Yesterday was very very nice indeed.

About this time, yesterday, maggie226 came to pick me, and my laundry up for the afternoon. We first went to Infusion, a local urban tea room. We each had some tea, and shared some hummus and pita chips, and a sandwich. My Genmaicha Green tea was yummy and full of toasted rice goodness, and I believe Maggie enjoyed her Orange Blossom Oolong tea. The hummus and pita chips were excellent, and more filling than we had thought, so neither of us finished our sandwich (Organic cashew butter, sliced banana, wildflower honey & toasted walnuts served on honey whole wheat) although it was yummy-licious too. I really liked the place. We leisurely looked at all the tea pots and accessories there and then headed to Publix nearby to get some ingredients to cook with when we got back to her house.

We popped my laundry in her machine and thenwe made a Pampered Chef recipe (she is my consultant as well as my high school friend) which is something I had wanted to make for my dad but never did. It was a warm curry chicken dip. My dad loved so much food...I definitely get my food interests from him no contest. This recipe is so something he'd have loved. He loved curry and Indian food among many others. It was easy to make and tasty too.

We popped in a little Doctor Who while the laundry was finishing, and then she brought me home again. I really had a great time and I am so glad we had the chance to get together before I head back to work tomorrow.

One reason I hate this town...

Apartments all over town are going condo. Cheap and affordable housing, is being taken away from many residents here. This is also driving up the prices of the complexes that are staying apartments. In any case, our complex is one of the many that have turned, or are turning, condo. So, as of Tuesday, we no longer live in Twin Lakes Apartments, but in The Lakes at Maitland Condominiums (though we are still renting...the conversion is still in progress). The sign officially went up. We have had a lot of work being done in and around the complex for the last few months, and we all knew the possibility of it happening. We actually signed our new lease in the beginning of September, increasing our monthly rate $100, whereas it had only been raised no more than $15/month more in the past. But we signed anyway, as we had little time or money to try moving anywhere else. A week later we got the notice that we can buy our home for 4% less than the selling cost of $196,000, as is. Ha ha ha! They have to be on crack to think this unit is worth more than $100,000. The people that live here are working people, and I doubt anyone here could actually afford a home for $200,000. Besides, for that money, wouldn't you want to find a HOUSE with a YARD and such? I know *I* would.

Because of the timing of us signing the lease, and the conversion announcement and such, the staff came back and changed our lease back to the original rate...they stood up to the new owners because they did not think it was fair to us to jack up the rate so much then hoist this condo business on us. That was really very nice of them to do. We have a good rental history and have never had the cops here, except during the 2004 hurricane season when our phone dialed 911 without our knowledge when it went out, but that was not our fault.

Anyhow, I found the website for The Lakes at Maitland. The floor plans look identical (ours is the 3 bedroom "Maitland" plan). Still no washer/dryer in this unit according to the floorplans, despite the amenities page. It is hard to say how the gallery pics will compare to the converted units with what is standard and what is owner initiated. I think the kitchen appliances are going to be new, but not sure about the cabinets or bathroom sinks and other stuff. Carpet is a given...we had new carpet when we moved in. Really, it was new, for like a month. So, internal changes in the gallery pics may be standard with the conversion, or may not, just not too sure. The furnishings are probably all fake, as usual in "model" apartments and such. They make it look so swanky, considering how crappy this place really is, as Glitter put it...but still, ugh.

I think I found my new drug...

Maple Macchiato, a shot of espresso marks the foam on top of steamed milk and maple sauce, maple drizzle is added to the top to add to the layers of flavor. Oh, and extra maple syrup please. :D Yum!!!