So with much consideration I decided to take the job at Ochsner medical center baton rouge. I went in for my pre-employment paperwork last week and am ready to go on August 31st. I will have hospital orientation for a few days and then move to my floor for nursing orientation. I am very lucky to have a day shift position, so hopefully even though I will be out of town several days a week, I will still be able to see chad and our friends at night and in my off days (instead of sleeping). I will be taking my boards exam on August 25 and have been studying diligently for the past few weeks.

Last week chad volunteered with the Louisiana Justice institute. This was a volunteer week set up by Tulane that new students could participate in before school starts. This organization works mainly with litigation that supports under represented populations in NOLA. They are working on fair housing, the save charity hospital initiative, and educational reform among other things. He worked with two other students that will be in his class this fall, one of which is also married. Chad starts orientation for law school tomorrow and will resume with classes on monday.

Bella has been a bad girl lately and keeps trying to get out of the house. Once in fact when we were on our way out with some friends to go get gelato. She hid under the house next door for about thirty minutes taunting us by coming just close enough to reach her as she then ran away again. We are considering getting her micro-chipped soon just in case. Chad has decided he might like grey cat better after all.

So I got a job offer today! What a great feeling.. an option. The position is for a telemetry unit which is great since that is what my background has been in. It is for a great company that has acquired several hospitals since Katrina and is doing well in this faltering economy. The only draw back is that it is for their Baton Rouge campus. This would mean a 1 hour drive 3 days a week. The benefit of doing this with such a large group is that if I couldn't stand the drive I could always transfer to a closer facility. I am still waiting to hear from several other hospitals I have interviewed with over the last 2 weeks which are closer to home. Hopefully the options and decision will be clear to me in the next few days, but of course passing my board's exam is the real hurdle ahead.

Below you'll find a bunch of pictures from around Uptown New Orleans. We have lots more, but it takes a good while to upload them. Check out Ashley's facebook page for more!

Tulane again Audubon Park directly south of Tulane Audubon Park again facing St. Charles Avenue (streetcar line) and Tulane

extra bedroom banana tree outside bedroom window with fruit actually growing on it. Ashley eating delectable snoball Ash on her sweet cruiser bike Chad with his new super cool refurbished cruiser

bedroom kitchen living room again Chad with the prolific lime tree

The New Addition to our Family.

A few days ago while sipping my morning brew I noticed our feline friend sitting at the window with a marked expression of excitement on her face. Upon turning from my chair to look out the window at what could have captured her attention so fully, I found a little grey cat sprawled out on one of our porch chairs catching a "cat nap". "Grey Cat", as he has come to be known, was soon startled at our watching him sleep, and as if sensing our curiosity at his snoozing on our chair, meandered down to the concrete and stretched out once more. Bella cat seemed to take this move as a flaunting of his freedom before her very eyes. She was indignant, and overcome with jealousy began to bounce around the door and meowing as hard as her little mouth could to let us know she would like to join her new friend "grey cat" outside. Well we managed to capture a few fun pics and bella managed to settle down, but we certainly haven't seen the last of our new friend. Grey cat has been visiting regularly and I have begun to leave him a bit to eat here and there as he looks like he could use a bite to eat. Enjoy the pics!