A busy autumn

It seems like I have been so busy that I have hardly had time to sit down and write about what is new.  I have been working Monday-Thursday, and I am useless by the end of those workdays. I am lucky because I have a three day weekend every weekend. I am so grateful to have a schedule that allows me to go on fun vacations. I have been on a couple great trips. I was in Atlanta two weeks ago, and New York City about a month ago. Also, Sewanee (of course). On the agenda is Savannah next weekend, Atlanta after that, and FINALLY Texas in three weeks. No lie, I miss Texas big time. Being away from family is not easy at all. Time is flying. I can't believe that November is already here. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays! To think that Christmas is just around the corner blows my mind.

This weekend I am working on my budget, doing chores and catching up on sleep. Yesterday I went on a fast food tour of Augusta, and today I am trying not to feel sick from that adventure. Of note, Wendy's food tastes the same in Georgia as it does everywhere else. Who knew? The Peppermint Mocha Frappuccino doesn't taste as good as I wish it did, and it is still way too early in the year for that. Egg McMuffins remain one of my favorite breakfasts anywhere.

I have so much to be thankful for this November, and I am praying for safe travels for everyone this season!

A good day for a hike

This morning, I woke up and just had to get moving. Determined not to spend one more day indoors, I set off to hike the ENTIRE Augusta Canal trail... that's 6.4 miles! And it's an out and back, so 12.8 miles total! WOW! I set out at 10:15 and made it back by 2:45. I am exhausted. Such a beautiful walk.

I took all these pictures on the way out, and resolved to just walk the whole way back without checking my phone/camera. However, I had to make a concession when I saw this little guy cross my path...

That's a turtle!

And this is what I looked like when I got back. This picture was taken by my new friend Brenda at the Canal visitor's center. I'm completely beat, and rocking a college Chi O family shirt!

Labor day has come and gone, and I'm ready for fall and more outdoor fun. If the next hike could be about ten degrees cooler next time, that would be super.

Halfway through August...

Busy busy busy! Things have been so crazy around here recently. I have been working very hard. The ten-hour workdays totally wear me out, but I feel like I have really caught my stride here. Earning a living is really gratifying, but I am exhausted all the time. I can't believe that I've been here for seven weeks. Time is flying.

In the past month and a half, I have visited five different churches; none of them stack up to the fabulous GSL in Memphis, TN. I am very tired of church shopping, and I am taking a week off. I have told about a million people in the past week about how much I am looking forward to getting back to Memphis some day. Seriously! You don't realize how great a place is until you leave, and Memphis truly is a great place. This Sunday, I'm eating waffles and reading the newspaper, thankyouverymuch.

Waffles and a LARGE coffee for $5.00...

Food- I have gone to a bunch of different restaurants, and tried some new things… like Korean fare. I've found some good Mexican and Vietnamese places. I’ve also rediscovered dessert. Yikes! A cake with four layers for $6... that spells trouble. I think that hummingbird cake must be a southern thing. Even better with coffee.

I’m having a great time here, have made lots of new friends and I have lots to do. Next week, I’m flying away to Louisville, KY to spend a weekend with my family. 

You knew this post was coming...

I’m all settled in. I’ve checked out the local restaurants, I’ve finally bought that gym membership, and things are feeling way less shiny and new.  I’ve got my routine and I know my streets (sort of). I love the freedom and challenge of living in a new town, but there are lots of things that I miss as well.  It is really tempting to just hide out and think about the way things were.

I love my classmates!!

Then you have to get over it, because it isn’t cool to waste an entire year feeling all homesick. I’m keeping myself busy with crafts, books, T.V. shows and new coffee shops. That said, you just can't replace good friends, sisters, or mentors.

In truth, I'm always feeling homesick. It was like that when I went to college in Denton, again when I moved to Memphis, and now here in Georgia. It gets a little easier every move. Still, I would really like to find some quality queso... I may finally have to learn how to cook! 

Craft day

This week, I finally attempted one of the projects on my Pinterest! This is really exciting stuff, I know, but there isn't much else going on 'round here, so! I had a sad, cheap bookshelf from target that had an awful laminate backing. In my last move, the backing was destroyed. No big deal, it was really terrible, it had these trifold lines that ran vertically from the flat pack, and it made the bookshelf look really cheap. I finally got tired of looking at that ugly thing and did something about it. All it took was fabric, spray adhesive, a staple gun and foam board.

Before:

During:

After!

I don't really love crafts. I tend to think that most things I make by hand, be it food or craft, turns out terribly. That said, I am really excited about this project, and I think that it turned out really well. now I need to figure out how to actually style those shelves instead of using them as a holding place for all of my pictures. For another day!

Week One

Lots happened this week! I spent some time exploring downtown Augusta, the Riverwalk as well as First Friday, and I started my new job.

First, here are some pictures of the Augusta Riverwalk. I went on Wednesday with my neighbor to celebrate the 4th of July. The trail runs along the Savannah river, which divides Georgia and South Carolina. I look forward to running here when it cools off a little bit. It is such a beautiful place, and it sort of reminds me of the Austin Hike and Bike trail.

Fountain in front of the Riverwalk

South Carolina across the Savannah

That bird on the shore was huge!

At the end of the week, I went downtown with several co-workers and friends to check out First Friday. This is an outdoor event downtown that features lots of street vendors and flame throwers (we saw two different troupes). Without a doubt there were some strange characters out, but no big deal. After a GREAT dinner downtown, our crew walked the streets and eventually ended up at an 80's dance party. 

Heavy metal flame throwers

She was playing Proud Mary, Tina Turner style!

Turns out some of those strange characters on the street were up to no good: a shooting around 11:30 injured six people. City officials aren't thrilled about this, and lots of people are calling for an end to First Friday. I was walking to my car about the time when this happened, I was only a few blocks away!

Yikes!

The most exciting news of the week is that I started my job at the hospital. I spent most of my first week in orientation, which was boring but important. It totally wore me out; I crashed after every day. After the three days of orientation, I finally had my first real day of work on Friday. It was such a thrill to actually meet the people who I had e-mailed with for months. Even on my first day, I got to do some real work rather than just observe. In the afternoon I had to do a four-hour computerized tab-by-tab training, but hey! It’s done. Overall, a great first week here in Georgia.

Landed

I am finally all moved in to my new home, and almost completely unpacked. It took a few days, and there were some crazy moments. My dad came up to Memphis on Thursday to help me move and he brought his 3 month old puppy, Finley, along for the trip. If you have never tried to move residences with a puppy, I recommend giving it a try. A chewing puppy is great motivation to pick up trash, socks, boxes and everything else you can find.

The back of the both of our cars were packed solid. Neither of us could see out of our back windows. For me, the real victory here was pulling off a move with furniture without renting a trailer. I was really determined, and it worked out perfectly after a few trips to Goodwill.

Our littlest moving helper, Finley

The four of us (Dad, cat, dog and myself) made the trip to Georgia in two days. The first day, we made it halfway to Birmingham, and on the second day we finally arrived in Augusta. The drive seemed to last forever, and was made worse by the terrible heat. I know everyone here in the south is dealing with some crazy temperatures right now, but moving in weather like this was absolutely miserable. By the time we stopped the car, the reading in my car was 115 degrees, and stepping outside the car was like opening the door to an oven.

Turns out that we nearly didn't make it at all. When we stopped in Atlanta for lunch, we noticed my dad's truck was making an ominous squeaking noise. The car was diagnosed here in Augusta, and I learned that one of the pulleys for the main engine belt had busted on the drive. The car mechanic says that we are lucky, and I am very grateful that we made it here without a car breakdown. We must have had a pair of guardian angels making the trip with us. Now, Dad and Finley are safely back in Sewanee and I am here in Augusta, ready for action!

Dad, Finley and Cheddar

Tomorrow is my first day at the hospital, which will be new employee training all day for the next three work days. I am ready to get started with clinic, but it looks like I will be spending a few days learning the ins and outs of hospital policy and benefits packages!

Does anybody actually like moving?

The most exciting news in my life right now is that I am moving away from Memphis, TN tomorrow. I am relocating to Augusta, GA, where I will start my 4th year externship at the local VA hospital. Of all the rotations I had in my time at the University of Memphis, my time at the VA was my favorite. I liked all my hospital placements, and knew that was what I wanted from 4th year. The way it works is that I will be working full time in Georgia for one calendar year. During that time I will earn enough clinical hours to graduate. From there, who knows!

About halfway there!

Moving is such an awful process. The hardest part about moving into out of an old place is managing all of the layers of stuff that you have built up. Not just stuff, but weird things like fortune cookie readings and boxes of random cables and ignored paperwork. I am taking this move as an opportunity to get rid of all that junk.

Until I actually move, I'm not running... house scrubbing is my cardio.

The Great American Road Trip (Parts 1, 2)

When I learned that I would be moving to Georgia in July, I decided that June 2012 would be a great time to go on a vacation. Well, what started as one vacation became three. I have gone on two out of three road trips: the first to Dallas and the second to Kansas City. I will finally land in Augusta, GA this Friday.

Last week, I went to Dallas, TX, to my sorority sister’s wedding and to see my boyfriend’s new apartment. He lives in a great neighborhood with lots of dogs AND a doughnut shop in walking distance. What else do you need? In terms of location, he has it all. We went to Mexican food restaurants and I got to catch up with friends. The trip was everything I’d hoped it would be.

Paul and I at the Boyd/DeLaVergne Wedding

Girls being silly in the worst dresses ever...

Today, I am leaving Kansas City, MO, where I spent a few days visiting my friend Chantee. Our adventures included eating Kansas City’s famous barbecue at Arthur Bryan’s, shopping at Trader Joe’s for the first time, and splitting the world’s most decadent chocolate croissant. The trip is best summarized with pictures...

Shakespeare in the park, a Midsummer Night’s Dream, which I’d never seen! 

Going on a tour of a coffee roasterie.

I learned that coffee is ideally brewed at exactly 200 degrees, you must always buy whole bean coffee (make sure it has a vent and grind only what you need for the morning), you should store unused coffee at room temperature in an airtight container, and that opened coffee has a shelf life of 12-14 days.

Pizza, wine and pie in the park across the street.

A mini road trip to my classmate’s wedding on the lake. It rained, but it was lovely.

So now I am going to drive back to Memphis and prepare for part 3: the trek to Georgia! I feel like I am going off to college again. I can’t wait to set up home. I am totally distracted by the move all the time. When you have been planning a move for months you can start to get a little stir crazy!