What I've been doing in grad school...

...among other things.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

We had our first snow here in State College (or rather the first snow that we've been here for). It had been raining all day and toward the evening became heavy, wet snow. We ended up with about 2 inches on the ground, though most has melted now. We threw on our boots, bundled up Evelyn and got some photos of her first snow. She was not happy about it.

We also cut our Christmas tree the next day. Last year we had a 7ft tree that filled our living room, but after we rearranged the room, there wasn't enough space for a tree of that size, so we combed the rows of Christmas trees in search of the perfect 5ft tree.

We found one and Mike set about cutting it down. Which turned out to be a bit difficult because of the branches so low to the ground. He pivoted around and around the base with the hand saw before finally breaking it free of the stump and yelling TIMBER! Only to have it fall right on top of him! Don't worry, he was not hurt, but it made for some very funny pictures.

Evelyn slept through our Christmas tree hunt, but was awake for the decorating (though a bit grumpy). First we donned the star, then we dutifully checked the light strands before wrapping the tree and topping it off with some decorative ribbon. We plugged the lights in to admire our work, only to discover the star was not working. For those of you that don't use real trees, it is pretty sappy at the top and the design of the star makes it difficult to stay up (we used twist ties and eventually did some reconstructive surgery, cutting about 4in off the leader). So we took the star down, opened it and searched for the bulb at fault. Fortunately, we found it and had replacements.

And here's the final product. Evelyn put on a happy face just before bed and seemed to really enjoy her first tree! She even got the first present under the tree!

Meeting the Matriarch

At just 8 days old, Mike, Mom, Evelyn and I took a trip to Long Island to visit Gram. It was really important to us that Evelyn have a chance to meet her namesake and almost 99yo Great-Grandma. She was a big hit with the staff and even sported her little pumpkin suit the day before Halloween, though it was still a bit big on her. I think Gram was delighted to meet her, and we were so happy to have the opportunity to be able to get out and see her!

Special Delivery

I'm way behind on posting and many of you have already heard the labor and delivery story from either Mike or myself, but I'll put it out there for those of you who haven't heard the story yet.

Oct 20, 4:46am, 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant--After having woken up for the usual bathroom break and climbing back into bed, I felt a contraction. This wasn't uncommon, I had had irregular contractions and cramping for weeks after getting up in the middle of the night. But the second contraction that followed shortly after was more uncomfortable and I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. I decided not to wake Mike and go have some breakfast to see if these contractions were the real deal.

After a bowl of Cheerios and a half hr of steady contractions, I decided to time them for another hr. They were 3-5mins apart and growing in intensity. At that point I decided to wake Mike up and let him know while I got ready for a shower. I didn't want to freak him out so I told him pretty nonchalantly that I was having contractions, it took him a second to take it in and then he promptly responded 'wait, shouldn't we be calling the Dr?' The info they give you says to call when your contractions are 3-5 mins apart, but I was paranoid about being stuck in the hospital for a long time and I had been coached up by my co-workers to wait until I couldn't stand because the pain was so bad. So I said I wanted to wait and took my shower. About the time I was climbing in, I was reaching the point where my contractions were too painful to stand up straight, but I was determined to be a model of good hygiene.

Forty minutes later, my contractions now 1.5-3 mins apart; so painful I could not speak, sit, stand, crouch, etc; and I was just getting out of the shower, gasping for Mike to call the midwife. I spoke to her and she said to head on over to labor and delivery, so we hustled to get out to the car (it was still a 40 min drive to the hospital). I called Dad and had just enough time to say 'we're going to the hospital, I can't talk anymore' and hang up. It was by far the most uncomfortable car ride Mike and I have ever experienced. Particularly when we came to a complete stop on part of the road that is one lane in each direction. Fortunately, it was just a bus turning left to pick up kids for school.

We arrived at the hospital at 8am and I couldn't make it 10ft before having to get down on all fours through a contraction in the parking lot. Thank goodness someone from the hospital saw and came with a wheelchair to get us up to L&D. I got changed, hooked up to the monitors and checked. To my surprise I was 9cm! Holy cow and thank God, because I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold out. Mike says the nurses started hustling about the room getting the delivery table set-up and getting orders in. My plan was to deliver naturally, without any medication. My midwife told us it was too late for anything anyway (especially because they did not offer epidurals) and I ended up not even getting an IV.

Labor was intense. Mike insists that my sense of humor actually improved during labor. I cracked jokes in between contractions about how labor was hard and that I now felt more sympathetic to my patients. I had been really worried I would be mean, apparently I'm funny. Who knew?

At 9:27 I felt like I needed to push, so we began. After just under an hr, at 10:24am, Evelyn Dorothy made her grand enterance into the world with a full head of hair and gave a forceful and wonderful cry. Life as we knew it changed forever.

Six Weeks

We had a wonderful visit with everyone at Thanksgiving and are looking forward to seeing you all again at Christmas. Thanks Jennifer for taking some great family photos! It is always so nice to see family and spend some quality time together. I only wish Evie was smiling in more of them, but here's one of Ella and Toby holding baby Evie!


6 weeks has brought many changes in Evelyn, she's been smiling quite a bit and I finally caught her smile on camera! It lights up her whole face. I can't believe she is already 6 weeks old, it sure has flown by. Life has certainly changed for all of us and we're adjusting to it relatively well. The doctor has said that she's growing well and right on track, her newborn acne is starting to clear up, she's had her first bottle, she has cradle cap--but hasn't lost ANY of that luxurious newborn hair, and we're now starting to try getting a sleep routine going. Easier said than done.

I'll be back to work Jan 12--12 weeks from delivery. Sabbath has been adjusting very well to having a baby around too. Despite her well known dislike for children, she's been wonderful with Evie and has not shown an ounce of aggression, though she's become annoyingly desperate for attention; jumping in our laps the second we sit down and meowing in a very bossy voice any time Evie cries.

It is really exciting seeing her little personality develop and I can't wait to see what kind of girl she's going to be. We'll keep you posted about what is happening in our neck of the woods!

Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays..

State of Affairs

Phase 1) Drive home from Warren Dunes, with check engine light glaring, driving severely under the speed limit, with hazards flashing, gripping the steering wheel and fearing for my life.

Phase 2) Autozone said could be mass air flow sensor and turned off the check engine light.  I thought that sounded kind of wimpy.  Go back to driving normal speed, sans hazards, sans fear for life, but drive straight to mechanic.

Phase 3) Mechanic suggests replacing mass air flow sensor -- expensive -- can't hear bad sounds.  Drive home, now fearing for my financial solvency.  Listen for sounds, can't hear them either.  Wonder if I'm crazy.

Phase 4) Hear sounds again, but check engine light doesn't reappear.  Drive to Chicago for an already planned weekend and figure Dad can take a look in the meantime.

Phase 5) Dad looks and listens, decides to take the wheel off to check brakes.  Using superhuman force, Dad operates lug wrench and does get the lug nut off, but snaps the lug in half in the process.  (Weight lifting will do that.)

Phase 6) All mechanics are closed for Sunday, drive back to Chicago with three lugs.

Phase 7) Exit highway, turn left on my street, hear loud pop, feel ticking under my feet.  Slow down and begin to fear for my life again.  Turn left into parking space and feel/hear loud clunk under my feet.

To be continued...

Up a Crick without a Paddle

Oh, the irony.  After complaining through yesterday's post about how I feel dependent on my car I took myself about an hour and a half west to Warren Dunes State Park just a few miles over the Indiana-Michigan border.  My good friend, Lisa, from Chicago met me (sort of halfway) to hike through the dunes and then have dinner/lunch at a cafe before each heading back our separate ways.

The day couldn't have been nicer.  We both ended up ditching the fleeces in favor of long-sleeved shirts and the piles of leaves on the trail gave each step a satisfying crunch.  The mood was just very November-ey.  Looking out at the dune forest, most of the trees were bare and the leaves were spread thickly over the ground.  Every once in a while we'd find a shrub with red or purple berries, or a tree with yellow leaves still clinging.  The bogs were boggy and the dunes were steep.  At one moment we emerged from the forest and climbed to the top of one dune only to be hit smack-dab with an incredible view of Lake Michigan (hitherto unseen).  Our trail dropped us out on the glorious empty beach where we were supposed to walk south along the shore for nearly a mile.  This quickly got old with the wind whipping around, so we were thankful when we finally found the marker (after some frustrated searching, we have a word or two for Warren about the state of its markers) that took us back into the forest cover again.  From there we wound our way along, admiring the silver birch trees whose white bark stood out so strikingly from all the grays, browns, and deep oranges.  Nearly at the end of our loop we came upon a sign with a giant exclamation point and the words "Trail passes through open hunting area!" And underneath, the words, "Season closed Apr-Sept."  We stood there for a few minutes talking over a strategy and then sprang forth singing and talking very loudly.  Luckily we were soon greeted by another sign that heralded our safe arrival into 'no hunting' grounds.  Phew!

At the end of the hike we deposited ourselves into a little cafe that Lisa found that sources ingredients from local farmers and serves such delicacies as creamed spinach with a parmesan sweet potato chip crust.  I'll say no more except that I'm glad Lisa was in charge of that part.  My search only pulled up locations of Subways and McDonalds.

We hugged and said goodbye.  Lisa pulled away as I arranged a few things in the car.  I forgot to say that about the time I rendezvoused with Lisa I noticed my car making a bad sound.  A bad, unexplainable sound.  Nothing else indicated there was a problem, so I winced, drove slowly, and then turned it off to hike and eat for several hours.  After Lisa pulled away, however, I turned the car on, and there, glaring at me menacingly was the check engine light.  Bright orange and almost gleeful, seemingly cackling at my distress.

I called the folks who talked me through checking the oil and transmission fluid.  They were fine.  And I was about 70 miles from home.  I ended up driving back under the glare of the check engine light, at about 55 mph with the hazards on the whole time, singing in time to the rhythmic flashing to try to distract myself from the anxiety.  Longest drive ever, but I made it.  But now it's Sunday and all potential mechanics are closed.  Ah well.  Just another day, just another day...

Kzoo Vs. ChiTown

There are many things I really like about Kalamazoo.  The farmers market is huge and inexpensive with tables practically overflowing with wholesome and brightly colored goods.  The fall leaves were bright and cheery and lasted forever.  The people couldn't be friendlier.  Orchards and cider mills abound.  I even sighted my first ground hog and wild turkeys ever.  I've seen stars.

This is what I expected when I moved from Chicago.  It was what I craved.  But Chicago had a few things going for it, that try as I might, I can't account for in Kalamazoo.  Public transportation. A grid system. And an urban accessibility to name a few. The ability to consistently get from point A to point B whether or not you know your way around town.  If I got on the Brown line at Rockwell and stepped off at Southport, I ended up in the same place every time.  All there was to do was orient myself to the Southport station and walk in the correct direction to wherever I was going.  Kalamazoo is riddled with twisty, windy, doubling-back-on-themselves streets that change names at least 3 times in a mile and a half stretch, so even if the bus did come more often than once every half hour, I would have no idea which one to take.  So then in the car, you press the accelerator, clutch the steering wheel, pick a lane, and hope for the best.  I tend to end up being spit out into a different place every time.  And then there's the stress of trying to figure out where parking is allowed and more importantly, where it is free.

Oh, how I miss being able to jet out my door and go to the grocery, the library, a bar, a cafe, a concert, a class, work, a festival, a park, a party, a picnic, etc and leaving my car at home!  Having the car to worry about is like an extra burden to deal with.  Yes, it took a lot longer to get everywhere, but there was a lot more time to take stock of what was going on around me.  A new storefront, a first tulip, all kinds of crazy human activity (like the guy I passed one time who was out taking his parrot for a walk)..  Not to mention the inherent exercise that came with moving by the power of my own two legs.  If you're walking down the street and you miss your turn, no problem.  You just turn around and go back.  If you're driving and you miss your turn, first of all because you're going at least 30 mph, it might be several blocks before you realize you've missed your turn.  Then you have to take another turn and probably two or three more in hopes that you can get back on track.  However, if you're me and in Kalamazoo, this probably means you'll get caught in twisty, windy, one-way streets that will take you further from your intended goal, but you won't necessarily realize that because you'll be all turned around like the blind-folded participant of the game pin the tail on the donkey.

And so, I'm sorry to say that in the 2.5 months I've been here I really haven't taken too many opportunities to venture beyond my own backyard (and by that I mean the parking lot of my apartment building and the straight shot to the music building at school).  When I was exploring Chicago, I would get on the train, pick a stop and just wander around for a while seeing what there was to see.  Why does it seem to take so much more effort to motivate myself to get out and explore Kalamazoo??  I don't know.  But I think it's time to assign myself some homework.  One new place every Friday until Christmas.  Maybe I'll make myself post about my explorations to provide some incentive and accountability.  Until then..

To be a Music Therapist

Today I successfully put on a pig snout and a pair of ears and played the blues on the ukulele while singing about how I loved to rub mud on my ears and nose in front of about 100 5th graders at a local elementary school.  My group of 4 fellow students has been working for the last month to write a 30-minute musical from a children's book, and today we took it to the streets.  With great success, I might add.  We wrote a theme, jammed on some mud-lovin' blues, re-wrote the lyrics to Pop Goes the Weasel and then segged to chopsticks while we played leapfrog.  (Let's just say we had to get down real low to be jumped over... that game is a little more athletic for grown-ups.)  Three of us did body percussion and beatbox sounds while the Loon led the kids in the cha-cha slide, then we re-wrote the lyrics to Brahm's lullaby, all fell asleep, got woken up by an amped electric guitar, and ended with an epic rendition of the Journey song, Don't Stop Believin'.  Good times were had by all, but probably most of all by us!

Since last writing, I started school and just completed midterms.  It is crystal clear that I made the right decision and this is the field I should be in.  In case you're wondering, here's a little slice of what my weekly life is like:

a) dress up like a pig and play the blues on the ukulele for 100 5th graders
b) moderate a discussion on the effects of music therapy for students with emotional and behavioral disorders and discuss what the ramifications will be for the special ed field at-large
c) practice blues licks on the harmonica
d) pick apples
e) memorize the symptomologies and etiologies of common physical disabilities like cerebral palsy, muscular distrophy and spina bifida
f) attend a presentation on how music therapy is used in the NICU
g) create a session plan to address cognitive rehabilitation for a client with a traumatic brain injury
h) tab out a tune for the appalachian dulcimer
i) learn the names of every bone in the wrist and hand and be able to identify the muscles and nerves of the hand and forearm on one of six cadavers.  Also be able to indicate the muscle's origin, insertion, action, and innervation.
j) after reading various research articles, write a statement about how implicit memory of music affects our perception of music
k) wash dishes

As you can see, it's all over the map, and while it took some adjusting at first, I really like the variety.  When all is said and done I'll be prepared to handle anything they throw at me.  The fall colors are gorgeous here in Michigan, and before we know it the holidays will be upon us!  I usually don't wish away fall, but I can't WAIT to meet little Evelyn at Thanksgiving!

Until next time my pig outfit is available for birthday parties, bat mitzvahs, etc, but the ukulele would be an extra charge...

Evelyn Dorothy Light 10-20-2011

We have a new little personality in the family as of 10:24 am this morning, 10-20-2011, when Evelyn Dorothy Light came into the world and saw the light of day. She was 7 lb 4 oz and 20" long, born in Lewistown, Pennsylvania. Laura woke up around 4:45 am with definite contractions and decided to get up. She was wary about rushing off to the hospital too soon so she waited a while before waking up Mike and then decided to take a long (loooonnng) shower. By the time she got out she had trouble standing up and Mike was standing by with an iron grip on the car keys ready to roll - they had a 40 minute ride over the mountains to the hospital. They arrived OK around 8:30 am and learned Laura was 9 cm - the nursing staff was already hustling. Laura started pushing around 9:30 and the baby was born at 10:24. No sense wasting any time.

Evelyn is a cutie with a bounty of long dark hair and sparkling dark eyes. She nursed without hesitation and was peaceful and content when Linda and I arrived from Long Island around 4:30 pm. We got to hold her a bit and watched over her first bath. She has good lungs, but was a happy camper once bundled up again in a warm blanket.

Yosemite 2011

As indicated from Linda's distribution of some our pictures, we're back from our epic great circle tour through our western National Parks. We had a great time and are still speaking to one another, which is impressive considering we had to take turns blowing up the queen size air mattress every couple of hours when it died on us in Sequoia Nat'l Park. What was worse, getting up to visit the privy in 45 deg temps in the middle of the night, or feeling your rear gradually contact the cold hard ground - or both?! We made it through replacing the air mattress, breaking and jury-rigging two tent poles, and replacing a leaking propane cook stove.

We finally got to see the North Platte train yards (impressive) after many years of passing through, visited roommate John Latourrette and his wife at their mountain cabin NW of Reno, NV, and then hiked until our legs were putty in Tuolumne Meadows (pronounced "two owl on me"), Yosemite Valley, Sequoia, King's Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. The vistas were dramatic and we were extremely fortunate to be able to see active waterfalls in all areas due to the high snowpack from last winter. The ranger at Yosemite told us in her twenty years she had never seen Yosemite Falls still active in September. We saw lots of bears, elk (one right in camp sniffing in our car), marmots, deer, coyotes (one howling at the moon outside our tent one night), California Condors, bluebirds, magpies, woodpeckers, bison, etc.

We were conscientious about keeping hydrated and allowing for adapting to altitude changes, so we avoided those problems and were pretty much able to do everything we wanted. We didn't suffer from a lack of food either in spite of cooking dinners with the camp stove on a picnic table. We became expert at one-pot meals. We also splurged once in a while and took in dinner at the lodges in the parks, all of which were great quality at reasonable prices. We had to be extremely careful with our food and anything with a fragrance to use bear boxes and not leave anything in our car or the tent. Bears are known to pull the doors off of cars to get at any food left inside. We had no such encounters, thankfully.

We ended our great circle route by passing through Durango, CO and taking the narrow gage train up to Silverton and back. We decided to get up into the Rockies since we knew that at the end of September the aspens begin to turn a brilliant yellow. Sure enough, we hit it perfectly with the mountains streaked with golden foliage amidst the dark green firs and pines. What a sight! All the way home through Nebraska and Iowa we were trying to figure out what we should do next.....

Final Product!

I'm now 36 weeks! It's so hard to believe that I could have this baby at any time now. Weird. We've finally finished all but minor finishing touches in the baby's room/Mike's office and we have the majority of the things we'll need for baby. So now there's just that whole delivery thing. We can't wait to meet the little peanut!

O Laptop! My Laptop!

O Laptop! My Laptop! our fearful trip is done;

The ship has weather'd every rack; the prize we sought is won;

The school is near, the bells I hear, the students all exulting,

While follow eyes the campus map, the textbooks grim and daring:

But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Laptop lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

My Laptop does not answer, its lips are pale and still;

My motherboard does not feel my arm, it has no pulse nor will;

Yet I am anchor'd safe and sound; my voyage closed and done;

From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;

Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Laptop lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Thank you to Walt Whitman for providing the basis for the above verse. Since I started in verse, I figured I might as well finish in verse. Although they say these misfortunes come in threes, so there may be one chapter left to go. I'm crossing my fingers that all has passed, however. I have paid tuition, paid rent, bought textbooks, bought a parking permit, bought groceries, replaced my windshield, will soon be replacing the motherboard of my laptop..

My first class was a good one. As suspected, I think I am the oldest one in the group, but we seem to be a bright-eyed and motivated bunch. Many of the grad/equivalency students will be in a few more of my classes tomorrow, so I'll begin to get a better read on their characters. The biggest struggle thus far is figuring out the e-learning portal that all professors seem to rely heavily on. THANKS to Kevin for providing me with a loaner laptop while my computer lies fallen cold and dead in his office. I would literally be lost without it.

The other biggest struggle was a physical one, and occurred when I decided to go off in search of a field of goldenrod. I had it in my head that a lively bouquet would be just the thing to bring fresh, growing energy to my new apartment. The chosen field was literally swarming with grasshoppers, who didn't seem able to distinguish between the field and my body, but were stirred up into a frenzy by my approaching footsteps. I persevered toward my object, despite the thousands of little bodies that seemed to be dive-bombing my trunk and limbs. I pulled my sweater tight around me (it was 50 degrees today) to keep them from touching my neck or face, and I practically ran to the goldenrod, karate-chopped a few choice stalks, and high-tailed it back to the car. Not as peaceful nor contemplative as I had imagined, but worth it for my sweet little bouquets.

Onward and upward (I hope).

Our New Hobbies

Laura and I have recently taken up a couple of new hobbies, with varying levels of success. For a few years now I have been considering taking up wood-working, and last weekend I bought a chair at Goodwill for the new baby and decided to restore it. I sanded it down (by hand), painted it using the same colors we used to paint the baby's room, and coated it to protect the wood. I also had to replace part of one of the legs. The end result is what you see here. Overall, I think it came out pretty good. The project was not without a few 'gliches' but I think on the whole was a success.

Our second hobby, on the other hand, went less well. This morning I asked Laura to give me a hair cut. This was to be part of our new "belt-tightening" before the baby comes. The result (shown below) was less than successful. I guess I will just have to wear a hat for the next few weeks. After this, there was unanimous agreement that this hobby should be scratched from our routine and that maybe the $15 for a haircut is worth it.

We'll let you know how our next hobby adventure goes...

Kala–where?

Here I sit in sunshine on my new balcony
A newly minted grad student of music therapy.
Toasting my beginning with one of Dad’s home brews
Feeling bewildered and elated for my first day of school.

Thanks to Mom and Dad, Kevin and JP,
Erin, Lisa, Jessica, Sam, Brian and Suzy!
I couldn’t have moved without you, nor your brains and brawn
Not a dish was broken, nor a box left on the lawn.

After a week back in Chicago to tie off the loose ends,
Farewell parties, birthday breakfasts, and tlc with friends,
I arrived in Michigan last night with a flourish, as you’ll see,
For my car didn’t make the journey, just my stuff and me.

We three had packed my car all up, tetrus on our minds,
And with some frustration, affixed my bike to my car’s behind.
But in the process of the rigmarole when Mom tried to pop the trunk,
She inadvertently popped the hood, and therein lies the funk..

We kissed, we hugged, we said goodbye and I went on my way.
10 minutes on the road, however, I met with a delay.
My hood flew up, caught the wind, and overextended it’s reach
It smashed into the windshield with a crash, a bang, a screech.

All was well in health and heart, but my car was out of commission.
Dad pried my hood back down again, and Mom went to confession.
We transferred all the goods into Dad’s fancy car,
But fishing glass out of my foot took half an hour more.

Undeterred, I set out again, to Michigan I was bound,
And I understand completely why Dad keeps this car around.
I cruised in style—smooth and quiet—with an air conditioned seat,
And finally I arrived, aching to fall asleep.

But not until I made six trips up three flights of stairs,
Lugging plants and instruments, and sweating through my hair.
Nevertheless, I’m happy to be “home,” and I’m settling in quite well.
After my music theory exam tomorrow, we’ll see what I live to tell.

But I now reside in Michigan, a town called Kala-where?
Kalamazoo it is, my friends, and I’ll expect you there!

Heat Wave

We've been running both our AC units on high since Sunday. But with heat like this I begin to wonder, what is the point? Then again, one might ask how high the temps would soar without AC at all.

I will say that all of the lovely people who have said, "oh, I kind of like the heat actually..".. they ALL have central air.













Yes, that says 98, and it is the one in my bedroom. I finally found relief on Tuesday night when I blew up the air mattress and put it 18 inches in front of the unit in the living room.

Let's just say that cooking has been completely out of the question. When I can stand still in my house and still be dripping sweat, the last thing I want to do is stand in the kitchen with ANY heat producing appliance running. But after eating out way too many times this week, I forced myself to boil some water for corn. Hot hot hot.

Any other no heat food ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Valley Forge

After spending 2 1/2 hrs at the prison, we drove the 20 mins to Valley Forge, where Washington and his troops wintered during the American Revolution. It is actually a sad story, some 2000 soldiers died there without a single shot being fired, from starvation, disease and harsh weather. It was HOT when we got there, we were under a heat advisory for the day, so we didn't do as much hiking/walking around as we would've liked. I'm feel more like Elinore these days, where I melt in direct sunlight. I seem to be constantly searching for a tiny patch of shade. It was a beautiful National Park and we hope to go back in the fall when the leaves are changing colors. It is 3500 acres with various monuments and sites on a loop. Mike got pretty into the history of the place and jumped in the bunks of one of the soldiers cabins. A triple bunk that housed 12 men, almost as bad as coffin-racks on naval ships.

We saw Washington's headquarters, which we learned was a rental, nothing was acquired by force. The house smelled like Gram's house, with all the antiques and the old timber. Our last stop in the park was Washington Memorial Chapel. It was a gorgeous church with old hand-carved pews and fancy woodwork. There was a gallery off the sanctuary that housed a replica Liberty Bell dedicated to the Daughters of the Revolution. The grounds were beautiful and I'm sure weddings there would be pretty spectacular. We got some really nice pictures of each other, though I'm realizing now, we need to be better about getting pictures together. Part of this is my fault because I'm paranoid about my camera being stolen.

We spent our drive home discussing our 1st year together, recalling our favorite memories from our wedding. I feel very lucky to be so happy and to have found someone I can share my life with. We've adjusted to life together very well, though we still struggle somewhat with finding the balance between work and home. We're very excited to be starting a family. It is amazing how time seems to have flown by, yet stand still. So much has happened since last July. We're really excited for Rocky Mt and cannot wait to see everyone. This baby is quite a world traveler already!