We spend our lives making a living.

It's November, NOVEMBER. When did that even happen?!? I seem to be missing time, or better yet, time seems to be missing me.

Here is what we have been up to.

We went to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. Met up with Andy and Chey and played some wonderfully inappropriate rounds of "Cards Against Humanity" which is like Apples to Apples except with a bite. It was a beautiful day in the city to be spent with friends laughing and walking amongst throngs of people, bikes and more people.



We went skydiving. What a rush. You would think that it would feel like you are falling to your death, but as I jumped out of the plane and started the free fall, it actually felt like I was floating. I could turn my body and see everything for miles and miles. Even though we went with ten other people, in those moments you felt infinitely alone and free.


Parachute problems. I looked like a beaten stepchild for days. Bruises and burns everywhere. This was the just the beginning of one of the bruises.

Back on solid ground. Safe and sound.


I got Above and Beyond at work. Basically employee of the month. Complete with a bonus and my own parking spot. It's nice to feel appreciated and special.



I made more for my work. Some people didnt get the memo that you have to wait to take a bite of it until after you take the picture.

We also made time to go to the Bad Dad's art show in SF. It was all art inspired by Wes Anderson movies and characters. And, because it was so close to Halloween, just driving to the gallery was like an art show in and of itself, between the usual crazies on the streets of SF and the ones that came out for the night all dressed up, it was quite fun.





We went down to L.A. for a family funeral and for Haley's performance at Disneyland. It was a whirlwind trip, but fun. 6 hours down and back of non-stop talking, laughing, and singing off-key with mom. I'm so lucky.
Haley and I waiting to go from funeral, to the Happiest Place on Earth, oh what a day.


This is Dotty. She is the fattest little baby bulldog you ever did see. My attempts at putting her in my purse and stealing her were unsuccessful, maybe next time. Puppy love, nothing beats it.


Due to lack of time and energy, my posts have been mostly picture updates and very few words... I wish this wasn't the case.

Up next, Thanksgiving, Haley turns 18, brisk winter mornings and evenings, and lots of chai and pumpkin everything. I love Fall and I love when it turns into Winter.

Recap. Relive. Rebuild.

This summer has literally come and gone. We are already in August, which is pretty much September, and September is basically Fall...Here are some of the few times I got to actually do summer things:

Renegade CraftFair at Fort Mason. We fell in love.


Everyone was 3-D.


New patches for my jacket that I spilled bleach on.


New necklace from the CraftFair.


Mustache.


Art Murmur with ZeroFriend's opening.


A rendezvous to Santa Cruz and Jonah playing at The Crepe place.


We went midnight bowling for some of Miles' co-workers. It was just as much fun to watch from a safe distance as it was to participate.


Morning Milkshakes.


Miles is in school full time, and working. I changed departments at my work and have doubled my hours, just in time for State Survey last week. It was the craziest and busiest week I have had in a while, but I am glad to say that we did really well, and more importantly, we all survived.

These next few months with be a big transition. Let's see how this goes. We have made the decision to avoid paying rent, and to move back into a room at my moms for a year or so while we are both in school. We are hoping to save money, and be less stressed over rent and our apartment, and just focus on what needs to get done. Then, when we are done, we will have time to look into finding a more permanent arrangement with more funds and time available. So here is to family dinners and cramped bathrooms all in the name of love.

Coming up... A day of boating and a last minute trip to Seattle, Whistler, Vancouver, and Victoria...

Familyandfriends.

It's the middle of summer, and the weather feels perfect today. Not too hot, with a small breeze. Picnic weather.

A few weekends ago we had our engagement party. It was perfect. All of our close friends and family came out to celebrate. The highlight of the day was definitely the chocolate fountain. After a morning of failures with two fountains that we had borrowed from friends, we went out and bought one. Who knew a fountain full of chocolate could be so maddening, but it was all worth it. We had strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels, rice krispies, fortune cookies, and the pièce de résistance, the bacon. There were some skeptic about bacon dipped in chocolate, but at the end of the day, everyone was believer. There was another table full of hors d'oeuvres and the like.

The dessert table before it got covered in chocolatey drips, and without Kristine's amazing cake pop and chocolate mouse cups.



Under the chuppah.


Fourth of July was laid back and mellow. With Miles and I both in school (him more than me currently) and working, a day off was nice. We went to the Berkeley Marina and walked around in the morning, and then headed over to my mom's for a ping-pong tournament of epic proportions and some bbq dinner. When it was dark, we hiked down to the park and planted ourselves amongst the children donned in glowsticks and light-up shoes to watch fireworks. We went home and climbed into bed to get ready for our new packed to gills schedules for the week.

These guys were just hanging out, swimming in the sky.




I think I am addicted to the show 'Hoarders'... I'm addicted to their addiction.

Aloha Aloha. Hello Goodbye.

School is done. Summer is definitely here.

I finished physiology and organic chemistry about a month ago and the grades are good, thank god. I am now in my LAST class before my program, online nutrition, should be easy compared to the others.

Miles and I trotted off to Hawaii for ten days. We stayed in Kona in a two bedroom\2ba resort condo with my mom, Brad and Haley. We were right on the ocean, and could sit out on the lanai and watch the dolphins swimming and the cruise ships come in for the day. We made friends with the cockroaches, geckos and the feral kitty.

My mom bought a Jamba Juice the first day we got there, but this cup stayed with us the WHOLE time. It was her sippy cup for water, juice, beer, and all other beverages she consumed throughout the week. She said her goodbye before we left.


Feral kitty just needs some loves.


The Alice in Wonderland-eque forest we hiked through to get the the petroglyphs.


Miles and I went to dinner one night. There was a guy playing 'Daniel' by Elton John on the ukelele.


I hate fish. But I tried Fish n' Chips made with Mahi Mahi, and loved it. So I guess I have to say I only like certain forms of fish, instead of the general hate.

Traveling around the island was long and wet, but...
We went snorkeling and saw dolphins, sea turtles and eels amongst the coral and volcanic rocks. We went to King Kamehameha's temple and sanctuary, and the Macadamia Nut Factory, and spent a day in Hilo, hiking waterfalls, eating locally, and buying some delicious Li Hing powder. Being on the Big Island, we, of course, visited the Kilauea Caldera volcano and hiked through the lava tubes and saw the vents spewing sulfuric gas into the air.

Oddly enough, we ate more Mexican food in Hawaii than we do at home.


Our morning routine consisted of visiting this little cafe right next to our resort. Delicious coffee and nom noms.


Waterfall hike. You get soaked, go figure? This is what our trip to Hilo did to us.

There were smaller day trips and walks and adventures sprinkled in there throughout our time there. We played a massive game of Risk, and watched a movie that each one of us brought to share, we had fun people watching, and no one (not even me!) got too badly burned. We came back on Sunday, exhausted, hungry, and even a little tan.

Daniel played kitty-nanny and took care of our place and Ampersand, which made it so much easier to leave and feel like things would be okay in our absence. The only evidence of his presence in our apartment was a package of butter in the fridge, and literally every single towel of ours hung up in our bathroom. I suppose I am thankful that the person staying at our place takes their hygiene so seriously.



Back to the daily grind.

I am working full time Sun-Thurs in a new department at work. I will be having more interaction with all of the nurses and doctors and Dr's orders. It will be a change, but I am excited to have a new opportunity to get into this crazy field and get some experience.


Tonight I went to a Volleyball Open Gym. It was fun and refreshing to get back in the game, but so intimidating playing with 90% tall and powerful guys. I held my own, and will be back for a new Gym on Thursday nights and the Walnut Creek gym on Fridays.

Sunday=engagement party. With the wedding being about a year and a half away we wanted to celebrate our engagement while planning and waiting for the big day. We are having family and close friends over for some hors d'oeurves and "meet n' greets." Its a funny place where we are: no date, venue or dress, but having all of the other details worked out. Its so many things\emotions\people\details...

I was forced to sleep here.

I was watching my two favorite boys while their parents got a night out on the town. The younger one has a friend (5-ish) over for a sleepover, when I asked if he was excited, he replied quite matter-of-factly: 'I was forced to sleep here.' Mind you, this is the same kid who brought his "noise-maker" to plug in next to him. Love it.

Recap...

Mother's Day was nice and relaxed this year. Brad, Haley and I got together and made this photo sign for mama. We made dinner and chocolate covered strawberries, and hung at home, planning vacations and financial aid. It was nothing extravagant, but everything she wanted.





It has been announced that my hours could be cut at my work, so I am sort of looking elsewhere, sort of not. I asked to go back to Quest, but I asked a little too late, and thus I think I will bide my time at my current job as long as I can.

Haley had prom.


School is wrapping up for the semester. Two Papers. Three Tests. Two Finals. Then one little online class and I am 100% ready for my nursing program. Yes, I took the long way, Yes, it was annoying. But I have also remained independent and working through it all, so in the end, it will be for the best.

We leave for Hawaii in a month. The girls are looking into an Italy trip in August. We can dream.

Brad graduated. He is DONE. Some gave up on him, and to them we say ha! This is huge, and we are all very proud of him and amazed at all that he has accomplished.


I have become a bike-ride-aholic. You can find me on the Iron Horse Trail most evenings moseying along on one of my bikes. The other night I dragged Miles along with me, but I usually just put on a playlist and take off for a few miles.



I hope that with the next few weeks things will fit into place. Things will wind down, or wind up, or just wind.

While I am glad I am going to be done with Physiology, I will so miss the girls I met. We became more than just study-buddies. This semester brought some life-changing, life-ending, events for our little lab group, and we all seemed to bond and rally through. Dinners and breakfasts and days out on eachothers patios studying with long breaks just to laugh and relax. I will definitely miss seeing them for hours and hours each week.

you forgot to pack your teddy.

Sundays are my only real days off in the week. They have also become my run errands\clean the house\do nothing days. This is both comforting and upsetting. While I need these 'empty' Sundays to finish said things like cleaning and the occasional homework, I want to do exciting and adventurous things on my day off. Trips to Target can only be so adventurous. And so, here is my empty day, full of things.


Went to Bath and Body Works for one thing, and came away with new room frangrances. But I also shopped for nonessential clothes and didn't buy any, so I suppose it all evens out.

Gathered the goods for the day.

Walked through downtown and soaked up some sun.

Drank Starbucks slowly by a fountain.

Painted pottery.

Blew bubbles of paint on my pottery.

Sunday. CleanDay.

Ampersand likes to unpack everything you pack.

Her prize she found. A paintbrush.

Fixed some of the frames I had made in the past, but that had been broken due to kitty mischief.


It's a nice night out. Maybe we will end this full emptyday with something fun. Or maybe I will just write my research paper.

I'm afraid you haven't noticed, you forgot to pack your teddy. Or perhaps he wasn't ready to leave all of it behind. The trains will keep on running. And they'll still think you look funny cause you're wearing your pajamas and you haven't lost your smile...