It's done!

So after much research and salon review, I found a place in what appeared to be Little Korea that had good reviews and didn't cost $150/haircut. She didn't speak English, but she sure could cut hair. Good thing I took a picture. Came out cute.

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After

Here's what I'm thinkin...

I've only wanted to wedge my hair since I was 11, but was always too chicken to go so short-kudos to niece, Julia.I'm still too chicken.

However, I found this style that would be a happy compromise with length and cuteness. I want something shorter that will take less time in the morning to blow dry and/or style, since I will be waking up much earlier than I am accustomed. I have given it a jazzy new name for my own amusement.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Atlanta Home

We have been enjoying our little unemployment vacation since the move, and have managed to unpack most everything...though not everything has grown feet and walked to its proper place just yet. We love Ikea and have taken selveral trips already. Within two minutes of the house is downtown Decatur (which is an adorable little town), bank of America, Walmart, Aldi, Kroger, Zaxby's, movie theater. We like.

All the furballs have adjusted beautifully. They are most thankful for their giant lookout window in the living room where they can watch all the neighborhood action-country pets move to the big city and all. I start work this coming week, so I'm leaving Josh to finish up-wink wink. He still has a little while before classes start. Here are some before and after shots of what we've done so far.

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Chimney Swifts

Amongst all our packing, we noticed Amelia,the cat, paying particular attention to the fireplace (it already being bound shut with tape to prevent her opening the doors with her paws and climbing up after the chimney swift birds that live in the...well you get it). We untaped the doors to find that four baby birds had fallen out of the nest and lay chirping in the soot. And, having packed any flashlights we owned, I stuck my head and a candle in the fireplace to see that the flew was partially opened and there was one baby bird clinging for dear life to a piece of nest hanging from the flew. I grabbed him and his siblings, and my assistant, while simultaneously keeping the cat from devouring them, handed me a plastic bowl and a paper towel, and I made them a paper nest, Josh shoved it above the flew and closed it. Since then, we have heard an abundance of chirping. Even better, early this morning, I heard a lot of motherly fluttering and excited baby chirping. So we hope all is well.

baby bird and bits of nest

egg bits

I have since investigated the chimney swifts and learned that ideally I would have nailed the bowl to the side of the chimney (fat chance), because swifts carry twigs and cement them to the side of the chimney with their saliva. Their saliva glans work double time during the nest part of the year for this reason, and it was no wonder, then, to find that falling swift nests are a common occurance. Every website I came across had a falling nest story. I cant see how an ashy wall and bird spittle would make very good foundation for a home. The bits of nest I did find, however, were surprisingly concrete. The other thing I noticed was that the babies, though they couldn't have been more than a day or two old, were stuck tight to the small piece of nest they each took with them. They have feet designed to cling to the side of chimneys and trees, and special spiney tail feathers that poke out and help them hold on to the side of the chimney. And yet, I read their actual feet are so weak they don't walk. So i wasn't surprised to find Swifts are in the Apodidae (Swift Family), a name that means "no feet". SEE COOL PICTURES HERE.

If ever you find yourself babysitting while packing...

Afternoon cuddle ritual

Is this ridiculous or what? Greta has to cuddle with Josh on the couch when he gets home every afternoon for about 30 minutes. Our poor children are going to have to be aggresive to get a spot on the couch when that day comes.

Oddities from Atlanta

While browsing through my camera at all the pictures I took during our many trips to Atlanta, I came across a couple I thought I would share.

Picture #1: This is a gas station we stopped at across from a rather extensive Cemetery. This guy apparently didn't make the cut. I would haunt them, wouldn't you!?

Picture #2 If you ever are so lucky as to find yourself homeless and house hunting,

as we were, you may come across landlords who give you the combination to a lock box. This is a padlock type contraption they hang over the front door that has a special combo that releases the key to the house. We were shocked that so many people used these, allowing us to peruse through their houses unshaparoned. But with that libery comes surprises.

Dead bird in the shower! May he rest in peace. Poor birdie. The house was cute, incidentally, just wouldn't fit any of our furniture.

Picture #3 And this is the most super fabulous church in all of Atlanta, but Josh says he doesn't want to be Episcopal.