Two more days...

Til my birthday! I'm excited. My office just threw me a surprise party… a “good-bye” and “happy birthday” combo. My last day at work is tomorrow. Then I am officially unemployed for an indefinite amount of time. I am looking forward to a break from the routines of my current schedule. I was never one to enjoy routines too much. I think that’s something I should celebrate more instead of try to “grow” out of. Of course, my father and his generation would entirely disagree. To them, it was about doing what needed to be done, not about doing what you wanted. How time has changed. I think we should embrace the change before the next change occurs.

I always thought somebody should write about that more… generational differences in the workplace. It’s something that always gets pushed to the side because its significance is relatively underestimated. It would sure help us ambitious post-grads understand the world of those that currently control all the wealth and offices.

To change the subject, I cut my hair for the first time yesterday. Big mistake. My bangs were getting a little too long so I thought I’d trim them up just a bit. As soon as I got home from work, I grabbed the scissors and walked straight into the bathroom. It only took one second and I knew. Whoops. Too late. They are too dang short. And I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to cut straight across. So please excuse my dorky bangs for a few days as they grow. It sure made us laugh though. And now I know… so next time I try to cut my bangs they at least won’t make a straight line across my forehead.

Bay area update: We’ll be in Berkeley this Sunday and part of Monday. Our last Sunday there until we move August 1st. Everything with the house seems to be working out well. Last week we worked out the lease issues so now our only delay is from the contractor. As soon as he finishes all the repairs (b/c the house has been vacant for 4 years) we’ll feel even better about it. As far as the LA side of things is going: we are having car issues again. It won’t start. It’s in the shop right now getting some repairs and we are hoping it finally gets fixed. At least enough to drive to SF and then sell. We are so ready to get rid of that thing.

Until later,

Photographic Arts

Check out the "Running the Numbers" link...

It's pretty impressive. Chris Jordan uses photography to visualize statistical data. He transforms scientific information that is visually hard to interpret into art.

US

I just like this picture :)

By they way, things are much more hopeful today although not a lot has actually changed. Somebody last night told us, "Don't let all these frustrations get in the way of the hope you have for the future (aka. Berkeley.)" Since then I've been thinking of how we can protect our hope despite what happens or what frustrations we face. And it always helps to evaluate what I am actually putting my hope in... Things working out a certain way? Who I am? Those things can change way too easily. I need something more consistent, for one thing.

It reminded me of the movie Spanglish. Kevin and I loved that movie because we thought it captured something very profound about humanity. I'm still not sure I understand it... but I remembered the part at the end... the very last line (so if you haven't seen it yet, STOP reading, b/c I'm about to unveil it)... this girl is writing her essay to get into Harvard and she says something about her identity being found in the fact that she is her mother's daughter. It sounds so simple... but seriously, if Harvard was your dream and you failed to get in, you might feel, well, horrible. You might feel like you failed. But if your dream was set in the reality that who you are didn't change... that would be complete freedom. To pursue any dream. That's the hope that I need. That's the hope that (I hope to) find in Him.

Frustration in Finishing

AHHHHHH. I am so frustrated and I can't help it. I know that life is trying to frustrate me... and it's working!

First of all, our car. Our one car. We took it to take the smog test so that Kevin can finally change the license plates to CA instead of KS... and it failed!! They said the check engine light wasn't working, so we took it to a mechanic. The mechanic charged us $400 to fix some small part and just as he was done, realized it's an electrical problem with the wiring. Kevin then took it to an electrician who said he wouldn't work on it b/c he's had this problem with Camry's before and replaced every part in the engine and it still wouldn't work. So now we have to take it to Toyota and pay $100 for them to run a diagnostic on our car. Then they might fix it. They might. $500 and two days later for a check engine light thats still not fixed. AHHHHHHHHHH.

Then, my interview that I was scheduled to have this Friday, and that I was SO excited about, emailed me last night and withdrew the position altogether. I had already bought the plane tickets and took an un-paid day for the interview!

Something is seriously working against us. HELP!

It is 56 degrees in Berkeley today. I am FREEZING. I definitely have southern California blood... b/c I am so cold! I brought t-shirts and short sleeved shirts... so now I think we're going to go buy me a jacket. Did I mention it's July?

Our first weekend in Berkeley. I forgot my makeup, along with other personal items that are, um, necessary for my daily life. It's like I'm completely absent -minded about the normal, daily stuff... b/c all our thoughts are going towards strategy and people and work and moving...

So here we are. We flew in last night and leave to head back to LA Sunday evening. Today we will go to Berkeley city Hall and the farmers market. Then we hope to check out this one bedroom house we are really really really praying we get to rent. Then we have meetings and dinner set up with some of the elders here. Crazy and exciting times....

Until later.

Hear it out....

Escape the Suburbs!

Hair Cut

Of course, I won't be wearing it straight b/c it's way too much effort... but it was fun for a few days.

Plus... I am donating my hair to a company that makes hair mats. Weird, I know, but seriously, they help save the environment when there are oil spills! I'll post the website later.

And... to top it all off, I just gave my three week notice to my current job. We think we'll be in Berkeley by August 1st. Only three more weeks of work!