"28 Weeks Later"

One of these people is 28 week pregnant, the other just looks 28 weeks pregnant. Can you guess which one is which? (I know this is nasty but it was the only way Heather would let me publish her picture.) This is proof, plain and simple, that when Heather gets hungry (which is most of the time) I have to eat too. ha ha ha (Heather's going to kill me).

Things We Hate About the N.C.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m really happy in our new home. But a few things about the Tar Heel state make me long for the more-familiar quirks of Salt Lake City (i.e., getting carded when buying coffee).

Keep in mind, I am taking my life into my hands in publishing this list on the Wide World of the Web. North Carolinians are extremely hostile towards outsiders (damn Yankees!) who move to their state and then try to change things. (Never mind that we’re Westerners… if you’re not from the South, you’re a Yankee.)

* The aforementioned “Us vs. the damn Yankees” mentality. If you don’t want them here, stop selling them your land.

* The locked-tight-as-Fort-Knox public schools. Seriously? I can’t even walk on the track?

* The large, off-leash dog in every yard. Ever tried walking a petrified 14 lb. terrier through a neighborhood full of irate pit bulls and Dobermans?

* The amused dog owners who assure me that “he’s friendly” while Killer decides to see what terrier tastes like.

* The year-round humidity that makes 75 degrees feel like 90 (and 40 degrees feel like 28).

* The wide variety of insect life, all of which thirsts for human blood. Scott’s in particular.

* The single bridge that connects Leland (our little town) to the thriving metropolis of Wilmington. The single drawbridge, which, when raised or blocked by a not-infrequent traffic accident, causes traffic to back up for a good 10 miles.

* Fried food. It’s not that I have anything against fried food in general, but can’t you put at least one salad on the menu? Just one?

* Jaywalking. It’s pretty much legal here, so driving the city streets is a white-knuckle adventure in dodging wandering pedestrians (or not, depending on how bad a day you’ve had).

My Restaurant Review

This is a post that I will be updating often. Here are some reviews of the local restaurants (no chains) that Heather and I have been too. (The most recent will be at the top)

COST
$ - Cheep, Cheep, Cheep
$$ - A little pricier but still affordable
$$$ - Expensive, but won’t break the bank
$$$$ - Once a year, maybe

RATING
♥♥♥♥ - HOLY CRAP, this place ROCKS
♥♥♥ - Fantastic, could be a regular
♥♥ - Pretty Good, worth going back
♥ - Not bad, probably won’t go back
O – Don’t bother, eat leftovers instead

TAZY’S Burgers & Grill – Wilmington, NC – This place is a small little dive with some pretty good burgers and sandwiches (with stupid names). I had “The Truckie” (smoked beef brisket) and it was really good. Heather had some chicken or turkey sandwich (as usual) and she liked it too. The prices are relatively cheep so we plan on going back. - $$ - ♥♥♥

KATY’S Grill and Bar – Wilmington, NC – From the outside, this place really doesn’t look all the appetizing and once you get inside it looks like a typical crappy diner (with a tiny, equally crappy salad bar)[so don’t get the salad bar]. But then we got a look at the menu. There is a lot of stuff on the menu, from seafood platters to wings to burgers and sandwiches. I finally picked “The Seahawk Burger” a full half pound patty with bacon, jalapenos and real cheddar cheese with a side of cole slaw and hushpuppies and Heather got the Chicken Parmesan sandwich with fries (of course). They were both really quite good. We plan on going back soon so we (I) can try something new. - $ - ♥♥♥

INDIA MAHAL – Wilmington, NC – Strip mall Indian, Yumm. It really was pretty good, but a little on the pricey side, I had chicken mango and Heather had chicken tikki masala, both were quite good but after I got home I felt kind of sick but I’m not sure if it was the food or how much I ate of it. Anyway, we plan on going back when we are in the mood for cheap (not really) strip mall Indian. - $$$ - ♥♥½ (only because I got sick, or it would have been ♥♥♥)

CICI’S PIZZA – Wilmington, NC – I know, I know, I said no chains but I’m only doing this review because I can’t believe there isn’t a Cici’s in Salt Lake (amazingly). This place offers an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet for only $5 and its quite good pizza. There are all kind of pizza’s, buffalo wing, spinach, all the typical and even mac and cheese pizza (strange). They even have really, really good sweet rolls. We have been here a number of times already. - $ - ♥♥

FLAMING AMY’S – Wilmington, NC – This inexpensive Mexican restaurant is one of our favorites. We have been here more than a few times already. They feature a number of specialty burritos for $6.50 each. Some of the burritos I’ve tried (and really liked) are “The Big Jerk” with jerk chicken and jalapeno pineapple salsa. “The Fried Chicken” with chunks of regular or buffalo chicken, and “The Shrimp Maki-rito” with fried shrimp in teriyaki sauce and wasabi avocado salsa. They also have a really good salsa bar. They have sort of a funky, casual atmosphere with lots of retro-50s tattoo style art and other 50s style memorabilia. If anyone comes to visit us this is definitely one place we will take you. – $ - ♥♥♥♥

THE PURPLE ONION – Shalotte, NC – This place is one of the best deli/bakeries we have been too. They have mostly typical deli food, it’s just really, really good. And the little bakery is great to grab a small desert on the way out. – $$ - ♥♥♥½

THE KITCHEN RESTAURANT – Wilmington, NC – I liked this place; Heather, on the other hand, did not. It’s a lot like a higher-class version of The Amber Restaurant in Salt Lake except with fish on the menu rather than spaghetti. – $$ - ♥♥

ELLA’S – Calabash, NC – This is a great restaurant, although Heather didn’t like it because she hates fish. They serve Calabash (deep fried) style fish with killer hush puppies and awesome coleslaw. – $$$ - ♥♥♥♥

SOMETHING FISHY – Wilmington, NC – This place was OK, not the best, but OK. They have fried fish. The only non-fish item on the menu was chicken fingers that Heather got and they were nasty but the flounder that I got was not bad. The restaurant looked like it was converted from an old 7-11. - $ - ♥

CAROLINA BBQ BUFFET – Wilmington, NC – The only good thing on the menu is the bbq shredded pork, other than that is was really quite crappy. It was the only restaurant that made poor pregnant Heather want to puke her guts out for three days straight. - $$ - O

Our Domicile

Heather mentioned in the last post how she loves our little house, so I thought I would show you a few photos of our humble abode.This is from the middle of our front yard.

A shot from the side

The view from our front porch

The Windows and Their Coverings

Hi all, this is Heather checking in. The lovely photo is of the curtains in one of our rooms—yes, the 1970s vomited onto our drapery! Every room has a set of curtains that are equally hideous. And in the kitchen, the wallpaper matches the curtains. Our landlady’s “interior decorator” niece is responsible. I think she should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity.

But I can’t tell you how much I love our little rented house! Our previous abode was a dank, dungeon apartment; now we have windows that actual light shines through. Tara Bull, by the way, LOVES the windows and now spends most of her time watching for something to bark at.