OK, so not much has happened since July....

Not true. Since July, the last time I posted photos here (mea culpa!), Kaeli and I have had a whirlwind life. In July, a new VP was put in charge of the library at Grand Canyon University, who unfortunately did not know (and was not at all interested in learning) that a library actually put books in a particular order on the bookshelves, or had any value to a university or the world in general. I started looking for a new job immediately, and was thrilled to be offered and accept a wonderful position with the Tacoma Public Library system in Washington state.

Dad and I did a lightning-fast trip to Philadelphia - flew in and drove a rental truck back across country - to get the last of my things that were still in storage in West Chester. We had one terrific day with Doug Jr. in New York City and Jersey City to see where he now lives and works, and had a great trip across country back to Tacoma.

I began work at the Anna Lemon Wheelock branch as branch manager at the end of August. Most of our things from storage in Portland were moved up in two loads in September and November. I traveled home each weekend to Portland to see Kaeli and bring more things up in the car. Kaeli came up at the beginning of October to begin school at a Montessori pre-school, and NaiNai spent a week with us helping Kaeli get settled in. NaiNai and YeYe have come up to visit frequently since we've been here, and we go see them often also.

I love my new job - the branch is big, beautiful, and busy! The library is in a wonderful neighborhood of unique shops and restaurants, which have been fun to explore. I have a great team of 13 people reporting to me, and they all love the branch as much as I do. Our branch is one of two regional libraries in the TPL system, and often "out-circs" the Main branch downtown.

Kaeli and I are renting a Cape Cod style house about 10 blocks away, and are continuing to try to unpack and get things organized and weeded and put away. Kaeli has settled in to her new school, and loves the monkey bars and the huge outdoor play area. She is taking ballet classes there, and Mandarin will hopefully be offered soon.

I work Tuesdays through Saturdays, and until 8pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Kaeli has a wonderful University of Puget Sound student play with her on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and a high school student spends Saturdays with her. My schedule is the only drawback of my new glorious job, but Kaeli and I are coping the best we can.

Laurie and Dave are only half-an-hour away now (in Olympia) and we get to see them quite frequently, when we aren't driving down to Portland to see YeYe and NaiNai. I'm looking forward to having all the boxes dealt with (some year!) and the house looking and feeling like a real home. Kaeli calls our new home her "Coma" house, and still lays claim to her "Portland house". She really misses YeYe and NaiNai, and I think the feeling is mutual.

Sorry for taking so long to update the blog, but as you can see we've been just a tad bit busy!