelf, coffee table, and end tables and we bought new stuff. We bought the coffee table and end tables from the previous owner of our house and I really like them, but they all have glass insets which are scary with young children. The amount of Windex used on them is equally as scary. We got a bookshelf, coffee table, TV stand, and end table from the Avington collection at Target. Someday we will own furniture that we didn’t have to put together ourselves but with young children and a teething kitten, I am happy to wait…and I LOVE the furniture. Happy Birthday to me!
- Our parents have generously agreed to allow us to have or borrow furniture they are not using so hopefully Ed’s office will be as equipped as it needs to be until he has built up his practice a little and can buy new stuff.
- We have finally decided on a sign design. Many kudos to Stephen Scully at Applied Graphics, Inc. for all of his hard work and patience. I can’t wait to see the sign installed in front of the office!
- If you live in Sanford and you need a lawyer, you know who to contact! Just click on the Page Law Office ad to the right of this post!
Page Law Office Opening March 1
The lease is signed! Page Law Office will open at 315 Courtland at the intersection of Courtland and Woodland on March 1.
Page Law Office
Yesterday was an exciting day for the new business. Ed officially registered the name of his office as “Page Law Office” (thanks to all of you who gave input on the name). He also paid the first month’s rent for what will be his office. The paperwork is not complete yet but when it is, I will post a picture and let you know where it is located. I will tell you that we couldn’t be happier about the location. It is not furnished so we will have to start from scratch which is both exciting and daunting at the same time. I am most excited about decorating the walls. I am going to take photos of Sanford landmarks and blow them up for the reception/waiting room.
We came up with a rough idea of what we want the logo/sign to look like and Ed talked to a few sign companies yesterday. I can’t wait to finalize the logo and actually see his sign in front of his office. It is amazing to me how quickly things started to come together once Ed made the decision to “hang out his shingle” and open Page Law Office. There is so much left to do, but he has made a good start and will hopefully start taking cases the first of March.
