criplomats

We are getting settled into the new apartment, although it’s still a lot like camping! We received items from storage (a huge amount went to Goodwill without having to even see it), and our air shipments came. So we are sleeping on the hide-a-bed and have a enough kitchen items to get by – it’s home! John did a great job coordinating all of the movers – there were a lot of moving pieces.

Anita, our mover, had to return on Saturday to drop off a piece of furniture, and she brought her pup Abrams with her!

Anita and Abrams

We started work on Monday and boy, is there a lot to learn! My predecessor was kind enough to spend a few hours with me this week so I could pick her brain, and I’ve been meeting with a lot of folks who have something to do with my 13 countries. It’s fun to be in D.C. and see so many familiar faces. Last night we went to dinner at Edward and Barbara’s house – we worked together in Islamabad. We had a great time yakking and catching up, and we enjoyed meeting another couple there, Michelle and Roy. It was a fun evening!

Yesterday morning we got to see Mike and Wayne who happened to be in town for a family event (Wayne’s brother lives here). We walked up to DuPont Circle and met them for breakfast at Kramer Books – what a treat!

With Wayne and Mike

After two days of driving through beautiful Tennessee and Virginia, we arrived at our new home in Washington D.C.! John picked out a wonderful apartment for us – it’s really lovely and large. Flavia was not as enchanted with it, and managed to hide herself in a completely empty apartment, much to our chagrin (she eventually came out after dark, but has hidden herself again today).

Until our things get here, we are staying in a guest suite in the same building, which is really handy.

We were delighted to have lunch with our old Islamabad friends, Sunera and Joseph Schaller, today at Founding Farmers. It was great to catch up with them.

We’re excited to start our new jobs tomorrow, but sad that home leave is over! We had so much fun seeing friends and family!

Chuck and I spent a lovely afternoon together at the Ohio Club – love seeing old friends

With Mom’s friends from Southwestern Bell – I crashed their monthly birthday lunch

With Nancy

With Pete and Ginger atop Mount Magazine

Stoker and John

West Mountain, Hot Springs

With Jay and David

Mount Magazine

Until next time!

Can we do this every day?!!

The cars made it!

Jim, John, and Ann

With Ann

John

With Cathy, my Foreign Service bestie

David

Alison

With David and James

With Leslie

Lynna

With Mary

Marybeth, Patrick, and Alison

We did it! We arrived in Hot Springs Friday afternoon. David and Alison picked us up at the airport and brought us to the lake house we’re renting. They have been lifesavers – they’re loaning us a car until ours arrive, they brought us homemade lasagna for dinner, stocked us with other basic food supplies, and they put together this great baskets of goodies with things we will need (paper towels, detergent, etc.), as well as fun things like cat toys and bubbles to blow while we’re sitting on the porch. Thank you so much! What a great welcome home!

Goodie basket from David and Alison

Flavia did great on the trip. That is always my biggest stressor, but everything went without a hitch. She even got to go to the Centurion Lounge in Houston. And she’s adapting well to the lake house.

Yesterday Pamela came over and spent the day. She and I went to McClard’s for lunch, and then we spent the rest of the day on the porch, yakking and watching the world go by. The weather was in the 80s with a nice breeze – this morning it’s stormy, which I love.

Our last few days in Guadalajara were pretty nice. We went to the VIP theatre last Sunday to see “Planet of the Apes.” John’s boss Ray took us out for a nice steak dinner on Tuesday at one of our favorite restaurants, and John and I made a final trip to Corazon de Alcachofa on Thursday.

I helped teach my last English class on Wednesday. Saying goodbye to the guards was really the hardest. I got to know many of them, and they’re just so nice. The class brought in a cake to celebrate – so sweet.

English class

Katana, one of my favorite guards – he writes beautiful poetry!

My team brought in lunch for my last day, and even Ale who is out on maternity leave came to say goodbye.

So there you have it – three years wrapped up and we’re on our way to the next adventure – but first, a relaxing two weeks on the lake and the chance to see family and friends!

View for the next two weeks! Stormy this morning.

Hanging with Muffy