Change

In the middle of March, I was told that my contract with Saint Mary's School would not be renewed.  I spent the next 2 months applying tirelessly to anything and everything I could find, knowing that on June 30th, I would be out of a job.  Well, I don't know what it is about visiting lighthouses, but the trip in 2012 was when I got the call that I'd been hired at Saint Mary's.  This year, we had just gotten home from Southport, when I got the call.  It was actually May 29th and the call came from the NCSU Rec Department saying I had gotten the job as the Administrative Support Specialist.  I put in my two weeks notice that Friday and started with NCSU on June 17th.  But, we'll get to that later!

Not knowing that a job offer was coming, Kevin and I scheduled an impromptu trip via Amtrak up to Washington, DC to see a Nationals game.  Kevin had to be in Fairfax, VA for work the remaining part of the week, so we jumped up a day early, caught the game, spent the night...and then I took the train home and he took the metro over to Fairfax.

I've never ridden an Amtrak before, so this was quite the experience.  I'd explain it as one step up from a greyhound bus!  There were some grimy people on there, but it wasn't so bad and the price was RIGHT!  We watched two movies on the way up: Zero Dark Thirty and Argo.  They were GREAT and kept us occupied as the towns slipped away on our way to DC.

Once we arrived in Union Station, we jumped on the Metro and rode down to the Pentagon, to our hotel.  We dropped our bags and headed out once more to arrive at the Navy Yard for the Nationals Game.  We were early and that was great!  We were able to eat and enjoy the park before it got too crowded!

Then it was back to our hotel to crash.

The next morning, we got up and ready, packed our bags and headed to the National Archives stop on the metro.  We dropped our bags at the National Gallery of Art and walked as fast as we could to the White House.  It was quite the trek, but we made it, snapped a photo and then made a bee-line for lunch!

"Hey Obama"

Then it was time to get our bags and head back to Union Station for the my train home.  The ride back was fine for me.  I read the entire time and it made the hours just fly by.

I'm so glad we planned the little overnight trip!  It was a perfect break before I started a new job, especially because I didn't take any time off in-between.  It was a super quick trip!  I was on the train longer than I was in DC.

My first week at NCSU was a doozy!  I was sick as a dog on day 1 and didn't feel like myself until the following Monday.  Everyone was super nice and understanding that I was under the weather.  And now that I'm about to finish week 3, I can say I'm starting to settle down and get a handle on what I'll be doing and the folks I'll be working with!

It's sad that we worry so much because God's got it all handled!  I truly believe he had the position at NCSU picked out for me from the start and orchestrated it all to fall into place!  I complain a lot about my luck, but the timing of my NCSU job is perfection!  In that regard, I'm the luckiest girl ever!  God is faithful! 
I'll always be a Pirate, but I may have to incorporate a little more red and black into my wardrobe!  Go Pack!