Carving Pumpkins!

Last night at English Conversation class we carved pumpkins. I have five Asians at my table. One was absent but the other four and I enjoyed carving pumpkins. I have not done it since I was a kid. They had never before carved pumpkins.

My Condo!

Over the last three years I have lurked online to find what condos were available in town. I wanted a Senior community rather than a condo where I did not know my neighbors. I figured out what condo buildings where affordable, or perhaps affordable, but only one seemed possible. When I returned from Africa I got an apartment but with the idea that it would not be a permanent move. I got the lease for ten months but the lease said that I had to inform the managers two months in advance if I were moving. That meant that they needed to know by the end of September.
On June 30th I officially retired from the Alliance and then got serious about finding a condo. My apartment was just too expensive to keep with only a Social Security check coming in along with savings. I got regular emails telling me what condos were available in Omaha. Then a one bedroom came up in this condo building. I really wanted a two bedroom but decided to at least look at the one bedroom condo. I contacted the realator. Then I found out there was a two bedroom condo available in the same building so I visited both of them. The two bedroom home came with a garage on the ground floor but the one bedroom did not. That was the selling point. I needed underground parking!

The garage is actually below ground on the South side but on the first level on the North side.
My lease in the apartment was up at the end of November but the manager found someone to rent it in November so I got out of the lease one month early. I signed for my third floor, two bedroom condo on October 30th and started moving in. On October 16th, with the help of 13-14 people, I got moved in just 2 hours and 45 minutes. That was from loading the truck, driving across town and unloading the truck! I am now in my HOME.

This is a Senior community. One must be 57 years old or more to buy a condo here. There is a community room with Friday morning coffee breaks, potluck dinners and other events. They know I drink tea instead of coffee so bought tea just for me! November 2nd we're having a catered Turkey Dinner. Since it will be my first official meal in the "house", it is free this time!
The building was built in 1981 by the American Baptists. It is next to a Care Center but is no longer associated with either. The condo's association is made up of those who live here with elected officers from the residents. There is

a company that manages the property and keeps the financial records. We pay a monthly association fee.
The 43 condos do not have a laundry in them but downstairs there is a community laundry room. We sign up for our time slot for doing laundry and then have the whole room to ourselves. The machines are part of the association fees, not coin operated. Also, it seems like many have purchased utility carts to get back and forth from the laundry so I have one now but it is still in a box, not yet put together!! More photos of my condo when I get settled!!

Refrigerator Magnets!

Over the years I have moved my refrigerator magnets with me. I lived in Africa but when I would return to the States for six months or a year, I would bring my magnets. I just moved into my newly purchased condo and finished putting my refrigerator magnets up. That is my signal that I am HOME. Now that my move is over, I need to get to work at losing weight. I've been using my move to eat a lot more fast food than normal. I now have good food in my refrigerator and need to start fixing my own meals!

Mini Reunion!

On October 9th we had a mini reunion dinner here in the Omaha area. Two of my brothers came into town as did nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, etc. Along with those of us who live in town, including cousins, we had a nice group to help celebrate Mom's 90th Birthday again.