Today marks my one month anniversary living in Laguna Beach, California, and let me tell you - it's been one hell of a month. Here is a list of some things that have happened, things that we've done, and some reflections. O, and there's a fun video for you to enjoy.
1. The first week here was great, but sucky, all at the same time. It was great because for the first time in my life, I got to sleep in later than Scott for multiple week days in a row. That never happened in Pittsburgh. It was great because I got to run errands, be productive, and get acclimated to living on California time and the idea of actually living on the west coast. I'm sure you're asking, "Steph, what about ANY of this is sucky? I mean, I know you haven't mentioned going to the beach everyday, but I'm sure you did that too, you lucky duck!" Well, to answer your hypothetical answer - it was actually sucky for that reason. Little do you know that I occasionally banished myself from going to the beach until I got a job. I was pretty much punishing myself for being unemployed. Sick, huh? I was making myself miserable and putting so much pressure on myself that I didn't enjoy all that the beach has to offer.
2. I haven't talked about my job yet, so I guess now would be a good time. Here's some background information. I landed on Tuesday night with no job and had been beating myself up for it. I had been looking for jobs since November 2010 and didn't get anywhere. I knew that looking for jobs was going to be my full time job until I got one. Well, two days after, I found a job on jewishjobs.com and I applied to a job at a Reform synagogue in Newport Beach. I got a call three hours later asking if I could come in for an interview the following day. I went to the interview - it lasted 2 hours. I got an email on Monday asking about a second interview. I went to the second interview on Wednesday - it lasted 2 hours and I was offered the position. Thursday I called and accepted the position which was to start on July 1. Needless to say, I was in California for a week and a day and had an offer. Not too shabby! I am currently the Membership and Programming Coordinator at Temple Bat Yahm Reform congregation in Newport Beach, California.
3. I made the video below. Take a look.
5. The answer to the "friend" question is "kinda." We're working on making friends.
6. Scott has had 2 friends come visit him already. I'm pulling in zero. Hey friends, let's get on that! COME VISIT ME!
7. There is a bird that lives near our apartment that is dyslexic. I swear. Every night, when Scott and I are ready for sleep around 11:30pm, the bird wakes up and starts singing it's little (or big) head off. When we wake up to pee at 3am - the bird is up, having a ball. It's like we're sleeping in a rainforest. Needless to say, we've gotten used to it. If you come visit, there's nothing we can do with it, so deal with it.
8. Sucks to be on the west coast when everyone else is on the east coast. Just so you know, there is like 2 hours total that we can talk during the day. We can talk between 8:00 and 8:30am when I'm driving to work (but then you're working since it's only 11:00am) and when I leave work before I get home to do evening activities which is usually 5:30pm-7:00pm (8:30-10pm your time). That's enough time to talk to one person a day. BUMMER!
9. Scott and I had to go register for engagement gifts as requested by our moms and it was the hardest thing we've ever had to do. It wasn't fun AT ALL. Good news is we're still engaged and we still love each other even though the 5 hours spent in Bed, Bath, and Beyond, not including the extra hour rearranging the registry on the website, was HELL.
10. I'm so tan my feet are tan. I wear at least 15spf sunscreen as mandated by Scott, and my feet are more tan than my face. I know Scott doesn't care if my feet get wrinkly but he wants my pretty punim to remain wrinkle free. On a similar note, it's very hard to tell how old people are in California for two reasons: 1. No one takes care of their skin and they are very wrinkly, and 2. 60 yr olds dress like hussies. Put some damn clothes on, grandma.
