Praise God, I have a job!

So...

Sorry I haven't been on here in ages--I've been looking for work for the past month. That's not easy to do in this economy. However, praise God--as of this morning at 11:30 a.m., I am no now longer unemployed! I'll be doing something I have some actual interest and skills in (working at a desert landscaping nursery), it will be full-time, and I have the awesomest days off on the planet (Tuesdays and Wednesdays)!

Butterfly Aliyah

Here!

As of yesterday (Friday, January 15, 2010) I am now a resident of Tucson, Arizona!!!

Woohoo!

Butterfly Aliyah

Goodbye to my friend Tanya

This is my great friend Tanya Mironowski. We went to high school together, but didn't really become good friends until long after high school (six years afterward in our case). She's great fun and is an awesome person to know and be blessed by in every way.

Yes, praise God!!!

Woohooo!!!!!

Just found out my apartment application has been APPROVED--and for much cheaper than I thought it would be!!!!!

Thank you God!

Butterfly Aliyah

Goodbye to a good buddy, Pastor Mike

This is me in my official "goodbye" photo with Pastor Mike Sanborn of Granada Heights Friends in La Mirada, CA. When I first started attending GHF, he was the college pastor there, but is now the Minister to Adults (meaning he basically rotates preaching duties with the head pastor on Sunday mornings).

Anyway, Mike is an all-around great guy and has been a solid rock for as long as I've known him. He was really interested in my move when I told him about it and went out of his way to take me aside and pray with me about it right after service this morning. This photo was taken at Granada's special, secluded meditation area (a small outdoor alcove gardened to resemble an Israeli outdoor scene [something made easy by SoCal's Mediterranean climate]).

Butterfly Aliyah

Why Tucson?

This is not a very good question! The question that should be asked is, "why not Tucson?"

• An amazing climate year-round: moderate winters, incredible springs, hot summers (but with a refreshing late afternoon monsoon rain every day between late June and late September), and fantastic falls.
• The best economy in Arizona right now, and the part of Arizona most likely to receive stimulus money under the Obama Administration (based on how it voted).
• Natural scenery that is among the most amazing in America. Enough said.
• Butterfly and bird species diversity that occurs nowhere else, including many Mexican and tropical species.
• The ability to enjoy a variety of habitats within a span of only a couple dozen miles: low Sonoran desert, higher Sonoran desert grassland, Madrean oak desert woodland, and high-altitude Canadian forest (thanks to the incredibly rich altitudinal range of SE Arizona and its famous "sky island" mountain ranges).
• Much more reasonable rents than in SoCal!
• Great and highly authentic Mexican food. (Okay, this wasn't really a big consideration for me [my stomach has been veering more towards the "hate" aspect of it's love/hate relationship with Mexican food as of late], but it's still cool to say.)

Any more questions or comments, anybody?

Butterfly Aliyah

Saying goodbye to California, part 1:

From top to bottom: a beautiful January sunset in Seal Beach, CA; a couple of funny alpacas at La Mirada Creek Park in La Mirada; my great friend Johanna and her friends Erica, Lili, and Lorraine at Cha for Tea in Alhambra; and my buddies Matt and James in Norwalk.