The Whole Story, so Far

…in which I respond to my Dad’s request that I update my blog. Is there anyone else out there?

Okay, let’s see…where to begin…

We live here now. It took me roughly 12 months of being a San Diego resident (the second time ’round) before I was no longer struck by the change. After just three weeks, you can imagine that I’m still pretty struck. Things that continue to strike me are:

1. The immense beauty of the colors green and blue. Trees, lakes, sky, hills… ah. Just lovely.
2. Our very very fortunate circumstance. Our house is just perfect. It’s in a really wonderful neighborhood. It’s two blocks from a lake. It’s comfortable and *feels* like our home.
3. There is an upside to rain. When you’re riding your bike, you’re far less likely to inhale a bug if it’s raining.
4. People are cool here. People who I knew already are cool, and people who I meet in our local coffee shop. They all seem to be interested/interesting/well-informed/active/creative.
5. While I am very happy, there have been real, true moments of homesick. Especially when Matt was away in SD so much these past weeks, I spent a lot of time thinking about how much I miss the easy distance between myself and my friends and family.

The moral of the story: Book your plane tickets! Come visit! We strongly recommend Alaska Airlines. 

In other news, work is great! I have been slowly getting more information/authority/responsibility for a new project, and I’m really excited. My home office has a wonderful view of the neighbor’s garden, and I spent real money on a real chair, so more hours at my desk are highly bearable.

Not surprisingly, it took me exactly three weeks to discover that I really enjoy having scheduled activities in my life.  Actually, not that long.  Two weeks.  I am very excited about a stained-glass class that I will be taking, starting in September.  It’s the technique that Tiffany made famous–free form?  copper?  I don’t remember the actual name for that style of work, but I can’t wait to actually get in there and make something cool.  Also, I’m working on finding fellow knitters.  I’m posting (in the real world and online) open invitations to a weekly knitting gathering at our local cafe.  Be with me and will one or two interesting individuals to show up!!

From the boyfriend department, Matt is doing great.  His current contracting job is equal parts frustrating and exciting, so it’s pretty much as expected there.  Right this very second he’s studying (SO cute!) for his second interview at a little company called Google.  That’s tomorrow, so keep you fingers crossed, say a prayer, then turn around and spit.  We’re very optimistic about this (me especially, as it would mean my health care would be covered).

I’m having the unique experience of sort of missing my little car.  I say sort of because I don’t really drive very much at all.  I have found my bicycle gets me pretty much everywhere I need to go, save the airport.  And truly, Matt’s Subaru is quite enjoyable, as far as carbon-emitting vehicles go, but I still miss my little Celica.

Today, it was cold and rainy.  I drank lots of tea and stayed in my pajamas until it was time to go for a long, hard ride around the lake.  Cold is good for working out, it seems.  Now I have an excuse for all the days I didn’t feel like it when I was down south: it was too hot.

Anyway, it is still pretty cold and rainy, but I’m far from miserable.  I’ll let you know, all you downers, when you get your “I told you so”s in.

Okay.  That’s it for now, and my laptop battery is about to go.  If you’re reading this, I have a request:  Leave a comment (it can be anonymous, if you want) to let me know you’re out there.  If I think someone is missing my ramblings, I’ll be far more likely to update.