Melon of the month

Dennis and Abby came for dinner on Sunday and can you believe this is a cantaloupe??? It was only $2 also which was great. Even after having a fruit salad with it and Tom's been eating it all week (I actually don't like it), there is still half of it left. Very economical fruit!!

Movie to watch

You've got to go see Mad Hot Ballroom. Sounds a little stupid, but it's great. A documentary that follows 4th and 5th graders in New York as they attend these dance classes at school and prep for the big competition. It all winds down to the final competition to see who will get the gold trophy. Anyhow, just go see it, you won't regret it. If you liked Spellbound...this one will be better!

Desks and Staplers

So I turn up for work Monday, they show me around the clinic some more, then go on to say, "Let's just go to YOUR office then...". Yah, so I have an office, a desk, a computer, and all the goodies that go along with that. I even got my name on a plaque outside the door. I share with another lady in MY office, but it is very very exciting!
The new job is going really well. I didn't think I would be this excited about it, but I really am. I've gotten a lot of "why did you quick Labor & Delivery" and "so what IS your new job", questions, so I'll do my best to explain. Well, Tom and I have been talking a lot about going abroad and living in another country doing work. I've looked at a lot of organizations, and they all really want public health nursing experience. Although Labor and Delivery is my heart, I really knew I needed to branch out and get some other experience under my belt...although the L/D experience is invaluable! I can always do public health with women/children as an emphasis, so my time doing L/D is always useful. Which leads me to what I do. The clinic is a Well child clinic, so I do a lot of assessement, development and growth, nutrition, immunizations, and TEACHING. There is a lot of teaching, about childhood illnesses, shots, diets, and just basic baby/child care. I do some case management-type things as well, following-up with a child I could be concerned about, making sure plans are being followed, occasional home visits, checking that referrals have been taken care of, etc (hence, where the usefulness of my new office comes in handy!). I go between two of the clinics, but am mostly based at the Alexandria building.
It has been great being home all night every night as well. I think Tom is ready for me to work nights again though, so he can get back to his running, hour-long baths, and computer games when I used to be gone! It really is nice though and I defintitely appreciate all the home time and regular lifestyle benefits!
In the meantime, the cats are doing very well at sitting! They have been practicing every night and are surpassing all my expectations! Who would've thought you could teach a cat tricks. They are great performers, but definitely are cats and only do it when they want to (and I have a treat). I'm looking forward to my dinner from Tom which I hope to be getting soon!

Visitors

We spent the last few days with Katrina and Logan (Jessi's old roommate and her new baby). We sweated in the DC heat while exploring and sightseeing. Tom and Katrina challenged each other to eat dinner (enchiladas) with chopsticks only...and succeeded, including all the beans and shredded lettuce. Very impressive. Tom and I rode our bikes to meet Kartrina at the airport and said goodbye to here there. Off to China they will eventually go again, after getting Andy in Illinois and some more travels.
Tom and I now look forward to a full weekend together, and the assurance of many more to follow as my new job starts Monday morning with the promise of no more night or weekend shifts!
I've also been working hard to train the cats to sit which has been interesting. Tom is not a believer, but in time, they will be sitting/shaking/waving/rolling over! And when that happens, I've won myself a dinner made by Tom, otherwise I owe him a bacon butty( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacon_butty also look at the link for chip butties, another of his favorites). I sure hope the cats cooperate!

I quit

Last Monday I handed in my official letter of resignation. I was super nervous, but managed to do it after much praying and sweating. I went in at 6:45 in the morning just to make sure and get my supervisor before the day all started. It went as well as can be expected and now my last day will be Tuesday, June 19th!. My little roommate Katrina with her new baby Logan will be visiting from Tues-Sat and then I start the new job on Monday. I am definitely excited and can't believe I'm really doing this!!! We went to Dennis and Abby's on Friday night and they took us out to dinner to celebrate! Many more celebrations ahead as I have my last night, new job, first days, no night shift, etc!!

Happy Anniversary

We had a really nice weekend away. We went to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home and walked around University of Virginia which was really pretty. Lots of history around there and a nice weekend away. We ate lots of food and did lots of walking...hopefully the two equal each other out! It was nice weather too which was helpful as it can get pretty muggy sometimes. Now it's back to the real world as we head back to work for the week. Tom got a Camelpak for our anniversary (romantic, I know) and went running with it yesterday with the temp in the 90's (plus humidity) and liked it a lot.
Lots of people have been asking about the Mathers in England and we're happy to say that everyone is okay. Hannah lives near one of the underground stations but is doing fine as well. Thanks for all the concern.

Friends' websites

Lauren and Adam Hansen http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=hansens79
Brandon and Alison Gentry http://www.brandonandalison.blogspot.com/
Kleckas http://members.cox.net/eklecka/

New stuff

As it is 3 am and I have nothing else to do (except look forward to a normal-hours job so I can sleep at night again), I have decided to be cool like the rest of my friends and make a new blog for us. Whoever thought we could use the word blog and it actually mean something. As I just finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha, and the cats are sleeping, what else can I do at this hour??
So we celebrated our 4th anniversary last night (flowers from Thomas on the left )at The Charthouse in Alexandria overlooking the Potomac. It was a really nice dinner as we begin to feel more grown-up...especially when paying the bill! We are heading out to Charlottesville, VA to spend the weekend away for the real celebrations. I know it will be a nice time to relax and see Monticello and go hiking. Hopefully Tropical Storm Cindy doesn't rain on us too much. With Hurricane Dennis not far behind I have to wonder which family member will visit us next.
We are looking forward to the rest of the summer before Tom heads back to Georgetown for the fall semester. Thomas has already started planning which events he will be attending at the 2012 Olympics in LONDON!!! Very exciting news. http://www.london2012.org/London2012/london2012/index.html
We'll add some pictures as time goes on...