October-fest!!!!

October is turning out to be a very busy and exciting month for us, and this is only the 3rd day!

Last weekend I came home from work and told Paul that one day not anytime soon, that I wanted to get a dog. What came next I wasn't expecting in the slightest. I expected him to give my the usual pat on the head and say sure, some day. Much to my surprise he replied with "well I don't think a dog is a good idea as long as we have Lola. However I have been thinking I am ready for a second cat." I nearly fell off my stool!

The next day we were picking up this sweet little 9 week old kitten who is orange stripped and the whole drive home Paul was trying to pick just the right name for this new addition. We came up with a short list which consisted of Brody or Clark and then I for some reason really like the name RickyBobby. Paul's method for choosing the right name was to swear at this kitten. Finally I suggested we flip a coin and whatever the name was that it landed on and how Paul felt about it that would determine that kitten's name. I really just needed a name for him so that the next day when I took him to the vet to get him checked it wouldn't be "no name".

CLARK W. The W. stands for Waldo apparently. Taken the day we brought him home.

We kept Clark away from Lola until we had him checked by the vet to make sure he didn't have something that might harm our girl, but she knew something was hiding out in the office since the door was shut. Also Clark started to cry that night for his litter mates until we got him settled down.

By day 4 they had met and were hanging around each other with some hissing here and there, but over all I think Lola was warming up to him. Then yesterday marked our one week anniversary with Clark and Paul and I found the two of them playing together. Chasing one another and tossing toys around. He can be a little crazy since he is a kitten but Lola just puts him in his place when she had enough or will remove herself to our room and sleep where he can't get her. His personality is so different from Lola when she was his age it is funny, and exhausting. He wants your attention all the time, and loves to cuddle. Paul is having a blast with him since this is the first time he has ever had a kitten. Oh, and Clark likes to watch t.v.

Paul and Clark watching a movie on the laptop.

Today I had go to Richmond to meet with the Board of Nurses a meeting that they had arranged for me months ago but it takes this long to get you in. I wasn't nervous until they told me to sign in and I saw a bunch of empty chairs and had to sit in front of the panel like I was in an actual hearing. There was a microphone on my table I had to face two members of the nursing board, and another CMT who is a board member and another administrative person from the board who was from what I could tell taking minutes. They said the idea of this informal conference was that of fact checking. I had sent in everything I could imagine that would be useful. Prior to going all my friends kept saying "It's not a big deal." "It's just a technicality" blah, blah, blah. But when you are sitting sequestered in a separate board room, Paul was out in the waiting area reading. He took the day off to give me moral support. You are looking out a window, a director comes in and gives you an idea of what you will do once you are in front of the board. She tells me I will make and opening statement, the board will ask questions and then they will have me leave and do a closed deliberation. Now I was starting to sweat. She left me there and said she would be back for me when it was time to start the meeting. All I kept thinking was "You went through immigration. This will be easier!" Yeah that didn't reassure me much. I gave a statement off the top of my head. Greeted each member with a smile and a good morning. I answered their questions as clearly as I could and then was sent out of the room while they deliberated. They asked me what classes I have taken since being out of school. I hadn't taken any since 2005, I told them I moved and was working various jobs while my husband was in grad school. Once we moved here it was time for me to jump start my massage career again. The member who was a CMT, asked how I managed to pass the national exam the first time if I hadn't been in school since 2004. I looked her in the eye and said "I studied for months. Because failing was not an option for me." After the deliberation I was called back in and they went over the facts I had given them and told me their final decision. They approved my application! Finally! I can call myself a Certified Massage Therapist in the U.S. This is a major victory for me. It feels good I must say. I will go back to work tomorrow with a new outlook, and see what the future holds in store for me from here.