Oh, and the World Spins Madly On: July 2011

7.29.2011

Hope to Meet Again.

I am really loving life here in California! (Happy one month anniversary L.A., I foresee our relationship lasting quite awhile.) It has been really fun exploring Los Angeles (Westwood and Pasadena being two of my faves, Hollywood my least fave so far), finding my own little spots that make this huge city feel like home, making time to enjoy the beach and mountains, getting involved at church and with RUF, meeting some great people, and starting to find a little bit of a rhythm of school, work, and the rest of life, which as someone who loves routine is a huge blessing. But I have really been missing my friends the past week and a half or so. Wednesday I read this hymn in The Divine Hours and it was good for my heart.

Blessed be the tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love;

the fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above

We share each other's woes

our mutual burdens bear;

and often for each other flow

our comforts and our cares

Before our Father's throne,

we pour our ardent prayers;

our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

our comforts and our cares

When we asunder part,

it gives us inward pain;

but we shall still be joined in heart,

and hope to meet again.

-John Fawcett

7.15.2011

Carmageddon.

Somedays I forget that I live in L.A. My life is so similar to my life in Dallas, work at Anthro, go to school, do homework, try to hangout with people, go to the grocery store, attempt to workout, ya know the usual. I didn't really expect that. I thought that it would feel different living in a different city. Not feel better or worse, just different.

I also thought the people would be mean (since California isn't the south), but they have been as friendly and kind as Texans. I think the southern accent helps.

I didn't think the sky in California could be the most beautiful shade of Carolina blue.

I thought I would be the only preppy person in town, but there are lots of preppies around. (None with Croakies though, of course. I am still proudly wearing mine.)

I didn't think about how noisy living in a big city would be. There always seems to be a car alarm going off, dog barking (or two), honking because of traffic, police car or fire truck siren, or fireworks going off at all hours of the day. I already don't really notice them, because it is all the time.

I did not know how much humidity affected my hair until I wasn't ever around it.

I didn't know I could go to a party where I have to mingle a lot and not be awkward.

I thought finding good Mexican food would be more painless than it has been. Any suggestions, anyone?

I didn't realize how comfortable I really am in my own skin now. Thank you, Jesus for working on this area of my heart for the past few years.

I thought I would be more excited if I ran into celebrities in L.A., but I really don't care and don't even recognize them.

I didn't foresee transferring to my new Anthro to be as easy as it has been.

And, I didn't think that transferring schools wouldn't be as hard as it has been. Everyone already knows each other here and has their little groups. They know what instructors' personalities are like and what to do to make a good grade. The vocabulary is different (ex: I had never heard of a reflected ceiling plan, but it is what I know to be an electrical plan). All of the other students know that to stay in the computer lab after 11 you have to check out an overnight pass, where the library is, and where to print things. Most people have been friendly and kind enough to help me. Some haven't. I just didn't expect this part of life to be so difficult in Los Angeles. School was so comfortable in Dallas and now it is probably the most uncomfortable part of my life. I even dropped a class because of how overwhelming it all is in the midst of also moving across the country, starting a new job, trying to make friends, getting involved in a church, transitioning into an internship, learning my way around this huge city, and of course surviving Carmageddon.

And, more than anything I have seen how much I need Jesus, love Jesus, have Jesus, and He takes care of me since moving out west into my new life in L.A. I am really loving it.

p.s. I will return to normal blog posting about things other than my move soon :)

7.11.2011

My California Life.

Yes, that is the front door open, balcony doors open, and me wearing jeans. In July. And, I am not sweating. I think I am getting quite used to life here already.