Small world

You know it's a small world when you run into friends at the airport. Helen and I were at Baltimore Washington airport for her flight to Jackson, MS when we ran into Laura and her husband Al. Laura and I were in the Cathedral choir together. They were in DC for a book/writing thing and were on Helen's flight to Jackson. It was great to see them. Al took this photo of Helen, Laura and me. (Why do I always run into people when I don't have any makeup on?? One of those mysteries of life. I had gone prepared to do battle at the airport, and it ended up being a cinch.) Seeing Laura reminded me that I still owe Trish bigtime because she helped me get the temp job at Mayer Brown. Once again, many thanks, Trish!!

Helen went to Jackson, then she and Laura drove to Memphis. But first my friend Molly from the Millsaps Library took them to Fenians with Helen's friend Reina. Looks like they were having a good time. Bob and I stayed here; he had to have surgery on his nose for a small skin cancer and since his face is swollen, he needed to stay put. Helen will fly home Tuesday from Jackson, will spend Monday visiting at Jackson Academy and seeing her friends.

We spent some of Thursday night and Friday morning retrieving our dogs. Turns out the wind shakes the gate and the latch works loose. Max got out twice and Janna once. But they're home now and snuggled up 'cause it's cold. I told Keifer he is the only one I can count on.

We've been puttering around the house, getting a few things picked up, watching movies. I cooked for Thanksgiving, did a chicken, stuffing, asparagus, and pumpkin pie cake. It was pretty good if I do say so myself. Tonight we're having a friend, Jim Drummond, over to watch a football game and eat. We have to replace the gate latch, and I'll continue chipping away at the small mountain of laundry, vacuum, etc. It's good to have these days off to get caught up with stuff at home.

Good news: Helen made the honor roll at school!! Good work!

Work is going well. We had a meeting with the architect last Monday, made a few changes to her plan for the new library space. We're actually losing some shelf space so we need to make some decisions about any large sets that can go. And of course they can if the material is online.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

At last - a job!!

Well, after a very tense August with nothing happening on the job front, I got 4 calls the first week in September. It was crazy. People had told me DC shuts down in August and to ride it out; guess they were right. Anyway, I have a job at the US Court for Veterans Appeals starting Oct. 22. It'll get me back with the feds, and I'll be running my own little library again: the best of all possible worlds for a librarian.

Helen has started school at South Lakes High School and it's going well; she has all A's and B's and her teachers are great. She made some friends before school started; there are a bunch of kids her age on our street and they're all really nice.

Laura is at Millsaps College, has a job in the college archives. I'm glad to have her back in Jackson where we know people, and thus, we have backup. Also, if I can't get in touch with her - which does happen because she isn't much of a phone person- I can email the librarians and ask, "Has anyone seen her in the past 3 days?"

The animals - Janna, Max and Keifer - seem to be enjoying the wildlife. Janna and Max bark and chase after it; Keifer kills it. We have been getting to know people on our street and in other areas of Reston because Max kept escaping and, since this is a HUGE "dog town", Restonites are very nice about getting lost beasties home. But we battened up the hatches so hopefully his wandering days are over.

Bob and I went to the 9:30 Club in DC twice - once to hear Matt Pond PA (his was the first CD Bob ever sent me when we started dating so it was a sentimental favorite) and then to hear Pinback. Needless to say, we were about the oldest people there. One girl asked Bob if we were related to a band member - the implied meaning: are you someone's parents? Bob asked me if I thought we really looked that old and I said, "Yes." Well, at least when standing in a group of 21 yr olds....

The latest

Sorry, I've been so busy at The Firm I haven't had time to update this. We've just been slammed some days - nothing we can't handle in terms of the subject matter - just lots of it!

Bob and I worked on some projects around the house this weekend. Our big decision was what style to go with: mission, which he already has going with his stuff, or a more techno-modern. The decision was made for us when we found a ceiling fan we love - in mission style. But a contemporary look, too. The fluorescent ceiling light in the kitchen is literally falling down (screw hole stripped) so now he's looking for a new ceiling fixture to go with the fan. The good news: he found a bunch we really love. The bad news: we have really expensive taste. We also saw a rug for the living room we liked. If we don't get that one (again, expense is a factor) it at least gave us ideas about what we want.

Bob told me to give him plugs for what a great guy he is. Well, hell, why not: the man cleaned the bathtub. And when he saw that the soap scum wasn't completely gone, he cleaned it again!!! And he makes a great vodka/gin & tonic. So he's a keeper.

The girls will be here next week - yeah!! And Max. We will go to Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks in 2 weeks, and there is a kennel there: Sandy Paws Bed & Biscuit Inn. Much cheaper than the kennels here, so we're taking the dogs with us. We can take the dogs out during the day and run around with them. They'll love it. And Bob's girls will enjoy it, too. We'll have to board Keifer. If he went into the marshy areas on the island, we'd never see him again. And all the water fowl would be toast. He would end up as a Store Cat for sure.

The job at The Firm is great; I really enjoy working there, and Barbara and Kay are really nice. I'm learning a lot. And I'm really enjoying Reston.

That's it for now.

Deer

Janna saw her first deer the other day - VERY exciting!! She wanted to go chase it. We also saw two fawns in the stream with their mother. Makes me wonder what kind of population control is in place; my brother James should come up here with his bow & arrow...

TGIF again! The job is going well but we've been getting slammed this week. Really busy. Bob is back from his vacation at Hershey Park with his girls. They had a good time but it was very hot, lines were long, etc. Even with 75 sunscreen he managed to get a tan. I told him he can never take any more trips without me; I missed him too much.

Laura is visiting my parents in Memphis. Helen is going to Vail, Colorado with James and family for a week. Laura has to go down to Jackson at some point and register at Millsaps.

We dodged a bullet on the AC unit; turns out the pan/coil was not level and water was pouring out the back. Got it fixed. Yay!! Thank you, Terry!!

Have a good weekend and 4th!!

First day at work

My first day at The Firm went well; I got to work on time, and they had a continental breakfast waiting for us. (They have that every Monday morning.) I did orientation most of the day, poked around and got the lay of the land in the library. The librarians took me out to lunch at The Prime Rib, a very posh, sort of "gentleman's club" place. I bet deals are made there. Anyway, it was really good but then we were all fighting the urge to sleep all afternoon.

The other interns were all about 19. I was the "old broad" of the group, or as some of you would say, Momma Mays.

Oh! The Firm has a cocktail party in the office lounge on the last Thursday of every month. Sweet!! It's not a beer frig but it'll do.

Call me crazy but I had a dogwalker stop by and visit Janna today, will do so all this week. Maybe until my girls get here in mid-July.

Got an offer on the house. Kinda low, but maybe we can work with it. Wish me luck!!

TGIF

Yesterday Bob's office had a picnic at Rockcreek Park. We had a good time, played badmitton and had some barbeque. After that we headed home because Callie and Libby were arriving. Bob made his "Bob burgers" - the secret ingredient is Frosted Flakes. I kid you not.

Today is Bob's birthday and the girls and I made him breakfast in bed. We need to sneak out later and get him a cake.

Keifer loves having the girls here; they must brush him 15 times a day. At last: he has the attention he so richly deserves.

Bob is taking the girls to Hershey Park tomorrow for a few days, then to Dutch Wonderland. They'll be back Wednesday, I believe. I start work Monday so that will occupy my time and energy. It's been great having a break, but I need to get back to work.

Have a good weekend!!

More progress

Made some progress today on the unpacking front. The breakfast room is clear. But all of this unpacking makes Janna very nervous. With me home, she's not getting her power naps so she's looking a little bedraggled.

It's hot. We should get a rainstorm tonight; you can feel it coming.

We're going out to dinner so I don't have to cook - yeah! I can go tackle a few more boxes.

That's about it for today.

Expo

Yesterday Bob took me to the Expo store, an upscale version of Home Depot. All I can say is, "WOW!!!"

We had dinner guests this weekend: Bob's friend Jim Drummond and also Bob's brother-in-law Tim and his wife Rosemary. It was good to see them and we had a great time. Bob did his usual magic with the grill.

Keifer was busy, killed a baby mole or vole. I'm not sure what the difference is between them.

The law firm is doing a background check and will let me know about a start date. The later/longer workday will take some getting used to.

First kill

We have our first Confirmed Kill at the new house: a chipmunk. They're really cute. I was going to show it to Bob but it had disappeared by the time he got home. I don't think we need to elaborate. Needless to say, Keifer was very proud.

It's about 60 degrees today, has been cool all week. Good thing since we're not running the AC very much to keep the unit from leaking on the carpet. Why oh why did they put carpet in the basement??!! But it will heat up this weekend and be in the 90's. Rats. Bob is still battling the home warranty company.

I'm rearranging furniture today, putting down rugs. Bob has some that fit perfectly in certain rooms. I love these wood floors.

Janna (collie) is still very pouty and nervous. I think she actually misses our beagle, Max. And my moving furniture around doesn't help. One problem: she won't use the stairs in the house as they are wood and slippery for her fuzzy feet. I have to make her go around on the outside of the house. Sheesh.

TGIF everyone.

Home warranties

Home warranties are a joke. Although I've been happy with the one I have on my house in Jackson. I won't bore you with the details about our AC unit here. Suffice it to say, we're not happy. But we'll have a new unit that will be more efficient.

The interview with the law firm went well. The women who work there have been there for years, and that says a lot. They are very nice and would be super to work with. I don't want to say too much because the final details haven't been ironed out; this would be a temp job, which is actually okay for now. It could lead to something permanent, but at the very least will give me some fresh legal experience. And it's a few metro stops from Bob's office so we can have lunch occasionally. I have the lovely and talented Tricia Stevens to thank; she is office manager at Baker Donelson and sent my resume to the "office manager network" in DC. Voila! Thanks, Tricia!! Just more proof that is does boil down to who you know.

Big rainstorm last night which we needed, but it made Janna very nervous. Will make weed-pulling easier. Our big project for tonight is to get the living room in order since we're having a couple of Bob's friends over this weekend.

It's odd not to be be working; I feel like I'm playing house. I have an exciting day of laundry ahead of me, and my goal is to clear the kitchen table and countertops of clutter. Wish me luck!

Made it to Reston!

Greetings from Virginia!

Bob flew down and drove with me and my collie and cat from Jackson, MS to Reston, VA. It was a long drive but mercifully the animals did really well in the car. Bob was suitably impressed. We stopped on the way and saw a couple of his good friends who live in North Carolina.

I am actually glad I did not have to start a job right away; I was exhausted. I've been taking naps almost every day, and unpacking when the mood strikes. We have too much stuff!! But the house is really nice and I love having real wood floors! We have had our first household catastrophy: water leaking from the AC. The repair guy is here; he says the pan has rusted out. Gotta love home ownership.

I have a job interview tomorrow with a law firm.

Big projects include getting some kind of curtains on our sliding glass doors because that side of the house does heat up. Also, a major yard cleanup is in order. The house has been vacant for almost a year and there is some leaf litter and weeds, that kind of thing. Nice yard with trees and not too much grass. I'll attach photos later.

For those of you who don't know, Laura is transferring to Millsaps this fall. I think it's great, and we'll definitely make it back to Jackson for visits. Helen is in Memphis with our beagle, Max; they are staying with my brother, James, and his family. Yesterday she had the house to herself and was eating bagel bites and watching a SpongeBob marathon.

My new email is apmays@yahoo.com. Drop me a line sometime.