Settled in DC

We are settled in DC.  Finally!  We were in the Navy Lodge for a few weeks and Brian met some of the guys in his class and they were living in Crystal City in furnished apartments, with full kitchens, real bedrooms and actual closets.  You don't realize how important walls and couches are until all you have for furniture are two full-size beds and room for 5 shirts in the closet in a tiny hotel room.  We are much more comfortable now.  It's a longer commute to school, but well worth it.

On a prior note, Brian and I went on quite an adventure to find libations one night in Anacostia - across from the base.  For those of you who do not know, Anacostia is probably the highest crime-ridden area of DC.  It is straight up ghetto.  Unbeknownst to me, there is no alcohol sold in the ghetto.  Who would've have known.  We looked for two hours.  It was a culture shock for me, for sure.

I am in DC for two weeks before my next commute to Virginia Beach.  My work computer is up and running perfectly now, so it's not as difficult as working from the Navy Lodge where the internet worked when it wanted.  I will be in VB for a whole week, so my VB-ians, let's get together!  This is all pending I still have a job in two weeks, though.  :)

Other than those tidbits, we are still schooling and enjoying the new city.  It's cold, cold, COLD here, so I can't get out and explore as much as I'd like us to, but I'm sure we'll manage.  I've gotten lost a few times and ended up in front of the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building.  You've gotta love accidental sight seeing.  :)

Hope you all are doing great!  Peace out!

Movin' on up (moooooovin' on up)!

We are officially residents of Washington, District of Columbia.  I never thought, ever, that I would leave TX, much less live in DC or marry a boy I dated in college.  :)   Here we are beginning a journey that most people could only hope to take part of.  We are very lucky to be where we are and I'm grateful for Brian and the past and current career choices he's made to get us here.

We started our move on New Year's Eve.  We packed my car, packed Brian's rental (which smelled TERRIBLE) and headed to DC.  We were 26 miles south of Richmond when my car had a blowout.  Brian changed the tire and we made it to a tire shop in Richmond.  They took us right in and we got new tires for the car.  After all was said and done, we were out $750, were both not feeling well and were tired as heck.  We decided to stay put and got a hotel room in Richmond.  We were in bed before the New Year!  What a way to start it, eh?  At least we were together.   The next morning, we finished our drive to DC to our friends', Mark & Kledia's, apartment.

We finally made our way to the Navy Lodge on the Bolling Air Force Base (AFB) and unpacked both cars.  Then, we returned the rental and settled into our new home.  I picked up some groceries for the tiniest kitchen in the world.  It has 2 burners, a small fridge, a microwave and a small sink.  It's definitely better than nothing, but nothing at all what I'm used to using.

I am commuting back and forth from DC a few days a week and staying with our old neighbors, Vince & Sarah.  The drive sucks.  That is all I have to say about that.  I check in and start my Spousal Embassy Training this Friday, so hopefully the commuting will lessen due to timing conflicts in DC.  I am very excited about the school and what I will be learning.  Haynes hasn't even started interviewing for my position, so I'm not sure how much longer my commuting will last.  It's very tiring, but I don't want to leave my boss high and dry here either.  I'll make it work...just makes it tough to actually enjoy my last few months in the US.

Other than those tidbits, there isn't much going on.  I'll catch y'all up when we have more updates!  :)