Saturday, April 7, 2007

I'm Here!

So I'm going to give blogging a try and see how long this lasts... it will probably be how I keep a journal - very sporadic! :) However, if I know I have people waiting in anticipation for the next day of events in my life, then maybe I will be better at it :)

Today my roommate, Jay, and I went to the capital grounds to look around the area - it is beautiful here. There are tons of trees, palm trees, rose bushes, flowers of all assortments, and squirrels running everywhere. Supposedly there are no two plants alike and they have all been imported - most as 'gifts' from overseas. There are several memorials spread over the grounds including tributes to fallen firefighters from all over CA, a WWII - POW site, a Vietnam memorial, and a rose garden promoting 'peace'. It was so quiet, calm, smelled wonderful, and peaceful... I think next time I will take a book and sit on a bench or something.

Once we got into the state house, we toured the area on our own and ended up in the room where they were showing the earthquake in San Francisco back in 1906. You left feeling very surreal and kind of sad. There were 3,000 people that died that day (after a 45 second earthquake) and it made me think back to 9/11 and all of the people who died in a matter of minutes as well... I guess this is when I thought of living life to the fullest and being appreciative of what you have right now.

My two weeks in California have been eventful to say the least! I have lost my wallet, my car has been side swiped in a hit and run, I got a job, found a place to live, got a roommate from Iowa, went to a new church (I was the youngest by 25 years at least!), been out to eat to many new places, seen as many car wrecks here as I have in my entire life in Iowa, and have met some very nice people.

Have I mentioned how great the weather is right now? I'm in a coffee shop (yeah, I'd like a coffee with half decaf and half regular - right, a half caf!) and it's about 70 outside - it has been mostly cloudy today and people are wearing coats as I've been strutting around in a t-shirt. Hello, I've been cooped up all winter, this is NICE, people!

And for the record, can I just say how tired I am of the locals saying, "Boy, just wait until this summer and you will know what 'heat' is really like." Really? Have you ever been in Iowa in late July when you are sweating in the shower because it's so humid outside? They don't get it.

I will do my best to keep you posted on the Days of Marcie's Life so you can follow me through my trials and tribulations as I embark on my new journey out west. I can't thank you all enough for the many prayers, phone calls, emails, cards and letters that I have been receiving... it really means a lot to me that you're thinking of me and I know I think about each of you SO much. I'm going to wear my computer out by looking at old pictures :)

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and enjoy the time you have with your family and friends - I know I'm going to miss watching my niece and nephew search for Easter eggs tomorrow at grandpa and nana's house :(

He has risen, indeed!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good luck out there. I am sure your experience with Cali will be better than mine. Gotta be something to the "Tarheel" thing because I am too firmly planted in North Carolina!!! I will send pics of Aubrey's egg hunt!! Take care and keep in touch. Grace and Peace.

April said...

We love you and are proud of you. I confess I am jealous of the beauty and the temps. It's sooooo cold here! Enjoy yourself Cali girl!
Smooches, April

Erin said...

I'm so happy for you! And jealous too...it is Easter and snowing and 24* here. :(

Keep up with the blogging...it's fun!!

Unknown said...

that's right... blog, baby, blog!! i miss you so much, love. i told j the "back massage" story tonight. he'd never heard it before. he gagged and laughed at the same time. i told him, "i wish marcie was here to tell it... she's so much funnier!"

LOVE YOU!

April Andersen said...

Mark:

We miss you. This is awesome! Now I can check up on you at any moment. I meant to call yesterday and wish you a Happy Easter but we got home late and my bed was calling. Thought of you when Chad and I drove by the Wells Fargo arena and saw the thousands of people entering for the Lutheran Church of Hope service. It was so large it even made the news. Love you...

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Anonymous said...

It sounds like it's been an eventful two weeks. The best thing you can do is visit as many historical places as you can. Those memories will be with you forever. It was the best thing I did when I lived in Georgia. You go Big Daddy!!

Unknown said...

Best of Luck Marci!! Breathe in everything around you and enjoy seeing God in places and people you have never witnessed before! Remember the power of your Iowa background...humility & work ethic of Iowans are two things that Cali employers drool over!! Blessings and much peace!