The Wild West

I moved to Oakland about three months ago, and I am madly in love with it.

I spend my days in the depths of Oakland, in a part that has become aptly named Ghost Town (and not because of all the white people that live there). It really is the Wild West, but I love it, and amazingly, feel very safe here, which is most important.

I start nursing school in two weeks, and feel so lucky to have such an amazing support team behind me and cheering me on. I have never felt more ready, or more excited.

Theodore Roosevelt, or Teddy as we lovingly call him, my 10mo pitbull puppy, is doing great. He is following the rest of the pack, listening to commands, and catching on quickly. I still baby him beyond belief, but I cant help it, I am madly in love with him. Thank god Ben is there to whip us both into shape, hah. We can often be found hanging around the local beer garden with all three of our pups surrounded by friends and family.

The family and I spent 10 amazing days in Spain back in May. It was a good time, full of food, drinks, and laughter. I feel so blessed that I am not only able to travel with my family, but that we all genuinely enjoy being with one another. As we have all gotten older, and have more commitments and individual schedules, taking long trips like that seems to be geting more difficult, but the stress is well worth the experience.

We lit a candle for Dad at Montserrat.

Spain brings out the best in people.

All of the architecture is so stunning. America is so boring.

We all went to a Falmenco Show. Mom liked their butts.

Spain is full of barrels and barrels of wine.

Speaking of family trips...once agian we all packed up and headed to Lake Shasta for a week of houseboating. Unfortunately, Ben and I, were only able to be there for the first 3 days, but we had a blast. Eating, drinking, singing, dancing. We all waterskiied, wakeboarded, kneeborded, and tubed. Next time I want to try the wake surfing that the cousins have now. 

We cut down wood with his famous hand hatchet and made a huge bonfire at the lake.

Baby A's first boat ride. So cute it's ridiculous.

As we gear up for school, and fall, and holidays, Ben and I have started to wind down and spend quiet nights at home, with friends, cooking, dancing, listening to music, and cuddling our pups. Its been nice, and necessary...

Happy summer.

I swear we have actual pictures of us, as a couple, but those tend to get lost when you decide to throw you phone in the bottom of a lake...

Too little too late.

The past month has been a whirlwind. It's like February never even happened. Between birthdays, vacations, deadlines, and the day to day chaos, I could barely keep up.

Here is a recap of the last few weeks. I love my friends and family infintely.

Diana, Kristine and I went out dancing for my birthday. Grimy hip hop in the heart of Oakland is just what we needed. Here's to a sweaty, successful girls night out.

 Haley and I have been going on hikes every weekend. This is the Albany Bulb. We spent hours hiking about, getting lost, and finding ourselves in the middle of some homeless persons' home. Awkward.

 Family birthday dinner. We always manage to have a good time and laugh, which is something I never take for granted.

The first weekend in March, Diana and I hopped on a boat and went to Mexico for the weekend. Here is what ensued:

I got this painting at a shop, and met the artist. Her whole store was filled with Dia De Los Muertos themed things. I was in love. She plans on coming to the states. And I plan on being there.

The skull was from the market by La Bufadora, the same place with all of the pineapples from above. There was literally everything you could ever want at that market. Literally.

You're lucky, you made it.

It's 2013. Weird. Usually I write the wrong year whenever I am dating something for the first few weeks of January, but not this year. Subconsciously, I think I was ready for a new year.

The holidays were okay. Nothing spectacular. Family, friends. It's always such bad timing, and it always will be. It's so hard to believe that this year marked our 6 years. We spent the day together, talked, laughed, cried. It was funny how much you remember and how much you forget.

New Years Eve was spent with good friends in Walnut Creek. I was still in the throws of that horrible cold/flu that everyone has, but it was good to get out and be with friends. This was one of the best NYE's I have had in years. (Thanks Patrick and Shayna for inviting us!)

I have learned a few songs on my ukulele. More importantly, I am having so much fun playing.

I started taking ballet classes. I do a 2 hour class every Monday evening in Walnut Creek with some friends, and I am also joining a class that meets every Wednesday as well. I never thought I would be back in a ballet studio, but I am absolutely loving it. The class is so hard and brutal, and I am sure I look like I am in pain the majority of the time, but you leave feeling so good, and beautiful and awkwardly graceful.

Every Sunday I have spent the evening laughing and playing and enjoying the company of some amazing people. It's so nice to look around a room and feel the love. Sunday Funsies is serious funsies.

This weekend is Kathryn and Anton's engagement party. I'm so happy and excited for them, and can't wait to be a part of the wedding with them in October! I love love.

Next week, jury duty. Ugh. And a night out with some girls from work, which will be so fun and so needed. A nice little review of the last month or so... things are good, and only getting better.