North Topsail Beach

 

 There are few things as calming for me as the sound of the ocean. It was a single overnight stay at North Topsail, but we were literally sleeping above the ocean at high tide. There isn't much more that I could ask for... except to go back and never leave.

I was invited down to the sandhills this past weekend to snap some pics. My friend Jim is the father of the bride...
 
 
 
 

Life has been busy.

So things have been somewhat busy since my last update.

I had applied for two different positions that would’ve been a boost up from my current position. I felt equally suited for both, but really wanted one of them. Last Monday, I got the call that the position that I really wanted was where I was placed. So, mark last Monday up as one of the best I’ve had in a long while. It was pouring rain on my way to work that morning, but within an hour of getting here… I had the news.

Good stuff.

This past weekend, my wife and I joined her parents for a day and a half in Wilmington/Wrightsville. It was basically a 1.5 day feeding frenzy. On the way in, we stopped at a pizza place recommended by Tom Gray. Slice of Life pizza has a downtown location and one near Military Cutoff road. We hit the Military Cutoff location and took a white pie back to our room. It was, by far, the best white pie I’ve had in the area. The crust was great and the toppings were fresh. I’ll add my name in with those in open support of Slice of Life Pizzeria.

We spent some time Saturday morning in Oakdale Cemetery and then headed to the Cotton Exchange / Front street area downtown before an extended lunch at Front Street Brewery.

Highly recommend their raspberry wheat or hefeweizen beers. Scotch ale is a favorite of mine, but avoid the smoked porter at all costs. I’m blaming the beer during lunch on our trip to the aquarium at Kure Beach. I love aquariums, but the NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has to be my favorite of the three in the state.

After wandering through the aquarium, we stopped by Apple Annie’s Bakery on Military Cutoff to pick up a few pastries for the next morning… finished off the afternoon with a nice long meal on the deck at The Bridge Tender. I’m a bit disappointed in my pics from this last weekend. Nothing really stood out that was worth posting here, or even saving. It’s kinda tough going on photo-safari when you’re following someone else’s schedule. No worries, I’ll have more time to snap pics this weekend.

The above sock monkey is the new addition to Bella's toy family. His name is Frito.


Creepy Easter rabbit... but I enjoyed the depth of field.


the star of the show, Bella. She's our girl. We were on the way to see my mom for mother's day and her birthday.

a benefit yardsale

Alright all, just wanted to toss something out for you to think about.

My wife, a few of her friends, and my mother in law are hosting a yard sale to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation. They're doing a 3 day hike later this summer and are raising funds. If anyone reading this has something laying around that you've been meaning to get rid of, or want to donate for the yard sale, please let me know. I would be more than glad to come pick up any donations.

This is the event they're raising money for; click the image below to visit the website.

a few pics from the pacific northwest.

and a few shots from the trip....

...and here we come.

...after a successful vacation, we're waiting to board the flight home at portland airport. I should have a handful of good pictures to share with you on the next post... but that will be after the jet-lag has gone away sometime this weekend.