How I have missed having the chance to write! I can't believe that the New Year is practically upon us.
So many things have happened since I last wrote.
In November, as I mentioned in my last post, I visited my BFF Sabrina, who has been my friend since we were in the eighth grade. I rarely see her, but when we are together, it's as if we never left each other's side. It's hard to believe that we are now women in our forties, with husbands and children and whatnot, but we are both happy and contented in our lives, and that is a good thing.
I did take pictures, but my camera cord has temporarily gone missing (explanation below) and as soon as I find it, I will post LOTS of pictures.
I only spent a weekend in California, but it was so nice to have warm, sunny weather, as it was beginning to be rainy and cold in the Pacific Northwest (after all, it was November!) and I was missing the sun. We went to the beach, and the water was so sparkling and beautiful, and I enjoyed playing with Sabrina and her daughter, Little E., who fell in love with me as much as I did with her. She already knew my name by the time we got there, and we played together quite a bit. Apparently, she remembered me after I left, too. Since she's only just over a year old, that's pretty cool. Sabrina's husband is awesome too, a really kind and intelligent person, and the perfect match for my friend.
When I got back, everything became busy. Lots of work, the beginning of the holiday season, and traveling down to Oregon on the weekends to see Raja and the kids. I no longer seemed to have time to write, do art, or do anything! However, that was soon to change.
At the end of November I gave my notice at my job. I told them that December 31 would be my last day, but that I was planning to move to Oregon to be with Raja the weekend of December 18. On the 1st of December, I told my students. It was a very sad day for me, and all of them were sad, too. We all cried a little. The good thing, though, was that we spent a lot of time together those last two weeks, and I will never forget those times...or them!
The next weeks after my resignation were crazy. I had to pack up and sort all of my stuff! I was only living in a couple of rooms in a house I shared with my landlady (who is also now a friend), but I also had lots of stuff stored away in a storage unit. I knew I was moving into Raja's one-bedroom apartment, and had to get rid of some of that stuff, and quick! Blending two households is never easy, especially when there is limited room. We can't move right now for a couple of reasons. For one, I just gave up 80% of my income (I have a little job in Oregon, working with a little girl with special needs), and two, we may move again sometime in 2011, so why not keep it simple? We renewed the lease, and got a storage unit at our apartment complex.
Alittle over a week ago, I moved. A couple of friends came by to help me pack up, and on the other end, I roped my brother into helping us unload. He is the best brother in the world. This last week I drove back up to Washington, cleaned out my old place, had dinner with friends, took tons of stuff to Goodwill, gave away other stuff, visited my old work, drove back to Oregon, unpacked a lot of stuff and started organizing the apartment. I decorated a little bit for Christmas, worked a few days at my new job, said "Bon Voyage" to Monkey and the Man Cub who are off to Australia with their other parents for the holidays, drove back to Washington to pick up my car (which took longer than expected), went Christmas shopping, drove back to Oregon and did more Christmas shopping, wrapped gifts, went to my mom's for Christmas brunch, hung out with my cool cousins, took care of a sick Raja (he has an ear infection), and went to see Narnia 3 (which was a big disappointment to me; Raja was entertained, but then, he hadn't read the book.)
Our apartment is still filled with boxes, suitcases, and stuff that is being reorganized or re-homed; hence, I have no idea where many of the things I "need" are (like my camera cord!) I also had to mail a package to my old roommate: I accidentally packed her T.V. remote control!
On Sunday, Raja and I were supposed to leave for New York City, where we planned to spend New Year's Eve. However, a blizzard shut down all the East Coast airports, so we stayed home. I was disappointed, but not too badly, because I'm just so happy to be with Raja. We thought about going somewhere else, but in the end we decided to just go to Portland (Oregon.) We are going to stay in a very fancy hotel for three nights, tour around Portland, go someplace nice for dinner on New Year's Eve, and then go to a club to see a pair of Bhangra/Bollywood DJs and dance, dance, dance! (At least, I plan to.)
It may not seem as if I am "traveling the world" just to go to my own hometown, but then, I haven't been an Oregonian for 22 years now. I am happy to be back, and see my old home with new eyes. I will be taking lots of pictures, and posting them here. In fact, I have decided that every day is a new adventure, no matter where I do or don't go, so I will be using this as my regular blog. I hope to keep in touch with friends old and new, and to document all my adventures: rediscovering my home town, decorating my apartment, planning my upcoming wedding, any possible moves, our Spring Break trip (we're thinking San Diego, but I want the kids to help decide) and my Hindu wedding this summer in India.
I'll write again soon. Until then, be good!
So many things have happened since I last wrote.
In November, as I mentioned in my last post, I visited my BFF Sabrina, who has been my friend since we were in the eighth grade. I rarely see her, but when we are together, it's as if we never left each other's side. It's hard to believe that we are now women in our forties, with husbands and children and whatnot, but we are both happy and contented in our lives, and that is a good thing.
I did take pictures, but my camera cord has temporarily gone missing (explanation below) and as soon as I find it, I will post LOTS of pictures.
I only spent a weekend in California, but it was so nice to have warm, sunny weather, as it was beginning to be rainy and cold in the Pacific Northwest (after all, it was November!) and I was missing the sun. We went to the beach, and the water was so sparkling and beautiful, and I enjoyed playing with Sabrina and her daughter, Little E., who fell in love with me as much as I did with her. She already knew my name by the time we got there, and we played together quite a bit. Apparently, she remembered me after I left, too. Since she's only just over a year old, that's pretty cool. Sabrina's husband is awesome too, a really kind and intelligent person, and the perfect match for my friend.
When I got back, everything became busy. Lots of work, the beginning of the holiday season, and traveling down to Oregon on the weekends to see Raja and the kids. I no longer seemed to have time to write, do art, or do anything! However, that was soon to change.
At the end of November I gave my notice at my job. I told them that December 31 would be my last day, but that I was planning to move to Oregon to be with Raja the weekend of December 18. On the 1st of December, I told my students. It was a very sad day for me, and all of them were sad, too. We all cried a little. The good thing, though, was that we spent a lot of time together those last two weeks, and I will never forget those times...or them!
The next weeks after my resignation were crazy. I had to pack up and sort all of my stuff! I was only living in a couple of rooms in a house I shared with my landlady (who is also now a friend), but I also had lots of stuff stored away in a storage unit. I knew I was moving into Raja's one-bedroom apartment, and had to get rid of some of that stuff, and quick! Blending two households is never easy, especially when there is limited room. We can't move right now for a couple of reasons. For one, I just gave up 80% of my income (I have a little job in Oregon, working with a little girl with special needs), and two, we may move again sometime in 2011, so why not keep it simple? We renewed the lease, and got a storage unit at our apartment complex.
Alittle over a week ago, I moved. A couple of friends came by to help me pack up, and on the other end, I roped my brother into helping us unload. He is the best brother in the world. This last week I drove back up to Washington, cleaned out my old place, had dinner with friends, took tons of stuff to Goodwill, gave away other stuff, visited my old work, drove back to Oregon, unpacked a lot of stuff and started organizing the apartment. I decorated a little bit for Christmas, worked a few days at my new job, said "Bon Voyage" to Monkey and the Man Cub who are off to Australia with their other parents for the holidays, drove back to Washington to pick up my car (which took longer than expected), went Christmas shopping, drove back to Oregon and did more Christmas shopping, wrapped gifts, went to my mom's for Christmas brunch, hung out with my cool cousins, took care of a sick Raja (he has an ear infection), and went to see Narnia 3 (which was a big disappointment to me; Raja was entertained, but then, he hadn't read the book.)
Our apartment is still filled with boxes, suitcases, and stuff that is being reorganized or re-homed; hence, I have no idea where many of the things I "need" are (like my camera cord!) I also had to mail a package to my old roommate: I accidentally packed her T.V. remote control!
On Sunday, Raja and I were supposed to leave for New York City, where we planned to spend New Year's Eve. However, a blizzard shut down all the East Coast airports, so we stayed home. I was disappointed, but not too badly, because I'm just so happy to be with Raja. We thought about going somewhere else, but in the end we decided to just go to Portland (Oregon.) We are going to stay in a very fancy hotel for three nights, tour around Portland, go someplace nice for dinner on New Year's Eve, and then go to a club to see a pair of Bhangra/Bollywood DJs and dance, dance, dance! (At least, I plan to.)
It may not seem as if I am "traveling the world" just to go to my own hometown, but then, I haven't been an Oregonian for 22 years now. I am happy to be back, and see my old home with new eyes. I will be taking lots of pictures, and posting them here. In fact, I have decided that every day is a new adventure, no matter where I do or don't go, so I will be using this as my regular blog. I hope to keep in touch with friends old and new, and to document all my adventures: rediscovering my home town, decorating my apartment, planning my upcoming wedding, any possible moves, our Spring Break trip (we're thinking San Diego, but I want the kids to help decide) and my Hindu wedding this summer in India.
I'll write again soon. Until then, be good!
