Jon, EmaLee, the kids and I took the Coaster to Salona Beach yesterday to participate in the “Coaster Crawl.”  We made it to Salona Beach before it started to rain and walked down to CPK for a free appetizer (Avacado Club Egg Rolls – YUMMY!).  While we were there, it rained a little but we were inside so it didn’t matter.  We made it back to the train station before it started to rain too.

Solana Beach Station

After we got back to Oceanside, Jon and I noticed some particularly gnarly looking weather coming our way.  Since there had been a tsunami advisory that morning, we naturally went down to the harbor to take pictures.  Technically, the tsunami advisory was over but still.  I’m not one to take chances.  The view was awesome though.  These are some pictures that Jon took with his camera.  (The pelican we saw was injured or sick.  We saw it fall off the harbor bridge into the parking lot.  It eventually flew away.  I hope it’s ok…)

The Pelican

The Storm

A Stormy Pier

Sand so Smooth

A small bit of blue...

I love my new commute!  The view couldn’t be better.  Well, it could be better past San Juan Capistrano.  Until the strawberry fields by the Irvine station, it’s just industrial views.  I don’t know what it looks like past the Tustin station since that’s my final destination in the morning.  Anyway – the view is incredible from the train.  There’s a point where we’re really only 20-50 feet from the water.  It’s awesome.

Below are some pics I took with my phone.  They’re not the best, but they’re decent.  It’s a picture through a window so take it for what it is, but still – I think everyone could agree – there is no better commute!

These pics were all taken in the morning.  With the exception of the first one, I took them this morning on my way in.  I’ve been commuting on the train for three weeks now and I don’t know that it will ever get old.  I’ll add some after work pics another day.

Between San Clemente and Dana Point

Oceanside Pier on a cloudy morning

Somewhere on Camp Pendleton on a cloudy day.

San Clemente Pier

Dana Point

There’s an app for my blackberry that let’s me post a blog. Not sure how often it will get used because it’s a little tedious but hey, could be fun 🙂

I wish that I could take pictures of some of the people I see on the train every day.

Today there’s a man sitting a few rows in front of me that I wish I could post a picture of just because he was so interesting looking.  I’ll try to describe him, but I’m sure that I’m not going to be able to do him justice.

He has very fair skin with what may have been really red hair at some point but is now a light strawberry-blond.  He’s probably in his late 30’s.  He’s wearing a hat (like an old-school golfer cap), his hair pulled neatly into a ponytail in the back.  His goatee has been trimmed to a perfect triangle that hangs about an inch and a half from his chin and his mustache is impeccably trimmed.  His hair gives no evidence that he has been anywhere at all – it’s like he just did it.

He’s wearing an eggshell trench-coat over a light blue collared shirt.  I can’t see the color of his pants from here, but I’m guessing that they are probably a nice shade of khaki.  He’s reading a hard-back book but is too far away for me to see what it is.  His glasses are rectangular and appear to be tortoise-shell, but thin framed.  He’s sitting straight up with his bag probably in his lap.

And now he’s getting off the train.  Yep – they were khakis.  Sensible.

It’s been at least 2 years and 8 months since I could honestly say “I enjoy my job.”  Three years ago (next month) I was laid off from a job that I LOVED.  I was working for Graham Webb, a contract manufacturing company of professional hair care products, and had been for 5 years.  Just before I started working there, they had been purchased by Wella/Sebastian, based out of Germany, but the operations were separate.  I was hired on to handle sales meeting materials, literature mailings, and a few chain accounts.  It evolved a few times and in the end I was managing a team of 11 fantastic people doing various things.  We worked well together and at the end of those 5 years had developed all of our policies and procedures and were working like a well-oiled machine.

A year or two before the lay-off, P&G purchased the whole Wella family and positioned them as their North American Professional Line.  Graham Webb, Wella and Sebastian all became part of the P&G family.  (Just so you know – I don’t care what anyone says about P&G – they’re big, yes, but they take care of their people.)  Not a lot changed at first.  After a while, and slowly, different systems started to be introduced.  They had an online training center where you could learn about different things.  We switched from Lotus Notes for email to Outlook (which was awesome!).  There were a few other minor changes too, but they were all good. 

Then came the dozy.  They made the decision to close the office in Carlsbad and move all Graham Webb operations to Woodland Hills, combining the Wella/Sebastian operations with Graham Webb’s.  Everyone (that I know of) got an offer to move to LA and work in that office.  Some took the offer, most didn’t.  There were many extenuating circumstances in our life at that time so Jon and I decided that we would not move and that I would find another job.

I worked with a friend for a while and then got a call from a lady named Jane* asking me to interview for a Customer Service Manager position at a personal care product manufacturing company in Carlsbad.  I interviewed and got the job (that is a looooong story itself which I will tell at some point).  One bad thing after another happened while I was there for 2 years and 8 months.  I met some really awesome people while I was working there.  By the time I left, we had developed a great team of hardworking people.  Unfortunately, by that time, it wasn’t enough to stay for.

During one random weekend a couple of weeks ago, a series of events took place that showed me that my Heavenly Father really is looking out for me.

1. While working in the temple on Saturday, I got the distinct and urgent impression that I needed to get away from the company I was working for.
2. On Sunday, during a Ward Council meeting, a random conversation began between the Employment Specialist, a member of the Bishopric and the YM President, during which was mentioned the opening for a position at the company where the YM Pres worked.
3. My completely joking comment, “Ooo, I’ll take it!” to which he responded, “How serious are you?”
4. An hour long conversation with the YM Pres about the position (later that day, not during the meeting) – only to find out that it’s almost exactly what I was doing at Graham Webb (minus the management part) – which meant that it was something I actually felt qualified to do.
5. An interview scheduled for the following Friday.
6. A random assigned (by the “old” company) trip on Wednesday to drive to Orange County to meet with an outside lab that was doing some work for them – the outside lab being literally 5 miles down the same street as the potential job.
7. An impromptu interview on Wednesday instead of waiting until Friday.
8. An official offer the following Monday, at which time I put in my 2 weeks notice.

So far, I love everything about the new job.  I love the beautiful view from the train.  I love the positive atmosphere.  The sales people I’ve met are cool.  My boss is great.

… and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  (Malachi 3:10)

*Name changed

It’s about time!

I love Coco Puffs but when I saw these at the store I was more than skeptical.  I’ve tried the Special K Chocolate one and it’s terrible.  The box was on sale though so I thought I would give them a try.  I’m so glad I did!  YUMMY!!

Jon showed me this today and I love it so I thought I would share it.

The embed option isn’t working so you’ll have to use this link:  http://vimeo.com/3829682  (It’s the video called Typography.)

I get so tired of the boringness of water but really need to stay away from caffeine.  So, in addition to the caffeine free Diet Coke I bought at the store a couple of weeks ago, I thought I would give this stuff a try:

I really like it!  I’m out already but it’s on the shopping list.

Remember this guy? 

My seminary kids love donuts. I think it would be more accurate to say they love sugar, but donuts seems to be the sugar of choice.

DeEtte and Lori came to visit this morning and brought them some donuts. The kids were in heaven.

Unbelievably, there were about 3 donuts left when all was said and done, and DeEtte sent them home with me. Like I need them. They’ll make a pretty tasty breakfast tomorrow though – thanks DeEtte 🙂

When I was carrying the box out to my car, I noticed something on the side of the box:

I laughed out loud. This is SOOO true!!

There are three things that give me nightmares…

These things:

These things:

And being burried alive – by water mostly, but I stopped watching CSI when Nick was burried alive during a season finale.

The fact that there was a tornado WARNING today that covered northern San Diego County as well as southern Orange County did not sit well with me. There’s a reason why I won’t move to any of the Plains State. Shoot – Salt Lake is looking pretty sketchy anymore. And now here? And don’t you dare tell me that there have been funnel clouds over the ocean either! I already know and it freaks me out. I think the last time I begged to sleep on my parents’ bedroom floor was when I was about 17 and there was a storm causing funnel clouds over the ocean. Yes – SEVENTEEN! Who does that??

Me.

I’m such a baby…