Wheeee!

Tonight I feel exhausted and exhilerated... am tired and sore and completely happy. And if you know that feeling, I know you're jealous right now! :-D

Had quite a hike this afternoon. Ben took me to see a waterfall a friend showed him. The 'trail' was too steep for the dog, as you will see in the pictures. But what a hidden and magical spot. And what a rush to climb to the top and slide off! :-) Based on the Highly Accurate method of measuring how many bens it takes to stack in front of the waterfall... seems to be about 30-feet high. That's a lot of hang time. :-D

So cool... can't wipe this dopey, tired grin off my face. :-)

P.S. Noelle & Mom--those big blooms Ben is in front of are those spikey cacti thing-ys you saw when you were out here. They're GORGEOUS!

P.P.S. Addendum (6/30/07) The actual name of the 'spikey cacti things' is Whipple Yucca. :-)

Rainy Day Walk

Despite what Google said, it was gray and drizzly all day--the first rain since I've been here. Soph & I took a nice long walk; it was so refreshing! Everything is brighter and refreshed after a bit of rain.

We discovered a new path in the myriad of trails at the spot we hike just down the street.... and a den where SOMETHING lives. I wish there was a (safe) way to find out what. :-) If you look closely, you might see eyes staring out at you...

Saturday was the library book sale--YAY!! :-D Picked up some old favorites (most of my books stayed in WI), as well as some I haven't read, either by authors I like or have been meaning to read. Find of the day? "Last Chance to See" by Douglas Adams. Woo hoo!!

Today I wish you all the joy of little unexpected finds!

P.S. Spiderman 3 gets a solid 3-stars... fun movie with just a few holes. :-)

Employed

Thanks for all your well-wishes & prayers on the job front. I'm happy to report that I am employed and going in for orientation on Tuesday. It's a Staffing & Development position in the HR dept of a new Target store opening in Glendale (yes, that's where Ben just moved FROM, lol)--about 30-minutes from here in traffic.

These pictures aren't new, but they're my favorite Sophi pics and I wanted to share them. :-) Hard to believe my girl is NINE!!! She's making the transition pretty well, but is lonely for friends & family too... doesn't see a whole lot of anyone besides Ben & I, although she does her best to make new friends when we're out and about!

oxox
cmr

Playin'

We went to Swisher Falls up in Angeles Crest the day before yesterday--hadn't been there since visiting in January. We went late in the day, so didn't take a real long hike but it was fun to see how much more water was in the stream that runs through there. The woods are beautiful; we'll go earlier next time and get some pics. We found a poor sapling that someone had tried to break for a walking stick, but clearly didn't have the tools to finish... so we got out our trusty pocket knives and made His & Her walking sticks.

There are two trails we've done at Swisher... one is longer and goes up the crest to overlook the waterfall from above. The other ends in the rock wall around the pool and you can clamber around and see the falls. We took the shorter trail... and split up. Ben went around to the steep side and the dog & I stayed on the other side. I was calling to him that I wasn't going to go any further with the dog because it was too steep when I saw his eyes get big and he pointed... just as I was almost jerked off the ledge by Sophi who decided she could SLIDE down to the pool and swim. If Ben hadn't been there I have NO IDEA how I would have gotten her back out.

The sunset on the way out was gorgeous... pictures of course never capture it.

Today we went on a short walk up at the end of Lake (really close to the house. And saw a different kind of snake! So fun.

Lastly, big congratulations to the new Heil addition--Willa Claire!! :-D

Random Schtuff

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers, and most especially to mine! :-) Am wishing I could be home for the weekend.

I think we found our church. We've had kind of funny time in our search--every service we attended had a visiting or departing or interim pastor speaking... but this seems like the place. It's really big, so it will take some time to get to know folks; that also allows for several service choices though, and with Ben's schedule that's of big import! Anyway, you can check it out at http://www.lakeavefamily.org/article.asp?from=cross

The job search is underway--I'm trying not to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. Keep praying, please! :-)

We got a different refrigerator!! (Does anyone else find it weird that apartments here all seem to come with a stove, dishwasher, AC... and no fridge?) The one we got early on is a BEAST, which would have been livable--even with all the noise--if only it had continued to keep things cold. BUT, we found a great deal from a really nice couple who is moving and picked it up yesterday with our trusty little trailer. It is so quiet that we keep going over to check and make sure it's running... then we grin like idiots and say things like, "I love our new refrigerator." It's all official too--covered with a magnetic shopping list, a drawing from Kathryn, and the inevitable quote list. Favorite quotes so far: "Anything that can use 'magnetic coupling' in its advertisement MUST be cool!" and "Strafing is such a good idea! I wish we could do it in real life!" (that last one was Bamberg) Now we just need to get rid of the giant hulk sitting in the middle of our kitchen; that's doable though! We're just so thankful to have a working, quiet fridge!!

Timmy (Ben's old roommate) drove up for a visit and lunch yesterday. We went to this great sandwich place--just a tiny hole-in-the-wall--that Bamberg and I discovered really close to the apartment. Mmm.... if you come to visit, we'll go there (yes, that was a random plug). It was fun to see Timmy and catch up with him!

For those of you who miss the old Schoolhouse Rock (I TOLD you this was random!) Corey and I just found a fun set of links... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMiKXtr3Yw0&NR=1 (more listed to the side after you watch this one). Wheee! :-D

And this one is for Noelle, so people who didn't watch Saturday morning cartoons during the same years that we did will now be able to understand her when she says, "After these messages, I'll be RIIIIIIGHT back!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlC6YfDBVok&mode=related&search=

And lastly, random reminders I'm not in Wisconsin anymore:

1. Taking the dog out for a little neighborhood walk and upon heading back home finding our street blocked off by police cars and a helicopter circling the block. Of course the dog was happy that our walk was extended a bit!

2. Going out to get the mail and finding postings plastered all over our gate and mailbox area which warn that there will be movie scenes filmed in the area in the near future. They will be based on private property and use fake guns that make no noise, but walk about at your own risk of being on camera, I guess.

3. Being told, after a 2-hour, 1-picture, 2-test, 5-cubicle stop at the DMV, that my new license will be mailed to me in 2-3 weeks...

Love to you all.
cmr

Lookin' for reptiles :-)

Ben & I put on the long jeans despite the heat today, left the dog at home. . . and headed off the trail looking for snakes and lizards. Not that we don't see lizards along the trail, but it was an exploring kind of day! Pics are of a few of the many lizards we saw... giant cacti and some new growth... and yes, that last one is a rattler. Forgive the picture not being closer. :-D

We went hiking today with Ben's friend Joe. First up into the spot at the top of our hill, and then over to Eaton Canyon--and a waterfall! Had to post these... I may be becoming addicted to blogging... who'd a thunk it?!

p.s. See the pooch climbing out of the pool in the last pic? The water was a nice reward after the long, rocky road to get there!

p.p.s. click the arrow next to >April (7) on the right for the drop down list if you are trying to read them in order (start at the bottom)