I love my mother.

She just knows.


She always knows.




Today I got a package from her, with my new car insurance card.. but also, with a note.

The card reads on the front:

Do not wish you be anything but what you are, and be that perfectly.

The inside, she wrote:

Jen,
Just wanted to tell you we love you and miss you. Glad you are making new friends and enjoying being you!
All our love,
Dad and Mom

Also, she's been sending me these little sayings on small pieces of cardstock for the past few years. She sends them every few months or so. The last one she sent said: remember your dreams.

The one she sent today says: you are simply amazing!


I really miss my family.

things I'm learning.

I'm learning more and more..

..that you have to be careful from whom you ask advice. because not everyone wants what you want, or thinks how you think, or needs what you need.
..that you really already know the answers to most of the questions that you have, the hard part is finding the courage, or the strength to accept them. the hard part is breaking down the walls that you built in order to follow through with what you know to be true and honest.
..that all you can do is be yourself. all you can say is what you think. all you can feel is what you feel. those aren't really choices that you make, they're realities that you can accept and cultivate or repress and ignore.

..that my head is a scary, dangerous place ;) and my meandering mind occupies so much of my time and energy. I have to learn how to entertain my thoughts.. really look at them objectively, and then either embrace them or forget them. I have to stop assuming that every negative thought I have is who I am. Because it isn't.. it's just a thought, a fleeting one, generally. If I could see it as that and nothing else, I think I wouldn't stress so much about problems that I create.. about things that don't even exist.

I'm learning.

PART TWO of my HAIR SAGA

PART TWO:
where was I?
AH yes.
The consultation was about to begin. circa… 11:00.
A half an hour after my appointment should have begun.
so they’re running a little behind schedule. it happens.

I tell her my hair woes and my requests and my future plans (length.)
and she says. “okay, I’m with you. Sit tight, I just have to find my learning leader.”
Minutes pass, and she returns with this spicy, control-y lady who takes over the consultation entirely. I did feel a bit more confident about the entire process though, and was glad she was there.


It is now…  approximately 11:15, and she’s taking me over to get my hair washed. ELEVEN FIFTEEN. My appointment was scheduled at 10:30. In the normal world, I would be DONE BY NOW.

This is when the tweeting began. In an attempt to direct my impatient energy elsewhere.

By this point, I’m hungry. And annoyed. I’ve given up all hope of walking out of this place with my head held high. I’m considering all the different ways I can hide my hair until it grows out, hats? a massive amt. of bobby pins? I just keep seeing the hair fall.

And I didn’t have a lot to begin with.

The learning leader returns, makes some adjustments and gives her the go-ahead to start drying my hair. And so it begins.

I have a lot of hair. And it’s wavy crazy curly. It takes a long time to dry. I tried to tell her this. I tried to warn her.

The learning leader came back to show her a trick to “tame those baby hairs” and it worked, I was impressed. But as soon as she left, little miss sylist lady went back to doing things her way, definitely doesn’t know how to take instruction well…

Once it was “dry” she began to section my hair to straighten in. Again, the learning leader came back and showed her another method to get the “hard to straighten areas” which again, worked and is something I used this morning on my hair. I took something away from it. But did my stylist? No, of course not.

Please notice the time stamp of that update. 12:34. I’ve been in this woman’s hands for two hours. TWO HOURS.

Every time she left to “get product” or “find her learning leader” I straightened my own hair. I fixed parts she couldn’t get to lay flat, and straightened my bangs. Because she was moving at a snail’s pace. And I operate at a much higher speed. And I wanted to leave before she “had theory at one”

HOLD THE PHONE. You’re not sure if you’ll be done by ONE???

Give me the straightener and go to your class. I have no use for you anymore.
Of course that didn’t happen.

And I suffered through the straightening process.

And the learning leader came over at the end and helped thin out the places that I was concerned about and did the final finishing. And, really.. I’m happy with the result. My hair is in good shape and in the end, I got what I was hoping for. But they should have paid me. For my time, and for using my head as an educational learning tool.

Three hours is BEYOND UNREASONABLE for a haircut. FOR A HAIRCUT.

THE RESULTS:

 

After all that, I’m happy.

And I went over to the Moyer’s & had Rett help me “shake out all of my impatient energy” and we got lunch and had a fun afternoon.

But wow was it a long morning.

A STUDENT STYLIST + A LONG MORNING = AN EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED ME

Where do I even BEGIN.

Okay.
I have been in Orange County for.. just about 2 months now.
I haven’t had my hair cut since I’ve been here.
I should rephrase that.
I haven’t had my hair cut by a professional since I’ve been here.
I’ve cut my hair twice.
And I’ve colored it twice.
Because I can’t help myself.

I decided, however, that it was wrong to live a life knowing I can’t straighten my hair because the back looks like someone took a chainsaw to it. Oh, the beauty of the camoflauging capabilities of curls.
So, I made an appointment. With a level 2 stylist. At a reputable beauty school.

I have had some bad experiences with hair… and because I love to change it so much, I’ve become somewhat of a high maintenance client. I’m not ashamed to admit this.

My appointment was at 10:30. By my calculations, I should have been done around 11:30-12 (giving them 2-3 times the length of time a normal haircut should require) just in time to grab lunch and continue on with my day. I didn’t eat before I went. That turned out to be a mistake. I suppose I can at least take responsibility for that much.

While sitting there, waiting for my name to be called, I took note of the different stylists, their style, their fabulous hair, and their energy. They were all good. I talked myself out of being nervous, and convinced myself that maybe this would be fun and that they’re under the guidance of professionals.. “I’ll be fine.”

Then my name is called.
And my stylist is.. the oldest one in the room.
that’s fine right.. she just decided later in life that she wanted to pursue this. I bet she has a great work ethic.
Except.. she has really bad hair.
maybe she’s like those designers/artists who can’t dress themselves or hold a conversation for anything but WOW they do some great work.. maybe??
But, she’s kind of awkward.
stop being so negative. give her a chance!

So she takes me to the back of the room and seats me in the chair.

“What are we going to do today?”
I looked at the paper she set on the table… it said my cut was $12…
SHE’S A LEVEL ONE STYLIST?! WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO????
so I sighed.
And I tried to be as descriptive as possible.. telling her that I don’t want anything drastic and I just want a trim and the shape adjusted a bit… mostly the layers in the back.. and I braced myself for the worst haircut of my life.


TO BE CONTINUED…

Laura Came to Visit!

Friday: 
we met at Irvine Spectrum.. “how will we ever find each other?!” “uhm, is that your car” “oh look, you parked RIGHT NEXT TO ME.”

dinner sounds good… “an HOUR and a HALF to TWO HOURS??

we ate at the Cheesecake Factory instead.

“would you like some more bread? maybe just some more butter? :)…” Grandmother, I hope you’re proud.

“Pumpernickel.” “Comfortable?” “Yes.”


“Oh no my eye twitch is back.”

“Actually no, WE DON’T WANT THE STUPID CHAIR.”

“How do you search for that on the internet?”

“I don’t know… by the look of those muscles, you could be a farm girl.”

we had Corndogs at 1am, because they looked amazing. and they did not disappoint.

Saturday:
We slept in. And we had coffee and bagels. She met my co-workers and saw the office. We went to the OC Swap Meet and then bought ingredients for a picnic lunch. We spent HOURS on the beach and it was the most perfect day. I walked 092837467 miles uphill both ways. We had dinner with Joy & the crew, latte’s and a listening party in the living room. Rett danced to Eminem & JT and named us all Hampsters of prominence in HampsterLandVille. We found our way to Main Street in HB and then to Newport Blvd back home.. we met up with an old friend, made some new ones and laughed into the wee hours of the morning.

Sunday:
We slept in :) And we had coffee and brunch. Then we went shopping and ice-creaming and sun-sitting before we had to part ways. I went dancing that night and didn’t accomplish anything, it was a GREAT WEEKEND.

Zumba

dun dun dun ZUMBA DAY!

Joy, I know I’ve quoted you already… but you really summed up the morning quite flawlessly...

Joy’s facebook status from Saturday:

“Thanks to Cousin Jen, I’ve already done the following today: Seen the Pacific Ocean, had a Hazelnut latte, chatted up a Rockette, stood in the pouring rain while holding MY umbrella over the dog to try to coax her to “go”, sang the words “Apple bottom jeans…”, met the ballerina who was on the 32 cent stamp, and Zumba-ed for the first time…not necessarily in that order.”

A. Joy & I aren’t necessarily morning people. But we did well, I think!
Let me give you a play by play of the morning.

Joy picked me up around 7:55am and we drove down the PCH to the Women’s Athletic Club to sign up for our FREE 5 DAY TRIAL (a review is coming on this as well). The open at 8. We didn’t know the “system”. So, once we find our way…… we walk up to a locked door…….. and then we stand there for a minute. And then, “I think I saw a Starbucks across the street” and we were on our way.

We ordered latte’s and I told Joy about my ballroom experience from the night before. Around 8:20, we went back to the gym and walked in to a little waiting room full of who we’d soon find out would be our fellow class members and instructor for the next hour.

Uhm the class was hard. They had all been coming for weeks, and had the routines memorized. And our cute little teacher smiled and said “just try to keep up as best as you can!” So we did. And we had a lot of fun. And the other women were really welcoming and encouraging, haha. We’d like to go back.. but it’s a bit out of my price range, $20 a class or $75 a month. So, we’ll see.

Also, the “former rockette” was in our class, and the “32 cent stamp ballerina” was our instructor. It’s okay to be jealous.

And we sang along.. “Apple Bottom Jeans..” while doing squats.. THE ENTIRE SONG. “Shorty got low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low…” That part, I wouldn’t be too jealous about.

It was fun though :) AY AY AY AY AY

Things I've Learned..

..since moving to Orange County

• yellow lights mean nothing.
• leggings are not a crime.
• the sun makes mornings worth meeting.
• a good coffee shop is hard to come by.

BABY SHAMPOO SAVES LIVES

It’s true.
I learned this the hard way…

My lovely aunt made a delicious meal last night: new mexican chili pork chops something or other with grilled onions. YUM, right?
After we’d finished eating and were just sitting around the table, I made the mistake of rubbing my already sensitive eyes and in doing so, introduced them to the chili powder I’d been handling. My eyes started watering a little uncontrollably, okay A LOT UNCONTROLLABLY, and my uncle says “I HAVE THE SOLUTION!” and returns with Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Shampoo.

“what?”
“it’s optometrist recommended!”
“okay. okay. what do I have to do?!”

So I washed my eyelids with the baby shampoo and voila, practically good as new.
My only regret is not having my camera handy because my mascara was everywhere and I looked like I’d been crying over something horrendous. sigh. It’s a shame that image is lost forever.

So. Lesson of the day? Baby shampoo is safe for your eyes.. well, safe enough. Still, keep your eyes shut while washing, use a HOT washcloth, and rinse really well.

…….But, generally, it’s not the smartest idea to put your fingers in your eyeballs if you’ve been eating something covered in chili powder.. just saying :)

xo

This Week's Lunches..

 
February 21, 2010 this weeks lunches…

I decided today to try to plan ahead and pack lunches.. so I bought some chicken and made chicken salad.. then packed up my extra celery and grapes, threw in some pita chips and packed it all up with some red peppers, a few apples, clementines, and yogurt along with some leftover fried feta my aunt made last night, and I have four brown bag lunches in the fridge ready to go for this week.. I’m actually really excited about it. I only made four, which means I’ll still have one day to splurge. Instituting “pizza friday” this week :) YUM

I went to a new dance place last night, but we were follow-heavy and the crowd was a lot older than me :) I was absolutely the youngest person there, and probably the ONLY person under 30. I don’t mind it all that much though, the longer you’ve been dancing the better you are right?
Tonight, I’m FINALLY going to TopCats and I’m really excited about it. I’ll try to take pictures, but sometimes it’s awkward. I’ll try.

Now I’ve just got to finish my laundry and PUT MY CLOTHES AWAY! I wish that part wasn’t SO hard for me. I need to develop a piling system that works, b/c really truly honestly I can’t hang up my clothes. I don’t know why. And I don’t know how to change it. I’m a piler, not a filer.

I really am going to try, but I’d bet money against myself that all my nicely folded, separated clothes will still be piled on my chair this time next week. What can you do.

The Car Saga Continues

sort of.
actually.. it’s ending.
fingers crossed.
we took it to the shop last night, and today they worked on it..

what was wrong, you ask?
oh, please, I’d love to share.
well.
a. the water pump had a crack in it, and it was leaking.
b. the thermostat was shot.
c. the radiator needed to be flushed (again.. still had two kinds of coolant in it)
d. there was some sort of electrical connection something issue which was causing the gear shifter to lock up in park
e. the lovely CLUNKING noise that started off small and unobtrusive had grown to a really annoying squeaky clunkclunkclunk. Like my car was groaning whenever I turned.. apparently, that noise was caused by the “tire hub” (is that a thing? I don’t know) the gist of it.. I think.. is that, my tire “area” was loose and the whole thing could have fallen off. yea. wouldn’t that have been fun?


so.. they fixed it all.
at least that’s what John told me. He said he took it for a test-drive around and the clunk was gone and it didn’t overheat, and I’m guessing he was able to get it into DRIVE to do that ;)
tomorrow I’ll go and pick it up and pay them $858 and some change…

sigh. LOTS OF MONEY but, I get it… they did a lot to it.

and if that means I don’t have to fear for my life-safety every time I get into my car, it’s worth it.  if that means I can have some sense of freedom again, it’s worth it. if it means I don’t have to do any major work to my car for the next few years (PLEASE), then it’s worth it.

please oh please be worth it.

week two: check!

Yesterday marked the end of my first two weeks at my new job! I can’t believe it’s been two weeks. I’m still trying to get into the rhythm of things, but I’m still very happy and enjoying being there.

Highlights from this past week:
1. THE SUN CAME BACK!
2. I made it out to go dancing Thursday night, yahoo :)
3. Last night (Friday), I met up with Trish & Zach for dinner down on Balboa.. I love those crazy kids. It was so so good to see them.
4. My car is still acting up. I’m going to drive it as little as possible (except, I just decided I needed a Calzone from up the road.. I could have just had cereal but where’s the fun in that??)
5. This afternoon, I went to a Family BBQ and had a really great time reconnecting and hanging out. Lots of fun. Tonight, I’m hanging out with the Olympics, and perhaps some laundry.
6. Tomorrow morning, I’m going to check out Newport Church and see what it’s like, then take my aunt and uncle out to eat :)

then, I guess I’ll start all over again.
week two: check!

RettyRooooo

I spent some time with the Moyers boys tonight! We had a good time.

superbowl sunday

oh hey! :) how’s it going.

yesterday… was. stressful. not going to lie. I spent the majority of my morning trying to fix my car, and then almost all of the afternoon/evening trying to remedy all the mistakes I’d make whilst “fixing my car” that morning.

I made quite a few. I don’t even really feel up to rehashing through it all.. suffice it to say, it was a learning experience, and I haven’t driven it yet. I’m afraid to, quite frankly. But this afternoon, I’m going to try to take a little test run over to Huntington Beach to go to a Superbowl gathering at Tim & Joy’s… pray for my little car. please.

I hate cars. I hate fixing cars. I hate car problems I hate having to deal with it. I don’t enjoy it at all. no no no.

but last night, Casey & Lauren came to visit! We had a wonderful time. When they got here, we went out for dinner and caught up. It was so SO good to see them. A little piece of home :)

Casey & Lauren at Newport Beach Brewing Co.

This morning, we slept in and walked down to the beach and along the beach until we ended up at Alta Coffee. Casey joined us and we had breakfast & sat out on the patio. It was such a nice, leisurely morning. A great start after my ridiculous day yesterday. They’ve gone now, and I miss them already. Come back soon!

p.s. Casey has a new WEBSITE up and running and it’s wonderful, so go say hello and enjoy his music. and I can’t link to Casey without gushing about Lauren, so leave her some love too :)

Last Monday, I was walking upstairs and saw this:

Uncle Keith in his studio, working on a painting for a Haiti Relief Auction.

It’s so fun to watch him. He’s a teacher, it’s what he does. So he talked me through everything he was doing and why he was doing it. Where he was gathering his inspiration from and how he was composing his layout.. I just watched him work. :)

Friday night, I went out to Tapas in Newport for a 60th bday party with Tim & Joy. This is the only photo I took that really turned out at all:

They danced to live music during our dinner. So fun. Afterwards, we had a salsa lesson and open dancing for an hour or so. I hadn’t done latin in a long time.. and I remember why. The songs are sooo long and it’s a real workout. I’ll take wcs over salsa/chacha anyday. But it was still fun to mix it up.

So, with that, I’m off to finish up some things around the house before I venture out to HB with my silly unreliable car that freaks me out. I’m already getting a little tense just thinking about it, but I’m going to be brave. You can’t fix something until you know what’s wrong with it, right? It will be fine. It will be fine.. It will all be fine.

just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

STUPID CAR THINGS

my car hates me.

I kept putting off getting coolant.
and last night, I paid for it.
uuuguggggghhh
I went to chick fil a
YUM right? just frustrating.
while in line, I was just sitting, waiting, and my car was overheating.
so I turned it off..
then the line moved up, so I turned it on, and it died.
so I turned it on again, and the rpm meter thing freaked out.. and the little light that lights up when it’s in drive started flickering
and then the check engine light came on.
I finally got it to start, and got back on the road.. but got stuck at a light.
and my car died again.
it wouldn’t start. so I turned on my hazards and my heart almost beat out of my chest and my hands were so shaky.
I didn’t know what to do.

after two tries, it started
and I pulled off on the next street into a 7-11
called my dad
he thought I was overreacting, as he usually does (as I usually am…) ha
and told me to just try to start it up and drive straight home. I told him I was letting it cool down. we went through possibilities of what it could be.. and I ate my food in the parking lot.
when I finally went to try to start it again, it started up just fine, but my gear shifter locked up
so I couldn’t take it out of park.
SHOOT ME IN THE FACE.
he said “put your foot on the break, and push the button on the shifter in all the way, and shake it back and forth, it got lodged somehow”
so I’m putting all my weight on the brake and using all my force to wiggle this thing… to no avail. it wouldn’t move.
my dad says “okay. turn it off. call your uncle jeff”
“I don’t have his number”
“why don’t you have his number?”
“I mean. I have it. it’s on a piece of paper on the dining room table…”
…
“can’t you text it to me?”
“I don’t have it”
“can mom?”
“she’s not here”
cue freak out.
arrrgh. still at 7-11. dad’s trying to talk me down. I’m a little. frantic.
5 minutes later, I tried again.
and it started up and I got it into reverse
and took off.. took back roads (well. not really. I just drove on roads that were free and tried to get my speed up b/c that cooled the engine down)
my gps wasn’t working very well b/c the sky signal was weak.
so I didn’t know where I was going.. every time I slowed down the temperature gauge went up
bah. not a fun night.

I made it back here, finally.. and parked in the driveway but I’m not entirely to one side, there was another car and I just wanted to get here and be done with it.
I am home.
BUT
the driveway slopes downward
you have to have a guest pass to park in the lot, which is where I’ve been parking.
but after you’re there for so long, you get a warning anyway
since my aunt and uncle are gone, they told me to park in the driveway to “throw the patrol guy off my scent”
hah
I didn’t even think about if my car didn’t start in the morning what I’m going to do with it in the driveway blocking BOTH cars in the garage.
so I went out there right after I got home and inside, per my dad’s request, to move it over slightly
it started up, but the stupid shifter locked up on me again.
sigh
I’m HOPING that when it cools down, it will let me move it up to flat ground so I can put water in it. I really think that would solve this big stupid mess.
otherwise, I don’t know, they’ll have to tow it out of the driveway? how dumb is that.
it should start. It haaaaas to start.
cut to this morning:
I was able to move it.. and get it out of the driveway onto flat ground.
I put water in, and bought coolant and oil and wiper wash
I HATE this stuff

these are the kind of things that I always just called my dad for and he’d either fix it or come to my rescue
I guess knowing that even my aunt and uncle were out of town and there really wasn’t anyone I could call was the scary part

I got my chick-fil-A.. but AT A COST

PHOTOS Finally!

but don’t be mad, I’ve been horrible about taking my camera with me.

quick recap/update:
my first day of work was today & it was great :) I’m still happy. so it’s all good, so far.
I did catch a cold. bleh. so I’m trying to get over that.
I didn’t go dancing Sunday night, I went to church w/Casey & met some of his roommates, then we all went out to coffee. Fun fun fun.
Casey & Lauren will be in town this weekend & I’m SO EXCITED TO SEE THEM.
planning to go dancing weds & thurs nights.. if working full time doesn’t drain me.
today I got cable in my room! woo yay cable guy! tivo is up and running and I really can’t complain about a thing right now.

:)
more later. love to you all.
xo

Friday

good morning!
yesterday was wonderful.
the meeting/overview/familiarization process/whatever it was at work was great.
my little desk is cute, and the views from that place are incredible.

I think it’s going to be a good situation.. I already have the feeling that I’m going to enjoy the people that I will be working with, and that’s 95% of the battle, isn’t it?

after I got “home”, I realized I could make it to my uncle’s art class at the college if he’d allow it, so we called him up and I went over to sit in on his oil painting class. They’d been working on their still life’s for about 6 days, and I was trying to catch up…

unfortunately I won’t be able to finish it. I’d never really correctly used oils before, so I did learn a lot. I’m glad I was able to go.

afterwards we came back and had dinner, and then I forced myself out of the house to go dancing. It’s scary going alone! It’s just the initial walking in part that is so hard, I guess… not knowing what you’re walking into. I also got lost a bit on the way, but found it eventually. Once I know my way around I think it will only be about a 15 minute drive.. such a new experience for me!

But, it was so fun. I’m so so glad that I have some dance experience under my belt, because I could just walk in and meet so many people and it was something I was so familiar with. A little piece of home :) And great dancing! I’m already looking forward to Sunday.. one of the older gentlemen (Katie, he reminds me a lot of Michael.. ha.. he sings to the songs the same way he does and has big eyes and is the same build) anyway, he drew me a map so I’d know how to get to TopCats. They were all very friendly and welcoming and it was a lot of fun. I’m so glad I went.

I’m supposed to have lunch with Casey today, but I still haven’t heard from him about the particulars.. I guess it’s early yet, only 10:30. Who knows. After that, Katie and I are going shopping at Fashion Island.. I’ll probably just be going “looking” :) maaaaybe I can treat myself to a fun new ring, or something similar.. maybe.

So, with that my busy weekend is about to begin and I will take pictures and have lots of fun things for you Sunday afternoon, I hope!

I still haven’t gone down to the beach yet.. I meant to the other day and instead I went to the art class. Soon enough.

have a wonderful weekend!
xo

Day One at the Office

kind of.
today will be my first day in the building.. but I’m almost positive I’m not “working” until Monday.. I guess they could surprise me. I don’t really have an agenda for the rest of the afternoon, so I’ll adjust if they do :)


I’m … interested. Interested to see the place, to meet the people, to get a feel for the place and how things work, to understand what my position will actually be. I’m looking forward to it, but also trying to calm my nervous stomach.

I have a lot lined up for this weekend already..

Thursday (today!)
to the office @ 11
maybe dancing in Irvine? I’d like to, it just depends on how the day goes.

Friday
lunch with Casey
shopping with Katie
dinner with cousins/family

Saturday
Jonathan’s basketball game
out on a boat with the Abbott’s
maybe dinner?

Sunday
church in the AM
seeing Trish that afternoon/evening (I hope.. I need to call her)
and dancing! finally. (hoping, again)
and then I start work “officially” bright and early Monday morning.


ahhhhhh, here we go!
I’ll try to take some pictures while I’m out today and post them later :)

I'm here!

I’m here I’m here I’m here! And my laptop works now. They didn’t have wireless in the house, so we went out today and purchased a router. Luckily it practically set itself up and now I have internet again :)

I’m almost finished unpacking.. I feel like I brought very little with me, but it still seems difficult to find a home for it all. Slowly but surely.

All that’s left to “install” is figuring out how to get the cable jack from one side of the wall to the other.. but I’m not in any rush to figure that out.

Tonight, I’m meeting up with my dad’s cousins Tim & Joy to celebrate Joy’s birthday. I guess they were going to P.F. Changs and invited me along. It should be lots of fun.

Also, this weekend, the more cousins are going to be in town.. and my cousin Jonathan has a basketball game. FUN right?

This afternoon we drove by the office building I’m going to be working in.. I have only taken ONE pictures since being down here (…and since finding my camera) and this is it:

That is the backside of the office building. hello 6th floor!

I’m supposed to be there tomorrow at 11am. For what, I’m not sure yet.. but I do think it involves lunch :) and a tour and introductions and what not…


the best part? It was only 10 minutes away.. max.

First day is Monday!! but, after tomorrow I’ll have a much better idea of what I’m in for.
by the way IT’S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS TODAY! so pretty. sunny and wonderful.
back to unpacking…

OC Bound

My goal is to leave here sometime between 10 and 11 this morning.. start my drive down to Orange County earlier rather than later.

For some reason, I thought it was only 5 hours. But I guess it’s closer to 7.
I’m just now syncing my ipod (can you believe I almost forgot… again) but, it’s being taken care of this very moment. :)

Yesterday was mostly spend lazing about watching movies.. Grandma & I did make it out to the mall where I bought 3 pairs of shoes (they were all great deals!) and if I had my camera I’d show them to you. Maybe later I’ll figure out another way to show you.

We bought my Grandma a new phone! FINALLY. Her prior one was ancient. The Sprint guy also reset my phone so now I’m notified of voicemails again..there was a stretch there where I wasn’t being told there were voicemails on my phone and when I finally was able to check them, I had 12 waiting for me from the previous two weeks. fun. It’s fixed now.

We also saw Leap Year last night, it was cute :)
okay. I have to get my act together if I think I’m going to leave in an hour.

last day of travel! woooohooooooo!

Sunday Afternoon

currently watching the CHAOS in my grandmother’s kitchen from the alternate universe also known as the formal dining room… and drinking coffee.

 

…waiting for Dom to show up.
I thought we were going to go into the city, maybe, to explore unknown lands. But, I’m not really sure anymore. We may just go see a movie, though I don’t know if there’s anything I want to see right now, besides Leap Year. For some reason I don’t think he’d enjoy that one so much, lol.
who knows what the day will hold?
this is officially DAY 2 without my camera.
I’m not okay with this.

xo

Leg One: Complete

I made it to my grandparents house in the Bay Area.
The drive really wasn’t so bad.. I left Portland around 8am, detoured to Corvallis see Karla & pick up my coat, as well as drop off Jeremy’s phone charger.
[Little bro bought me a bagel :) Thanks, Bud.]
I was back on the interstate around 10am and pretty much drove straight through, just stopping occasionally for gas or lunch and made it here at 7pm.
Weather was fine, I didn’t have any issues or need my chains.. I really can’t complain.
EXCEPT!! all that wonderful music I bought for the drive??? I forgot to sync my ipod. So, I had none of it. frustrating. I’ll fix it before I drive the rest of the way..
but for now, no more driving until MONDAY!
time to rest.
xo

and I'm off!

good morning! it’s approximately 8:00am, and I am on my way!
I’m about to leave Katie’s place in downtown Portland and start this whole adventure… I do get to make a few stops along the way, however :)
those should help the day go by a little faster….
Hoping to make it to my grandparents place by nightfall.
I’ll be updating on twitter as I go.

IT’S ALL HAPPENING! ahhhh :)

California here we come, right back where we started from. Californiaaaaaaa!
xo

I should be sleeping.

I’m just “home” from dancing. back at Katie’s house… there are actually a lot of loud people outside her window, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say I just heard a gunshot. but it wasn’t accompanied by any screaming… so I think we’re okay.

tonight was great. it was so good to see everyone. Marcus, thank you for graduating and throwing a party! thank you everyone for the dances & awesome hang out time. like expected, it was hard to leave… but the leaving is always the hardest part.

I finally did cry. Sorry Mom & Dad I couldn’t hold it in any longer.. as soon as I got on the interstate I just lost it, and cried until I got to Cascade Locks, and on and off again between there and Troutdale. I’d pent it up for awhile though.. so, I think it was good.

It’s not because I’m not excited. I’m just going to miss you all, and change isn’t really easy. ya know.
all of that said… I leave bright and early in the morning!

tomorrow is going to be a looooonnngg day… I hope the weather holds out, and my car doesn’t throw any surprises my way.

I’m still sitting here, sort of in disbelief that this is all happening. I’m moving to California? it just all happened really quickly. and even though my room is packed, my car is full, and I’m already on my way.. it still hasn’t hit me. crazy. miss you guys.

lovelovelove, me
xo

Last Day in HR

It’s true.
today’s my last day here for awhile. I saved a lot “to-do” today.. but I feel like I’m making progress.
I did get distracted for about an hour when I decided I needed to cut my hair before I moved….. it looks good though. it does :)
I’m not planning on paying for haircuts or haircolor more than once a year, I decided.

because I like it better when I do it anyway, and I must say I’m improving.
anyway. left on my list is, basically, to just finish my laundry, hang up my clothes, throw my entire closet in garbage bags and figure out how to fit everything into my car.. ha.

I need to install I’ll have to ask my DAD install my new windshield wipers at some point. and there’s a leak/hole in the rubber part that goes between my door & the car. water get’s through. I’d like to fix that.. it may have to wait =/

tonight, the family is getting SUSHI & I’m going dancing in Portland for Marcus’s grad. party. so many people will be there, I’m really glad I get to go and spend my last night in OREGON dancing :) it’s fitting, no?

TOMORROW THE ADVENTURE BEGINS.

and I’m ready for it. I’m really excited.
and I’m in good spirits.

I think my bout of laughter last night reset the emotional balance in my system. I’m feeling much more normal and it’s a good thing.

I still can’t really listen to slow, introspective, beautiful music yet.
which, I’m realizing, is what most of my music collection is comprised of…
soon enough :)

xo

Laugh it out.

I was feeling pretty.. melancholy. earlier.
I’m in much better spirits now, haha.
all because I got pulled over on the way home.
for those who don’t know me well, I’ve been pulled over more times than I can even remember. if I had to guess, literally, I’d guess that I’ve been pulled over for speeding, running a stop light, not having my headlights on, turning into the wrong lane, on and on it goes, somewhere between 15-20 times.
I have never been given a ticket.
not even once.
tonight, I was sure that I was going to get a ticket. it just seemed fitting. everything else has fallen into place SOMETHING needed to go wrong to throw the balance off…. but instead, he let me go with a warning :)

as soon as he was back in his car and I was on the road, I just started laughing.. and couldn’t stop, lol. I texted Katie (conversation below) and came home and laughed about it with my family.




me: I just got pulled over for speeding.
katie: did you get a ticket???
me: of course not ;)
katie: you are a champion :)
me: hahahahahaa
katie: you're unbelievable. lol.
me: I thought for sure my luck had run out... I don't have my papers yet for this car. I didn't even have the purchase receipt with me.
katie: did they ask for them?
me: yes. I only have my temporary proof of insurance as well. still let me off with a warning. and told me to have a safe trip to Cali.
katie: hahaha I love it.

My mom, sister and I then all laughed and gave each other a hard time about clothes and school and things I keep trying to pawn off on my sister that just end up going into the “goodwill” pile. Anyway. Long story short, I’m in a really fun, happy mood & now I’m drinking my coffee, starting Grey’s Anatomy, then watching Project Runway and calling it a night.
Tomorrow is going to be a busybusybusy sadly wonderful emotional but awesome day.
xo

Currently:

I’m laying on my bed in a huge pile of clothes that need to be sorted, hung up & packed away. And my poor little Jade is lying next to me. She has the saddest eyes ever right now. I think it’s because she’s sleepy.

she’s spent most of the day with me. lounging about while I try to force myself to clean and pack and “work”. I did make progress though. my armoir and nightstands are completely cleaned out. my dresser is halfway emptied. nothing is hiding under my bed anymore :)

all I really have left is to do all my laundry tomorrow, pack a weekend bag, pack up my closet and find a way to make all of this fit in my car. haha. that will be the biggest challenge of all. I feel like I’m hardly taking ANYTHING with me.. which, is better, I know. even still, it’s going to be a tight fit.
I’m leaving here in about 20 minutes to drive up to The Dalles to see my miss Arlie Cates one more time before the move. TONIGHT IS MY LAST NIGHT IN MY BED for a long time. woah. that just hit me. my last night in my house.

I will probably cry myself to sleep tonight.
darn it.

I was doing so well this week. but now, I feel like the dam’s about to break loose.. I only have to make it one more day.

it just sucks because you’re trying so hard to keep your emotions in check that you don’t exhibit ANY.. you just, sort of mechanically do the things you know you need to do.

I’ve been avoiding talking about the move.. I am excited. I do want to share it with people. But putting all my stuff in boxes almost makes me lose it. I know if I try to look my parents in the eye or think about driving away I’ll just be done for. and I’m not ready for that yet. I can’t do that yet. I absolutely know I’ll be a blubbering fool when I have to leave, I don’t need to start now.

xo

Farewell Dance

Farewell Dance @ Lenoras 1/20/10 from Jennifer on Vimeo.

Last night, at Lenora’s, they gave me a “farewell” dance. I miss this already! Really really.

"lasts"

lost of “lasts” today.
tonight, I’m having dinner with some dear friends for the last time in a long time.. it’s sort of become tradition for the three of us to get dinner and catch up on life every few months or so.. I don’t know when I’ll see them after today.
it’s also my last night at Lenora’s… one of my “homes” for the past 6 months. there are only a few weeks I didn’t make it into town to dance, and that’s only because I was sick or out of the country :) but, it will be weird to leave there for the last time.
related to that, it’ll be the last time I drive home from Portland in the middle of the night! I should make some sort of mix cd to celebrate the drive.. but I don’t think I’ll miss that too much ;)

three more days.
xo

I bought music for the drive.

oh yes I did.
my collection for the trip down will be fantastic.

just look who’ll be joining me!:
The Bird and the Bee - The Bird and the Bee & Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future
Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca
Needtobreathe - The Outsiders
Paper Route - Absence
the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - It’s Blitz
Kate Earl - Kate Earl
Never Say Never - Never Say Never

and of course some old favorites, like:

Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head - Glistening Pleasure
Santigold - Santigold
Charlotte Sometimes - Waves and the Both of Us
The Civil Wars - Live at Eddie’s Attic
Elizabeth & The Catapults - Taller Children
She & Him - Volume One
The Script - The Script
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

it’s going to be a party! want to come?
anyone? any takers? anyone at all??
xo

the first and last sunday

contemplative? yes.
I’m realizing the enormity of what’s happening… already.
it seems soon.
I guess it’s not. yesterday began my week of “lasts”.
saturday - last shift at the hotel.
sunday - last day at church, last night at the BDC
wednesday - last night at Lenora’s
thursday - last night in HR
friday - last night in Portland
……and away we go. that’s it. then I leave.
today was harder than I anticipated. emotions are just already running higher and stronger than I expected and I’m crying already. the tears have started. not because I’m afraid, not even because I’m sad.
I know that everything I’m doing is what is right for me, for now. I know I’m supposed to go and start a new chapter.
but it’s almost as though my hormones don’t understand and they just know change is coming.. like how my dog’s can already sense that I’m preparing to leave them.
my hormones, tricky little suckers, are just sensing that.. along with the adventure that is the unknown. and today they decided to make themselves known.
I’ll be dealing with them all week I’m sure.
it’s just different this time.
because, for the first time, this move doesn’t have a time-table attached to it. I’m not going away for 9 months for school. I’m not going to be living and working at an internship for 3 months. I’m not even going abroad for a year or two.

I’m just going. With no idea whether I’ll ever move back or not..
that blows my MIND.
that literally blows my mind.
xo