Deja Vu- No Spoilers

Amazing. It's 11:57pm-- a full 23 hours and 56 minutes from the moment they announced they were selling the books at B&N. 23 hours and about 50 minutes from the moment I actually bought it. I read for about 5 hours last night, and read throughout the day today, and now it is over.

I savored this book, having been part of the Potter-universe for so many years. I read the first one in graduate school. I even reached the last 3 chapters approximately 5 hours ago and forced myself to set the book down so that I could truely read it in the silence of the house instead of with mom, dad or little brother popping in every few minutes. I'm glad I did.

I'm dumbfounded. I've read parts of these last 3 chapters before. Especially chapter 35. I know this chapter- knew the scene as it unfolded. It's more complete now, but I have READ THIS CHAPTER and it's wigging me out. Did JK borrow it from a fanfiction? Did a fanfiction writer steal it in it's early stages and publish it on one of the websites? Did JK post this chapter on one of the fanfiction websites to gain some idea of reviews? I feel mildly paranoid right now-- have I truely read this chapter before? But I have. It was familiar to the extreme-- there's some visual imagery present that there is no way I would EVER forget. I'm very confused.

It was an engaging book. But this deja vu is driving me batty. I will spend the next little bit of time trying to locate this familiar chapter on fanfiction.net and sugarquill.com to see if it really exists. I will wait to see if anyone else will note deja vu on reading these last few chapters. I even have some deja vu regarding the other final chapters-- but nothing so strong as chapter 35.

An epic story drawn to it's conclusion, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows takes you on a quest that means to challenge your views on friendship and life choices-- but in the end its greatest (and only) accomplishment is to finally answer the questions posed in the previous 6 books. I can see why JK is done. The fan writers will flesh out this series in the years to come. She's set it all up for endless imagination. What a ride this has been- but the bus stop has been reached so file off in an orderly fashion and thanks for visiting.

Georgia licensure board needs a Renovation

8 am- woke, showered and began to collect final items to put in car. Plan was to leave at 10:30 am to begin my drive to Boston.

10:30am- called company to see what hotel I was driving to in Boston. Rep from company, "well, we have some bad news".

Georgia has decided that they need, oh, 30 days to verify that I hold a license in that state to practice Speech Pathology. Not to GRANT a license, just to make a statement saying, "yep, she's an SLP". They've had it for the last 10 days or so. I've got another week or so that they could potentially hold up my paperwork. Then, and only then, will the Massachusetts board look at my paperwork and grant me a license in that state. The only thing they are missing is the verification from Georgia. All the other states were able to send verification within 3 business days.

So the Monday start date? Delayed indefinitely. Job? Up in the air. My mood? Quite low, thank you.

The thing that infuriates me, other than the fact that Virginia, Maryland and the national boards are able to verify within days, NOT WEEKS, is that you can verify my Georgia licensure online at their web page. Just type my name in and it says "active and in good standing" with my expiration date available.

Massachusetts, unfortunately, needs it in writing directly from the Georgia Board.

Why do I pay dues to boards that prevent me from gaining jobs? Really, I pay Georgia XX amount every 2 years to "upkeep" my licensure. I never ask anything from that money- except that they make sure we all are upkeeping our licensure and hooligans aren't practicing SLPs in the state of Georgia. They, in turn, take 30 days to complete a task that would take the average joe 2 minutes on the internet and other similar state agencies 3 days to complete.

I used to love Georgia. I'm thinking of letting that particular licensure go inactive due to this incompetency. 30 days to say, "yes, she's an SLP without any black marks against her." They need to send their people over to the other boards in order to learn a better way of doing things.

Baby-Palooza Finale

Saturday and Sunday I visited an audiologist who I used to work with at my old job. She relocated to ATL and is currently both a director of audiology, and a "Dr."- both brilliant achievements that have not gone to her head. We saw the movie "knocked up" and ate at Dante's (fondue with a pirate theme- very fun and somehow classy). I give the movie Knocked Up 3 stars for making me laugh despite the questionable story-line.


The final baby on the stop was an adorable 9 month old with an incredi-mom. Pictured below:



He LOVED water. And he's in a screetchy phase right now- bless his mother's hearing and patience! He had the most beautiful smile-- and he was the most mobile of the babies I have seen in the last week. The cats were having to run in order to keep out of reach! We had a great time that included lots of talking, awing over baby and lugging logs from a tree her dad was disassembling. It had fallen during a storm in her neighbor's yard and needed to be cleared. I had a chance to work in a yard for once, and friend's mom gave me lessons on Poison Ivy and Poison Oak- both were present at the "work site".

Finally, I saw my own baby brother in Nashville. We had a good time- especially Wednesday night when we went for our "appointment". I know there's been some people dying to see it, so without further ado:



Now for some back-story for those unaware of my appointment and plans. I've wanted a tattoo since highschool, but my parents firmly said "when you are paying your own bills, you can do what you want". My roommate in college went to get one freshman year, but though I knew I could get away with it, I held off because my parents were still paying my bills. Throughout my twenties I thought about it from time to time and was certain an Irish themed knot would be something I would never grow to dislike. I've loved Irish music since I was a child, have a strong Irish ancestory, am Irish Catholic and have played in sessions before with the penny whistle.

On my 30th birthday different people were telling me I had to think of a symbolic gift for this monumental year. I kiddingly stated "how about a tattoo" which was laughed at by my mother and friends. Then a few friends came to me and told me, "well, I'd like one too- let's go get one." I began to think about it. Then I pondered, okay, I'm 30. It's been a rough year- two funerals of grandparents in 3 months. I've began to feel truely free and happy with the traveling therapy jobs. I love my job. It's a very strange and upsy-downsy time of life. I spoke with baby brother philosophically about all of this and he stated, "come down to Nashville, I want one too, we can get one together." That rang true with me. I assumed we would be having different tastes in tattoos, but he stated he wanted a celtic cross. This also rang true. Truer than anything has in awhile.

I know I will continue to change throughout my life, but several things I hope will never change. First, I hope I will always retain faith in God and his plan for me. Second, I hope I will always retain the close relationship I have with my brothers. And finally, I hope that in becoming who I am, I never forget where I came from. And so there we are. A celtic cross tattoo which I share with baby brother for ever. If I ever regret getting it, at least I can call him up and commiserate and laugh about the day we walked in to Lone Wolf to get a tattoo together.

And for those who are needlessly curious, it is in a location that my patients will NEVER see. But it is not a "tramp stamp". :-)

Baby-Palooza

I've started my tour of babies and friends-- actually I started last Monday with a visit with my oldest friendship. Unfortunately, Guppy was studying for finals so our visit involved a trip to a pub near her university and a one hour meal. I also stopped in and visited with my old coworkers from MCG. It was great to see them, but I was a bit brutal with my "no" when asked if I was coming back!!!! I love my traveling job right now and there's no way I would take a step backwards in my travels by returning to the starting point.

Second friend was visited at Edventure museum in Columbia, SC. Her lovely child was articulate and entertaining; a miniature of her mommy. Lovely picture:



Of course, my nephew:



My highschool buddy's cutie-pie:



Luckybob's babies:



Ty's baby:



One more baby on the trip. Then a visit with baby brother and then... on to Boston!

Chow'da

My next assignment is in Boston, MA at a local hospital. Yeah! Employment.

Anyone know anyone who lives in Boston? Need some serious help with the housing situation-- they're trying to put me 30 minutes away... but on the interstate I'm wondering if that will turn into 1hour commute. That would stink. Any suggestions on places near Boston Medical Center?

Happy, happy, joy, joy.

Baby-polooza has begun. Good friend Peggy has an adorable baby who likes the toys I gave him. Next stop ATL.