Pictures!

Okay, remember that we are still organizing and trying to figure where some things will go. But for now, these will have to do!

Living Room

 Kitchen (Earl cleaning up after dinner)

 Bedroom

 Bedroom again

 Walk-in closet!!

 Bathroom (I have counter space, drawers, AND cupboards!)

So that's the quick tour. Time to throw my swimsuit on and chill in the hot tub before that thunderhead gets any closer!

Hello from the Desert!

Well! It's been a busy week! We packed up, loaded the truck, and drove out! We even had a helper in the packing process:

We left bright and early on Friday, July 13. It was a pretty uneventful drive from Newport Beach, CA to Gilbert, AZ. There was a good rainstorm that we drove through. Didn't wash the car nearly as well as I had hoped. Sage was a real trooper on the drive. She took to hiding most of the way:

We signed our lease, got our keys, and moved in. Sage and the litter box went straight away to the bathroom so that there wouldn't be any "accidents" or escape attempts. After a little while, I went to check on her and she was hiding inside the litter box, scared out of her mind. I felt so bad for her. Eventually she came out, had some water, and started reaching under the bathroom door, trying to get out. She has since adapted very well!

We have unpacked almost everything. There are still some random boxes here and there. They will probably stay that way for awhile. My goal for today was/is to organize our patio. Right now all of our empty boxes are piled up and it is impossible to go outside. Not that I necessarily want to go outside right now. It's probably close to 100 by now. But I would like to get our little outside storage organized and move boxes that will not be used anytime soon out there.

I have put pictures on the walls. I have blankets and throw pillows on the sofa. We have filled our closet with clothes, shoes, and other things. I had to purchase door hanging shoe racks for my shoes. They work quite well. The TV and computer are set up. The internet is connected.

We are moving in.

I still need to do more grocery shopping. Due to space and time constraints, we weren't able to bring every food item with us. So that area is a little bare at the moment. But it will come. My kitchen is fairly good-sized. Lots of counter space. Cupboard and drawer space is less than we had previously, but I am adapting. I have cooked in my new kitchen and it is quite nice. I'm back to an electric stove, which will take some getting used to. And the first meal I cooked was of course, macaroni and cheese.

I have determined that I need another bookcase. Now that I know what space I have, I can begin to shop for one. Earl would say I have too many books. I say he needs to keep his mouth shut and read one or two of them!

Once things are in order and as they should be, I will take pictures to share what our new home looks like.

Time to go change the laundry!

Last Day in California

It's 0814 on Thursday, July 12, 2012. This is our last full day in California.

And I'm not 100% packed.

I have this morning to pack up the pantry and bathroom. There are odds and ends of "stuff" laying around. At this point, I want to just throw it all away. I'm sick of packing. We haven't really cleaned yet. Good thing cleaning doesn't take too long.

My walls are barren. The computer and desk are packed away. My feet are currently propped up on a plastic bin because my coffee table is downstairs. All of our cleaning supplies are lined up on the kitchen counter, just waiting to be used.

And what am I doing? Sitting on my butt blogging! That's a good use of my time! But I am feeling very reflective this morning. And I wanted to be able to capture this moment. The sun is up but hiding behind the marine layer of clouds. The island is waking up and cars are driving by. Trucks are making their morning deliveries. Every now and then I hear a bird chirp. We don't have pretty songbirds here. Mainly crows, pigeons, and sea gulls.

It's still a bit chilly. Probably the 60's. I would be more comfortable with a sweater on, but this should serve as motivation for me to get up and working.

It's not working...

I may need a procrastination intervention.

Or just a swift kick in the bum.

Scared to Death and Saddling up Anyway

My life is about to change in a big way. Tomorrow afternoon we pick up our moving truck and with the help from friends at church, we will load up everything we own tomorrow night. Early Friday morning Earl will drive the truck as I drive our car to the desert.

We are moving.

It seems so final. Yet I know that we will be back to visit. It's not like we're gone forever. Or going to another continent.

Yesterday a wonderful friend gave me a going-away present. It is a handmade silver bracelet that says, "Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." It captured my emotions and I am so grateful to this woman.

I am scared to move. We are removing ourselves from our comfort zone. We are leaving the nest of our families. We are leaving behind our friends. But we are going anyway.

There is hope through all the sadness that moving brings. I have hope that we will save money in our new apartment. I have hope that Earl will find gainful employment. I have hope that he will be able to finish school. I have hope that one day we will be blessed with children. I have hope that we will begin to live, not just survive.

Our clothes are packed. Our shoes are packed. Half of the furniture is already in the garage waiting to be loaded. Today we are tackling the kitchen and food. Tomorrow, everything must be packed for it will be loaded regardless.

We start a new chapter in life this week. I'm scared to death, but I'm doing it anyway.

Escapees from the Mental Hospital

Or perhaps a better title is that we should be put into a mental institution.


Anyway, it's official!

We are moving to Arizona next month! My official start date is July 16, 1012 with the Gilbert Police Department as a 911 Operator.

I'm excited and nervous and excited and scared and did I mention that I'm excited? It's scary to think about us starting over in a new location. But I know it's where we are supposed to go and what we are supposed to do. I never though I would live in the desert. I hear it gets pretty hot...

We now have to finalize with the apartment complex out there. Last week we put a hold on a unit. Now I have to fax over some pay stubs to show that we qualify for low-income rent. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that! The apartment complex that we have chosen is right down the street from the police station. Like I could walk there. It's a corner one bedroom unit with a washer and dryer, walk-in closet, ceiling fans, and newer appliances in the kitchen. It has 810 ft2 so It's a bit bigger than our current home. And so long as we qualify for the low-income rent (which we should and I've never been so happy to be poor in all my life) our monthly rent would be $562. $562! Holy cow, that's cutting our current rent in half! More than half! Ack! That's awesome!!!

So yes. That's the most recent bit of news.

Also, my baby brother is now a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! My parents are driving, as we speak, to Provo, UT where he will report to the Missionary Training Center tomorrow. He will be serving in Lansing, Michigan for the next two years. I am so proud of Tyler. I know he has the power and ability to become great. He can have such an impact for good upon the lives of the people of Michigan if he puts his mind and heart into his service.

I know that he will not be able to read this post (not that he ever did to begin with) but I love him. I'm so pleased that he has followed through with the decision to serve a mission. He will be a great example to those around him.

Now it's time to start packing...

Busy Week

Well, it's Monday.

Not my favorite day.

The next 7 days will be extremely busy for me. I'm working today. When I get home tonight, I have to do some laundry and pack.

Tomorrow Earl and I are heading back to Arizona for my medical and psych evaluations.

Wednesday morning I have my written psych exam.

Thursday morning I have my medical exam. Thursday afternoon I am meeting with a psychologist.

And then we drive home Thursday evening.

Friday and Saturday I have to work.

Sunday is Father's Day.

Sunday is also when Tyler gives his farewell talk in church.

My parents are driving him up to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) in Provo, UT on Tuesday. He reports on Wednesday.

Typing that brought tears to my eyes. I'm so happy for him to go. He will be a great missionary. I love him with all my heart and I will miss him. I wish him luck, health, happiness, and so much more as he enters the mission field.

I'm tired just thinking ahead to this week. I'm thinking that when all this craziness is over I will sleep for an entire day.

At least I dream of sleeping for a whole day, and a girl can dream, right?

Oh Happy Day

WELL, IM TYPING THIS ON MY PHONE AND FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, I CAN ONLY TYPE IN ALL CAPS. NO, I AM NOT YELLING. YES, I AM EXCITED. PLEASE FORGIVE MY TECHNOLOGICALLY CHALLENGED BRAIN FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHANGE IT!

WELL I GOT A VERY IMPORTANT PHONE CALL ON MONDAY. I HAVE ACCEPTED A CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER AS A 911 OPERATOR FOR THE CITY OF GILBERT, AZ. EARL AND I GO BACK JUNE 12 FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL EVALS. HOPEFULLY I PASS EVERYTHING-WHICH I SHOULD-AND I WILL HAVE A START DATE. PERHAPS EARL AND I WILL MAKE A DECISION ON WHERE TO LIVE AS WELL.

SO THAT'S MY NEWS OF THE WEEK!

ps-now my phone spontaneously isn't in all caps. Go figure!

Paradise Shmaradise

Ugh. I'm sorry. I have to vent.

This won't be pretty. You don't even have to read. I just have to get this off my chest.

Let me preface this by saying that I like my job. I like what I do. But the people person who is my direct supervisor makes me hate/dread coming to work.

I know I should change my attitude towards this person. I know I shouldn't let them get to me.

But I don't/do.

This person asked me to recall a late call from a week ago and write an incident report about it. I don't remember it very well. What I do remember is assigning the unit, telling the crew to take the toll road vs side streets as the call was a long distance.  After that I don't remember a darn thing. How am I supposed to write an incident report about something I don't remember?

And why the heck did this person wait until 545pm to bring up the topic when I'd been sitting here since 7am? That's probably the most frustrating. And to bring it up when my partner was out of the room so there were no "witnesses" to the conversation. If I didn't know better, I'd say that my sup was either really stupid or really smart to plan it out this way.

Whatever. This is my motivation to get a new job. I know I said in my interview that I'm looking for a career and to set down roots and that the cost of living is so much less in Arizona and that Earl and I have potential to grow out there. But really, at the heart of it all, I can't stand my boss. I can't stand the way they DON'T manage the dispatchers. The fact that they would rather play video games on their laptop before noon instead of working, or the fact that no respect is given to us dispatchers, or they constantly say how much they hate dispatchers and crew members and his wife and kid, and women, and everyone on the face of the earth. Why on earth would anyone want to work for a person like that?

I don't. I'm working on my out. And I'm in limbo. That's why I'm so anxious to hear back. If they say no, then I need to start working on other options. Like becoming an instructor at the barn. And pushing to get Earl hired there too.

That's all. That's my rant. If you made it this far, bless you. I'm sorry to go off like that. I just couldn't swallow anymore crap today.

I guess I need to remember the saying, "Keep Calm and Carry On." Cuz I'm definitely not calm when I'm at work.

Just Another Day in Paradise

As I typed that title the song by Phil Vassar came to mind. Now I'm singing it in my head. If I sang it out loud my partner would probably wonder what was wrong with me.

The sun is shining. The air is warm. And I am stuck inside.

But it's okay. I spent the last two days outside with the horses. I even got some sun (my shoulders and arms are currently pink, not lobster red like Earl thinks) and really enjoyed the weather. And I get to go back again tomorrow!

I haven't heard back from Arizona. I know that they won't leave me hanging. I just have to be patient a little bit longer. It's killing me to not know one way or the other. But this is a growth opportunity for me regardless of the outcome. If the answer is to come back out for the next step, I'm super stoked. If it isn't, I won't lie, I'll be super bummed.

Earl and I have our apartment search narrowed to approximately 4 places. We are also toying with the idea of perhaps getting a condo or town home. Not sure if that one will happen, but you get a whole lot more bang for your buck.

Keep your fingers crossed that I hear back sometime soon!

Busy, Busy, Dizzy...

Wow, I think I'm losing my mind!

That of course, implies that I had a mind to lose in the first place.

Any whozit, I'm at work today (shocker, I know) and I feel a little overwhelmed with life at the moment. In response to my previous post, I know now that my background check is moving along. My investigator call my work/employment references this week, so while I still feel as though I am in limbo, I feel more confident with this "status report."

I have taken on a new task at the barn this week. I started a blog. You can visit it at www.backbaytrc.blogspot.com if you so desire. I'd be stoked if you would follow it and share it with your friends. I'm just trying to create more awareness of the center. And a blog is so much easier to update and add pictures and it's very user friendly!!

I did it because I want people to know who we are and what we do. There's even a link on the blog that will send you to the "official" website if someone felt inclined to donate via PayPal.

If you have any suggestions on how to improve the look of the blog, PLEASE let me know!! I intend to do posts on the volunteers, the instructors, and do like a student of the month type deal. Even do a post on horse terminology. I want this to be a place where the students and their families can go to see themselves, the other kids, and really make it feel like a family. Also, I want them to learn. Like have one post dedicated to different types of tack, another to major horse anatomy, riding terms, etc.

I just hope that I have the stamina to maintain it!

But I am open to suggestions!