It's still Christmas...

I got this sweater: We gave a young boy a tongue in cheek bib...

And had some Christmas ham. Presents were exchanged in a wild,anarchic fashion... Then we went in the hot tub, which I'm hoping turns into a Lavezzi holiday tradition! Now I'm blogging and Gabe and Mia, my sis-in-law, are playing Call of Duty, while my father-in-law looks on.

Leading up to today, I have been sad about not being with my gal pals at any time this season. But today was such a whirlwind I didn't really have time to be sad. Yay, Christmas. I hope your day was as good and peaceful as mine.

Apples and Things

Gabe and I had some people over on Friday and it was way fun. We played Apples to Apples and just sat around and chatted and it was very cool. I can't wait to do it again! But that's not surprising. If I like it, why not have more as soon as I possibly can?

So I'm going to invite people over again on Saturday, if it's not too soon for every one. Hopefully my sister-in-law will be here and we can get her to play too. The more the merrier and all that. It's so nice to be making friends in this area.

Now, not that I'm dying to get away from the AA people here, but there's something to be said about just sitting around, playing a game and being with people who would normally mix. Unfortunately most of the AA's I've bonded with in Atascadero are more religious than me. And I'm sure that is on my mind more than it is on theirs, but I feel a little uncomfortable around it sometimes. I'm working on that.

On a sad note, my boss is planning a move to Utah in the next few months. That's too bad because I think she's really cool, and we work really well together. So hopefully the new supervisor will live up to my expectations or I will have to ask for a transfer, or quit. Neither of which I'd like! Here's a picture of my awesome boss, from Halloween time:

We are just about always having as much fun as she is in that picture.

Gabe totally supports my feelings about the Starbucks situation, which is nice. He gets that this job is a happy thing for me, and I have just come from a situation where going to work felt like a chore and made me really unhappy. So I know he's got my back and we'd work something else out if this whole coffee thing fell through.

I have a friend who just moved to Montreal for work (from Burbank OMG culture shock much?) and she sends these amazing emails detailing her experiences there. I wish she'd get a camera and send some pictures out, and that she'd get a blog so I could turn you guys on to her story. It's really way more interesting than mine, that's for sure!


That's right Jackie! I'm calling you out in front of the whole blogosphere. Ha!



And, finally, here's a picture of me and some of my co-worker wishing every one a happy holiday season.

Winter-y things

It's been cold here. "Duh," my husband says. "It's December," he says. Well, okay but I still have never woken up to this before:

That's frost. On my lawn. It's probably on my lawn a lot, but I leave before there's light to see it by. I keep telling Gabe how cold it is, which explains his response (see above). What else do you say after the 50th time some one remarks about how cold it is?

I can't help it, when I go outside my brain refuses to function except to mention that, Wow, it's cold. And then it just pops out of my mouth to whomever is closest. Sometimes it's just me, and then I say it to myself.

Gabe and I hung Christmas lights in our front hall. They look really great there. I'm going to see how long he'll let me keep them up. Probably at least til the new year.

Merry Merry

I took some pictures from my balcony during sunset that I thought were pretty cool. The path of the sun is very noticeable from my living room, we have been able to observe how the earth's tilt affects the way the sun moves across our sky. Right now the sun is setting behind the trees in our front lawn, as opposed to all summer where it sank into the north.

Also, in news more exciting than the sunset: we got a Christmas tree! Woo hoo. We decided to pick two colors and went with blue and gold. It wasn't until I was done shopping for ornaments that I remembered -yes- those are the Rams' colors. I don't know why I didn't realize that before... but any ways I think our tree is beautiful. And seeing as I haven't had a tree in years, I am really stoked. We decorated it together which was very sweet. There are presents under it and everything. Plus it twinkles in a very merry way.

Good Morning!

Getting more and more excited for Christmas, although I am trying to soak it all in. It's not necessarily the day of the 25th that's so exciting as much as the whole spirit of Christmas that (hopefully) hangs around for the days leading up to it. In that light, I am listening to Christmas music that I adore, and wearing little Christmas earrings to work every day.

My shopping is almost done so I'm not all stressed out about that. I usually do pretty good in that area. This year for Gabe I got him a couple small things I think he needs/will like and I'm leaving it at that. It's so hard because the past couple of years I've been trying to top myself over and over, but I'm just setting the bar too high. It's supposed to be the thought that counts.

Speaking of all this Christmas cheer, I got my feelings hurt for the first time at work yesterday. A woman came in and was SO. RUDE. Usually I just laugh it off later but for some reason she did it the right way- making me feel like a piece of trash. I hope that it relieved some pressure off of her, whatever was bugging her yesterday. Really, I was shocked at how awful I felt, so I hope that it helped her out in some way. Otherwise it was just wasted meanness!

My mom's boyfriend is in town, he got a job at the power plant (he's an electrician). I guess it pays pretty well and stuff, but I'm hoping this is just the first in a string of things that gets them to move up here. I would like my mom close. And if she could get my brother to come with her, that would be the COOLEST.

Well that's all for now, I'll try and keep you posted on our holidays this year. I hope you're enjoying the spirit of Christmas where ever you are!

Talking Turkey

*groan*

Sorry about the title of this post... I couldn't help myself!

Thanksgiving was freakin' awesome!! And I'm not exaggerating. It was so cool. My father and sister-in-law came up here, with my little brother in tow. My husband's business partner, Sam, came over and brought his little family and his mother and sister-in-law. There were 9 grown-ups and one 1 year old. We watched football (boring blow-outs) and talked and prepped and cooked and ate (food was good!) and then... we played Apples to Apples. Any day that has Apples to Apples in it is a good day to me.

My mom and her boyfriend, Joe, showed up around 9pm on Thursday. Joe and Gabe set up the hot tub on Friday. We had to let it heat up, but Saturday morning, I didn't work so we woke up and got in. Every one was had left by then and we just soaked and relaxed. We got in it again last night, there are so many stars visible around here! It's so different than where I used to live, with only the brightest stars shining through the light pollution.

The cool thing is that my sister-in-law really liked it up here, and I think we're going to have family here again at Christmas time. I'm very excited for that. I'm just excited for the holidays in general! My only complaint is that I can't get down to Disneyland!! Obviously, I have quality problems...

Remember How I Said...

... that my family was coming and that it was all very exciting?

Well. It's been way more exciting than I've bargained for because everything has been mostly up in the air. Maybe they're coming, maybe they're not. Well, this day, no wait this day. AHHHHHH!!! Now maybe you thrive in this type of environment, but me, Miss Type-A-Plans-Christmas-in-June is having a little bit of a rough time with this whole thing. I'm not suffering by any stretch of the imagination... but for some one who likes to know in advance, all this... fluidity... can be a bit stress inducing.

So I'm hanging loose. I bought a 17 pound turkey today. I hope that is enough for however many people are going to be here. I got all the fixins. Gabe will cook the bird, and we'll probably split the rest down the middle somewhere.

If I were you, I'd avoid grocery stores, Target, Trader Joe's. And my condolences if you try to step a foot into Costco. It's only going to get worse, and I feel very, very sorry for y'all who live in SoCal. BUT! We can be grateful if there is any money to spend at all, right?

Oh BTW it's RAINING!! Beautiful pitter-pattering on my rooftop, authentic California rain. It makes me want to cozy up and have a fire.

To all my friends in family in Burbank and further, I am thinking of you this week of thankfulness. I miss you and wish we could all be together. Good luck and many blessings on this most grateful of holidays.

Saint Gabriel

I made plans last month for my aunt and cousin to visit us this weekend. The weekend before Thanksgiving- we are going to make special Greek cookies that my aunt Teddi has made forever around the holidays. So that's two.

Gabe and I got a spa the other day and need it hooked up. I think I mentioned that my mom's boyfriend was going to come up and get electrifying on it's behind. Well, he didn't get back from New Jersey til yesterday. So he wanted to go home for a little while before he took the trip up here. Well, somewhere in all this my mother decided she wanted to come with.

They should be up here in the next few days. Possibly arriving the exact same moment as my cousin and aunt. Who knows, as all the details haven't been completely ironed out yet. So now we're up to four.

But wait! There's more!

My godmothers have decided that they'd like to tag along with my mom when she comes up. And their little dog too. No, I am not kidding. That makes six, not including Princess the pooch, due to arrive sometime this weekend.

Then when they're all gone, the party's just begun. For then, Thanksgiving will be upon us, with more family descending upon us for the weekend. Beyond all that, my friend is coming up the Tuesday after Thanksgiving on her winter break.

To me, this is like a party dream come true. I love my family and spent many years apart from them. So to see them in the comfort of my own home and extend my hospitality to them helps to make amends in our relationships. Plus they're so fun to me! And I have been hoping to see this particular friend make it up here for a while now.

I would be totally fine with it, if the tables were turned. But I live to host and have houseguests. I can't really expect Gabe to be all thrilled, but he's totally cool with everything, including my family all deciding to pile in at once. Maybe it's just a stereotype, but I expected him to be way less okay. Yay, husband!

Frustrated

I am a little frustrated that my plans to go to Disneyland have been foiled. It's not the end of the world, of course. But I was looking forward to seeing the lovely Kate and even possibly my new friend Giddy. The positive is that the reason I am not going is because I am going to practice being a learning coach. On a real live person.

I'm excited yet nervous. I was supposed to start training some one a week ago, but the dude called the day before he was supposed to start and told my boss he wasn't taking the job. So I figure that was my reprieve. Now, it's time for me to start using my "bossy skills." We'll see how it goes...

My mom is coming in a few days, with her boyfriend. He's going to hook up our new (used) hot tub! Holy cow... my poor aching feet and legs can't wait! I'm excited to see my mom but at the same time it means she's not coming for Thanksgiving which makes me kinda sad. However, my brother is coming and so is my father- and sister-in-law, with her boyfriend. So the house should be pleasantly full any way.

I am looking forward to the holidays, especially now that I work retail! It was always really sad and pathetic trying to decorate where I used to work because it was way too large. So there'd be like a tree and a ribbon. And the same 3 Christmas songs on the radio. LAME!

Anyways! Thank God that's over.

What's your Turkey Day looking like this year?

Something to Say

Monday's party went great! Lots of ladies showed up and a good time was had by all. At least that's what they say... I had a good time, at least. Those ladies love each other so much and seem to have decided that I am one of them, FINALLY!

Jennie was up and she was a blast. I felt like I barely had any time to hang out with her before it was time for her to get on the road. We had the party on Monday and went shopping on Tuesday in downtown SLO then later did the hot springs in Paso. We watched a movie (Dawn of the Dead 2004) on Wednesday night. Then it was time for her to go. Oh well, she'll be back. Soon!




My cousin is due to arrive in a few days with her precious baby daughter, who was Tinker Bell for Halloween. LOOK:

That's pretty darn cute. I would totally rock those tights if they came in my size!

Monday I start training a new barista and I'm excited but nervous. I was hoping to get some time off on Monday or Tuesday but I pretty much can't since I'm going to be working with some one. So my cousin will have to fend for herself for the mornings she is here. I'll make up for it in the afternoon, Kim. I promise.

Not that I want to get in any way political in this forum (or any other! Like you give a shit what I think about politics) but I will say I'm excited for the change of president to come already! I can't imagine becoming president-elect and then having to wait 3 or 4 months to start. It's like getting told you're going to get the best Christmas present ever while being eaten by a monster... but first you have to wait. How glorious and terrifying.

Have I told you I LOVE the library system up here? I figured out that I have saved a bazillion dollars on new books, using the Black Gold Library System's free transfer of books between libraries. The whole SLO and SB counties are in on it, and I can rent a book from any library in those 2 counties and they will deliver it to my library down the street. A BAZILLION DOLLARS! I swear.

So that's my something to say. I felt like I had a lot going on and wanted you to know about it. Now you do and I can finally walk away from my computer without that uneasy blogless feeling.

Pumpkins and SuperSam

I carved a pumpkin and her name was Tinker Bell. Don't act like you're surprised.My husband also carved a pumpkin:

Sam came by with his 11 month old dressed as Superman. The child's name is Sam Jr. So I called him SuperSam. He didn't care much what I called him as he's not into the whole talking thing yet. We watched What Lies Beneath for spooky fun. All in all a good night. We had exactly one trick or treater. That's what happens when you live on a street with out sidewalks.

Did you carve a pumpkin?

Happy Halloween

It's rainy and gloomy and perfect! Above are my "costume socks" that I wore to work and below, my Halloween face I am wearing right now, thinking about how much I love my socks. I also put on a lot of mascara and black eyeliner to celebrate the season. Not that you can tell in this picture though. The camera adds 10 pounds on your body and erases 80% of your make-up. Hardly fair.

Hopefully I will have jack o lantern pictures for you later. Yes I am lame and haven't carved my pumpkins yet. I know it's Halloween already. Boo!

Chili and Things

I made chili yesterday in my slow cooker. I cooked it for 6 hours or so, even though it was mostly canned ingredients. Canned beans, canned corn, jar of salsa. But I did roast jalapenos and red, orange and yellow bell peppers for it. Then my husband barbecued a pork tenderloin and a couple tri-tip steaks for the pot. It tastes really good. There are 4 jalapenos in there too, so it's very spicy. Spicy and GOOD!

*Sigh* I love food. I would take a picture of it for you but I'm afraid it just wouldn't look very appetizing. So just use your mind's eye and imagine a colorful veggie, bean and meat packed stew of yum. Okay, I know it's 5:45am but now I must have some.

Today I'm meeting with my sponsor, Linda. She's the coolest lady. I'm very happy to have fallen in with her. A gal she sponsors is one of my favorite people up here.

I bought a treadmill. It's gigantor. Huge. When we set it up, its gravitational pull attracted a small moon. I kind of over-bought because it was such a great deal. Beware the great deal, people. Although now that I'm more used to it, I do have to say I love it. Even though it has a helm like the Enterprise!

I'm so ready for Halloween. Scary movie, check. Pumpkins to carve, check. Five and a half foot tall motion sensor scarecrow to terrify small children, check! I don't do costumes per se but I do do knee-high black and orange striped socks. I love them!

If I don't talk to you before then, have a very scary Halloween.

Another Hiking Trip

Montana de Oro: Hello gorgeous! Gabe and I went to this new place to hike on Wednesday. It is a little different than the other hikes in that it's very beachy interactive. Obviously there was a starfish:



Things have been looking up for me. I am finding my place among the gals of this town and settling in more and more. They are very sweet women and a few of them are just absolute dolls.
Unlike the economy, I am sensing an upward trend. One of them asked me when I was throwing my next party. I told her we will have a get together when Jennie is here...

We are going to Burbank for my sister-in-law's birthday pretty soon here and I'm hoping to squeeze in some time with my gals, but it's such short notice! Really other than a trip to LA, there's nothing going on until Jennie gets here. She's due to arrive next Monday and we always enjoy her visits! Then my cousin is coming a few days later to hang with her child in a quieter place. I am so looking forward to seeing my little niece, and my cousin too.

We still haven't figured out the holidays so I won't even go into that.

I leave you with the most dramatic of pictures:

All Better!

It hasn't exactly been happy times in my head lately, although everything is exactly the same on the outside. I've been trapped in self-pity and it's so ugly that I couldn't stand to spew my junk on all of you... hence the lack of blogging.

I have been dealing with the reality that what people say isn't always what they do. This is not excluding myself, of course. But I understand when I do it! When you do it, I feel disappointed and hurt. And even more dangerously, I start taking it personally. It took a lot of pep talks from my husband to help me get over myself.

Now that that is over, I feel free and ready to blog again! I bet you're relieved...

In happy news, I got an iPhone!! Yay. I've been coveting Gabe's since he got it a year ago and I was finally able to change phones. So I went for it. Now I have a new toy that takes up a considerable amount of my attention. It's so interactive, and even technotarded me can understand it.

I got an AA sponsor up here finally and I think that's going to help me out with the self-pity and just in general. It's nice to feel connected and to have some one to work with. A gal that I went hiking with once keeps coming into Starbucks for a drink and telling me we should connect. YAY! I'm going to call her in the next couple of days and just try to get coffee with her or something.

Yesterday I took a class to become a Starbucks learning coach, so that I can train new baristas. As we were sitting there in the class I realized I was signing up for something that was going to make me "responsible" which is practically a dirty word. But I realize it's something I do very naturally anyway and so I might as well have some official authority behind my "instruction."

Other than that, nothing really exciting has been going on. The holidays are coming which I usually love. I wonder how it's going to be this year, up here away from the party circuit? I'm interested to see what happens, if there are parties and festivities up here or if I'm going to have to make a party myself. Not that I'd mind that terribly.

I can't believe I've been up here for 10 months. Trip.

Early Morning Thoughts

I started this blog to document my move to a new place and to keep everyone posted on my life in general while I'm so far away. Fortunately, I've been able to find plenty of new ways to communicate with my friends down south and don't feel particularly cut off.

Still, this blog is way fun and so even though I don't really have a lot of newsworthy stuff afoot, I don't plan to give it up any time soon. Talking to people who aren't there is one of my specialties any way!

Gabe and I were in Burbank over the weekend (again) because we went down to see Wicked (again!). My hubby's such a good sport, he's seen it 3 times now and didn't complain hardly at all before we went. Afterwards we both agreed it wasn't the best version we had seen, though.

We went with a couple from Atascadero and I was hoping to get to know them a little better but they didn't even get to the theater til after the lights had gone down, and when went out to post-Wicked dinner, she mostly bonded with her friend from kindergarten she had invited along. So much for that plan.

We went to dinner at LALA's on Melrose. Great food, but disappointing service. After waiting 20 minutes for menus, one of us asked a staff member if we had a waiter. A long moment of silence followed, and "I don't know" was the actual answer we received. Eventually things got straightened out, our food came and all was almost forgiven.

This weekend, I have a big event going on at my house. A very talented massage therapist graces me with her presence once a month, and we decided to throw a spa party. Now, I've got 10 appointments available and exactly ONE got filled. People here are so frustrating. We'll see if any one even actually shows up. Well, besides the one appointment.

Looking back, I see things I could have done differently to coordinate and plan better. But the flyers are out and there's really no turning back.

So when I say "big event" I mean that there's a possibility I might have some people over... or not. Who knows... the way I look at it, it's an opportunity for me to open my doors, be welcoming and hopefully make at least one friend out of this whole shenanigan. Plus! Helllllooooo chocolate fountain!

On a happier note, work is going well and I'm trying to make connections there with the people I work with. Everyone there likes to have fun so it's really never boring. More recently, I've been working past the big morning rush and actually getting to relax for a few minutes at a time, and get to speak to customers a little longer and conversate with my fellow Starbucks partners.

Now I'm off to work!

More Hiking Pics

Gratuitous Gnome Photo: Into the woods we go! On the left is my new friend Marie, then Brandi my hiking buddy and boss, plus Scooter our tour guide.
Here's the actual trail we were on:

Here's some more pictures of this trail and it's surrounding areas. This one is in San Simeon and gee golly wiz is it pretty.



I can't believe I live so close to this beautiful awesomeness. It's almost (what? I said almost!) as good as Disneyland. Minus the soft serve ice cream stands.

All this hiking is a really good workout but unfortunately I keep eating too much to see any results... Soooo it looks like I'm going to be embarking on a new WLJ (weight loss journey... stop retching) through work. I feel like I might be getting a little bored with the whole Weight Watchers thing. Even though I love it and know it works, I am not doing it so much right now and I think it's because the challenge is gone. So I'm switching it up.

I'm going down to LA in a few days again to see Wicked the Musical for, oh, the 4th time. I swear I'm done for a year or so after that! It helps that it's leaving LA pretty soon and I have no plans to visit Broadway. We're going with a friend of Gabe's and his girlfriend so hopefully it will be some kinda fun double date thing. Wish my socially awkward self good luck.

Disneyland!

I was down in Burbank the past 3 days and as usual, I stayed pretty busy.


A couple of weeks ago I locked up a date with the ultra-busy Kate for us to go to Disneyland. Giddy was going to meet us there and everything. I made plans to go down to Burbank on Sunday to be fresh and ready to go Monday morning... And then disaster struck! Kate was going to be forced to work by her evil monster of a boss. I was, like, totally bummed. I decided just to mope down to Burbank on Monday instead.


Then I got a call from Kate on Sunday saying she was magically available to go to Disneyland the next day because she was going to quit her horribly toxic job. An hour after I congratulate her and hang up, I'm packed and waving good-bye to the husband and dog, merrily on my way to L.A.


We had a great time! We did not go on the Matterhorn, as I have enough issues with my neck and back thankyouverymuch, but I did snap this photo of its iconic silhouette. I had to look up how to spell "silhouette" because even the correct spelling looks horribly wrong. Moving on.

Here's a picture of my lovely friend on the Alice in Wonderland ride.

We went on Kate's favorite ride, Heimlichs Chew Chew Train. It goes very slowly, yet only lasts about 45 seconds. When you go through the big animal cracker-box, it smells like animal crackers... and when you go through giant watermelon, it spits watermelon scent on you. Um. Moving on.

Here's the hams, hammin' it up. Giddy, Mr. Giddy and Kate at California Screamin.'

We also went on the new Toy Story Mania and HOLY CRAP it was fun. I'd have taken pictures but I was too busy gettting my heinie kicked by the lovely, gentle Kate. I'll get you next time!

I got a Halloween decoration because I love Halloween. Oh, and Tinkerbell is all right too, I guess. If you're into that sort of thing.



Then after we had fun at Walt's Place, Kate took me down the road to Angel's Stadium where I met my hubby for a Yankee spankin' game of baseball. Final score that day: Angels won 12 to 1. (BTW, the Angels clinched the AL West today. I know you don't care but I'm excited.) We had great seats and there was a bench-clearing brawl that was awesome.

That was my Monday.

On Tuesday, I went shopping! I met a couple of girlfriends for dinner where we gabbed and they showered me with love. Then I went to my old meeting hall and got to sit in on a great women's meeting.

Today I got to wear my wedding dress again (long story), which is good because I LOVE IT. All in all, a very good trip. And now I'm home. YAY home!

9 Years

Nine years ago tonight I was having one of the saddest, loneliest nights of my life. Little did I know what I had in store for me the next day, or the next decade!

I was by myself trying to get through a 12-pack of MGD, not getting drunk. It was as if I had become immune to the effects of alcohol. So I just packed a bag for the rehab I was going to the next day, and went to bed.

The rest is frickin' awesome history! Yes, there have been some seriously difficult challenges the past 9 years. Mostly of my own making and never too big to get over with a little help from my friends and a higher power.

Talking about believing in a power greater than myself is a little strange, but the actual belief part feels natural, like it's always been there. I guess in some ways it has. I can say that my higher power speaks to me through my fellow alcoholics. I have had many people in AA say just the right thing at just the right time, when I was ready to listen.

In the past 8 months I've had to rely more on my abstract faith than the concrete contact with other alcoholics that I had depended on my whole sobriety. It's been quite a learning experience, and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm happy, joyous and free due to working the 12 steps and practicing an upright and honest life.

I'm SO excited to be sober for so long (even though I can't really take all the credit)! Who knows what kind of life I'd have--if any. Instead of misery and hopelessness, I have a way of life that allows me to have a purpose. And I never have to do anything alone. That in itself is worth the price of admission.

Cedric Meets New Heights

I went to Bishop's Peak again with some ladies from work, one who dubbed Cedric "the roamin' gnome." I like it. Here's Cedric at the bottom of the mountain. He has no idea the bouncy ride he's in for at the bottom of my hiking purse. Yes, I carry a purse when I hike. And yes, I know that's ridiculous. But how else can I hold my pepper spray, chapstick, water, driver's license, credit card, $20 bill and a freakin' gnome in my hands all the way up a mountain? What? I like to be prepared!




















These are my co-workers soaking up the view from the top.



























Some people like to climb rocks that hang over long drops. I'm not sure that I can appreciate that. Cedric is so nervous about it, he can't even watch.




















This is a beautiful view of the men's prison facility, with my lovely gnome posing smugly in front of it.





















And finally, the Ladies of Starbucks. From left to right it's Brandi, Megan, Cedric and then ME!

The weirdest thing about me climbing a mountain is that I want to do it again. Like, a third time. And I don't plan to stop after that. What's weird about it is 1) it's outside and 2) it's exercise. Together. I don't know what is happening to me in my old age.

In other non-mountainous news, Jennie arrived late last night for her regularly scheduled visit. YAY! We were going to go the water park but it's CLOSED because school starts again this week. Yes, that's right, I didn't go to the water park one time this summer. Fortunately I'm going to have another chance next year, or else I'd throw a fit.

So we're going to the beach instead. SPF 50, here I come...

Izzy and Scooter

This is a photo of Cedric with my co-workers, Isabelle and Scott (aka Izzy and Scooter). They are very nice young people! Unfortunately, today is Izzy's last day so we are sad to see her leave.

I am still enjoying my time at Starbucks although my hours have stepped up a bit because so many people are leaving. School is starting and a lot of people have moved... so we're a bit strapped. But hey, it's all an adventure.




I have been a bit more active lately. I went to the park Saturday night and listened to a live band and chatted with a friend. Sunday was a pool party at an AA woman's house that was well attended. It was good for me to see so many women together in one spot, not at a meeting.

It makes me hopeful for my own party that is brewing in my head...

Bishop's Peak

I know I've been a little whiny one-note lately... But I'm being proactive.

Yesterday evening I hiked up Bishop's Peak with a new friend... But, Angela you say, you don't go hiking for the love of Joseph! And I reply: Hey, I was invited somewhere and I wasn't about to turn it down.

I was sucking some serious wind but I made it to the top. I was so grateful to my feet for making it to the top, I snapped a picture of them and promised them their 15 minutes of blog fame: I'm not sore, thanks to the step classes I take I guess. So that's good. I would even do it again. Especially since I forgot Cedric, and he would just love the panoramic views. You remember Cedric:

And here's the view from the top:

There are many reasons that choosing to say yes to a hiking invitation was a good thing to do, but the biggest reason is definitely that I'm showing the universe some willingness.

Meet Liz

I found a lizard on our screen yesterday. It was so tiny! Just another brush with nature, up here in the sticks...

I finally got the number of who to contact for the meeting hall I'd like to use Friday nights. I ended up going to the place while there was a meeting on and there was a number posted on the wall. Now I just have to call it. *sigh* All this work I must do...

Here's a weird thing:

I am at work yesterday and I look up at the next customer who just happens to be some one I know from Burbank. She asks me what I'm doing there and since I'm the one in the apron I feel like I can say "Oh no what are you doing here?" I figured she must be on her way to parts north. But no. She moved here two weeks ago, with her son. She lives less than 10 miles away from me.What a bizarre moment that was.

I don't know her well but we were always cordial enough. So I invited her to join me at a meeting tonight, but I had to leave a message. That's right people! I used a PHONE. Don't any one drop dead out there. I haven't heard back from her but the day ain't over yet!

I don't remember if I've mentioned my boss yet. Anyways, she's cool and I think we're going to eventually hang out. That makes me happy. She actually seems very interested in hanging out, unlike the lady I went out with on Tuesday.

The woman I went out with on Tuesday was, by her own admission, stepping out of her comfort zone. I won't name names but that was a really uncomfortable 45 minutes. She is really nice but just doesn't like women much yet. I am a woman, hence the awkward-osity of lunch. It was nice of her to try though.

That's the saga of lately. I'll let you know if I see that lizard again.

Party?

Friday was fun. Only two women showed up but they came ready to have a good time! We played the Wii for a while and talked for a while. There was just a little snacking.

Although I had a great time with Tish and Mo, I have to say I was disappointed that no one else made it. I will simply have to keep trying, and maybe even try harder. Eventually I will force people to have a good time with me.

My next plan of attack is to start a meeting. It will be a meditation meeting on Friday nights, hopefully down the street from my home. I just have to get the information for the meeting hall, somehow, some way. There is no google listing, no 411, nothing in the phone book. I guess I will have to make a trip down there, probably tonight.

I'm going to have lunch with a woman tomorrow, we've never really talked a lot before so I look forward to getting to know her a little better. She seems really nice but doesn't go to the women's meetings... at least not the ones that I go to. Not that there's a huge selection! Anyways, I'm hoping we can be friendlier, if not actual friends.

Attack of the Self-Doubt

I invited a few women over to my house tomorrow night. It was really scary, hard to click the send button on the invitation...

Every time I throw a party I'm all jazzed until about an hour before when I realize that NO ONE IS COMING. And that I'm a total idiot and they're all going to laugh at me.

But then what usually happened in Burbank is the doorbell would ring and my friends would come in and make merry with me.

We'll see what happens in Atascadero. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

BTW, if you're reading this and you're a woman I have at least shared email addresses with, you are invited too. Come on by!

Hmmmmmmmmm

Life is just humming along.

I had houseguests for almost 2 weeks straight and it's kind of weird to be here, just Gabe and me. Not that I don't love visitors! But it's hard to be "on" all the time, always feeling like I needed to be entertaining.

Now that the fires have gone away, our air quality is slowly returning to normal. I swear it looked like the San Fernando Valley around here. All nasty and smoggy.

I'm still loving the job, my co-workers are really nice and supportive. And boy is it satisfying to make a drink well. I like small, easily attainable goals thankyouverymuch. I've never worked in the food service industry, or any face to face job. Thankfully I'm not in the complaint department!

Gabe gave me an easel for our 1st wedding anniversary...









I painted a couple pictures for my bathroom:

The top one is still a work in progress, but the bottom one makes me happy! I love painting, it's seriously impossible to think of anything else.

And I've been watching a lot of HGTV. A lot. Home & Garden TV. Yes, I'm imagining a "feature wall" in the living room and a complete redo of our fireplace. I'm talking sledgehammers and riverstone. I need help and I can admit it.

Like I said, life is humming along. I've kinda figured out a plan of attack to gain some girlfriends up here. It mostly involves playing games, and well, meditation. I'll keep you updated.

Is it the middle of July already?!

My mom has gone back to Phoenix after a very pleasant stay. We didn't do a whole lot of sight seeing, but we managed to make it to Morro Bay once. I was a little disappointed, my favorite scenic drive (the 46 West to Cambria) was completely ruined by haze from all the big fires. We're smack dab in the middle of the Goleta and Big Sur blazes.

The sunsets have been beautiful, reds and oranges and pinks. But during the day most of the time my mom was in town it almost looked like LA with a thick hazy, smoky nasty air quality. Of course, the day after she leaves, the wind kicks in and it's just gorgeous again! Big fluffy clouds sailing by on a bright blue backdrop.

This morning I have been mentally planning my attack on the women of the Central Coast. I think I'm going to start a meeting, as soon as I figure out how to rent some space to do that in. That's as far as I've gotten, it's too early to make any real decisions.

My friend Jennie is coming up on Monday and I'm excited to spend some time with her. She wants to watch the third season of Buffy which I just happen to have on DVD. So, between that and eating cheese, she and I will probably have quite a rockin' time.

Have a great weekend every one! Here's my favorite picture of Tahiti to get you in the mood:

07/07/08

Yesterday was Gabe and my first wedding anniversary. We had a great day, just chillin' and watching The Office after sleeping in til after 8am! We went to dinner and ate really well.

But mostly we just marvelled at the year. We did so much this past year, including getting married and moving 200 miles away from home and our support system. It's been great spending time and being there for each other. I love that he is officially and legally my family.

The best part of the whole thing is that I still feel like I'm living a fairy tale princess life. The feeling that it's all going to be taken from me at any second has all but disappeared over the past year. People who say marriage doesn't change anything... I don't know about that. I feel safer and happier than I have ever felt. YAY!!