Tomorrow, August 20th, will be our three week anniversary that we have officially been moved and settled into the state of SC. Greetings from Bluffton!!!
We spent the whole week- and yes I do mean the WHOLE WEEK- packing crap up and finally loading it into the 27 foot U-Haul... oh and doing my final good-byes to my co-workers and friends. Friday morning we got up after sleeping on the floor and finished the ends and outs up, did our apartment inspection, and drove 5 hours to the sweltering heat of SC (I did have a minor breakdown when leaving Hickory, but honestly I think I was too tired and focused to really think about it). Our poor little town home went from shambles and boxes everywhere to a pretty cute little place to live and call home. Josh's pictures adorn our walls and somehow seemed to complete the moving process. We threw away our beloved blue couch- that we have had for about eight or nine years- and threw away Paisley's crappy blue recliner and have replaced it with not-yet-broken-in furniture. What's even greater is we have enough room and enough furniture for EVERYONE to sit-- it's GREAT.
The week before I started work, we explored our little area and have discovered three little back roads that bypass things and make things easier to get around. We've also discovered public beach accesses where the parking is free and not a lot of people know about. We've discovered Hunting Island and snooty Fripp Island (where as big as the island is, they have no gas stations.. just an FYI). Hunting Island is a really cool beach- it's a State Park, as well as the beach. You have to pay to park, but you can also buy a pass for $50 that will last you the whole year and will get you into any state park in SC with free parking. We've already made our money up... Let's see Josh has discovered and read about crab pots and saltwater fishing. Just about everyday that I was off, we went to the beach in some form or another.
The week I actually started work, I discovered the sometimes hellacious traffic- tourists and school- and if you're going into the island in the mornings... it sucks. There, of course, aren't any back roads, so if there is any kind of holdup, you're going to be stuck-- could be five minutes or three hours. I did my orientation and followed for a day and a half-- then I was working up on my own and now workup more patients than the experienced people do (I'm not bragging, I really do- the doctors and supervisor has told me this). Everyone there is super nice- it's a small practice- so there aren't any cliques or coworker drama. Of course, being me, I'm still trying to feel people out and not get in the way. The flow of patients is really awesome compared to what I'm used to, and when they say, "Oh my gosh it's going to be busy today," I look at the schedule and think, "I worked with one doctor that saw 47-60 patients in one session.. this is nothing." I think that's why I work so hard and fast, is because, that's what I'm used to. The supervisor and doctors are super nice-- they're not afraid to eat lunch with their techs and take super good care of them... better than I've ever been treated before. The patients are nice, as well-- you would think that being Hilton Head, there would be nothing but snooty people.. but really, they're some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.
Let's see what else is going on... oh the air is amazing... the salty, beachy smell is something that I have not gotten tired of yet. I was telling Josh I still hope I enjoy that smell when we're here in five years b/c that's one smell I do not want to EVER get tired of. It really hit me that we live here a couple last week when we got to go the beach after I left work. I thought, "Wow I'm really not a tourist... I really live here." :)
Food wise we haven't really tried anything new... we did eat chocolate chip cheese cake with Bailey's whip cream on top that was awesome. OH the grocery stores are phenomenal down here (and you know how I am about grocery stores). There are Publix stores everywhere, and they are by far my favorite-- fresh sushi is made every day, the seafood is fresh, their produce and pastry section is divine, AND in the frozen section they have sensor lights so when you walk by, they sense you and light up. When you walk away, the lights turn off. It's a GREAT store!!!! On the agenda this weekend may be me fixing crab cakes and such, so we can see if crab catching will be our forte.
Well I have written a book here, but as you can see, I've had three weeks to catch up on. I'm studying for my COT exam again (3rd time's a charm), and I've started to think more about my writing... the kids are doing great and seem to be happy with the move. They especially love all the frogs and toads that are in our area-- we've seen signs for alligators but no sightings, and I have yet to see a snake or an armadillo. :)
Au Revior-- more later as I get more news and more time.
