A Texas-sized announcement...

First off, again...like so many other times before...I apologize for my lack of blogging.

I've written this post over and over again, without the heart to push the "Post" button until now. I guess once I hit that little button, it will be real. But it needs to be said, to be announced..so here it goes.

Summer of 2013, my family and I will be moving from California to Texas.

For the past few years, Jake and I have been "planning" to move to the Fort Worth area, even making several trips to not only visit his Dad, but to also get acquainted with the area, places to live, schools, etc. We had planned on waiting until Jake graduated with his Bachelors Degree in Psychology from SFSU...and that's happening this coming May. Shortly after he graduates, we're going to move.

I must admit, although I am excited to live in a new place and start over from scratch, it's also REALLY scary for me. I have only ever lived in California (born and raised) my entire life. I've never lived anywhere else. There was a time I was going to move out of state a couple of times, but I ultimately decided to stay. Given how Jake has worked so hard to fulfill his dreams of being a Sports Psychologist, I can tell he misses his Dad. He and his Dad are buddies, and he's a completely different person when we're in Texas visiting. He smiles, he talks, he's happy. If we stay in California, we'll never be able to own a home. Sorry to say, but the schools aren't that great either. I feel growing up I got a good education, but I don't think my daughter would get the same caliber of studies Jake and I did unless she was put into private school which we can't afford. Gas prices are ridiculous, and there is a lot of limits for us here. Ultimately, moving to Texas means more to Jake than staying in California means to me. I enjoy Texas (well, not the heat) and I can see room to have our family grow in great neighborhoods that won't cost a fortune to live in. It's a new beginning, and I'm terrified. But I guess the mix of emotions that I'm going through now will help me adapt to our new environment when the time comes.

We don't have a definite date of when we'll move, but I will say that my Mom and Dad are coming with us. They've always made it clear that no matter where we live, they'll come too. We've always been close and they want to be wherever Scarlett and us are.

So for the next few months, I plan to peek in, send updates and chronicle our trek from a California family, to a Texas one. So...here we go!

Challenge Week 4

So Saturday's weigh-in was a total bust. Both Jake and I gained, a lot. How, I have no idea. We've been tracking everything (well, I have) and we've been walking every other morning. Jake was rather miffed at his gain, and I was more in shock. So we decided to drown our sorrows in a lunch at Sonic on our way to Sacramento this weekend for our family's annual 4th of July BBQ party. Since 4th of July is on a Wednesday this year, we decided to celebrate the weekend before since we purchase legal fireworks and it's illegal to set them off after the 4th.

So here's how Jake and I stand

LoLo: +2.8lbs, Total lost: +1.0lbs

Jake: +2.6lbs, Total lost: -0.4lbs

It. sucks...HARD.

Of course it gives me no motivation to keep going with the Weight Watchers, but I know we have to keep going. If every time I have a bad day I give up on being healthy and eat myself into oblivion, I'd be 1000lbs by now. Doesn't mean I didn't indulge in a full-fat Iced Caramel Macchiato this morning (thanks, hun!) but it is what it is. New day, new start....right?

Until next week!

Challenge Week 3

At my Weight Watchers meeting, we actually stayed and sat through the entire meeting, with Scarlett in tow no less. Here's how we stand:

LoLo: -1.8 lbs., Total lost: 1.8lbs

Jake: -3.0lbs., Total lost: 3.0lbs

Not a bad start huh?

I've finally got my WW app on my iPhone working, along with the WW barcode scanner, which is REALLY cool to use! I'm horrible at tracking when I have to write everything down, but the app makes things so much easier to track because it does all the calculating for you, along with telling you how many activity points you've earned and/or used for the week.

Things I've discovered so far this week during my challenge:

1. Mission Wraps! tortillas are oh-so-yummy, but are costly when it comes to points. Anyone have any healthy alternatives?

2. Those rotisserie chickens you can get at the grocery store make convenient shredded chicken for wraps and salads. Jake and I are hooked!

3. Arrowhead water tastes better than Brita treated tap water (yes, there's a taste difference).

4. We got "lost" in Tilden Park this past weekend, and ended up walking around trying to find our car for 3 hours. I know without the walking we've been doing in the mornings, I would've been dead after the first hour.

30 Before 30 - Go karting with Jake

Growing up, my uncle Fred (or Ferd, as the family endearingly calls him) used to race go karts. Every time we'd go to his house, I'd see his go karts in the garage and wonder what it would be like to race them.

So when I compiled what I wanted to do and experience for my 30 Before 30 list, I KNEW one of the experiences I wanted to have was go-karting. For Jake's bachelor party, his friends took him to a local karting place so I already knew there was a place around that I could go too. When it came to decide what we were going to do for Father's Day, I knew he'd enjoy go-karting. Hey, Father's Day and 30 Before 30 in one - two birds with one stone!

So we went this past Saturday and of course there was a nasty heat wave in our part of the Bay Area. It was 90 degrees inside the track and even hotter outside. I got the "Triple Play" which is three races, but you are racing just to see what your best time is. I knew no matter what I'd be pretty slow since I like to be surefooted, especially when the only thing separating me and certain death is a helmet and neckguard. But all in all, it was a blast. I would go again, but next time we're waiting until it's cooler and I'm well hydrated. Between the hairpin turns and the heat for 30 minutes straight, I was feeling a little woozy when we were done.

Me in all my Large-sized-helmet glory!

Jake with his helmet



Catching Up

Wow...a  lot has happened since I last wrote.

Scarlett had her 2nd Easter and we spent it with Jake's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. We played at a playground and did a small Easter egg hunt. All of the eggs were filled with change that promptly went into Scarlett's piggy bank when we got home.

For a few years, I had been contemplating getting purple highlights in my hair, and was always scared to do it. I met a wonderful and offbeat hairdresser named Betty who owns a salon in Berkeley. She became a client of ours and has done my sister in law's hair for a while. For those who don't know, my sister in law's hair is fire-engine-red with black bangs and it's cut really short and spiky. I figured if she could sport the red rocker hair, I could surely handle a few purple streaks.

Nervously I walked into Betty's salon and 2 hours later, walked out with purple highlights (the color she used is called "Pimpin' Purple") and a haircut with off-the-side bangs. I'd been wanting to get my hair restyled since November when the lady I went to didn't really listen to what I had asked for. Please excuse the poor quality of the picture. It was taken with my phone, the highlights look darker than they actually are and my hair was a little wind-whipped afterwards.

Well, I had Mother's Day #2. I was treated to a shopping day at the Le Creuset outlet in Gilroy and I didn't go too crazy, but having such beautiful pieces to make meals for my family is quite lovely. I love cooking, and even fantasized about going to culinary school for a time until I found out how much it would cost to go and how competitive the market is for chefs...not really for me. So I always look into cooking classes and new techniques for preparing meals. I'm not a gourmet by any means, but I thoroughly enjoy cooking. 

Mother's Day we had a low key BBQ for my mom's side of the family which is a yearly tradition. We were supposed to host last year, but Scarlett decided to make her appearance and we were unable to put the party on, but this year we did it. Everything was great - great weather, great food, great company. There was a small snafu with my Dad almost falling down our back steps and really hurting his arm with a skin tear, but I snapped into "mommy" mode and cleaned and bandaged him up. His arm is fine.

The Friday night prior to Mother's Day, Scarlett decided to try some acrobatics off her changing pad on her dresser and got a hairline fracture in her left wrist. It looked a lot worse than it actually was, and she had to wear a bright pink cast for 2 weeks. I think it hurt Jake more than the baby because he was changing her diaper when she rolled over. She's pretty darn cute though, even with a cast on:

May 19, Jake and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary with a trip to Disneyland. I'll tell the details of that in another post. :)



7 years ago...

It was March 16, 2005. I was meeting up with some friends to have a late night bite at Carrow's and go to play some pool. En route to the restaurant, I got a call from a familiar number. It was a guy I hadn't really talked too since our first date two weeks prior. A lot of stuff had happened in that two weeks and I, admittedly, was avoiding him. After coming to the realization that he was genuine and just wanted to talk to me, I answered my phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Laurel? It's Jake."

"Hi! How've you been?"

"I've been alright, how are you?"

"I've had better days. What are you doing right now?"

"I'm at home watching a movie. What are you up to?"

"I'm meeting some friends at Carrows and then we're going to play some pool. You wanna join us?"

"Sure, let me put my shoes on and I'll meet you there."

"OK, see you there!"

A few minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot and walked in. My friends were sitting at a booth within a direct line of sight of the front door. I walked over, greeted them, and let them know Jake would be joining us. About half of them had met him already, so they knew him a little bit. I sat down and started talking. A few minutes later, I looked up and saw him walk through the door. It was the day before St. Patrick's Day, so he had a Guiness baseball hat on with a black button-up shirt and jeans. Something came over me and I just walked up to him and gave him a HUGE hug. The hug must have lasted a full minute. We walked over to the table and had our late meal and headed over to the pool hall. It was all flirting and me apologizing for being MIA for the previous weeks. I had explained that I was going through some personal stuff and didn't want him to get mixed up in it. His understanding and the way he looked me straight in the eye while telling me that he missed talking to me and that he just wants to spend some time with me really hit me hard.

After everyone else drove away to their respective destinations, Jake and I stayed and talked in the parking lot for the next couple of hours. After that day, we talked or saw each other every day.

7 years later, we've been through a lot. We've been through health issues and broken bones. We've been through deaths in the family and the birth of our daughter. We've been through starting a business and infertility. Through all of it, he still looks me in the eye like no one else ever has. He still holds my hand when I'm sad or afraid and rubs my back when I can't sleep. He stayed awake for 48 hours straight while I was in labor and after Scarlett was born. But most of all, he's my best friend...all because of one phone call.

I love you, Jake. Thanks for calling!

Sometimes I amaze myself

I did something yesterday that I would NEVER do under any other circumstances other than for the man I truely love with all my heart.

What I did took a lot of mental and emotional preparation. It took nerves of steel. It took a lot of "get over yourself!" in my mind.

I can't divulge what I did right now because it was for Jake's 5-year anniversary gift.

I amazed myself though that I pulled it off. It wouldn't have been possible without two great friends, and you know who you are.

Psi-Chi...Holla!!

I am so PROUD to announce that Jake, my hubby, has been accepted into the SFSU chapter of the International Honor Society for Psychology!!! This means he has maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher AND be within the top 35% of their class (he's currently a Junior). HOLLA!!!

I must tell you, Jake works hard. I know a lot of people say "my husband works hard", and I can appreciate that, but Jake is a beast. This is his schedule basically for the week:

Monday: Work 8:30-7pm, come home and spend most of his evening with the baby. After the baby goes to sleep, he studies for about an hour.

Tuesday: Wake up 4:30am, 2-hour BART ride into SF, go to class from 8am to 11am, ride BART back, get to work at around 12:30pm, work until 7pm, then come home and spends his evening with the baby. After the baby goes to sleep, he studies for about 1-2 hours.

Wednesday: Same as Monday.

Thursday: Same as Tuesday.

Friday: Same as Monday.

And now that it's tax season, he works EVERY Saturday from now until the weekend of the tax deadline from 10am to about 3-4pm. We also go to our WW meeting at 8:30am.

Yeah, I don't exaggerate when I say Jake works hard. He's supposed to graduate with his Bachelors next May, so it'll be awesome for him to have a break for a little bit with his degree until he goes to Graduate school...then it's a whole 'nother ball game.

Being a member of Psi Chi means he'll be able to put that honor on his resume, it'll be part of his credentials (or so I've heard), and he'll get a spiffy little something to wear with his cap and gown on graduation day. I'm so proud of you, Jake!!! Congrats!

Sardines at SF State

Jake began his classes at SF State this week. He goes to school two days a week: Tuesday and Thursdays and has one online class that doesn't require him to be on campus.

Tuesday morning was following a night of hellish sleep for me (aka almost none at all) so when the alarm beeped it's ugly beeping signaling Jake to get the heck out of bed, I decided to get up too. Seeing him buzz around the house reminded me of when I was a kid and that excitement that was the first day of school. Your backpack is chock full of fresh supplies, you're excited to see your friends, and the year is ripe with possibilities. Seeing him trot down our front steps was reminiscent of a 5-year old saying "Bye mommy!" while skipping to Kindergarten for the first time. It was funny, but it was also nice to see him so excited.

So yesterday was his final day this week and he got to attend his now "favorite" class that is Film and Society. Basically it's students watching TV shows and movies that take place in the 1930's through the 1960's when our society was changing the most. Then when the movie is finished, the student sit around and talk about impressions and notes about what happens. Homework? One paper due at the end of the semester. Textbook? Nada. It's a class right up Jake's ally. I mean I didn't marry a man with 500+ DVDs in his possession for nuthin', right? So what was the TV show du jour on Tuesday? Mad Men. It was the episode where Betty Draper finds out her husband, Don Draper has cheated on her.

Now for the reason of the title of this post: sardines. No, Jake isn't taking Marine Biology or anything like that. It's the state of the classrooms. One of his classes, Cross Cultural Perspectives which is mandatory for his major, is set in a classroom modeled for a maximum of 80 students. How many are in the class? Approximately 120. So for the first class, there were students lining the walls waiting patiently for others to leave so they could sit down. No such luck. Also, the campus was revamped in the 70's or 80's when we were substantially smaller-sized people. As you know, Jake is no wilting flower (and I wouldn't change him for anything). He's got thighs...and I use that term kindly. But I like his thighs...whoa...that was TMI. Sorry.

Anyways...so his seat is one of those tiny wooden seats with the tiny desk that folds down over your lap. Well, Jake's...umm...bottom...is too wide for the seat, so he's pretty crammed in. Then since his thighs are larger than the seats were made for, he can't push down the desk part all the way. Imagine this for 80 students sitting and 40 standing against the walls...with no air conditioning...in a heat wave that RARELY hits San Francisco (it was 96 degrees that day)...yeah...you get the idea. So yes, sardines is quite accurate. Poor Jake.

I know all these quirky experiences he's going through now are going to be subject of laughter and joking later as he looks back on them. They always do. But for now, he's going to just bite the bullet and pray that another heat wave isn't headed for the campus; at least not while he's attending classes.

But I'm as proud as I can be of him. He's chasing his dream...to be able to tell his wife she's got behavioral problems for free. ;)