Forgive me readers, as it's been quite some time since I've written--but I promise to get back at it since so many of you are fretting about where I've gone. To explain my disappearance, I moved from the South Charlotte city limits to just over the border into Union County. And secondly I had a third baby. God help me. So, now I have my first child born in the northeast and the second two born in Charlotte. As I've said before, I'm doing all I can to increase the native population.
You'll also notice that the site is slightly revamped. For one, we've got a new name: CharlotteInformer.com. We used to be known as Charlotte Central, but I could not get my hands on that actual domain name, so I had to search for another. Hopefully that won't confuse and screw things up for my dear readers.
In the end, we'll be writing about the usual things that interest you about Charlotte, NC. Things to do, restaurants, events, and such. I'll also continue to share with those of you who are still itching to move to Charlotte (despite this miserable economy that is making real estate a nightmare issue).
Stick with me readers. We'll continue on this road of what it's honestly like to live in Charlotte.
Tuesday
Moved to Union County, NC
Wednesday
Where Charlotte Mommies Meet Online
Charlotte Parent Magazine has a great network of forums that provide a heap of info based on where you live specifically in Charlotte. For example, I belong to UnionCountyMommies.com. It's a free board where moms (and dad's) can post or comment on a huge variety of subjects. For example, if you're looking for local parents to recommend a good plumber--someone on the site will surely have a recommendation for you. New pizza joint opened? Well, you can bet people will be giving you an earful about the quality of the calzone.
Having trouble breastfeeding, there's a forum for that too. Can't figure out how to handle a terrible-two's issue or is your tween acting up? Hop on over and post your frustration and you can bet that there will be mom's there to support you and give you some advice. Done baby rearing and have a playpen to sell, be sure to post it in the Buy/Sell/Trade/Free section.
Moms and Dads also get together certain times to meet eachother live and bring along their kids. So, its a great potential for meeting families just like yours particularly if you're new to Charlotte or don't have family/friends in the local area. Aside from the forums, there's various community sections, and outreach zone if you're interested in volunteering and much more.
There are specific branches for various counties in Charlotte, so be sure to sign up for the one in your area. It's free and provides a great resource.
Ikea is Coming To Charlotte NC on February 18th!
Whatever you might think of big box stores invading your town, some of them are just darned convenient to have around. And Ikea seems to be one of those places that attracts folks thanks to their cheap, but relatively stylish (given the price point) furnishings. Heck, people travel to the place just for their meatballs!
Nestled between 85 and 485 in what's known as the Mallard Creek area of Charlotte, it should bring some 200 new jobs into the area and some more shopping (like we don't have enough of that!).
Tuesday
Been Busy, Busy!
Sorry folks, but I've been wildly busy. I just landed a gig writing for startcooking.com that has been taking up a bit of my time...aside from my real full-time gig, that is. So, I'm thinking about tofu recipes and coming up with ideas on how to jazz up hot chocolate. It's a really great site, actually. So I was instantly attracted to the work even though I really don't have the time to write any more than I already am.
Anyhoo, Halloween came and went and wouldn't you know that not a single kid came to our house! No one sent this new resident the We-Schlep-Our-Kids-To-Other-Neighborhoods memo. It finally dawned on me and I grabbed my Transformer clad 4-year old and we headed over to the brightly lit Cureton subdivision which was mobbed with so many kids that half the homes we went to told us they had run out of candy! Meanwhile, that left me with gobs of tootsie rolls to eat from my own bowl. Ah well, now we know the trick or treating drill for next year.
But for the 30 minutes we were searching for candy on our block, I finally met some new neighbors I hadn't seen before simply because the homes are so far apart and heavily wooded that we can hardly see each other. I did find out from my neighbor directly across the street that he's putting up his house for sale in January to his long-time second home in Florida. So, if you're interested in buying a house with a front porch on about 2 acres of land in the Marvin school district for around the $450k range, give me a shout and maybe you can run over to my neighbor before he hooks up with a realtor. It's amazing what you learn when you just talk to folks.
The weather has gotten nippy in the mornings here, but the sun warms things up on the back deck by mid-afternoon. We're having a splendid fall here in Charlotte, but we're still in need of more rain since we're still in a bad drought. The leaves have been slow to change color with all the lack of rain.
I've gotta head back to NY in a few weeks for a wedding, and then to Philly for a biz trip. I haven't had a good cheesesteak in years, so I'm looking forward to it. In the middle of all that, my father-in-law is coming to Charlotte for Thanksgiving, and he's already telling us he may move here.
Looks like we've got another one coming down!
Halloween Up!
We've got the house all Halloweened up this year, but the neighborhood has only 35 houses and just a handful of kids, so we don't know what to expect. We've only lived in this house about 6 months, so we have not yet witnessed Halloween here yet. Just one other house on my block has decorations. Hmmm...what a bunch of old poopers!
In our previous neighborhood in South Charlotte, Halloween was quite the spectacle. Every house was dressed up to the hilt for the holiday, and there was one house that was a particular huge attraction with people coming for miles to see it for both Christmas and Halloween. (It's on Long Cove Drive in Providence Country Club right off Tom Short if you're so inclined to check it out). This particular house has a great southern styled porch that lends itself well to spookiness and drama. The fog machine going wild doesn't hurt either.
If you didn't buy your fright decor two months ago, you're pretty much lost. Halloween is a fairly significant thing here in the south, and folks go all out and starting buying up all the good stuff months before. I learned this the hard way when I visited Target and Wal-mart two weeks before Halloween last year, and there was hardly a thing left. So, I made sure to get my shopping done early this year.
In the northeast, Halloween pretty much died in the 1970's after the whole razor blade and pins in the candy thing. I was thrilled to see the holiday had serious energy behind it here in Charlotte, as at least my kids will get to experience it the way I did as a child before the morons went and killed it.
Kids even get to wear costumes at some schools here. That was totally verboten in NJ when we left because we were advised that there might be some religious differences where some kids didn't participate in it. So, to be fair to everyone, they just nix the whole thing. I totally think that sucks and is completely ridiculous. I mean, if Halloween isn't your bag, then by all means exercise your right to not dress up. I think people are way too hung up on being proper and trying to include everyone. This is America, and you have every right to say no if you're not interested in being part of something. It's your right to not participate.
For example, in the northeast no one says "Merry Christmas." You say "Happy Holidays" instead so as not to offend anyone. Here in the south, there was a big movement last year to encourage people to get over it. People took back the ownership of saying Merry Christmas. I mean, if you're not Christian, isn't it easy to say something like: "Thanks, but I'm Jewish."
We're so worried about offending people that we either don't say anything or water it down. I'm not saying it's right to assume someone celebrates Christmas or Halloween or whatever, but we shouldn't feel compelled to be all-inclusive every time either. I would be thrilled to have my kid learn about a variety of holiday customs from all different faiths and religions, and I'm opened minded enough to accept that there's more than one way to open a candy wrapper.
Speaking of candy...there goes another Tootsie Roll.
Happy Halloween people!
Monday
Recommending My Cleaning Lady
I keep getting emails for the name and info on my cleaning lady, Derly, so I've decided to put all the info you'll need on her here. Please make sure you tell her Lisa sent you! She works homes in South Charlotte, upper Union county, a bit of Mint Hill and in Cabarrus just above Mint Hill. Here goes:
Derly (704-449-5668) has been helping us keep our house neat for a bit over 2 years now, and she's been doing a terrific job. Before her, I had several other folks that helped with the cleaning, but they were downright terrible. It wasn't even that they didn't clean too well (one person didn't even lift up stuff to dust under it), but the worst thing was that they were never consistent with the day or time they came. I had one person that literally called or emailed me every week to ask if they could change the day they were coming that week. There was always an excuse: dentist appointments, doctor visits, school meetings, English classes--it was really unbearable.
Thankfully, Derly has never changed the date or time on me once since she's started pitching in. She's also very thorough and usually comes with a partner to help her, so it's like you're getting two people for the price of one. Lastly, she's also very honest. I have mistakenly left a credit card and even the check book out in the open, for example, and it was not touched. There have been a few times where I wasn't going to be home and I've given her access to the key for her to get in and out, and everything has been perfectly fine.
Derly is Portuguese, so you need to be a little patient in terms of the communication side of things. When you call her the first time, you'll likely leave her a message and her young daughter will call you back and do some translating for you. She'll set up the first appointment where Derly will come over and give your place a once over to get you a price. Feel free to haggle with her a bit until you come to a fair price you both feel comfy with. Just don't think you're going to low-ball her, because she's not a stupid woman and quite a shrewd business person. She will be cheaper than services like Merry Maids, you can trust me on that. But she's not going to let you rake her over the coals on price either.
I have no trouble telling her exactly what I want done, as Derly has mastered all the important words of her trade that enable her to do her job. She'll ask you for example, if you want your baseboards cleaned of not? Fans? etc. She's also pretty flexible, and I've tossed her some extra money to clean the inside of the windows (she doesn't do the outside) or clean out the fridge.
What I love about Derly is that she's thorough. More thorough than I am. For example, she gives a quick dust to all the oil paintings that I have on the walls. Now, I don't even do that normally. But she sure does. She even takes the garbage out of every pail in the house--including the baby's diaper pail. A couple of times I rushed out of the house because I had a few appointments, and didn't have time to make my son's bed. Well, Derly did it for me without asking. (Ok, I confess, that the beds are never made unless I have guests or Derly is coming over. Who has time for that?!).
Last, you'll need to buy all your own cleaning supplies. I just keep mine in a crate on the floor in the pantry for her to utilize. I have a box of kitchen garbage bags and a couple of rolls of paper towels and that's what she uses. When something is empty, she'll put it in your counter to signal you need to buy more. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is handy, too. She uses her own broom, and her own mop. What I love about her mopping, is that she uses this massive squeegee that she wraps a small towel around. It gives a much better cleaning than a string or sponge mop, and the everything is nearly dry, too.
I can't say enough about Derly. She's worked out perfectly for us, and those that have used her after I've recommended her just love her too. See if she a match for you. I'd love to hear what you think.
Thursday
Private Wells and Septic Systems
Thank goodness the rain is still coming down here in Charlotte. We've had a devastating drought this summer and these last few days of continual rain have been welcomed by everyone. We were just weeks away from forcibly having to cut our water consumption by 50% as ordered by NC Governer Easley.
I'm on a well out here in Union County, and I've never had the luxury of having well water. Coming from New York City, there's no such thing and I'd always heard negative things. I'm on septic tank as well, and I've always heard horrors about those as well. Well, truth be told, I haven't really found a single pinch of difference. In fact, I'm starting to think it's better.
For one, my well water does taste perfectly delicious. I had it all tested before I moved in, and the water had no unusual bacteria or chemicals present. It also doesn't have any fluoride that one usually finds in local city water, so you have to make sure to use fluoride toothpaste. No big deal, as we all do that already.
I'd always heard that the water pressure coming from well water is not as good as city water. Well, that's not true either. We have the same exact pressure level. And, the best part about it, is that I don't have a water bill. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
The idea of a septic did kind of scare me I have to admit. I was warned (by city dwellers) that they always stopped up and stuff always came back up. Well, in the six months I've been on a septic that has not happened. Knock on wood. I definitely have become more conscious of what I put down the drain, tho. I thought nothing of tossing frying pan oil down the drain when I was connected to a sewer--which I already know isn't the right thing to do either. Now, I can it and throw it in the trash. We also don't allow our garbage disposal to grind up half of a meal so that it clogs the septic. I guess, overall, I've become more conscious as to what my pipes are eating. And I don't have a sewer bill. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Even though I could have continued to water my lawn all summer despite the drought because I have my own well, but I did not. I never watered once. I have a patchy, half-dry lawn like those of you on city water. We turn the water off while we brush our teeth and all that usual fare. We're trying to be reasonably kind to the environment. Around my neighborhood, however, there are a few million dollar mansions with the lushest, greenest lawns I've ever seen. There's a big sign out front of each that warns "Irrigated by Private Wells," just in case neighbors decide to call the governing agents on them because they're being wasteful. Hmmm.....
One needs to maintain these systems as any other part of your home, of course. You should have a septic company come out and check your system annually, and there's recommended products such as BioSafe that you're supposed to flush down the toilet to keep things clean and in working order. You can also get a water check test kit for under $10 bucks to check the bacteria levels in your well annually.
In Charlotte, most of the newer neighborhoods within the city limits are connected to sewers and public water, but out here in greener pastures there's many homes with quite the opposite situation. In fact, most people living in the USA do not have access to public water or sewers. So, don't be afraid of being in charge of your own water and sewage. You won't miss the bills!
Tuesday
49% of Residents Want to Leave NJ and Come to NC/FL
An interesting tidbit appeared in yesterday's Charlotte Observer newspaper, claiming that a recent poll said 49% of the residents living in New Jersey wants to move out of the state and go to either North Carolina or Florida.
Digging around, I found the story in the Star Ledger which appeared on October 17th. Don't just read the story itself, but also read the near 50 comments from readers that wrote in to voice their thoughts. Here's one particularly entertaining one:
"New Jersey, if the fumes, taxes (personal and corporate), traffic, and corruption don't kill ya, the stupidity in government will!
Hey, here's an idea, let's tax the people who don't make as much; an idea that will work right? Less tax to those who make more, more tax to those that make less. This state is in dire straights right now, along with many towns. Towns need more help financially, and the state has no funds to help.
$3.5 BILLION in deficit? The state just keep running up the credit card bills, chasing out the businesses. There is soon to be a tax on the tax.
I guess discussing this is like trying to introduce logic to an illogical equation. Nothing will change, anytime soon. Get used to it, or be prepared to move. I felt exactly like these people about living in the northeast. Taxes too high, cost of living is nuts." -1lvdherelong
I can totally relate to what these people are feeling, as I was one of them over 3 years ago. Between the taxes, the cost of living and the traffic, you simply don't feel like you can get ahead in the northeast. You're working like a maniac to pay bills.
A friend of ours who still lives with his wife in northern Jersey is purchasing a house and told us the property taxes were going to be $9,000. He said it without any emotion or shock...as if it was all normal. I guess in Jersey people just accept those numbers. I held my breath when I heard the figure and said to Matt--can you believe we're paying $2,200 property taxes for 3 acres??
So, I don't blame folks in New Jersey for wanting to run as fast as they can. And you won't be alone, because your buddies that left a few years ago are already waiting here for you.
Monday
New Garage Doors: Cox Door Company
I've been busy ripping our house apart from top to bottom. We started with the kitchen reface, and now my beaten down garage doors were the next target. The poor wood doors that have served this house since 1987 had finally given up. To start, they had water damage and were rotting; and the openers were opening and closing whenever THEY wanted to, instead of when I needed to get in and out of the house. Basically, everything had hit the statistical end of it's life and needed replacing.
Getting a NC Driver's License
I'm not proud to admit it, but even though I've lived here for three years, I never traded in my New Jersey driver's license. Once I heard that you had to take the written test in order to get your license transferred, I clung onto my old license like a toddler hangs onto her favorite blankie. I hate tests. Let me repeat--I hate tests. I still wake up in a cold sweat some nights dreaming that I've forgotten to study for some college final.
When I moved from NYC to New Jersey, they also had the written test system, and I hung on until they changed the rule and you didn't need to take the test anymore. Amen! I waited out the system and won! One day I was hugely pregnant with my first son, and I got nailed by a Jersey cop going 60 in a 45 mile zone. I handed over my NY license, and pretended I'd just moved to NJ (reality was that I'd been living there two years). My parents were in the back seat, and the cop took one look at my huge belly and let me go with a warning.
Now, let me say that you are required to change your old driver's license to the NC one after 30 days of living here. Ahem. And what I was doing was completely wrong. After about a year of living in Charlotte, I got pulled over by a cop as I was racing home to make a business phone meeting. I was going 60 in a 45 zone again (sorry!). The police man asks me for my license, and I tell him that my husband has moved here, but I'm not officially moved yet (sorry again!). Okay, I fibbed! He carefully took down the address in Charlotte and entered it into his cop computer, and he told me to slow down. No ticket, only a warning. A bit after this, instead of studying for the NC drivers test, I purchased a radar detector. I didn't get caught again.
Last month, I realized that my NJ license was about to expire within 4 weeks. The other issue, was that I was going to be boarding a plane for business travel, and my only form of picture I.D. was about to kick the bucket. I HAD to suck it up and take the darned test. I basically had no choice. I used this handy cheat sheet and read it over until I had it committed to memory. I went to the Monroe DMV and grabbed the road signs card at the front desk and sat in the waiting area for about an hour studying the thing like a fiend.
I'm nervous as hell, but get called into the testing room finally. I did my eye test by looking into the little contraption and reading the letters. Passed. I then do the signs test in the same little contraption. Passed. The man then sends me over to the computer where I would be taking the actual driving test. There's a young guy already there in the throes of his exam, and I sit down and put on the headphones to listen to the test and get ready to go. I'm sweating. I'm scared. I gotta pass or I can't get on that plane with an expired license. I can't drive either.
You have to get 20 out of 25 questions correct, and I race through the thing with flying colors because all the questions are EXACTLY the ones on the cheat sheet! I got just one wrong at the very end because it was worded in a funny/tricky manner. I see the kid next to me still stammering through his test and I pump my fist in the air as I knew I passed. He glances over at me in dismay and I shrug (sorry!).
I go back to the fellow that tested me, and he grins. He sends me over to get my photo snapped and minutes later they hand over my brand new, legit North Carolina Driver's License. I could not have been prouder, and it got me a bit closer to feeling like a native Charlottean. I was no longer sporting an transplant license...now no one would be able to tell the difference between me and a long-time local.
I still have my radar detector, but I've also slowed down quite a bit--after all, I live in Charlotte.
Saturday
Went Back Home to New York for a Few Weeks
You guys already know that though I'm living in Charlotte, I still work remotely for the New Jersey company I've been at for the last 6 years. It's truly a lucky break that the place allowed me to move here three years ago and still keep my job AND my old salary. And this week, we happened to be going IPO, so I was invited to the festivities at the New York Stock Exchange. I also decided that I wasn't going to visit family when I went back to New York, and was just going to work, shop and chill out. Shhhh....don't tell my mother!
Anyway, last week I did my thing at work 12 hours a day, and then enjoyed some shopping at Loehmann's, Century 21 and Daffy's--stores that would make a killing if they ever moved to Charlotte. One thing I do find in NC, is that the clothing is pretty pedestrian unless you go to one of the many boutiques in the area--but the who the heck wants to pay those prices? Everyone, for some reason, seems to dress exactly the same here. Every time I return to New York for work, I go with an empty suitcase and load up on clothing to bring back to Charlotte.
I booked my travel at the very last minute, and there were no hotels available in Manhattan, so I had to stay in a little rathole in Jersey City just across the river. At 7AM, I took the path train over to Wall Street, which is nothing more than a 5 minute trip. The train swoops around Ground Zero, and there was activity going on there much as it has been for the last 6 years.
I see this swarm of bodies running out of the train and up the long stairs that lead everyone up to the street level. It's this twice-daily rush hour ritual that always appear perfectly choreographed and everyone moves like a swarm of ants heading out of the hole to get up to the surface. I sure don't miss it. I don't miss standing on a NYC subway platform in August when there is zero airflow and everyone is sweaty and aggravated. I don't miss cramming onto the F train while the guy next to you is unknowingly jabbing his briefcase into your ribcage. And I sure as heck don't miss rainy days when you're jumping over puddles at the crosswalks while hoping not to get sloshed by the crosstown bus.
I finally come out onto Church Street and I immediately get that rush that happens to me every time I step in Manhattan--I always wish I could live here again. Of course, when I'm considering this I don't have my 2 young kids tugging on me and I'm not thinking about the fact that to live in NYC well, it requires you to be a millionaire. There just is something about Manhattan that is like nowhere on earth. I see Trinity Church around the corner and my knees feel weak...what a marvelous building.
Later in the day, I headed back up to our office on 19th and 5th Avenue, and I started looking for the restaurants and bars that I used to frequent as a single twenty-something. The Coffee Shop is still there....Union Square Cafe still around....Chat n' Chew check!....Steak Frites outta business...ah well! It's amazing how much things change in New York every time I go.
It's 11AM, and the 3 other women I'm with and I settle on the Coffee Shop on the corner by Union Square Park. The moment the menu hits the table, the waitress is immediately asking us what we want to order with a surly attitude. We haven't even had a chance to look crack it open, so we're struggling to come up with an answer and after 10 seconds she walks off in a huff. Clearly, I'm no longer used to the fast-paced pressure of everything in New York.
I order a Cuban sandwich, since there's virtually nowhere to get a decent one in Charlotte other than at Carlos Cafe in Rock Hill, SC, which is a bit of a hike for me when I get the craving for it. I also order a pomegranate mimosa--what the heck, I'm in New York! At the end of the day, we head over to the bar at the Soho Grand Hotel for a drink, and I make my way over to the elegant walnut bar as a bartender with a mohawk takes my order. And we end the night at the Canal Room, a club on West Broadway. I felt content that i had a fully quintessential New York City day.
Finally, I get on the plane at Newark and there's delays. Someone can spit on the tarmac at Newark Airport and you're guaranteed a delay due to "weather." The claim is that it's second in delayed flights to O'Hare Airport in Chicago. At some point I get to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and I grab my car and get on 77 South. I turn on the country music station and sing along to the Dixie Chicks' Cowboy Take Me Away.
I'm home. I'm happy here. I love living in Charlotte.
Tuesday
I Love the Charlotte Natives
If there's one thing aside from terrific weather and a cheaper cost of living that is great about Charlotte, it's the lovely natives. These days, there seems to be few of 'em around since us transplants seem to have overrun the place. But you can't help but recognize a native when you see one. For one, they are super friendly. I'm always mesmerized by the fact that transplants say that the natives have been standoffish to them. I've yet to see an example of it in my 3 1/2 years here. If you don't act like a transplant ass, then the Charlotteans will assuredly be as sweet as tea to you.
Now, I don't blame some native locals for being a bit exasperated at us coming here and taking over their towns. 10 years ago, Ballantyne was nothing more than farm land, now it's a mini city in itself. I'm sure the natives get a tad restless over the changing landscape. Heck, I've been here a short while, and it irks me when I see a beautiful farm being bulldozed by a builder to make room for more new transplant homes.
I can only imagine what a Charlottean is thinking when they encounter a New Yorker pressing the horn at a red light to get everyone else going. In case you haven't noticed, people don't honk their horns here. It took me a while to get past this habit, but I know I'm a calmer and better person for it. I have only the natives to thank for this improvement in my personality. I've slowed down on the road quite a bit, actually. I am pretty conscious about driving in a safer and and more respectable manner. I'm sure that cop that nailed me on Ardrey Kell Road last year had something to do with it as well, but I consider it yet another native encounter that set me straight.
The native children are an absolute dream. They are well-behaved, and are taught to use their yes ma'am's and no sir's with enthusiasm. I think it's so great that I even encourage my older son to get with the program. I'm not saying every kid is perfect around here, but they're way more civilized then where I came from. Heck, they're more civilized than I was as a kid! My painter Wendell, a native, is at least 10 years older than me and always calls me "Miss Lisa." The man was clearly brought up right and with manners. I had a great treat when my 4-year old gently pulled on a man's sleeve and said "...excuse me, sir..." Now, that's my little southern gentleman in the making!
Walking into any store will earn you a broad smile and big hello from natives. Geez, these people really are unbelievably pleasant. In New Jersey you make every effort to stare at the ground if another pair of eyes comes in contact with your face. Here, I've become a welcome machine. If there's someone looking at me, I'm waving, saying hello and asking them how their day is. I'm engaged in all sorts of chit-chat with the woman at the supermarket register, and ask my mail carrier how her back feels when she hauls herself out of her car. My mother, a staunch New Yorker, is continually horrified by the niceness. "Don't you find that annoying?" she asks me. Truthfully, I probably did before I got to Charlotte. Now, I'm a niceness convert. I mean, it really isn't that hard to be friendly--even for a New Yorker like me. I encourage you to give it a shot.
Finally, it's pretty important not to push your where-I-came-from ideas around. The natives don't really care how you did things where you came from. It doesn't matter to them that you're having a hard time finding fresh mozzarella. They don't give a hoot that NY Yankee games are blocked out when the Baltimore Orioles are playing. They also don't like the fact that you brought your northern road rage with you and are driving right up their bumper. If you miss things so much, or think they were done better from wherever you came from--then perhaps you should not have come here at all. Just do us all a favor and stay right where you are.
Maybe after I'm here 20 years I'll be considered a legitimate Charlottean by the natives. I've embraced the okra, the BBQ pork, and no longer curse like a sailor during NY Fleet Week (okay, okay, I've cut back...a lot!). I absolutely adore country music an rotate between WSOC and The KAT stations every time I get into the car. Shoot, I even watched the Dale (Earnhardt) biography on CMT two weeks back. I confess I haven't mastered a taste for sweet tea, which is a bitter disappointment to me in my quest to be a southerner. I just can't stand the stuff, but I compensate by slugging gallons of lemonade. I hope that makes up for it, or at least scores me southern points. I even selected the photo of the state of NC to be emblazoned on my Carolina driver's license (yes, people, I finally sucked it up and took the written test and passed!).
I don't regret for a minute having come to Charlotte, and I am working really hard to be like a native. Our 17 month old was born at CMC in uptown, so I have at least given birth to a native. I'm doing all I can to increase their numbers. If you're coming from somewhere else and have decided to call Charlotte home, do everything you can to mirror the natives. I can honestly say they will make you a better person and will help you slow down just a tad.
I may have been born in New York City, but I'm a southerner now.
Monday
Getting Your North Carolina Driver's License
One of the inconvenient and daunting things about moving to North Carolina is getting your driver's license, because you have to take the written test along with an eye test. I'm not sure if that's the norm in other states, but when I moved from NJ to NY I just had to provide proof of residency and my current license.
I say "daunting" because although I have been driving for 24 years (and quite well if I may say so) I can't say that I have all of the laws and rules memorized. How many feet away from a stop sign can you park? How many points do you get if you get a speeding ticket for going 20 MPH over the limit? Those kinds of questions. Luckily, you can download the driver's handbook from the DMV website. Here's the link. Definitely spend a few hours going over it. If you're looking for the cliff notes version of the handbook, there's also a handy cheatsheet that has been put together with a collection of questions that have appeared on the actual test. You can check it out at: http://www.jaytomlin.com/NCDMV/2006/09/study_guide.html.
That being said, the process wasn't that bad, and actually quite amusing. They have DMV offices all over town that specialize in driver's tests, so your wait won't be terribly long. I don't want to get anyone in trouble so I won't say which one I went to (Shhh....Monroe), but the people there were quite helpful. My examiner was a friendly woman with a great sense of humor. I had to do a double-take to make sure I was actually at the DMV.
After the eye test, they use the same little optical machine to test your knowledge of road signs. They show you generic signs with no words or symbols, and you have to identify them by shape and color. In other words, you'll see a red octagon without the word STOP in it. I was doing fine until I came to one and drew a blank--it was just a yellow circle. I sat there a minute trying to come up with the answer, and my examiner whispers to me, "Chooooo choooooo......." Railroad crossing! After the sign test she sent me across the room to a kiosk where I would take the written test at a computer terminal. As I was heading over she said to me, "If you have any trouble, just raise your hand and I'll come help you out." Well, that sort of takes the pressure off! As it turned out I didn't need her help and passed the test on my own.
Another thing in North Carolina, is that when you register your car you pay a tax for road usage. I don't remember exactly how much it was, but it was over $100. It serves to take the place of toll roads here, which is fine by me. I'd rather pay all my fees in one lump sum than have to actually go through one of those pesky toll machines that do nothing more than create traffic on the road. The rest of the country should learn a lesson from this smart NC feature.
Happy motoring!
Sunday
Religion
They don't call Charlotte the City of Churches for nothing (by the way, it's also called the City of Trees). You will literally find a church on every other block around here--big, small, fancy or simple. Baptists dominate here, but there's every variation you can think of as far as Christianity goes, and there's a few Jewish temples too. Something for everyone if they're so inclined.
I was raised catholic, but I confess I'm non-practicing. However, I'm all for people gathering together to practice their faiths. To each his own, I say. But we're in the south, people. And the bible belt to boot--so church going is serious business in these parts. There is nothing more spectacular than passing a church on Sunday and seeing the parade of women in the fanciest, feathery hats of the most iridescent of colors. And the men are no slouches either in their suits. It's better than any easter parade I've ever seen. Many larger churches actually have police presence on Sunday to help guide the parishioners in. Calvary Church on Rea Road in South Charlotte is one of the largest in Charlotte. The claim is that it is so large you can see if from uptown. It actually has three-tiered stadium seating like a Broadway theater!
The native Charlotteans are passionate about their religion, and it is not uncommon to be first greeted by one asking: "What church do you go to?" within the first 3 minutes of meeting you. For us transplants, that question can take some getting used to if you're not a regular church goer or if you're used to be an anonymous New Yorker. I confess I've struggled with answers to this one, since I am essentially non-practicing. There has been once or twice where I have just said "St. Matthews," just to extricate myself from the situation. Meanwhile, I've never stepped foot in the place. God forgive me.
You'll find the natives largely conservative and highly respectful in most respects, with their adorable "yes ma'am" and "no sir." These people were brought up right! Kids here seem more behaved then where I came from.
One issue I have, however, is that the natives don't seem to drink. In a recent neighborhood BBQ, Matt and I were astounded at the fact that not one single adult had a single drink. Now, I don't know about you guys, but Matt and I are social drinkers. If there's a hotdog in one hand, there's no better accompaniment than a beer in the other. It's Americana. We assume its just part of their conservative, church-going nature--but in the bible, Jesus was turning water into wine on virtually every page. The last supper? There was wine in them darned goblets! Charlotte natives, however, don't seem to care to imbibe. And, Matt and I have a motto: don't trust anyone that doesn't drink.
When we moved to Charlotte and were seeking out potential friends in the neighborhood, we looked at our neighbors garbage to decide who we would be friendly with. There's no better way of learning about folks than by looking at their recyclables. The night before garbage pick-up, we'd cruise the recycling bins. One neighbor had prune juice bottles in there--not a fit for a friend. The next had laundry detergent and dishwashing soap filled to the brim of their bin--clearly a clean bunch of folks, and likely not social drinkers. Next bin: Absolut vodka bottles and beer cans--now we're talking! These are definitely people we can cozy up to!
So, good luck in finding an answer to the inevitable question about what Church you're attending. Perhaps you can answer legitimately and honestly, or maybe you're just going to be sitting behind me at St. Matthews next Sunday!
;-)
-Lisa
