Nail Polish

I had to go to the doctors today. 

Its taken almost a year to make myself go so needless to say, I was very proud of myself for going.

 

When we were younger, my mom would make the doctor experience a little bit better by taking us to Longs Drug, the local drug store, after our appointments.  She would let us pick out a magazine or a new nail polish!  My sisters and I would browse the aisles, looking for the most perfect shade of pink to paint our toes.

 

So today, on my way home from the doctor's I continued the tradition and picked out a nice new nail polish color!

 

It made me feel much better :)

 

 Aurelia wanted her nails done too.



Goodbye and a Box

We hosted a going away shin-dig for my friend Robin the other night, who is moving back to North Carolina.  She's been the Conservator at the Museum for the past year and its been so nice to have a friend who lives just down the street.  Its always hard to say goodbye.  I think Florida has an evil plan to send away all of my friends...

Another friend provided the decorations, along with a giant box that we filled with cards and helium balloons.  We ate delicious food, laughed, listened to good music, and even drank a little champagne.

I haven't quite decided what I'm going to do with this giant box.
Although it seems Aurelia has already found a perfectly good use for it.

And The Nominees Are...

Tonight we are smiling from ear to ear!

The Latin Grammy nominees are in and Palo! has been nominated!!

I am so proud of my husband and the work he has done!

A few years ago, Bobby told me that his big goal for his 30th birthday was to have been nominated for a grammy.  Well, with just 24 days to spare, I think you have accomplished that goal!! 

:)

Work Scenes

Work has been chugging along lately and although I don't think I can ever say I am not busy, I am feeling like I am finally getting caught up after a whirlwind summer!  I recently hired a new Collections Assistant and she is, to use the coolest 1990's term ever, da'bomb.  

Some days are quiet, other days staff are running through the office like their chair just caught on fire :).    It amazes some people the amount of activity that goes on in our preservation office and museum, being so far away from the metropolis.  But appearances are deceiving and our little trailer full of offices is like a buzzing bee hive. 

Today one of the tribal elders/ Chief Justice invited me to lunch and I escaped my desk for an enjoyable break over at Billie Swamp Safari. Mostly though, my days are spent at my desk or in the Lab, multitasking like its nobody's business.  Every few hours, I step outside onto our tiny porch and look out at our campus.  

The white Ibis are back, sauntering with their long beaks through the grass.  A hawk circles overhead and Mr. Raccoon sneakily slips inside the trashcan.  

I can feel a change in the air.  The sky is a slightly different shade of blue these days and the mornings are staying darker later.  Soon my commute will be dark both ways and I will watch the giant ball of fire sleepily rise over the Everglades, casting lean shadows and turning everything orange.

America

I'm feeling quite patriotic these days.  And if you know me, that usually only happens on the 4th of July with firecrackers overhead and cherry pie in my tummy.

I have a good friend who is about to help her boyfriend, Juan, celebrate a monumental moment in his life.

He is becoming a U.S. citizen on Friday. 

The last month has been a horrible and scary journey for them, with a threatening USCIS officer who was trying to get him deported.  I felt for my friend everyday, who wondered and stressed about what the outcome would be.  Her boyfriend moved to the United States from Columbia when he was 10, and is an educated, hardworking airline pilot.  We couldn't believe what was happening.

Thankfully Juan heard good news last week and everything has all worked out.  Bobby and I went to their house last night to help celebrate that his Oath of Allegiance ceremony had been scheduled.  We drank refajos (beer and Coumbiana soda) and ate Columbian hotdogs (hotdogs, pineapple, "fancy sauce", cheese, and potato chips!).  And even as the rain beat against the windows, it did nothing to dampen everyone's spirits.  We already have talked about throwing the ultimate American themed party once his ceremony is over!

Last year I came across a wonderful discovery during my family research project.  My great grandmother's naturalization record.  There, on a tiny index card was her signature from May 8th, 1939. 

I can't imagine what she must have felt when signing her name or pledging her allegiance to a brand new country.  Did she feel a little bit sad?  Was she overcome with joy?  I am thankful for my great-grandparents coming here.  For making incredible sacrifices, leaps of faith, and for leaving everything they knew for a dream.   

It is something most of us take for granted everyday.  Watching Juan go through this journey has been inspiring and a reminder that so many still believe in the opportunities of this country.  

Peaceful Moments.

Saturday Happenings

A storm came to visit on Friday and has brought with it dreary days and lots of rain.  Bobby and I did a few things around the house today, ran some errands, and watched a really cheesy movie.  Its been a pleasant day and I hope everyone's weekend is off to a great start!

Alone.

This morning at one of the general sessions at the conference, a guest speaker highlighted a quote from the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has.


Anytime I travel alone, I tend to stay close to my hotel room.  I like to explore new cities, but not by myself.  Tonight I find myself alone at "my" desk, reviewing for tomorrow and catching up on work e-mails.  The rain is splattering against my 15th story window.  Its how I prefer to spend the evening.

When I'm alone in my room, my mind always wanders to my work, to my life, to whatever I'm doing at the present time.  I feel inspired to write something down, but I'm not quite sure what.  I keep repeating the quote in my head, wondering if I will ever be part of something world changing.  Will the work I do count for anything?  I hope so.





"Hello. What Museum Do You Work At?"

Well, its that time of year again where I get to go hang out with all the cool kids from around the state for our annual museum conference.  Last year I presented at the conference and this year I am presenting again--exciting stuff!  Conferences can be such a great atmosphere -- inspiring, encouraging, thought provoking.  I always come back re-engergized and ready to take on my to-do list.  Conferences can also be strangely exhausting.  Its constant meet and greet, pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and long days of sessions and field trips.  I always try to work on my "elevator speech" before I go to places like this so when someone asks me what I do I don't stare at them blankly and say, "uhhhh..."

Tonight I am preparing for my trip.  Its a packing, laundry, eyebrow plucking, nail painting, go over my presentation kind of evening.  

Luckily I am sharing the driving tomorrow up to Jacksonville with some co-workers so hopefully the long drive will be a bit more manageable.  

I don't think I've ever experienced such a busy travel year for work as this past year.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy seeing new places and am grateful for the professional opportunities, but lately I am longing just to be home.  Its only a week or so until Bobby is off jet setting across the country for the rest of the month for a couple of tours.  We are quite the traveling couple!

Wish me luck on my presentation (I always get a bit nervous!)

Good thoughts.

I love what Roald Dahl wrote in his book The Twits.  

I'm going to try extra hard this week to have good thoughts!

Scenes from Around the House

This Labor Day was spent relaxing and working on some projects.  Bobby had a meeting down on Miami Beach so most of the day was just Aurelia and I hanging out together!

I've been working on our bedroom decoration and have one little area done.  My theme is vintage tropical--is that a thing?  I have a few of my favorite things on top of the bookcase and really like how everything is coming together!

 A gift from my mom--a little bit of tropical from the 1940's



These strange and ugly spiders have taken over our back yard (gross!).  They make thick webs and live in the trees and one has just made his home on our screen porch.  

A new project I'm working on!  I'm getting excited to share soon!