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My new "job"

 I am taking the year off from work!!  This promise was used as bait by Tom to get me to move here. Little does he know, I would have come anyway.  I have been employed full time since 1992-before that I worked either part or full time, even as a mom with four small kids. I am not saying this to make anyone fell badly for me, but after a few really hard years in my life I am looking forward to life on my own schedule.

I swear to you that I was rarely asked by new acquaintances what I did for a living, until now......Everyone I meet asks  me what I do for work and "whatever will you do to keep busy?" I have thought of telling a whopper and saying I was a big shot political lobbyist- but my flip flops and jeans would surely give me away.  I have worked as an occupational therapy assistant since 1979 and a massage therapist since 2003.
I have enjoyed both vocations-but I am ready for some Nancy time!

I spent the summer vacation packing things to move here, but my biggest project was assembling the necessary tools for my new hobby-scrap booking. Hobby Lobby and Michael's are surely bereft without my weekly visits with my 40% off coupons.

My list of scrapbooks to complete:
1. Nancy and Tom's love story via the war in Iraq
2. Nancy and Tom's wedding album
3. Tom's family pictures
4. Nancy's family pictures
5. Holly and Nancy's trip to France in 2000-OMG!
6. Travel album, including Kelsey, Nancy and Holly's sailing trip to the British Virgin Islands-2004  and Taylor, Ryan and Nancy's mission trip to Mexico in 1999-OMG x2!
7. Grandson Sam's scrapbook
8. Tom's Police scrapbook
9. Tom's Army scrapbook

Yes, for those of you who remember my first blog- the mini van was crammed full of these artifacts. We just finished moving several of the plastic tubs up to the storage unit on the third floor and I got to thinking that I hadn't even started this new hobby yet.

You may be asking yourself, what on earth has she been doing for the past 7 1/2 weeks?!  Well, I have been getting our apartment ship-shape as CEO of the Dryden habitat. I actually like to think of myself as Tom's personal assistant- so it really is like having a full time job. I need to research all the fun activities we plan to get to this year. you might remember the hours of intense research and Internet searching I had to do to find the perfect grocery store!  Searching for a yoga class has been another Herculean task- but somebody has to do it

I have signed up for a French cooking class at the Plum Center for adult education, just up the road which starts in November. In December I am taking a class on cooking a traditional Italian holiday brunch. I also want to try more vegetarian cooking and I enjoy making dinner every night for such an appreciative spouse.

I am looking into volunteer opportunities with the USO at Ft. Belvoir and perhaps some tutoring through the United Christian Ministries affiliated with my new church. We start a new yoga class on Oct 19th offered through Innova Health Care and plan to take drop in classes at the fort-schedules permitting. I will need to find some continuing education classes to renew my massage license next July and I have several home study courses to complete for my OT license renewal. 

What do I do on a typical day? I fritter away plenty of time on the computer and enjoy every minute of it. Usually, I will have my computer streaming the broadcast from KEZ-999 in Phoenix as I listen to the Beth and Friends morning show.  I blog when the mood strikes me and I must be in the mood, since this is my second one in 24 hours. After checking my email-taking special note of the Groupon offering of the day, I read the Washington Post.

By this time I have taken Sandy out once or twice.  I have taken to wearing a baseball cap and usually will stuff my PJ's into my jeans to head outside. This summer in Phoenix, I would often wear my nightgown or Capri Jim-Jams to the mailbox to collect the mail. Tom was appalled by this, but I explained that it was too hot to be out, so no one would see me and I felt my clothing could pass for summer sportswear.

I do enjoy my TV- but remember fondly,the flat screen and DVR back home.  I will surf my favorite guilty pleasures, E!, HGTV, BRAVO, and yes sometimes QVC...........I also enjoy listening to NPR in the afternoon, looking forward to my 3:00 fix of Fresh Air.

I muster up my resolve to do my Pilates or Yoga DVD's before showering and collecting the mail. While down at the mail, I pick up my complimentary green tea or coffee in the lobby. I know it sounds rough, but I will keep forging ahead.

August 16, 2008

I am always caught up on laundry, the dishes are clean and this is all good. I am not crabby after a tough day at the salt mines and the requisite commute. Honestly, I don't think I have had one day here so far that I have felt bored with nothing to do. It is amazing how fast the days fly by . I feel as though I am perpetually on intersession vacation from my school job-yahoo!  When we return to AZ I will probably work at least part time- but for now I am enjoying my new life.