It's Friday?

Today passed in a weird and time-less haze of feeling really crummy {mastitis} and scurrying to clean out our old apartment/trying to rest here and there. All the while with a baby hanging around. Uck.

A temporary solution.

We got home to our real home, not our old home, and I felt like five years had passed since we left this morning. 

But, we're soveryclose to being totally out {will happen tomorrow} and I started on some antibiotics which will hopefully have me feeling better soon.

Have a great weekend folks!

xoxo, natty ♥

Anonymous.

Except for going to Minnesota for four years {hey Macalester!} I'd never moved to or lived in a city other than San Jose. College was pretty unique, though, in that I lived on campus all four years so the scope of my world as far as social interactions was fairly limited. I didn't venture off campus very often and Macalester is a small college so I saw a lot of the same people quite often. Very often, actually.

Keeping all that in mind it comes as no surprise, to me at least, that this is a Big Change for us to move to Washington, DC. I've been easing my way into life here and Michael has been as well but I anticipate that it will take at least a year for us to really get into the swing of things; experiencing all four seasons will allow us to get used to the cadence of our life here. Things will change a bit after these first few heady weeks. Things will change when {God willing!} I get a job. Things will change when Mike finishes the summer session and begins the fall semester. And thus it will continue. 

There is a window, though, that won't stay open for much longer. This is a window I'd never really experienced thanks to everything I mentioned in the first paragraph above. It's the limbo of one's first few days and weeks in a completely foreign environment. 

Prior to July 25 I had never lived anywhere even NEAR this place and now it's my home. Because of that, there is practically no one I know. When I go to Target I won't bump into my dad's neighbor. At the mall, I won't see any students {sad!}, I won't notice my aunt or uncle behind the wheel of their cars at an intersection. 

This is weird. 

For now. 

I'll get used to it, I know. At the same time, I'm kind of enjoying this freedom. I feel so un-beholden when out and about. It's not that I don't miss my family and friends and familiar places but it's so totally novel to me to not know a dang person, place, or thing. I feel as though I'm merely floating about and taking in everything. Maybe that's why I'm so exhausted at the end of each day, that or the excruciating recipe of heat and humidity that is a DC summer.

Like I said, though, I can already see this window starting to slide shut. I'm beginning to recognize a few people here and there. When I walk in the mornings I see some of the same people hanging out around the coffee shop. I know a few people {& their hounds!} from the dog park. I'm even able to drive to and from a few places without furiously studying directions and a map.

I guess this is what moving to a new place is like. And I like it.
xoxo, natty ♥

Mystery.

I got my first camera during the mid 1990s, somewhere between ages 11 and 13. The next decade-plus was spent taking a few decent shots but my results were mainly of ho-hum scenery {I would even forget where I had actually taken the picture}, everyday friend get-togethers, and my cat.
I like to think I've evolved a bit but we can all admit that I haven't come very far for I still take many pictures of animals but I like to think that now they're at least kind of ironic.
During that aforementioned period of time I had a few of my own real cameras though I never had to load film, they had these film canisters that only needed to be dropped into the camera and then popped out when ready to develop. I also relied heavily on disposable cameras - I LOVED those things. Opening the foil pouch a disposable camera comes in {yes, they do still sell them!} and getting a whiff of that singular smell {does anything else match it, that smell of camera film? I think not.} got me so excited for what I could capture {my cat}.
 In 2002 I got my first digital camera and since then I've only a hand full of times printed out my pictures. It's kind of a weird exchange, better quality {ideally} pictures, thanks to being able to do re-shots thanks to digital magic, replacing printed out glossy sets of 24.
Anyway, I was unpacking some boxes a few days ago and out came these guys.

I can't possibly fathom what would be on these cameras. Occasionally we use them at school but there's no reason that I should have them in my personal possession OR pay Fedex to ship them to me in DC. The kicker is that there are still some shots left on both of them!
I stashed them in my new craft receptacle {coffee table-trunk} and plan on getting them developed eventually. How could I not? At least I can guarantee a few shots of the dog.
xoxo, natty ♥

Oh my.

This was a long day and a sad day. It was our last full day in San Jose. We're planning to leave by late morning to head up to Stop #1 : two nights camping in Avenue of the Giants. I'll reveal Stop #2 after that. Don't expect much by means of blogging in the next while {not that I ever, it's always a happy surprise when I get up a post even if it's daily}, I'm thinking mostly just "here we are" kind of posts and I'm OK with that because it will give me some time to enjoy our beautiful surroundings, focus on our travel but also give us a means by which to remember how we will get to where we're going.
Anyway, Here We Go.
xoxo, natty ♥

It's Real.

When we were driving through Los Angeles last weekend we saw a decal on a car's rear window. It included some profanity so I won't repeat it for you here but part of it read "...It's Real". 
Today I taught my last little class.
Then I finished cleaning out my classroom and cubicle; I recycled/shredded SO much. There were papers from my first year of teaching six years ago; can you say "pack rat"?

That's a cleaned out cubicle.

I rushed out to meet some friends for adios coffee and then rushed back to school so I could do the deed and turn in my computer and keys.

That's an empty mailbox.

Then I realized that this is Real. Hence the title of the post. Everything had felt normal, kind of, up until now. We had moved before and summer happens every year but I had never, ever, turned in my keys!


I was lucky enough to then have lunch with some other friends and it was sad. I've done so much with these ladies in the past years and grown so much, personally and professionally, with them around me. I know that there are wonderful things to come for us but I want to acknowledge, at least here and for me, that I have made fabulous friends and gained amazing experience.
Then I went to my grandmother's house with the intention of sorting through some of our stuff and ended up napping instead. Oh well, it happens. I woke up smelling something lovely and when I finally opened my eyes I saw exactly what it was.
My grandmother, my love, picked my favorite flowers, gardenias, and left a few blooms next to me.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I'm going to miss so much; friends, family, weather, work, good restaurants, to name a few. But not having casual afternoons hanging out at the house and little gestures like this bouquet is going to leave quite a void in my life.

We are about to begin a Big New Part of our lives and though I'm sad to leave I am also really excited; for what we will do and where we will live and our many {many!} upcoming years and experiences together. Ready? Set? Go!
xoxo, natty ♥

Hurdle #2 : almost done.

We are oh-so-almost done moving out of our place. There's stuff being shipped across the country. There's stuff in my mom's place. We are almost done with this phase.
And I had super tacos for lunch.
And my mother saved our lives with all of her help; we owe your our first several born. Seriously.
Thanks mama.
We love you.

Hurdles.

Earlier tonight we cleared the first of our Big Get TO DC hurdles. Some $$$ and 25 Fedex-ed boxes  later we are one step closer to our new home.

For my own/our own personal accountability I'd like to lay out a few more things for us to accomplish :
* Clean out and vacate our apartment by tomorrow afternoon. Saturday's our last day but we're going to San Diego and need to be done before then,
* Put all of the the extra crapolla into our storage unit.
* After San Diego sort out what left overs can be shipped, given away, or saved to pack in the car with us.
* Ship, give away, or save and pack everything in our storage unit.

* Change mailings to our new addy!
* Sell furniture.
When we come back from the San Diego weekend I have two more days of class to teach and we're officially pushing off on the 9th of July. Thus will ensue about 10 days in the Seattle area and we're poised to arrive in the Capital City on the 25th or 26th.

Wish us Luck please.

xoxo, natty ♥

HA!

Yesterday's word-free post was meant to be posted today {Wednesday} except I got excited and hit "Publish" so here go some totally random thoughts.

* Oh My Goodness I wish I were a person who loves to pack & move; thank God I have my mom helping me.

* Some sweet coworkers had a lovely little pot luck in my honor today and I also got to see some of my work friends who aren't teaching summer school with me; thank you all SO much for your thoughtfulness and kindness. It didn't hurt that someone brought along her cute little ones with whom I got to play and run around.


* I'm mulling over a new look for our new life; more news to come as this idea progresses. 

* We had BBQ tonight at a local joint. On Wednesdays they have a five men band playing Classic Country and it was glorious.

I really love a good twang and this quintet was cracking cheesy jokes all over the place which added a great deal to my enjoyment. Too bad we didn't figure this out until our last two weeks here! More reason to come back home and visit.


* One of the younger students at school today told me some of the other kiddos were saying that I look like a mermaid. I'm hoping more Ariel than the scary ones. And less scaly.

* In the middle of an activity in class today I was standing at my podium and one of my six students came up to me. She gave me this.

It was a homemade oreo cookie that had been wrapped and baked in sugar cookie dough. I relished every bite of it with my second cup of coffee later in the morning. And I tried not to worry too much about students getting up and giving me cookies in the middle of class instead of doing to activity at hand. Mind you, I didn't give them a break in the two hour class today so maybe this is their way {or bribe?} of asking me for one.


* I'm super excited for San Diego this weekend.

* After dinner tonight someone was feeling tuckered.

I feel that way sometimes too.


Good middle of the week to you!

xoxo, natty ♥

Uff da.

If you're curious about today's post title blame it on my Minnesotan college years and click HERE. It refers to my feelings regarding getting our act together to move across the country. I have so {SO} many emotions swirling around regarding this big life change; sadness and nostalgia leaving where I've lived for 24/28 years of my life, where I've been a student/teacher for a combined total of 10 years, and where my whole family lives...great excitement for this new phase of OUR life...apprehension regarding the sheer amount of miles and hours we'll be in the car...DESIRE to just be able to snap my fingers and have everything safely and instantaneously appear in our new digs...fear at not having a job yet...I could go on. BUT...some good things!

This was our "dry run" of stuff that we will actually pack up with us for The Drive and I don't want to forget the specific configuration in two weeks when we formally bid adieu.

1} This time on Saturday I'll be at Torrey Pines in San Diego enjoying a weekend away with my hubby and my cousins; I'm so excited! At that point we'll be moved out of this apartment and in the limbo that is the three weeks we have between living situations. This trip is a high school graduation gift to my cousin; I took his older brother to Disneyland three years ago and, again, I am really looking forward to a weekend down south and spending time with these three dudes.
2} We're at a better place in this move than we were in our last move out of an apartment two years ago; that is a GOOD thing. More stuff is already packed away than in 2010 and we have a storage unit already partially filled. We have a "moving plan" {shipping stuff} and the cardboard boxes are rapidly filling. This is what a Big Move is like, folks, and we are in the thick of it. And I'm still living and breathing and enjoying some Pinot Grigio so life ain't all that bad.
3} We have an apartment in DC! This is great news! It's on a little street called "Q" {NW} and it's beautiful and I love it. Come visit us! But not until after July 25.
4} Law & Order SVU is on TV right now, a 2004 episode to be exact; this is living.
5} I almost got rid of all of the brown bananas in our fridge. Six loaves of banana bread later I'm feeling prih-tee smug about my frugal ways.

***A bonus #6 for YOU!*** 

6} My husband, ever the skeptic of my ways, actually asked ME to make a list of things that need to be done for this move. HE requested of ME to make a list! Wonder of wonders! It made my heart sing and I obliged oh so happily.

Lists = my love language.

Now, to actually do what's on those lists.
 
How are you doing in your neck of the woods this week? Has it cooled down considerably where you're at? I know that people pay TONS {trust me, I KNOW} to live in this Bay Area that has a natural air conditioning and hovers around 75 to 85 degrees all summer but I love me some heat. I suppose I should have been careful for what I wish for, though, since DC in July is not known for it's temperateness. I'll soon have up a post about our route and all that jazz but until then, be good my pretties!
xoxo, natty ♥

B TEE DUBS {Mike HATES it when I put those words together! Ha!}...I am trying to unload a heck-load of vintage Pyrex {some really cute stuff y'all} that I've lovingly collected over the years but lack any use for. It's on ye olde Craigslist but if you're local and interested {or not local, heck, I'll ship it for ya} puh-leaze let me know and I'll cut you a deal.

Bright lights, Big city.

On Friday my aunt, my cousin, and my grandmother {and I!} went to San Francisco. 

We slummed around the Haight/Ashbury thrift shops. I got four old 99 cent paperbacks at Goodwill and a Jcrew dress for $12.

We walked around a fun grocery store too. I admit that probably only I and a certain subset of other folk consider grocery stores fun. It's weird, kind of, since I loathed this errand growing up and now I could get lost in a grocery store for hours just looking at everything. My favorites are big and traditional supermarkets where canning goods like sealing wax and mason jars are sold an aisle over from aqua net and frozen pie shells.

Later we enjoyed a savory Korean dinner in the inner Sunset. 

Clean & Pure!

I even had a cold beer because nothing goes better with bulgogi.

It was chilly but not bad and even though it actually started to rain a bit during dinner, it was so refreshing and LIGHT considering  were in some of the longest days of the year.

Even though I've never been head over heels enamored of the city, I admit that I do like it. I'll miss it, even. We won't be able to just drive up on a whim to have dinner or run along the bay or do whatever. Will we at least be able to get Korean food in DC? I'm guessing yes but it won't be in the City by the Bay or with my family.
#thingsIlikeandwillmissaboutCalifornia.
xoxo, natty ♥

Cleaning out our fridge, one loaf of banana bread at at time.

The end of our time in this apartment is rapidly approaching {wahhhhhh} and I'm scrambling to use up as much food as possible. I'm tackling three distinct areas 1} the cupboard/pantry {this is about a 3 on the 1 to "oh s%#*" freaking out scale since we can schlep most of this} 2} the refrigerator {about a 7 since I am not so cheap as to haul around a little cooler full of ketchup across the country} and 3} the freezer {oh.s@*&.}.
I'll probably just end up buying new condiments when we get to DC but I certainly am cheap enough to not throw out brown bananas; what DO I do with them? I freeze them.

Frozen Brown Bananas.

Then I can make banana bread.

Plus flour. Does it always charm you too how Trader Joe's name reconfigures itself when he's giving you different things? Trader Giuseppe for pasta!

They are a bit slimy when thawing but I can get over that.

Plus buttermilk {you can substitute with a ratio of one cup regular milk to one teaspoon white [NO OTHER VARIETY] vinegar}.

The recipe {the link is above} is quick and easy though the bake time is about an hour.

Plus chocolate chips.

I always add chocolate chips.

Plus sugar, butter, eggs, baking soda and a bit of vanilla. And love.

And I never add in nuts.
This week I only eked out one batch of two loaves but I am expecting three plus another cobbler before the next seven days are over.

Ta-yum!

Today I'm spending the afternoon in San Francisco; happy weekend to you!
xoxo, natty ♥

Cobbled.

Ugh. I was worthless today. I've been so susceptible to ennui of late and I think it has to do with wanting to secure a job for August and having to pack; two seemingly insurmountable endeavors. After I got home from work it was all down hill. In the thick of it, though, here are a few highlights on this Monday evening.

This is what Father's Day dinner turned into. After a game of corn toss.

1} We're watching Jeopardy right this minute; yes!
2} I re-purposed some sour blueberries into a yummy cobbler tonight; #making creative use of food.
3} I bought two packs of those space saving vacuum bags for our big move. This:

went to this:

woah! I have four more bags and hopefully will get all of our bulky towels and unused winter/fall clothes packed down. I'm marginally concerned about everything being wrinkled beyond belief when we unpack it all sometime in August but whatever. I'll put the coats on hangers in the bathroom with a hot shower running.
4} This morning I taught my last-first-class at my school. I'm not ruling out teaching forever but the truth is that we're leaving and I can't commute. The very first class I taught was summer school and on that day in 2006 I wore white pants and a polka dot shirt.

I reprised the look today in honor of my career. This isn't super maravilloso but it is a milestone for me nevertheless and I relish those things.
5} We spent a nice evening hanging out with some friends and family on Saturday night.

These two had a great time and were too cute to pass up on taking a picture of despite the low lighting.
What's lovely about your week? Are you enjoying the very end of spring and looking forward to the solstice?
xoxo, natty ♥

The cinema.

Making use of my summer days this week and last, my grandmother and aunt and I have been doing things during the day. That wasn't a very engaging statement, I realize, but it sure as heck means something to a teacher at the beginning of her vacation!

I am also searching for jobs in the D.C. area and trying to pack while planning for the summer school class I teach starting next week. Some vacation.

Part of my preferred daytime regimen is going to see a movie and we did just that last week AND today! Now, I am fully aware that my 101 in 1,001 endeavor is not enjoying any time in the spotlight but I assure it's on my radar and that an update will make an appearance soon but I am recording here and now that so far in June I've seen two films thus getting me caught up on my one movie a month goal.

Last week it was the marigold hotel movie. I'm blogging from a parking lot while waiting on someone right now and couldn't possibly switch over to the internet to look up the proper title so I'll leave it as that but can tell you that it was a very uplifting 90 minutes {give or take a few}.

An aside : can I get carsick from being in a parked car on the side of the road? I'm in the cell phone lot which is up against the main throughway to get into the airport and I am feeling Woozy sitting and typing away on my phone. Maybe it's the cars whirring past so now I've adjusted myself to not have to see them.

Moving on.

Today we saw "Bernie"; that's an easy enough title for me! It's a totally dark movie but very good and also, as I found out at the end, based on a true story and many people seen are not actors but real folk from the story.

I am so grateful for these days and will certainly have to adjust if I end up in a job other than teaching later this summer {which is what it's shaping up to be...eeeeek} and don't get this glorious vacation schedule. But a job, any job, is a Good Thing.

What do you do when you have time off in the city where you live? Do you love catching a matinee too?

On the mattress.

June has fully descended upon us. Thus :

What I feel like doing when I think about moving.

1} After we sold the sofa we dragged our mattress topper out to our "great room" {main room} so that we can have something to rest on. It's pretty glorious to have a bed instead of a couch.
2} The horrendous tooth/face/sinus pain I'd been living with for a week has finally {knock on wood} subsided. I get this every few months or so and maybe I should be seen? But just about when I get fed up and decide to call in, it goes away. Except when it turned into an ear infection last January. Soooo maybe I should act on this.
3} I used last night's left over quinoa; {I feel super good when I make use of leftover food} we had quinoa patties. Woo hoo! Yeah, that kind of fell flat.
4} I'm FREAKING out about our packing situation. And our moving situation. This is a good thing because everyone works well and gets things done under pressure, right?
5} I managed to dog sit someone's pooch for three whole days and get him back in one piece; yea!!
How's your Monday?
xoxo, natty ♥

Ready, Set, Garage Sale.

Today we started to get ready to move. Oh My Goodness it's really happening.
We're also still dog sitting.

Our little guy on the right is a little unsure of it all. He's actually quite morose from jealousy. 

Do you see the frustration and resentment lounging in his bed?

Hopefully once Oliver heads home Guinness will perk up.
As I mentioned, we packed and organized today. Tomorrow, we have a garage sale. We cleared out a fair amount of clothing and have a ton of other things ready to get rid of.

Ready to sell!

The couch and our easy chair are also part of the exodus. We'll live without them until the end of the month when our lease is up. We're traveling here and there {San Diego & Seattle/Puget Sound} the first two weeks of July and kind of couch hopping {Mom?} until we officially exit stage East around the 22nd or 23rd next month.
I totally can't believe this. In a good way. I'm sad, though. And excited. Sadcited?

If you're in the area and you know where we hang out then come check out our sale in the AM; there will be treats for sale but I can cut you a deal ;)
xoxo, natty ♥
P.S.
The weight of a many, many balloons was too much for my coak hanger-come-wreath hanger today.

Please ignore the awkward cement stain.

Sad!

My turn at color blocking and trays I'm lusting over.

My nails are color blocked.

There really are two different colors going on up there, the lighting just doesn't show it that well. This is as about as avant-garde as I get, fashion wise; nail choices that have already been done. Oh well, it makes me happy.

It is true, in case you were curious, that I have posted two practically identical pictures. I have an iphone and it has a feature that will take two versions of the same picture; different exposure, brighter colors, etc.. I just like how it's the same thing but looks quite a bit varied.
Anyway.

I've been eying these two trays at Target for, like, three months. I think the colors are fabulous and I am so utterly WOOED by the striations of hues in item #2; these would most definitely brighten my life daily.  
But.
I refuse to buy either. Though I'd love to have both laying around, I have two reasons and they are 1} we're moving very soon {tomorrow I can say "next month"} and the fewer things we own, the better. This is especially so since our new place will probably be smaller than where we live now...and 2} we don't entertain enough! One day we'll be more exciting people who have busy social schedules and we can put out cute little high and low ball glasses on these types of trays but as of now, it's my mom every once an a while and each other and that's about it as far as that goes. At least I have pictures to remind me of how CUTE these things are.
It's almost Friday and the Greek Festival! Go get free tickets HERE and then spend your ticket money on delicious, delicious food.
Opa!
xoxo, natty ♥

California on my mind.

After waxing poetic on what I might miss about California after we move I mulled over a few other things today. In no particular order :

• The San Francisco Zoo; as a youngster I spent many very happy hours in its walls with my dad. He took me to tons of museums and parks when it was just us two and these memories are priceless to me. I haven't been in a few years and I think he and I will make a trek before Mike's and my BIG trek.
• Vineyards; it's not like I got out to do much wine tasting in the years since I came of age {seven, in case you're trying to do the math} but I like knowing that I can. Isn't that always the case with what we take for granted?
• San Francisco; this city is kind of on my list. It's beautiful and cosmopolitan for sure. I like to run along the bay because the people watching is supreme. But. It's also frigid most of the year and I never feel cool {no pun intended} enough to be there. Now I've said it and I don't mean to offend anyone and we don't ever need to mention it again.
• Palm trees; these dudes aren't native to California, actually, but they're everywhere and a palm tree in the skyline means you're in the Golden State.
• Death Valley; I've not emoted about my favorite national park but that's just because I haven't gone there in the lifetime of this blog. I love this place. As you know, I adore the desert, and Death Valley holds much barren charm. And history which I love {especially when it's pioneeral}. I doubt we'll make it there before we leave so I'll have to plan a future trip.

I'll keep you updated as my list grows. How's your Tuesday? Mine was fairly uneventful but I've been feeling tired nonetheless. That can only mean one thing; early bedtime!!
¡Hasta mañana!
 xoxo, natty ♥

Memory.

A hearty thank you to our veterans. Then, now, and in years to come.
Today was a lovely and low-key day. We checked out a U-Haul option for our move and visited with family. The male inhabitants of our apartment made naps a priority and I even got in a bit of running and some laundry. It sounds mundane but, y'all, these days recharge me.
In other news, let us think about the week ahead.

Who wears mouse ears?!?!

1} Since classes are over {shed a tear; I totally love my classes} I have time to grade this week. And there is a loooooot that needs to be done.
2} Maybe I'll get in some more miles this week? I'm being very cautious about my running but, at the same time, loving every minute pounding {not-too-strenuously!} the pavement.
3} Perhaps Guinness will get some longer walks? The poor thing certainly would enjoy it after a busy school year of lightening fast constitutionals.
4} We're getting more and more planning {& visualizing} done towards getting to D.C. in July; this is scary but really exciting folks!
5} A retrospective; I got to go to Disneyland last week which kind of kicked off my Leaving California Extravaganza. There are a handful of things I have on my informal list. It's not as though I'm leaving forever but, well, I am leaving and there are tons of things I love about this great state and our Bay Area. A taste of my interests :

• Disneyland; check!
• In-N-Out Burger; I don't often go here. I can't really remember the last time, actually, {possibly last summer as a second dinner} but I live comfortably knowing I can snag an easy dinner if I want to. Not for much longer.
• Tacos; I'm talking about little tortillas, {GOOD and grilled} meat, some chopped white onion, cilantro and lime. Times that by ten and I'm a happy girl. I'm not sure what the Mexican food situation will be in our new home but it's a ways further from our south of the border neighbor than California is and I'm fearing a lack of taquerías.
• Beaches; I try to get in at least one random day. It's only half an hour away and I don't take advantage of our location nearly as much as I could.
• Lake Tahoe; I skipped last summer's trip in lieu of preparing for our wedding and it was a good choice but I'm afraid I won't get a chance to this year since we're leaving somewhat soon.
• California; I've heard that things are different on the east coast. And I think that we're pretty laid back {soccer shorts and jeans are totally appropriate for dinner out} and that said way of living isn't the norm where we're going. We'll find out!

How did you celebrate the holiday weekend? Do you have family or friends who have served our military? Please thank them! And happy week to you!
xoxo, natty ♥

Sad Mac.

There's an old Sarah Jessica Parker TV show {I'm guessing you can guess correctly as to which one} episode in which her Apple computer suffers a break/melt down {"My Motherboard, My Self" in case you're curious}. Without further indemnifying myself with SATC quotes {at least I'm somewhat owning my fandom} the one thing from that particular episode I'm referencing here is a quote from her boyfriend that in and of itself refers to the pathetic little face older Mac computers used to make when they went kaput. Get it? A sad mac!
Today, I was a sad mac. Or a sad Nat. Whatever I am, it was a bummer of a day for me since I had to say adiós to two of my classes as well as my wonderful homeroom. I'll see the kiddos around school for sure between now and graduation but it's still a bummer-rama; I have great students and a great school and I'm not coming back to them.
But. We have new adventures ahead of us, that keeps me going. That and Indian food. And stomping renditions of the Alma Mater.

Good night folks =)
xoxo, natty ♥
PS
Many thanks to the reader who let me know that the flower I posted last week {check it out HERE} is a Blue Passion Flower {Passiflora Caerulea, to be precise}; 

it sounds so exotic for little 'ole San Jose!

Living.

Ooooooph. I apologize, Dear Reader, for yesterday's lack of anything substantial. The day just totally got away from me but I did still want to get in a little something. Anyway.
I cleaned all day yesterday. This little apartment of ours hadn't fully been cleared out this way in quite a while which wouldn't have been an issue but I had some lovely friends over before we headed to our reunion celebration and I didn't want to subject them to dog hair and dust.
Y'all, it feels so dang GOOD to have a clean space. Clutter happens fast in our home and can be hard to keep up with. Maybe for our last six weeks we can make it happen; is it a deal Mike? Deal!
On the topic of places to lay my head I've always been a huge fan of old homes and I still am. Growing up in a Victorian house as well as a home from the 1920s helped me to appreciate the little details; built in features {bookshelves, cabinets, phone nooks, etc.} and hardwood floors truly make my heart sing. As do old window cranks, pocket doors, and thick wavy glass windows. 
I've lived in several newer apartment complexes, though, and those aren't too shabby either. Our current place is super great for a variety of reasons {one of which is our very own washer/dryer} and I really dig living here.
Thinking about our upcoming move, though, has me pondering the new living situation that we'll encounter. My guess, knowing what I do about the D.C. area, is that we'll be in an older building and, surprise surprise, I'm really looking forward it. 
I'm also thrilled about having a fabulous public transportation system {my apologies VTA, you do have some very nice qualities but D.C. metro totally owns you} and SO much history going on around us. I'm assuming we'll either have common laundry facilities in our building or need to utilize a laundromat {or wash/dry service when feeling lazy} which will be a new but also exciting experience. 
I'm the product of a primarily suburban existence; D.C. isn't New York City but it sure does have more tall buildings than San Jose, CA., and this is also something that, despite loving my school and students and family, kind of has me swooning. I just wish I could make the commute to my current job. Five hours each way wouldn't be too bad?
There's not much of a point to this evening's post rather I'm just ruminating a large life change. That's all!
And I did have a great time last night - it was lovely to see old classmates and hear of the great work they're all doing. I popped into Prom to pay my respects which was the perfect end to my evening.
Oh; are you able to see the eclipse tonight? I'm going to rush out and see if I can before I head to bed.
Have a great start to your work week!
Oh. Man. One more thing. Tomorrow is my last Monday. That's really blowing my mind.
xoxo, natty ♥