Surfing and the Alamo

Wow, ok, where to start?? I am falling way behind here...

We had a great rest of our stay in Redding, I got another comic page done, we got to pick out some new pipes made by our Uncle Mike (and Jamie got to test his out), and we enjoyed lots of time together! =) We even got to see my parents again before Christmas (we stayed overnight in Paradise to shave an hour or so off of our trip to Arizona).

Before the sun we rose to begin our journey out of California. Back down the 5 for the third and final time of the year, and into the desert we went. I drove some and am still improving! It's been days since I last stalled out and I am proud of it. ;) We stopped in Mesa (Phoenix area) to spend some time with a friend and sleep on his floor. We also got to watch "Cabin in the Woods," because we have not seen nearly enough horror films this Halloween season, and if you see that one, you've seen 'em all. Literally.

We do listen to Dead Man's Bones quite a bit, which we save for October every year. Here is a sample to get you into the holiday spirit. Halloween is tomorrow, guys! =D

So after Arizona we drove all the way to Carlsbad, NM, where we CouchSurfed for the first time ever! Our hostess was lovely. Very nice, good conversationalist, very welcoming. She also had two sport horses, two dogs, and two cats. So I was very at home. After we stayed the night and said our goodbyes and thank yous in the morning, we took a little detour over to the Carlsbad Caverns, which neither of us had ever experienced. It felt like Minecraft, only real life. I just knew a Creeper would come popping out to thwart my diamond-seeking endeavors at every turn. And then I got over the Minecraft-Creeper feeling and felt like I was delving into Moria. I even spotted a Balrog:

See that Balrog there? Somebody put out his fire... Gandalf??

Temple of the Sun

Jamie is so amazed by the caverns! And I'm wearing my glasses so I don't trip in the dark because I have terrible night vision! We are the coolest kids.

Jamie was so impressed that he has given up his dreams of getting a PhD in mathematics and has decided he wants to be a Carlsbad Caverns Park Ranger instead.

I didn't take many pictures because the lighting was TERRIBLE. What gives. Don't they know I have to scrapbook this someday? Anyway, we were both really glad we got to see the caves for a little bit and I think we both want to go back and spend more than an hour because we didn't get to see everything and kind of had to rush.

Anyway, once we were back in daylight (IT BURNS, PRECIOUS!) we trundled on over to Austin, TX! Did you know that the average speed limit on Texas highways is 80 miles per hour? Neither did our car, because it would start to shake if we got much above 75. Still, the speed limit in Texas actually seems to mean "limit," (unlike California, where the speed limit actually means to add five miles).

We spent our first day in Austin enjoying the company of our gracious hosts, my Great Uncle Grant and Aunt Jyl! They showed us to Zilker park where we enjoyed a good jog. There were tons of people out, I've never seen a more busy trail! It was a good thing though, didn't feel crowded to me, and it helped keep me motivated. Then Jamie and I spent the afternoon catching up on stuff & studying (which is super boring). But the BEST PART was when Grant & Jyl took us and my second cousin-in-law Brooke to THE ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE, which was AMAAAZING. Jamie wants to live there.

Seriously, Chico wishes it was Austin. The El Rey and The Pageant are only shadows of what could be (no offense guys, you will always have special places in our hearts). The Alamo is dinner and a movie all in one. Jamie and I split a Grand Royale with Cheese (burger) and fries, and we got an election-season themed honey brew and a Rogue Dead Guy Ale. Grant & Jyl also ordered chips & queso to share (OK, I'm not sure if all of Texas does nacho cheese the way it oughta be, or just the Alamo, but that stuff was like cheese dip heaven). Californians, be excited, because the Alamo is coming to San Francisco. They also have one in Denver, CO... which means Ryan, you must go check it out sometime! Oh yeah, and we also went to the theatre to see "Cloud Atlas" (which is pretty much just the extended version of the trailer, which is ok with me because I liked the trailer. Jamie is still deciding. I think he's posting about it on ye olde facebook).

Which brings us here, to All Hallow's Eve Eve. I think because we have waited until the day of to pick out costumes that I will go as G.I. Jane and Jamie will go as Fidel Castro. But a lot could change between now and tomorrow night, mostly depending on what treasures we find in tomorrow's thrift adventure. ;)

Expect an exclusive "Halloween In Austin Report" on Thursday or Friday!

Beards and Sing-a-Long Punk Rock

On Sunday we attended the 40-day memorial service for Jamie's grandpa. As I've mentioned before, in Greek tradition the men don't shave for 40 days after the death of a loved one. So there were a lot of bearded men present. If there were a contest, Jamie definitely would have won, but he got a head start, so I guess that wouldn't have been fair. =P

It was great to see Jamie's family again, and we also got to see my family (and a few extended family who were up visiting!) for dinner that night! My parents gave us a big stack of mail (some penpal letters and my absentee ballot among other things... this is the first presidential election I'm actually participating in, haha). It was so good to see our parents and siblings but it was so brief... the time is literally flying by. I still feel like I'm being left behind, that's one thing that didn't change when I quit my job and stopped being a responsible adult. I'm still trying to do a million things at once:

• Finalize details with our families about expected arrival times, contact info, etc (usually like a day and a half before, when I remember that we have to leave again and go somewhere else)
• Do normal adult stuff (pay those last few straggling bills, get my passports renewed, respond to possible job offers, vote)
• Make my comic
• Write a blog
• Journal
• Read
• Play "The Bear Game" (very important)
• Cook, clean, spend time with our families (which should be our main goal during all of this)
• Plan future travels
• Sleep
• Get exercise so I don't get fat from all the food we're making

For the last few weeks I've been going to bed around 10 or 11 and sleeping in until 8... but now I'm staying up till midnight and setting my alarm at 7, haha! Well, human beings were made to work, what can I say? It's probably nice for our hosts that we aren't around more than a few days or a week, but it's barely enough time to adjust, establish a new routine, hang out with people, and then try to get stuff done, haha.

Not that I'm complaining. I'm actually feeling better than I have in months about everything. This is really an awesome adventure and we really appreciate everyone who has helped us so far and we can't wait to keep going... I think the worst part of this year will be having to stop and get back to reality, haha. I LOVE doing nothing but hanging out, making art, and cooking and cleaning all day. Maybe I should run a B&B or a hostel... then I could get paid to hang out, cook & clean, and make art all day. XD

I've probably raved about this before, but this is the first time in almost a year and a half that I feel like I have the freedom to make art again. I'm working on my comic and I don't have to rush it, but I've been able to maintain a steady pace for the first time in ever. I even entered a contest online and made it into the final round! Also, I'm in contact with a lady who is interested in hiring me for illustrations. I feel like I have a chance to make this work, to make what I say I love into what I actually do. I feel like God is blessing my brains out and I am having a blast! Let all that I am praise the Lord, AMEN!

Jamie has been really supportive of me and my silly comic projects too... he's also working hard. He's taking the Math GRE in Nashville in November and then he launches into grad school applications! I'll be keeping everyone posted on that as the story develops. ;)

Ok, I was actually going to make this post about our time in Redding so far, haha. I can't believe it's already Wednesday! We arrived late Monday night, hung out with Mattie for a bit (Nate & Aunt Jocelyn were in Granite Bay), said hi to my uncle when he got home, went to sleep, the usual. On Monday we went on a run, got all adjusted, picked up Mattie from school, and made dinner. The Redding Montoyas have asked us to make dinners for them as our main task, which is like asking if I want to get paid to drink wine all day. We love to cook. =)

The Menu:

• Monday - Roast Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Jamie's Specialty: Butternut Squash Bread, and baked pears and ice cream for dessert
• Tuesday - Chicken & Black Bean Chili with rice and Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie for dessert
• Wednesday - Breakfast for Dinner: Oatmeal Pancakes, Bacon & Eggs and Berry Cobbler for dessert
• Thursday - (We have invited the other Redding Montoyas over for dinner on Thursday, which will be fun!) B.L.A.S.T.s (bacon lettuce avocado swiss tomato sandwiches, UH! THE BEST!), baked french fries, fruit salad, and cupcakes for dessert
• Friday - Jamie's Other Specialty (he has a few): Four Cheese Baked Macaroni, broccoli, bread, and homemade pie for dessert

So far they are enjoying what we make! =) And we are enjoying making what we make. And eating it.

Also on Monday we decided to go to a Destroy Nate Allen house show! We were two of four people who weren't part of the band/hosting to show up, but Nate & his wifey Tessa still gave us an awesome show! They call their stuff "Sing-a-Long Punk Rock" and it is great. This was my first Nate Allen experience and I enjoyed it immensely. Please check out their stuff and see if they're touring anywhere near you for their last tour before they take a sabbatical for an indefinite length of time!

The hosts had a little girl who absolutely loved the show... right after they'd ended a song, she burst out saying "YOU GUYS ARE FUN!!" We all agreed. (You can see her in a couple of the pics).

I had a moment of weakness and bought a tshirt. IT WAS PURPLE. I regret nothing.

Aunt Jocelyn & Nate are back now and we've been enjoying time spent with the family in the evenings! Their house is awesome... very open floorplan so everyone shares the space. I LOVE it. We played a few games with Mattie last night while we were waiting for everyone to get back home and will probably play more tonight. Also did I mention it's been RAINING. This is probably why I am in such a good mood. This is my weather, the weather of my SOUL.

Ok, I'm getting overdramatic. Until next time!

Love, Ciara Kay.

A Day at the Beach! [Photodump]

Yesterday Aunt Karen & Uncle Bill and Jamie and I and Lydia, Lucy and Lulubelle all piled in the car and went to the beach! Lydia and Lulu were thrilled. Lucy, not so much. We had to keep coaxing her to just keep walking by the end of our beach excursion, haha! Lucy likes warmth and dry feet more than the fun beach.

Left to right: Lulu, Lucy, Lydia

Lulu was SO excited.

YAY SAND!

IMA ROLL INIT

YAY! COMEON GUYS!

Pawprints in the Sand. Or something.

Uncle Bill, Aunt Karen & their babies!

Cold beaches = our favorite place

The beach was really misty and wet when we arrived, so we ate our picnic in the car, and by the time we finished it was loads better! The sun even peeked through once or twice. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful beach! We got a little tour around the Sausalito area afterwards, which was lots of fun. I love going for drives (good thing I'm on a road trip, eh), especially when looking at outrageous houses is part of the deal.

For our last night in Novato, Bill & Karen took us out to dinner and a movie! We ate some delicious Mexican food and drank margaritas before catching a late show of "Argo," which I recommend seeing if you feel like a good action movie. I think I held my breath through like half the movie. It was really good! All I could think of during the set up was the story my dad told me about how when he and his brothers were kids, they would play a twisted version of "Steal the Bacon" with their cat, and whenever they recaptured the cat from the opposing team they would all yell "Ayatollah Ayatollah Ayatollah!" and run away with the poor animal held above their heads. Which I think is a hilarious story. Strange, the things kids pick up from the adult world. XD

We had a good run this morning and in a few minutes we are heading south to meet up with Jamie's family for the 40-day memorial service for his Grandpa. Expect a few pictures of unshaven Greek men in the next couple of days! ;) Then it's off to Redding for the next leg of our trip! Onward and upward!

Our Week so Far...

I think I'm about due for a post...

Monday - Arrived in Novato in the early afternoon (it was so weird driving past Marine World and through the wetlands) and spent the afternoon sitting around and talking with my Uncle Bill and Aunt Karen before they took us out to dinner at a thai place, yum!

Tuesday - Jamie and I went on a run, and then I spent the day catching up on art (I was able to re-do page 1 of the silly little mini-comic I'm working on):

[Larger version here]

It was very relaxing! Jamie made chili for dinner (yum!) and we all watched "Biutiful" (starring Javier Bardem). It was brutally depressing. But I liked it.

Wednesday - Worked on some contest entries at 99Designs.com, went on a walk with Aunt Karen and the doggies (they have three old ladies, Lulubelle, who is my favorite, Lydia, and Lucy) and visited with a neighbor. Jamie and I went to visit a "coffee" shop (more like espresso shop... no drip coffee, lame) called Dr. Insomnia's. We sat there for a couple hours and talked and sketched and read before wandering around downtown Novato.

 

Then we went over to Bill & Karen's friend's home for dinner. Bill's friend is from India so it was fun to swap stories with him (and he makes amazing food). We all had a great time I think. =)

Today - Jamie and I are going on a run and then later we're driving down to San Francisco to visit our friend Greg!

Tomorrow - We are all piling into the car (doggies and all!) and heading to the beach! =) I should have some photos to share from that excursion.

I am really enjoying having the time to work on some of my art. I feel like now I finally have a chance to improve and practice and MAKE stuff... It's refreshing. Jamie will dampens my spirits by saying "well, maybe you'll have to work full time again if we live somewhere expensive." And I thought I was the pessimist in this relationship. =P We will just have to wait and see! ;)

Bonus Post: Introducing Ludwig and Gershwin... Also, Five Guys Burgers & Fries

So, my aunt has two Daschunds... one is named Ludwig.

And the other is named Gershwin.

Their favorite pastimes are chewing,

licking,

and sleeping as close to you as possible.

They are pretty freaking adorable. It was like having two toddlers though (typical Daschunds), I couldn't even go to the bathroom by myself, haha! Gershwin has THE LONGEST tongue in the world. He's like an anteater, except he wants to eat your boogers. Lud can lay a mean guilt trip with a single look. Gersh wants nothing more than to be carried around all day (he even gets tired of doing his own walking in the middle of an outing and insists on being carried home if you let him). They have SO much personality and they act like little people, haha.

We arrived in Novato and are enjoying a lazy afternoon after catching up a little bit with my Great Uncle Bill and Aunt Karen! The drive was a heck of a lot better than from Chula Vista to Citrus Heights, that's for darn sure, haha. We ate at a Five Guys Burgers & Fries for lunch. It was my first time. And yes, that burger had strength.

This man says it best:

Our Weekend in Citrus Heights & Some Things I Miss

What We Were Up To This Weekend

• Arrived in the evening Wednesday night, watched TV with Aunt Trinity before collapsing in bed
• Thursday, went grocery shopping, ran a few errands
• Took the pups on a walk
• Made Turnip and Potato Soup & more Butternut Squash bread with baked pears and ice cream for dinner
• Watched "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (o.k... I liked the bits about India being overwhelming to live in, haha)
• On Friday, took Aunt Trinity to the airport (she's visiting friends in L.A. this weekend)
• Visited Temple Coffee, got a french press cup of coffee and some thai tea
• Made a website for Trinity's counseling practice
• Went to see "Seven Psychopaths" (excellent!)
• Did absolutely nothing (I read webcomics & watched youtube videos of horse eventing and rodents taking baths) until the evening, when we watched "Tales from the Crypt" and "Mirrormask" (really weird, but I liked it... it was like "Labyrinth" on crack and without David Bowie)
• Jamie tried to make croissants (which actually turned out pretty good)
• On Friday we did chores (dishes, laundry, sweeping)
• And took a little trip to Apple Hill with Erin & Jeff Orr, friends who have recently moved to the Sacramento Area! We visited the Jack Russell Farms Brewery and tasted some beers, then went over to Para Vi Winery (which was very good) and ended at Apple Ridge Farms, where I made friends with a pygmy goat and we ate apple desserts for dinner. ;)
• Today we are enjoying a quiet Sunday.

It's been a good weekend! ;)

Thoughts From the Road

"Elvish Singing" by Alan Lee (from "The Hobbit")

I still need to write that post about my issues with minimalism. But we are keeping busy, and that's a good thing. I will say a few words about my more recent struggles with being "homeless" and unemployed. ;)

I am missing a few things being a vagabond. Since we got married we've been in a kind of Limbo... not knowing where we will be in the next year and so not being able to really settle into any place. Our first year of marriage we lived in my parent's pool house (300 square feet, which isn't as bad as it sounds), our second we lived in a space twice that size (and accumulated twice the stuff), but neither felt like home because neither was permanent, and mentally I can't fully settle in and "make it mine," knowing that in the back of my head. So in general, while I'm used to living in Limbo, I'm quite tired of it. At least this current state of Limbo changes location on a weekly basis. But there are things you take for granted about having a home and an income.

I am missing stability. I am missing routine. I am missing going shopping (I didn't shop hardly at all before but now that it's not an option I feel deprived, haha). I am missing having pets (but I am enjoying other people's pets along the way). I am missing having everything in it's place instead of digging through a box or bag. I miss having options in my wardrobe (I wish I had kept more shirts and brought less hats). I'm sick of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I want sushi and I want thai food and I want to order pizza just because I don't feel like cooking (on the flip side, I have lost more weight, and as an American female I really can't complain about that, haha).

In some ways it's going to be a long year. Maybe I will adjust, or maybe I'm just a homebody at heart. But the good far outweighs the bad, and like we keep hearing from friends and family, this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I refuse to succumb to the siren's call of the white picket fence, as alluring as it sounds (well, my version of a "white picket fence" looks more like a Hobbit-hole with a driftwood fence around the front garden, but they really are the same thing after all). My Hobbit-hole days are ahead of me, but for now I must venture out of the Shire. ;) There will be plenty of time for Hobbiting later. And it's not like we're roughing it at all... we have full bellies and warm beds and we are always surrounded by loved ones! So really, I can't complain.

Tomorrow we move on again, but this time it's a short jaunt over to Novato, CA.

From the Road: Safety First!

We've been on the road all day and we're taking a coffee break... So I thought I'd share some good road trip tips so that you too can enjoy the journey!

Pack Snacks
We have two canteens of water and a cooler full of sandwiches and fruits to eat on the road. It's cheap and nutritious! Road food is expensive and usually crappy for you. Even though I love me a can of Pringles on long drives... or those little cheese & cracker packs. None of those for me on this trip. =(

Stop Often
I have a tiny bladder so this isn't an issue. But every couple of hours plan on taking a break... get a snack, go pee, STRETCH for Pete's sake. It will keep you sane and awake.

Go the Speed Limit
We made it from Paradise to Chula Vista with multiple, leisurely stops in less than 12 hours. And we drove the speed limit. Following the law is good for a few reasons: you don't have to worry about cops, you tend to be less anxious, and you still get where you're going on time, AND you get better gas mileage. Why do we ever speed in the first place??

Leave the Driver Alone
Let the driver drive. Do not touch the driver. Do not criticize the driver's driving. Do not antagonize the driver. The driver holds your life in their hands. Respect the driver. We don't follow this rule very often.

Be a Good Navigator
Change the music, get snacks & water, stay on top of the directions, and for pity's sake, keep your opinion on the driver's driving to yourself.

We try to hold to these rules as much as possible to ensure a safe and happy driving experience!

In other news, I drove the car today! =D For a whole hour and a half. This is big, guys. Stick shifts scare the crap out of me. But we took this car because it gets 35 miles to the gallon, which is wonderful with $4.79/gallon prices.

Did I also mention that our total for all the stuff we sold was over $1500? Woo!! Thank you to everyone who bought stuff! We split that between the Chico Jesus Center and the Paradise Alliance Church Benevolence Ministries. Yay charity.

Goodbye, San Diego!

Today we embark on the next portion of our Year of {Vaga}Bonding. We spent our last day with the Chula Vista Montoyas by making oatmeal pancakes for breakfast (the boys started back at school today) and taking a little trip to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse while Uncle Ben was at work and Aunt Susan was home sick (poor thing!). I made a video of the lighthouse because I love lighthouses... and I want to use our video camera more. =P We got back after lunch and spent the rest of the day reading and drawing. I'm working on a mini-comic I dropped about a year ago. It's good to get back to it!

Our last evening here was spent at Islands for some burgers & brews with my uncle, where we had a great time talking about the American Church and solving all its issues. ;) Back at the house we were entertained by a five-star laughing fit, presented by Matt. He got stuck in the middle of a story (which wasn't even meant to be funny) and literally laughed his head off for about five minutes. It was great. He was supposed to be doing homework, which probably explains why he was able to laugh about nothing for five minutes. Did you know that my cousins have like half of their classes taught completely in Spanish? I was impressed. Except it's a pain for my aunt and uncle to try to help them with homework when they can't even read it half the time, haha.

We had an awesome stay with the Chula Vista Montoyas!! They were very welcoming and we felt at home with them in their house. It was a huge blessing to have a few days to just laze around and recover while they were on vacation, and when they got back we had a lot of fun hanging out with my cousins, taking them to the zoo and playing lots of Settlers of Catan! It was so nice to spend an extended amount of time with my aunt & uncle and cousins and get to know them because we see them maybe once a year (it's a long drive, lemme tell ya), and I can't wait until we can meet up again at holidays or whatever else in the future. Uncle Ben did ask when we'd be back, and we just might take him up on that offer next year. ;)

This was the perfect first stop and exactly what we hoped for when starting this journey (not to scare the rest of you who are expecting us at some point in the next few months! We don't expect much other than feeling welcome, I promise). I hope we were good guests, because my family in Chula Vista were great hosts.

Today we are on the road to stay at my aunt's house in the Sacramento Area! We will be house/dog-sitting again over the weekend but we'll still get a couple of nights to hang out with her, talk about wine, play board games, pet her adorable Daschunds, and enjoy the company. =)

Special Report: Sunny Isn't Evil {for my Dad}

Hey Dad, I'm starting to think that you started an anti-Sunny conspiracy all those years ago when she first came to visit with the Chula Vista Montoyas. I too was duped when you carefully planted distrust for this sweet, gentle Labrador in all of our minds... Yes, she begs for scraps at the table, and yes, she can be rather intimidating when she thinks her family is being threatened, but she's really a loving Lab like any other!

How could you not want to pat that adorable doggie head?

Give Sunny another chance, Dad. Her bark really is worse than her bite. ;)

A Day at the Zoo

Yesterday Jamie and I took Matt & Josh to the San Diego Zoo! None of us have been in a long time (and it was Jamie's first time at this zoo) and the SD Zoo is pretty spectacular. Here are a few of my favorites:

Orangutans & Gorillas... my favorite apes!

(There's a gorilla above Matt's head in the background)

 Okapi & Zebra

Jamie's Favorite: Polar Bear!

There's a bear butt

I believe this is a Bontebok... I love ungulates!!

Secretary Bird

Asian Elephant

Striped Hyena

Red Panda (the Giant Pandas had a HUGE line so we skipped it)

Giraffe!! The big male ("Silver) and a baby ("Robert") just past him. =)

This Zebra, Zahari, was really special... she is unusually docile and this trainer has been working with her for the last three years since she was 8 months old. She responds to Parelli Horsemanship-type cues and is used for the Backstage Pass tour and for things like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She behaved very much like a domestic horse... super cool.

I think we all had a fun time... even though I was a bit of a nazi, but hey, we got to see everything by the time we left. ;) I seriously could spend a week at that zoo just watching the animals. If we end up near a zoo I'm buying a season pass.