Mush! Mush!

Well, it's official.  Rollerblading season is here!  The fall weather is quickly approaching and with that comes the cool fall air.  It's not as enjoyable to rollerblade if it's too hot outside because of all the guards, pads, and helments my husband forces us to wear.  This is the perfect sport to challenge me and Matteo not to fall and kill ourselves and give the dogs a change from their usual walk.  It ends up being us holding on for dear life while the dogs charge full sprint ahead.  Today was Keb's first experience with the rollerblades.  Marley is a seasoned professional with the blades because we broke him in as a young pup.  

Matteo and I looking stylish in our safety gear.

After being pulled around the park feeling like I was leading a pack of sled dogs, the activity turned out to be a total success.  The only negative was that it began to pour down right before we were finished.  Both dogs are passes out not in the living room and should be worn out for the rest of the evening.  Mission complete.

Today I got the day off and those are always the best.  After working at least 50 hours a week, it's nice to have a day of rest to look forward to.  I was able complete my lists of highly important tasks, such as finish the newest season of Desperate Housewives with Annie, play with the pups, and take a nap with the husband.  Now to top the day off I'm taking some tips from Sandra Lee and making a berry cookie cobbler.  

Quite delicious I must say!

Don't get the wrong idea though.  I'm defiantly not a cook by any means.  It's just a special treat to end the day and the keywords to her recipes are SEMI-homemade. Yum!

Labor Day: Less Labor More Relaxation

What a relaxing day off!  I got to sleep in past my normal 4:00 am wake up and enjoy the day with the husband, Annie, and Ben.  This was the first day in a while that Matteo and I both had the day off.  We had big plans to bike the Virginia Creeper trail but woke up to a rainy morning.  Looks like we will have to save that adventure for another day.  Instead we all headed to Kingsport for a Labor Day cook out.  We had a blast chowing down on hamburgers and brownies.

Giving Marley goodbye kisses before I left for the weekend.

Now i'm back home in Knoxville for my first UT game of the year.  I'm so glad to be back sitting in my mom and dad's living room watching Oprah with my sister.  The Black Eyes Peas are on the show today, and they just had an awesome performance where they choreographed a dance for the whole audience.  If you get a chance, Utube it!  I love them by the way... Great CD.  Anyways, I get the day off today and then get to go spend a day at work in Turkey Creek on Friday for "Business College."  Tomorrow will be a big day where I get to learn about all the responsibilities I will be taking on when I report to my new position.  I am feeling combination of excitement mixed with anticipation.

Once I make it through the day on Friday, it will be time for the big UT game on Saturday.  I can't wait to see the new revived energy at Neyland Stadium that has come with the change of staff, not to mention the improved Jumbotron.  Rachel and I are headed out tonight to pick-up some new UT shirts to show our support for the Big Orange.  The games are always so much fun, and I hear they have made several improvements to the stadium.  There is even a Starbucks!  I will be able to get my daily near lethal dose of caffeine and my dad can chow down on his 10 smokey dogs. It's a win-win!  Go Vols!

Welcome Home Annie!

Annie has finally moved in!  This has been her 1st week here, and it has been full of trips to the movies, watching our favorite TV shows, and dinners out with the guys.  Annie also has a new best friend.  His name is Keb, and he is my chocolate labradoodle.  It's pretty hilarious to see Keb laying with his furry arm around her. 

 I know this picture is ridiculous, but I just had to add it.  I NEVER put clothes on the dogs, but this was a shirt of Matteo's that I shrunk with my wonderful laundering skills.  Don't worry; It was only on long enough to get a picture.

This past weekend I was off work, and I wanted to take full advantage of it.  Matteo and I went on a hike on Buffalo Mountain Saturday morning.  It was so nice to go outside and get some fresh air.  

Another exciting visit this week was from Jiffy!!  She got to come back to Johnson City for a camping trip with the Olivers.  Unfortunately, it rained on Saturday so the ground was all wet and mushy and it would have been impossible to start a fire.  We had to revert to Plan B... The Drive-In!!  Always a great option.  We got to see GI Joe at the State Line drive-in.  It was such a fun night, and I am hoping Jiffy will come back again soon from Knox Vegas.


Now as for the working life...
I am now well into my 4th week of my transition from college into the real world with a little process called "business college" for the company I am working for.  It has been lots of fun so far.  I am getting to meet lots of new people and cram as much information as I can absorb into a 6 week time frame.  It is challenging me to work at a high speed, take on many responsibilities, and be able to create a work/ life balance.  It is so exciting to invest in my own career and see that all that hard work from college actually is paying off.  


Matteo is finally getting to work in the hospital, and he is loving it!  No more boring classroom.  He comes home every night with a new story to tell about some crazy procedure he has seen that day.  It is some very long days, but he is getting to see so many fascinating things and experience what it's like to actually participate in the hospital.  Right now he is in his surgery rotation at the VA and Johnson City Medical Center.  I think he would have gone crazy if there was another year of school and tests.  I am very interested to see what he likes best and where he will end up!

Marley welcoming Matteo home from work