Archives for November 2006

NaBloPoMo Finale

November 30, 2006 filed under: marriage, NaBloPoMo

So this is it. Day 30 of NaBloPoMo and I made it, although this month has been so busy for me and full of life changing events.
I’ve been here in Southern Cali with my hubby for exactly 8 days now and surely but slowly the apartment is transforming from a ‘bachelor’s den’ into a cozy place. I like it. I feel I belong here. As soon as I win the lottery, which I have to start playing for this to happen!, I want to buy new furniture, new sheets, new curtains, new accessories, but for now, I think I am going to be ok with what we have, and for which I am very grateful :)

I brought a few things from home, which make the place feel a lot more “homey” to me. The new sheets that I bought at Ikea [in Germany] fit our bed really well and I can’t wait until all the rest of my stuff has been unpacked and stowed away. You still have to wait a little longer for some pictures, but I am getting there!
J also had gotten this really cute desk for me at Pier 1 Imports [when he was still working there last summer] and he had been luring me with it all summer, as if this had any influence on my return to the US whatsoever ;) I really love! it though. It’s beautiful and it’s just the right size for my notebook and me!

Here’s to all the great people who persevered and stuck to blogging every single day for the month of November. It has truly been a blast and I had some much fun using the NaBloPoMo randomizer and checking out your blogs.

I can’t wait for next year’s challenge!

Coffee and its mate

November 29, 2006 filed under: fun!, NaBloPoMo

Something I have missed when I was in Germany was “Coffeemate” Coffee Creamer- the liquid kind, in all its wonderful flavors.

I think I am addicted :)

I remember seeing the Coffee Cream Powder in Germany and I was all excited and bought it and tried it out, just to be disappointed and left with an even greater craving for the ‘real’ kind. In my opinion, the liquid Coffeemate is much better than the powder. We also didn’t have different flavors in Germany, so now I am so looking forward to trying the Christmas flavors :)

This, in addition to some freshly ground coffee from our coffeemaker, makes for a real great start into the day!

More cell phone talk

November 28, 2006 filed under: my so-called life, NaBloPoMo

J was kind of disappointed that I showed off my new cell phone, but didn’t mention that he got himself a new cell phone as well ;) So, to balance things out, here is his:

It’s a really nice phone and I was tempted to get it as well, but actually, it’s too big for me and I don’t really need an internal screen and keyboard. I have my notebook! and I am happy with it :) Apparently, this phone also has a 2.0 megapixel camera & camcorder with autofocus and lens cover, and dual stereo speakers that make it really attractive, because it can also be used as an mp3 player. Yeah, no wonder the new generation of cell phones is called smartphones ;)

By the way, I really get confused by the US cell phone plans. Seriously, half of the information needed to decide for a plan has to be dug out on the website or somewhere. Really annoying. I am not quite sure if we decided on the right plan, but we’ll probably figure that out in the next couple of weeks ;)

LA Essentials

November 27, 2006 filed under: my so-called life, NaBloPoMo

J and I went to get me a cell phone today. You can’t live in LA and not have a cell phone. It’s one of the things J definitely wanted me to have as soon as possible, so we would be able to reach each other at all times like when he’s at the studio or when I am out. Isn’t it cute, my new red phone? :)

We got a family shared plan with J’s parents which will work pretty well, because most calls will be between us. Cell phone plans in the US work totally different from the ones in Germany and I’ll have to get used to that. You pay for incoming call and text messages and there is no such thing as plans with no monthly access fee or minimum balance. You usually have to get a plan with monthly anytime minutes which usually starts at $39.99 and up and then you get unlimited night and weekend minutes to other Verizon customers. Oh yeah, we switched from T-Mobile to Verizon, by the way. If any of you guys are with Verizon – send me your cell phone numbers :) We can talk for free on the weekends :)

The weekend was nice and quiet and we just enjoyed spending time together. We went to see friends for dinner last night and J and his friend have been back at the studio as of today. I am definitely going to start to create our “home” this week. The whole apartment is a mess right now, I haven’t even really unpacked my suitcases. We want to clean out and rearrange the whole apartment and it’s going to be my job to set it all up. I am looking forward to creating our home… I just have to start doing it :)

Getting around

November 26, 2006 filed under: my so-called life, NaBloPoMo

How do you get adjusted to a new place? Do you just start walking and explore the area? Do you ask others how to get from A to B?

I like to look at maps, excuse me, study! maps when I get to a new place. I usually orientate myself by looking at direction and names of the main streets. Then I like to make little notes of places of interest and look at directions on how to get there. This is how I build a mental image of any new place. It works pretty well for me.

I’ve been here for four days now and I think I have a pretty good general idea of the area that I call my new home. I went to two stores and found the way by just memorizing the directions that I had. I am pretty sure I could go there again tomorrow and find the way without a problem. That feels pretty good.