Picture happy jack.

Merry Christmas! It takes effort to add the exclamation point because: a) it was a quiet Christmas, which I enjoyed; and b) I'm so glad the holidays are over at work. But I do hope everyone had a wonderful time of giving, visiting, receiving, and making merriment. Us Cochrans did, in our own special way. Take a look ....

Mom telling a story, and Travis and Aunt Chuckie with gifts:


Mom and Dad never found time to put up the Christmas tree, and Travis was too sick, so we ended up with a tiny tree. As Abbey put it, all the better to emphasis the real meaning of Christmas. And Giada loved her first Christmas, what with all the ribbon and wrapping.


Dad checking out his model '57 Chevy:


Boggle Showdown with Abbey. She beat me every time. :(


But we were pretty even at Kings in the Corner. And really, who cares about winning when there's Mom's rocky road at every turn.


Other:

• Unresolved issues have been resolved, in unexpected, relieving, saddening, and necessary ways.
• Snowboarding with Julio tomorrow -- pray I don't break my legs!
• I cracked my head getting in my car this afternoon. It hurt like a mother, and I have a little goosebump, but at least there's no bruise.
• The apartment in Cleveland has finally been leased! No more paying for one and a half apartment rents every month, yay. Really, it was only two months, but it was over $600 for set of vacant rooms. Painful. But no more -- thank you, Jesus!
  

2008 is almost guaranteed to be a better year than 2007, because 2007 was one of the worst years of my life. However, it was a year of learning and growth that I wouldn't trade for the world. It's a year that's made me who I am, and I like who I am. I hope that 2008 brings new friends, "old" friends, success at work, and adventure. (Which means call me, all the time. I'm up for anything :) Thank you for sharing this journey with me thusfar; it's only just begun.

Health, peace, and the pursuit of happiness to each and every one of you in the coming new year!

I don't need the cheese or the car keys.

According to Alex, a friend I work with, I am a nerd. All because I was wildly entertained by Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs, Ken Jennings book about his lifelong journey to winning seventy-four episodes of Jeopardy! Fine, I embrace the label willingly, because it is a wonderful book. And full of trivia -- I learned a lot!

Work is well, as usual. We're getting busier and busier, thanks to the holidays. All I have to do is great through this weekend; then things will start to mellow out, and we can get down to the business of becoming the best store in Fresno.

It rained all day yesterday, and we even got a bit of almost-Cleveland rain. That bit where the rain was practically bullets? Welcome to Ohio! But like Ohio, it didn't last too long, and unlike Ohio, there was no stomach-rumbling thunder. Today was sunny and clear when I woke up, but it's overcast again. Hopefully, the skies will brighten, and I'll have an amazing view of my mountains on the drive home this afternoon (dinner with the family, hair appointment tomorrow, the last of the Christmas shopping).

Now, a photo-retelling of the weekend's most memorable happenings.

I was supposed to head to Exeter Friday evening to hang out with Jess. Around 330p, I unlocked the car, put my things in, got in the driver's seat, and put my key in the ignition. But it wouldn't turn. Thinking that it might be stuck, I tried to jimmy it then turn it again, but no dice. So I pulled the key out, and my jaw dropped:



My key was broken?! Sinking back in my seat, I had no idea who to call to fix it. It had already been a long, frustrating week, and I couldn't believe this was happening. I called Dad, who suggested calling a tow company. The three tow companies I called suggested I called a locksmith. The locksmith I called couldn't come until Saturday morning unless I wanted to pay half my body weight in gold. There went plans for the night, and I'd been looking forward to them so much. I was none too happy with this little piece of metal holding my car hostage.



Saturday morning, promptly at 10a, a young guy from AA-Armor Locksmith (highly recommended) called for directions around the complex, then spent a half hour trying to extract the inch and a half of broken key. He couldn't get it. So I waited until 1130a, when an older, better equipped locksmith arrived, said a prayer, and pulled it out!



But not before a tiny piece of metal harpooned my weekend.



Can you believe that December, and 2007, are almost over? In the next week and a half, I'll work a crazy weekend, spend Christmas with my family, write some goals (better than resolutions), go snowboarding with Julio (!), find something to do for New Year's (suggestions?), and greet 2008 bright and early 530a at work, lucky me. (I figured I'd be the "cool" manager who lets all of her partners party it up on New Year's.) And that will be that.

What a year.

Struck down but not destroyed.

To start with, this is my favorite comic of all time:
(If it's too small, click on it and a bigger one will appear.)



Hee!

It's been a long week. Not bad, just long. And not much to report because most people are too busy to hang out (understandably).

So What Had Happened Was ...

1. My store hit a very big goal at the end of last week, and we're destined for more greatness before Christmas.
2. Almost all of my Christmas shopping is done.
3. My sister is engaged.
   
4. I had coffee with Kendra.
5. Running in the cold is still cold.
6. I don't get to go snowboarding after all. :(

Uneventful. Really, I guess I'm just tired and little blue. There's something on my mind, but I'm not ready to talk about it the way I want to. So, to cheer up, another list.

What Makes Me Happy:

1. Giada can jump so high. It's amazing. Really, it doesn't make me that happy because it means she gets into more stuff, but it's fun to watch.
2. Feeling the true meanings of Christmas carols.
   Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
   Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
   Light and life to all He brings,
   Risen with healing in His wings.
   
3. Talking. Being friends.
   
4. Fog. I know it's dangerous, but it makes me feel like I'm home.
5. Cinnamon-scented candles.
6. Mint tea.
7. Houses decorated with Christmas lights.

What makes you happy?

By the way, I think I want to do something with my hair. Lighter, darker, what do you think?

So give me coffee and TV.

"The easy states of black and white that I had know before did not apply. I felt, if I were to say any word, churned. Not as a verb but as an adjective. Happy + Frightened = Churned."
--The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold

Some lovely words to begin with.

It was an exciting week -- I started at First and Shaw on Monday. So far, it's been great. All of my partners are ready for a change and am glad I'm there (thank goodness). My ASM, Dustin, is my biggest cheerleader -- ready to support me and learn. There's a lot to work on, both on the floor and in the business, but it's a challenge that, after three days of work, I know I'm ready for. I didn't sleep well Sunday night because I was a bundle of nerves, but those nerves are (mostly) gone. They've been replaced by boxing gloves because I'm ready to fight to make First and Shaw the best store in Fresno! (But not overnight, so if you come visit, be kind. Honest, but kind. :)

Balloons from Mom and Dad (aw, thanks!):


Last Friday, my parents came up to put together the (goshdarn) bookshelves before we went to the Faculty Guitar concert at Fresno State. By the time the shelves were together, I was exhausted (not that I really helped, but I had opened that morning). Mom and Dad offered to go home, but I felt awful that they'd driven an hour in rush hour traffic just to drill shelves so we decided to go to Costco for pizza then watch a movie. Have you seen The Pursuit of Happyness? Do yourself a favor and rent it this weekend. Better yet, buy it. It's a movie you should own and watch when you need a laugh or inspiration.

Saturday was my last day at Peach and McKinley; I opened then planned to go to the Sax Festival in hopes of seeing Pat play. It was not meant to be because I got a flat tire on my way to the bank! Thank goodness I had my spare and a jack and many kudos to Carly for sharing her wrench! After work, we wrenched the heck out of that tire and got it changed all by ourselves. Carly rocks. I took the long way home and planned to get the tire looked at that afternoon but ended up falling asleep on the couch with a kitty on my lap. That takes precedence over a little ol' tire ....

Sunday brought church at University Vineyard, where I saw Meredith from school. The service was nice -- an hour of worship led by their fantastic youth praise band. The sermon was about being a living sacrifice. I found it a little scattered but inspiring. Instead of following Sunday tradition (newspaper at Starbucks), I drove to America's Tire Co. -- they were closed! When I looked online for another tire place, they were all closed! People need tires on Sundays, too, people! Finally had it fixed on Monday morning because ATC is down the street from my store. And because they were able to fix the flat, it was free! America's Tire Co. on Shaw and Fresno -- this is a plug: go there!

Almost all of my Christmas shopping is done, praise be to God. I spent quite a bit of Tuesday online shopping, only a couple of people left. Money is tight, but more importantly, I want to give gifts that I hope my family and friends will enjoy, not something just to wrap and give away. It took a while to get inspired. Hope your holiday season is going well. Remember, be friendly to your neighborhood barista. She might have had a long day.

Good Things:

1. Sleep.
2. The internet for shopping and communicating and learning, oh my!
3. Being appreciated.
4. Starbucks commercials! (I just saw my first. Have you bought your Christmas Blend yet? Come to my store!)
5. Wonderful Fresno State jazz concert.
   
6. Christmas lights.
7. An awesome last episode of Heroes.
8. The possibility of rain. I refuse to let it get me down. Remember, Erica, you've always liked rain.
9. Sunshine.
10. "Take heart!"
    

It's been one week.

And what a week! I've celebrated a few times having several wonderful days in a row, but this weekend, I realized that I'm not having many series of good days in a row; I'm having a good life. Everything is falling into place. When you prioritize correctly, it all works out. Amazing how that happens!

The Good Things:

• Wednesday, coffee with Tracy was great. We had an awesome conversation, but I realized very quickly that this was an informal interview, and I was so nervous! Thank goodness that didn't shine through; Tracy actually commented that I appeared very relaxed and composed. We sat on the patio, enjoyed a beautiful day, saw several of my former regulars, and even a guy that I went to elementary school with!
  
  
• After closing Wednesday night, I got up early to do chores and shower before heading home on Thanksgiving morning. Home was relaxing. My grandparents (all 3) came over, and my brother was home. We watched football, visited, and enjoyed great food. Oh yeah, and I ate olives off my fingers for my sister.
  

• I had to head back to Fresno Thursday because I opened on Friday. Work was quite slow; we did a lot of extra cleaning. Around 9a, Autumn (my district manager) called to say she would be by later that morning. Linda and I immediately did two things: a) cleaned like crazy; and b) started speculating about me leaving. Autumn finally around around noon, and we had the chance to sit down just before I was off. Drum roll, please -- she offered me a store manager position!!! At the time, she couldn't tell me much about the store, but since then, I've learned that, as of Monday, December 3, I will take over the Starbucks at First and Shaw as Store Manager. I don't think I could be more excited (and nervous, but mostly excited). There are challenges in every opportunity, especially starting in the middle of Holiday, but I'm confident that it is going to be good. So come by and visit!
  
  
• Friday night, Jess and I went to dinner at BJ's (fabulous cobb salad for me, delicious-looking burger for her) and then to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. Let me just say, if you ever have the chance to go to a TO concert, do it! It was amazing, incredible, ridiculous, and wonderful. I had a blast. There was a mild debacle with my camera, but the second time around was fine, and afterward, we had a guy outside take our picture. Two hot mamas!
  

• Saturday morning, I went shopping then met Justin, the elementary school friend from Wednesday, for lunch at Chapala Grill. It's new since I was in Cleveland and is really good. We had a nice time catching up; I'd only seen him once since his high school graduation. Saturday night, I closed at work.
  
  
• Sunday, I drove home to spend the day with my parents and friends, guiltily leaving Giada at home. We went to church, and Pastor Wayne gave a great message about being thankful, and I realized that, I'm not perfect, but I am living a life of gratitude. I love my life right now. Everything is falling into place. If someone had told me three months ago that I would be in the place that I am today, I probably wouldn't have believed it. Three months ago, I knew I would be fine, but I didn't know I would be happy and vibrant and socially active and thankful.
  
  After church, I met Andrea and Jess for a relaxing lunch at Vallarta then went shopping again (still no perfect jeans, have to keep looking) and met my parents at the mall. When they headed on to Target, I went to the Lenzes and enjoyed catching up with Mrs. Lenz and Robin (thanks for having me over!). That evening, Dad and I watched the great Patriots/Eagles game, or rather, Dad watched the game, and I took a nap on the middle through the second and third quarters. Soon after that, it was time for bed.
  
  
• Monday morning, I went to Dad's shop to say goodbye and drove back home for more chores and a lot of cuddling with the kitten to make up for leaving her alone. I think I'm going to get another cat to keep Giada company; it's just a matter of when. She needs a little brother or sister named Duff (if it's a girl, I'll just call her Duffy!). Then I went to work for a fun last close.
  
  
• Which brings us to today, my day off. The planner was full of errands to run, and the day started with promise because I got a lot of chores done. But around noon, my energy waned, and I spent most of the afternoon with Giada on the couch. There will be plenty of time for errands the rest of the week, and after such a full schedule of events, I needed some downtime. Plus, I think it was good for me to stay home and spend some quality time with her after being gone so much.

Well, that was more of a weekly recap than I'd planned for it to be. If you didn't make it through the wordiness, in brief:

I had a great Thanksgiving! I got promoted! I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra! I wasn't sad at all on my would-be five-year anniversary! I love my life, and I love God for giving it to me! Have a great week, y'all.

Thank you, Consequence.

Two entries this week: This Thanksgiving post, and the previous Apartment Tour. Check it out!

You know how sometimes you just have a few great days in a row, and it restores you? I had one of those weekends. By Friday, I was pretty exhausted from closing, working at 8a, then opening in three days. I was supposed to go to dinner at Claim Jumper (would have satisfied my craving for a big, juicy burger) with some of my new partners at 8p, but around 5p, I suddenly felt like I'd been hit by a train. Thinking it could be the effects of my flu shot, I went to Target for Nyquil. To my surprise, I also found Grey's Anatomy Season 3 for only $30! So that was my night -- I passed out on my couch by 9p watching Grey's.

Saturday, I wake up mildly refreshed, took some Dayquil, and went to work at 8a. After work, Serena and I had coffee at her store, then I quickly went home to feed the cat and change. At 730p, I met Pat and Becca for ice cream at Riverpark. We had a great night of catching up, talking about the future and checking out their new Toyota Camry (gorgeous --I want one, and I don't even really like cars!).

Sunday brought a lazy morning, an amazing message at church, the newspaper and lunch at Starbucks, shopping at Target, and an afternoon of chores and Grey's. Then back to work on Monday; it's been a slow week. Today, I'm meeting the regional director, Tracy, for coffee, just informally for us to have face time before the many changes in Starbucks In Fresno's future. Here's to hoping I say all the right things!

I'm closing at work tonight so I won't head home to Exeter until tomorrow morning for an afternoon Thanksgiving dinner with my family. This weekend holds some exciting happenings -- TransSiberian Orchestra on Friday! Also, planning to make Sunday a busy day because it could be a difficult day, but being surrounded by loving friends and family will keep me whole.

Things I'm Thankful For:

• God's amazing grace, peace, and love.
• My family and friends.
• That I am doing so well.
  
• Lessons learned -- what I need and want from life; how to act in the longterm and big picture, even if it means I won't do what makes me happy in the short term; that my family and friends are unequivocally there for me; I am a strong, resilient, fabulous woman.
• Giada.
• Sunshine and mountains.

What are you thankful for?

The old apartment.

There are two entries this week: this Apartment Tour and the next Thanksgiving one. Be sure to catch up on both!

It dawned on me last week, after posting adorable Giada pictures, that you haven't gotten a virtual tour of the Apartment o' Awesomeness. Let's take care of that, shall we?

Welcomed home by the cool braided doormat:


Living room:


Dining room, home of Hamlet and Giada's Captain's nest, and Giada playing peekaboo:


A kitchen that's bigger than a closet:


Bathroom and laundry facilities (!):


Bedroom shots (it looks messier than it is):


Walk-in in closet (!) and eventual reading nook:


Cute, isn't it?

Tryin' to fit the world inside a picture frame.

Monday was my first day of work, and it went very well. We weren't busy thanks to Veterans Day Observed so my re-introduction to drive-thru wasn't painful. I think the store and I will match just fine.

Otherwise, it's been an uneventful week. Dinner with Ryan on Sunday evening was excellent. He drives a pimped out Dodge Neon (I think, a Dodge something) with racing seats that hug -- a little fresh, if you ask me. A seat should get a girl's phone number before we get that close, if you know what I'm saying. And I still think we should trade cars. :)

Jered brought the cabinet Monday evening, and it looks great next to the front door. I had yesterday off, and it was a pretty boring day. So in lieu of nothing to write about, Giada pictures!

Helping Mom set up the apartment:


See that tiny ledge? I know I should be able to fit on it! (But there's no way she will.)


Relaxing:


Checking out the neighborhood:


Playing with my chic cubes because I'm a hot kitty:

It's been one week.

Hello, people, hope all is well with everyone. It's been a full week since the last blog. After our long drive across many states, Dad and I spent Saturday watching football. That's literally all we did. It was wonderful, even though Notre Dame lost to Navy. Next year, boys, there's always next year. And I will always love Charlie Weis.

The day before, I came up to see my apartment and sign the final paperwork. I'd been feeling blue and bittersweet until I actually saw the place. It's adorable, and I love it.

Sunday brought church in Exeter, a visit with my aunt and grandmother, writing at Starbucks, coffee with Jess, and a soup dinner fundraiser at church. The night was a lot of fun. There was also a silent dessert auction, and my dad won a dessert called Scrumptious: Better Than Sex. It was very tasty; I have no opinion on the subtitle!

Monday morning, I had a dental cleaning that went better than expected (short and sweet is how I like it) then met Dad at the shop to drop off some stuff still in my car. Tuesday, Giada and I headed up to Fresno for good. She did not enjoy the car ride; apparently, the drive from Kingsburg to Fowler is the most traumatic strip of highway ever.

As soon as I got here and unloaded the car, it was time to set to work. I filled kitchen cabinets, set out spices, put together furniture, organized the pantry that doesn't have room for food. I tried to put together the Target bookshelves but can't do it alone so Dad will have to come help sometime. For now, the books remained packed, and I don't like it. Having my books set up around me makes me feel better. Is that silly?

Also went Target shopping. Spent more money than I probably should have, but I got lots of cute, useful things for the apartment. It's starting to come together, and I think I'm going to like living here.

Wednesday morning was my first regular doctor's appointment in years, and it went very well. I got a prescription for Qvar for preventative asthma maintenance and learned that I am in apparently good health -- woo. It's been a while since I've been in apparent good health, and it can go to your head a little. But I've also lost 30 lbs in the past two and a half months, which does good things for your body.

After the appointment, I went grocery shopping then went home to put away the food and organized my closet. For those who know my lack of affinity for hanging up clothes, it was no small feat. But it's lovely now, a walk-in closet that's useful and put-together and color-coordinated.

That afternoon, Mom was in Fresno for an appointment so we met to shop at Nordstrom Rack. At 7p, I headed to Macaroni Grill for an absolutely wonderful dinner with Jered. We hung out for a while, walking to Borders then Starbucks. It's really good to be back among people who know and care about me. There were so few of those people in Cleveland. It bites that he's moving soon, but at least LA isn't too far away.

Thursday morning was the first time I went running since before the move. My lungs were ready to burst at the end of ten minutes, but it felt great to move again. In the afternoon, I met with a graduate studies adviser at Fresno State to get information about graduate school. I don't know what I want to study or where I want to go or what future career it will help me with; that's why I needed the information.

What I do know is that, for the first time in my life, I actually believe I can do anything I want to do. I want to go to grad school. I want to prove to myself that I can do it. I want to enroll in a university, give it my all, and have it be good enough for me. Because I wanted it before, but most of me figured I would barely make it through like the first time, and I think the person whose opinion mattered most to me didn't believe I would do it. But I will. And if I don't, it won't be because I can't.

Friday, the cable guys came for TV and internet, then I went to lunch with Serena, Bill, and Autumn (Starbucks people) in Tower. Lovely to see them all. Serena and I had coffee at Friant and Fort Washington later, and we talked, and it was good to have a friend. Aren't friends the best?

Yesterday, a friend from the dorms a long time ago, Chris, was in town so we drove up to Yosemite and hiked to Glacier Point. It was a bit chilly, but the view and the peace were worth it. Took pictures, of course; here are some of my favorites:





Once back down in the Valley, we had dinner at In 'n Out and watched True Lies here at the apartment. I'd never seen it, and it's a really funny movie. Go, Governator!

Which brings us to today. I attended the 930a and 11a services at Northwest Church this morning (think I will start going to the 11a one if I don't work Sundays) then got coffee and the paper at Starbucks Blackstone and Barstow, where I saw a couple of girls I worked with at Shields and 41. Back home, I ate lunch, cleaned up, and watched Grey's Anatomy on DVD until Jered came for boxes. Now, I'm going to post this, read the paper, and wait for another friend from the dorms to come into town for dinner tonight. It will be great to see him.

I start work tomorrow, wish me luck. Looking forward to a drive-thru again. I enjoy it. Wednesday updates will commence next week.

In the down time, it was a touch of a lonely week. But there wasn't much down time, and I am not alone. Isn't it nice to know that you are not alone.

Road to California, part three.

Did you start with Part One? If not, go here! Then on to Day Two! Then you'll be ready for Part Three. :)

Day Three: I'm going home.

Thursday morning, Dad and I left Grand Junction at 630a. A couple of hours down the road, we ate a breakfast of champions at McDonald's (parfait and nuggets for me), and if I never eat at McDonald's again in my life, I will be a happy woman. In fact, I ate enough fast food over those three days to last me a grease quota of at least five years. Ugh ugh ugh.

Day three felt the longest because the closer we were to home, the more we still weren't there. Utah's desert isn't my favorite type of terrain, but it was golden and pretty in the light of sunrise:


St. George was a welcome surprise (houses instead of brush), and the road to Las Vegas was uneventful. Vegas itself was another story. We pulled into a gas station and got stuck in the semi-truck part of the station because the parking lot didn't connect to the front. After managing to fit through a driveway going the wrong way, we pulled up the regular diesel pump, and it wouldn't read the card. Dad took the card in while I went the washroom and when I came out, he was in the truck ready to go to another station. Apparently the cashier had to reset the pump three times and it still wouldn't work. We do need more than thirteen cents worth of gas .... So we pulled into a station across the street and thought that the ten-cent price difference in diesel must be a good sign.

We were wrong. The card reader also didn't work, so I went in and paid for $100 worth of gas. Went outside, Dad said the pump wasn't reset. Went inside and had to wait in line; by the time I got to the counter, I looked like an idiot when I said it wouldn't work and the cashier told me we'd pumped $17 worth so far. Went back outside, Dad only used $50, went inside for a credit and had to wait in line again. When I finally got back in the truck, Dad was waiting and had apparently almost gotten in a fight with some idiot who cussed him out for using the pump the other guy wanted to use. We got the hell out of Dodge as quickly as possible. And to think that I could have moved there in a few years -- too hot, too ugly, and no freaking way. Vegas, I bite my thumb at you!


The rest of the drive home was uneventful, save for the fog as we drove into the hills before Tehachapi. We thought it must be smoke from a fire because it was so thick, but the whole Valley was blanketed with fog.


Finally, just before 8p on Thursday, November 1, we pulled up to my parents' house in Exeter. It was a bittersweet moment, being so tired and all, but god, did it feel good to get out of the truck and know I didn't have to get back in any time soon. In the next hour and a half, I watched Survivor with my mom, checked email, did laundry, talked to Rachel, and crashed into bed.

Highlights from Day Three:

• Things I learned from my dad -- Any hotel that doesn't provide an alarm clock is chintzy. Classic rock stations are always The Fox, The Eagle, or The Hawk. The Beastie Boys are tolerable for ten seconds longer than Earth, Wind, and Fire or Sublime.
• In some states, UPS and FedEx trucks pull three trailers! It's pretty freaky-looking but very cool.

It feels good to be home.

Because even if your life is too unsettled for any place to feel like home, home is still where your heart is.