Week Three in TX - a little late

I knew last Thursday night I needed to start writing and catching up but it was a rather busy week.  I hope this will not be too long and I have to figure out a better way to post. 


Saturday, January 20 - I went to a singles dance and my friend Jon was kind enough to meet me there.  I walked in and saw they were slow dancing to the two step and saw some older people and felt like I was too cool to be there.  I had my snob attitude going full force. and could hear Cindy telling me I was a snob - she's right I can be and I was that night at the dance.  I caught up with JS and we took some pictures and we left.  He had church at 9 AM so he wanted to get home to get ready for bed and I wanted to meet my friend Brandy at Lava Cantina to hear a metal band.  

While I don't consider myself a metal head I do enjoy some metal and the band was good.  I felt more comfortable with the crowd which ranged between young and old.  Brandy is such a great person to know and has such a positive energy about her. 


Monday, January 22 - At the beginning of the week I heard back about my interview from Friday with Samsung.  I really, really liked the team at Samsung but unfortunately it was a one year contract assignment, hourly and significantly less than what I made in CA.  I considered accepting and was closed to saying yes at it could lead to a good future - but I had a moment of clarity to ask about the benefits and when I reviewed the information I saw how contribution for medical coverage was significantly a high amount with a very high deductible.  I also received two calls to go to the next interview phase with two companies and the next day a 3rd company.  So I made the difficult decision to decline the opportunity on Tuesday morning.  I also realized I am by the country as I drove on a couple of country road X CR500 or something like that and loop roads  I love it but I will always need to be near the city as I am a city girl.

Wednesday, January 24 - I had my first second interview of three this week.  So  by now I figured I could take a  break from the hard core job search and applying.  I took it easy by looking at what was coming up as available and applied to a couple as well as learning about the companies I was interviewing with in the coming days.  I was very excited about a job with a city, followed by a manufacturing company, and then an insurance company.  I enjoyed my phone interview with the manufacturing company. and that one took the lead.

Thursday, January 25 - I interviewed with the city and I thought I did a bad interview but was super glad I had the opportunity.  I then rushed over to another interview with the insurance company.  I felt like I did great on that interview but felt that having blown my city interview I probably felt the best and likely job to want was with the manufacturing company.   I came home and was exhausted.  I had promised to take B and J to In-N-Out that night for dinner and made it on time.  We had dinner and went to Target to buy some thank you cards.  

Friday, January 26 - I drove back to the other side of Dallas and had my hair done by Amie.  It was so fun talking with her.  It is funny to think she has grown children and was just a teenager when I met her.  She is Liz's niece.  I then headed over to Celeste and Cody's in Justin to visit.  O was home and we just had fun talking and this little sweet boy made me a quesadilla - such a cutie pie.  It reminded me of the days when my nephew Spencer would say he would make me breakfast.  I then ventured outside and saw their chickens - Cody tried to get me to pet one but I was too much of a chicken.  I went in the trampoline and dang those sensations were too much.  I played with O and we played dead if the ball hit us.  We met the older kids at the park between their house and their school and then I had to rush back to this part of town.  I was going to dinner with B and B and then to the Allen Americans hockey game.  The game was fun but we lost but there was a good fight at the end.   oh and I did get a job offer this evening from the city which I have thought of accepting this weekend.

Saturday, January 27 - went to the Dallas temple with Dave and Liz and that was really nice.  Then went to Torchi's and it was good.  

Sunday, January 28 - gave a talk in church and it went well.  My heart was warmed when I saw Dan and Andi Wood walk in to hear my talk.  I am truly grateful for the friends I have in TX.  Another thing that warmed my heart was being able to speak with Spencer and David.  I love those kids - they are great!!!

Oh and I spoke with a few people on the phone this week aside from Spencer and David.  I spoke with Elaine after a game of phone tag.

I spoke with Lisa.

I spoke with Debby.

I spoke with Wendy

Who did you speak with? 

I still have not set any radio stations in my car.

Two weeks and counting!!!

Beautiful tree branches.

Close up of the branches.

Last weekend the weather was beautiful and sunny but then we had a cold spell and a couple of days ago on my way to the store I noticed that some trees were frozen.  So on my way home I had to take a picture.  It was beautiful and I have never experienced this in CA in the town I lived so it was a moment I just enjoyed in silence in awe --- there is so much beauty on this Earth and I have not had a balanced life to stop and enjoy special moments like this.

I have been in TX for a little over two weeks now and it has been interesting.  I know I am not on vacation but I have no regrets but yet feeling a little out of place.

Meaning I have no single friends  nearby to spend time with and do stuff.  I am so used to just being on the go all the time and not having enough time to see my friends and now I have all the time in the world and my single friends are in CA.  Don't get me wrong my married friends are awesome but they can't just pick up and go out and do things.  The few single friends I do have (I can count them on one hand and still have fingers left over) are busy working, or doing things or maybe the establishment of our friendship is not quite there.  Perri mentioned this would change once I got a job as I am social and make friends at work quickly.  Let's see how this changes when I have a job.   

I can do this - watch
me make it to the
Seniors PGA!

In the meantime on Saturday I was able to spend time with the Woods.  We did some window shopping and talked about their plans to join a volleyball league.  As well as teaching me how to play golf.  So of course I went and checked out the gear.  It felt very awkward to carry it.  Watch out, if a boy from Cypress can be Player of the Year for eleven times in the PGA - what can this Cypress girl do in TX???  I am not making any promises, so please don't hold your breath, and I will always remember my friends when I make it to the Seniors PGA.

Cute Love Shack that reminded me
of my Love family/friends!!

Part of my window shopping took me to Kirkland's and it was a fun store.  Apparently Lisa introduced Andi to the store and she in turn introduced me to the store so that I can go there and think of Lisa.  As I walked around I saw many cute things to buy but there were two things that immediately reminded me of one of my favorite families in Utah.  It made me miss them but also reminded me of how lucky I was to have had the opportunity to see Dina and my shadow a few days before I left.  

This made me laugh as it was by the Love Shack.
I took a picture for fun.
Now I had to put it on here as I thought of this
when I read Debbie's comment to one of my IG
pictures. 

So my day to day routine goes something like this.  Spend a few hours looking at job postings, writing cover letters and then applying.  Then getting a sad face as I get a "thank you for your interest...but we have decided to pursue another candidate".  I think the ones that hit me the hardest are the ones with the closing line - "We know this is disappointing news but good luck with your job search".   So I am unsure as to when I should become discouraged.  I thought it was yesterday, but things turned around today.  I am telling myself that it is to be expected as it is just the beginning of the year and we have only had one full five day work week, two holidays and a couple of days where it was freezing.  I did apply on a whim at Trader Joe's - hey it is my store and I would get a discount and a whole new wardrobe.  If they don't call me in the next two weeks - I get to call them and let them know I am still interested.  

After I do my job search I go to the gym and spend about an hour to an hour and a half there.  Don't think I am dropping lbs because I am not.  I am in a plateau.  I finally broke down and purchased a scale yesterday so I can make sure when I break this plateau I break it by going down and not up.  I am trying to do better at my eating as I struggle with it.  I either eat crap or I am not hungry enough so either way I could gain weight.  I need to find a happy medium and have started using My Fitness Pal again to track what I eat and do.  The struggle is real. 


So one thing the ward that my records are in does is that the women get together on Thursday nights and play volleyball.  I am told none of them are professionals and hardcore but some of them am I am sure of it.  So tonight, I am trying to play volleyball.  I even purchased a volleyball to practice hitting and setting. 

Andi and Dan even mentioned they wanted to form a team to play and join a league so it's a volleyball or golf career for me in TX.

Another struggle I have to get through is that my radio has three FM bands (is that what you call them)  so two of them are  preset to my OC/LA radio stations and one is preset to San Diego stations.  I have found some stations I enjoy but I can't figure out which presets to update.  Silly I know but it's like I am home to see the presets (minus the static I get or wrong music genre. I know, I know first world problems.

I was super bummed last weekend when I knew I couldn't go to Sharon's funeral.  I found a deal on a fly out but to get back they were crazy expensive.  I thought of just flying out and figuring out how to get home later.  However, I didn't and sure enough late Friday night there was a flight home for $65 on Sunday.  I heard it was a beautiful service and it did my heart well to hear some familiar voices on Sunday night when I stayed up for a phone call from Cindy as a few dear people gathered at Hal and Melissa's.  I will not lie - I was tearing up at the beginning of the call missing them - but by the end my heart was full of love and gratitude for my friends in CA, AZ, UT, NV, TX, and wherever they may be as well as my family.   

Update since I started writing this post:

1.  I reconnected with my friend Brandy.  We met in San Diego and she moved back here in 2015 and while we don't live relatively close (who does , in TX? )  we met up for a yoga meditation and it was amazing.  She is such a positive energy and just what I needed.

2.  I had several leads on jobs and a couple of interviews.

3.  I went to the gym and have moved up my levels but I am worried about how I will do in my first 5k in Dallas in a couple of weeks.

4.  Volleyball was not as bad as I thought but not great - guess I need to practice but I am afraid of diving and hold back.

5.  I reminded myself that even if I am not working I still need to pamper myself and got a pedi/manicure - even more so when you were hoping to have dinner with a friend but it just wasn't int he cards this week.  The ladies there definitely lifted my spirits with their words of encouragement and advice.  I tell you - hair and nail salons some of the best therapy ever.

6.  I still have not changed my radio stations.  Got to have some goals for next week. 

7.  Again, grateful for friends as Dr. Howard called me this afternoon and caught me off guard but definitely felt gratitude in my heart for our friendship.  

8.  I had a 2.5 lb loss but I had a sampling of various donuts this afternoon.  = (

9.  Decided I will update my blog weekly to keep everyone updated but family members and one lucky friend will get a call during the week.  

10.  I need to go to bed at a decent time in TX because staying up until 1 am and up at 6 is not working.

11.  Answering the phone for every TX number that calls you is not always a good thing - you just may get asked to give a talk in church; or a text asking if the RS can come by and visit you on Sunday morning at the time you usually start getting ready for church.  

So there you have it, another long blog update. 

Beginning my life in TX

I am here, really here, in northern TX wearing shorts and a sweatshirt.  Note I am inside a house and can feel the cold wind coming in through the doggy door.  It is about 37 degrees but with the wind it feels more like 24.  As a Southern California girl I expected these type of temperatures would freeze me.  If you know me, you know that anything below 70 was freezing to me in CA.

I have been busy and easing into the Texas life as I do my job search.  

I was fortunate to visit the Toyota facility and take some fun pics which will be shown below. 

At times I think it is time for me to go home soon but I quickly realize that is not the plan and I don't really want to drive back to California.  

I wont lie I did consider driving back yesterday morning when I realized airfare for this weekend was not a reasonable expense.  Even when I told myself I could and should buy an airplane ticket - sensibility kicked in and I thought of Sharon's last text to me:  I hope you enjoy Texas and it helps your life progress.  Making a huge purchase for a couple of days to attend her funeral would not help my life progress and I could hear her telling me how that would not be a smart idea.  Sorry I have digressed from updating what is happening in my life to sharing about my feelings about my dear friend.  I suppose that is only natural. 

I did get to Melissa in time to have a picture taken with the Christmas Tree.  It was huge and very nice.  I have enjoyed taking pictures by Christmas trees this year....not sure why but I did and will probably do so next year.

Having Lisa here the first week was fun.  We spent a lot of time with Andi and her family.  We took pictures - well Lisa took the pictures as apparently I like to post pictures of myself on social media.  I am not sure how true that is but stay tuned as some will be shown below.  Please note that these were taken at the direction of the photographer Lisa.

I had a rougher time on Saturday when I knew Lisa was going home and knowing Sharon had passed and wondering if she knew how much her friendship meant to me.  However, once I read the last text interactions I knew she knew and I felt better about things.  So knowing that "real life" would resume once she left seemed a bit overwhelming but it has been OK.  I don't know if Lisa reads my blog but I want her to know how grateful I am for her friendship.  She is always willing to do simple and huge acts of service for others.  I am so lucky to have such good friends and build memories of us driving being silly and tagging Cadillac as we drove out here.  

So while I miss my California weather and familiarity but I am enjoying the TX life and surprising myself with handling well the cold weather.  Below are some of the pictures I have from the past week and I will try to be better on posting thoughts in 2018. 

First order of business get a tag to drive the toll roads

CA and TX my two states I call home.

Lisa told me to pose with this and send it to
someone I apparently flirt with a lot...LOL

My response to her asking me to send it to someone.  Still haven't sent it and probably will not.

I love this but I don't like how my comfy top
makes me look so huge at this angle.

Being silly at Toyota Museum

Can you see me?   I am part of the snow globe!! 
How lucky am I?

I went a little wild in the snow but I am really in there.

Me inside the globe - had this not been the beginning of the tour, I
 probably would have done a snow angel.  As it is I had a lot of snow on me.

I was awarded a Gold medal for my efforts.

I also got my SUV

I gave it back as my Toyota hat was good enough
 for me along with my gold medal!!!!

This tree is huge and
 dangerous!!

It tried to take me to
Christmas Tree land.

But I jumped right out!!!

Cancer Sucks!!!

I am experiencing a mixture of feelings ranging from relief, gratitude, anger, mad, sad, disappointment, happiness all at once.  

Relief - My friend never really complained at least I never heard her.  The one time she was in pain when I was with her she just acted normal and strong.   You see complaining was not her style.  So while I do not know how much pain and discomfort she was in - I know she had it and probably didn't share with anyone to not cause us worry or concern.  So I am relieved she is free from the pain that she was in. 

Gratitude - I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to meet her and become friends.  We had adventures and many laughing opportunities.  She was an example to me of patience, even temper and determination.  

I also feel gratitude that she had her family around and that she was not in pain for a long time.  Or was she?  I don't know I have mixed feelings.

Anger/Mad -  Nobody deserves cancer but specially not my dear friend.  I am angry she had to experience this in her mortal life.  She was too young to have this and had so much to yet accomplish.  Yet as I see the posts on FB about what an example she was I think - maybe she did accomplish what she needed to do by living her life the way she did and is needed on the other side.  

Sad/Disappointment -  I am sad this happened so quickly out of nowhere.  She did not feel well on October 2 and missed going out with us.  I got a text on October 7 that she was in the hospital and they had found masses in her lungs, liver and ovaries.  I so wanted this to not be true.  I experienced all these feelings then and I prayed and asked for a miracle.  I know that miracles do happen and I also knew that if anyone had a fighting spirit it was my friend.  I wanted this for her and her family as my heart broke when I visited her on the 8th at the hospital and her grandparents were there.  I saw their eyes tear up and they did such a great job at holding the tears back.  No parent or grandparent should outlive a child - but yet here they are experiencing this loss.  I know they have a testimony about the gospel and eternal families but even so the loss is real and painful.  So I am disappointed and sad we didn't have a miracle.

Happiness - I let the happiness sneak in because that is what she would want me to do.  She would want us to be happy and not cry.  I know that because on Friday, October 27 we had a little talk, along with our other friend.  Her sister had cut her hair and she looked absolutely adorable.  We had Marco Poloed and I thought - there is my sweet friend smiling and looking good.  We are gonna beat this.  Yet that night after dinner when we were back at her place we had moments of silence and that of course bothered me because we usually just talked non stop and laughed or had deep serious talks.  Yet this night for me it felt uncomfortable because we or at least she and I had not talked talked.  So we did and we broke down and cried.  She shared with us how she felt and we shared how we felt.  It was good for our souls.  I also told her I knew she'd have a lot of people asking how she was, what was the treatment, etc.  I however promised I would not do that, not because I didn't care but because I wanted her to have fun and feel like she could let herself escape to being normal and just have fun and laugh at my expense.  I also told her we would need her to tell us what she needed or if she wanted to vent and cry - she did a little that night but not much and she never did again to me at least.  

It has not been 24 hours since I got the call that she was not doing well but close to 12 from when I got the call that she had passed.  I cried a bit yesterday and a lot while writing this or while looking at pictures of her.  I miss my friend more.  I saw her on December 26, and was so grateful that she was able to attend the goodbye dinner for me.  I wondered how much effort it took for her to attend as there was many people there who had not seen her but loved her so much.  How could anyone not love her?  She was like someone posted an angel.

Last night as I drove home I wanted to find the nearest Rite Aid (does TX have them?) to get some ice cream, I also wanted crushed ice, I also wanted to go on a bike ride, and while I don't like frozen peas I also wanted to go buy some.   

I have not lost a  friend since my 20's and I am now remembering how painful it is  Except now that I am older I feel like it hurts even more because I realize even more that we here on borrowed time.  

I have not put my friends name in this post or picture out of respect for her family.  Just know that she was the kindest, most even tempered individual you could come across.  However, if you needed to be set straight or told her she couldn't do something she would show you she could and would also show you in a kind but determined way how you needed to do something. 

I love my friend and I am so grateful for the individual that she is and I am sad I will not see her in March like we planned.  However, the same song that was in my head on December 26 is back in my mind. 

When I think of these lyrics I think of how I need to take every opportunity to go on bike rides like we did for a season so that she can get a glimpse of me doing something that reminds me of her and brings me happiness:

I'm limited
Just look at me - I'm limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn't do, Glinda
So now it's up to you 
For both of us - now it's up to you.....

And these lyrics are the ones I hope she knows - she has helped me try to be a better person.  Guess I now will have to ask myself what would she do? 

So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend