Family Time

It was great to hang out with my parents and brother this weekend. Moving a little bit north means that we are now only about 5 hours from my parents house, and 20 minutes from my brother. Danny got baptized at his church here in LA the day after his 20th birthday! There was a lot to celebrate. And in our family, that means food...



We discovered the awesomeness known as Monterey Park. Here, some of the delectable dishes that landed on our table. Prawns and walnuts, spicy jellyfish with asparagus, and the house special crab, which was seasoned with some sort of salty tasty goodness and fried. YUM.



Danny gets dunked in the pool at the Marriot! His church meets at the hotel and they used the swimming pool as the baptism place. It was pretty funny to see some tourists in the hot tub watching the whole thing. It was beautiful to see a full immersion-style baptism again. I feel like it communicates a lot more about the symbolism of baptism than just the sprinkling on the head. I was so proud of my brother for making this decision on his own.



Us with Danny after his dunking



This is generally my expression whenever I eat really good dim sum. I did a little dance after our meal and sang my "I love LA" song.



All you can eat Korean BBQ for dinner. The LA style is to wrap it with rice paper crepes, kind of like won-ton wrappers. SO good. My brother is a monster at these places and easily polishes off two platters of meat.



My parents sitting on the curb outside our place. A nice quality weekend together.

Just so

Well, it took me about a week, but the last box is unpacked, the floor is mopped, the styrofoam particles are dustbusted, the pictures are up on the walls, the new furniture is assembled, and everything is in its right place.

I love putting things in their correct places and am a constant tidy-upper. So I thought unpacking all our stuff would be tons of fun. It wasn't that fun. We had to get creative in learning how to use a smaller space again. And with Paul working from home (out of our storage closet turned office- it sounds awful, but it's actually really cool), that took away lots of valuable space for other stuff that might have gone there. But we got creative and have used every nook and cranny and now we just can't accumulate anything else because there simply isn't room. And I think I kind of like it that way. Somehow, everything seemed to fit together like a giant jigsaw puzzle. It felt like we were saying this over and over again- It fits just so. That was just so. This was just so. Everything was, and is, just so.

And so I realize that everything in my life has been just so. This experience has led to that realization has led to this action has led to this outcome. This closed door led to this emotional process which led to this rational thinking which led to that particular choice. And so on and so forth. Somehow we also feel that this little neck of the woods we've landed on in LA fits us just so right now and we are really loving it. To fit in and feel your way around in a new place means you take on some of that city's values and culture. And while some things still perplex me about LA (there seem to be about 9 different rush hours), other things seem to be full of excellence (i.e. Vancouver-trained dim sum chefs) and excitement (microbrewery down the street) and I realize how much I love the diversity and color (we're right in between Filipino town and Armenia town) that a big city breathes day in and day out. A part of me feels alive again, the way it did in New York, stimulated by all the people and places so different from myself and contrary to my comfort zone. I feel my perspective change when I see the lady with a cart rummaging through our recycle bin for cans, making me step out of my self-centeredness for a moment. I feel my senses burst with excitement at seeing a gorgeous LA sunset (they are really nice here for some reason- must be the smog), tasting Cantonese-style deep fried crab (we discovered Monterey Park this weekend when my parents were in town), or hearing my neighbor down the street killing it on his drum set. I like hearing the ice cream truck come around at about 4 o'clock every day playing some sort of messed up variation on the Forrest Gump theme. I'm amused that the weather lady on the local news screams cleavage and botox. As arbitrary as they are, these are the kinds of things that make a city what it is and I'm soaking it all in. There was a sermon by Tim Keller that I heard awhile back that convinced me wholeheartedly that Christians should live in the heart of their city, love the city, pray for their city, and be the best civic participants of their city. I'm hoping that no matter where life leads I'll have the chance to do that and never forget how much God's heart breaks for the lady with the cart, the ice cream man, the weather lady, and the neighbor playing the drums. And so it starts here, in a neighborhood called Silver Lake in the heart of Los Angeles.

Pictures to come of this weekend when my parents were in town for my brother's baptism...it was full of, well you guessed it, lots and lots of tasty food.

Possessions

The room that used to look like this:



Now looks like this:



As much as I hate moving, I am trying to find a little bit of fun in this process. I like the challenge of seeing if we'll actually make it out of our apartment. It often feels like there is no end in sight. I pack a box and feel completely done with one area only to find a whole other cupboard or drawer with more of the same stuff. But it's fun to see if I can conquer a whole area with my boxes, packing paper, and tape. I also feel very satisfied by labeling a box with my massive sharpie, sealing up a box really tightly, or finding one more thing to add to the donation pile. There's also the challenge of getting my husband to let go of some of our stuff. This can be pretty fun if I win. Paul being a packrat and slightly sentimental about inanimate objects, we have this conversation just about every night:

"Can I donate this?"
"But that's useful."
"When was the last time you used it?"
"Well I think it could be useful."
"If you haven't used it in the past year, you're not ever going to need it."
"But it looks useful."
"But we don't need it!"
"But it could be useful."
"JUST PUT IT IN THE PILE!!! GAH!!!!!"
"Oh, alright."
"YES!"

I usually win. It must be my superior argumentation skills.

Celebration Weekend

This was our last weekend in San Diego. I was in a great mood on Friday because I finally got my car back from the dealer with a new hybrid battery installed, covered under warranty! So that's why our mileage has been sucking- the hybrid battery has been dead since the engine light went on about 3 months ago. And it's taken me this long to get it fixed. The auto technician said it was actually not very safe to drive. Whoops. We made at least 3 trips up to LA in the poor thing.

I was mostly just happy because the service on the car was free. So I went to my favorite supermarket (Henry's) and bought a bunch of groceries since it will probably be my last run there- oogling over the fresh produce, I came home with a plethora of white flesh peaches and nectarines, blueberries, mangoes, sweet white corn, and my favorite- brussel sprouts! Yeah, they get a bad rap, but sauteed with some garlic, salt, and olive oil, they are delicious. Or, even better- we've found that brussel sprouts on the grill are amazing! Fresh and cheap produce is definitely the best thing about California.

I also got a porterhouse, some amazingly large scallops, and some yummy cheeses. So I decided it was Celebration Weekend. To celebrate our year in San Diego, which was filled with some particular themes when I look back: Personal growth. Community with married couples for the first time. Waiting on God. Companionship.

Well, the grill was out of gas and we didn't want to refill it before moving, lest the Uhaul blow up. But we did manage to have a tasty dinner anyway, with the help of the broiler, a small bottle of champagne, and some pate that I brought from France. (We're trying to eat as much as we can from our cupboards.)



Yesterday we used a gift certificate that Paul's sister gave us for Christmas. She thoughtfully researched a kayak rental company and got us a tandem tour for whale watching. Since there are not whales in the summer, and I hate whales anyway (been seasick every time I've gone- and yes, I know it's not their fault, but I can't help the bad association) we exchanged it for a tour through the La Jolla caves. It was a ton of fun! It was a gorgeous day (as usual) and the water was giving off a particularly beautiful greenish-blue hue. I guess Paul was doing most of the paddling though, because he was sore this morning and I wasn't. Or maybe I'm more fit than he is!

San Diego has been good to us. Paul says that he thinks it's been the best year of his life. I can't disagree. I look back and I think of many happy times. Just a sweet kind of happiness from enjoying having a life together as a couple. I think of my old restlessness being replaced by a deeper contentment with life in general. It was just what we needed as a sort of "gap year" to detox from the stress and busyness of New York. I would have been a different person if I had moved from NY to LA directly. I can't really say how, but I do know that I've learned to relax and just be for the first time. That's a hard thing for me to do, but there really could have been no better place to do it. And now begins a new chapter.

Wow, technology

THE CD IS OUT!

Well, here we go. I had an awesome weekend in the Bay Area and a great turnout at two CD release concerts, and finally it is available for purchase online!

Click here to sample the CD and order your copy. Or 2. Or 3. Well, you can buy up to 10 at a time. Who's to say when you might need some extras?

It was amazing to see my whole family pitching in to make this thing happen- my parents organizing the reception, greeting people, printing programs for me, taking millions of pictures, coming back to sneak me a hug during intermission; the five of us praying together through tears before the concert started and feeling God work through us as a family. My siblings being there with their amazing skills and putting their time and energy into making beautiful music together. I'm overwhelmed with how supportive and enthusiastic my family has been, and I know that they are the only reason this has all come to fruition. And of course, my dear husband manning the donation table and charming people into buying more CDs!

The high point of my weekend may have been my dad saying to me in a very serious tone of voice, "Connie, you need a manager." Well, shoot. I'll take that over, "Connie, you should go to law school" any day. Finally, they get it!

Thanks so much to all the friends who have already been pouring out their support to me. It really means so much. My cup overflows.

Perfection in our new neighborhood

I have found the world's most perfect chocolate chip cookie.

And it exists...in Los Angeles. (I'm not the only one who is cookie obsessed- just check out the most emailed article on the NY Times today.)

Last weekend, Paul and I were in LA looking for apts. We saw 11 apts between Friday and Saturday morning, having to go back each night because we had plans in San Diego in the evenings. This was a pretty tiring two days, but we had a system pat down...I would drive the northbound trip while Paul used his laptop to continue looking up listings through the magic universal internet service they installed on his computer (can't remember what that's called) and made phone calls to set up appointments. Once we got there, I would navigate us with the GPS on my Blackberry from appointment to appointment, and Paul would drive since he's better at parallel parking than I am. :)

Well, on Friday around noon, we were in between appointments and decided to stop for a very quick lunch. We debated driving to the Valley for dim sum, but decided there was not enough time if we wanted to get a couple more appointments in. So I said, "Let's just go to the nearest coffee shop and get a sandwich or something."

Enter Lamill.

We drove from our last appointment about a quarter mile up Silver Lake Blvd., and spot a coffee shop on the right. It looks crowded inside, so we figure it's gotta be decent. Everybody inside is beautiful. Some are in groups looking Hollywood trendy, some are reading books by themselves, one older man sits outside with a notepad scribbling a thought every now and then. We had Aiko with us so we opted for an outdoor table on the sidewalk patio where she proceeds to bark at the giant golden labrador on our left (she hates blondes).

A lady comes out and greets us and asks if we've been here. No, we say, our little silver table cluttered with crumpled up craigslist postings and Paul's laptop. We're sweaty and thirsty from being in the hot car and all the driving. The server proceeds to hand us menus and says, "Our menu was designed by Michelin starred restaurant owner/chef Michael Cimarusi."

I look up from my menu. What? Someone with a Michelin star restaurant designed the sandwiches on the menu at this coffee shop? I just wanted a quick bite. Turkey and provolone would have been fine. I wasn't ready for this. But- okay.

So, we order. I get The Farcell, a hand-crafted panini with coffee-washed Spanish cow's milk cheese, chorizo, and piquillo peppers. It is fantastic. Oozing with flavor with every bite, perfectly pressed, the spice of the chorizo and peppers adding an extra kick. Paul gets the Jambon au Buerre on a French baguette, the best bread I've tasted west of the Mississippi. Each of our sandwiches comes with hand cut Yukon gold potato chips, a little tray of Kalamata and green olives, and some preserved cippolinis (small, sweet perfect little onions).

The flavors all blend together magnificently and we down a couple iced teas and coffees with our meals.

We forgo the dessert menu on an attempt to save a little money, and I opt to go to the counter to get a chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Perfectly crisp on the outside with a little bit of crunch, giving way to the chewy center oozing with Valrhona chocolate. I like my cookies a little bit salty, and this one is perfectly seasoned, bringing out the decadence of the chocolate even more. With the chocolate melting under the hot LA sun, I manage to speak only a few words before getting my fingers and my purse covered with a little bit of the chocolatey goodness. My purse is white canvas and now has a small stain on the back, but I don't care. A small sacrifice to pay for bliss. I manage to mutter something like, "THIS...IS...AMA-ZING!"

We love this neighborhood already. The past few days have been a waiting game on the apartment front...waiting for a landlord to get back to us about an apt that we put an application down on, waiting for a prospective renter to get back to us about whether they would take over our current lease. We waited and prayed. And God answered. We didn't get the unit we put down an application for- they wanted to rent it out to a single person instead. But we were apparently at the top of their list (we can't believe this- our credit is not really that amazing) and they just got word that a bigger 1 BR will be available two units down that comes with a parking spot and about 250 more square feet. The original unit we applied for was small (about 550-600 square feet) and had no parking, but we figured it was worth it since it was a great location, newly renovated inside, and was priced super low. But this one is an even better fit for us! The landlord called today and said he'd like to rent it to us. And the renter called last night and said they would take our apartment in SD over! On both sides we still need to do the paperwork- but I am pretty hopeful and excited that everything is going to work out. According to Google maps, the apt is 11 minutes (without traffic) to USC's campus and 11 minutes to the train station where Paul will need to go twice a week. 11.11. Hmm, I've seen those numbers before. How auspicious.

Finally the stars (and cookies) are aligning. Relocation is stressful. But not when you have a God that answers prayer and always knows what you need.