LA trip and BF Weds

Admission - I had not planned to go to my lovely friend BFs wedding. Despite all those months when he let me use his washer and dryer weekly, along with feeding and entertaining me. Add the fact that there was an invitation mix up. 

Then last week BF sent an email out to A, J, and I persuasively making the case for our attendance. Plane tickets were purchased soon thereafter. 

Piggybacking the trip with a visit to my friend H's made for a more relaxing weekend than I've had in a long time.

H & I at the beach.

Perfect Pine-cone ornament favors.

The venue was lovely - all the arches. 

Hot chocolate!!!! 

J, N, me, B, & A. 

The expression on L's face! 

Flying never gets old.

Returning marked the beginning of the end, this week I'll book my flight to DC as well as schedule the movers who will come pack all my belongings and ship them away. 

Customs

Big News! I got a new job...in September. Thus the lack of posts over the last several months. Bigger News! I've quit that job.

Back in August, more like July, I decided I wanted to find something different for a few months while I waited to hear from the U.S. Dept. of State. I was very lucky, the first temp company I met with, got me the first and only interview I had (or needed) for a perfect position. I new it was perfect at the interview. I took this photo right afterwards and it exactly reflects how I felt about the position and the entire situation.

My grandparents agreed to let me take over their basement to facilitate a move down to the Bay Area. Working at Williams-Sonoma was exciting enough on it's own. The building and location are fantastic.

My commute is filled with all sorts of views. Bringing some new variety each day.

As you might expect sometimes it does feel as though you are working in a Pottery Barn catalog.

But, I haven't said anything about the actual job yet. I've been working in the Customs Operations and Compliance department. It's been fantastic. I've learned all kinds of random information about customs and trade policies. Mostly I've been dealing with Australian regulations on the importation of food. I find it really interesting and I'm sure there will be several things I've learned that may come in handy one day while working for the Foreign Service. And if there is ever a chance to do it again I'd love to. If I wasn't already going to work for the federal government I'd seriously consider becoming a customs broker.

The other wonderful thing about my brief stint down in the bay has been this:

At this point I'm a little skeptical that the wide world is going to provide many locations that will rival what I've been experiencing every day. Perhaps that's why I take so much time to notice, because I've known I'd only be here full-time for a limited time. While my initial contract was only set to last three months my boss informed me half way through that they would like to keep me there until it was time for me to leave. This job has been a blessing in innumerable ways. I almost want to stay...almost.

G's 15th Year

Being sentimental for a moment - when G was born I carefully counted the age I would be when she turned my age. It seemed that it would take a lifetime to reach that point. Now it's only a year away. From that point on we will be closer in age than the years that separate us. I've always seen that as the point where she'll truly start to grow up. Now it's not likely I will be anywhere nearby for her 16th birthday, or likely for many birthdays after. A difficult thing to swallow at times.

Naturally this resulted in yet another over planned birthday party for the girl.

 Prepping the night before - after a marathon day of Thanksgiving cooking.

(Birthday parties should not happen the day after Thanksgiving).

 Not going to lie, the pop corn cupcakes were one of my favorite features. The sign wasn't bad either.

 Snack bar.

We stuffed 10 teenagers into G's room on air mattresses and chairs with a projector and as many movies as they brought. They watched movies from about 11am until 10pm. Best birthday idea ever - while they were watching the movies you didn't even know they were there.

Granted, so they didn't all go crazy in the room and kill each other, Mom organized various crafts for them to do in between showings. 

 Referred to by one guest as the best cake ever.

 In hysterics over the game they were playing.

Success.