Long time, no see!

Wow.

Well thanks to Rachel Ratliff for emailing me a link to her blog, it reminded me that I hadn't looked at mine in AGES - almost a year now, crazy!

Let's catch everyone up to speed.

Last spring I got 2 jobs, one working for the Fredericksburg Area Musem as a Front Line staffer. Basically I worked admissions and in the store. Secondly, I got a job providing daily care for a low-functioning autistic boy here in Fredericksburg. Two very different things, I know!!

I have enjoyed both of the jobs to a point. At first I got a lot out of both of them, but as time went on I was less impressed. I think this happens with most jobs so I'm not going to explain too much. However, the work as a clinician became tiring fast. Low-functioning autism is very difficult to deal with on a regular basis. Not being able to verbally communicate with a very frustrated 14 year old boy makes for a stressful work life. But still, it can be very rewarding. I taught him how to read out loud and we've gotten along really well.

As for Casey, we were together for about 3 months. I'm sad to say that I misjudged my abilities and I had to find her another home. She was growing exponentially and my apartment was far too small for such a rambunctious dog. (Also my roommate Rachel was not a fan of her.)

My roommate's boyfriend moved in for a large portion of the year, and they ended up getting engaged - they're getting married in Sedona in July 2010!

Thomas and I broke up in May. It was a tough decision to break up in the first place but spending the summer apart let both of us grow as individuals and definitely gave us time to mature a bit before getting back together in October.

I got a new car in June, thanks to my parents for a generous loan. Its a 2004 Mazda3 - manual! Yes this is my first stick and before buying the car I had had about 45 minutes worth of practice in my friend Dana's VW. But I love Chuck (my car) and we've traveled almost 13,000 miles in 6 months! Wow. We've driven all over Virginia (several times), North Carolina, DC, Maryland and Pennsylvania! <- my first trip to the "North".

This fall, I went into high gear looking for a new job. Lots of interviews later, still nothing.

Here it is January and I'm in the process of moving out of my apartment. My lease is up at the end of the month and I've currently quit both of my jobs. So I'm about to be jobless and homeless!

Well not quite - - I'm moving to Charlottesville to live temporarily with my Grandmother. I have 2 leads on jobs - one in Richmond (near Thomas!) and one in Northern Virginia. I'm excited about both of them, but they wont be hiring/starting until February. So thus I am moving.

So thats about it, or at least a general overview. I doubt anyone actually reads this, but in case they stumble across it - now you know.

Hopefully 2010 will be an amazing year and I will have lots to post about when I get around to it next spring ;-)

-Emma