Another Interview!

So sometimes when it rains, it pours! I had my interview on Tuesday and it went well. The office was really nice and the doctor was a decent guy. It is only 3 days a week (M-W)...this could be good and bad. Good = I would have lots of free time on Thursdays and Fridays. Bad = It is only 24 hours a week (8am to 5 pm) and therefore I would make less money than I did in PA.

I had a brunch yesterday with the Navy wives. It was nice to get to meet a bunch of new people. Afterwards, I got a call from another office and they wanted to have me come in for an interview. I went today...and it is a FABULOUS office! I really like them. I would be working Monday thru Thursday from 8am to 5 pm. This is my dream schedule...I will be able to be home early to have dinner and then take the pups for a walk! So I go on Tuesday for a working interview...that is a good sign that they like me. Hopefully it will all go well and I will have a new job!

Interview!

I have an interview today! It is with a periodontist office. I have never really worked for a specialist before. The only time I have ever really been in one was during school. That was a long time ago!

So wish me luck...although I am trying to be optimistic, the job market is not great around here. And the fact that I don't have my NC xray certification is not in my favor. Oh well...think positive right?

I survived!

I got to experience my first command function (the 2nd Dental Battalion Christmas Party) and my first Camp Lejeune Officer Wives Club function (the Christmas Tour of Homes). I was a bit nervous for both...

The command party was actually kind of fun. Since we really don't know that many people yet, we sat with Lindsey and a couple of other people that work with Lindsey at Headquarters. The food was pretty good and then it was time for games and giveaways! There was musical chairs, decorate your human Christmas tree, and a scavenger hunt. The enlisted were having a great time with all the games and won every single one. During musical chairs, the CO's wife ended up sitting on the Senior Chiefs lap...it was hysterical! The CO came over to her and picked her up and carried her off to their table. Very cute! They had some dancing as well but by that time we were pretty tired and since it was on Thursday...BJ had FMF (Fleet Marine Force) training the next morning and needed to get to bed. Not a big deal! We were pretty much the last officers to leave...not sure if that was a bad thing or not. Meh.

On Friday I got to go to lunch with some new friends, Steph and Meg. They are both wonderful ladies and we had so much fun! Our "lunch date" turned into an entire afternoon...lunch and shopping! I think we could have hung out all night but Grey (Meg's little boy) was not having much fun towards the end. He was ready to go home and get some dinner! Poor little one...the three ladies wore him out.

Saturday, BJ and I got some decorating done in our new house. Our guest bath has lavender walls...our aqua/brown shower curtain was just not working in there. So we got a new shower curtain and a couple of accessories that go much better with the walls! So much easier than painting! And our stuff was over 3 years old...time for new!

After that adventure, I had to get ready for my first Camp Lejeune OWC event...the Tour of Homes. I got there on-time (yay for me!) and was chatting with a wonderful woman named Ellen. Her husband is a Major and she is from England. She went to get a drink before the tour started and they had us get into our groups. I stood next to this lovely blond...I introduced myself and she introduced herself...turns out she is the wife of BJ's CO. She was so excited that we were in the same group. They had us carpool and when I asked if I could ride with someone (BJ had dropped me off), she grabbed my arm and said "you can ride with us". Okay....um not sure if I should but okay. As we were walking to the car, she pulled me close to her and said "we're riding with a General tonight". My mouth just dropped...I was pretty sure that this was not a good idea. Junior officer wife with CO's wife and General and his wife...usually frowned upon. But they insisted. Turns out the General is not just any old General...he is the Brigadier General of the 2nd MLG...basically BJ's CO's CO. Oiy!

In the end I had a lovely time with them and they were all very gracious. The homes we toured (there were 6 of them) were absolutely beautiful...if only I had the time, money and patience to decorate like that! I wished I had brought my camera but it would have been in poor taste to take pictures anyway. Trust me though...gorgeous! So after all the touring, BJ met me back at the O'club and we had a couple of drinks with our little tour group. We had a great time talking with the General and his wife and the others that were seated around us. Let's all say a small prayer that I did not step on any toes or break any etiquette rules during the evening...if I did I am sure that I will be the talk of the OWC!

So today was a lazy day.....we like those! BJ is enjoying watching his Eagles. They are currently ahead of the Giants...Go Eagles! And he was oh so happy that Dallas was beaten by the Chargers...if Philly can pull it off tonight they will hold first place in the NFC East. That will make for a happy hubby!

A day of exploring!

We took some time to explore today. Lindsey (our temporary houseguest) needed to go look at a couple of houses. So we went for the drive and to offer our opinions about the two homes. Our first stop was Snead's Ferry. The house was nice. It took awhile to get out there...glad we did not get a house out there. I need the civilization!

From there we drove through the back gate to the base. We decided to stop off and check out the LCAC. It is an amphybious assault ship. Lindsey and BJ got to ride on one Friday and the ships were going to be at the beach all weekend moving troops off the main ships and back to Lejeune. There was also supposed to be some unloading and loading of tanks...we thought it would be cool to see this. So we got to Onslow Beach and parked the car. Then we had to walk up to the secure area. A few minutes later...one of the LCAC was coming towards the beach. We got to see one land(?)! The OIC came by and remembered Lindsey and BJ from Friday...he ended up letting us take a tour. It was so cool! Here is a picture of me and BJ standing on the loading ramp...

We took a little tour of the Onslow Beach area...it is going to be so much fun in the summer! You should all come down and visit then...cool little cabins that you can rent out for the week, lots of beach space and tons of shells to collect.

So we then went over to Swansboro and looked at another house that Lindsey is interested in. It was a fun day and BJ and got to discover what we would like in a house if/when we ever buy.

Finally some pictures of the new house!

So it has been 11 days since we moved to North Carolina. On our first full day here, our household goods (aka our junk/stuff/shit!) arrived. This was a great thing since it meant that we did not have to be without things for very long. We chose to just have a delivery and not have them unpack us. I really wanted to wash/clean things as they got unpacked. Not really a big deal since we have a two car garage to stash all the boxes until they come to pick them up...which happens tomorrow! The downside was trying to find things in boxes that were not marked...such as our computer tower. Kind of important for regaining internet access. BJ had to have unpacked 10 boxes before finding the tower...that makes for a huge mess in the office! It is pretty much the only room left to be organized.

Our drive down was good. It took 9 hours and only one stop which was a combined puppy pitstop, BJ and Susanne pitstop, gas up and food. We have gotten smarter about our road trips! (Our first trip to South Carolina in 2008 we made lots of stops for each little thing.) We arrived at the house around 5:00pm (1700 for all you military friends and family!) and had a slight moment of panic. There was no electricity on! Thank goodness my wonderful husband is so smart...he checked the fuse box! Sure enough the main switch had been flipped off...easy fix. We already new that we had no water until Monday...long story....so off to Wal-Mart to get bottled water and survival food. It was an experience!

BJ had to check into his command on Tuesday...found out this is a long process. He has a whole page of things/places he needs to get done/go to. Not really an issue except that it means he has to do a lot of running around on base. That means he has to have the car and leaves me stuck at home without one. As many of you know, I was in a car accident and the car was totalled. We are working on getting me a car but for now we have to share! Thanksgiving liberty (time off for holidays) started on Wednesday at 7:00am. We had Thanksgiving dinner at the Officer Club with BJ's classmate from ODS, Lindsey. The food was good and it was nice to just go eat and talk and not have to worry about cooking and cleaning!

The rest of the weekend, we spent most of our time unpacking boxes. That means we are all unpacked and now like I said earlier...just the office to organize and our bathroom needs some stuff put away. We did drive to Wilmington on Saturday afternoon...just to start spreading our wings and venturing out of our immediate area. It was a nice few hours and a great drive...it was a beautiful day. We are planning to go back soon (it is only about an hour away) and tour the USS North Carolina and walk the waterfront.

So here are some pictures.....

Our house from the street

The new washer and dryer...yay!

dining room

kitchen

family room...and a start of the Christmas decor...that's another post coming soon!

So this is just a start of the pics...I will be taking more as we get rooms done and presentable for pictures.