Endings and New Beginnings.

Well I have finally settled into my new digs and started my new assignment. I enjoyed my month off as it sped by quickly. The birth of my nephew was a highlight. I even got to visit with some family members that I have not seen in a while. Unfortunately the circumstance that created this mini reunion was the passing of my grandfather. He died at the young age of 93, just a few months shy of 94. I can picture him entering the gates of heaven with a shuffled gait and pursed lips whistling the whole way. I would like to think that once he passed through the gates he was high stepping and singing as he celebrated his reunion with Grandmother and his family. He will be greatly missed.

I am enjoying living on one of the Pinehurst golf courses in Pinehurst, NC. It is whole different world here. I have yet to encounter a bad section of town. The houses are nice and well manicured and the people are super sweet. Khaki shorts and a polo shirt are all that are required to fit in. The speed limit is 35 and they mean it. After scanning the local paper, the worst crime committed in Moore County was improper equipment. It is definitely a resort town and quite the opposit from my experience in Baltimore. It is so nice to sit on my deck and the watch the golfers and not hear a single siren, bus, horn or person yelling. The village or city center is quaint with shops, pubs and boutiques. I love it. Hopefully the assignment will go well.

A final note. Have already started my adventures. Went with Charlie this weekend to Charlotte. We met up with some of his friends and tail gated before we went to a pre-season NFL game between the Panthers and Redskins. If you watched the game, you know it was a disappointment but fun none the less. More to come...

Baby, Blues and Driving

I have been enjoying my vacation from work. I drove away with Baltimore in my rear view mirror and stopped in Raleigh, North Carolina to pick up Charlie (who would be my co-pilot for my trip home). Our first stop was in Montgomery, AL where we visited with my friend Seana. Next we headed to Mississippi and stopped in Meridian for a visit with my brother and his family. Little did Charlie know that he would have to play barbies and candy land. My niece is very persistent and would not take no for an answer. She would later reveal that Charlie was not a good "barbie boy" which Charlie found great comfort in. Next we headed to Prentiss and took the one minute tour through town before heading to my parent's house. We visited with my granddad the next day and then went fishing at my granddad's lake. Unfortunately I lost our mini fishing tournament by 1 fish but none-the-less we had fun. It was soon time to move on with New Orleans being our destination. Since Charlie had never done the "touristy" thing in NO, I decided to show him the city. Hurricanes at Pat O's with a little dueling piano music, beignets and coffee at Cafe du monde (complete with powdered sugar everywhere), blues and jazz music, the french market...yep, we were your typical tourist. We also visited the Aquarium and the Imax theater, which pales in comparison to the Baltimore Aquarium and our experience there. Charlie hopped a plane back to NC and I continued my travels. Next it was to Mobile for a quick visit with friends. Me and Wendy had a belated birthday celebration with Chris at one of our favorite restaurants,Pappa's. We required no menus as we all get the same thing every time we go...steak. I always find this comical being as it is an Italian restaurant. Next it was time for girls weekend with 3 of my best friends from grad school. This wasn't our typical weekend though because the center of our attention was 2 toddlers. What fun it was to watch them play. We all had a great time. I then left there and headed to Bay St. Louis for my junior college class reunion. My first two years of college were a blast and it was so much fun to visit with everyone and relive those memories. Are you tired yet? No. Good, because I am not done. A little sleep deprived from the weekend festivities, I knew I had to find some energy because I was about to hang out with two of my favorite but very active little men...my nephews. They have one volume-loud and one speed-fast. Unfortunately my visit was cut short but for a good reason. I was about to add yet another man to my life. Christopher Cole Richmond made his arrival on July 28, 2008. My brother became a proud papa again. We were all very excited because we were certain that it would be girl since my brother already had a little girl and the Richmond name would end with him. He is beautiful and his big sister just adores him. She constantly wants to hold him, hug him and give him kisses. Obviously jealousy has not set in yet. I can't wait to return and play with Cole. I am now packing for a trip to Florida. I am so excited about relaxing on the beach. No news about my next assignment. I am enjoying myself so much that I am not worried...yet.

Four Score and Seven Years Ago...

I could not sit still for my last weekend in Maryland. So what did I do? I left...and headed to Pennsylvania. Charlie drove up and accompanied me across the Mason Dixon line to Gettysburg National Military Park. Once again I was reminded how I learned what I needed to know about history to make a good grade in school but never truly retained the information. I suppose now I have a greater appreciation for the history of our nation and as a result it has much more meaning to me. I was disappointed that the Gettysburg Cyclorama Painting was being restored and would not be open until September. We managed to drive through the 6,000 acre park listening to our self-guided audio tour and stopped for some of the 1,328 monuments and memorials that are placed all along the route. It was hot and we got to see some of America's finest families. By America's finest, I mean red-neck. We were taken back in time to July 1, 1863 when the Union attempted to hold off the Confederate advance at McPherson Ridge. We ended our tour on July 4, 1863 at High Water Mark, where the climatic end of the war took place with Lee and his soldiers retreating back to Virginia. It was amazing to think that we stood in the exact location where the largest battle ever fought in the U.S. took place and also where so many casualties occurred. Of course we learned tons of little tid-bits of information along the way and even ran into some soldiers. Ghosts? Nope. Just a group of men from across the U.S. who have a passion for teaching others about the war. We even met a cute little elderly man (who of course I connected with) and learned that he had four ancestors that fought in the war. We completed our day with a brief tour of the Gettysburg National Cemetery and stood in the spot where it is believed that Lincoln delivered that famous speech we all know as the Gettysburg Address. I really enjoyed our day and was once again satisfied that I got to experience another piece of history.

So now I have one week left in Baltimore before I head home. I am ready for a vacation but I suddenly feel sad about leaving the city. While I know that I could never live in the city for the rest of my life, it has been fun. I've mention before the hustle and bustle of the city and how I enjoy watching it on my way to work. I have even become fond of the homeless guy on the corner having an in depth conversation with himself. I will miss my afternoon runs to the harbor and running up and down the steps at Federal Hill. I will not miss the traffic or the endless sirens which have become unnoticed background noise. I am looking forward to seeing my family and friends, meeting my new niece or nephew, or relaxing!

Fireworks, Crypts, History and Portraits

It has been a while since I have written, so I will have to reach back into my memory to recount all that I have done. Working in a Jewish hospital, I have really learned about the culture associated with the Jewish faith and it fascinates me. I decided to visit the Jewish Museum to expand my knowledge. I made some Matzo Ball soup (which I really like), and headed to the museum. I learned about local Jewish history, their traditions, and their immigration experience. I took tours of two synogoues, one which was built in 1845 (one of the oldest synogogues in the U.S.) and the other built in 1876. The older of the two has a matzo oven, a mikvah (for ritual baths), and a classroom where the first Hebrew school got its start.

The 4th of July was questionable with the threat of looming rain. The plan was to sit in our lawn chairs, enjoy some wine and a picnic and listen to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra while fireworks exploded in the sky. Not a drop had fallen from the sky all day until we arrived at Oregon Ridge. Then it started, forcing me and my friends to partake of our picnic inside the car. Not wanting to be defeated by the rain, we grabbed our gear and joined the large crowd of people hidden underneath their umbrellas and ponchos. The rain did eventually stop momentarily and the orchestra played all the traditional patriotic songs. Fireworks were coordinated nicely with "Stars and Stripes Forever". Despite the rain, we had a great time. (Thanks Carolyn and Kimberly for the invite. Kimberly the food was great!!!)

Saturday I attended a photography class on how to take portraits. Photography has become a passion of mine and I want to learn as much as possible. My hope is that one day changing the shutter speed, exposure, etc. will become second nature to me and that possibly it will be a side job. The class was very informative as we learned how to measure exposure, select backgrounds,and pose people to achieve the perfect portrait. I also learned that I need a lot of money to buy all the equipment that I will need to run a business. I sure didn't pick a cheap hobby. The class was held at Brookside Gardens and I decided to walk around after the class and explore. The garden encompasses 50 acres surrounding conservatories, growing greenhouses, a Labyrinth and multiple gardens. It had rained that morning leaving the landscape lush and green. I also visited the butterfly exhibit. Upon entering the conservatory, I was suddenly surrounded by beautiful butterflies. They were every where. Occasionally one would land on my shirt and snag a ride along the paths. There was an Asian moth up on the ceiling that was massive (its wing span a little less than a foot). I felt very whimsical walking through the exhibit.

Sunday, I toured the Baltimore Basicila, America's first cathedral. It was the first cathedral built in America after the adoption of the Constitution. Construction started in 1806 and rivaled the Capitol in size and sophistication. It wasn't the dark, ornate cathedral that I expected, but as the docent explained to me, the Catholic people had worshiped underground up until this time because the British denied this freedom. They didn't want anything that resembled the dark, gothic architecture in Europe during the Dark Ages. As a result, the cathedral is bright, with clear glass and natural light illuminating the building. It was restored and renovated beginning in 2004. It is absolutely beautiful. You can't help but feel holy. The crypts underneath the cathedral were even more impressive. The arches and floors made of red brick hold the tombs of some of the great giants of catholicism. I am glad that I visited this historic site. It made me reflect on my faith and reminded me that religion is a freedom.

Two weeks and counting. I am looking forward to coming home for a visit!