What a month..

Well, life goes on and I have certainly moved on from my previous job. The experience was a good one and some of the people were nice to work with/work for, but the "cattiness" of a majority of the employees had gotten out of control - another good reason I got a new job!

This is my second week at the new job and I am working more hours but am more satisfied with my opportunities and co-workers. I am looking forward to speeding up the learning process so I can understand things better. I am involved in alot more corporate interaction now and there are many out-of-house names and associations to remember, but I'll get better with time!

Very fun news: Tampa in two weeks for my bachelorette party!! :)

Playing Catch Up

Since I don't put anything personal on my work computer, I feel like I'm always going back and forth from work to home with pictures...yes I have a jump drive, but my ancient dinosaur-of-a-work-computer doesn't read it - don't ask.

So, Here are some photos from the Rhoderick family reunion which was on Father's Day... I don't have a digital copy of the group photo of all 65 people, so just imagine it!

*And apparently I'm not very good at placing photos in the right place in this blog either...*

Last week Brad and I went to Connecticut for Kyle's high school graduation - the last Campbell is out of Fermi and off to UCONN!! It was a very quick trip (we arrived at 10:30pm Wednesday and our flight left at 6:15am Friday) but we were there for the day's festivities and some time with mom as well. I wish brittany was able to make it, but as I couldn't make it to her graduation because of school and work, she was in the same boat this year. Maybe someone can photoshop her into the group picture?? I would call it a family picture, but she is missing!

The fourth of July is right around the corner and we'll be heading down to the beach for the weekend! I haven't been since Memorial Day which seems so long ago. Stevie told me that she is going to be in Eatonton for the 4th with Eric, but we were there last year and she wasn't which makes me sad :(. But, I know she will be MUCH better at karaoke with the Friedgen's than I was! :)

Time Flies

Yes, I am still getting usd to the concept of updating my blog entries regularly. I feel like I need to backtrack (but I'll have to do that with photos later since I don't have access to them now).

Well, a formal offer was presented to me for a new job at a new company and I have officially accepted it! My last day at my current job will be July 8th and then I will spend some time at the beach and transition into my new position the following Monday.

I'm really lookign forward to additional job duties and more corporate out-of-the-office communcations as well as event planning in DC, NYC and even an event in Florida. The people I will be working with are quite "powerful" and I feel it will make me a more consciensous employee.

Metro Chronicles

Yesterday around 2:45 in the afternoon an orange line train derailed and the poor passengers were stuck in the tunnel (I'm assuming since it was at Courthouse) without AC or lights for more than 30 minutes. Did I mention it has been 96 here with a heat index of more than 105? Oh that's right, just a minor painful detail.

Well, when i found out about this "red flag" situation I immediately jumped on calling people I know and trying to figure out how to get home without taking Metro - or the orange line at least. My cousin was driving home to NY, a nother friend was still in school so I was thinking about going to pentagon City for a little while and have dinner until brad could pick me up once traffic died down some. What about the bus?? Well, the fact that I would have to take four buses made that option the last for me.

Wait a minute - someone at my company lives in Annandale, the town next to Falls Church!! He saved the day! Riding home with him was initially a last resort because I felt bad about him going out of his way, but he reassured me it was no problem. I am writing a thank you note and will probably buy like a $10 gas card just to say gracias.

The Metro problem was not cleared until 12:41am according to the fourteen Metro e-mail alerts I received since I left work at 4:30pm so I sure am glad I hitched a ride! Last Tuesday when we had the major thunderstorms and all the trees fell, power was out, etc it took me three hours to get home because one stoplight was out on the train track so everyone had to get off and then board a bus to get back on the metro after that one stop.

For the record - I am not confident about DC's emergency evacuation plan if it ever needed to be put into place - you might as well get to georgetown and swim across the river and hitch-hike with someone who is already on the Parkway......

Five months to go!!

Wow, June 2nd already, really? This past weekend our friends/floral designer from Philadelphia came down to scope out the church and reception sit efor our wedding. She designed a beatutiful arrangement that will be centerpieces on some of the tables - it is very unique and rustic and modern all at once. No, no one can see pictures except for my mom :). (MOB privileges). It felt great to have Erin here to do some wedding things with me and I also approved our invitation proof so that order will be placed this week too! Whew, there is alot going on! I never mentioned it, but I passed my boater's safety course over memorial Day weekend so I was able to ride the jetskis alone and had a great time doing it. I have pictures of Brad and his mom, but none of me, which is why I haven't posted any. At some point this summer I'll have him be the phtographer so I can see myself on the Magnum PI-like watercraft. Also, the Virginia Clemson Alumni Association has finally received enough applications for CU license plates! Once all 390 applications are submitted to the DMV and approved, I'll be getting a new VA plate with a pas on it!! I knew there was a reason we haven't moved out of Virginia yet. I enoucraged Brad to get a UMD version when we moved in last year, but he got a standard plate instead. Now he really should get one because I'll be supporting my school, so he should be supporting his. But then again, buying four season tickets for football supports UMD way more than a license plate.

Another license

This past weekend Brad's parents accepted a deal they couldn't refuse - two jet skis from the 1990s with a double trailer for a very reasonable price. So, now I have to complete the boatering safety class through the Maryland DNR. i feel like I'm studying for my driving test again except i can take this test online whenever I feel "ready." Brad thinks this should be Thursday or Friday so I can drive a jet ski on my own this weekend, but I think i really should learn about it and what's going on. So, we'll see. And weather in this area is nowhere near as beuatiful as South Carolina or Tennessee so it will be a chilly Memorial Day anyway.

Another Birthday has Passed

It's official - I am now 23. That seems so much older than 21 and much closer to 25 even though it is right in the middle. Brad called my friend Meghan and her boyfriend Chris about celebrating my birthday and I wa ssurprised to be going to Ocean City with them for my birthday. But first we had a company event at LIMA in McPherson Square where I had the best mojito of my life, oh and some $300 strawberry champagne. Yes, seriously. That could be the reason I slept for 2/3 of the three hour drive to Ocean City after the event. I was lucky enough to have banana and blueberry pancakes made for me on my birthday and crispy bacon. All accompanied by some pink potted gerber daises. We went fishing in the afternoon and at least Meghan caught something! A 15 1/2 inch fat ole flounder that could've fed all of us if it was 1/2 inch larger and legal to keep! It was so windy that on the way back I laid in the front of the boat and Brad snapped the boat cover over me which elimanted all the wind - glorious. After a yummy dinner of orange roughy, roasted potatoes, salad and of course birthday cake! brad and I went to The greene Turtle for some libations. We met a fun group of guys from Hoboken believe it or not who joined us in laughing the woman who appeared to be 50

in velvet pants and off the shoulder sweatshirt (very flashdance-esk) who was "dancing" as if she was on ecstasy. Oh and then the lady flashing the bouncer and believe me, she really shouldn't have been. It was a very relaxing weekend, especially since I slept until 11:30 Sunday and then napped from 12-2:30! Enjoyable. On another note, there appears to be an Alpha Chi baby boom, but definitely not of my pledge class yet, of the 2001 pledge class. Two friends that I know through other friends just had a baby girl this weekend and another is pregnant...in addition to those who already have a lil' peanut and those who should soon!!