How you like them apples?

I'm going to...

I'm pretty dang excited!! I've been wanting to go to Seattle for a few years now, so I'm stoked that work will be taking me there for a week.  As in this next week.  

I leave a day before Levi gets home from his 3 week trip.  

Yeah, I'm bummed because I've missed him T-E-R-R-I-B-L-Y!  It's bittersweet, but I'm still stoked for this cool experience, of being in Seattle.  I'll be helping out some friends with their film archival conference.  Since it's a conference, it's full of people who LOVE this stuff. I remember meeting the lead film archivist from UCLA, who apparently is really big in this field.... yeah, I had to match his enthusiasm while he went on and on and on about archiving.  

Other than that,  it's a very sweet set up.... I get paid, a free plane ticket, my own room & board and get to do a lil sight seeing of Seattle.  I'm a lil bummed that my sister won't be going this year, as she did two years ago to Philadelphia. I'll also be missing my stake Christmas concert that I've been rehearsing with for the past 2 months.  I hope they do well!

I can't wait to see/do: Pike Place Market, The Great Wheel (I'm hoping to ride this, since it'll be my first time on a ferris wheel.), Chihuly Glass Museum, go to Starbucks [which I'm sure I'll be doing a lot of drink runs here] and eat an apple.  

However, I. CANNOT. WAIT. to fly home! My sweetheart will be picking me up from the airport and I couldn't be more pleased!! I've missed him so much and to be honest, I've always wanted someone special to pick me up at the airport.  There's just something more....special about it!  I can't wait to wrap my arms around him and just hold him tight.   I've never been this patient before in my life--3 weeks turned into 4 weeks.... and sadly, I'll be missing our 2 month anniversary.  I'm grateful that he's patient, because it kinda rubs off on me. 

Kinda.

Well, I gotta go finish packing.... Hello Seattle! Can't wait to taste your apples!

Happy Monday!

Yes, it is!

Gosh, I really like this man! 

Stake choir was last night. Oh man, it was FUN singing in it again!! I was glad to be back in that ol' familiar, comfortable chapel again!  I surely love singing in CV Stake choir! It's been such a blessing! The songs we practiced last night were HARD!! And my voice was outta wack!  But I had so much fun! Even when the director asked me to do a solo (which turned into a duet, because my voice was spent and I was a lil emotional over, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas").  I can't wait for our Christmas concert on December 8th!! And to be honest with ya, I can't wait for the holiday season.  Yep, you read that right, I'm actually excited for all the joy and good that come with the holidays. 

Deciding on a ward.

Since I choose not to watch General Conference, I miss out on my very favorite part [of church]---the music.

I have a great love for the music of my church. I especially love any chance I get to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I think they are a choir of angels.  I always think about how glorious Heaven will sound with generations of Mo.Tab. singing together.  Oh I love it!
During Conference weekend, my sister said that the choir's singing of, "Come Thou Fount" made her think of me....which made me think of my (home) stake choir.  I sure do love singing with the Chula Vista choir.  Some of my favorite people are found there.  Well, I went to LDS.org and checked out all of the April 2012 General Conference music.  My thoughts were turned again to my home stake and ward.  I'm so blessed to have dear friends in all of the wards. I love visiting each ward and seeing a cherished friend.....yes, even the Spanish wards. 
Since October, my membership has been in the PB Singles Ward in the San Diego North Stake....but my heart is still in the CV Stake.  As I was listening to the musical pieces, my home ward came to mind.  I feel torn in two.  Part of me wants to go to the PB ward because I like being amongst people who are also in the same place in life and it's soooooooooooooo quiet there during Sacrament meeting services. Heaven knows how much I LOVE that.  But the other part of me wants to attend my family ward.  It's A LOT closer to home (5 miles vs. 20 miles [one way]) which makes it a lot easier to be active, on more than just Sundays.  I have a lot to offer a ward, but I feel restraint when I live so far from it.  For the past two Sundays, I've attended my family ward and just feel the desire to have a calling there.  The ward needs help, no one likes to hold callings there and its always the same people doing it.  I miss the Young Women during Volleyball's off season, I love them so!  My Patriarchal Blessing specifically mentions accepting calls of service in Primary, because I "value and appreciate the children with your warm and loving heart."  It's true, I do love the Primary children and also their songs.  I want to be part of Relief Society again. I love to be amongst the sisters, I learn so much from their lives. 
Sometimes I feel like I'm forcing myself to attend the PB Ward, but I like the friends I've made there.  I feel like my heart is back in the CV Stake, but I don't know what to do.  Move back to Otay Mesa Ward, but attend all of the PB Ward activities?  UGH............so tough.  Moving back there will mean less chances to meet a single guy at church....well, not like I'm having much luck in that anyways. 
Guess this is something I'm going to need to ponder and pray about.

A 6am Quickie...on Dec. 14!

-This past weekend wasn't ANYTHING like this weekend....

-My [home] stake choir did well on musical pieces.  I LOVE singing with the Chula Vista stake choir. I LOVE watching Hermana R lead music.  She's graceful in the way she moves her fingers, hands and arms.   Yet it's also powerful the way she a choir and accompanists at her command.  Love it! Love her!

-Work... Oh, I LOVE work!  Work is wonderful! Even when it gets close to being 'stressful', it really isn't. Sure, I felt a lil overwhelmed yesterday but I didn't feel stressed or upset about it.  Gotta love 'To-Do' lists.

-This past Monday was my first FHE in my new FHE Committee chairman (chairperson? woman? whatevers!).  Can I just say, I'm glad I have a committee.  I'm glad to know that there's a lot of good help available.  I can't wait to meet them all.  And with that said, I need some good, inexpensive, and fun FHE activity ideas.  Now when I say, "inexpensive", I mean 'free' because I don't feel like forking over my paycheck every other Monday.  Oh yeah....and it has to be approved by the Bishop first.  My thoughts on that later....

-Had a very enlightening & emotional conversation with Mr. Red the other day.  I'm so thankful that he 'gets' me, that I don't have to say much (or even anything at all) and he senses what I'm feeling and thinking.  I'm eternally grateful for his friendship.  

-I've got my work meeting today with Mulligan.  Oh man... and in the meanwhile, Oeste will be at my office for a meeting.  Fortunately/Unfortunately I've gotta go up to my office after my meeting's over.  I only say "unfortunately" because...

-I'm tired of commuting in the rain.  What usually takes 20 minutes to get to work now takes over an hour.  Dang drivers who don't know how to slow down when driving in the rain.  That is my ONLY complaint about San Diego---we don't know how to drive in the rain.  GRR!!!

-ok anyways... I've gotta get some work done before work.  Happy Wednesday! And my nephew Bub comes to town today! Happy day!

Monday Monday....

*Finally started "The 30 Day Blog Challenge"...from almost 2 months ago.

*I can't stand unpacking...but it is a lot better than packing. Hands down!

*My bed's now lopsided. I don't know what happened during the move, but it definitely tilts to one side now. :( GRRRR.... I miss my once perfect bed....stupid moving!

*I love Sister McKenzie (one of my Institute teachers). EVERYTHING she makes is like manna from Heaven! No joke!! Every time I take a bite of something she's made I can't help but think, "God bless Sister McKenzie". She would definitely put Martha Stewart to shame!!! I hope I grow up cooking and baking just like Sis. McKenzie!

*I ate at Tacos El Gordo twice in one day. Once at 12am and then tonight around 9pm. Yeah, I can just feel my clothes getting tighter.

*And apparently it's Christmas... I still kinda hate the holiday, aside from the Christ part. I hate the commercialization of it. It sucks all of the Christ part out of Christmas.

*This Saturday is the Stake Christmas Concert. I'm so excited to finally be singing in one. Last year, I couldn't because my Meniere's was at it's worst. I'm nervous because I'm not 100% comfortable with ALL the songs, but I'll do my very best! Handel's "For Unto a Child is Born" is pretty tricky. The running part is definitely something else.... if I can just ace it, then I'll feel fine. Good luck to me. Other than that, I just hope I don't trip during the processional and don't sing during the wrong parts. We'll see.....

Such a WONDERFUL weekend!

Saturday: Wow! I met a great, funny & super friendly guy at the Temple! FINALLY!! I mean, it's not like we're going on a date or anything...it was just SO NICE finally meeting a guy from the shift that's single and NOT SCARED TO TALK TO A WOMAN!! He's the son of one of the sisters from my shift. He spends every Saturday in the Temple while his Mom's working there. While I was assigned to the Baptistry yesterday (for the first time), I noticed him down there as well. Come to find out, he was finally called to be an ordinance worker. We got to spend some time together and talk...which was so super fun!! I loved it!! He's tall, cute, FUNNY, Spanish speaking RM and a Berkeley Law graduate. We had a terrific conversation and I look forward to talking with him again! We had some down time so Bro. Broadbent (who was subbing for the day and also new to the Baptistry) came over to talk with us. Upon meeting us the first thing out of his mouth was, "The best place to meet your spouse is in the Temple!" and then continued on this piece of advice. It made "Berkeley" and I laugh. Not because we were mocking him, but because of the awkwardness of barely meeting just moments before. Bro. Broadbent shared with us his story of meeting his late wife. It was so touching. It brought tears to all of our eyes. Even though I just met Bro. Broadbent, I love him dearly. I'm glad to have met him.

My lunch ended up being scheduled so late in the day, so we were all worried that I'd have to snag lunch out of the vending machines. I was bummed because I LOVE the Temple's cafeteria food AND I had no cash on hand! (AAAAAHHHHH!!!). Bro. Broadbent pulled out some money and gave it to me for lunch. I told him it was okay and I would be fine. He said "Of course you will be! Now take this and go eat!". Berkeley thought he'd chime in saying, "Are you going to deny him blessings of service?" So of course, I had to take it at that point. Bro.Broadbent said that instead of paying him back, I should repay it towards the Missionary fund for my ward. WOW! Can I just say I LOVED my time in the Baptistry yesterday!! I'm SO SO SO HAPPY I had that wonderful opportunity to serve there yesterday!!

((sorry that was so long...and that was only one day, so far))

Sunday: Stake Conference was AWESOME!! I LOVED IT!! I don't know if it was because I had comfy seats and was so ecstatic to be singing with the choir or...no wait, that was exactly it!! The talks were equally awesome too!! Bro. Mask spoke for 45 minutes and it went by like mere seconds. He shared missionary themed stories of his Mexican heritage. It was wonderful to listen to, especially since more than half of my stake descends from the same culture. "Iré y haré" or "I will go and do" was something his faithful Abuela taught him while in his youth. I loved it!! The stake choir sounded terrific!! I am TRULY GRATEFUL for the chance I was given to sing with them. It's been a magnificent blessing. My friend Nefi came down with her adorable lil boy to hear me perform. I love her so much for that sacrifice. It was a lovely opportunity to spend a few moments with her and her lil boy who is too cute for words!!

Tomorrow: I kinda made a pact with my friend/Visiting Teachee that I would go to the gym and read my scriptures more, this week. I'm kinda stoked for it and kinda not. I'm nervous as to how my ear will feel while I'm working out. I'm not trying to find a cop out reason, but I'm pretty sure I've come down with Tinnitus (I've got the "whooshing" sound type). I don't want it to get worse while I'm working out. But oh well, we'll see.... Here's to the gym and scripture study!

2 FOR 2 TUESDAY!!!

Today has got to be the best day ever!!

Okay, maybe not the BEST day EVER, but amongst my top 3!!

I drove to work today so I could pick up my brother from the airport, after work. He ended up missing his plane in Hawaii so I wouldn't need to. I decided to stay afterwards anyways so I could clear the clutter from my desk. You know who else also stays that late...Mr.NY. I asked him if he needed a ride home, he said, "No, I don't need a ride home (which totally made my heart sink!) but if you feel inclined to give me one, I won't turn it down" [HECK YES I FELT INCLINED!!!]. Man, I was a lil nervous but stoked to have one on one time with him. When we left he put on his baseball cap and MAN! he looked HOTTER than HOT!! I love a man in a baseball cap!! And then when they add sunglasses....OH DOCTOR!! It was cute the way he'd also turn around to check the lane I was merging into. He had us take the "scenic route so we could look at the sun setting". I felt stiff as I was driving and I was trying desperately to look relaxed, but I don't know....I was a lil nervous!! He was even courteous enough to ask if he could have an open drink in the car. Who even does that?? After I dropped him off, he asked me if I'd be okay finding my way to the freeway. If I wouldn't be, he said I could call him and he'd help me out and even if I was still lost he'd Google Map me a way home. MY FREAKIN' GOODNESS!! He's so freakin' nice and GORGEOUS!! I love work!

AND.....

Tonight I received an email inviting me to sing with my Stake choir. I'm so tremendously elated!! You have no idea!! I have always wanted to sing with my Stake choir since I was a child. My Mom sang with them for a couple years as an Alto. I was so proud of my Mom that she was talented enough to sing with them. There have been some wonderful singers in the Stake choir, so I knew that you had to have a GREAT set of pipes.

Growing up, I disliked the fact that there were hardly any members from my family ward in the Stake choir. It seemed like a particular ward made up the majority of the choir and I didn't think that was very fair. After singing with my own YSA ward choir, I started to notice that all of them but me sang with the Stake choir. I started to resent the Stake choir and Stake Conferences, as well as my own ward choir. So I stopped attending choir. But then I started to miss singing. I have always loved to sing! Going to church just to sing the hymns pulled me out of inactivity, once upon a time. I figured that even though I wasn't good enough to sing with the Stake choir, that wouldn't stop me from singing. It's finally paid off. I've finally been invited to sing with Chula Vista Stake choir and I couldn't be any happier!!