CHUCK IN A BOX

I swear, yesterday we noticed that the house behind us is now for sale.  So – the house directly across the street; the one diagonally across from us; the house beside us (although I believe this has FINALLY been closed on – at the bargain basement price of $72, 500) and now the house behind us – all for sale.

It’s like those Verizon commercials with the creepy folks saying, “It’s a dead zone” *squinty eyes*

I’m not sure if it’s just folks not being able to afford their houses or if they are just leaving the ‘burg.  The folks across the street had maintained a condo in Richmond for many years and finally said they needed to have one household so they sold the Petersburg house.  The house next door to us has been vacant since the young lady that owned it got killed in a motorcycle accident in October 2007 and her parents figured they would just let the bank repo the house. (Kudos to us for maintaining two yards!)  Not sure what the story is with the folks diagonally across from us, they sort of keep to themselves and Cheryl (behind us) and her husband are an older couple – figure they just don’t need that much house (3100+ square feet) for just the two of them.

Sooooo I doubt it is us – no, really, we’re pretty cool neighbors.

Wow, it sounds so much harsher when someone else says it – “Whatever you do, do NOT stay in Petersburg“, this from SunDog’s Civil War Travel post over at Patrick Henry’s Tomb.  A couple of the new hotels out on Wagner Road near the new Southside Regional Medical Center are really quite nice AND they are actually IN Petersburg so, I would have no problem telling people to stay in those during their visit to the ‘burg.  However, I would never recommend anyone EVER staying in those seedy hotels on Washington or Wythe Streets – especially after learning about the prostitution problems at ‘The 4 Corners’.

“Do yourself a favor, stay in Colonial Heights near the mall, or stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Dinwiddie.” – that sounds like me when I go on my, ‘I’m not going to support a single Petersburg business except for Kristy’s because I hate living in this city!’ tangent with Keith.  Maybe if the city did a bit more to attract businesses where I would shop frequently *shrug* – Don’t get me wrong – Old Towne is neat if your into Antiques, Over-priced clothing, Dining out, or Beauty Treatments.  I guess the advent of the SouthPark Mall area (Southpark Blvd. and Charles Dimmock Pkwy) and shops along Temple Ave. (all of which is in Colonial Heights) spelled the death bell for Petersburg.  I really think there is something to the ‘build it and they will come’ mantra – they (Colonial Heights and Dinwiddie) just ‘built’ it first.

Interestingly enough, most of the stores that I COULD shop at in Petersburg have counter parts just a few miles away in Colonial Heights, Chester, or Chesterfield and I go there.  I’m sorry but I’ll travel to Ruffin Mill Road for a McDonald’s that understands the concept of fast food, service and cleanliness.  Sadly the pool of job applicants in Petersburg is rather lackluster – to say the least.  (Not that you cannot get bad service anywhere – there just seems to be a greater chance to encounter said service in Petersburg – or at least that’s my observation over the last 3 years living here).  I’ll save my stories of sucky service for another day though.

I really need to figure out which Blog I’m going to keep so I don’t feel like I should have everything posted twice…..

Just wondering out loud but, I think it would be totally cool to have a Holiday Home Tour around here. Heck there could even be multiple tours! I know I’ve often wondered (and I’m sure I’m not the only one either – admit it!) what some of these gorgeous homes around the city looked like inside. Now…imagine them all festooned in their holiday regalia!

Woodland Heights (yes, I’m sure people think – If it was so damned great, why did you move! and TRUST ME, I have asked myself that MANY times since moving here) started doing a Holiday Home Tour and the funds from the sale of the tickets went to the Homeowners Association for various neighborhood projects. They are even doing an ‘Avenue of Lights’ OMG that sounds so freakin’ cool! You can check out the story over on Hills and Heights about the 2008 Holiday Home Tour if you’re interested.

I just think it’s a wonderful idea but, then again I’m a Christmas fiend! I did see where Centre Hill is having a Holiday Open House – yeah that’s cool too but…..not as cool as a Holiday HOME Tour!