Here's to Last Minute Getaways

I 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!

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...
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,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. 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.
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!
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 :-)

End of a Hiatus

I 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.)

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.

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.

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.

Thanks, grandma, for the motivation!

Thanksgiving Away from Home

Thanksgiving 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.

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.

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.

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.

So I guess our first Thanksgiving away from home was a success, though we wished we were home.

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.

Dogs, Dogs Everywhere

San 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.)

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.

Things Josh Didn't Know About Me #1

When 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.

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.

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.)

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?!)

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...)

I'm pretty sure, though, that he is silently refusing to let me con him into getting my car washed for me. Darn it.

The Corn State

Following 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.

"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."

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.

Although, as much as Iowans make fun of Missouri, we probably deserve everything we get.

Commuting Craziness

We went to Pacific Beach Alehouse to watch the Hawkeye game tonight. (YEAH HAWKS! Last second win! You can't DO that to me!)

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.

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.

Go Hawks!!