The Apartment

Some people...(Celeeste) wanted to see pictures of the apartment & stuff so I took some. It's hard to get any good pictures though. So anyway, you can see that you walk in the door and the living room/dining room are right there and the little kitchen area is off to the right. Anything you see with like the trees & a big building is pictures from our patio. The building is where the theater, fitness center, and game room are. Also the pool, hot tub & grill are in that fenced in area right behind the building. And then directly behind us is the putting green, sand volleyball, and the bocce ball thing.

I did the best I could! I like the apartment though. It's a perfect size for us. So here' s the link to the pics:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9IZMWbVw5YWw

And if that just isn't enough, here's a link to a website with the complex: http://www.rent.com/apartments/california/inland-empire/rancho-cucamonga/438530

Ivan gotta job!

Yes Ivan got a job! Well they haven't officially offered yet because they still have to do a background check but ya know, he got it. He will be working at a group home for kids. The kids he'll most likely be working with are chemically dependent and most of them are the 12 step program. It should be interesting!! Anyway, he'll be working afternoon/evenings, so I might get a second job a couple nights a week just to get some more experience in a different therapy area-- like in the hospitals or nursing homes (right now I'm in the schools.)

Speaking of work, still slow right now. I'm going crazy. We won't see kids until next week & the week after. I am sitting in an office doing absolutely nothing for 8 hours a day. I hate it! I did get to start making a schedule though so that's nice... it will pick up soon. But meanwhile, I am seriously losing my mind in this office with 9 other women...some of whom have VERY strong personalities :) Can't wait to start seeing kids and being busy and being on my own!!!!!

I'm In Love!

We went to Santa Monica today, and well, I'm in love. It was love at first site. We walked onto the beach and I looked around and knew I'd found the California beach of my dreams. The water was so blue, so pretty! It still wasn't as clear as Florida water, but it was good enough for me. The pier was awesome to see in the distance, and the sailboats. So, the pier was cool-- people doing little crafty things, fishing, restaurants, we rode the roller coaster and the ferris wheel. So fun. Then we walked to 3rd Street Promenade-- awesome!!! Packed full of shopping. So much shopping that I will need to go back. Several times. It was great. There were street performers ya know, dancing or playing instruments and stuff like that. Just a very cool place. Ivan saw some NBA player-- I'll have to ask him who it was. He said Hi to him and wanted to get a picture, but I was like no man leave him alone, dude just wants to shop like everyone else. I think I may have crushed his dream a little bit...oops. Anyway, if you ever come see me, I will definitely be taking you to Santa Monica. It was so cool & great, and probably exactly what you think of when you think of California... very cool place.

Here's some of the pictures... share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9IZMWbVw5YV8

Lata!

The View

I'm really liking it out here. For one, I love the speed limits. Down an average street, the speed limit is 50-55 mph! It's nice. And on the freeway, it's 70 but everyone's going like 105 :) I like it. And every time I look up and see that mountain, well it just doesn't get old ya know? And today was really clear. Some days the smog is just so annoying, you can hardly see the mountain, but today it was very clear and those days are awesome.

So anyway, I tried to get a pic of what just driving down the street looks like for me...it doesn't do it justice but you get the idea.

Seeya

Pictures!!!!!

OK, just click on these links and it will take you to the pictures. Enjoy!

Going Away Party:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9IZMWbVw5fX


The Drive to Cali:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9IZMWbVw5f1

Laguna Beach:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9IZMWbVw5fk

YAY! Internet Access

We have the internet folks! And it's DSL, no waiting at all. I love it.

Started work yesterday. It's really boring right now. Probably won't be seeing any kids until after Labor Day, so right now it's unpacking the office & crap like that. (They just moved offices at the end of last school year.) And a lot of politics & stuff that to be quite honest, I don't have opinion or care about, or need to because I'm, not long term. I'm here to do a job and then leave! It's nice. There are 8 OTR's (that is an occupational therapist-- they are in charge of doing evaluations and making goals, then I (COTA-meaning assistant) do treatment to meet those goals). That's the most basic description of our roles anyway. There is one OTR who works with the travel company like I do (Breigh is her name). She's cool, she's traveled before so it's cool. We were discussing how neither of us are too worried about a lot of stuff because we get to pack up & leave when we're done. Anyway, everyone else seems nice & helpful, and it will be nice to work with so many people, and people with a lot of experience. And there's one other COTA (like me). So the next week or 2 will be getting organized, getting caseload and meeting people basically. All very boring!!!! But necessary.

Other than work, life's good. Ivan's manning the fort while I am at work...sticking around while people come to do things--internet, dish, and security. Tomorrow I think the job search will begin for him. Wish him luck. Yesterday when I got home he was ready to go to Happy Hour to celebrate my first day at work! So we did. Watched some TV, and chilled in the hot tub. It's a rough life I tell ya :)

Although, the heat is a little obnoxious. While there is no humidity it is hot. Temperatures are going high 90's and 100's right now. But at night it cools down so it's nice. I've been informed that there will be another heat wave in September probably...I can't wait!

That's all for now. I'm gonna put the pics on so check them out!

Miss everyone

We're Here

YES! We're here! And I am so happy to be on the internet right now...It's pretty pathetic how badly I missed it while on the road and settling in!

We left Heyworth Monday morning around 3:30, met up with Ivan in St. Louis and were on the road by 6ish. It rained the first like 7 hours we were driving! But that was okay because I really wanted to see some good rain before getting to Cali. The drive didn't seem that bad to me really. The scenery was great- Rolling hills in Texas, plateaus and mesas in New Mexico and mountains all over Arizona. Just beautiful really. Monday we made it to Albuquerque before stopping for the night. Tuesday we went to the Grand Canyon-- that was awesome. It's just amazing really; I think everyone should see it. I'd love to go back someday and stay longer- ride a donkey to the bottom and camp, that sort of thing. We got to Rancho Cucamonga Tuesday night around 11 and stayed at a hotel.

Wednesday morning we got the apartment. I love it. It's perfect for Ivan & me. And it's decorated/furnished with stuff I probably would have chosen myself. It's nice, and so far everyone I've met has been really nice & helpful. We're right at the base of a mountain too. It's so cool to just look up & see that, and palm trees! It's really pretty. Except for the smog...:) We were like "So is it just kinda cloudy or is that smog?" Yup it's smog. Mmm, mmm!

So yesterday was spent just settling in & shopping for the necessities that we didn't bring with us. We pulled into Target yesterday and were heading to the store, when we heard a hissing noise-- turned around & Ivan's car was smoking & water & green stuff was shooting out from under the hood!! Dad's diagnosis was a busted radiator hose. It was prefect timing really-- after we got here & while my dad was still here to fix it! It's like the car just threw up after 27 hours of driving!

So today we're just chillin', waiting for our clothes to arrive (we shipped most of them), and I am trying to get to know the area a little. I'm actually at the library right now paying $3 an hour for internet access! It's worth it though. I was going a little insane.

Alright, that's about it. I should get internet at my place next week and I will post some pictures then. Take care! Miss everyone!

2 Weeks Left...

Hey! Exactly 2 weeks left until the big move. It doesn't seem real so I am not really thinking anything right now. I was like super excited, then nervous, then excited & nervous, and now I am just kinda oblivious I think. It'll hit me once I am in California for a little while probably.

My going away party was so fun, I think anyway :) I was so happy to see everyone and a ton of people came. It was nice to just chill like the good old days. Thank you to everyone who came!!!

I found out that I passed my certification exam, big relief. If that didn't happen I wouldn't be going anywhere. I got home from the Keys yesterday. It was nice to see everyone. We were complete lazy bums the entire time but I don't care. We hung out at the old places we used to go to, kicked back, went sailing one night and saw wild dolphins. They were pretty far away but it was still cool. They offered to me & Tiffany to intern one day like we did last summer...we were even too lazy for that! Some people would do anything to have that chance and we were like "uh, no thanks :)" Oh well. It was a great experience last summer, but really once was enough!

Welcome

So I thought it'd be easiest to keep in touch with people and share pictures through this blog-- for those of you who don't know what a blog is we'll just call it a website. I can write on here and you can read whenever you want. Although...I will still probably be sending out mass emails like I did last summer to remind you to read this!

Anyway, the countdown has begun. We'll be leaving 1 month from today. It's nuts. I'm starting to lose my mind just a little bit-- with the paperwork I have to fill out for the company I'm working for, figuring out what stuff to take and what not to take, deciding what to ship and what to cram in the car, people to see before I leave who won't be at the party...and then thinking about other random everyday things.

Next weekend is the party which a lot of people can't come to :( but will still be awesome!! The following Monday I have to take my certification exam...everything is riding on that. If I don't pass it we might not be leaving afterall! Then I am going to Key Largo for a week to see everyone from last summer. I'm so flippin' excited about that. It'll be great. I miss them so much! Just lay out, catch up, and drink. Pretty much the only things on the agenda for that week. What else... oh, the 12th is the Eminem/50 Cent concert in Detroit. WOO HOO! I just saw them in Chicago last week and it was so awesome I bought tickets again. Unbelieveable!

Okay, so that's that. Keep reading. Once we get going it'll be much more interesting!