Archived from the old site circa 2002. Due to some files being missing, this may lack some context.

Amazing how this week has simply flown by. I have a few exciting things to share with you!

First of all, I discovered some fledgling rose bushes in the quad amidst the condos. They’ve paved a little patio and porch area on either side, and they’ve got a rather large gazebo by the pool going in towards the waterfront. For those confused about the layout of the TechStar property, I’ve sketched (digitally) a little map:

The four grey towers have multiple storeys and contain the smaller “regular” condos. The white squares around the quad are the “Rose Suites”, the more expensive condos that look out over the garden. The Rose Suites are most expensive because they include architectural elements salvaged from the mansion, which Steve didn’t know until after TechStar finished construction. A chair rail on the walls came from the Perspective Hallway, for example. I live in one of the Rose Suites.

The waterfront side has a patio and pool and direct view of the bay, although the property is such that waterfront view can be seen almost anywhere. The opposite side is the street side, where the main entrance to the complex is. The first floor is the lobby and mail room, and a floor above that has a common gym and a library. The two patios will have benches, chairs, tables, and umbrellas, and allow people to keep their grills in a safe spot for summer activities. Finally, the quad is a garden that they’re planting with rose bushes. At the center is a trellice it appears they’re planning on covering in roses and vines, with benches beneath it for time in the floral shade.

All around the property is forest that’s been cleaned up of its tangles and brush, but remains from the Rimbauer estate.

There are no blooms on the rose bushes yet, but I’m told they’re red–of course–red roses on the spot where Rose Red once stood. I look forward to them blooming…

I had dinner with Steve downtown on Wednesday. It was nice to see him; he’s been rather scarce since I moved in to my condo. We managed to go the whole evening without talking about Rose Red or Nick or anything related to his hellish weekend in the old house. But before we parted after dinner, he called me over to his car and handed me a wrapped present. He told me to open it when I got home, that it was a “new house” gift. I thanked him and left.

When I got home I opened it and was surprised to see a gorgeous antique crystal bowl, and when I read the card, I was both touched and chilled at once. Steve has given me one of the few family heirlooms he has; a crystal bowl his mother had stolen from Rose Red and intended to pawn, but his father found and forbade her to do so. So it remained in Steve’s home, and now he has given it to me…

So now I have one of Ellen’s possessions. Part of me is curious to see if she’ll react, and part of me is simply terrified!

Posted in: Archive, Personal | |
Post tags: condo, ellen, nick, rose, steve

2 Comments »

1. [...] Unfortunately the house has been demolished and is unable to be tested for any evidence, physical or otherwise, that ghosts exist. But in its place has been built TechStar Condominium’s (More information and detail about the TechStar development can be found here). [...]

   Pingback by Introduction « — March 13, 2009 @ 4:13 am

2. [...] to think of it, maybe the crystal bowl “housewarming” gift was his way of thanking me for staying out of it [...]

   Pingback by Unraveling Rose Red » Rose Red Estate Auction in 2003 — March 13, 2009 @ 4:14 am

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