We officially have two cars again, yay! This past week James and I have been on the hunt for a car. It may seem like an easy task in such a large city, but being a large city is exactly our problem. Money, or lack of, also made this hunt quite challenging. But we finally found exactly what James was looking for in the price range we were planning for. We were given a bag of 40 oranges from the backyard of the previous car owner as a parting gift. He picked them off of his orange tree for us. Only in California would you close a car deal with fresh oranges! I made fresh squeezed orange juice that night... and it was quite a delicious gift!
We are now the proud owners of a 77 Datsun 280z. For those of you who are like myself you have absolutely no idea what this means, so I've posted some pictures below to aid you. I will have to post some more pictures with the full car view. I was unable to get the front of the car in the photo due to lack of time...we went to the beach today and couldn't spare much time with traffic! I've also posted some pictures from our day trip to Santa Monica beach and pier. It was a fun day. I am now a little burned but it was worth it to go to the beach. On our way home we drove through Beverly Hills with all the palm trees and cute shops. We were even able to get a glimpse of the Hollywood sign as we sat in traffic on our way home. All in all a great day and the weekend is just beginning.
Our friends Arielle and David are getting married today! We were so bummed to miss their big day. This is one of the big downfalls about moving so far away from home. We miss out as well as miss everyone. We'll definitely have to visit them when we go back to VA to visit James' parents. I'm excited I'm planning a trip home in August for my cousin's bridal shower and to celebrate my Boppa and Nana's birthdays! How fun it will be to see everyone... I'm counting the days!!!
Now begins the real work for me....job searching! Pray for me in the endeavor... it will be very challenging. I have high hopes and a great God....anything is possible with Him! Please pray that I will have discernment in my job search. That the Lord would open the doors to a wonderful opportunity that He has planned for me and that I would be able to use my talents and gifts to their fullest. We so appreciate your prayers!!!
vendredi, mai 30, 2008
vendredi, mai 23, 2008
Grocery Baggers
There is something strange going on here with the grocery baggers in Burbank....they seem like normal people, that is until you get close. Once you have reached the counter at the front of the line they turn into actors, comedians, or theologians. At first James and I thought that perhaps it was just in one location of grocery stores. Now we have in fact confirmed that this is a city-wide pandemic.
mercredi, mai 21, 2008
mardi, mai 20, 2008
Home Sweet Home?
It's been a whirl wind of craziness....after staying with our friends Joel and Amy in Fullerton, CA for a couple of nights we were off apartment hunting in Burbank, CA. I thought that I had prepared myself for the move, and perhaps I had in my own way, but this was very different indeed. We must have looked or drove to over 40 apartments. Most of the apartments were either too run down or too expensive. We finally settled on a cute 1 bedroom apartment in a safe and nice neighborhood. The only problem is that we think we could find something cheaper, so we signed a 7 month lease. This means I can't paint the apartment like we did the last one, but at least we found an apartment. We also had to jump through a lot of hoops to get the apartment.... Nothing seemed to be easy. We also had to change our insurances on both the car and the renters insurance. The costs of both doubled at least... ouch!
The same day we were finalizing our lease, James got a call for work as a production assistant for a show with E!. It was also his birthday so we were really excited for him. The only downfall was that he was going have to be at work the next day and we had to move everything in that same day. Alsop the moving truck we paid to haul our stuff to CA was too big to park outside of our apartment. So around 5pm James an I drove out to the truck hub and unpack all of our things and re-packed them into a u-haul. Then we drove the u-haul back to our apartment community. By the time we had completed this task it was really late and we were exhausted so we went to bed. The next day I was stranded at our empty apartment because James' job needed him to have the car during the day. I also had to find a way to unpack the u-haul and return the vehicle within the next day. So I passed the day by unpacking what I could of the items in the u-haul. It was really difficult and the progress was slow. Also, most apartments in CA do not come with refrigerators so I had nothing cold to drink and the temperature was in the 80s-90s. Luckily there is a nice grocery store down the block so I made frequent trips to get cold water and feel the air conditioning. Around 7pm Joel and Amy drove 45minutes to come assist me with unpacking. We are so blessed to have such amazing friends!!!! They helped me unload almost everything from the truck while James was still at work. James got home around 9pm and was able to assist with the bigger items. By 10:30 we finally had all of our boxes and furniture in the apartment. Praise God!!!! But wow it was a crazy day!
The next day we spent briefly unpacking some things and then since we had the U-haul truck we decided to craigslist a refrigerator. We found a pretty good deal and went to go pick it up. Yes, James and I then loaded and unloaded a big fridge. It was a lot of work too, but now we can keep food cold and we didn't have to rent a U-haul again. The fridge has seen some better days but hey it works and it's another item off the check list. By the time we got it home the day was done and we were whooped. That evening I continued to trip, drop, and run into boxes... it was like a maze. I think boxes can make any place look ugly and dangerous. That night I looked at my legs and couldn't believe what I saw. My legs are covered in all kinds of bruises and scratches. It was kind of painful, and very un-attractive. The next day James had work, and I made my way unpacking...box by box. Our apartment turned into a sea of flattened boxes and trash bags with packing paper. It was really hot too! But I made progress with most of it....
Sunday James had off of work and we visited one of the Mosaic churches and we met up with our friend Josh who interns with Mosaic. It was great to see him and I really enjoyed the service. It reminded me of Frontline Arlington back in Virginia. The whole multi-site church thing and the look/feel of it. Though both are still quite different, it was nice. When we got home James wanted to go check out a car for sale so we did. It was a pretty cheap car, but in the end we didn't want to make a quick decision so we decided to wait. When we came home we assembled things and put more things away... the unpacking just doesn't seem to end....
Today, James had the day off again so we awoke, and decided to go get our license and registration taken care of. Joel and Amy gave us a little insight into the CA license procedure and informed us that we would have to take a written exam. (Which was news to us we thought they would just transfer our license over.) So this morning we read up on some of the practice tests and got all of the paper work that we needed for the DMV. I was so nervous about taking the written exam... I hate tests. I also knew that you aren't allowed to miss very many or you won't pass. If I didn't pass than I would have to re-take the exam and I had no idea when I would be able to drive to the DMV again while James and I are sharing cars. James is a great test taker so I knew he would pass with flying colors. I decided to take my time with the questions and carefully read each one. As I was still taking my test, James had already completed his and I heard them telling him congratulations on passing the exam. So the pressure was on... I finally turned in my test.... and I passed!!! Yay! I only missed one more question than James did too! James and I are now registered drivers with a registered car in the state of CA. So this too was a huge blessing! It would have been incredibly difficult to coordinate another day and time to take care of our DMV responsibilities. Praise God for making this one easy.
Tonight James and I have been going through the remaining boxes... I think we have 4 or 5 left. The temperatures have been extremely hot and the ac in the apartment isn't the best it only cools one room and the windows aren't much help. We're still trying to figure out the best way to get our apartment cooler. James likes to walk around with a wet towel on... it makes me laugh :) We have a few things still left to buy... our apartment doesn't come with a microwave, we need to get a new file cabinet ours broke in the move, and we need to fix the coffee table... another moving causality. But all in all we're making progress one step at a time. James is also keeping his eye out for a car so I can begin my job hunt and go on interviews. Busy times for James and I, we're pushing hard to get the "have to's" done so we can maybe get a day off to play at the beach. James tells me the road trip isn't over until we make it to the beach, I think I agree. I'll be happy when we can join the real world and forget all the getting settled stuff... that will be nice... I think.
The same day we were finalizing our lease, James got a call for work as a production assistant for a show with E!. It was also his birthday so we were really excited for him. The only downfall was that he was going have to be at work the next day and we had to move everything in that same day. Alsop the moving truck we paid to haul our stuff to CA was too big to park outside of our apartment. So around 5pm James an I drove out to the truck hub and unpack all of our things and re-packed them into a u-haul. Then we drove the u-haul back to our apartment community. By the time we had completed this task it was really late and we were exhausted so we went to bed. The next day I was stranded at our empty apartment because James' job needed him to have the car during the day. I also had to find a way to unpack the u-haul and return the vehicle within the next day. So I passed the day by unpacking what I could of the items in the u-haul. It was really difficult and the progress was slow. Also, most apartments in CA do not come with refrigerators so I had nothing cold to drink and the temperature was in the 80s-90s. Luckily there is a nice grocery store down the block so I made frequent trips to get cold water and feel the air conditioning. Around 7pm Joel and Amy drove 45minutes to come assist me with unpacking. We are so blessed to have such amazing friends!!!! They helped me unload almost everything from the truck while James was still at work. James got home around 9pm and was able to assist with the bigger items. By 10:30 we finally had all of our boxes and furniture in the apartment. Praise God!!!! But wow it was a crazy day!
The next day we spent briefly unpacking some things and then since we had the U-haul truck we decided to craigslist a refrigerator. We found a pretty good deal and went to go pick it up. Yes, James and I then loaded and unloaded a big fridge. It was a lot of work too, but now we can keep food cold and we didn't have to rent a U-haul again. The fridge has seen some better days but hey it works and it's another item off the check list. By the time we got it home the day was done and we were whooped. That evening I continued to trip, drop, and run into boxes... it was like a maze. I think boxes can make any place look ugly and dangerous. That night I looked at my legs and couldn't believe what I saw. My legs are covered in all kinds of bruises and scratches. It was kind of painful, and very un-attractive. The next day James had work, and I made my way unpacking...box by box. Our apartment turned into a sea of flattened boxes and trash bags with packing paper. It was really hot too! But I made progress with most of it....
Sunday James had off of work and we visited one of the Mosaic churches and we met up with our friend Josh who interns with Mosaic. It was great to see him and I really enjoyed the service. It reminded me of Frontline Arlington back in Virginia. The whole multi-site church thing and the look/feel of it. Though both are still quite different, it was nice. When we got home James wanted to go check out a car for sale so we did. It was a pretty cheap car, but in the end we didn't want to make a quick decision so we decided to wait. When we came home we assembled things and put more things away... the unpacking just doesn't seem to end....
Today, James had the day off again so we awoke, and decided to go get our license and registration taken care of. Joel and Amy gave us a little insight into the CA license procedure and informed us that we would have to take a written exam. (Which was news to us we thought they would just transfer our license over.) So this morning we read up on some of the practice tests and got all of the paper work that we needed for the DMV. I was so nervous about taking the written exam... I hate tests. I also knew that you aren't allowed to miss very many or you won't pass. If I didn't pass than I would have to re-take the exam and I had no idea when I would be able to drive to the DMV again while James and I are sharing cars. James is a great test taker so I knew he would pass with flying colors. I decided to take my time with the questions and carefully read each one. As I was still taking my test, James had already completed his and I heard them telling him congratulations on passing the exam. So the pressure was on... I finally turned in my test.... and I passed!!! Yay! I only missed one more question than James did too! James and I are now registered drivers with a registered car in the state of CA. So this too was a huge blessing! It would have been incredibly difficult to coordinate another day and time to take care of our DMV responsibilities. Praise God for making this one easy.
Tonight James and I have been going through the remaining boxes... I think we have 4 or 5 left. The temperatures have been extremely hot and the ac in the apartment isn't the best it only cools one room and the windows aren't much help. We're still trying to figure out the best way to get our apartment cooler. James likes to walk around with a wet towel on... it makes me laugh :) We have a few things still left to buy... our apartment doesn't come with a microwave, we need to get a new file cabinet ours broke in the move, and we need to fix the coffee table... another moving causality. But all in all we're making progress one step at a time. James is also keeping his eye out for a car so I can begin my job hunt and go on interviews. Busy times for James and I, we're pushing hard to get the "have to's" done so we can maybe get a day off to play at the beach. James tells me the road trip isn't over until we make it to the beach, I think I agree. I'll be happy when we can join the real world and forget all the getting settled stuff... that will be nice... I think.
dimanche, mai 11, 2008
Road Trip Out West - We're Here!
Well.... we didn't have any internet access for the rest of the trip so we're here! We made it to California!!! After visiting with our friends in Nashville, TN we made our way to Dallas, TX. The drive there was very pleasant and fairly easy. We were in Dallas, TX by around 5pm and stayed with our friends Chase and Elizabeth. It was a great time to catch up with them and to hang out since it had been 2 years since I had last seen Elizabeth. We played a game of settlers, sampled Elizabeth's wonderful cake, and then went off to bed. We got an early start the next morning for our long trip to Tuscon, AZ. We left Dallas, TX around 6:30am. It was a long drive and I learned a very interesting fact too.... everyone in Texas drives a white truck. I also pulled over for the first time.... it was terrible... luckily I only got a warning. We passed many desolate looking areas as well as driving extremely close to the Mexico border which was pretty interesting too! We finally made it to Tuscon, AZ at James' Aunt and Uncles house where there was cactus plants, mountains, and warm weather. It was lovely. We had a great time hanging out with James' family. We went hiking up bear mountain the next day, and saw Tuscon wild west style at a themed dinner area. It was so much fun and James' family is amazing! Lots of fun!
On Friday we took off from Tucson, AZ at 6:30 to visit the Sadona and the Grand Canyon and camp there for a night. The drive was very pretty with many cactus plants, mountains, and sun. Seeing the scenery change as the land elevation changed was amazing. Sadona was a beautiful red rock area. We hiked in Sadona and then went into they're shopping area. It was absolutely wonderful and beautiful. We stopped at a cafe for lunch to split a sandwich and homemade slice of apple pie. It was great! Then it was off to the Grand Canyon. We made it there by 4pm and we were able to get one of the last camp sites at the national park. So we set up our tent and sleeping bags and then headed to the lookout point to get a view of the Grand Canyon at sunset. It was breath taking! I couldn't believe how amazing the canyon was!!! I loved it and how the mountains themselves looked painted. It is truly a lovely sight well worth the drive. The only part that I didn't enjoy was James pretended to jump off the cliff.
That night we cooked hot dogs on an open fire and went to bed in our tent. The Grand Canyon is really rocky and cold. So next time I would bring a mattress pad and warmer clothes. It was a beautiful night to sit by the fire and look at the stars. We awoke the next morning and make breakfast on the campfire. Then we hit the showers and took to the trails. We hiked down a beautiful trail that if we had more time to continue on the trail it would have taken us down to the bottom of the canyon. But the part we did was a great workout and was quite amazing. After the hike we drove on to California. The drive was really boring and there was literally nothing in between flagstaff and the Bristol, CA. It was so strange. But then the city life began to pick up as we drove closer to the LA area. It was a tough drive but we're here and staying with our friends Amy and Joel. We'll go to church with them tomorrow and then it is off to apartment hunt. I'm so excited to get out,look around, and to find a place to call home. Well that was a brief summary of our road trip.... it could be awhile before we get our apartment and are able to upload the photos but maybe we'll post our video soon once James finishes editing it. It was a great trip and our friends and family made the trip a wonderful memory! Praise God for getting us here safely... now to just find an apartment and jobs :)
On Friday we took off from Tucson, AZ at 6:30 to visit the Sadona and the Grand Canyon and camp there for a night. The drive was very pretty with many cactus plants, mountains, and sun. Seeing the scenery change as the land elevation changed was amazing. Sadona was a beautiful red rock area. We hiked in Sadona and then went into they're shopping area. It was absolutely wonderful and beautiful. We stopped at a cafe for lunch to split a sandwich and homemade slice of apple pie. It was great! Then it was off to the Grand Canyon. We made it there by 4pm and we were able to get one of the last camp sites at the national park. So we set up our tent and sleeping bags and then headed to the lookout point to get a view of the Grand Canyon at sunset. It was breath taking! I couldn't believe how amazing the canyon was!!! I loved it and how the mountains themselves looked painted. It is truly a lovely sight well worth the drive. The only part that I didn't enjoy was James pretended to jump off the cliff.
That night we cooked hot dogs on an open fire and went to bed in our tent. The Grand Canyon is really rocky and cold. So next time I would bring a mattress pad and warmer clothes. It was a beautiful night to sit by the fire and look at the stars. We awoke the next morning and make breakfast on the campfire. Then we hit the showers and took to the trails. We hiked down a beautiful trail that if we had more time to continue on the trail it would have taken us down to the bottom of the canyon. But the part we did was a great workout and was quite amazing. After the hike we drove on to California. The drive was really boring and there was literally nothing in between flagstaff and the Bristol, CA. It was so strange. But then the city life began to pick up as we drove closer to the LA area. It was a tough drive but we're here and staying with our friends Amy and Joel. We'll go to church with them tomorrow and then it is off to apartment hunt. I'm so excited to get out,look around, and to find a place to call home. Well that was a brief summary of our road trip.... it could be awhile before we get our apartment and are able to upload the photos but maybe we'll post our video soon once James finishes editing it. It was a great trip and our friends and family made the trip a wonderful memory! Praise God for getting us here safely... now to just find an apartment and jobs :)
lundi, mai 05, 2008
Road Trip Out West - Day One
This morning we said a heart felt goodbye to the Kanka family as we began our trip out west. It was bitter sweet for all of us. We got on the road at 6:30am and arrived in Nashville, TN at 3:30pm (Tennessee time). Along the way James and I listened to Brett Dennen, and decided that he was our new favorite artist. We also had our first experience with McDonald's iced coffee the vanilla flavor. It was worth the couple of dollars and hit the caffeine spot we were looking for. I drove the first part through the scenic VA hills and James drove the second. While James was driving I perfected my skills at his ipod game bejeweled and beat the computer at Othello twice! Then as the drive progressed, my boredom did as well. That is when I suddenly decided to draw fake tattoos on my feet. I think they turned out pretty well. Perhaps I'll post some pics. Also along the way James has frequently been video tapping our journey to document our travels. He has also been getting some extreme close-ups... of course... not too thrilled but whatever! Now its off to dinner with friends in Nashville!!! Fun! Fun!!!
dimanche, mai 04, 2008
On Our Way
I'll admit I'm naive.... I figured that 4 days would be plenty of time to pack up our apartment, load up the truck, and head out west. I was incredibly wrong in my estimations. James and I have spent the last 4-5 days packing up our apartment and loading it on the truck. (Not to mention also cleaning the apartment to get our deposit back.) We are blessed to have suck wonderful friends to help but WOW this was a lot of work. Every day we would get up early expecting to get the rest of the packing done, only to stay up late exhausted determined to get "one more box" packed. It was a learning experience for both of us. Had I known all that was involved I probably would have quit my job at least one week earlier. Our friends were such a BIG help and assisted us with some of the most difficult parts of loading and packing. Now we are at James' parents house feeling good, knowing that we are fully packed! We are fully exhausted and decided next time to just sell everything.
Things have been quite strange as we have busy in our own little world of packing. We've said a bunch of good-byes, and every time I am reminded of just how great God is. He's given us so many wonderful friendships here in VA. It's been a joy! And now we are off to build new friendships. Off to that scary beginning of moving, acquainting ourselves with California, and being the new kid once again. Please pray for us as we begin our trek and our adjustment to life out west. We are excited but there is a lot to figure out as well.
We've decided our route today and due to the laborous and tedious task of packing up our apartment we've decided to leave early Monday morning. Our first stop will be in Nashville, TN where we are hoping to see our friend Sarin. Then onto Dallas, TX where we will see our friends Chase and Elizabeth. After visisting in Dallas we'll drive to Tuscon, AZ where James' uncle Steve and family live. We'll spend a day there and then head to the Grand Canyon where we'll camp for a night. From the Grand Canyon we have two options to go to Californina or to make a stop in Las Vegas before we hit California. I'm hoping we skip Las Vegas. I think by the time Saturday gets here I'm going to be tired of the car..... not to mention I'll probably be ansy to find an apartment. So that is the plan. Today we are staying at my in-laws and enjoying the last day in VA and then we're headed off bright and early in the morning. I'll post when I can but internet will be spotty. Here's to a great adventure!!!
Things have been quite strange as we have busy in our own little world of packing. We've said a bunch of good-byes, and every time I am reminded of just how great God is. He's given us so many wonderful friendships here in VA. It's been a joy! And now we are off to build new friendships. Off to that scary beginning of moving, acquainting ourselves with California, and being the new kid once again. Please pray for us as we begin our trek and our adjustment to life out west. We are excited but there is a lot to figure out as well.
We've decided our route today and due to the laborous and tedious task of packing up our apartment we've decided to leave early Monday morning. Our first stop will be in Nashville, TN where we are hoping to see our friend Sarin. Then onto Dallas, TX where we will see our friends Chase and Elizabeth. After visisting in Dallas we'll drive to Tuscon, AZ where James' uncle Steve and family live. We'll spend a day there and then head to the Grand Canyon where we'll camp for a night. From the Grand Canyon we have two options to go to Californina or to make a stop in Las Vegas before we hit California. I'm hoping we skip Las Vegas. I think by the time Saturday gets here I'm going to be tired of the car..... not to mention I'll probably be ansy to find an apartment. So that is the plan. Today we are staying at my in-laws and enjoying the last day in VA and then we're headed off bright and early in the morning. I'll post when I can but internet will be spotty. Here's to a great adventure!!!
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