Destination: Des Moines, Iowa

We got some kind of big news last week regarding Craig's job! He was asked to participate in a three-month program that only 6-8 Chartis Insurance employees from around the country will be working on. It's a great honor that he was chosen and we both know it can only lead to good things for him career-wise. The only problem is that this program will take place in Des Moines, Iowa!

We don't have many details yet, but he will be leaving some time this September or October and will be working up there 5 days a week. We're really not sure what he's going to be doing yet, either, so we'll keep y'all posted as we learn more! :) He is supposed to get to fly home every weekend (so his poor new wife doesn't have to be all alone for three WHOLE months!!!). We don't know much about the city that Craig will be living in come this fall, but I'm sure it will be a good experience for him.

Because Iowa is a pretty unknown land to us, I decided to check it out online and see what that little pillow-shaped state has to offer Craig. I found out that Des Moines has been dubbed the 3rd largest insurance capital of the world, after London, England and Hartford, Connecticut, so maybe that's one reason it was chosen as the destination for their particular program. I also found out that the original name of Des Moines was Fort Raccoon, and was later changed to Fort Des Moines, then shortened to the current ‘Des Moines.’ (I think Craig would be much more excited about living in a place named Fort Raccoon!)

If any of you have been to Des Moines and have any fun tips or pointers for him, please let me know! He'll be working most of the time he's there, but I want to help him find some fun things to do and yummy places to eat so he doesn't miss me and our home in Atlanta too much while he's gone.