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After much deliberation, I have accepted an offer for hire from ExxonMobil Chemical.  I will be starting work at their Baytown research facility (outside Houston) near the beginning of November in a structure-properties group that works to make a better plastic.  (That is, so long as I can get my thesis defended by then.) Mostly they make polyethylene and polypropylene–stuff that goes into plastic bags, car bumpers, carpet fiber, and a lot of other things. 

This is a big moment for our little family–moving back across the country closer to family and old friends, leaving another set of friends, starting my first "real job" after 29 years on earth, buying a home…it goes on.  It is exciting and frightening at the same time.  For me, it will be especially stressful to finish the sprint at the end of this marathon of education that I have been running.  Please, pray for us in the coming months as we will be very busy.  Hope to see you all soon.

Connor and I took a ride on the Metro Gold Line today ($3 each for an all day pass).  It is only 2 stops from our house to the stop near Best Buy and Petsmart.  The Gold line runs along the center of 210 freeway in Pasadena.  So, as we sat on the platform awaiting our train, we watched trucks, and cars and buses drive past on the freeway.  The train arrived and the door slid open with a whoosh.  Connor hopped on the train and immediately turned to me and said, "Daddy, hold you!"  So, I picked him up and sat down.  I suppose he was a little unsure about the whole experience, but he seemed to like it afterward.

We spent 20 minutes or so playing at Best Buy.  They have a little station in the center of the store where kids can try out games and computers.  Connor streaked across the dance pad controller of "Dance, Dance Revolution 2" several times, then we proceeded to the television section.  We sat and watched movie trailers and other promo material in one of the home theater setups where they have couches.  Connor really liked the trailer for Stealth, an upcoming movie about a computer controlled jet fighter that goes rogue and tries to kill everyone.  Thinking machines always get struck by lighting and try to kill everyone in the movies (except for Johnny 5 in Short Circuit, he liked people and played with butterflies).  We rounded out the trip by playing the keyboard and pushing a vacuum cleaner.

Next up, Petsmart.  Connor was most interested in the fish and the dogs.  We also looked at birds, rodents (hamsters, mice, rats, and guinea pigs) and cats.  The dogs were all in a big holding area with glass walls so you could see them.  Several attendants stood around supervising as the dogs played.  There was a partition separating the area into two parts.  I couldn’t exactly determine why, but they occasionally passed some of the dogs from one side to the other.  Usually it was smaller dogs, so maybe they were keeping them away from the big dogs.  However, on the small dog side there was also a great dane.  Maybe he just thought he was small like in that old Disney movie, The Ugly Dachsund.  Anyway, when the dogs got too rowdy, the attendant had a hose and would spray the dogs.  It was quite effective.

Finally, we ate some lunch from Togo’s (a sandwich shop like Subway) next to a fountain, took a potty break and then headed back to the train.  Connor got tired of walking and I carried all 40 pounds of him for about 3/4 of a mile to and from the train stations.  Now, he is in his bed "resting" which sounds more like pounding cars against each other.  It was a fun trip and we might take another ride tonight since our pass was good all day.

If you read Megan’s blog, then you know that she has left me…alone with Connor, that is.  Her sister is vacationing for a week and they have made their annual trek to San Diego.  Although, I will complete less work in the next four days, I am looking forward to spending this time with Connor. 

So far, it has been enjoyable.  We took a walk to the park, ate and took a nap.  He even successfully pooped in the potty.  Unfortunately, naptime was not 100% successful since Connor had a little accident and wet the bed.  I have only been on duty for about 7 hours now, so there is still time for interesting developments.

I will probably post a little more frequently this week.  I have extra time while I am at home.  Tomorrow, I plan on taking Connor on the Metro Rail (Megan has our car).  It stops close to a Best Buy and Petsmart.  We can eat lunch at the Togo’s nearby.  I’ll let you know how the outing goes. 

To really enjoy this posting first read this.  Then, look at this.  Now you know why country boys don’t last long in Thailand. Enjoy