RoVa is my wife

Carilion has my life.

So, I haven't as of yet acquired internet at the new apartment and am using my lunch hour to peruse some much needed information on the internet and thought I might as well try to update you with the remaining 32 minutes of my lunch hour.

I came down here last Tuesday with my Mom and the movers. It was a fairly easy transition though time consuming and my wallet is significantly lighter. The building I moved into is in the heart of downtown Roanoke, which last Friday Leah (my roommate), Rachel, and some of their friends from work used my new locale to its fullest by walking across the foot bridge to downtown. We did a bar crawl which included heading to 202 a local martini bar, Awful Arthur's because they had a live band, and finally finishing at Cornerstone which I have a vague memory of why... Needless to say I had an amazing time and look forward to many a night spent in just the same way.

Mom and Dad came down this past weekend to check out the area and where I'll be spending my time. We ate dinner at Awful Arthur's to watch the Tech vs. Nebraska game (yea Hookies!) and then headed back to my place where we drank (hello family) and played cribbage. The next day we went to a little dinner called Famous Anthony's and had an amazing breakfast followed by a viewing of CRMH (my hospital), the Roanoke Star, and the frustrating Patriots game.

The Roanoke star is the largest man-made star and is positioned on the top of Mill Mountain here is Roanoke. If it hadn't been cloudy when we went it would have offered an amazing view of the city. It lights up every night until midnight in red, white, and blue. There's also a zoo up there but I have no idea what selection of animals they have, I'll do some scouting and report back.

I had my first day of orientation at the hospital on Monday and have been doing various training sessions all week long but I do have the weekend to look forward to. I continue training on Monday and finally have my first shift on the floor on Wednesday (eek!). I've met a ton of new employees like myself and even have a possibility of grabbing a brew with another new nurse on Friday after our last Epic (computer system) training class on Friday. Her name is Danielle and she moved here all the way from Minnesota, which sounds strange but actually she's the second person I've met this week who just moved from there (apparently there are no nursing jobs in Minnesota, who said there's a shortage?)

My nights have been boring lately, just reading and watching season premieres. Last night I found out my roommate Leah is as obbsessed with Biggest Loser as I am and we even instituted a "Cry Chart" to keep track of the tears spilt in each episode.

I am completely enjoying my time here and have even made it around town a couple of times without the use of my ThomasThomas (he has an english accent). I have gotten waves of homesickness and miss Charlottesville's comfort but soon enough I won't be on orientation and will be free to visit.

Love from the star,
-kiki.

tinted windows don't mean nothing

they know who's inside.

number of days left in Charlottesville: 1
number of boxes packed: 21

I got a new car on Friday and it's super delicious. It's a five speed AND it has a working radio, I think the antennae is actually built in because I can't find it, but that's another plus because no one can break it off! Papa Newk and I attached my JMU Alumni sticker to the back (hello priority) and my first payment is due in October... eek!

Other than that I've been doing a lot a lot a lot of packing, which is stinking and I hate it (see previous post). I have also (with the help of dear old Mom and Dad) been spray painting a floor lamp, cleaning the lazy boy Tiffany and Shane gave me, and fixing a painting I got from the Lake Monticello community yard sale that Mom and I went to yesterday. I got a ton of new stuff including but not limited to: a china set (it's pretty, when I unpack I'll take a picture of it), 12 cup coffee pot, microwave, toaster, lazy boy, coffee table, and much much more. It was a very successful day but alas no couches were found. I do have my eye on a nice cedar blanket chest that the lady Sandra is going to let me come look at today.

Dad and Mom went out to the lake house with Sophi and Seth leaving me the house to destroy with boxes. Five trees got taken down at the lake house this week and the addition schedule is moving right along. I hope that tonight I will be far enough along in my packing to cook a delicious dinner with Meg, Celia, and Brooke. And then, that's right, we'll be camping out at Coro and Taylor's for the TrueBlood season finale, so do not feel free to call between 9-11 (just to be safe, we sometimes pause it).

I am scared but excited about my move, I just hope I make friends, though none can compare to the ones I've had in Charlottesville. I am super lucky that my high school friends and I have remained so close and I hope that the two hour drive won't detract from that. But who wouldn't want to go to a Martinsville Nascar race with me? :)

southern love and kisses,
-kiki.

i loath packing

its enjoyment is severely lacking.

number of days left in Charlottesville: 3
number of boxes packed: 9

I have official dates for my trek to Roanoke (which I have affectionately dubbed "RoVa"). I am headed down south on Sunday to sign the lease and get a parking pass on Monday the 14th. My mother and the moving company who will "not allow anyone but the movers to touch your belongings once they arrive" will be following with all my worldly possessions on Tuesday. I begin my new job and career (all at the same time!) on September 21st giving me ample time to at least find my way from my apartment building to the hospital. YAY! I am a big kid now. I am also trading in the Saab for several years car payments to finally have a working car stereo (oh yeah and a car that functions).

In other news, I had my last day ever waitressing today and I have never been so happy! Afterwards I met my wonderful friends Meg and Celia at the Balkan Bakery, a little place that our highschool friend Nemanja Cetic and his mother opened in downtown Charlottesville. It was delicious and I got the biggest piece of Baklava you've ever seen in your entire life.

I have finished my "hands"! They came out way better than I expected! Circa (a shop devoted to strange and eclectic vintage items) sells old ceramic display hands. I think they are super neat and tried for several months to come up with something to make with them and finally hit jackpot. I spray painted them and attached them to bases to make an Orginial Kiki Jewelry Stand (or "okay jays). This one is the one I painted for myself and I also made one for my niece Alyssa, who I am sure will be extatic once she recieves it.

love all around,
-kiki.

back to oz they go

they'll be back I know.

This past weekend we had a send off party for Cara and Toff (better known as "Boomerang Express") at the Newcomb Lake House in Bumpass, VA. (And yes, I did spell Bumpass correctly and yes it is a place, google it). They are leaving tomorrow to drive to Alexandria where they will spend one last night with Mimi "Baby C" McNewk before hopping on a plane to San Fransico and then three days later onto another towards Oz Land.

We had a wonderful weekend with wonderful friends. Although many of us ended up with sunburns and soreness I am sure we wouldn't change a thing. Some highlights include but are not limited to: a mini high school reunion picture, Brooke Short rockin' the wake boards, Taylor Cope enjoying the stars, Kevin Fitzpatrick teach my niece Alanna to load a squirt gun, Toff's friend Sam arriving at 4pm and leaving at 5am just to see them off, and Toff, Huy, and Liam tipping over the canoe in the middle of the no wake zone. I had oodles of fun and am so glad that everyone who was able to made it.

In other news, I was asked to be maid of honor at my beautiful sisters wedding! I'm so happy I may start crying which is awful because I have been doing that a lot lately. We were wandering around Michaels (or as Mimi likes to call it "shitholeshithole") when she handed me stickers of drinks with umbrellas, an ugly dress, and a wedding dress and then said "don't say I never gave you an ugly dress." Oh how I loves her. She is my most favoritest thing. ever.

So, lets keep Cara and Toff in our hearts and thoughts and feel free to pray to whomever or whatever makes you feel happy, safe, and content that they make it to OZ safe and sound.

Mucho love,
-kiki.