This weekend has been great. Friday, I left work to come home and make some great chili for a chili party my neighbors and I were having. I ended up making a quick turkey and bean chili and while it wasn’t the typical all day crock pot affair I normally do, I got quite a few compliments. I made some spaghetti at home to have with the leftovers and it’s been fantastic! It’s so nice to have great neighbors to hang out with, three more people I know in AZ Bob and Jessy came to the chili party as well and hung out for a little while afterwards, but we were all a little tired.

Yesterday I had a very fortunate day. I accomplished some things I have been meaning to get done for awhile, and while no, I did not do any more unpacking, I did feel satisfied at the end.

I started off having the furniture cleaners come over promptly at 9 to clean my furniture. It was nice to have it not take up my entire day. However, it looks like it didn’t go very well as they are dry this morning and still have stains. I am not quite sure what I am going to do.

I then headed over to a branch of my Credit Union to get a debit/atm card. I was supposed to receive one in the mail as the branch in my office building doesn’t give them out on site, but it has been three weeks. They informed me other branches hand them out immediately. On the way, I found a great car wash, which I have been trying to find for awhile. So, not only did I find the branch close to my house and get my debit/ATM card, but I found a great car wash and was able to get all the crud from my car’s transport to Phoenix off. They dry the car both hand and with air guns and the car wash is completely touch free and can be watched from inside. Of course, as coincidence would have it, the card that was sent to me was at my house when I returned from my trip.

I also went to the store and got a few little supplies (including more water). The tape water in Tempe is not the greatest, and I probably won’t even be able to give it to the sugar gliders. Therefore, I decided to invest in something I have wanted for awhile, which is the PUR filtration system for your faucet that includes the flavors as well. We all know I am not a fan of water to begin with. I’m not a fan of soft drinks so much either. I really love juices and kool-aid (thanks mom) which almost just as bad. Hopefully this will help. I had some minor issues attaching it to my faucet last night, but I’ll address those later and definitely let you know how this ends up turning out.

I was also able to finally pay all my bills from the past few months which was a big load off my back (and pile off my counter).

Along with that included scheduling the flight for my sugar gliders to Phoenix. Morrigan and Tequila Rose will be here next Thursday evening and I am so excited. That gives me so much motivation to have everything organized for when they arrive. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have missed them even though I know they are being spoiled by their babysitter (I get pictures constantly to prove it). Don’t plan on seeing me much Thursday or Friday

I was also able to finally register a couple domains I have been meaning to do forever. I am hoping this gives me motivation to get my portfolio up and running (as I have registered my name) and start blogging on my usability blog, Snuggle Taxonomy which I also registered a domain name for.

I meant to blog in regards to all of this last night before I went to bed, but I crashed after being up late Friday. Today I am going to look at a center in Phoenix to volunteer at. Hopefully afterwards I will be able to get some unpacking in before I go to the Pistons/Suns game with Bob, Jessy, and ERIC!! Eric’s flight gets in today so we are celebrating.

I am truly grateful for the amazing adventures I have been having since I arrived in Phoenix. I am progressing well at finding the balance I hoped I would and having the courage to try new things and start a new life here. I probably forgot to blog about World Usability Day in the chaos so maybe I will add that soon.

Thursday night we received notification that our complex’s clubhouse, pool, and exercise room were ready for their debut. Yesterday from 4-6 in the evening they were holding a wine and cheese party in the clubhouse to hand out keys and celebrate. I figured I had nothing else to do and I did want my key so I headed on over around 4:30 after work. I sat down at the bar, started to have some wine and soon ended up in conversation with a few other women in the complex and one of their husbands.

I also ended up in a debate about Wal-Mart with one of the employees boyfriends and another resident as well. And no, it was not due to the amount of wine I had, I really just cannot stand Wal-Mart. So much so, that I won’t even link to them as I speak their horrid name.

We easily cleaned off the few bottles of wine there, and I discovered a red that I actually don’t mind. It was Layer Cake Malbec. Mmmm. Not that bad. They had a sparkling white, but it was a brut and not that exciting but still not horrible. I got a giggle out of everyone staring oddly at the cheeses with “odd colored rines.”

At 6 when they kicked us out because office hours were over, we all decided we were not done hanging out. Elisa and Brittany and I headed out in my car for some drinks while Kayla walked her dog. While in the fruit section for an orange, we discovered that there are actually red Bartlett pears. Did anyone else know this? I have an interesting photo of Elisa showcasing the pears, but I’ll post just the pears instead.

We all met up at my house along with Elisa’s husband and ordered pizza from Barros (mmmm) and played RB2 and had some drinks. It was so much fun that we all decided to have a chili party next Friday. Kayla and I will be making chili, and there will be some desserts and drinks (yummy).

The best part I think is when we all exchanged phone numbers and emails on napkins when we all had our blackBerrys sitting out well within reach.

I found balance today by finding some potential new friends. I also had the courage to go do something by myself, which might be hard to believe for people, but I really do have a hard time doing that in a social setting.