Hallo to all!

Hey guys!  I realized today that I haven't written an email in about a week so I thought I would update y'all.  I am not working yet... I have my physical to do this week and then orientation is Monday.  It is starting to grate on my nerves (after 6 weeks!).  I do have to say, though, it has been a nice vacation.  We finally got our furniture on Tuesday of last week so our time has been spent unpacking and getting things in order.  Of course this includes almost daily trips to Home Depot or Target!  Everything arrived in pretty much good condition and Tiger was happy to have us there.  Alas, I have not been in the pool yet, but have been walking in Civic Center Park.  It is a little place in the middle of town with a walking trail, date groves (oh I didn't tell you but dates and figs are big here), skating ramps, and a dog walking park where you can take your pet off his leash.  Can you believe the cheapest pool towels I have found were $20?  Are these people nuts?

Anyway, our friend chef Mike came to see us Wed. and Thurs. which was cool (he lives in L.A.).  We bought some Mexican heather from Home Depot to plant in window boxes that could border our patio/deck thing.  Well we killed them.  Home Depot took them back, but apparently we used too much manure in the soil mix and burned the roots!  Goes to show you who does not have a green thumb (yours truly)!!  So we bought some more and some herbs and they are growing nicely.  The cactus we got is nice and fuzzy, but please don't touch it... it bites!  Tiger loves the cat grass we got for him, and so far it has not made him loopy.  I think catnip is the only thing that does that, and cat grass is supposed to help with hairballs and soothe his stomach.  Or something like that.

Ah yes.  We passed our DMV tests.  I missed two and Eric missed four.  We also didn't have to wait in line b/c they take appointments there.  Who knew?  So today we went to get our emissions tests done at the gas station and my car almost didn't pass.  Do any of you know anything about these tests?  I know I've been putting cheap gas in the car but it also has 70,000 miles on it.  Any info would be appreciated.  Did you know also that AAA will get your registration certificate for you?  They even gave us our plates so we don't have to go back to the DMV!  Yeehah!  Well I am going to go try out the pool.  I may have to join the Y b/c it is too small for laps.  Anyway, have a good night and I will write more soon when I have an update!