Life Last Week #28

Hello everyone!  It's been a while but I'm back and with a renewed commitment to my blog (if I say it, you'll hold me accountable, right?).  I've missed you all; tried to read posts when I had a few minutes but time has been limited so forgive me and rest assured, I'll get around to visiting everyone as soon as I can.  Get more organized - that's my fall resolution.

Here's a photo I took in Newport from Castle Hill - gorgeous view, how lovely to sit in one of those chairs and just watch the scene on the bay.  Summer is coming to an end, school supplies are in every shop, some districts have already gone back to school, and soon the supplies will be whisked away and pumpkins, bats, and spiders will abound.  Pumpkin Spice Lattes will appear announcing fall, the changing of the leaves, and the run-up to the holidays.  How did time whiz by so quickly?  Wasn't it just January when I stood on the rain-soaked pier to wave goodbye to Vic and his shipmates?  Since then, he's been to Guam, South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hawaii and returned safely to Washington.  His new orders are here and Virginia beckons.  I have moved from the job I held for ten months into a temporary promotion that now has the real potential to be a permanent assignment.  The vacancy announcement was posted this week and my application was dispatched for consideration.  I think I stand a pretty good chance, the only obstacle being a military spouse candidate who has the qualifications to do the job and would have priority under the Military Spouse Priority Placement Program.  I have a backup, the opportunity for a position in another department for six months while one of my co-workers is on maternity leave, so we'll see what happens.  Vic and I have some decisions to make - neither one of us is overly thrilled about being separated again but we are thinking long-term and have set up several key events that will happen to help us determine that long-term plan.  Step one is to resolve my job status.

Sophia is busy moving into a new apartment and waiting for her new roommate prospect to pass the leasing company's application screening.  She has a full load of classes scheduled for the fall quarter, her last fall quarter as all being well, she will graduate in the summer.

I'm moving Life Last Week from Monday to Sunday and I'm toying with a regular blog schedule, details coming soon.  I'd like to have some regularly-scheduled categories during the week and then add to them as topics come to me.

It's an opportune time for me to take to the keyboard again as the Ready for Christmas:  House & Holidays Plan begins today.  This is Week One:  Planning and Paperwork - perfect timing!  I feel like I should see the words "This one's for you, Pamela" written under the title.  The goal this week is to clean, organize, and de-clutter the home office or planning area.  Yes!  How did they know that mine is in desperate need of cleaning and organizing?  It's also time to begin the basics of holiday planning:  values, budget, and gift list.  I've got the framework of these going so I feel that I'm off to a good start.  Leave me a comment if you're planning to join in.

Have a great week!