Chronicle of our Camping Trip

This weekend we went camping at Big Sur.  We decided it would be the best weekend to try because of the holiday. However, things went a little bit awry.  Big Sur has several different camping sites, and we decided on Limekiln (because they allowed walk-ins and they had showers).  Thursday I reserved the camping gear, Thursday evening we went shopping.  Friday morning I worked, and then when I got back, we packed up and went and picked up the gear at about 3:20.  We (Jake, Krystal, Andy, and myself) got everything packed into the 2 cars and we got on the road.  First we couldn't find ice for the coolers, then by the time we found ice it was already getting kind of late.  We FINALLY got on the road at about 4:50.  The gps estimated that we'd get to Limekiln by 6:05.  With traffic, and us stopping once to take pictures, we arrived at about 6:35.  I REALLY HAD TO PEE. But, the campsite was full and so we were locked out!  Now, all of the other Big Sur campsites were 45 minutes back the other way!  Somehow we had managed to pick the last one!  We found a small shop on the side of the road where I could pee, and there we re-grouped.  We decided to stop at all of the campsites on the way back, but everybody was already full!  We planned to go on home and try again the next day, but then by chance decided to stop at the very last camping ground, just to see if they had room!  And, they did! They had only a couple of spaces left, so we stopped.  By that time it was almost 8:00, and it was dark.  And cold. But, the boys found us a spot, and we set up camp.  We had to carry all of our shit quite a ways, and it was exhausting!  Also, we didn't have any firewood so it was coooooold!  It was past 9 at that point, we hadn't had any dinner, we had very little heat (just some charcoal in the pit with whatever little sticks the boys could find that weren't wet) and we were exhausted!  But, once we warmed up some stew that Andy had made and made up all the beds and stuff, it was so much more fun!  We roasted some marshmellows and went to bed! Andy read us a fairytale and we fell asleep.  In the night I heard coyotes around us twice, and it was kind of scary.  We awoke just past 7, made breakfast, and started adventuring!  We went to the river, and then to the beach, and it was awesome!  We had to cross really cold water to get to the beach, but it was worth it.  The waves were so huge, and there were cliffs and mountains around.

Since the campsite that we chose was more like a field with spots to camp in and not very secluded, we left the camp in search of a new one!  However every other single camping site was full!  So, we just came home!  Camping FAIL!

Next time, we decided to make reservations, be more organized, and execute the plan better. But, it was a beautiful drive, and it was fun while it lasted.   Here are some pictures from our trip!

October!

I just have to say - October is the best month of the whole year.  It's the quintessential fall month!  The air just smells better.  I think that it's the most magical month of the whole year, and I'm determined to enjoy it to my fullest capacity!  I'm going to miss the leaves changing in NC, and that makes me sad!  But, I still love CA!

Employed!

I finally have a job!  I never actually applied there, I just gave them my number and they hired me!  It's at a place called DLI Cafe, and it's on the Post, so it's super convenient.  I already worked my first day, and I work again Thursday.  The pay is higher than what I got at home, but the cost of living out here is higher than at home.  I'll probably only work 3-4 days a week, which is perfect because it still gives me plenty of time at home!  I actually really enjoy being home now, and I like the solitude as well.  The kitties and I play and hang out all day, and it's really wonderful.  Today I have to get a TB test for work, which I'm a little worried about.  I had it 2 years ago, and it was fast, so I think it shouldn't be too bad.

I'm going to create another facet of my blog called 'Robin Cooks' which will photo document/share recipes that I'm trying.  I have become a more adventurous cook, and keep trying and adding recipes to my repertoire.

Interview!

Yesterday I went and got/filled out 4 job applications. I just got called today by Bath and Body Works, and I've got an interview tomorrow at 3!!! This is despite working there previously, and never being called in again by them...not quite sure what happened there?  Anyways, I GOT AN INTERVIEW! WHOOO

Edit: about 45 minutes after Bath and Body Works called, Mrs. Delish's cupcakes called.  I've got an interview today at 3. WHOOOOOOOO

Time Flies!

Wow, it's already September, can you believe it?!  This year has flown by!  It's hard to believe that I started this year out in Boone, and now I'm in California.  I can honestly say that I know I made the right choice moving out here (and marrying Jake).  There is no place that I'd rather be than here with him!  He has hardly any free time out here, so trying to sustain our relationship from the other side of the country would have been almost impossible.
There's not much to report out here...I want to find a job, but it's very hard for military spouses to find work out here.  No one wants to hire someone who will be moving in the next year (even if it is an entire year until we move).  I did apply to a shop called Mrs. Delish's Cupcakes, and they called me back!  I wasn't here to pick up the call, but I called them back, and I havn't heard back since.  I really hope they call me....again.  I would love working in a cupcake shop.  If they don't call me back by the end of this week, I'll go and get a bunch of job applications from the Del Monte Center (sort of like a mall, here).  The last time we were there I saw a bunch of places were hiring, so hopefully I can find something.  We do need a little extra money, but I also just want something to do.  I get tired of doing housework, it's boring!
I never introduced our other cat, Lily.  We weren't sure if we were going to keep her, which is why I never did.  When we first got her, about a month and a half ago, she was pretty horrible.  She was mean, we couldn't touch her, she growled, hissed, and made demon noises!  Over time, she has loosened up.  She doesn't bite as much, or scratch us as much anymore.  She's even a lap cat now!  She loves laying in your lap...for as long as you let her!  Even when she no longer wants you to pet her, she still wants to sit in your lap!  She also plays fetch like a dog!  We have this small plastic bracelets that she does it with, it's pretty cute.  Here's a picture of her:

You can't really tell from the picture, but she's really fat!  She has lost some weight since being here, which I'm proud of.

This coming spring semester, I plan on going to the local community college and hopefully finishing my Associate's Degree.  Last I checked, I was only a few classes away from finishing, so I hope it doesn't take long.  Because I'm a military dependent, it should hopefully only cost me about 50 bucks!  Thanks Jake!  I want to finish my Associate's, because I still don't have a clue about what I want to do for a Bachelor's, but if I take too much time away without finishing any sort of degree, I'll probably have to take all those classes over again, which I really don't want to do!  Also, because....dun dun dun....I want to have a baby!
After Jake finishes all of his training, we are planning on having a baby.  I'd like to have one now, but it's better to wait for more stability.  Anyways, that's all for now!

It's been a while

It's been a while since I've blogged about anything...I've been avoiding it because the last post was so unhappy, and I didn't want to deal with anything unpleasant again so soon.  Instead, I will blog about what my days are like here in housewife-land.

My days start out early.  I take Jake to school (some days earlier than others).  I go back home, and fall back asleep for a few hours.  Then, I wake up, try and fill my time, I usually make some food, clean a little, and maybe watch some tv.  Then I drive back onto Post, pick Jake up, and take him back home.  I fix him lunch (usually a sandwich, salad, glass of milk and a snack), then I drop him back off on post.  Go back home, noodle around some more, pick him up from school, make dinner, clean up, etc.  I also do the laundry when it needs doing, and just tidy up in general.  There are a lot of errands that I run throughout the week.  I am deep into housewife land.  I have to say that while cleaning doesn't come naturally to me, it's not so bad.  At the same time, I know that this life will not fulfill me forever.  I am already looking into volunteer opportunities as well as some job opportunities.  I have taken up Zumba (really fun, really good workout) and I have enjoyed all the cooking that I've been doing.

Some of our stuff is getting delivered tomorrow.  I'm getting quite excited about it!  We purchased a couch a few weeks ago that got delivered last week, so now we actually have something comfortable to sit on.  Before that, we just sat on the floor, which was fine, but it really does make your back hurt after a couple of weeks.  We also bought an incredible air mattress that has totally saved my sleep life, but I'm ready to sleep on a real bed again.  Really ready.

We also have a new family member!  Her name is Twinkie.  She's a wonderful little kitty who keeps me company during the day (and night!), and while she hasn't replaced Yoyo, it's been really nice having another critter around.  She really is the cutest cat ever, and she has the funniest little personality quirks.  She is always on the wrong side of the door, and she really hates being kept out of a room!  She talks to me while I'm in the kitchen, and likes to sleep on my computer when I'm using it.  She also walks around with her tail straight up in the air - always.  We got her from the pound, and I think she's about a year old.  She's my baby.  Here's a picture of her:

she likes to sleep in a kitty-loaf!  all body parts tucked under her, even her tail.

:(

A few days ago, I made a very hard decision.  As you know, I brought Yoyo out to California with me with the hopes of a better life for him.  Once we arrived, his behavior got out of control.  He started marking the walls, pooping in the house, shredding any paper/cardboard in the house, stealing food from the counters, having extreme separation anxiety from me, and having aggression issues.  He bit Jake and Andy (our friend who's staying with us until his apartment is ready), growled/barked at Jake every morning , etc.  Our landlord called me to tell me that the dog had to stop barking.  All of the other tenants called him and complained because whenever I leave the house, Yoyo barked constantly the entire time.  All of the problems together were incredibly overwhelming.  A lot of the issues that he was having were problems that he had when he lived with Nana, but not with my Mom.  I was especially concerned about his aggression issues with men, because Jake has a lot of friends and I really didn't want anyone to get hurt, or for Yoyo to get taken by animal control.

I decided to have him put to sleep.  I was realistic about the situation.  I didn't want to continue living like that, and I knew that no one other than my dead grandmother could handle living with him and his problems long term.  I didn't want to take him to the SPCA and abandon him with strangers, that would have been devastating to him.  So, I took him to the vet today and he fell asleep in my arms for good.  He joined my grandmother, and when his ashes get back I'll spread him in the San Francisco Bay where Nana was spread.

It was incredibly difficult and I cried. A lot.  I talked to the vet about it, and when I told her about the biting (not the first time he's bitten people) she agreed that it was the right course of action.  After it happened, he looked like he was sleeping. I feel like I made the right decision, and he's in doggy heaven now.