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.