san. freaking. tastic.

So today is November 2nd. Today is technically the halfway point of my mission. 9 months in.

What did I do today instead of being in Brazil? I went to my favorite city of all time: San Francisco! Which happens to only be about 2 hours from where I currently live. It's amazing! Today was just such a good day that I feel I must blog about it. We drove down and stopped right before the Golden Gate Bridge. It was sunny, 75 degrees, and no one was there! We found a quick parking spot right in front, got out, and I got to go and use my fun camera for the first time since I came back. Then I drove over the bridge!!! (which I have never done before..) and we also went to drive down Lombard street. It was awesome. San Fran was practically empty today. We found an entire empty parking street one block from the piers and paid about 5 bucks to park for 2.5 hours (amazing). We ate a seafood lunch and walked along the piers while I got to take more fun pictures and photo stalk my friend and her boy friend. I guess the boy friend doesn't technically like taking pictures, but.... once he saw how cool they turned out he even got to posing for me. SO FUN! I LOVE taking pictures! I haven't done it in so long that I must have forgotten. We then went to the Palace of Fine Arts and took more pictures (the closest parking spot was open and free), we then drove around to see Chinatown/more of the city, and then we went to Ghiradelli square to have the traditional ice cream sundaes (which are AMAZING.) (Yes, we also found parking for free right in front).

Basically, today was one of the most magically San Francisco days of all time. It was sunny, warm, and no one was there. I guess that makes sense for a wednesday in November, but whatever. I'm not complaining! It was just.. perfect. (Rivaling with Scotland perfect. Almost there..)

I hope that you all had a great day as well :)

it's still warm here!!!!

You read that right. It is November 1st and it is still warm here in sunny California where I now live. I always thought that California was overrated.. That people were just crazy to want to live there. Now that I have graced the northern part I know that they are not crazy, they are the smartest people. EVER. As you know (probably), I am back from my mission to Brazil and now jumping back into life (which I am LOVING btw..) Here's the thing though. I left in Feb and stayed in Utah until late March. Aka. I lived a winter here. It was cold. THEN I went to Brazil in April in time for their fall (remember the other hemisphere temperature change?) and I lived through being really REALLY cold in southern Brazil with no heater. (and no insulation in the walls. aka. sleeping in the same temperature that is outside with cold showers. BRRRRRR). And now that I am back up north, we are just heading into what again? That's right. WINTER. AGAIN. My THIRD winter in 1 freaking year. yeah. I wasn't too stoked about the idea of bumming it in dreary (yet beautiful) Seattle for my 3rd winter, so when the opportunity came up I abandoned ship and went to move in with my dear friend from school :).

Why northern Cali is better.. I mean, cool too:
1. It is about an hour and a half away from everything. San Fran (<-- favorite city), Beach, Tahoe, Yosemite? Yup. All close.
2. It is November and still t-shirt weather.
3. Driving here is a lot "quicker"
4. I'm close to extended relatives that I didn't really know but now have met and they are awesome!
5. I am living 'on my own.'
6. Did I mention that my boyfriend is only an hour and twenty mins from me too? Bonus. Much better than 7k miles.
7. There are both palm trees and evergreens. It's lovely :)
8. I live right next to a beautiful lake AND a river.

9. I moved here on a Sunday, had an interview on a Tuesday, was hired the same day for a better position than I wanted for more pay and a clothing allowance, and oh yeah, I started the next day. Miracle/awesomeness.

10. Happiness. Just a lot of happiness :D

So yeah.. I went, I came back, and I went off again. But that's what my life is always about right? Lots and LOTS of adventures :)