West Coast drama...

I definitely haven't had a chance to slow down at all since last August. I've been going, going, going solid for 5 months now, and the slow down doesn't seem like it will be any time in the future. After the 4.0 semester ended, the holidays came raining down, coupled w/last minute wedding planning.

Speaking of the wedding, for those of you who couldn't make it, the wedding actually went beautifully. I think it was unique, intimate, and fun. No major glitches that I can think of, though granted I wasn't privy to a lot of the happenings at the event. Looking back, now I realize that I never should have slightly stressed about not knowing what was going on during the course of the big day - I had more than enough wonderful people willing to take on the role of helper and make sure I only had to worry about getting myself down the aisle w/out the stress of all the details. We currently have about 500 candid pictures taken by Melissa w/my digital, Steve's parents, and Lori & Trent. I'll see if Steve can't find some web space to post some of the pics online. We're still working on getting the formal shots from the photographer, but the delay is partially due to the bad weather in the midwest.

Speaking of bad weather, Steve & I flew out of Omaha about 2 days before a big snow storm blew in. And here is what has happened since Steve & I got to Torrance...

Jan. 3rd - 1st day of work in downtown LA for orientation. Steve drove me down to the office, then went back home to go car shopping. I officially start work & get my laptop on Day 1 - not a good sign when they need you to be connected ASAP. Steve picks my up in my new 2005 Honda CRV Special Edition...and proceeds to make me drive home!! Me, who has driven exactly twice on any LA freeway!! Yeah, I was stressed...


Jan. 4th - I make Steve drive w/me to work, in part so I don't have to pay for ridiculous parking lot costs in downtown LA. Orientation is not really exciting, but I'm getting paid. Steve comes back to get me, we start shopping for TVs...

Jan. 5th - EEEKS! I drive to work all by myself in my brand new vehicle...talk about raising the blood pressure! But somehow I survive and manage to get through the rest of the week.

Jan. 8th - Steve & I spend all day doing all sorts of shopping, including buying a new 30" widescreen HD TV and TV stand to accomodate the new TV. We had bought an Onkio surround sound system a couple days prior.

Jan. 9th-14th - Steve drops me off @ LAX so I can fly to Austin, TX for national training. We fly Southwest, which is a stupid airline because they don't assign seats, just a boarding group w/free-for-all seating when your group is called. STUPID!! (And on a side tangent, Southwest in all its wisdom only uses 737 planes, which makes maintenance easier, and Boeing uses as a selling point. However, I felt the planes weren't in as good of shape as they should be, considering the maintenance should be easier...I suspect the mechanics, etc. get lazy.) However, we finally arrive in Austin, and I check in and meet my roommate...who proceeds to shower 4 times in the next 32 hours...strange to deal w/someone who is slightly OCD apparently. Get through the week, get back to LA...then start the lovely life of an auditor during busy season (ie, guaranteed 11 hour days).