Countdown.

On my days off, rather than sitting around eating & watching Judge Karen or Deal or No Deal, I have decided to become more productive. Most of last year, I am too burnt out to do productive things, but I have slowly turned over a new leaf.

Where is all this extra energy coming from? My mind, I guess.

For the past.... (let me check when my permit was printed) .... six months, I have been practicing/getting used to my Vespa and in the mean time preparing (putting off) for my Motorcycle Skills Test.

However, the pressure is on! Today, I brought myself to make an appointment to pass the test (yes, pass the test because failing can not be an option) on the first time slot available, which to my satisfaction is not until next month!

The Test:

1.) I have to identify all of the gadgets on my Vespa and what they do

2.) Drive in, around, and between various things on this track

The hardest part is going to be weaving in and out of the small blue circles, while circling within the lines of the big circle at the end two times and then back through with the weaving! It might look easy but I did a test run at our local DMV and I am pretty sure would have failed miserably.

The pressure is on and the count down has begun...

February 10th

Celebrate.

The best part about ringing in the New Year?

Partying & being around great friends.

A big group of us went to the Des Moines Social Club and just had a blast! Not to mention, afterwards we went to Big Tomato for the best late night pizza and then finished the night by all hopping into our small bed and just passing out! :) Cheers to whatever the New Year brings all of us, hoping that it will be better than 2009.

A New Year.

A New Year is supposed to be a time to refresh, renew, and try not to repeat! For me, it's just that. As the New Year has just began, I have many questions that I am faced with, and a lot of decisions that I need to make for myself.

After leaving everyone and everything we know in Iowa and making the drive to California a year ago and living in our apartment for close to a year (surprisingly in a few days it will be the anniversary of signing our lease) I am faced with the question:

Do I want to continue living here or load up the car and leave?

In all reality, the answer is completely up to me. I will always will have outside opinions, advice, and curiosity pulling me in one direction or another, but at the end of the day, I have to make the decision and be happy with it (or unhappy, but pretend I'm not).

If I do leave... Am I returning to my previous home of Iowa or my original home of Illinois. However, the biggest underlie of all this confusion and uncertainty, is the fact that whether I move to either of the states, knowing that I would be moving alone... without... Joseph.

The decision rests completely in my hands, without anyone suffering the consequences or enjoying the perks. I feel the pressure more and more everyday as my original "Move or Bust" date comes closer and still have to think about giving Joseph enough notice to find a new place or letting his parents know that we'd have to change one of our flights for Spring Break in March or for that fact, if I am even going to be able to go!

Tick Tock... the clock is constantly running, and so is my mind.

*(I apologize for all the rambling and randomness but this has completely taken over my thoughts)

New Baby.

When my cousin, Yvette, first found out earlier this year that she was expecting, it was a little bit of a surprise. But with time, she really loved the idea of having a baby. She was so excited in fact, that she asked that I be the baby's Godfather. What an honor! I couldn't believe that I would even be considered :)

So, after months and months of waiting, Yvette gave birth to:

Ricardo Julian Cerda

December 29, 2009

6 Pounds, 14 Ounces

Congratulations to Yvette & Rick for their beautiful baby boy!

I can't wait to see him again. The best part was that she actually gave birth when I was in Chicago right after Christmas! I anxiously waiting in the hospital to have the first look at the little bundle of joy. I was even one of the first few to hold him :)

Up to Date.

I can't even believe it has been 2 months since I have blogged about anything....

Where has the time gone? What have I done since?

Let's See.

November:

*I went to Legoland for the first time ever.



**I made this awesome meal. (Butternut Squash Soup, Salad with Fried Goat Cheese, & Toasted Baguette with Caramelized Shallots)


***Joseph & I went to Des Moines for Thanksgiving... (Obviously we all missed each other very much)

December:

*I had my cousin Debby come into town for a visit.

**Decorated our apartment for Christmas.

***Bought our first real Christmas tree.

****Hiked to the top of Cowles Mountain (and didn't pass out)

*****Took our Christmas Card picture (even though this isn't the one we went with, it was one of my favorites)

****Attended a Classy to Trashy party (obviously this was the trashy segment)

***Went to a few free museums in Balboa Park.

**Went to How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theater!

*Rang in the New Year in Des Moines (with more than a few cocktails)

I think that pretty much sums the last couple of months in my life...