On the Move

Yesterday, we had no internet and phone lines in school the whole day. I was going to call PG&E to start our service when we move to our new apartment and so I got out my lovely folder where everything was and dialled the number and lo and behold, nothing but a dial tone. And that was around 3ish. I went back to returning the WJ III assessment to the Conference Room in the office and ended up talking to another teacher for a TRI next week. Luckily, around 3:45pm, just as I was getting ready to go home, everything went back to normal and I was able to catch up on reading some email. Oh well. I figured I would have time or rather make the time to read them at home again and respond to those that were urgent, aka, have not been answered in the last 2 - 3 weeeks, hehehe. Ok, ok, guilty as charged.

So, we left school right away to go to DMV in Los Gatos. My roomie/housemate's temporary driver's permit was going to expire next week and we wanted to make sure that if she does drive, esp. when she does her practical test that she wasn't breaking the law. We left school, got gas and picked her up. It was so funny that she did not remember why we were going to Sta. Clara and not home right away. When we got there, the rain kind of stopped so we left  Alicia in the car (she was expecting a call) and went to the office. There were a lot people but Leila quickly went about her business and it was all done before we knew it. I'm sure if that had happened in Pinas, you would take the whole day. Or at the very least 2 - 3 hours.

We went back to school to pick up some plastic containers that I would use when we moved. Then we were on our way home. We had dinner, then off to Target, our favorite place. Soon, gone will be the days when we could just walk to Target. I especially remember going there during the summer. When it was 7 pm and still it wasn't dark at all. Browsing and not really buying, lol, window shopping and then leaving and then coming back again the next day as if we haven't seen the place in a long time. It has such become a habit that I will really miss it.

Saturday morning came dark and dark, lol. It was another rainy / cloudy day. After a hearty breakfast of rice and bacon and sabaw from Leila's nilaga as well as left over potpot and danggit, we started packing. We took out the boxes from the cupboard and then started putting away some utensils and the pots and panks which we thought we wouldn't need. Then I started fillin the plastic boxes with the balikbayan goodies which I am supposed to send to my family, when? I don't know hopefully by February during the mid-year break. Filled 2 boxes since I didn't want to stuff them in one box. Heck, I can barely carry them myself, lol. Then another box filled with binders, notes from trainings that I attended. They're both good and bad. Good because it makes papers organized but bad because they really are very very heavy.

Then I took out my empty luggage. Actually, its my sister's hehehe...but I used it when I came here because it was big. I took out my clothes, the ones I thought which I wouldn't be using. I folded them and then started putting them in my luggage. It isn't yet filled to the rafters but I can add more clothes in them later in the week.

I also packed my shoes, well some of them and it looks like I'm well on my way to finishing what I need to pack. Comparing from the last time that I moved, this is certainly much easier to pack. Living in the same place for 7 years, you really acquire a lot of junk / things. From books, appliances like tv, computer, washing machine, toaster, etc. And clothes, old and new and there were my sister's things too. I'm trying to live up to what I vowed the last time I moved, and that is to live simply. Not have a whole lot of possessions so I can easily move. I know, since I am single, that's certainly easy to do.

And the next on my list, other than packing was call PG&E and make sure that we have service when we move on the 31st. When I called, I was in queue and they said that they would be calling back in an hour and thirty nine minutes. So I took a shower, and even cleand the bathtub/shower as well as enjoy a leisurely lunch and then vegetated in front of the laptop before I got the call. Yes, finally, we have power for the new apartment. Now what's the next on my list? Yeah, returning the books I borrowed from school so I don't have to move them to the new apartment. That should be easier to do the next couple of days.

Yey, another long weekend.

Thanks to MLK, we don't have work on Monday. But that day is going to be pretty busy. We'll finally sign our lease (crossing my fingers) and then who knows what? Probably just go malling and savor the short time that we have living close to Target, lol.

The last two weeks have been pretty stressful with 2 IEPs and another TRI come the 28th. I have to find the time to really write the IEP, again, crossing my fingers that my muse inspires me to actually write it tomorrow and tonight. And then do some usual weekend stuff, like doing the laundry, putting away things in the room and generally just thinking about what to start packing.

It's amazing how much "junk" one can acquire even in the space of what, almost 6 months? I probably have mostly clothes. With 4 seasons here, compared to having just 2 back home, changing wardrobes to suit the season is understandable. Back home, you can usually use the same clothes in those 2 seasons. Shirts? Yeah, rain or shine. Jean? Oh yeah. Coats or cardigans? Well, probably only in December til February, if weather permits. But umbrellas? Oh yeah, rain or shine. I can remember the first time I used my umbrella here. People here usually wear jackets with hoods and that's all the protection they seem to need from the rain. But me? nooo...I need my umbrella. I probably looked ridiculous with my backpack and my umbrella walking close to De Anza college. But what the heck, my excuse here is that Asians, especially the Chinese use umbrellas too. And with good reason. Who wants to end up with a wet, sopping bag of papers. Use your umbrella. Lol. But then again, people here have cars, so they don't really umbrellas anyways. But I'm a public transportation person so my umbrella is pretty much attached to my hip, at least when it rained. My roomie mentioned that I seem to have a "hoodie" obsession. Hehehe, well there is some truth to that. Experiencing autum for the first time and being unprepared for it...ughh...I think the feel of the cold made an impact because I ended up buying turtlenecks and hoodies almost all the time for those months. When winter came, it was coats and boots. I think of it as investment though. Next time autumn comes around, then I'll be better prepared for it. Same with winter. But I just hate packing winter clothes for traveling. They just occupy way too much space. I'm looking forward to packing for the summer with just shirts, jeans, shorts, flipflops and sandals. Oh yeah. Hopefully less space
to contend with.

For the last couple of weeks though, all I've seen were either cloudy days and a lot of sunshine. Hmm...talk about the weather here being strange and all. But I'm not complaining. I love the sunshine and hearing about people in the Midwest suffering from the Arctic chill / wind, I'll take my sunny days anytime. There is however a disadvantage to more sunshine and less rain at this time of the year, and that is, a drought. But I suppose I'm not so worried about that, coming from a country where we regular suffer from El Nino. I know, that's horrible of me, lol. But having limits to water being lawned, well, I don't have a lawn so I guess that doesn't really impact me.

But yey, for the long weekend. Of not doing anything but lounging around in my shirt and jeans, eating when its time to eat and playing with my neopets or PSP, if I'm in the mood. Mostly, I'm looking forward to taking a walk. I know, my midsection needs it, lol and just enjoying the sun.

Do you know the way to San Jose? Yes I do!

It's almost official, I'm moving out of Cup and live in San Jose. Yes! Well, granted that the place isn't as close to Target and Cup places but its still close enough to where I work. I just take one bus ride, and then walk some ways. Not that far and boom, I'm at work. Now, just to figure out what time to wake up and actually leave the house, well that's another story.

But at least one problem solved. I'm moving at the end of the move into my new home sweet home...

Where's my mojo? Hehehe....

Yesterday, I flew back to Cali. Hmm...leaving was difficult, an understatement. That's why I'm sooo looking forward to the summer. It was much harder than I thought. Oh well.

The day I left Rapid, there was a snow shower. A fitting good bye I guess....hehehe...well, maybe something to be thankful for that the weather there was "mild" / less cold while I was there for about 2 weeks and that winter has finally come now that I was leaving. Lol. In Denver, it was actually sunny, though nonetheless still very cold. But not as bad as Rapid.

The trip was not as long as I imagined it would be. I though the trip from Rapid to Denver was less than 45 minutes, but it was about 54 minutes. We left Rapid later than usual since they had to spray the wings and tail of the aircraft with something to melt the snow. Yeah, it was starting to get that bad. The plane is rather small, by my standards. A propeller plane in fact, lol. I thought they didn't invent those things anymore or flew them here. But I was wrong.

We landed in Denver at around almost 8am. As usual, I was at Terminal A64 and my connecting flight was at A25. Whopee...good luck. I was thinking about running like last time but figured might was well walk briskly instead of run since they might end up getting delayed like last time. Planes in Denver seemed to be perpetually late, lol, that's my observation anyways, maybe they're not.

I arrived in good time, maybe around 15 minutes. And what do you know, they haven't even boarded yet. Yes! So I just stood around and waited for my seat to be called. For a change, I wasn't sitting way a back like my trip going there. I was actually sitting at 8 which was good and as usual had a window seat. I figured I might as well enjoy the view while it was still daytime and I could see outside, hopefully, not just the clouds. And I wasn't disappointed. The weather cooperated and it was sunny outside. I saw lots and lots of mountains though. I don't know if they were the Rockies or parts of Grand Canyon but they certainly looked like lots of mountains. I thought they kinda looked like terrain from Mars or something. Hehehe...and it even looked like we flew quite close to them. That, or it was just they were really tall mountains. Lol.

The disadvantage though of sitting near the window is that if you have to use the lavatory, everyone else sitting beside gets to stand up. Unfortunately, there wasn't much room to just pass through them, yeah, that's economy for you. So I just sat there and waited and waited and figured I might as well do my business when I got back to the airport where the restroom would be roomier, lol.

When I arrived in SJ, the sun was also out. I headed out to the restroom and then to the baggage claim and waited for my luggage. Before disembarking from the plane, I called the airport shuttle to make sure that they were going to come and pick me up or else I wouldn't know how to get home.

After getting my luggage, I called Sheldon to let him know I was back in Cali in one piece. Lol. It was strange. Just this morning, when I got up, he was around and now, I'm back in Cali. Sheesh...

I waited for the driver and finally called him. Turned out he was at the baggage claim and he probably missed seeing me. Totally my fault since I was on the phone when he tried to call.

Before getting on the van, I removed my coat. Man, it was warm in Cali...hehehe...First time in a long time that I was actually sweating in Cali. The trip going home was pretty short. No traffic here. Got my stuff out. Started putting things away. Cleaning up the kitchen and washing stuff. Threw away the garbage. The usual cleaning routine.

And now, here I am, stuck in front of the computer. Laundry done for the rest of the week (I did my laundry in SD but I still had left over dirty clothes here, lol). And yeah, room is clean, things put away, had a big breakfast and all set to work. But no, my brain is dead, no more mojo as Austin Powers put it. Hmmm..I'm just wallowing in sadness right now. It's not the same.

I know, think IEP, lol. Uh oh...think IEP and hopefully, that should help me get my mojo back. Or maybe call someone...hehehe...yeah...I think that's a better idea.