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.