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