In case it was unclear...

So, today after work I came home to...a couch! YES, it is finally here and it is glorious. Kerri and I can both watch TV in comfort, instead of taking turns on the chair.

Then, I walked to the library (the one with the books, not the sweet coffee shop with free internet one block from my house). It was small, but I requested a bunch o' books from the main branch.

Then, Melanie and I went to Stroll & Savor. Basically, you buy tickets and then walk down 2nd street. All the restaurants have booths outside and you spend your tickets on various food. I had Indian, Greek, Japanese and Mexican food. I also had a cupcake, a crepe, and a diet coke. It was super fun. Everyone is walking around, people are out with their dogs. Good times. Then Lanie and I went and had a glass of wine at Vint's. It was super.

Also, every week they have movies on the beach. I am going to see Singing in the Rain on the 6th and Breakfast Club on the 12th. Anyone want to join?

So, in case it was unclear...I really like living in Long Beach. :)

I'm so excited...

Here are a few things I am excited about:

1. My cruise that I leave for TOMORROW!!!!!
2. Rosarito with the Rogers
3. Having a couch again
4. The Sound of Music Sing-a-long in September!!
5. San Diego with work people
6. Kerri coming home from her trip-I miss having a roommate.
7. Going to a Dodger game in August. I haven't purchased tickets, but that needs to happen. I am lagging this season.
8. Minnesota for Krista's wedding in August
9. DID I MENTION THE CRUISE STARTS TOMORROW?

I still need to blog about the Journey concert too. And I should post some pictures on this things at some point. Note to self.

I<3 Long Beach

For dinner this evening, Kerri and I walked to E.J. Malloy's pub and enjoyed dinner and a few beers. Then we walked to the liquor store to buy a bottle of cheap champagne to take to the fireworks show. (We put it in Nalgene bottles. We're classy like that.) And, the guy tells us they're having a free barbecue tomorrow, to celebrate their grand opening. SCORE. Then, we walked the two blocks down to the beach and enjoyed a fabulous fireworks show by the shore. Then, unlike the hundreds of unlucky people who had to drive home, we walked back home and are about to watch a movie.

There will be a 4th of July BBQ at our house next year. Mark your calendars kids. But for now, I am so-so-so-so happy that I live here. I have lived in five local cities in my life, and I feel like I have found the perfect fit.. This is where I could live the rest of my life and be happy. I have never loved a place that I live so much before. I'm home!

I almost cried at yoga...

...not from the difficulty of the moves (although I was certainly sore the next day.)

At the end, the instructor had us put our hands in a prayer position at our heads-to remind us to think loving thoughts; at our mouths-to remind us to speak words of compassion; and at our hearts to remind us to see the beauty and love that is in everything around us.

Amen.

Relax?

So, after my first year of teaching one of my co-workers wrote this in my yearbook: "Have a good summer, Jessica, and try to relax. Yeah, maybe even relax."

I remember thinking, "What is he talking about? I totally know how to relax. I'm not THAT high-strung."

After my first two days of vacation though, I am thinking he may have a point. Thus far I have:
*read two books
*done my laundry (no small feat)
*finished half of a three-unit online class
*met Krista at work for lunch
*bought gifts for various people


And, Shelley and I have plans to clean out my closet when we get home from It's A Grind, where I am working on the class. Now, it can definitely be argued that shopping, reading, and the TV watching I've also done is relaxing. That is certainly true. Reading David Sedaris can hardly be called stressful. But, the fact that I was bored at 11:00 this morning and decided to start my online summer classes on my second day of vacation is a bit telling.

Also, I am starting my National Boards in the fall. Which is a crapload of work. I got asked what made me decide to start that, and while the pay raise is an EXCELLENT motivation, I don't even think that's the real reason I'm doing it. I just have a need to be doing something all the time. Achieving something. Working toward something. There are definitely worse traits to possess. I mean, it does help me get a lot done. But I have been reflecting on this trait in the last year or so, when I realized that it is rare and bit extreme. Is it just a personality thing that I should work to its full advantage? Or should I analyze my need for achievement-perhaps it is reflective of some sort of issue I should work through?

I don't know. But I am going to go and work on that class some more.

My weekend, in outline form.

1. End of the year par-tay
a. Mary Hinds always has the BEST stories.
i. Janis Lukstein teaching tap dancing in her room.
ii. An unnamed AP doing yoga.
iii. The topless beach story.
b. The last day of school makes for the best parties
i. But with way less yelling this year.
ii. I recall a lot of high-fiving from me.
1. That’s probably not necessary, but is a sure sign I had a good time.
2. Kerri and I put together a bunch of Ikea furniture.
a. I actually like that there are no written directions, only pictures. I think the words would get too complicated. The pictures are pretty clear and they make it pretty hard to mess up.
i. Although I messed up on my file cabinet like four times.
b. If anyone needs an allen wrench, I got you covered.
c. Moving furniture upstairs that is in boxes is WAY easier than moving up actual furniture. I wish my bed was in an Ikea box.
3. I went to the beach
a. The beach is now only two blocks from my house.
i. YES!
b. I bought two types of sunscreen today
i. Faces=spf 70
1. I can’t believe a sweater didn’t pop out when I squeezed the tube of that stuff.
2. But it worked.
ii. Spray on=spf 50
1. Even if you are really albino, shouldn’t spf 50 do the trick, especially when you reapply it to your chest?
2. I am sunburned. ☹
a. I need to buy an umbrella.
4. I am going to bed now.
a. It’s hot.
b. My window fan, however, works wonders.
i. It is the wrong size for my new windows, but I think I shall still find a way to make it work.
5. Good night.
a. Good night, indeed.

And so it begins...

Have I mentioned that I hate moving? I always said that whenever I moved from my house I was going to leave everything behind and start a new life. Yeah, I'm totally full of it. I really like my stuff. But, here is my pros and cons list for moving thus far...

+actually got rid of about 25 books that I've either never read or didn't really like in the first place. (goodbye old math textbook and "I Gave Dating a Chance" by Jeramy Clark. That book was terrible.)
-I still have a kajabillion books to pack. I labeled one of my boxes "horribly heavy box of books."
+found my Everybody Duck CD from Hume Lake
-it doesn't have that one song I really like that I thought it did (at least not yet. It's playing while I pack/blog about packing while sitting on my bed).
+I have a couple bags of stuff for Goodwill
-I actually have to take said items to Goodwill. This, like so many other simple tasks, may be the death of me. Other chores in this same group include: addressing and mailing a letter, folding laundry, taking my car to the car wash, making a doctor's appointment, etc.

Can't we just skip to the part where all my stuff is in my new place and we have a housewarming party?