tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70342696565845289732024-03-21T17:21:33.702-07:00The PresentYesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why it’s called The Present.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-29420464012878558802014-01-29T22:22:00.000-08:002014-01-29T22:22:08.345-08:00Wow, it's been over four and a half years since we moved to California. Didn't have any idea we'd be here that long, and still don't have a great idea of how long we'll end up staying. I still haven't painted our bedroom yet, so we at least can't move until that is finished. (Seriously, I have 5 different color patches all over the walls.)<div>
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As we have become more and more used to living here, it has become somewhat normal to be able to go for a walk on the beach together in the morning, or take an evening stroll at the San Diego Zoo. Palm trees don't automatically scream VACATION to me anymore. And I admit I have occasionally been guilty of responding to Josh's question, "How's the weather?" with the answer, "Ugh, it's cloudy." (Although, he is the one asking about the weather, so he is guilty, too. Was my answer really going change the fact that he was going to wear shorts and flip flops? Probably not.)</div>
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But we still do plenty to keep things fresh here, to keep learning, to keep trying new things. My fabulous Asian foodie friends are always feeding us new and interesting items. (Thuong fed Josh pig's blood recently. How has he become a braver eater than me?) There are still plenty of neighborhoods to more thoroughly explore, more streets to wander down and check out the shops, more hiking trails to conquer. And as we stand on the shore, watching another beautiful sunset over Mission Beach, we still look at each other and marvel, "We live here. Crazy!" </div>
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However, I look back on our time here with some regret, regret that I have not better recorded our adventures here. Sure, we have plenty of pictures of our road trips and the zoo and the beach, but I want to remember more than just pictures of the big stuff. I want to really remember what we spent our time here doing. All the good times with friends, our favorite late night eateries--it's the little things that make up a life, but it's also the little things that fade most quickly from our memories. (I mean seriously, how many times has someone asked you on Monday what you did that weekend, and you have to sit and think. Point made?)</div>
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And so, I commit this year to record things better than I have done in the past. It is such an unbelievable blessing to walk through this all with the love of my life and my best friend, and I want to remember ALL of it. And not because I think anyone else will want to read it. I am under no illusion that my life is all that interesting. But because one day we will have a blast reading it and remembering our life together. </div>
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And it's never too late, because San Diego, we're not done with you yet.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-496729098414541212011-03-13T18:56:00.000-07:002011-03-17T10:52:14.737-07:00What? We have a blog? Apparently I forgot...<br /><br />On Sunday, we realized that we both had Wednesday AND Thursday off work. What?! Two days in a row together, unplanned?! This called for drastic mini-vacation-planning measures. We decided to go play tourist in LA.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dws8NH6uGyaSPRjUJByLnZHdDwnkAlPHlKA_livq8BeWMM2hWkpjnR7u897PgB1PvNuoLH5zHgUTfiS8OYw4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Even though I consider LA one of the most despicable places in the world (never-ending concrete, mind-boggling traffic, outrageous life-styles), it does hold some entertaining touristy activities. Here's some highlights!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5KBWHUn2dhh1tdn1kKp5DNBW5k9nIrpiMFAbhb7JRiF7j3R-LeMlejgbSeUhP8IsVY45xZS1jfsLDIrJ5VqmpCnNMAPm2ANIwlJwzWD0uWRmde0WEyb384NdOzZLfNWQ6MDvtko85DTu/s1600/DSC00905.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5KBWHUn2dhh1tdn1kKp5DNBW5k9nIrpiMFAbhb7JRiF7j3R-LeMlejgbSeUhP8IsVY45xZS1jfsLDIrJ5VqmpCnNMAPm2ANIwlJwzWD0uWRmde0WEyb384NdOzZLfNWQ6MDvtko85DTu/s320/DSC00905.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583757834044449442" border="0" /></a>We took a tour of Warner Brothers studios and saw some sweet stuff!<br /><br />The fire escape where Christian Bale sings 'Santa Fe' in Newsies...(I was SUPER excited to hear that! When I kind of went crazy, our guide said he doesn't even usually tell people about that because no one cares about Newsies, but I told him he had just made my day!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRp_c6dTbqUVTLCEsf-mqQHRt6BCmeBsqAblhV8_78HqVZWNUxTAIY1dhSA_ecEU5U3SzmAYwykL2azGXEavQGBEerb9XyLqZhvciSU2nLuhvFoLb2vY8ej5BQI6HHqtqzbhGSFbos9UR/s1600/DSC00839.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRp_c6dTbqUVTLCEsf-mqQHRt6BCmeBsqAblhV8_78HqVZWNUxTAIY1dhSA_ecEU5U3SzmAYwykL2azGXEavQGBEerb9XyLqZhvciSU2nLuhvFoLb2vY8ej5BQI6HHqtqzbhGSFbos9UR/s320/DSC00839.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583756039014121538" border="0" /></a>This is the only remaining set from Casablanca! How amazing! It's the cafe in Paris where they are having lunch outside during one of Rick's flashbacks.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qCGoyLhGe3SwQVmxIChpDmEzbiCQHMt8SykLY0csDlYxA_OmAtpNKs6WGgEnZCoUuW-a4Diiiy7bwrWw-KH9LmbywtBpB0DiN6nKGX9IrZ5I6-RsgUZSwdBrWv300Mrd0QpAKt8WC7Oj/s1600/DSC00856.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qCGoyLhGe3SwQVmxIChpDmEzbiCQHMt8SykLY0csDlYxA_OmAtpNKs6WGgEnZCoUuW-a4Diiiy7bwrWw-KH9LmbywtBpB0DiN6nKGX9IrZ5I6-RsgUZSwdBrWv300Mrd0QpAKt8WC7Oj/s320/DSC00856.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583756045063394114" border="0" /></a>Self-explanatory.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4cgGPrTlX-qqSeWVhDnwlX818vRuymQNqPAwHHM8EwFzigRC2Tc-c7ZGkVtNooYt1EbabKaN1au2LygteuQ5tnPlZf5Kw26TxYlIPZzZEt-QxCjIvIpe09UifakPCLCOkXtsWVw1YlvL/s1600/DSC00880.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4cgGPrTlX-qqSeWVhDnwlX818vRuymQNqPAwHHM8EwFzigRC2Tc-c7ZGkVtNooYt1EbabKaN1au2LygteuQ5tnPlZf5Kw26TxYlIPZzZEt-QxCjIvIpe09UifakPCLCOkXtsWVw1YlvL/s320/DSC00880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583756725181202626" border="0" /></a>Um, the car from Harry Potter! WAY cooler than the bat mobile. :-)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ8w2HtP07iKYZjK3pSyibB7I8WjcuXO1fz_tHmN7L0m_c_dz1mWWtHK8AQdjSxZ91WtiQ7yLhK1Ae22ZQxNqKmNZBsSVjbtZ05_waHUPOvEZBx3K0sIkR0WcUkhAAXJxE3ccOERgY1GW/s1600/DSC00885.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJ8w2HtP07iKYZjK3pSyibB7I8WjcuXO1fz_tHmN7L0m_c_dz1mWWtHK8AQdjSxZ91WtiQ7yLhK1Ae22ZQxNqKmNZBsSVjbtZ05_waHUPOvEZBx3K0sIkR0WcUkhAAXJxE3ccOERgY1GW/s320/DSC00885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583756731642929762" border="0" /></a>The actual set of friends! We got to pose on the couch! One lady in our group (who was wearing a FRIENDS sweatshirt) actually cried.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB6Tl0XFmlgvgYsUAQykqaQBAvTk_pgcHJWLedZow0K8KAA_0MKYtX9n3VmJpynb9ThyphenhyphenCC_P94ItEcHT7QRZ3kibEuXdZJTFEH1IFGv-kf0GxSG1kllBkjtWBTuXDG27qxw_AVBPbgiO9/s1600/DSC00889.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheB6Tl0XFmlgvgYsUAQykqaQBAvTk_pgcHJWLedZow0K8KAA_0MKYtX9n3VmJpynb9ThyphenhyphenCC_P94ItEcHT7QRZ3kibEuXdZJTFEH1IFGv-kf0GxSG1kllBkjtWBTuXDG27qxw_AVBPbgiO9/s320/DSC00889.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583756740840104050" border="0" /></a><br />We went to the Chinese theater and saw all the stars' hand prints (because somehow we missed this place on our last trip to Hollywood, even though we were right down the street from it...)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaquOWGmdvV55lqn09ME5RfNeaU4l_2IgjFYWgPC61n0kCE9uR2FgecLOLR7Bll8fvyj-ZkMegqhLn9VxAjIWDBrQ3BhHaCI2O7dTzXXU1GY6rFBgH2TqvJfwfvu9h-SdkkHPXq2llPwJP/s1600/DSC00965.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaquOWGmdvV55lqn09ME5RfNeaU4l_2IgjFYWgPC61n0kCE9uR2FgecLOLR7Bll8fvyj-ZkMegqhLn9VxAjIWDBrQ3BhHaCI2O7dTzXXU1GY6rFBgH2TqvJfwfvu9h-SdkkHPXq2llPwJP/s320/DSC00965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583758768685526770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TDRTm3HVRjLhhmEI1oxbfYPKV5HkhstgVO8Dzyc_E7YUKuHJrWBmPOGrm34h4dYerqbvRUwGtv5yvCkltBN3cueGHqDsO6x_S8y96njC56y7HPqqzUFVYwyvk_3uTXFdPtXJGM9Eaw7y/s1600/DSC00957.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TDRTm3HVRjLhhmEI1oxbfYPKV5HkhstgVO8Dzyc_E7YUKuHJrWBmPOGrm34h4dYerqbvRUwGtv5yvCkltBN3cueGHqDsO6x_S8y96njC56y7HPqqzUFVYwyvk_3uTXFdPtXJGM9Eaw7y/s320/DSC00957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583758766628545570" border="0" /></a>We went to The Grove (a quite fashionable mall) and saw AC Slater, I mean, Mario Lopez, and paparazzied him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HKv9HZc22xp0SGeTYtz3hry5VaiLF70l4EIL_9MYuQ9jmaRVfP6qY08IuXaPz3nPbEO-3R3QCmCbdhS4XuAN6rRm6y0qqtb7KPXG9XB-dmJbvncvfNqRhLZY0TX7GFdFS-kjfJWedAt-/s1600/DSC00911.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HKv9HZc22xp0SGeTYtz3hry5VaiLF70l4EIL_9MYuQ9jmaRVfP6qY08IuXaPz3nPbEO-3R3QCmCbdhS4XuAN6rRm6y0qqtb7KPXG9XB-dmJbvncvfNqRhLZY0TX7GFdFS-kjfJWedAt-/s320/DSC00911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583757846838191106" border="0" /></a>We went to the La Brea Tar Pits which is one of the world's largest fossil deposits of Ice Age animals. Probably not what most people go to LA to see, but it was interesting. Saw some crazy big mastadon skeletons and saw some excavation in progress!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqeOojSkVuyZPE6LECgGL0l2y7KL7qU_QMyg_jekrJcIMd5XP1LCctPgAP8nXA8puAM9XLMWalOPuJZEcDU5TEvsIqJo0VACidPsMOHgV2kbBvGxEgFT6Dnnq38njB0goK-l_yx4Fm_lo/s1600/DSC00942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqeOojSkVuyZPE6LECgGL0l2y7KL7qU_QMyg_jekrJcIMd5XP1LCctPgAP8nXA8puAM9XLMWalOPuJZEcDU5TEvsIqJo0VACidPsMOHgV2kbBvGxEgFT6Dnnq38njB0goK-l_yx4Fm_lo/s320/DSC00942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583757824675280370" border="0" /></a>We went to a Clippers game which was AWESOME! Way more exciting than watching the Lakers murder their opponents last year. The game came down to the last seconds, and there was lots of high-flying action from this year's slam dunk contest champion, Blake Griffin. And we ate ENORMOUS hot dogs that made me want to barf.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOyQ1kPVxgMn1ENHkxlKMF64Lueha-mPtdQTWKTPBFQUavofRg0GenrpWuNMHcdmiGD43U7n_VY93qkv6GXNO-N0Db309q_bpUrE6MofAvF0kthCYMghSevZdfJ2GHI_g2gLwVa0qOroI/s1600/DSC00973.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOyQ1kPVxgMn1ENHkxlKMF64Lueha-mPtdQTWKTPBFQUavofRg0GenrpWuNMHcdmiGD43U7n_VY93qkv6GXNO-N0Db309q_bpUrE6MofAvF0kthCYMghSevZdfJ2GHI_g2gLwVa0qOroI/s320/DSC00973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583759810024770130" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqO8FMi3ewfsKIdE3mWMpCGU4n7U-Xgzjj2jcbuaaka3mlfNo8-cZY0vyAOClURzj61COCXUsYwws4vfhOPuuXHCOENKh94YbCd8HbmltClbEaoPfgmsWCD2gzXJR4CeIfmYfapdZVbNP/s1600/DSC00909.JPG"> </a><br />The next day, we decided to go to Disneyland! We thought that we might look a bit out of place going there without any kids...but then we decided it would be way BETTER without kids, because we wouldn't have to go on any of the lame rides or plan our food schedule around them! Anyway...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wFJLRF_ghbijQQGwYfGVyKWEhV2hJWjr5kmEAzZ9NtHLW03LFwwV6xp39tzW-f2woLAhI9iQNQUr040mAF7ofPYnlrchGoc5W052WzjuPc4xZ_NZa4agOeiZUCkEjDTwa0S9o2-_vOjj/s1600/DSC04680.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wFJLRF_ghbijQQGwYfGVyKWEhV2hJWjr5kmEAzZ9NtHLW03LFwwV6xp39tzW-f2woLAhI9iQNQUr040mAF7ofPYnlrchGoc5W052WzjuPc4xZ_NZa4agOeiZUCkEjDTwa0S9o2-_vOjj/s320/DSC04680.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585106772372364850" border="0" /></a><br />Josh decided we should get some cotton candy because we hadn't had it in years. After eating about half of it, we decided it was a BAD choice. Definitely NOT as good as we remembered.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRp_c6dTbqUVTLCEsf-mqQHRt6BCmeBsqAblhV8_78HqVZWNUxTAIY1dhSA_ecEU5U3SzmAYwykL2azGXEavQGBEerb9XyLqZhvciSU2nLuhvFoLb2vY8ej5BQI6HHqtqzbhGSFbos9UR/s1600/DSC00839.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmYrELQInRDaMOCF5hhVv-3ydEsTu4uiUtvO0mhrqNFChHeqISzLWMN1lmu0GGUgwwaDd10o5mwxkp_Q6XdyPb4DnIn71qsgPpzpRbPxESLH2PiuWmYFd7PNsUeeW1VCoYAlh2n6bTRIx/s1600/DSC04665.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmYrELQInRDaMOCF5hhVv-3ydEsTu4uiUtvO0mhrqNFChHeqISzLWMN1lmu0GGUgwwaDd10o5mwxkp_Q6XdyPb4DnIn71qsgPpzpRbPxESLH2PiuWmYFd7PNsUeeW1VCoYAlh2n6bTRIx/s320/DSC04665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585106762440476498" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgzoOKoJ7Bikjq9HT57m-SyKVGNSBuDqQHLKSDJv780ehwJ3TeCJbU_PAAx8hg9vuXXV10kJES4eyFIPbEwQKU0DxG5wMCrA-ncOznQItPg7uF5jGb6NTRElshUUx_67IO0vdv41bVzw-/s1600/DSC04660.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgzoOKoJ7Bikjq9HT57m-SyKVGNSBuDqQHLKSDJv780ehwJ3TeCJbU_PAAx8hg9vuXXV10kJES4eyFIPbEwQKU0DxG5wMCrA-ncOznQItPg7uF5jGb6NTRElshUUx_67IO0vdv41bVzw-/s320/DSC04660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585106757711959666" border="0" /></a>It was a crazy but successful trip to LA! And hopefully we will not feel the need to return anytime soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-60162870305143263552010-12-07T23:37:00.000-08:002010-12-08T00:26:54.088-08:00Christmas on the PradoThere is this FABULOUS annual event in San Diego called December Nights. (It used to be called Christmas on the Prado, but since 'Christmas' isn't so politically correct anymore...whatever.) It is a two-day event at Balboa Park, the 1,400-acre cultural park in the middle of the city. (Also my favorite place in San Diego.) December Nights is kind of like a big carnival and cultural festival in one. There are carnival rides and fair-food stands, stages set up everywhere with varying performers, and most of the park's 15 museums are also free during the event. But the BEST part is at the International Cottages, where you can get food, drinks, and desserts from dozens of different countries while watching traditional music and dance performances from different countries all night. Basically, it's the best community event ever, and I made sure that Josh and I requested a night off for it MONTHS in advance.<br /><br />First of all, we were rockstars in getting there. Over 300,000 people show up for the event, and getting there/parking can be BRUTAL. Last year, we were not nearly as familiar with the area, and we spent, oh, like 90 MINUTES trying to park. (Yeah, I was cranky.) This year, we avoided the interstates that were jammed with all the newbs and Josh led us on his wild, twisty route that he takes to frisbee golf. Less than 30 minutes later, we were walking into party central. Boo-yah!<br /><br />Our first mission was to get some FOOD! I had to drag Josh past all the fair-food, promising him that he would feel so much better about trying some new ethnic foods than scarfing down some BBQ tri-tip or a giant turkey leg. (I'm not sure he believed me.) I waited in the Chinese line, and Josh waited in the Lebanese line, and it was awesome.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F9FVyErvT0FpuZ3fUhN-bE65Uhm5HDKJz91xC8MpFeF1lj7dltxqrx1Il952cvoWCP-AX6UpYqH0PIyV3NaECtXFBWR8itewUj5_367GhHavV5FxnyJpmFSIczWGTzezIf3SSEKZlNOZ/s1600/DSC04405.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0F9FVyErvT0FpuZ3fUhN-bE65Uhm5HDKJz91xC8MpFeF1lj7dltxqrx1Il952cvoWCP-AX6UpYqH0PIyV3NaECtXFBWR8itewUj5_367GhHavV5FxnyJpmFSIczWGTzezIf3SSEKZlNOZ/s320/DSC04405.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548216313594354498" border="0" /></a>The best part, though, were our Scottish desserts. My Edinburgh Cloud (lemon fluff with homemade raspberry sauce) and Josh's double chocolate cake were AMAZING!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMylG9D6hIVjGLPRd4N8uMEWZJjKGPVzmT5k4VHVuycINrPFCIwmJFYqqPTTLBwn23RfYNfyE2wcwIB0SJ8qARfpzYUEdo3-XwnwElgOOHjoMMHIqGh6WDo7K-9ym01xC96EiJvpgiJjD6/s1600/DSC04408.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMylG9D6hIVjGLPRd4N8uMEWZJjKGPVzmT5k4VHVuycINrPFCIwmJFYqqPTTLBwn23RfYNfyE2wcwIB0SJ8qARfpzYUEdo3-XwnwElgOOHjoMMHIqGh6WDo7K-9ym01xC96EiJvpgiJjD6/s320/DSC04408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548216325490541890" border="0" /></a>The most amazing part of the night was when we were watching an Israeli performer play the accordion and sing. When he started playing Hava Nagila, Josh just busted out in song. He knew every word! What the heck?! He said something about learning it in 3rd grade, but seriously, you can't remember how to say 'book' in Spanish, but you can sing an entire song in Hebrew?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlH9FsJU1JjvFRaF3yCDp9Ex9ml2_tt_b8UEP09-GAeRgXoNISf8aEZA-vJBQdDT7viibDaCzP6BcWE0cXMV-HbgPO0nfq6DWif4vBOzgVDN_Pm_4B0RFY-Csx45a27ML5if4kwvqLY7Gg/s1600/DSC04411.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlH9FsJU1JjvFRaF3yCDp9Ex9ml2_tt_b8UEP09-GAeRgXoNISf8aEZA-vJBQdDT7viibDaCzP6BcWE0cXMV-HbgPO0nfq6DWif4vBOzgVDN_Pm_4B0RFY-Csx45a27ML5if4kwvqLY7Gg/s320/DSC04411.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548216322246005250" border="0" /></a>The Spreckles Organ Pavilion is a magnificent focal point of the park. Built in 1914, it is the world's largest outdoor organ with 4,530 pipes. It was even more beautiful for Christmas time.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgNUfeGcdxyJd1-FYnwauNtQe7cu9DSr2RMuZOpouUy8MTraJjKCY4HNgOCVThT66wMHKYfBzAmJLS3BHpb1VMnVWtdAYjLMAx3w1wJvf8XCiPuHl7H88BkImUFdxuk6Fcbd9N6b0C5WC/s1600/DSC04413.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgNUfeGcdxyJd1-FYnwauNtQe7cu9DSr2RMuZOpouUy8MTraJjKCY4HNgOCVThT66wMHKYfBzAmJLS3BHpb1VMnVWtdAYjLMAx3w1wJvf8XCiPuHl7H88BkImUFdxuk6Fcbd9N6b0C5WC/s320/DSC04413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548216334668328370" border="0" /></a>There were some great nativity scenes set up to view. The angel in this one, however, only has one wing...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVYn4Dj6ikLElugUJLvs-meG3Swg2-rVeR0ZvU0Y5jx7evqjLqHIfN9ArBqNbUAHthMPn313S8ahiHmNzPlexGkM1h8xh5zjvDZSGdJWhKHPlo3zAgZYlExQ6_1l_QmC6rh-3TDVVTmIp/s1600/DSC04421.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVVYn4Dj6ikLElugUJLvs-meG3Swg2-rVeR0ZvU0Y5jx7evqjLqHIfN9ArBqNbUAHthMPn313S8ahiHmNzPlexGkM1h8xh5zjvDZSGdJWhKHPlo3zAgZYlExQ6_1l_QmC6rh-3TDVVTmIp/s320/DSC04421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548218134319222242" border="0" /></a>We stopped by the Timken art museum (it has a Rembrandt! as Josh always makes sure to tell everyone) because I read about a Christmas tree on display decorated entirely with ornaments that were handmade by one woman in the community. They were amazing! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbAtyeLZT8jm5B62oU0XXMhBwuinWUocWzH_PfP90Z_-ZuTWD-2cFn4VrbEPXAFJY_fvcGCcW9MdORAuspafRG803TuX-9fAupt8ZUfSjyAow8lupfiVHEUJIPOOKukMtN6fPzT8qnwfA/s1600/DSC04432.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbAtyeLZT8jm5B62oU0XXMhBwuinWUocWzH_PfP90Z_-ZuTWD-2cFn4VrbEPXAFJY_fvcGCcW9MdORAuspafRG803TuX-9fAupt8ZUfSjyAow8lupfiVHEUJIPOOKukMtN6fPzT8qnwfA/s320/DSC04432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548218156767631810" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiNnYfjELykhYoBXa6DzzvseDn5memlKD8T4e4q8F87365ZvukEX2QcXE-t71VHF0J98gFaadx3_TThgxfYah_yBB-uPQG48eM9qnfSw5Prlg3kj5IQuB4257mohtDhPLKswRm42c6EpV/s1600/DSC04422.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiNnYfjELykhYoBXa6DzzvseDn5memlKD8T4e4q8F87365ZvukEX2QcXE-t71VHF0J98gFaadx3_TThgxfYah_yBB-uPQG48eM9qnfSw5Prlg3kj5IQuB4257mohtDhPLKswRm42c6EpV/s320/DSC04422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548218183315632514" border="0" /></a>We had time to visit one more museum, so we decided to visit the Museum of Natural History. Looked at some fossils, tried to name the animals without looking at the answer (with ALL our knowledge from the SD Zoo), and as usual, spent WAY longer looking at each exhibit than anyone else did. Josh was most concerned with finding out if sharks really get as big as the one on the ceiling.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQhI0HMY6NwD8WFryLjnKDW3v0DCtEeYpzQiKEWQX1_j9A9ZLb16JjhpPyaKDlyUNJCpL2_ZLpsT13xiIFeW5CcpnZpBd9D4Zxdqt4-9B5wbQH0vWG_6eRJLp_dz1bnQyrotckMQVe_-T/s1600/DSC04433.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQhI0HMY6NwD8WFryLjnKDW3v0DCtEeYpzQiKEWQX1_j9A9ZLb16JjhpPyaKDlyUNJCpL2_ZLpsT13xiIFeW5CcpnZpBd9D4Zxdqt4-9B5wbQH0vWG_6eRJLp_dz1bnQyrotckMQVe_-T/s320/DSC04433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548218146641065474" border="0" /></a>On our way back to the car, we passed by the largest tree in the park. It was lit with lights all around that methodically changed colors, creating an eerie effect in the fog. A beautiful end to a wonderful night :-)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvxQuF_vwib7lN7ESr07LFRRp8DUypqH51bPplHFOhUmvEYYgpODpovAz9NDuD79vEr_jaCdvv4_5eTSy40jb0G8SZqe6luicJtD9KieGcPL_9NiuVTkdYGkHVWeWMmJ5ibS5BvsESJjp/s1600/DSC04441.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvxQuF_vwib7lN7ESr07LFRRp8DUypqH51bPplHFOhUmvEYYgpODpovAz9NDuD79vEr_jaCdvv4_5eTSy40jb0G8SZqe6luicJtD9KieGcPL_9NiuVTkdYGkHVWeWMmJ5ibS5BvsESJjp/s320/DSC04441.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548221364810815378" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQ5h-SWLIG2yubllfNjpr5zeL2N1xOXHuZ-UAB3BsLheKiGwB7D3i3xY7WrejpaR11pYL1XqGPZQOZGnt_1SBBfru7uTLnUj0I0LMKHEPyHBSARlOPCuCNGZ04vORXk14NsJF5drAJBQ9/s1600/DSC04421.JPG"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-22786185997169371402010-11-28T17:02:00.000-08:002010-11-28T17:52:25.487-08:00Museum of Making MusicJosh and I both had Saturday off, so we decided to find something new to do. (We may not get as many days off together as we would like, but oh, do we make the most of them.) I had purchased a Groupon to the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad. We didn't even know this existed until I saw it on Groupon, and it sounded right up our alley. (Groupon.com, check it out. It's awesome.)<br /><br />We drove up to Carlsbad expecting to find a big museum-ey building, but the museum was located on one floor of a corporate-type building in the middle of a big corproate-y type building office-park (Chicago suburb style. You know what I mean.) A little odd, but we were still excited.<br /><br />The museum was separated by decades from the late 1800s to present day, displaying the history of American music. Starting with JP Sousa (did you know he was part of over 13,000 performances?!?) and military band music, to the creation of amplified instruments and radio with the discovery of electricity, to the evolution of the guitar and the creation of the Strat and MTV, it covered it all. Ragtime, jazz, big band, swing, rock and roll, country, psychedelic, latin, there were clips and soundtracks of it all. And we may have done a little swing dancing while listening to some of the clips :-)<br /><br />Now for my favorite things I learned...<br /><br />Jazz started in New Orleans and moved up the Mississippi to St. Louis and, hey! Davenport, Iowa! (Ok, I knew that, but I am always REALLY excited to see anything about Iowa, ANYWHERE.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWk-SkaIcqeEE6I-WfGXPIt7c-R9ygpGAhjc-MMcWGqiYy0RJxyl5ptC0WULoMXcjNO6jb5o8H2Np8c7rqhYevPOpMOl5SlhOca3SUc1I3-8Pm1uCF0UKoDy-6V9J8r-25uhHc1cf9hy9/s1600/DSC04358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXWk-SkaIcqeEE6I-WfGXPIt7c-R9ygpGAhjc-MMcWGqiYy0RJxyl5ptC0WULoMXcjNO6jb5o8H2Np8c7rqhYevPOpMOl5SlhOca3SUc1I3-8Pm1uCF0UKoDy-6V9J8r-25uhHc1cf9hy9/s320/DSC04358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544774876635227618" border="0" /></a>And of course, we had our eyes peeled for any pictures of Bix Beiderbecke. (Oh we miss the Bix. I'm not sure anything in San Diego can quite compete with sitting by the river at the Le Claire bandshell listening to endless jazz on a sultry summer night.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5f4YpST4J5kI0_3Ecui_VcfsLkNEx3-raACoDxnnEKJS85KycML5NqdihD2xarZepZfun3Fm-zj0Sbsu3F0m2igFMqyKkKRlc8s7JNq0Z67XJ-xS3BYsH3nJEbTwSV0siQ_ZAT9ILiRl/s1600/DSC04362.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5f4YpST4J5kI0_3Ecui_VcfsLkNEx3-raACoDxnnEKJS85KycML5NqdihD2xarZepZfun3Fm-zj0Sbsu3F0m2igFMqyKkKRlc8s7JNq0Z67XJ-xS3BYsH3nJEbTwSV0siQ_ZAT9ILiRl/s320/DSC04362.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544774889436321394" border="0" /></a>So apparently the Zildjian family (of Zildjian cymbals of course) is Armenian. The company was founded in the 1600s in Istanbul (Constantinople) when Avedis the alchemist began making cymbals with a unique fusion of copper, tin, and silver. The sultan was so impressed, he gave Avedis the surname Zildjian, meaning cymbalsmith. And now that's the family's name! I just thought that was crazy. Do you think they were sitting around that night saying, "Do we seriously have to take that name?" (And Josh was excited that he actually has this cymbal here.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fYe1V5d9a8tUMvri7nhqS4gJL9PZElYCrBufAY6OoJK8WZCcpzZcHenOLx02CO-cOSKQSHXA5lSwVZGH6sN_TOoJrNdy4hro1D0LJ0heVK_QvmtaKfFhBzSpiVWYEUz19i3kOUr1VNoD/s1600/DSC04360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fYe1V5d9a8tUMvri7nhqS4gJL9PZElYCrBufAY6OoJK8WZCcpzZcHenOLx02CO-cOSKQSHXA5lSwVZGH6sN_TOoJrNdy4hro1D0LJ0heVK_QvmtaKfFhBzSpiVWYEUz19i3kOUr1VNoD/s320/DSC04360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544774882291723026" border="0" /></a>When Fender came out with the infamous Telecaster, it was actually called the Broadcaster. However, the name Broadkaster was already registered for a line of drums by Gretsch. Fender removed the name Broadcaster from the guitars, and 60 were released with no model name before they came up with Telecaster. These no-name guitars are known as No-Casters.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfszUsPXD-kLWxemLwGcpJNQJ-x8tmPOgeq13VoPca9SDoK4XDC0q1NiHtCXs-5dyZ-YQ1W_cPhWGnmJRd-GoIzeCuvFs3At_TP6XSoj28ZBPBifn1piu_SzIhDJuFCN9Sz5-K5kVZ1ZGn/s1600/DSC04372.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfszUsPXD-kLWxemLwGcpJNQJ-x8tmPOgeq13VoPca9SDoK4XDC0q1NiHtCXs-5dyZ-YQ1W_cPhWGnmJRd-GoIzeCuvFs3At_TP6XSoj28ZBPBifn1piu_SzIhDJuFCN9Sz5-K5kVZ1ZGn/s320/DSC04372.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544774893883577570" border="0" /></a>Taylor guitars (based on El Cajon, actually, where Josh works) created 400 guitars known as the Liberty Tree Guitars. They were made out of a more than 230 year old tulip poplar from Maryland known as the "Liberty Tree," where patriots rallied before, during, and after the Revolutionary War. Each colony had a liberty tree, and this was the last surviving one. It was blown over during Hurricaine Floyd, and Taylor was able to give it new life in the form of guitars. Very cool. (I've actually seen one of these somewhere else, because I knew the story, but I can't for the life of me remember where!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71x2czz0AkRMYryT_o1tAeLwJ_E8z7e-OQkuV_cb_Q1xhntsUq7U-s1eBx9Fgd2lBZuIjCqL0AVRtKpDS3vU8RYiUXQu5harOt6q3gj_vLXqb3DRwv_lW_Jv3EL4E-2XZtDUPRD2VGkF-/s1600/DSC04378.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71x2czz0AkRMYryT_o1tAeLwJ_E8z7e-OQkuV_cb_Q1xhntsUq7U-s1eBx9Fgd2lBZuIjCqL0AVRtKpDS3vU8RYiUXQu5harOt6q3gj_vLXqb3DRwv_lW_Jv3EL4E-2XZtDUPRD2VGkF-/s320/DSC04378.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544781015661278930" border="0" /></a>And then there was a room at the end with lots of normal and unique instruments to play (including guitar hero!) We were in that room for a while... And yes, I beat Knights of Cydonia on hard when Josh could not. My work here is done.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO9sVxOxuwwrw15YGFA9MERTVh_3Mzu6GRNSe9aZ3Q5F9Hcno_HfGW8DuRfFPKWCaSiEy8q-KQS4ZoMJyTLbmMKQvw-1xbcWvSNK5agjFpTaiZUcE2azEa3QOhA4NYn6qHIEX2KPkmXgt/s1600/DSC04390.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO9sVxOxuwwrw15YGFA9MERTVh_3Mzu6GRNSe9aZ3Q5F9Hcno_HfGW8DuRfFPKWCaSiEy8q-KQS4ZoMJyTLbmMKQvw-1xbcWvSNK5agjFpTaiZUcE2azEa3QOhA4NYn6qHIEX2KPkmXgt/s320/DSC04390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544780996833288786" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7CYMWLnNzT8PsRRaTe_Rt2YwYUrgivzA3uXDMN1yujWeT7eEqMykz2BT82UfBpoS4nLqwURt9jlIcMs88cP7M2wLksvvYzVaWTXzSKiAm9weSTpkaqj0r6zyZGiAo2Ft7T4HR13a1x2z/s1600/DSC04383.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN7CYMWLnNzT8PsRRaTe_Rt2YwYUrgivzA3uXDMN1yujWeT7eEqMykz2BT82UfBpoS4nLqwURt9jlIcMs88cP7M2wLksvvYzVaWTXzSKiAm9weSTpkaqj0r6zyZGiAo2Ft7T4HR13a1x2z/s320/DSC04383.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544781028712147410" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiemApaAUnPToi0CEhQsuJdOU97kgtHCI_1wkNk5fVU26ITSFFbajDNdc6djsUoLzCc8orb9XVUOrZfkUYR2XLXT57HEkcUfOb792UCG_RAFmeyeE8oP22sIyJLONCBmdwT4FMiNexBus/s1600/DSC04382.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiemApaAUnPToi0CEhQsuJdOU97kgtHCI_1wkNk5fVU26ITSFFbajDNdc6djsUoLzCc8orb9XVUOrZfkUYR2XLXT57HEkcUfOb792UCG_RAFmeyeE8oP22sIyJLONCBmdwT4FMiNexBus/s320/DSC04382.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544774899359871602" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4gttFIo1PdGhnoIAUqC4UOeF-fblH6Mt6eIy7Jy7LSTwvuba2IIzw59oSqNggBNuk4SGF5m2AwJ-c5IyVxj2QfRRGO9MBJnngEcKZgQy8p82xIV2zeawW2wiNjQhGF0REjgj43TnLByc/s1600/DSC04386.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4gttFIo1PdGhnoIAUqC4UOeF-fblH6Mt6eIy7Jy7LSTwvuba2IIzw59oSqNggBNuk4SGF5m2AwJ-c5IyVxj2QfRRGO9MBJnngEcKZgQy8p82xIV2zeawW2wiNjQhGF0REjgj43TnLByc/s320/DSC04386.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544781040050597202" border="0" /></a>Ok, the Chargers game is on, and since I live in San Diego, I feel like I should care.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-8354955831547052112010-10-07T21:21:00.000-07:002010-10-07T22:07:30.301-07:00Iowa Comes to ArizonaWe miss Iowa football. A lot. So when the Hawkeyes made a trek out west to play in Tucson, Arizona, of COURSE we had to go! Josh, Luke, and I road-tripped it to the desert. It was great to be back at a Iowa football game and see so many Iowa people! In case you missed the game, here's how it went.<br /><br />Yep, this is the car thermometer on the way to Tucson. That's for real, and it should have been a sign that this was going to be a bad day. (Seriously, we're coming from San Diego. Overbearing heat? Yeah, that doesn't exist to us.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPSLRn1ae8xxJBeRNvRUhdkkj3rzfUHCwdOHEsoL28y2htX5v1TcDgDp-VUt8tfLZN2OJ4HqcnskIocEa5owkllzT0DLKUZTgYAnShdq582FljFQc3qf1NN5xIHVIF4KL55DpIJe8Oomb/s1600/DSC04034.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPSLRn1ae8xxJBeRNvRUhdkkj3rzfUHCwdOHEsoL28y2htX5v1TcDgDp-VUt8tfLZN2OJ4HqcnskIocEa5owkllzT0DLKUZTgYAnShdq582FljFQc3qf1NN5xIHVIF4KL55DpIJe8Oomb/s320/DSC04034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525535371228467970" border="0" /></a>In case you can't tell by our faces, I will walk you through the game, score by score.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8kgM6hntYkH4LlTHrlZP8psFJgeq7Fivtj4qRZiu-iYGHHoBgEURqRkzo07reBlqzebjb28e-veVnGslqxK0Rl8F2HMkelkAt0POIAxEKzC3Bz9xSlqMsBhZ0HLdw58C0sk4mMWm-8py/s1600/DSC04052.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8kgM6hntYkH4LlTHrlZP8psFJgeq7Fivtj4qRZiu-iYGHHoBgEURqRkzo07reBlqzebjb28e-veVnGslqxK0Rl8F2HMkelkAt0POIAxEKzC3Bz9xSlqMsBhZ0HLdw58C0sk4mMWm-8py/s320/DSC04052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525530364308178642" border="0" /></a>This is when Arizona scores a touchdown after blocking our punt.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0u3ZduZ2N1xKhf94ztpcFvC0wr3QyYVyg4f2NVRUpVVC3-L7ycs0Ovk2Hs4Mmh2aqS21EAVtEa6JhwHcak0Te_E5dAoZmPonsEhyphenhypheniVQIhA7FWDzfHq02EUuTGj7_VpmrieejeKzh5qq0/s1600/DSC04051.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0u3ZduZ2N1xKhf94ztpcFvC0wr3QyYVyg4f2NVRUpVVC3-L7ycs0Ovk2Hs4Mmh2aqS21EAVtEa6JhwHcak0Te_E5dAoZmPonsEhyphenhypheniVQIhA7FWDzfHq02EUuTGj7_VpmrieejeKzh5qq0/s320/DSC04051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525530358850455170" border="0" /></a>This is when Arizona scores a touchdown after an interception.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGem4zX4C6xqxFrHHBfkXIovIMOSSWkTd_nHLkfEoI-tatrmQprC1hvKSZn5Vy3QZZ0GhmxPErlqMDWB1oUUtl9fT-AylHfltbD2Re7IQFO9bNWN3qiztBwfWbotiMtLNfKfDB7tp6HMN/s1600/DSC04050.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGem4zX4C6xqxFrHHBfkXIovIMOSSWkTd_nHLkfEoI-tatrmQprC1hvKSZn5Vy3QZZ0GhmxPErlqMDWB1oUUtl9fT-AylHfltbD2Re7IQFO9bNWN3qiztBwfWbotiMtLNfKfDB7tp6HMN/s320/DSC04050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525530353390105378" border="0" /></a>Iowa scores a touchdown, and we feel a bit of hope.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc8C44TwLfnSlPcmDeUVsfN05acZRPAHujYjKIkNR-Nh89xYjiGe0HvZHNTMYqbDfEHS1vdQSfzz2zkbs1yBcy-pRrOAkvweXgqy-H-5bLkEiCTsIESJZeHQEv2Nq3Q1pKsJYwsp6zOIe/s1600/DSC04049.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJc8C44TwLfnSlPcmDeUVsfN05acZRPAHujYjKIkNR-Nh89xYjiGe0HvZHNTMYqbDfEHS1vdQSfzz2zkbs1yBcy-pRrOAkvweXgqy-H-5bLkEiCTsIESJZeHQEv2Nq3Q1pKsJYwsp6zOIe/s320/DSC04049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525530347984759218" border="0" /></a>Arizona returns the kick off for a touchdown. More disappointment and dejection set in.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYXExnbDMW9c7xZ479P4R8qNhie6K43P4HSxWDI3bqZHxuG33Coh1LZUfbRgTBkN-TDtz8tc5xsV5guAw9uP76dn2kfS_iJHOvaNRGXuCOseh1FEN74ziJl-6li1PxQo2fAZDXPmFbm8m/s1600/DSC04048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYXExnbDMW9c7xZ479P4R8qNhie6K43P4HSxWDI3bqZHxuG33Coh1LZUfbRgTBkN-TDtz8tc5xsV5guAw9uP76dn2kfS_iJHOvaNRGXuCOseh1FEN74ziJl-6li1PxQo2fAZDXPmFbm8m/s320/DSC04048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525530342377725986" border="0" /></a>Arizona kicks a field goal. It just keeps getting worse.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGsP2nxZ3eTlLZ7l3Icr-IzLyLiUZ3P-e5nIQ_qKF9XDczEBPuzQkiQtotc8jRvvZBzhya00UjvyI2xnSY01961Zv0W9u9vy_9CvbSr0zBNyJTVolQh-PqgwTx8qgi2h6iOBaXlZYXoLq/s1600/DSC04053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGsP2nxZ3eTlLZ7l3Icr-IzLyLiUZ3P-e5nIQ_qKF9XDczEBPuzQkiQtotc8jRvvZBzhya00UjvyI2xnSY01961Zv0W9u9vy_9CvbSr0zBNyJTVolQh-PqgwTx8qgi2h6iOBaXlZYXoLq/s320/DSC04053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525532327867182258" border="0" /></a>Arizona kicks another field goal. And that completes a just spectacular half, down 7-27. As you can see, by this point we almost stop caring.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QjM3y7FB1Qf5umVuVkKy8IIdEJlzDQ-TPItVBBnADq9PUJ5i2QI1cQjSJvkmo17XmGXJ6RknMFCmCacE5o0tB-gd8IDlOg27PE6DPDB749K9uu0dG6hGvOWL5MbVtH-o0GpXs69PWy5W/s1600/DSC04060.JPG"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpcVbH1P1JTvR7FFgsZY-ZKH8iGCG0_S_x5maK1kufPSy7fWb1VZtvc0Q0Yoi_IRaDno8oEHZoUFhsVI_9d7dHQoEWu-7EWFjXjlwGADXaGcjE4tsgP35J3z5xGvTl0emg15ONburAK3y/s1600/DSC04045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpcVbH1P1JTvR7FFgsZY-ZKH8iGCG0_S_x5maK1kufPSy7fWb1VZtvc0Q0Yoi_IRaDno8oEHZoUFhsVI_9d7dHQoEWu-7EWFjXjlwGADXaGcjE4tsgP35J3z5xGvTl0emg15ONburAK3y/s320/DSC04045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525533832427642002" border="0" /></a>The marching band was pretty good. They lifted my spirits a bit.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QjM3y7FB1Qf5umVuVkKy8IIdEJlzDQ-TPItVBBnADq9PUJ5i2QI1cQjSJvkmo17XmGXJ6RknMFCmCacE5o0tB-gd8IDlOg27PE6DPDB749K9uu0dG6hGvOWL5MbVtH-o0GpXs69PWy5W/s1600/DSC04060.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QjM3y7FB1Qf5umVuVkKy8IIdEJlzDQ-TPItVBBnADq9PUJ5i2QI1cQjSJvkmo17XmGXJ6RknMFCmCacE5o0tB-gd8IDlOg27PE6DPDB749K9uu0dG6hGvOWL5MbVtH-o0GpXs69PWy5W/s320/DSC04060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525532336059545426" border="0" /></a>DJK scores a touchdown.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6DuzECup5wOlJRqzUDZBtPDGHy9bw_qZMDwYNX_avabvHR9orHwie8KVA4pRr05EvNm0NRnYKFwlP6EDW5zJv7KVTstDCf7cxfQQstgWbeoztHEYf1B2lh9UfH-oNoYi7Tg5xSnIKnGL/s1600/DSC04063.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6DuzECup5wOlJRqzUDZBtPDGHy9bw_qZMDwYNX_avabvHR9orHwie8KVA4pRr05EvNm0NRnYKFwlP6EDW5zJv7KVTstDCf7cxfQQstgWbeoztHEYf1B2lh9UfH-oNoYi7Tg5xSnIKnGL/s320/DSC04063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525532350816401298" border="0" /></a>McNutt scores a touchdown. We're coming back! 21-27. This might be about when Josh got in a minor verbal fight with some ridiculous Arizona fans.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_syFA30f9fVNAJS51kumivQATcxgAL0xSx8DlfraHiNcrnaNS6U6uNBEkhBS9ylGdTOJMOX0FbsmtkiF583LsTHDu9wetXdkN7qughuDShMpnfzSm83WItg4mLz5Xpp2N4V6ViT4qqOha/s1600/DSC04062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_syFA30f9fVNAJS51kumivQATcxgAL0xSx8DlfraHiNcrnaNS6U6uNBEkhBS9ylGdTOJMOX0FbsmtkiF583LsTHDu9wetXdkN7qughuDShMpnfzSm83WItg4mLz5Xpp2N4V6ViT4qqOha/s320/DSC04062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525532342075788386" border="0" /></a>We intercept the ball and return it for a touchdown! We go up by 1!! Wait, we miss the extra point and it's tied. That was horrible.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xNXcjnyghtoWCySjndiqOpA5Rm0_vfW7Qs44RcmtmqOy5Lo92mIz5rbhecorTVvDESqZQT2znxtg01mXsiiv1J5CU-4xPqCSZSvhYgxwiu1dDO0FAp40LUUxZt0TaZTcQOjgEOwaeDZ3/s1600/DSC04064.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xNXcjnyghtoWCySjndiqOpA5Rm0_vfW7Qs44RcmtmqOy5Lo92mIz5rbhecorTVvDESqZQT2znxtg01mXsiiv1J5CU-4xPqCSZSvhYgxwiu1dDO0FAp40LUUxZt0TaZTcQOjgEOwaeDZ3/s320/DSC04064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525532352691157458" border="0" /></a>Arizona scores a touchdown to go up 34-27. Stanzi gets sacked like 52 times, and we go down in flames.<br /><br />So...that was our trip. It was a very depressing game, but we walked out of that stadium with our heads held high and said to Arizonans, "We may have lost, but you live HERE." And we drove back to San Diego.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-25727969061627008812010-08-03T22:40:00.000-07:002010-08-03T22:41:14.373-07:00They Should Have a Reality Show About WalgreensSo Josh had a customer at Walgreens that was asking him about 'Flaxseed Oil: Cold Pressed,' and she said, "This is for colds, right?" <br />Josh said no. <br />And she said, "But it says cold on it." <br />And he said, "It says cold pressed." <br />She said, "So you don't know what that means?" <br />Josh said, "No, but I know it doesn't mean it's for a cold!"<br /><br />Then she grabbed a bottle of cod liver oil and said, "But this is for a cold right?"<br />He said no.<br />She said, "But it's cherry flavored!"<br />Josh just looked at her a little dumbfounded, unsure of what being cherry flavored had to do with anything, and told her to just go talk to the pharmacist. <br /><br />I thought this was pretty hilarious :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-38074634922554614142010-06-12T23:09:00.001-07:002010-06-12T23:25:39.223-07:00Signs of a Normal Life?I was on my way to church Wednesday night for orchestra practice. It was the first time I had the chance to break out the old oboe in years! <br /><br />Anyway, I was driving down the 8 on my way to College Avenue Baptist Church, stuck in a little bit of traffic, when I realized something. This orchestra practice was the first commitment I'd had, on my own without Josh, that was not related to work, in the entire year I've been here. Seriously! Most places that I HAVE to be (church music or volunteer event, softball game, uh...that's about it), I'm with Josh. Otherwise, If I'm leaving the house by myself, it is almost always pharmacy-related or to hang out with my pharmacy-friends. <br /><br />It was just kind of crazy to think how unbalanced my life has been over the last year! Basically, I'm either working, hanging out with people from work, or having fun with Josh which may or may not involve other people. It's just so different from back home where I was so involved in so many different things. It's been a little bit of pharmacy overload this year, that's for sure!! But I decided that this orchestra practice was a sign that a more normal life is just ahead, peeking over the horizon at me! It will be nice to be able to get involved in some other things in the upcoming months. <br /><br />But I must say, I am incredibly lucky to have a husband that I seriously don't mind spending ALL my time with :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-11762510831506545552010-05-17T23:24:00.000-07:002010-05-17T23:32:24.134-07:00PETCO ParkGo Padres! 1st place in the division! Not that being first place in the NL West has meant that much over the past few years...<br /><br />We went to a game tonight on a whim. $5 tickets! We had to sneak into the seats we wanted-we've mastered getting by the guy that checks your tickets. We were sure he had us pegged for a while because he kept looking up at us suspiciously, but we just sat there looking innocent, and he left us alone. <br /><br />Josh got me a hot dog because I was STARVING. I went to put ketchup on it, and when I pushed the ketchup lever, mustard came out. I rather despise mustard, so I had to wipe it all off and then used the mustard lever to get ketchup. The guy behind me did the same thing. Then we noticed a worker standing against the wall laughing to himself as he watched. I'm pretty sure he switched the labels on the ketchup/mustard machine. It was pretty hilarious.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-80934062263270433512010-05-16T02:10:00.000-07:002010-05-16T02:18:11.107-07:0032 Days and CountingJosh and I will have gone 34 of 36 nights without sleeping in the same bed. Sad. Very sad. He worked for 8 nights. (Then a night together! Yay!) Then I went to N.Carolina for 5 nights. Then he worked for 8 nights. Then he went to Iowa for 5 nights. (Then a night together! Yay!) Then he works for 8 nights. And that is where we are now. Almost done! Josh working nights has its schedule perks, but I am NOT going to complain when it's over. (Watch, I'll probably get a job where I have to work nights for the first year or something. Wouldn't that just be cruel.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-57139761684153671582010-04-18T22:26:00.000-07:002010-04-18T22:35:05.895-07:00Soccer vs. FootballI found this rather funny!<br /><br /><object width="660" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2sD_8prYOxo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2sD_8prYOxo&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="240"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-67244480466983529312010-04-18T01:12:00.000-07:002010-04-18T01:12:04.310-07:00"If you forget the space, my name spells Vile"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlFxMOq1MC0f0XB74rPUWXYMxgoUg-u2muTWLyX7YGtpyMzbiPynOpDW0jzlASYY2OChxqmwuIdV3BbtVe6f0ao6o73n_7tOerVYELhVPiUflOgh26c4H-p7U0J_V3_zba8Z7kE6wCPFa/s1600-h/DSC02067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlFxMOq1MC0f0XB74rPUWXYMxgoUg-u2muTWLyX7YGtpyMzbiPynOpDW0jzlASYY2OChxqmwuIdV3BbtVe6f0ao6o73n_7tOerVYELhVPiUflOgh26c4H-p7U0J_V3_zba8Z7kE6wCPFa/s400/DSC02067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440562748060759170" border="0"></a><br /><br />Ah, I love these girls. My co-residents. I increasingly feel like that is a strange thing to call them, though. They are so much more than just my "co-residents" in this crazy pharmacy residency journey; they are 3 of my dearest friends. I think we must get along better and have more fun than any group of residents anywhere, ever. And on Thursday we all get to go to Charlotte together for 5 days! Oh, the memories we'll make...as we sit through 7 hours of lecture a day and freak out about our upcoming project presentations...At least we'll be together.<br /><br />We have all had our share of hard times over the past 10 months since we met, and we've all been there to help each other out. Through car troubles, boy troubles, student troubles, preceptor troubles, project troubles, health troubles, computer troubles, interview troubles, being-forced-to-go-to-drug-dinners-too-much troubles, talking-about-the-same-simple-things-over-and-over-at-every-meeting troubles ...shall I go on? <br /><br />I have been so blessed to be surrounded by amazing people through each new life journey. It's crazy to think about how, a year ago, I didn't even know some people who are now such a huge part of my life. <br /><br />Vi, Vivian, and Silvia are just 3 of the reasons that I frequently say to myself, "Wow. I'm really, really glad I didn't end up in Milwaukee."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-7169186210560570952010-03-30T22:54:00.000-07:002010-03-30T22:58:25.868-07:00DMV Woes, Or NotI was totally, totally, TOTALLY going to be responsible tomorrow and go wait at the DMV for hours so I can finally register my car and get a driver's license in this crazy state. Yes, it was supposed to be done within 10 days of moving here...but I was totally going get it done tomorrow! But...as I was collecting all my needed documentation this evening, I realized that I don't have the title for my car (I am counting on it still being somewhere at home in Iowa, I hope, otherwise I have a bigger problem.) So...I guess I can't go spend half my day at the DMV tomorrow. Can't say I am disappointed, but I was kind of excited to show Josh how responsible I was :-)Joshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17465565783669197778noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-12446938256930126792010-03-23T23:29:00.000-07:002010-03-23T23:32:28.968-07:00Amazing Grace"When we've been there ten thousand years<br />Bright shining as the sun<br />We've no less days to sing God's praise<br />Then when we've first begun"<br /><br />Wow. I need to think about heaven more. When I actually sit and sing words like this, I wonder why I live so many of my days for nothing. Seriously. If I only had a heavenly perspective everyday, who knows what would happen. <br /><br />That's it. Nothing more profound. I think it will take me long enough just to wrap my mind around that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-67686817358659747252010-03-22T22:54:00.000-07:002010-03-22T23:09:48.951-07:00Happy Birthday Josh!It's Josh's 25th birthday! Yay! He can finally rent a car without being charged extra! :-)<br /><br />So Josh's family loves their DQ ice cream cakes. I'm pretty sure everyone gets one on their birthday in his family. Jesus gets one on his birthday, too. (Some excuse to eat more ice cream cake, right? "Yeah...this is for Jesus... :-) ) So they get about 7 ice cream cakes a year. Sadly for him, there has been no ice cream cakes for us since living here. He told me many times to get one for his birthday. And this morning, I got a text message saying, "I can't wait to eat ice cream cake tonight!" I think it was just another hint for me, making sure I wouldn't forget.<br /><br />He slept most of the day as this is his week on for 3rd shift, and then we had our softball tournament tonight! We've been playing on Monday nights for a few months. We signed up as individuals and were put on a team with other random people that had just signed up by themselves, and it's been a blast! We finished #4 in the regular season so we made the tournament! We won our first game against the #1 team, which is all that Josh wanted for his birthday :-) (Oh, and MLB 2K10. I guess he wanted that, too.) We didn't win the championship game...or even come close...but 2nd place isn't bad for a random team :-)<br /><br />I took a nice whizzing line drive right to the hip in our first game and thought I was going to be spending the night in the ER with a broken pelvis or leaky spleen or something bad...that wasn't so fun. Ouch. Double ouch. But after screaming a bit, I think all that I'll end up with is a REALLY big bruise/welt/nasty looking mark with the ball seems in it. Happy birthday Josh...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-43893605479454137242010-03-17T16:22:00.000-07:002010-03-17T16:38:10.358-07:00Oh, Just Take Me NowToday is one of those days.<br /><br />1) Find out Josh's boss has ruined our highly-anticipated summer vacation plans<br />2) Come to work to work on a never-ending project that I never wanted to do in the first place<br />3) Listen to exactly 1.5 songs before MP3 player dies on me<br />4) Attend an entirely pointless meeting<br />5) Have to sit around and listen to people AFTER the entirely pointless meeting continue to talk about just as pointless stuff--for like an HOUR!!!<br />6) Find out my most memorable and heart-grabbing patient of the year passed away much too young<br />7) Couldn't find a fork and had to eat my spaghetti with a spoon<br /><br />I decided that I just couldn't take any other frustrating moments in my day or I might explode. Consequently, I canceled a meeting with someone who was bound to give me more annoying work. And I feel much better :-)<br /><br />Although I now have to meet with him in the morning...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-23134849172824677612010-03-06T09:43:00.000-08:002010-03-06T10:23:58.911-08:00Responsibly IrresponsibleI'll admit, I skipped some class in college. Mostly in undergrad, when classes were often a waste of my time. I didn't skip IMPORTANT classes, only classes where I knew the professor was going to blab on about something I'd already learned or could just read about on my own. I was very responsible about skipping. I only missed classes that I knew would have no effect on my grade if I wasn't there. I mean, seriously, chem discussion? Biggest waste of my time, ever. <br /><br />I was much better in pharmacy school, when I actually needed to know what I was learning for my job one day. Although there was the occasional Friday afternoon class that was REALLY hard to go to... <br /><br />I kind of miss skipping classes. It was such a great feeling, to be out golfing, or driving back to Davenport, or sitting at home hanging out with roommates, or at the mall, or out biking, or sleeping in, and knowing that you COULD have been at class right now but you're NOT! I loved that feeling. I can't really have that feeling anymore. It's not like I can just "skip" work. Work is just a bit more important than a 50 minute microeconomics class. But I do look back with fondness on my college days where the occasional missed class was like a mini-vacation in the middle of the day. *sigh*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-62434033283861815582010-02-22T23:53:00.000-08:002010-02-23T00:39:03.576-08:00Here's to Last Minute GetawaysI called Josh one Friday morning and said, "Let's go somewhere for the weekend." I think we both just needed to get away. You know what I mean. We decided to head to Julian, a tiny historic mining town in the mountains known for its apple pie and for taking visitors back in time. I put Josh in charge of finding a place to stay and things to do, and I was in charge of working hard so I could get out of the hospital early!<br /><br />Josh found us a quaint little bed and breakfast. Our room was so cozy, and we had a wood-burning fireplace in our room. As the innkeeper was explaining things, he said, "Here's the wood. You guys are from Iowa so I'm sure you've built plenty of fires." I'm not really sure why being from Iowa means we build lots of fires. Does he think our houses are heated with wood burning stoves? Anyway...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySP74Qj6e_-EuEoFvqiqFsZcp9RtMOUeFSql1xGpqZrWSZQl_XPpOmWni5Fj_3DBGn10Ys_uuBNrD_rnOrcRIsNBnSBK-q_0qaWqn9ksJRezjMsgIF6FwYHRKg-GwdSGLXzCqLSYFFt6Z/s1600-h/DSC02007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySP74Qj6e_-EuEoFvqiqFsZcp9RtMOUeFSql1xGpqZrWSZQl_XPpOmWni5Fj_3DBGn10Ys_uuBNrD_rnOrcRIsNBnSBK-q_0qaWqn9ksJRezjMsgIF6FwYHRKg-GwdSGLXzCqLSYFFt6Z/s320/DSC02007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441347129699491666" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTY5QHJPsNOPfRr-_o9mjjBJ91717CdpDB3np44XzBboxuexhGEyEZxahTMIffYMVceU26PQ6lhXcdvdn2dRaL15GBCrABPZ-av7-sR_42NBOLUIkroFPYqCnDvqVoCf5fuQSfG4F-Njt/s1600-h/DSC02009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTY5QHJPsNOPfRr-_o9mjjBJ91717CdpDB3np44XzBboxuexhGEyEZxahTMIffYMVceU26PQ6lhXcdvdn2dRaL15GBCrABPZ-av7-sR_42NBOLUIkroFPYqCnDvqVoCf5fuQSfG4F-Njt/s320/DSC02009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441347143735199922" border="0" /></a>Breakfast was oh so excellent, and I was sure to leave with the recipe for those poached pears! We talked with the other guests and the owners for a while, learned a lot about Julian and even more about the rest of California. I love bed and breakfasts,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgOYOvdp_2jEQk1nPcHwZVZd0dvZ30gLFT-WGQauYk1ZK-hrRtC3eMUv-MtQd8VgBDhL7q34jCqzRTEQANprCU1jGkqvfUYxJjgURBIp0yyqUz6YoT-8-dHH9rhnCuHz3_l9Xn85mQbpr/s1600-h/DSC02014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgOYOvdp_2jEQk1nPcHwZVZd0dvZ30gLFT-WGQauYk1ZK-hrRtC3eMUv-MtQd8VgBDhL7q34jCqzRTEQANprCU1jGkqvfUYxJjgURBIp0yyqUz6YoT-8-dHH9rhnCuHz3_l9Xn85mQbpr/s320/DSC02014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441347151884785346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzfmaBBG_RjTGVem59641jAl_QUsybMg901TWMwFq2addprulT6lAtzdhZApLy-gULq_EJ0YHx5JL20nI6sss4gR-sDdhI1Zl0Y8oUOW6Oc7i1E4XR4_sF1grTHVMS4U2HI_JU6wMecE_/s1600-h/DSC02015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzfmaBBG_RjTGVem59641jAl_QUsybMg901TWMwFq2addprulT6lAtzdhZApLy-gULq_EJ0YHx5JL20nI6sss4gR-sDdhI1Zl0Y8oUOW6Oc7i1E4XR4_sF1grTHVMS4U2HI_JU6wMecE_/s320/DSC02015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441347163863711922" border="0" /></a>We spent the morning walking down Main Street (all 3 blocks of it), browsing the stores, sampling apple ciders and jams, and watching the horses and buggies roll down the street. And of course, we had some apple pie. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuzumbWpFm_2jNhjP0jg0otfT7Mbe90_LiZNRgWsVHFFvj6ify43NqgFwJSMHtAPSXW_KTrNRvzGvcLl3S5PqySeCxnJGRApLIopzsw0-yY08JIWSdckvO0UHJHJd_9IHiwEIw6Cgmkr-/s1600-h/DSC02023.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBuzumbWpFm_2jNhjP0jg0otfT7Mbe90_LiZNRgWsVHFFvj6ify43NqgFwJSMHtAPSXW_KTrNRvzGvcLl3S5PqySeCxnJGRApLIopzsw0-yY08JIWSdckvO0UHJHJd_9IHiwEIw6Cgmkr-/s320/DSC02023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441349515016507010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KweB1_fM8i8Dt613f236_USxc-j7vT0Eiuvz32MVy3z1LAuE1oye9jn3SHjmMQ4DXUQI67zZCZyHFqEKHR3DJ2U7Ngusdo1iVFDFfv0yH1UkDymNWcW2jgQMWazBKvGdTMkuDfLtGrvV/s1600-h/DSC02018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KweB1_fM8i8Dt613f236_USxc-j7vT0Eiuvz32MVy3z1LAuE1oye9jn3SHjmMQ4DXUQI67zZCZyHFqEKHR3DJ2U7Ngusdo1iVFDFfv0yH1UkDymNWcW2jgQMWazBKvGdTMkuDfLtGrvV/s320/DSC02018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441347172739327554" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRz1PD8RT_yJsHiPR6tMqLbLMwxHeyU97uE4u2FEBB7Ze9ZO3vy0jPtHk7Bq-F7_IyuAxd-Ky3L-vDx3dllWKbaXdZiRgsWm9gIKd_JbgKwyhjAwo9eSvH7sFZLDELtE7t8B5M0MM2_n1O/s1600-h/DSC02021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRz1PD8RT_yJsHiPR6tMqLbLMwxHeyU97uE4u2FEBB7Ze9ZO3vy0jPtHk7Bq-F7_IyuAxd-Ky3L-vDx3dllWKbaXdZiRgsWm9gIKd_JbgKwyhjAwo9eSvH7sFZLDELtE7t8B5M0MM2_n1O/s320/DSC02021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441349506273762914" border="0" /></a>After exploring Julian and eating our apple pie, we went for a hike on Stonewall peak trail: 4 miles round trip and a 900 ft climb in elevation.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc17qow05wr5joIo6WHK62urc3tH63Jy7bPdLj9ag2yTYIHvE3TKCsvPBGjvnrizGXAx3P2mYwvzd9-hltJg5klf1KdJjfos0aRB7OTMSfdjM43E2T5-t_PoVhzRLywm5GPBrX_mLsXuHm/s1600-h/DSC02056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc17qow05wr5joIo6WHK62urc3tH63Jy7bPdLj9ag2yTYIHvE3TKCsvPBGjvnrizGXAx3P2mYwvzd9-hltJg5klf1KdJjfos0aRB7OTMSfdjM43E2T5-t_PoVhzRLywm5GPBrX_mLsXuHm/s320/DSC02056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441349038916070594" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcxDlDM-WOAlkdYzrl2YSG9282sdfFcBR_c4zuBjkvQdPgFyACeNgPiQdefXrY_JIFIeXgYDCwrMmb3EQBJ4r98NicsRFD3vqerBEwknq5CL2baO5t6URMpVgrYw8kLP_AylPjKj_yZF9/s1600-h/DSC02031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKcxDlDM-WOAlkdYzrl2YSG9282sdfFcBR_c4zuBjkvQdPgFyACeNgPiQdefXrY_JIFIeXgYDCwrMmb3EQBJ4r98NicsRFD3vqerBEwknq5CL2baO5t6URMpVgrYw8kLP_AylPjKj_yZF9/s320/DSC02031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441348652069013506" border="0" /></a>And there was snow!! Me and my tennis shoes weren't quite ready for a trail covered in snow, but we survived. It was quite an invigorating hike for 2 people that are not in the best shape of their lives...but the view at the top was worth it!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YUF6tCSEx5HeR8h7RUHn5jo0rliKFpwIKASM04nv19FdmPHJQx1bCvSA4cEsu8E4GS2dHrqD3TWEh9DV1Hgbra0zNfPKL44TpjJpOppW7VY_iBLfMGfW3NwQmF28VYM0tjNiWaSPQk9W/s1600-h/DSC02039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YUF6tCSEx5HeR8h7RUHn5jo0rliKFpwIKASM04nv19FdmPHJQx1bCvSA4cEsu8E4GS2dHrqD3TWEh9DV1Hgbra0zNfPKL44TpjJpOppW7VY_iBLfMGfW3NwQmF28VYM0tjNiWaSPQk9W/s320/DSC02039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441348674131139010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIh4QIh-ZlNszRp9eFF3zFrDC-8rGYJR2r000G70nv-5kzRnxZOm6Qlf1nfH2_-gzeFz3eFWIxMkj1uiIkfzH5mL2cOpFpbQvHZ93GduJ5zDgXJQkiHZ85pnXlbxstJUy9G6ptyWKfiXu/s1600-h/DSC02043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIh4QIh-ZlNszRp9eFF3zFrDC-8rGYJR2r000G70nv-5kzRnxZOm6Qlf1nfH2_-gzeFz3eFWIxMkj1uiIkfzH5mL2cOpFpbQvHZ93GduJ5zDgXJQkiHZ85pnXlbxstJUy9G6ptyWKfiXu/s320/DSC02043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441349030690880402" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1S6q1S8PVkyjp8PGrIZRlaXR7rb9Z-NjJdONPaxAj_ZHnma9WrE748Sr45iV15IW2vZviZFILGo9SvDHnwwnCbla_dDAX-Qu_5M60QXLnDP30CC7aMC2xwt195Uxb-MQJOoYHrjCC3pP/s1600-h/DSC02041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1S6q1S8PVkyjp8PGrIZRlaXR7rb9Z-NjJdONPaxAj_ZHnma9WrE748Sr45iV15IW2vZviZFILGo9SvDHnwwnCbla_dDAX-Qu_5M60QXLnDP30CC7aMC2xwt195Uxb-MQJOoYHrjCC3pP/s320/DSC02041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441348682404043986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuP8JC7EvFbsrk27aKTskMeAUPiPipnbUSglQADaWsu6uL5H8atk0n4ACceOkuSAEX_hdQpLGtqvXMX6P1GScA7veMk1Z-NwxdPYAR1rDhSJ0toK1jkdow-_hRSgxrjPyQ7NZUg4-MzpJ/s1600-h/DSC02034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuP8JC7EvFbsrk27aKTskMeAUPiPipnbUSglQADaWsu6uL5H8atk0n4ACceOkuSAEX_hdQpLGtqvXMX6P1GScA7veMk1Z-NwxdPYAR1rDhSJ0toK1jkdow-_hRSgxrjPyQ7NZUg4-MzpJ/s320/DSC02034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441348662650184706" border="0" /></a>It was a nice weekend away, and while I usually like to plan trips way ahead so I can enjoy looking forward to them, this last minute thing isn't so bad either. Might have to do more of it :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-49563423890973747352010-02-20T20:55:00.000-08:002010-02-20T21:17:00.752-08:00End of a HiatusI received a sweet email from my grandma yesterday, and she subtly hinted her disappointment that I had abandoned our blog. Truthfully, I have been rather disappointed in myself for not having the discipline to regularly write, and her little prod must have been all I needed to pick it up again. (And maybe the fact that I just watched Julie&Julia.) <br /><br />It is shame to not chronicle this time of our lives and all of our new experiences in this new place. I know I would love to have a journal of this time during which we are seeing so much and growing so much. However, I am not convinced that I have much to write about that anyone would really care to read.<br /><br />My life right now is made up of working way too much and doing outdoor activities during a time of year when in all my past years, the weather would not have dreamed of allowing it. I am pretty sure no one wants to hear about the life of a pharmacist, and I am VERY sure that few people back home want to hear that we spent the afternoon at the beach in February.<br /><br />So I must resign myself to the idea that I am writing for myself and Josh, and not for anyone else. If anyone finds an interest in our ramblings of southern California life, wonderful. If not, I must still write for I will regret it otherwise. <br /><br />Thanks, grandma, for the motivation!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-83015792217061292342009-11-28T23:06:00.000-08:002009-11-28T23:32:55.486-08:00Thanksgiving Away from HomeThanksgiving Day was definitely a different experience being away from our families. I had just seen my parents the weekend before when they came to visit, but we still terribly missed all our family on the holiday. Up until now, living here has kind of felt like being at school, and we would just get to go home for holidays...but we didn't get to go home for the holiday. <br /><br />But our day wasn't gloomy and sad. We somehow ended up with 4 Thanksgiving invites: my cousins in LA invited us to Temecula, our family friends Lu and her family in Escondido, Josh's great uncle and aunt, and even our new pastor invited us to his home. We felt loved. We thought we would having nothing to do that day, and we were so blessed that so many people reached out to us.<br /><br />We ended up in the Temecula wine country with my cousins Jill and Jim, their triplets, and Jim's family. It was great to meet some new people, hang out with family we don't often see, and have a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner! We were hoping to have time to stop by Escondido on the way home for some of George's famous ice cream and Lu's hot fudge, but Josh had to work at 11PM. I guess we saved some 1200 calories or so there.<br /><br />Temecula is about 1 hour north of San Diego, and it is famous for it's wineries. It is situated against the backdrop of beautiful mountainous foothills. It was nice to drive up to north county and see some mountains.<br /><br />So I guess our first Thanksgiving away from home was a success, though we wished we were home.<br /><br />And I guess I can't complain that I went rollerblading in shorts and a tank top on a sunny, 80 degree Thanksgiving morning along Mission Bay. Yeah...that part was pretty awesome.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-35322036469840626152009-11-14T13:36:00.000-08:002009-11-14T13:48:24.144-08:00Dogs, Dogs EverywhereSan Diego is one of the most dog-friendly cities in the country. People bring their dogs everywhere. They push them around in their carts at Wal-Mart, they bring them into Walgreens, they tie them outside restaurants and go bring them food. We've even seen someone bring their dog INTO a kabob restaurant and let it walk around to everyone's table. And last week, while eating cupcakes on the outdoor patio at our favorite coffee shop, someone's dog urinated right on the brick patio. (The owner, at least, was rather embarrassed.)<br /><br />I love this picture, taken at the Padres game (because, of course, a stadium called PETCO Park HAS to have a bring-your-dog-to-the-park day!) I'm pretty sure these people think their dog is a person. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaam8o7225KC-uHR9x8jN3D6OU68tb8-4juvMhxDsZO7Kl1Dmpwa-aRP-wRAy3c9emh5F2cRxbjjnhKDK0WkOYWk-R__JQzTchjwQJ3eekMb05AD2ZEd2KMcvDROAIbrXwm2EcMwMLWolF/s1600-h/DSC01289.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaam8o7225KC-uHR9x8jN3D6OU68tb8-4juvMhxDsZO7Kl1Dmpwa-aRP-wRAy3c9emh5F2cRxbjjnhKDK0WkOYWk-R__JQzTchjwQJ3eekMb05AD2ZEd2KMcvDROAIbrXwm2EcMwMLWolF/s400/DSC01289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404077236875337282" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-8969644688712618632009-11-01T01:00:00.000-07:002009-11-01T01:25:47.096-07:00Things Josh Didn't Know About Me #1When you get married, you think you know the person you're marrying pretty well. However, you immediately start finding out all these little things that you didn't really know about them. Josh and I were talking about this the other day, mostly because of one of the main things he didn't know about me...and he was probably scolding me for it.<br /><br />I am very responsible...when it comes to work and, well, responsibilities. I always have homework done on time. I'm always thoroughly prepared for presentations (ok, KIND OF prepared). I turn things in on time. I generally respond to work emails on time. If I'm responsible for some type of social or work event, my tasks will be done and done right. I pay bills on time and mail off the rent check well ahead of the due date. I get my oil changed on schedule.<br /><br />However...when it comes to day-to-day items that aren't exactly what I call "important," I am much, much, MUCH less likely to do them in a timely manner. Meaning, I likely won't do them at all until I really have NOTHING else to do...so I won't be doing them. Examples: I have been saying I will wash may car for about 3 months now. I have been saying I will take a check to the bank for about 5 weeks now. I put laundry off for a period of time which I will not even admit. I have a Wal-Mart return in my car that has been there for over a month. (Once, I returned something after almost 2 years. The store took it back!--further justifying to me that this behavior is okay.)<br /><br />I think my husband really just does not know what to do with me. Humorously, he is EXTREMELY responsible with all these little chores. When he says he has something that needs done, he usually does it, like, that day. It's crazy! And quite admirable, I suppose. He had his car registered and his driver's license changed in the first month we were here. (I, however, am still sporting my Iowa plates, and no one can ever find my birthday on my still-Iowa ID. I don't have time to go sit at the DMV for 4 hours! Are you kidding me?!) <br /><br />So, Josh can't take my perpetual non-action on all the things I consider non-vital to the success of my day, and he ends up doing most of them. He goes to the bank and the post-office for me. He does the little things around the house that I will never get around to doing. He was on the ball with taking care of our broken refrigerator situation. (But I'm the one that cleaned out that disgusting fridge! It's not like I do nothing...)<br /><br />I'm pretty sure, though, that he is silently refusing to let me con him into getting my car washed for me. Darn it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-50225874016640141422009-10-31T02:19:00.001-07:002009-10-31T02:26:08.405-07:00The Corn StateFollowing is an excerpt from a Fanhouse article on Hawkeye football, sent to me by Christina. This quote has nothing to do with football; I just found it funny.<br /><br />"When you're from Iowa, you learn early in life that your home state is going to get ripped on by everybody. You can expect to hear the same stale cracks about corn, pigs, flatness, and winter within about 15 seconds of meeting a new person who discovers you're from Iowa. Unless you're talking to one of those indier-than-thou types, of course; they'll just bring up Slipknot and crystal meth. Eventually you realize that people are actually amazed you're wearing shoes, you use words with two or three syllables, and you haven't urinated in the houseplants."<br /><br />I do often hear about corn, flatness, and winter. They left out the Field of Dreams. No one seems to know about Iowa's meth problem, however.<br /><br />Although, as much as Iowans make fun of Missouri, we probably deserve everything we get.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-29643978286634025942009-10-24T20:44:00.000-07:002009-10-24T20:59:29.867-07:00Commuting CrazinessWe went to Pacific Beach Alehouse to watch the Hawkeye game tonight. (YEAH HAWKS! Last second win! You can't DO that to me!)<br /><br />Anyway, we sat with some other Iowa fans that live in Orange County. One of the girls is a PA at a hospital in LA, and she drives TWO AND A HALF HOURS ONE WAY to get to work. What?! For real?! I've heard of people doing that, but I always thought that maybe it was a rumor. I have never actually MET someone that does that. Crazy! That's over 20% of your day driving! I am simply flabbergasted.<br /><br />Her new husband wants to move back to Iowa, but she doesn't want to because she's from California. If moving to Iowa meant I didn't have to spend 5 hours driving to and from work, I'm pretty sure I'd move to Iowa.<br /><br />Go Hawks!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPqXDG696NF66lvgf0sAn9JbShaH1Ue2XEK-Gm9ArbwJSKV7R4enSlKT1ehnMgjbjdSYFSwUA7wdc_FHrLF4nKeCxjic4dSD-_-h7P5dE7UrO5hMQPRCV99d4puCYcxwRPyKatqtrPvCd/s1600-h/DSC01633.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPqXDG696NF66lvgf0sAn9JbShaH1Ue2XEK-Gm9ArbwJSKV7R4enSlKT1ehnMgjbjdSYFSwUA7wdc_FHrLF4nKeCxjic4dSD-_-h7P5dE7UrO5hMQPRCV99d4puCYcxwRPyKatqtrPvCd/s400/DSC01633.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396381904930919970" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-18746662230781079532009-10-19T22:48:00.000-07:002009-10-19T23:19:02.737-07:00About LossI lost my grandpa last weekend. He had been battling heart failure for a while and had recently been put on hospice, so it wasn't completely unexpected. The news still came as a bit of a shock, though. I'm not sure you can ever REALLY prepare yourself for the death of a loved one, even when you know it's coming. <br /><br />It was definitely difficult to be so far from home during this time. I felt very guilty about not being able to be home supporting my family. I very much look forward to going home for the holidays to give everyone a big hug and bring some closure. My cousin Jennifer tried to keep me as involved as possible by giving me a daily play-by-play of what was going on back home during the visitation and funeral. I am so thankful for her. At the funeral, they played a recording of a song that I wrote about my cousin that died 9 years ago this month. I wanted my family to know that I love and miss grandpa and so wanted to be home with them all. I hope they understand. <br /><br />I have gone through the passing of some friends and family during my life, but it has always been either sudden and unexpected or someone that was much, much too young to be at the end of their life. It has always been an extremely mournful affair. It was a totally different experience losing someone who had lived a good, long life and who had been physically suffering. Grandpa had come to terms with the fact that his time had come to leave this earth, and he was eagerly awaiting rest from his sufferings. I'm not sure I quite knew how to feel. I am very sad for our family's loss and especially for my grandma, but it is also a relief to know that he is now in a place where there is no more pain and no more tears. <br /><br />I am so grateful that my grandpa knew Jesus Christ. He had invited the Lord to be the King of his life, and he was visibly filled with a peace that can only come from our Savior. He knew he was going to heaven, and he had nothing to fear in death. We shouldn't be sad for him, but it is still hard for the rest of the family to move on. I would appreciate your prayers for our family and especially my grandma, that they would be given peace ad comfort during this time and that Jesus will use my grandpa's death to bring others closer to Him.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7034269656584528973.post-34052823734990262722009-10-15T19:13:00.000-07:002009-10-15T19:17:16.501-07:00Excuse me?! I have MAD parallel parking skillsPeople have always thought I am an excellent driver. <br /><br />Due to 1 or 2 completely random, questionable incidents, apparently people here think I am a "crazy driver."<br /><br />I am rather offended (okay, extremely offended.) <br /><br />Josh says I shouldn't take things so personally. I should work on that.<br /><br />And Californians should learn where the cruise control is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0