New Things

Beware: long, long post ahead!


I can't believe that two months ago I was basically living another life. I was in Corvallis, by myself, with a crazy cat and about a million unknowns hanging onto my shoulders. It was a really hectic period, but now, two months later (I last blogged in October? Eeek.) I really can't believe how amazing it all turned out. Honestly, the move and adjustment to life here in Beaverton could not have been smoother, and for that, I feel incredibly lucky.

So, new things in my life:

• Moved into a wonderful little house in Beaverton, for which we don't have enough furniture, but that's okay because it gives the kitties more room to run.
  
• We decided to adopt another kitten. Her name is Ampersand (it's the name for the "&" symbol) and it's a good thing she's so darn cute because she is a handful.
• I was fortunate enough to get a job! I am now working as an ESL assistant at Liberty High School in Hillsboro. It has been a big adjustment going from middle to high schoolers, and one that I'm still trying to make. But, the people are great, and I get to hone my Algebra 2 skills, as well as read really cool novels again, like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Animal Farm. Oh, and I get to actually work with old teachers I had back at Glencoe! It is totally surreal to refer to them as my colleagues, and I'm sure they're kind of weirded out as well.
  
• My boyfriend, his family, and mi familia all pitched in over Christmas to surprise me with a Canon Rebel XSi! It is an amazing camera, and I love learning to play with it. I have vowed to not use Photoshop for at least the first six months I have it, which I hope will force me to really get to know all it's fantastic features.
  
• After that amazing Christmas present, we went down to California to visit family, and it was Evan's first experience with my extended family. We are a, uh, flavorful family, and it was great to see Evan fitting right in with our locura (or craziness, for you non-spanish endowed people).
• Evan and I took our first long adventure in California. We drove from Santa Ana to San Diego, and it was an absolute blast exploring the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Old Town San Diego, and Balboa Park (my absolute favorite place). It was, of course, made more fun by the fact that I had my awesome new toy slung over my shoulder to chronicle the whole thing.
• Evan and I have decided to start living in a more healthy way. We both read Born to Run (an incredible book that everyone should pick up, and that I will blog about later) and kind of mutually decided to start living better, not to slip into our high school jeans again or wow everybody this summer with our super slim and sculpted selves, but because we just want to feel better. This is my second week, and already, I can detect small, but significant changes in how I feel. Oh, and remind me to tell you guys about Chia seeds in an upcoming blog post. They are amazing, and have been key in this whole revamping of our lifestyle.
• I don't know if you remember, but I mentioned before that I was having some pretty hardcore issues with anxiety before the move, and as anxious people go, we don't like changes, especially big ones. As I wrote my last post, I was dreading all the anxiety I was sure to feel while adjusting to this new stage in my life. A new city, a new house, a new job, etc., and I just wasn't sure if I could cope with it. So, imagine my surprise when I don't feel anything but an immense wave of calm wash over me almost as soon as we move in. I haven't had a panic attack since our move, our felt that edgy sensastion gnawing away at me for a long time. It's been amazing to be home. Every time I drive around my hometown, I am surrounded by old, happy, memories, and it excites me to think about all the new ones I will be able to layer over them. So far, 2010 is looking pretty promising.
• I have decided to end this post with my favorite picture of our trip. I feel like he represents my goals for this year: stay strong and confident no matter what happens.