Thoughts on Moving...

Last night I had an interesting conversation with my sister about the pros and cons of moving. She moved yesterday and of course has mixed feelings about it. Take a look at her sweet and thoughtful post yesterday about the big move. It certainly got me teary eyed.

Sure, there are so many wonderful things about moving to a new place but you certainly can't ignore all the memories left behind at the old residence. Sappy as this may sound, it can be very hard to leave that behind.

Places have such strong emotional attachments for me. As I looked around her house and took one last look at it before I left her house last night, I felt like I was saying goodbye to those memories as well. One very big event took place in that house; my sister's beautiful and intimate wedding was in August 2007. It was the last time my sister saw my parents alive and it was the last time we were altogether. I guess it was the last time I saw my parents happy. They were so happy that day. I'll never forget the dance party we had in the living room after most guests had gone home for the night. I've always felt comfortable and happy being in that living room. I am sure this memory is the reason why. Thankfully, we took plenty of pictures that night.

I dread the day that my sister and I finally sell our parents Summer home in Arizona. Talk about memories! Whew! Ok, enough about that....

When I moved here from Phoenix almost a year ago I was more excited than anything. Not only was I ready for a change of scenery but also a change of life. I was incredibly sad to leave all my wonderful friends in Phoenix but was excited for a whole new batch of LA friends. Living alone was fun but I was looking forward to having two roommates to spend time with. I was definitely over Arizona in general. I had lived there for 6 years and was dying to get out of that hot desert.

A lot of really great things have happened to me all because I moved to Los Angeles. Here are a few things that come to mind:

• I started running. I really don't think that I would have if I had stayed in AZ. I also ran my first event here in LA, the Disneyland Half-Marathon.
  
• I made two new best friends-my wonderful roomies! Ladies, I love ya!
  
• I have traveled a ton thanks to my roommate Gina and her project, Pin-Ups For Vets.
• I've been nannying/babysitting for a few adorable kids that I adore!
• I've spent a ton more time with my family here in So Cal.
• I have been able to meet up with several middle and high school friends here.
• I've reconnected with two high school friends that live here in LA as well.
  
• I've gone to several very cool concerts and a couple Broadway shows.
  
• There have been some neat celeb sightings here.
• I've had a lot of delicious dinners.
• Spending time at the wonderful beach.
• I truly believe that I've become a better driver since moving here.
• I started this blog about my life here! My blogoversary is coming up next month! Yay!
  
• A fancy/awesome job in the music industry-currently working on this one! : )
  
• Being an audience member on Oprah's Favorite Things Episode..Hello?! Need I say more?!
  

Moving Weekend

So, when is moving day ever stress-free? Never, that's when! I woke up Saturday, January 2nd, feeling excited, anxious, sad, stressed and pretty much every other emotion.

Picking up the U-Haul was a breeze though and driving it over to my apartment in Phoenix was kinda fun too. Then the wonderful task of loading it began. I have a few genius spacial friends who were able to basically play 'Tetris' with my stuff and get it all into the U-Haul. It was tight but it all fit! Whew! That was one dilemma solved.

Then the drive to California began. My friend Patrick (AKA Noche) drove the U-Haul and I led the way in my car which was also pretty full of stuff. Thankfully, we got to my sister's place in San Diego without any problems. In the morning, my friend wasn't feeling well so he ended up flying back home so that left my sister and I to fend for ourselves. We had to to LA so she bravely took on the U-Haul and I drove my car.

Oh, and just a little side note, I think U-Haul trucks just look intimidating and huge but once you drive around the block, they aren't so bad. Parking and backing up may be a pain but we all just to need to relax more when it comes to driving them.

Ok, back the story.... We got to LA and decided to go to the neighborhood Home Depot (which really wasn't in my neighborhood at all, thanks navigation system...) and pick up a few guys. And no, I do not mean it like that sounds! : ) I mean that we needed muscles to help lift all my furniture and boxes out of the U-Haul. My sister and I were simply not going to cut it. Luckily, Home Depot was packed with wonderfully eager Mexican gentlemen! I have certainly never had men run to me like that before. To be honest I wish that happened more often! Haha! So, after picking out two guys and finding the way back to my house, it took them and of course Tonya and I about two hours to unload and put everything in its proper room. They even put together my bed which was pretty funny to watch in itself. So, thank you very much to Ivan and Orlando! Moving day would have been a nightmare if it hadn't been for you two! Oh but did it really have to be so hot here that day? Another reason why I left Arizona was to escape that awful heat! Geez! If I brought it with me, then I sincerely apologize to everyone.

So, I am all moved into my house and the unpacking is steadily coming along. My bedroom is about 60% done and I was even able to put a picture on the wall last night. I am one of these people who wants things to feel and look like home pretty quickly after moving. It makes me feel like it really is MY home. Today, I'll get the kitchen and living room boxes unpacked and probably make a trip to Ikea, Target and the grocery store. Moving Weekend/Money weekend, right? Man, why does moving have to cost so much? But perhaps this is another topic for a new post..

Sorry if this post felt like a little crazy rambling but I guess that's the way my brain is functioning right now. Well, onto more unpacking. See you next time!

"California is a fine place to live-if you happen to be an orange." -Fred Allen

I do love oranges! : )