California love.

 ^From August 2012

Siblings

11.19.13

• Despite the cold weather and no central heating, I woke up warm because Ellen lent me her electric blanket.
• I felt super nostalgic driving around Berkeley early this morning before class. So many good memories in this town, makes me feel grateful for my good life.
• In particular I have a lot of memories of a lot of time spent with Jack--date nights, grocery shopping, dropping me off at school. Grateful we've been together so long and have so many memories already.
• I went to Safeway very early to get breakfast and lunch for the next couple days. No one was there. So easy to shop.
• The checkout guy gave me a free paper bag, which was unnecessary but kind.
• On my way to the highway I drove past Neil & Jack's old Oakland place, and that was also super nostalgic and involved a lot of good memories.
• Despite going to a new, remote location with no GPS, I found my way and got there on time.
• And the drive was gorgeous, both because it's through countryside that is really pretty and because, of course, it's fall. California foothills can be so gorgeous.
• Then I got to take free lectures and lessons for the first day of this firearms safety class. I find it all very interesting. I even got to fire several guns, including my first manual revolver.
• Got home okay too, got to visit more with Ellen. 
• Had cereal for dinner (after mac'n'cheese) because I can. Because I'm an adult. :P
• Nice hot shower after a pretty cold day.
• Skyped with Jack before bed.

Animals

11.18.13

• Got a blog post done in only half an hour (very fast for me).
• I'm grateful for the antibiotics I'm taking, which are working, and for medicine in general.
• Worked out to the beginning of The Company Men, which made me feel grateful for the family I have.
• Met up with Jack on his lunch at Starbucks near his work.
• Even though it's too early, I love the Starbucks holiday decorations.
• And an employee came around and gave Jack and me about 6 samples of the holiday treats!
• Helped Jack study for his anatomy exam, and felt proud of how hard he works.
• Laughed out loud by myself in my car on the way to school because I was listening to hilarious music.
• Got to visit with the program director and other students for awhile before class. My program has such a good social environment.
• While driving into the bay area, a cop turned on his lights and started weaving back and forth to slow down traffic. At first I thought he was just trying to slow the flow of traffic, that maybe everyone was speeding too much. But he got slower and slower until he brought us to a full stop. Then I realized it was because there was some huge object in the middle of the highway. The cop got out of his car and picked up the thing and threw it to the side of the road, and then he drove off. And I felt glad he had done that, so no one would get in a bad car wreck. Good job, cop.
• Once I got to the bay I picked up Ellen and we got to visit on the drive from Berkeley to SF.
• Also got to visit with Dad, Jill, and Rocket.
• Rocket kept showing us the tiniest of scratches on his foot and saying "Ouch." Dad showed Rocket his massive scar from knee surgery, and Rocket responded, "Yeah, but did you see my boo boo? Ouch!" Haha

Sweet smells.

11.17.13

• Got to wake up naturally, instead of waking up to an alarm.
• Worked out again for the first time in over a week, felt good to get back on the horse.
• Made Jack & me a big breakfast of yogurt, fruit, toast, and bacon & egg muffins.
• Figured out how to download videos from Facebook! Now I can gather a lot (100s) of very short extra family home videos for my collection.
• Which reminds me, I reactivated FB. First time in months, it was nice to "see" people again.
• Jack was home all day. He was very busy studying so we didn't talk much, but it's still much nicer to just be around him then be home alone. And we did spend some time together watching funny videos for awhile.
• I determined that I am actually going home for about 3 weeks for Christmas! That will be a nice, long trip.

Baby stuff.

11.16.13

• Jack woke up early with me so we could go on a breakfast date, in order to get in our date "night" for the week.
• After breakfast I went to his campus with him to hang out while he studied. It's a beautiful campus, especially since it's the height of fall. There were colorful leaves swirling everywhere.
• Also I just like community college campuses. They make me feel nostalgic for that phase in my life.
• While Jack was studying I found some really good research on a heated topic. It was "good" in the sense that it stayed objective and matter of fact, which are rarer qualities than they ought to be for this kind of research. Nice change of pace.
• While Jack went to work, I played Tichu with Molly, Shannon, Janice, & Erin. 
• Janice and Erin picked up on it pretty quickly. 
• Also Shannon brought chocolate tea cookies.
• Rachel joined us for one hand, which was nice.
• When I got home I Skyped with Neil for nearly two hours, the most I've talked to him in a long time. I should do it more often.

Happy moments in driving.

Crunchy leaves

11.14.13

• I volunteer for an educational organization, so they let me take some of their classes for free. It's awesome.
• I had a minor health scare yesterday, but then it turned out everything is fine. I am both grateful for my health, and grateful for my health insurance. I was able to pop in to my campus's urgent care center and get a prescription all for about $25, which I think is quite reasonable.
• It also made me grateful for Jack's health, and really the health of all my loved ones.
• I got to visit with some of my classmates while we were "studying" and we laughed a lot.
• My recent laptop issues are finally getting resolved because Jack and I (with the helpful advice of one or two tech savvy friends) picked out an external hard drive to back everything up (it works away as I type).
• I still have a lot to do, but tomorrow, for the first time in a long time, I don't have anywhere in particular I have to go. I can just work from home. Looking forward to that.

These guys.

11.13.13

• Got a $1 pastry and nonfat hot chocolate (made with Ghiradelli chocolate) at a local coffee shop.
• The coffee shop has lots of cute quaint decor, and I took pics while I waited for my drink.
• I got there so early it was pretty empty (usually it's packed), and I got to sit right by their huge windows looking out on the road, watching pedestrians, cyclists, and cars go by.
• I have very funny, smart study partners (Primer Diner!).
• We studied there for 5-6 hours.
• I took a break and got to talk to Mom for about half an hour, all while walking around in the fall leaves which kept blowing around me
• Even though it had to be at least 70F out. Best of both worlds.
• Gave in and bought a burrito because I was so hungry, and it was an amazing burrito. A lot of food for your buck.
• Got a very intimidating midterm over with.
• I love TAing the class I'm TAing. I like the discussions we have.
• And the prof for the class is very appreciative, which is nice.
• After class I stayed with Molly and got caught up on Walking Dead. We complained about the episodes the whole time, it was pretty fun.
• And I left so late there was zero traffic on the ride home.
• And I got a letter from my stepsister!

Cool mobile at the coffee shop.

Another cool mobile, this one more coffee-themed.

I also like the teapots in the background.