Moving is HELL

I've been spending most of my after hours time, working. Packing, cleaning, packing some more, moving stuff to the garage, cleaning again, packing everything into a Uhaul, arranging for a professional cleaning, transferring delicate plants, and loading more stuff into the Uhaul. Two words: moving sucks! We've completed Phase I of the Big Move. Everything Steve and I own is in a 17 foot Uhaul, in my car, or in the studio garage. Together, we have approxiately 12,759 belongings that fit into 4,578 boxes and 73 bins. I thought I threw a lot of junk away?!?! Where did it all come from! By the size of our truck, you'd think we're moving a family of 8 across the country.

We can't move into the new condo until tomorrow after noon, so we're shacking up at Motel 6 tonight. It's gotta beat the last two nights on the hard, cold floor, right?? Plus, they'll have a tv and I'll get to watch So You Think You Can Dance! and all my stress will be forgotten.

Anyway, I really hope we manage to throw half our stuff away before moving it all the way in. If not, I am hiring someone to do the work for me next time.

In closing, I leave you with a photo of The Stain that I've been trying to remove for the past three months. You know that quaint wooden room divider I had set up in between the "living room" and the kitchen? Well, it left the lovely mark below and made me want to kill myself.

In Response to My Last Post

Alright, alright, I get it. You all hate me because I live in Paradise, and I'm complaining about it, right?? Well, I KNOW that San Luis Obispo is a nice place to live. It's beautiful, there's lot to do, it's relatively safe and quiet, and the weather is nice. I do enjoy living here, but the part of me that wants to explore and experience new things is taking over! I have never been the type of person who doesn't like change. I live for change! I need stability in my relationships and career...but I want to offset that with adventure in other ways! I want to buy a house and re-model it. I want to live in the middle of a bustling city. I want to grow a garden and raise goats next to my country farm. I want to escape into a conversation with someone who lives much differently than I do.

All I am trying to say is that San Luis Obispo is not the perfect place to live for ME, FOREVER. It may be great for some of you, and it is pretty awesome right now, but I want more for my life than being stuck in one place, good or bad. I never take for granted living here. I appreciate every warm day, every rolling hill, every glistening coastal sunset, and every quaint corner of this place. But, I know in my heart, I can be happy somewhere else too.

As for the poll - the top three things to do in San Luis Obispo were:

1. Farmer's Market
2. Hiking in Montana de Oro
3. Wine Tasting

Pretty good picks, but all I really want to do is watch SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!!

"The Most Californian Place in All of California"

Sunset Magazine published an article about the top 10 dream towns and San Luis Obispo made the cut. The article definitely highlights some of the nicer things about SLO, but there's always a second argument. It mentions lots of undergrads roaming around. I don't particularly like this aspect of SLO. I used to be one of those "kids" but now I am a career gal and all I want is to remove myself from the college environment. Yet, everywhere I go, I get this question: "So, you go to Poly?" And when I tell them I graduated from "Poly" (I hate that nickname) three years ago, they look at me with such surprise like 'what on earth could you be doing here if you don't go to POLY!?'

The writer does make a statement about the average housing prices here. If that isn't enough to make you want to stay away, I dunno what is. Even if you work in SLO (and let me tell you, there's not many places to work here), you make a pretty decent salary - wait - make that two pretty decent salaries in your household, you're both responsible with money, and you both have outstanding credit, guess what? You're still not going to buy a house here anytime soon. Not without the help of Grandma's trust fund or the settlement you'll get after "accidentally" splashing chemicals into your eyes at work.

Maybe I am cynical because I have lived here for 7 years and everyone else got to leave and go experience a new place. Hmph! Let me out, SLO!

Anyway, read the article for yourself. It's pretty short. If you've never been here before you can get a glimpse into my life...or not. If you have been to SLO, or even lived here, PLEASE comment and tell me your thoughts about this town. I'm very interested.

Sunset Magazine Top 10 Dream Towns

Also, for your viewing pleasure, here is an article that the local newspaper wrote about its Sunset Magazine pride. San Luis Obispo Tribune

And just in case the honest conservatives of the SLO Tribune feel that some of the comments about the article reflect badly on our quaint town, I have immortalized them below: (and my sweet boyfriend made a lovely comment at the bottom - alias "Jonny")

Posted by: kenfield 2008-07-24 11:58:44
Subject: SLO made other lists
The Chamber of Commerce is proud to note that SLO has also appeared on many other magazine top-ten lists: -- It's 4th on White Flight magazine's list of Places to Escape the Horrors of Cultural Diversity, just below Boon, ID -- SLO is 1st on Nuclear Power Weekly's list of Cities to Avoid When the Big One Hits -- BusinessWeek put it 7th on its list of Towns Unsullied by the Stench of Venture Capital or Management Talent -- Chi High, the magazine of Delta Chi fraternity, put it at #9 on its list of College Town Sidewalks Most Covered in Undergrad Vomit -- Cal Poly Magazine listed SLO 11th on its list of Top Ten Cities We Care About, just below Jubail, Saudi Arabia

Posted by: norske 2008-07-24 12:10:39
That was very funny and sadly true.

Posted by: LivinginaSLObubble 2008-07-24 12:17:16
Subject: Paso
I think Paso says it best, "Darn near paradise" Abosolutely, only about 30 minutes north of it. IMHO Is SLO perfect, no, but I havent seen a better place to live yet.

Posted by: prosperity 2008-07-24 12:21:28
Subject: Kenfield is a so smart
I agree with you man. This place isnt all that its cracked up to be. Lots of people have blinders on in this town.

Posted by: beachrat 2008-07-24 12:29:59
Subject: It really is!
SLO is as close to paradise on earth as anywhere we have ever been. The weather, the people, the ambiance, yes it truly typifies California.

Posted by: jonny 2008-07-24 12:59:23
Subject: not so nice anymore!
Maybe it used to be a nice place. Crime has risen dramatically over the last few years, largley due to the town's proximity to Santa Maria and Atascadero. If you like obese 60 year olds who wear the same dirty sweat pants for weeks at a time, this is your place.

Weird Love

Steve: "I love you, Buggie Boo."

Me: "I love you too, Penguin."

Steve: "I'll still love you even if your face gets burned off."

Me: "I'll still love you even if you lose an eyeball."

Steve: "If my eyeball falls out, will you eat it?"

Me: "Of course."

Steve: "Ok, good."

Lion-Time!

This video tells the story of a reunion between two british men and the lion they raised as a baby cub. They travelled to Kenya to see if "Christian" the now grown lion would recognize his old roommates. Check out the video to see if he does!

Catalina - The Sleepy Island

Dear Catalina,

First of all, I miss you. You are so quaint and small and unique. I think about you often and how special you are. Spending a long weekend in Catalina was like vacationing on a tropical mexican oasis. Thank you so much for the fancy boat ride from the mainland. How delightful it was to be transported to Avalon in such style. I felt like a million bucks. I will give you one tip however: I'd really appreciate the Catalina Express even more if you put some of those large group tables, you know, the ones that fit like 10 people, next to a window. That way we don't have to split up our friends. Oh, and in the future, please let us bring our own beer on board. Think of it this way - the more beer we consume, the more snacks we're gonna want from you. Now you're catching on...

Anyway, arriving in Avalon was a treat. Palm trees, beautiful hillside houses, spanish tiles, cute shops and restaurants, men in thongs....WAIT! A man with a tiny pouch over his private is NOT a treat. I would advise that you prohibit thong-clad men from the island, as they distract from your beauty!

Your hotel, Viva Vincentes! was perfect! (ok, ok, not perfect - let's update the VHS collection, shall we?) But, VIVA! we enjoyed this place. The courtyard was the perfect spot for the boys to relax and drink beer while the girls spent hours getting all gussied up for YOU. I appreciate the refrigerator in the room so that we had ice cold bevs and were able to make such tasty cocktails! And, thank god for Vons (very very sneaky having two Vons on two identical blocks - you tease you) because we were in dire need of snacks and breakfast. Come on, who eats at Continental Breakfasts? I'd rather starve. Viva Vons!

Now, don't get me wrong, I completely understand that the island is a tourist trap. We are literally trapped out in the middle of the Pacific on a tiny, congested, suffocating island, so you can pretty much do anything to us, and we have to comply. But, honestly, do you really have to charge 18% tip for a group of only 6 people? Eight people would make more sense, but six? Are you so economically challenged that you must charge for water at a bar? Are you condoning alocholism or drunk golf-carting? Do you enjoy cleaning up puke and urine from your stone-clad steps? Do you get off watching fights break out with your waiters? Because, Catalina, I guarantee if you keep charging for water, you're going to have quite a few incidents on your watch. Hey now, don't yell - I do understand - we decided to come to you. If we don't like it, we don't have to stay. Is that what you're trying to tell me? Alright, alright, I get it. I'm over it. I love you regardless of the high prices and ridiculous rules. Oh, Cat, you're so cute when you're upset.

You know what I love most about you? No silly, not your hot assphalt. Your wide selection of ice cream! A girl loves her ice cream and honey you know just how to treat a woman right. Thinking back, all I really needed to eat was ice cream and pretzels and I woulda been set.

Catalina, I think your water activities rock! We had so many options - lounging on our raft in the marina (or on the sand), peddle boating, motor boating (haha), jet skiing, and kayaking. Unfortunately, your small, weak pals couldn't hang with the big dogs and had to stay behind while they went kayaking. I'm sorry, don't get offended! You really think I could kayak for 4 hours straight? Oh, right, I could have relaxed on the beach for a bit and then went for a swim? NT, Catalina! I don't go in cold water and I don't kayak for 4 hours, got it?! One hour? Definitely. Two? Probably not. I promise you, Cat, I wil be back and I will go jet skiing. I'm pretty disapointed in myself for not going for it last time. But hey, your peddle boats were awesome (aside from the greasy steering lever) and really gave me a great quad workout. Vacation and exercise - you're such a smart island.

Smart island yes, but definitely a sleepy island too. (Hey, we have so much in common!) Why do all of your stores and restaurants close so early? Do you really think we spend all day kayaking that we are too worn out to party? Hell no. We LOVE to party. We love partying with YOU, Catalina. Why are you so tired all of the time?? I'll tell you what - the Chi Chi club is something else. You really outdid yourself there. Pool tables, photos of naked women, underage admittance, a nice make-out corner. Wow, Cat, I'm impressed. I even got my boyfriend on the dance floor! That has never happened! He must have really felt your vibe. Thanks! I am so grateful to you for that!

I really had a great time. I hope you don't think I was disapointed in my weekend. Granted, I might do some things a little differently next time, but I'm definitely interested in coming back! Here's what I would like to do next time:

• jet ski
• rent Air Bud on VHS
• have a romantic dinner at the restaurant on the corner near Viva Vincentes!
• ride the buffalo
• rent a bicycle
• tour the backstreets and see whats on the other side of the island
• talk to locals
• lounge on the beach more
• sing kareoke
• rent a vacation cottage

Thanks again, Catalina. Bon Voyage!

Love,

Jaime

Hi, I am cute and small. Tweet!

Steve found this tiny baby birdie outside his house a few weeks ago. He let S pick him up and do pets and loves on him. He looks like he is frowning, but no he wasnt. Birdie was feeling soo special. If you could have seen him, you woulda made little baby voices and birdie noises too. Oh my, he was the sweetest little precious thing. Next time you're sad, upset, anxious, frustrated, overwhelmed, or depressed, just draw baby birdies and you will feel so much better. Promise!

A good idea...No, a GREAT idea!

Let me introduce you to my new LOVE. Lately, I've had this huge desire to be outside. I want to come home from work every night and just find something to do out in the warm air. Last week, I put on my walking shoes, charged up the ipod, and took a walk to the nearby park. It was very peaceful and relaxing, but I really wanted to go further than my little legs could take me.

I told Steve about my idea to get a bicycle so that I could roam around town a little easier. He agreed that it was a great idea! It's healthy, fun, and good for the environment AND our pockets. Saturday, we went to several bike shops to compare types and prices. We decided it would be best to wait until after we moved to get a bike so that we wouldn't have to figure out how to transport it all over town. However, on Sunday, we decided to go back to Sports Authority just for fun to look at the bikes again. They were 20% off on Sunday! It was FATE! So, both of us got brand new shiny beach cruisers. We spent the rest of the afternoon like two little lovebirds aimlessly cruising around the neighborhood. HEAVEN.

Innernetless

Sorry for the lack of updates but I no longer have internet access at my house. I've been stealing wireless from several neighbors for the past 6 months, but they all decided to move or block their account. How dare they! This is the reason I haven't been able to post about Catalina yet. I am planning to visit the local coffee shop by my house this weekend and blog until my heart's content.

Until then...

EDIT: I apologize for not blogging this weekend. I was too busy packing and RIDING MY NEW BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll have some time this afternoon for a couple of posts...

The Escapist

And in the end

We lie awake

And we dream

of making an escape