Declined.

After being in Washington for a very brief weekend, we over-nighted it back to Cali to resume our daily grind. At this point, we had been down in California for almost two whole months. In the grand scheme of life, two months is not a huge amount of time. In fact, for us, we still didn't even have everything 100% setup for the warehouse, and we were still living out of suitcases in our studio hotel room.

One of the items that we had kept forgetting to pick up when we were out and about, were gloves to use in the warehouse and for cold mornings. I didn't think it was a huge deal at first, but after weeks of loading and unloading pallets, trucks, and organizing boxes, you definitely realize that protecting your hands is a very positive thing. After we got back to our studio hotel room one afternoon, I convinced Aaron that we should walk to the local Home Depot to get some gloves. I thought the walk would be a great break in the monotony of sitting in traffic and in our tiny studio hotel room.

We headed out on our little journey with tennis shoes on, and company credit card in hand. This was definitely one of those instances when I thought the store was much closer than it actually was. So, 1.5 miles later we arrived to the Home Depot 'work gloves' section. After carefully reviewing price, fit, and functionality, Aaron and I both selected a pair of gloves that we thought would be great for our warehouse routines. I was pumped! Until I went up to the counter to check out, and my company credit card was declined. No biggie I thought. I turned to Aaron thinking that he had brought his wallet, but that was not the case. Without any other options at this point, we began our journey back to the hotel. Clearly, purchasing gloves was just not meant to be.

So, three miles later, there we sat gloveless, without funds, and an excellent walk in the California sun under our belts.

All Nighter Co-Pilot

The responsibility of a co-pilot, is to assist the captain by monitoring the flight instruments, handling radio communications, watching for air traffic, and taking over the flight controls when directed by the captain. In car terminology, the responsibility of the co-pilot is to assist the captain by keeping an eye on his personal energy level, handle incoming calls/Facebook updates/text messages/emails etc., watch for speed traps, and taking over the wheel when the captain gets too drowsy. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but after making it from Pleasanton, CA to Puyallup, WA in 12.5 hours without incident, I would have to say that I am a master co-pilot.

To make the most of our time, Aaron and I decided to head back home right after we got off work on Thursday. As it so happened, 'after work' was a little later that Thursday, for the simple fact that we had an agenda. It's funny how it always seems to happen that way. The game plan was that Aaron would start our journey, I would take a brief nap once it got dark out, and then I would complete the drive once Aaron got drowsy. After a few energy drinks, stopping to get gas where it was freezing cold out, and grabbing a bite to eat at a drive-thru, Aaron was wide awake. I'm a firm believer that the minute you start to get bored while driving and zone out, is the minute you start to become very drowsy; no matter how many high fructose corn syrup energy drinks you have. And, being as that I took my job as Aaron's co-pilot very seriously, I decided we would play a little game I call 'Car-Oke'. We played 'Name That Tune' for a little while, but I can never remember who sings what, so instead I would find a song on the ipod and start singing. Before I knew it, I could have sworn that Taylor Swift was in the car with me! But when I looked over, it was someone that looked an awful lot like my husband rocking out in full falsetto to one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs!

Taylor has not graced our presence anytime recently, but I am hoping that she will make a reappearance on our next road trip :)

Our BART Experience...

When I was younger, my mom and I would travel back and forth to West Seattle via Sound Transit. It was a rather long process, but I am so glad that I experienced using our local public transportation. To be honest, using public transportation can be quite intimidating if you've never used it before. In college, I experienced the public transportation in Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC. Each time, I was so very grateful to have a personal tour guide.

After we visited the beach, Heather & Kris drove us back to their hotel in Downtown SF so that we could all enjoy a bite to eat together. Earlier that day, Aaron and I had decided that we would give our try at using the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) after saying our goodbyes to Kris & Heather. The terminal was right by the hotel, and the drop off was only a couple blocks from our Extended Stay.

Getting on the BART and beginning our journey back to Pleasanton was a piece of cake. Having to sit -rightnextto- the loud obnoxious drunk girl for 30 minutes, while she repeatedly said, "I want to ride the buulll! I want to ride the buulll!" while she told the story of how her grandma had rode the mechanical bull at a local bar, and how that needed to be their next stop so that she could out last her, was mildly irritating. Finally arriving at our destination, only to walk down the stairs and realize we still had to walk more than a couple of blocks to our studio hotel room, through the dark and chilly business district of Pleasanton, was discouraging. But laughing all the way there about all we had observed while people watching, was priceless!

A Little Piece of Home...

Aaron and I both grew up in Washington. We both stayed close to home for college, and we bought our first house 15 minutes from our parents. Needless to say, neither of us had the experience of building new friendships away from home. Aaron would have probably done great on his own, because guys are so much more easy going, and most of them can somehow manage to remember 75% of the useless sports trivia that they hear in their lifetime (although they never remember what you told them 5 minutes ago :)), which gives them an instant bond. I however, am absolutely terrible at making new friends. I over think every little detail from the moment I introduce myself. I fill in spots where I either don't know what to say, or can't hear what the person said and therefore have no intelligible response, with giggling. And, I have never in my life been the one to make the first move when it comes to continuing the friendship after that first introduction. I have no idea why I'm like this, but thank goodness I could put all my craziness on hold when Kris and Heather called and told us they were coming down for a visit. I was overjoyed! No awkward, "So what do you do?" conversations. We were just good friends, catching up and having some laughs.

One of the stores that Aaron delivered to while we were in NorCal was in Half Moon Bay. Heather, Kris, and I had never been there, so we decided to drive down the windy roads to the NorCal coast and enjoy this beautiful piece of real estate. The best part about driving over there was that we made it just in time for the sunset! I don't think we could have done any better as tour guides :)

Heather & Kris,
We are so glad that you two made it down! Thank you so much for bringing us a little piece of home down to California!
♥ The Walkers

New Place = New Routines

When I was younger, I had the privilege of riding with my dad to school everyday. He has been early for anything and everything, for as long as I can remember. So, the morning routine consisted of stopping at the local donut shop every morning before being dropped off at school (I was still 30 minutes early... Thanks Dad :)). After a little while, the donut shop owner knew who I was and what I was going to order.

In NorCal, my morning routine consisted of rolling out of bed at 3:30am, I would get ready while Aaron made our pot of coffee (Don't worry, we didn't use the Extended Stay's mini-pot, we brought our own from home. Addicts? Maybe :)). I would make one pop tart, grab a banana, and be off for the day. Unlike my dad, I am not early for anything and everything, I am right on time. So, no swinging by the local coffee shop, or grabbing a donut daily.

My recognizable routine came in the afternoons, when I could be more leisurely. I didn't think it was much of a routine, but when you're living in a studio hotel room, it's the small things in life that seem a little more urgent to get out and go do. To be honest, I was a little bit embarrassed when the girl at Office Depot recognized me! From donut shop, to office supplies... Wow, I really must be getting old.

Let go & let God!

Type 'A' Personality, along with being the oldest sibling, combined with how I grew up, equals me being somewhat of a control freak. It's not that I don't want others' help when I don't know how to do something, I just want to decide when and where that help is given. Since excepting God into my life at the age of eight or nine, there are so many different verses that I have memorized or studied, that encourage in so many ways to let go of this habit. One major verse that has been in my life since graduating from the eighth grade is Jeremiah 29:11

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

Obviously, if God already has an amazing plan for me, I should have no worries, because as long as I am doing my part, and listening, every trial, tribulation, and joy that I face in life is all part of a greater plan.

While we were in California I struggled to see the purpose of why we were there. There were lots of different road signs, pointing in all different directions, towards a few life changing paths. When we originally thought about moving down there, it was for Aaron to attend chiropractic college. We had no idea how we would swing that financially, and then the opportunity for us to move down there under the impression that Aaron would be the NorCal region sales manager came up. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to help grow the family business, and some how find a way to do school at the same time. While we were working for the business, SPD started calling Aaron again and finishing up background info. Oh. My. Goodness. Chiropractor, family business, SPD, all the uncertainty is enough to make any girl go crazy!

And then, when I was about to burst from wanting to control the situation, I gave it up to God, and this is what He did for me...

The next morning I had to get gas for my delivery truck. We had company credit cards for expenses such as this, so I navigated to the nearest station. Once I got there, I hopped out of the truck, only to realize that this particular gas station did not except credit cards. So, I asked the gas station clerk where the next closest station was, and he sent me down the road. As I arrived at the next station, I was happy to find a donut shop that had just switched on its open sign. When I let go, and didn't get frustrated about the other station not being user friendly, God provided me with a little sweetness to end my week. He knows just how to make me smile.

NorCal Driving At Its Finest...

When I drove down to California for the first time at the age of 18, my dad gave me one tip. He told me, "Don't use your blinker, it's a sign of weakness." I think that a lot of us non-Cali residents/regulars, have this preconceived notion from things that we've heard throughout our life, or that we have witnessed in movies, that Californians are these crazy erratic drivers. After experiencing the NorCal region for three months, I can now only agree to a certain point.

Californians have a whole different attitude about life in general. Whether it is your driving, your career, your political beliefs, or your lifestyle in general, everything and everyone is excepted. Moral boundaries are somewhat a blur, and so are the rules of driving. If the posted speed is 60mph, 55mph is accepted, but so is 75mph. If you want to use your blinker, it is not necessarily a sign of weakness, but if you get cutoff by someone that is choosing not to use theirs, that is acceptable too.

One afternoon after taking our warehouse exit (which was complete chaos for about two months due to reconstructing the off/on ramps), I had a utility truck that decided it HAD to be in front of me. So, without using their blinker they rudely placed themselves a few feet from my front bumper. Once they were safely in front of me, the dude driving the truck proceeded to look at me in his rear view mirror, and instead of the friendly 'Thanks for letting me in,' wave, he blew me a kiss. Seriously!?! You cut me off, and now you are blowing me a kiss! If I was anywhere but California, this would not be acceptable.