School? Work? Huh?

Wednesday August 9, 2006 was my first day on the job, well orientation anyway. Rojelio didn't have to go to work until later so my day started with a good home cooked breakfast. Thanks Rojelio!

Working at a school I always questioned whether to say "Hey, I'm going to work" or "Hey, I'm going to school." I guess both could be correct technically. Neither sound fun. When you say "work" it implies you are being paid, which is good. When you say "school" it makes you appear younger, which could be good depending on how you look at it.
Annie F. Hokett, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
Verona Elementary School
Augusta County Public Schools

Okay I'm off to school . . . err . . . work . . . huh?
Only if all life's dilemmas were as simple as this.

I just happen to be one of the lucky ones that's right next to the playground. I think I might put a note on my door, "If not here please check swings."

P.S. I miss my CECC friends - yeah you know who you are.

Site Seeing Etc.

While Annie's family was here we filled our days with the local culture. Starting only hours after their arrival we went to a local frozen custard parlor, Kohr's Brothers; we are talking good stuff, chocolate & peanut butter twist, mint & chocolate twist, banana & strawberry twist, orange & vanilla . . .yum!

Sunday we went to St. Thomas Aquinas, to see Rojelio's hospital, followed by lunch at a great sandwich shop called Jaberwoke, and visited Jefferson's Rotunda on UVA's campus.

We slept in Monday after staying up late playing XBOX 360. After a hearty breakfast we were off to Monticello, where we received history lessons while touring Jefferson's home and gardens, then we were off to a newly opened restaurant Cheeseburgers in Paradise (yes owned by Jimmy Buffet).

Tuesday we headed a few hours north to Washington DC. It was their first visit so we filled our day visiting the monuments around the National Mall, going to a couple Smithsonians, and visiting Arlington National Cemetery to watch the changning of the gaurd. The family also experienced the Metro, traveling between Arlington and the Mall. We even met a couple nice local small town Virginia police officers on our way home . . . yikes!

Wednesday we took it a little slower. We visited shops in Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Mall and had refreshing gelatoes at Splendora's. To finish the day off we had Rojelio's birthday dinner at Guadalahara's (fine Mexican dining), followed by gelato cakes and a quiet evening at home. Yes and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROJELIO!

The whole crew in front of the Reflecting Pool with the Washington Monument in the background.

This picture was possible due to the kindness of a friendly Italian tourist.

Thanks that was fun; boy are we hot & tired!

Geocaching

Annie's mom, dad, and sister Mary were in town this past week. They took us on a geocaching adventure. The first time we ever went geocaching with them was in Grand Rapids. That adventure was a bust. We never found the cache, it started raining, and mom ended up with poison ivy. This round was more fruitful. Both caches were considered to be urban caches, not planted within a nature setting, but actually located in parking lots of shopping centers. Watch out for muggles!

Morgan's Birthday

July 16, 2006 was Morgan's birthday (Annie's niece). Six-years-old. She had a great party in the evening with cake, a moon walk, and of course presents!

Paul we missed you. Hope you enjoy these pictures.

Of course little sister Gracie got in on the action too!

In the hills . . .

We are offically no longer at the lake. Being in Charlottesville we are now actually in the hills; foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountians.

We will keep our blog address the same www.atthelake3.blogspot.com. We are just really changing the title of our blog, hopefully this won't cause confusion.

Paging Doctor . . .

Rojelio's first day at work was June 23, 2006. His first day on the job just happened to be his first days on the job. Yes that's right days with an s. He managed to be the lucky intern to score an overnight call his first shift in the MICU (Medical Intensive Care Unit).

He made it through the 30-hour shift on half hours sleep. We had one tired doctor on our hands post call!

Way to go Rojelio. Strong Work!

CHS Class of 2006

Annie's sister Mary graduated from Churchill High School on June 1, 2006.

She had a Hip-Hoppin' graduation party on June 16, 2006.

Congratulations Mary we are so proud of you! Have fun at camp this summer!

Mary with mom and dad before leaving for the ceremony.

Mary giving a WHOOP-WHOOP after graduating.

Mary dancing with her nieces, sister-in-law, and friends at her graduation party!

C'Ville

May 30, 2006.
We loaded up the truck and moved to . . . C'Ville, Charlottesville that is!

May 31, 2006.
We closed on our house, townhouse that is!

Rojelio has been living there since closing and Annie has been back-and-fourth. She will permanently be moving at the end of July.

Please send us an email if you'd like our address and other contact information. ahokett@emich.edu

Two Days Later

Please read the previous post "Birthday Get-A-Way" before reading this one!

We got back from our Chicago trip Thursday afternoon, May 25. What a quick, but exciting trip. We had both been to Chicago in the past, but never together and never shopping for what we shopped for. We made a special order and it would be delivered Friday morning, two days later, two days after Annie's birthday.

May 26, two days later, two days after Annie's birthday. It was a Friday morning, the FedEx truck arrived, the driver buzzed Rojelio's apartment, the package needed to be signed for. It was here, the purchase was now in Rojelio's possession. Rojelio checked it out to make sure it was in good condition; it was triple boxed if you can believe it.

Annie didn't see it, not yet anyway.

Still May 26, two days later, two days after Annie's birthday. The exciment of the package had somewhat subsided, we went on packing for the big move to Charlottesville, which was less than a week away.

Still May 26, two days later, two days after Annie's birthday.
7:00pm, we had just finished dinner. Rojelio asked Annie to sit with him on the sofa. After a long day of packing she gladly took a seat next to him. Also knowing what had happened two days earlier she was excited with anticipation.

After some words and tears of joy Rojelio, on bended knee, presented Annie with the package that had come; the purchase that was made two days earlier on Annie's birthday in Chicago.

As you see that purchase made two days earlier was an engagement ring that Rojelio would present to Annie two days later, two days after Annie's birthday, on May 26, 2006.

Annie replied, "Of course!"

Birthday Get-A-Way

May 24, 2006. Annie's Birthday. Rojelio surprised Annie with a birthday get-a-way. He whisked her off to Chicago for some fun times, fine dining, and a luxury suite at the Omni. There was also some extravagant shopping in Chicago's downtown money district. A birthday to top all other birthdays, one to never be forgotten. And just why will it never be forgotten, even though we didn't take our camera to capture the moments . . . all would be found out two days later . . .


We did happen to capture a few photographs with our camera phones. Here's a picture of Rojelio in front of the "bean" at Millennium Park.