The Old Year

As is usually the case as the new year starts, I write with a promise to blog more... Again, we'll see how it goes.

2008 was a big year for me. It started out just like any other year, but big things were going to happen.

Early on in the year, Lauren discovered that she was pregnant! My first two-legged niece or nephew - and the first two-legged grandchild for Mom and Dad.

In May, Jenny, Annie, and I moved from Falls Church to Fairfax. I was now in walking distance of work, and Jenny's commute was cut in half. Annie, of course, kept her same commute - a short walk down the hallway to the next sunspot. Unfortunately, this move made Annie nervous, and unable to keep any food in her system. So, after a LOT of tests and trips to the vet, it turned out that she just had a nervous stomach. A month on a restricted diet, and no green beans, and she was back to normal.

As if dealing with Annie and the move weren't enough, the summer started out on a low note, with the passing of my grandmother's husband, Clagett. It was a huge loss for all of us.

On the day after his passing, oddly, I got a phone call about a potential job interview. I hadn't really been looking, but had put my resume in to a job here or there for the heck of it. I went for the interview with the City of Alexandria on the day after the funeral, and felt calm and relaxed - after all, I wasn't really in NEED of a job. A week later, I got a call saying that the job I had interviewed for was filled from within, but that left a vacancy - would I be interested in interviewing for that position? I said sure, what the heck?! Following that interview, I had a job offer that included a promotion, a significant pay raise, and an hour-long commute each way...

So, just after my birthday in August, I gave my notice.

Labor Day week was a trip to Nags Head. Aside from the extraordinarily painful sunburn, it was a great trip that resulted in a number of new friendships. I took another week off, and then jumped into the new job.

Months into it, I can definitely say that the switch was well worth it, in spite of the dreadful commute. Both the workplace and the job itself are much better fits for me.

On November 21,2008, Ginevra Oviatt Skillman made her debut. Although the four-legged family members aren't too sure about this addition, all the two-legged ones are enamored.

2009 has already started off with a bang, but more on that in a later post.