The Bairds

Jeni's family came into town this weekend. It was fun to hang out with them -- they are so great! It made me miss my family and got me really excited for them to come visit me. I hope it's soon. Jeni went to Disneyland and California Adventure with them -- she had such a great time! I went to Laguna Beach with them to have a picnic. It was so fun! I'm so grateful that the Bairds let me hang out with them. They are so great and it was nice to see someone I know!

Fluor Update

Mervyn is SO great! He is one of the most intelligent people I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I am so honored to work for him. He is so aware of the world around him and it seems like he knows EVERYTHING -- from the political unrest in Iraq to who Tom Cruise is dating...he knows it all! It's actually really great 'cause it encourages me to be on top of current events. I love that I can go in and ask him questions about anything and have a great conversation. It's wonderful! Mervyn is from the UK. He's got a great sense of humor and we have an easy repore with one another. I'm very grateful. I was worried about working on the "Executive floor" which has a reputation for being VERY haughty and stuffy. It's not that way at all! It's very professional and business-like but Mervyn is very kind and cracks his share of jokes!

Chatelle aka "Mama T"

Jeni introduced me to a girl she works with -- Chatelle. She's the blonde bombshell from Down Under! She is SO much fun! We went for a walk on Laguna Beach and just got to know each other. Then, we went to Islands and had the best bowl of endless tortilla soup known to mankind! It was SO good! Chatelle is so funny. She gave me a nickname -- Donny D. She calls Jeni -- Gladys! Gladys Knight and Donny Osmond are the only Mormons (excluding Jeni and I) that she knows so those are the nicknames she made up for us. Oh, and Napolean Dynamite -- that's where the "D" in Donny D. comes from. Good times. I call her Mama T. 'cause she's Catholic and so was Mother Theresa. So, maybe it's a LITTLE irreverent but it's all in good fun. I'm grateful to have met Chatelle. I am meeting so many great people in the few weeks I've been here. It just keeps gettin' better and better!

Fluor Corporation

I got a job with Fluor Corporation! I have worked for them for the past 3 years in WA and a lady I worked with a bit in WA, Deanne Uberin, helped me into a position with Mervyn Sambles, Fluor's VP of Strategic Marketing. It's an answer to a prayer! This job is so perfect! It's a great environment and a fantastic opportunity. I feel so blessed and I can't help but feel like this is affirmation that I made the the right decision in moving here.

The Big Move

It all came together so fast. It was one of those things that you always consider doing but never really think will happen. Well...it did! I packed up and moved to California. One of my best friends, Miss Jeni Baird, moved down here to Aliso Viejo to work for Fluor in November 2004 and absolutely loved it. We always joked that I'd be down in 6 months...sure enough! On April 10, 2005, I hit the road to California! I think I was in shock the whole drive down. I couldn't quite believe I had packed up and left everything that was familiar behind. And to be perfectly honest, there were several times where I almost turned tail back to Washington. But (finally) I made it to Orange County.

The first few days have been pretty hard. I'm in a completely foreign place (I had never been to CA before I moved down here) and Jeni is the only person I know. It has been tough but Jeni is great about lettin' me leech onto her until I get my bearings. I don't think it'll take long for me to feel at home but I hope it comes quickly. I just keep clingin' to the fact that I felt so good about this move and I really believe it's the right thing for me to do.

Jeni took me to the Irvine Spectrum tonight. It was really fun and boosted my spirits (shopping always does!). We went to Red Robin (an old reliable in WA)! It was the pick-me-up I've needed. I've really been having a hard time. Granted, I've only been here a few days but I didn't anticipate how HARD this would be. I remember when Jeni moved down here...she would call me cryin' about how hard it was and how much she missed everyone back home. I feel like I am TOTALLY walkin' in her shoes right now! And it's NOT my favorite thing! I just keep prayin' that it'll all work out. Like I said, I know I am supposed to be here so I'm really leanin' on that to get me through the rough patches.

California or BUST!

So, I've always wanted my own website...unfortunately, I lacked the know-how to make it happen. And, to be honest, I always secretly snickered at people with they're own websites. What kind of dorks are they anyway?! A website? Bah! But NOW, thanks to a friend of a friend, I've got this handy-dandy blog in a box. We'll see how it goes. Bring on the dorkiness!

I have been looking for a way to keep people updated on what I'm up to here in Cali. BAM! Here's the answer! I want to make this a place for my friends and family (near AND far) to come and see all the fun stuff that's been goin' on with me since I moved to the great state of California. We'll see how it goes. To those I have left, I love you and I miss you. Thank you for your prayers and support. Come visit!