Truth #1 - I am a proud geek. Many of you know this about me already. Name a geeky sci-fi, or cult classic, and I've probably seen it. (And consequently entered the fandom.) Doctor Who, Sherlock, Firefly, Harry Potter, Merlin, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Star Trek, Star Wars, pretty much anything Marvel and DC. And guys, I hate to say it, but...fandoms are scary. And yet somehow it's awesome. In a fandom, you are surrounded by people who are just as obsessed - and in most cases, far, far more obsessed - as you are. They understand the emotional trauma that the BBC and Joss Whedon has caused you. They feel it too! They spout ridiculous theories and make fan art, and build shrines to Benedict Cumberbatch, and make you feel normal and well-adjusted in comparison. Anyway, I sort of got sidetracked there. In conclusion, I am an exceedingly geeky person. And I enjoy it immensely.
Truth #2 - I hate eggs. And mint. And bananas. And jelly.
Truth #3 - I love office supplies. Post-it notes, pens, tape dispensers, paper clips, stationary, tacks, staplers, notebooks, you name it. (I especially love post-it notes. Did you know they have full adhesive post-it notes? And clear ones to put on books so you can write notes right on the page!?)
Truth #4 - I love to color. With crayons. It's exceedingly therapeutic, and at the same time incredibly frustrating, because I can never make it look perfect. Crayons are too unpredictable. And yet, I love them. I think I probably have over 300 crayons...
Truth #5 - Names are important to me. When someone remembers your name, it shows they're actually interested in sustaining a relationship with you. There's something personal about saying someone's name. I love it when people use my name, whether it's written or in conversation. I especially love it if someone gives me a nickname.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Books and Coffee and Cute Guys, Oh My!
Did you know that a regional park can have a train AND a medium size zoo? Plus have room for a lake and farmer's market? I didn't. Until yesterday. Yes, friends, Pam took me on a surprise adventure to Irvine Regional Park, that was indeed equipped with all of those things. Granted, the train and zoo were mostly geared toward children, but does that matter to me? Absolutely not. I had a fantabulous time, and in September through October they're going to have a pumpkin patch and hay rides; can you guess where I will be?! (Also, random thought about October. I really want to do a corn maze this year. Nevermind that I will most likely get lost in the dark since I have absolutely zero directional skills. That matters not!)
Today, I also had an adventure, though of a milder kind. I basically went to Barnes and Noble, the library, and the Coffee Bean. (Were you expecting anything else?) Books, people! That's where it's at. (And coffee. Always coffee.) At the Coffee Bean, I was pleasantly surprised that the barista remembered my name. (And I paid in cash, so he didn't read it off my debit card. He remembered. Is this a sign that I go to the Coffee Bean too often? Naaaaahhh.) He's pretty cute too, which is quite flattering. (Nevermind that remembering repeat patrons is good customer service. I'm sticking to the he-digs-me story.) *cough*
In other news, Hallmark is going really well. I love love love working there. (Never thought I'd say that about any job besides Disney.) It's just the perfect store. P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Cards, and knickknacks, and candles, oh my! I'm learning a bunch, and am almost finished with training. (Yay!)
So, basically, life keeps moving forward here in California, just as anywhere else. And it's sweltering.
Play nice. Stay cool. And love books.
The end.
Today, I also had an adventure, though of a milder kind. I basically went to Barnes and Noble, the library, and the Coffee Bean. (Were you expecting anything else?) Books, people! That's where it's at. (And coffee. Always coffee.) At the Coffee Bean, I was pleasantly surprised that the barista remembered my name. (And I paid in cash, so he didn't read it off my debit card. He remembered. Is this a sign that I go to the Coffee Bean too often? Naaaaahhh.) He's pretty cute too, which is quite flattering. (Nevermind that remembering repeat patrons is good customer service. I'm sticking to the he-digs-me story.) *cough*
In other news, Hallmark is going really well. I love love love working there. (Never thought I'd say that about any job besides Disney.) It's just the perfect store. P-E-R-F-E-C-T. Cards, and knickknacks, and candles, oh my! I'm learning a bunch, and am almost finished with training. (Yay!)
So, basically, life keeps moving forward here in California, just as anywhere else. And it's sweltering.
Play nice. Stay cool. And love books.
The end.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Quick update on Jeffrey
I have my Jeffrey back! The shop called a couple hours ago and said it was my distributor cap that was broken (whatever the heck that is), and that they could fix him in about an hour. Hallelujah! I told them to go ahead, and I just picked him up a few minutes ago. He drives just fine. My precious baby... *dabs at eyes with hankie*
The best news is that it didn't cost me over $150, let alone my firstborn son. Yay! Jesus was very faithful to provide for me. And I am very grateful to have transportation back.
The best news is that it didn't cost me over $150, let alone my firstborn son. Yay! Jesus was very faithful to provide for me. And I am very grateful to have transportation back.
Catching Up
Hey all. Sorry for the lack of posts. I haven't had the motivation or words to write lately. So this post is just to catch you all up on what's been going on in my life recently.
On the job front, I got hired at a Hallmark store in a nearby shopping mall. My first day was yesterday, and I was late. (More on that later.) The training went well though, there's a lot to learn, but I think I'm catching on fairly easily. I'm very excited about this job, and can't wait to really sink my teeth into it. (They have so many cards and cool knickknacks...how could I not love working there? And you get to scan things...)
Disney held an audition on the 3rd for face characters which I attended. I spent a good week or so trying to figure out what to wear and how to do my makeup. (Special thanks to my cousin Ashley, for all her help.) The audition was a ton of fun! There had to be 500 people there, if not more. I got to meet a few girls in line who were incredibly friendly and encouraging. I was surprised to see a ton of guys at the audition also. It was great fun to scout out faces and try to guess who they could play in the park.
Anyway, we all waited outside for a spell, and then they started taking groups of a hundred through backstage and into this rehearsal hall. I was the third group to go in. Basically what they have you do is line up in rows of ten, and the casting director explained the process to us. The casting director and a couple other people were the ones "judging" us. (For lack of a better word.) The casting director would go down the line asking each person's name, and then they would stand back while we all stood smiling like idiots. You have no idea how difficult it is to smile pleasantly while people stare at you and scribble on clipboards. Awkward. Then they would confer for a few minutes, and call out the numbers of the people they wanted, and sent the rest of us home. Obviously, at this point I got cut, but I was okay with it, because I knew there was nothing I could have done better. I was only sent away because I don't have the face they're looking for right now. Which is fine. I'll just keep going to the auditions and bothering people until they HAVE to let me in.
In other news, the sinus infection I've had is FINALLY going away after probably 4 weeks. Yay! I still have a slight cough, but other than that, I think I'm finally on the up and up.
It was my first time going by myself, and it was really lovely. I went to Corona Del Mar, which is absolutely stunning. It took me an hour and a half to get there, (an hour to get lost three times, half an hour to circle the street like a vulture before a spot opened up.) Basically I spent a good three hours splashing around in the water, gathering shells, and just being a kid. But the weird thing is, when I was walking down the sidewalk to get to the sand, I felt this stinging in my shoulder. I thought that was weird, but just shrugged it off. It kept hurting, however. A lot. So I looked down to see if I had something stuck to me, and it was a BEE. I had been stung by a BEE for the first time in my life. I was almost in shock. I had always prided myself in the fact that I've never been stung by a bee, and now here I was, reduced to the status of normal people. And it hurt! For a long time. I didn't realize bee stings were so painful! And now I have a red welt where he stung me. I'm glad I am not allergic to bees, because I could have died at the beach, and no one would have known. How embarrassing would it be to die of a bee sting? So anyway, yay for new experiences!
Now, on to yesterday. It started out wonderfully, I went to church, (a friggin' model of a man SAT NEXT TO ME. I mean, this guy was gorgeous. Think a young Matt Bomer. With beautiful blue eyes.) and I was super excited to start work. So, I got all dressed up in my "uniform" (black slacks and a white blouse), and set off in Jeffrey to the Hallmark. I do not get five minutes from the house, when all of a sudden, as I'm going through an intersection, Jeffrey just died. Out of nowhere. So here I am, sitting in the middle of the intersection in my dead car, freaking out 'cause the light's gonna change any minute and I have no idea what to do. As I'm frantically turning the key in the ignition, hoping against hope that my car will magically start, the men in the lanes to my right got out of their cars and pushed Jeffrey out of the way. I was relieved to be out of the intersection, of course. But now what? I called my dad. (What else?) He talked me through what to do, which was awesome. Eventually I managed to get some help to push Jeffrey into a nearby parking lot.
Now I was late for work. On my first day. Figures. I called Hallmark, told them what happened, and they were really gracious about it, and told me to just call whenever I could come in. I couldn't get a hold of my cousins, and Hallmark wasn't all that far away, so I just started walking. It took me about 25 minutes to get there, and I was severely out of breath (haha loser), but I finally got there and was able to start my shift.
After my shift was over I was able to get a ride home (thank goodness), and got my car towed to a shop. Now I anxiously await news of my precious Jeffrey. (I am hoping against hope it's nothing that will cost me my firstborn son.)
And that's about all that's been happening to me lately. Yerp.
Stay gold, Ponyboy.
Emma
On the job front, I got hired at a Hallmark store in a nearby shopping mall. My first day was yesterday, and I was late. (More on that later.) The training went well though, there's a lot to learn, but I think I'm catching on fairly easily. I'm very excited about this job, and can't wait to really sink my teeth into it. (They have so many cards and cool knickknacks...how could I not love working there? And you get to scan things...)
Disney held an audition on the 3rd for face characters which I attended. I spent a good week or so trying to figure out what to wear and how to do my makeup. (Special thanks to my cousin Ashley, for all her help.) The audition was a ton of fun! There had to be 500 people there, if not more. I got to meet a few girls in line who were incredibly friendly and encouraging. I was surprised to see a ton of guys at the audition also. It was great fun to scout out faces and try to guess who they could play in the park.
(Photo of said princess inspired makeup)
Anyway, we all waited outside for a spell, and then they started taking groups of a hundred through backstage and into this rehearsal hall. I was the third group to go in. Basically what they have you do is line up in rows of ten, and the casting director explained the process to us. The casting director and a couple other people were the ones "judging" us. (For lack of a better word.) The casting director would go down the line asking each person's name, and then they would stand back while we all stood smiling like idiots. You have no idea how difficult it is to smile pleasantly while people stare at you and scribble on clipboards. Awkward. Then they would confer for a few minutes, and call out the numbers of the people they wanted, and sent the rest of us home. Obviously, at this point I got cut, but I was okay with it, because I knew there was nothing I could have done better. I was only sent away because I don't have the face they're looking for right now. Which is fine. I'll just keep going to the auditions and bothering people until they HAVE to let me in.
In other news, the sinus infection I've had is FINALLY going away after probably 4 weeks. Yay! I still have a slight cough, but other than that, I think I'm finally on the up and up.
Also, I went to the beach by myself the other day!
(Is that not a freaking cool sailboat?!)
It was my first time going by myself, and it was really lovely. I went to Corona Del Mar, which is absolutely stunning. It took me an hour and a half to get there, (an hour to get lost three times, half an hour to circle the street like a vulture before a spot opened up.) Basically I spent a good three hours splashing around in the water, gathering shells, and just being a kid. But the weird thing is, when I was walking down the sidewalk to get to the sand, I felt this stinging in my shoulder. I thought that was weird, but just shrugged it off. It kept hurting, however. A lot. So I looked down to see if I had something stuck to me, and it was a BEE. I had been stung by a BEE for the first time in my life. I was almost in shock. I had always prided myself in the fact that I've never been stung by a bee, and now here I was, reduced to the status of normal people. And it hurt! For a long time. I didn't realize bee stings were so painful! And now I have a red welt where he stung me. I'm glad I am not allergic to bees, because I could have died at the beach, and no one would have known. How embarrassing would it be to die of a bee sting? So anyway, yay for new experiences!
Now, on to yesterday. It started out wonderfully, I went to church, (a friggin' model of a man SAT NEXT TO ME. I mean, this guy was gorgeous. Think a young Matt Bomer. With beautiful blue eyes.) and I was super excited to start work. So, I got all dressed up in my "uniform" (black slacks and a white blouse), and set off in Jeffrey to the Hallmark. I do not get five minutes from the house, when all of a sudden, as I'm going through an intersection, Jeffrey just died. Out of nowhere. So here I am, sitting in the middle of the intersection in my dead car, freaking out 'cause the light's gonna change any minute and I have no idea what to do. As I'm frantically turning the key in the ignition, hoping against hope that my car will magically start, the men in the lanes to my right got out of their cars and pushed Jeffrey out of the way. I was relieved to be out of the intersection, of course. But now what? I called my dad. (What else?) He talked me through what to do, which was awesome. Eventually I managed to get some help to push Jeffrey into a nearby parking lot.
Now I was late for work. On my first day. Figures. I called Hallmark, told them what happened, and they were really gracious about it, and told me to just call whenever I could come in. I couldn't get a hold of my cousins, and Hallmark wasn't all that far away, so I just started walking. It took me about 25 minutes to get there, and I was severely out of breath (haha loser), but I finally got there and was able to start my shift.
After my shift was over I was able to get a ride home (thank goodness), and got my car towed to a shop. Now I anxiously await news of my precious Jeffrey. (I am hoping against hope it's nothing that will cost me my firstborn son.)
And that's about all that's been happening to me lately. Yerp.
Stay gold, Ponyboy.
Emma
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Pictures!
I haven't posted pictures in a while...so here.
Pamphlets detailing the Coffee Bean's drink selections. (Yum!)
My three holds! Gah! I cannot wait to read them all!
My New Obsessions
It's the simple things in life that can turn a day from crummy (or even just average) into a sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs, someone-just-gave-you-a-chocolate-bar kind of day. Simple things like, someone actually giving you a chocolate bar. Getting a letter in the mail. Getting your paycheck. Season 3 of Sherlock. (Oh, wait.) Or, if you're me, you rejoice at going to pick up the book you placed on hold at the library, and the librarian telling you, "Oh, it looks like you actually have three books available."
"Excuse me, what did you say?" I ask politely, waiting with bated breath.
"You have three books for pick-up."
*Cue the Hallelujah chorus and gospel singers* I do a silent fist pump and exclaim with joy. But quietly, so people don't stare.
Seriously, isn't that the best feeling in the world? But I digress...sort of. My two new passions are:
Obsession #1: Reading. Honestly, this is nothing new. Anyone who knows me can tell you I love to read. As in, love is not an accurate adjective to properly convey how much I enjoy reading. Unfortunately, I wandered from the delightful path of reading due to my hectic schedule, (watching five episodes of Alias takes a huge chunk out of my schedule. Not to mention job-hunting, working, and all that grown-up stuff also.) AND the lack of good books. Not that there aren't good books out there, I had just either read them, or hadn't heard about them yet. And...Alias.
Recently, however, I have rediscovered my passion for reading, and have devoured 3 books in about 4 days. Yes, yes friends, I am re-obsessed. Hoorah!
Obsession #2: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Umm, can someone please tell me how I did not know of their existence before? Because...they are amazing. They are so incredibly yummy, that - Dare I even say it? - I think like them better than Starbucks. Their concoctions are so creamy, so smooth, so delicious. And I have only been twice. But that is about to change. The other awesome thing about them is that they're not outrageously expensive. Sure, it still costs, but from what I've seen, they're a bit more affordable than Starbucks. I definitely recommend them! (Seriously, why do we not have these in Colorado?!)
Soooo, yeah.
"Excuse me, what did you say?" I ask politely, waiting with bated breath.
"You have three books for pick-up."
*Cue the Hallelujah chorus and gospel singers* I do a silent fist pump and exclaim with joy. But quietly, so people don't stare.
Seriously, isn't that the best feeling in the world? But I digress...sort of. My two new passions are:
Obsession #1: Reading. Honestly, this is nothing new. Anyone who knows me can tell you I love to read. As in, love is not an accurate adjective to properly convey how much I enjoy reading. Unfortunately, I wandered from the delightful path of reading due to my hectic schedule, (watching five episodes of Alias takes a huge chunk out of my schedule. Not to mention job-hunting, working, and all that grown-up stuff also.) AND the lack of good books. Not that there aren't good books out there, I had just either read them, or hadn't heard about them yet. And...Alias.
Recently, however, I have rediscovered my passion for reading, and have devoured 3 books in about 4 days. Yes, yes friends, I am re-obsessed. Hoorah!
Obsession #2: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Umm, can someone please tell me how I did not know of their existence before? Because...they are amazing. They are so incredibly yummy, that - Dare I even say it? - I think like them better than Starbucks. Their concoctions are so creamy, so smooth, so delicious. And I have only been twice. But that is about to change. The other awesome thing about them is that they're not outrageously expensive. Sure, it still costs, but from what I've seen, they're a bit more affordable than Starbucks. I definitely recommend them! (Seriously, why do we not have these in Colorado?!)
Soooo, yeah.
Monday, July 1, 2013
The Audition *Duh duh DUUUUHHHH*
So, for those of you who don't know or care, there was an audition yesterday for a Disney parade. Exciting, right? I was full of hopes and anticipation for weeks. I prepared my resume and headshot, got some new jazz shoes, tried to get into better shape, and generally freaked out.
Finally, the big day arrived. I made sure to pack anything I needed, wrote down some directions, and set off. I arrived about 15 minutes before check-in, so I waited in my car for a few minutes. I didn't want to be that person who is always freakishly early to everything. After I deemed it acceptable to go in, I gathered my stuff and wandered to the front of the dance studio the audition was being held at. To my surprise, the door was locked! *What trickery is this?!*
A nice man walking by sent me off in the right direction, which was actually behind the building. I rounded the corner and...Oh. My. Gosh. Who are all these people?! There were seriously at least two hundred people in line behind the building. Two hundred. And every single one of them looked like your typical I've-been-dancing-my-whole-life-and-I'm-so-amazing-and-skinny girls. Needless to say, I was slightly intimidated.
So, I went to the back of the line, and waited. And waited. And waited. I stood there in the 100 degree heat for two hours. I did not bring sunscreen. Which was a mistake I won't be making again. I am again reduced to tomato status. *shame* Luckily, the girls I was standing near were all very friendly and we were able to chat and pass the time. One of the girls already worked for Disney as a face character, so I got to pick her brain about those auditions a little bit. (Yay.)
Finally, they called in the last 30 girls or so (which was us), and we went into the building. By this time, I was so hot and tired, and my stomach was doing flip-flops because I was so intimidated and I didn't know what to expect and I was just so grumpy. So, we get in there and they teach us a routine, and I am really struggling. The moves in and of themselves are easy, but I just did not pick them up quickly enough. So when I went to do the routine, I completely blanked. Which is never a good thing to do in an audition. They kindly told me I wasn't right for the part and sent me home.
I was a little bit mortified, and a little bit ashamed, and a lot depressed. So I went and bought some ice cream, told myself this wasn't the end, and jumped in the pool.
Finally, the big day arrived. I made sure to pack anything I needed, wrote down some directions, and set off. I arrived about 15 minutes before check-in, so I waited in my car for a few minutes. I didn't want to be that person who is always freakishly early to everything. After I deemed it acceptable to go in, I gathered my stuff and wandered to the front of the dance studio the audition was being held at. To my surprise, the door was locked! *What trickery is this?!*
A nice man walking by sent me off in the right direction, which was actually behind the building. I rounded the corner and...Oh. My. Gosh. Who are all these people?! There were seriously at least two hundred people in line behind the building. Two hundred. And every single one of them looked like your typical I've-been-dancing-my-whole-life-and-I'm-so-amazing-and-skinny girls. Needless to say, I was slightly intimidated.
So, I went to the back of the line, and waited. And waited. And waited. I stood there in the 100 degree heat for two hours. I did not bring sunscreen. Which was a mistake I won't be making again. I am again reduced to tomato status. *shame* Luckily, the girls I was standing near were all very friendly and we were able to chat and pass the time. One of the girls already worked for Disney as a face character, so I got to pick her brain about those auditions a little bit. (Yay.)
Finally, they called in the last 30 girls or so (which was us), and we went into the building. By this time, I was so hot and tired, and my stomach was doing flip-flops because I was so intimidated and I didn't know what to expect and I was just so grumpy. So, we get in there and they teach us a routine, and I am really struggling. The moves in and of themselves are easy, but I just did not pick them up quickly enough. So when I went to do the routine, I completely blanked. Which is never a good thing to do in an audition. They kindly told me I wasn't right for the part and sent me home.
I was a little bit mortified, and a little bit ashamed, and a lot depressed. So I went and bought some ice cream, told myself this wasn't the end, and jumped in the pool.
Because now I know what to expect. Now I can prepare for next time.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Firsts
People say there is a first time for everything. I have been taking that statement literally and am trying to do...well, everything. I want to take every opportunity that I can. That's what adventures are for, right? And, to make sure I don't forget my new experiences, I am going to put it in writing and share it with all of you!
Experience #1 - The making and consuming of hummus. Every time someone asked me if I had had hummus, and heard the subsequent "No" they would respond with, "Oh my gosh, you've seriously never had hummus?! But it's so gooood!". Honestly, I don't see that it's that surprising...I mean, it's not all that common...I'm sure there are tons of people who've never had hummus...Right? At any rate, it was quite delicious and very satisfying. I approve. *stamp of approval*
Experience #2 - UNBELIEVABLY expensive coffee (see post below), and incredibly classy waffle sandwiches. Delicious! (Side note: Every time I spell sandwich, I spell it "sandwhich". I really think that it should be spelled that way. It makes more sense. Where in the English language is the word wich? Seriously.)
Experience #3 - Doing my own laundry. Surprisingly, I actually really like doing laundry. Like Penny. Except there's no Billy to my Penny... *tears*
Experience #4 - Flying on an airplane...by myself. *DUH DUH DUUUUUH* I, for one, love the airport, so this wasn't as harrowing as it may be for some people. And I didn't get stuck next to an insanely obese person OR a baby, so I'd say that it was a pretty satisfying experience. (Side note: I totally did that running into a spinning hug thing when my family picked me up. What can I say? I am a cliché kind of girl. And I was pretty freaking excited to see them.)
Experience #5 - Seeing the fireworks at Disneyland. As big of a Disney buff that I am, I have never actually stayed to see the fireworks at night. 0_o They. Were. Amazing. They have this voiceover track going while you're watching and it is incredible. I seriously almost started crying when they were talking about how your dreams can come true. (I BELIEVE!)
So, that's all for now. I'll be sure to keep you updated on all the new things I try.
Experience #1 - The making and consuming of hummus. Every time someone asked me if I had had hummus, and heard the subsequent "No" they would respond with, "Oh my gosh, you've seriously never had hummus?! But it's so gooood!". Honestly, I don't see that it's that surprising...I mean, it's not all that common...I'm sure there are tons of people who've never had hummus...Right? At any rate, it was quite delicious and very satisfying. I approve. *stamp of approval*
Experience #2 - UNBELIEVABLY expensive coffee (see post below), and incredibly classy waffle sandwiches. Delicious! (Side note: Every time I spell sandwich, I spell it "sandwhich". I really think that it should be spelled that way. It makes more sense. Where in the English language is the word wich? Seriously.)
Experience #3 - Doing my own laundry. Surprisingly, I actually really like doing laundry. Like Penny. Except there's no Billy to my Penny... *tears*
Experience #4 - Flying on an airplane...by myself. *DUH DUH DUUUUUH* I, for one, love the airport, so this wasn't as harrowing as it may be for some people. And I didn't get stuck next to an insanely obese person OR a baby, so I'd say that it was a pretty satisfying experience. (Side note: I totally did that running into a spinning hug thing when my family picked me up. What can I say? I am a cliché kind of girl. And I was pretty freaking excited to see them.)
Experience #5 - Seeing the fireworks at Disneyland. As big of a Disney buff that I am, I have never actually stayed to see the fireworks at night. 0_o They. Were. Amazing. They have this voiceover track going while you're watching and it is incredible. I seriously almost started crying when they were talking about how your dreams can come true. (I BELIEVE!)
So, that's all for now. I'll be sure to keep you updated on all the new things I try.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Adventuring in OC
Today. Today, I had an adventure. An adventure filled with coffee, class, and waffles. Yes, folks, I actually left my room and went somewhere. Amazing, right? Yes, well, *cough* just shut up and listen, okay?
Well, today started off like any other day. I woke up obscenely late (10:30am!) and decided, Hmm, I should probably shower today. Now, anyone who knows me can tell you that I don't like showering. It's wet. It's a hassle. It takes too long. But, I realize that it is socially unacceptable not to shower. And so it must be done. (Wow, that digressed quickly...)
Any-way. Whilst I was in the shower getting clean, my cousin called me on the phone asking if I would like to go to one of their favorite coffee joints. Of course, coffee is one of my many passions, so we named a time and set off for Costa Mesa! Now, I was expecting some hipster out-of-the-way coffee shop with dim lighting, live music, and cushy chairs. But Portola Coffee Lab is none of those things. Portola Coffee Lab is pure class. We went up to the counter (well, it was more of a bar with the cool stools and such) and ordered what was called a "Daisy Buchanan".
Now, at this particular coffee shop, there are certain baristas who are given their own space to work in, and they create their own drinks. Originals, so to speak. This particular drink was one of them, and was only available that day. The spectacular thing is that the barista made the drink in front of our very eyes! In a glass! With (and here's the kicker) a glass straw. And it was at this moment that I realized, I am probably in the classiest establishment I will ever be in. So, while we sat at the bar sipping from our glass straws and people watching, I tried to look as classy as possible. And it worked! Until I got to the end of my coffee. For at the bottom of my glass were some fruit chunks. (Do not judge me until you've tried it. It was actually quite delicious) Blueberries and strawberries to be exact.
Now, I had paid $12 for this coffee (I told you they were classy!), I sure as heck wasn't going to leave perfectly good fruit at the bottom! The only way to get the fruit out however, was to slide it up the side of the glass with my straw and then pluck it out with my fingers...and that is when I realized that I will never be one of "them" (Meaning: classy people). I am just too practical to be classy. -_-
On to the waffles! After finishing my fruit (It took a little while to get it all out of the bottom) we headed over to a restaurant called "The Iron Press". I had no idea what to expect. Once we got the menus, I realized that they served sandwiches. But instead of bread they use waffles! Waffles of all things! Such an idea had never occurred to me before. I was experiencing all sorts of new things today. And such bliss. This waffle sandwich was probably the most delicious thing I have ever consumed in my life. Just thinking about it makes me start salivating for more. Yuuuummm.
And so ends my adventure. =)
*Side note: Both of these places were in this outdoor/indoor mall area we were in, and some of the other stores are worth honorable mention. They had a cheese store (Imagine, a whole store devoted to cheese!), a record store (How cool is that?! One of my cousins bought a space age disco album that includes tracks from Star Wars, Star Trek, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind), a spice store (I love spices), and a ton of clothing shops. Just a cool experience all around.
Well, today started off like any other day. I woke up obscenely late (10:30am!) and decided, Hmm, I should probably shower today. Now, anyone who knows me can tell you that I don't like showering. It's wet. It's a hassle. It takes too long. But, I realize that it is socially unacceptable not to shower. And so it must be done. (Wow, that digressed quickly...)
Any-way. Whilst I was in the shower getting clean, my cousin called me on the phone asking if I would like to go to one of their favorite coffee joints. Of course, coffee is one of my many passions, so we named a time and set off for Costa Mesa! Now, I was expecting some hipster out-of-the-way coffee shop with dim lighting, live music, and cushy chairs. But Portola Coffee Lab is none of those things. Portola Coffee Lab is pure class. We went up to the counter (well, it was more of a bar with the cool stools and such) and ordered what was called a "Daisy Buchanan".
Now, at this particular coffee shop, there are certain baristas who are given their own space to work in, and they create their own drinks. Originals, so to speak. This particular drink was one of them, and was only available that day. The spectacular thing is that the barista made the drink in front of our very eyes! In a glass! With (and here's the kicker) a glass straw. And it was at this moment that I realized, I am probably in the classiest establishment I will ever be in. So, while we sat at the bar sipping from our glass straws and people watching, I tried to look as classy as possible. And it worked! Until I got to the end of my coffee. For at the bottom of my glass were some fruit chunks. (Do not judge me until you've tried it. It was actually quite delicious) Blueberries and strawberries to be exact.
Now, I had paid $12 for this coffee (I told you they were classy!), I sure as heck wasn't going to leave perfectly good fruit at the bottom! The only way to get the fruit out however, was to slide it up the side of the glass with my straw and then pluck it out with my fingers...and that is when I realized that I will never be one of "them" (Meaning: classy people). I am just too practical to be classy. -_-
On to the waffles! After finishing my fruit (It took a little while to get it all out of the bottom) we headed over to a restaurant called "The Iron Press". I had no idea what to expect. Once we got the menus, I realized that they served sandwiches. But instead of bread they use waffles! Waffles of all things! Such an idea had never occurred to me before. I was experiencing all sorts of new things today. And such bliss. This waffle sandwich was probably the most delicious thing I have ever consumed in my life. Just thinking about it makes me start salivating for more. Yuuuummm.
And so ends my adventure. =)
*Side note: Both of these places were in this outdoor/indoor mall area we were in, and some of the other stores are worth honorable mention. They had a cheese store (Imagine, a whole store devoted to cheese!), a record store (How cool is that?! One of my cousins bought a space age disco album that includes tracks from Star Wars, Star Trek, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind), a spice store (I love spices), and a ton of clothing shops. Just a cool experience all around.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Settling In
Well, a lot has happened recently. Essentially, I have packed up all my things, driven out to California with my dad, unpacked (most) of my things, and done a little sightseeing. All in about a week.
Okay, so I am not the most organized person (obviously), or the most efficient with my time. So most of my packing was done in the two days before I left. I had a lot of help, and miraculously I got most of what I own in boxes and tucked away into Jeffrey. (Side note: Jeffrey is my car.)
The drive was fairly uneventful. We drove straight through and made it in about 16 and a half hours. (Woot!) We only made it through the power of pure caffeine and sugar. And good music. Obviously. Dad drove for four straight hours during the wee hours of the night, enabling me to sleep for quite a long time. Along the way we drove through many interesting towns, and I am quite certain we passed a street called Sneffels...possibly the greatest street ever named. I would live there.
Anyway,we arrived in CA around 9 am, which was a lot earlier than we had originally planned. We decided to surprise-visit some relatives, had lunch with them, and then we drove on to the place where I would be staying. We arrived, unpacked, ate, etc. etc...
Since then, I have unpacked my stuff, opened a bank account (for all my non-existent money), visited Corona del Mar (which is where my parents got married!), spent 11 hours in Disneyland (I got my picture taken with princesses!), started to finally learn how to swim (Yes, I know, I know, "How do you not know how to swim?!"), and gotten a thoroughly tomato-esque sunburn (I am a pasty white person).
And what I have concluded from all of this is that I quite like California so far. I am quite homesick for my family back home, but I think this is going to be a really great time. I love the people I'm staying with, and I feel very welcome. I can't wait to see what else is ahead!
Okay, so I am not the most organized person (obviously), or the most efficient with my time. So most of my packing was done in the two days before I left. I had a lot of help, and miraculously I got most of what I own in boxes and tucked away into Jeffrey. (Side note: Jeffrey is my car.)
The drive was fairly uneventful. We drove straight through and made it in about 16 and a half hours. (Woot!) We only made it through the power of pure caffeine and sugar. And good music. Obviously. Dad drove for four straight hours during the wee hours of the night, enabling me to sleep for quite a long time. Along the way we drove through many interesting towns, and I am quite certain we passed a street called Sneffels...possibly the greatest street ever named. I would live there.
Anyway,we arrived in CA around 9 am, which was a lot earlier than we had originally planned. We decided to surprise-visit some relatives, had lunch with them, and then we drove on to the place where I would be staying. We arrived, unpacked, ate, etc. etc...
Since then, I have unpacked my stuff, opened a bank account (for all my non-existent money), visited Corona del Mar (which is where my parents got married!), spent 11 hours in Disneyland (I got my picture taken with princesses!), started to finally learn how to swim (Yes, I know, I know, "How do you not know how to swim?!"), and gotten a thoroughly tomato-esque sunburn (I am a pasty white person).
And what I have concluded from all of this is that I quite like California so far. I am quite homesick for my family back home, but I think this is going to be a really great time. I love the people I'm staying with, and I feel very welcome. I can't wait to see what else is ahead!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Ready for Take-off
This is it. We are down to the wire. Approximately 14 hours until departure. Am I packed? Just barely. Am I forgetting anything? Most likely. Am I ready? Not on your life.
I've had to say goodbye to a lot of people this week. A LOT of people. I've had meetings, appointments, and coffee date after coffee date after coffee date. (Seriously, a butt-load of coffee dates.) But it didn't really hit me that I was leaving until last night. I broke down. Saying goodbye to my nephew this morning was probably one of the hardest things I've done. I can't even imagine what saying goodbye to my family tomorrow is going to be like. They are my best friends. My support system. Leaving them will be like leaving my hearts behind. But there's no turning back now.
A theme in my life recently has been courage. As the Doctor says, "Courage isn't just a matter of not being frightened, you know. It's being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway." I love that quote because that is exactly what I'm trying to do. I am very afraid of this major life change I'm making. Will I get the job? Will I make friends? Why do I have to talk to people?! But I am going to do it anyway, because I don't want to live a life full of what-if's and regrets. I want to live out my dreams and see my ambitions come to fruition. And I know I'm not alone in this. I have my family, my friends, and God is still with me. Even in California. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
I've had to say goodbye to a lot of people this week. A LOT of people. I've had meetings, appointments, and coffee date after coffee date after coffee date. (Seriously, a butt-load of coffee dates.) But it didn't really hit me that I was leaving until last night. I broke down. Saying goodbye to my nephew this morning was probably one of the hardest things I've done. I can't even imagine what saying goodbye to my family tomorrow is going to be like. They are my best friends. My support system. Leaving them will be like leaving my hearts behind. But there's no turning back now.
A theme in my life recently has been courage. As the Doctor says, "Courage isn't just a matter of not being frightened, you know. It's being afraid and doing what you have to do anyway." I love that quote because that is exactly what I'm trying to do. I am very afraid of this major life change I'm making. Will I get the job? Will I make friends? Why do I have to talk to people?! But I am going to do it anyway, because I don't want to live a life full of what-if's and regrets. I want to live out my dreams and see my ambitions come to fruition. And I know I'm not alone in this. I have my family, my friends, and God is still with me. Even in California. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Monday, May 6, 2013
A Grand Adventure
Hello, friends. =)
Two weeks until I start on my grand adventure! The time seems to slip away and drag on all at the same time. I figured I would start a blog to keep friends and family updated on all the happenings of my new life, as well as to see for myself how I grow and change in the coming months.
As many of you know, I am moving to Orange County, California to pursue my dream of becoming a Disney Princess in Disneyland(!). This has been such a dream of mine for quite a while, and it is so exciting seeing things start to fall into place. I am ecstatic to live in such a beautiful part of the country. Warm skies, the beach, and rain. Actual rain! (No more snow for me! Mwahaha.)
Needless to say, this has caused quite the upheaval in my normally quiet life. Preparations for the trip out - trying to decide which posessions to take with me, which to leave behind, and what needs to be purchased (And figuring out finances and budgets and all that lovely math stuff. Yuck!) are piling up and becoming quite irritatingly overwhelming.
But! I remain optimistic and am really looking forward to this new change. I know it's going to challenge me like nothing I've ever experienced before - I'll have to suck it up and actually *gulp* talk to people. Go grocery shopping. Or (horror of horrors) do laundry?! Seriously though, I feel like this is going to be really good for me.
Two weeks until I start on my grand adventure! The time seems to slip away and drag on all at the same time. I figured I would start a blog to keep friends and family updated on all the happenings of my new life, as well as to see for myself how I grow and change in the coming months.
As many of you know, I am moving to Orange County, California to pursue my dream of becoming a Disney Princess in Disneyland(!). This has been such a dream of mine for quite a while, and it is so exciting seeing things start to fall into place. I am ecstatic to live in such a beautiful part of the country. Warm skies, the beach, and rain. Actual rain! (No more snow for me! Mwahaha.)
Needless to say, this has caused quite the upheaval in my normally quiet life. Preparations for the trip out - trying to decide which posessions to take with me, which to leave behind, and what needs to be purchased (And figuring out finances and budgets and all that lovely math stuff. Yuck!) are piling up and becoming quite irritatingly overwhelming.
But! I remain optimistic and am really looking forward to this new change. I know it's going to challenge me like nothing I've ever experienced before - I'll have to suck it up and actually *gulp* talk to people. Go grocery shopping. Or (horror of horrors) do laundry?! Seriously though, I feel like this is going to be really good for me.
So, like it or not, in two weeks I am going on the adventure of a lifetime.
Wish me luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)