"I'm Lovin' San Diego... This place is off the Shizam!" - Marty from movie Madagascar

Kennedy has been saying that all week. We're here in Escondido and Lovin' it!  The weather has been less than stellar, but we've had enough sun to feel like we're really on vacation.  It was raining the moment we arrived on Sunday (after a 2 hour detour because we had NO map, NO GPS, No IDEA where we turned wrong from our printed directions, some nice people in Julian CA directed us 60 miles back on track!!).  We finally made it to the Welk Resort in Escondido.

 Monday it rained most of the day, we made it to the grocery store and Costco (which if you thought it was busy in AZ, you ain't seen NOTHIN"!).  We stopped by the beach at Buccaneer park in Oceanside to check the surf, and it was higher than we've ever seen, and higher than the locals had seen it too.  Probably related to the tsunami and the moon being closest to the earth in 20 years.  They said it was 6 feet higher than normal.  It was crazy, but beautiful.

Tuesday we went to Sea World.  It hasn't changed much, except for commercialization.  It was great for the kids, and the dolphin show was part "Cirque De Dolfin" and it was great, Shamu show was a bummer because the trainers can't get into the water due to the accident a while back where the whale killed the trainer.  So, that was a bummer.  All the whales did was jump out of the water and splash.  Oh well, the kids really enjoyed it.

Wednesday we stopped by the beach to check it out, and couldn't help ourselves.  We didn't have any swim stuff or towels or anything (or camera), so after the kids ran around in the surf and soaked themselves in their clothes, we went back to the resort and went swimming.  It was great.  Tim has been cooking like the amazing gourmet chef he is and the food has been spectacular!!

Thursday (today) we hit up the beach (after all night rain and hazy morning, the weather after 10 was sunny but the surf was high, and riptide was strong. We all just ran around the surf and sat on the rocks because there was still no dry beach.  The girls loved it, and Audrey actually got washed upside down and took it like a champ.  So, then we came home after a few hours and ate lunch and went back to the pool where we played another couple of hours till the girls were almost asleep on the poolside chairs.  Now we're back resting getting ready for the evening and the next few wonderful days we have here.  I will figure out how to make a public album to share all the pictures. They are great!

Time for Me

Does that exist?  If it does, where? What would I do with it if I found it?  Here I have maybe 3 minutes, that's if the internet works and I don't have a daughter crisis.  I wanted to post that I need to compliment myself.  I had an awesome weekend at Ragnar, then a full week of work until Friday morning at about 10 where there was a situation wherein things were done/said and I was sent home and layed off.  It was really crappy.  I loved working at that office in Fountain Hill and had been there 15 months.  I felt really crummy all day Friday and Saturday, but Sunday the lesson at church was amazing about pride from Conference 2010 and 1989.  It made me think a lot about myself and my attitude and now that it's been about a week, I feel much better and am looking toward the future with a huge smile.  There were some crazy things about that work situation.  I had given my notice to the other office I worked in and was scheduled to start full time in Fountain Hills, and that was all cut off.  I am blessed to be able to work again at that office Dr. Smith because he allowed me to come back.  I really didn't want to leave, but they made me a great offer in FH, and it took me 8 months to accept it.  Now I know why I felt so hesitant to take it and put all my eggs in one basket. Never again.  Dr. Smith is wonderful, and I can find other work as needed and stay with him from here on out.  He was so understanding when I called him sobbing about what had happened and he told me I could have my position back.  I am so blessed to have the support of my wonderful husband through this.  I think it's harder on him to see me get fired, because I'd be absolutely LIVID if he got fired in the manner I was subjected to.  He is my best friend, and he had a birthday this week and it was crummy because I saw him for all of 45 minutes.  I am so grateful for the physical and mental strength I have gained from running that helped me through that blow last week.  I love to run.  I hope my body will allow me to do it for a long time.  I'm starting to ramble and the kids are calling me and... more later... I hope.

more ragnar pics

Here we all are at the finish line. Yay! We did it, Ragnar 2011

Carolyn, Marinda, Shauna, Machell, Collette, Julie, Jarrica, Amy, Kellie, Misty, Jane (not pictured: Wendy)

Ragnar Pictures

I Rocked at Ragnar! I had a great time and ran 21.2 miles. It was a great experience and I would do it again for sure. I'm addicted to running, and had such a great time with the girls I ran with.