California Dreamin'...of a job for Jill!

Hello dearest family & friends!

I started this blog to update you special few on my travels, rather than posting my entire life on Facebook for the greater unspecial many : ) 

So as most of you know, Jill and I arrived in Cali just about 2 weeks ago. We enjoyed a super fun weekend with Mama and Aunt Lynny in San Francisco, since we couldn't move into our apt. until Monday. We went on a "Duck Tour" around SF/INTO the SF Bay - very cool, and I even drove the bus-turned-boat! We explored Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf and bought a bunch of great, touristy stuff (all worth it). We obviously photographed the Full House house too and shopped in the Haight-Ashbury (a.k.a hippie) area. Katie, I bought the coolest cosmic leggings. It was too foggy that weekend to really view the Golden Gate Bridge, but it's on Jill & my agenda to bike it soon (about 9 miles)! Mommy goodbyes took place early Tuesday am, and then a day of couch surfing was the only thing on our agendas (since I had to start work the next day). BUT, hahaha, little did we know that FLEAS already had an opposite day AND two weeks planned for us. One might say that this was about the time our fun began to fizzle into daily frustrations...kinda.

Mom & I in front of the crooked street!

Duck Tour Bus/Boat

: )

Gibler? DJ? Uncle Jesse? Comet?!?

Although Mike considers living in a hotel a luxury/the best case scenario EVER, it is quite the contrary - you really just crave ANY semblance of normalcy! We've been here 16 nights since leaving NY, and 13 of them have been in hotels. I mean La Quinta's free breakfast was great and all, but it didn't quite make up for the flea infestation which brought us there. Long story short, as of this past Tuesday, we are finally living in a fleaLESS apt. and are VERY happy about it. 

In apt. #1 - eating on our balcony bc of the fleas!

Apt #2 - my room + Monsters Inc Poster!

So we live in the city of Hayward, and it's alright - I guess it's called the "heart of the bay" because of it's location from SF and fun in all directions. It's just too bad that Hayward itself is a bust. Jill and I can't do much in Hayward, unless we are together and in a car...but we are quickly discovering surrounding treasures and places to visit! Like last weekend, when our company sent us away for the weekend (because they felt THAT bad for us with our housing and job predicaments...). We traveled an hour to Santa Cruz, and it. was. awe-some. Since it's basically a constant 72 degrees here in Northern CA, or as we call it "Fummer" (late Summer, early Fall - which I don't mind, but Jill claims is "freezing" haha), we forwent the beaches and instead jumped into the Redwood Forest, literally! We went ziplining through the redwoods over 150 feet in the air, and had THE BEST time! We also experienced "The Mystery Spot" and Downtown Santa Cruz. (Ziplining pics to come!)

HOW

IS THIS

POSSIBLE?!?

DT Santa Cruz

 This weekend we are going to a San Francisco 49ers game (and wearing Bills attire, of course)! We are just super excited for a Fall football event! 

And as for the job situation, well, Jill and I quickly found out upon arrival that nothing is guaranteed with travel work. Sadly, our jobs continue to be a daily discussion/dilemma this go around. MY job is at least going well, so far : ) I'm in 2 elementary schools, and obviously love my kids. The diversity is great, and the staff have been very friendly/helpful. I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of all the differences from the PA school system - although once I've got it down, it'll be time to up and go again - but hey, I suppose that's the fun in all this! The new experiences I've already gained make every day worth it. The only downside to my job is that they hired me in desperate need of coverage for a maternity leave, and although they signed a contract until Christmas, they really only planned to keep me in this position until early November. Luckily, they seem like reputable people and said they'll keep me on until December (doing who knows what kind of speech therapy work, but at least I have a job)! Jill, on the other hand, is still jobLESS...BUT, this could change any minute, like hopefully tomorrow! She did end up having to look outside our company for additional job opportunities - which makes things a little more complicated - but we'll make it all work out. She will most likely be taking a home health position in a nearby community...we'll see...

Marshall Elem

Independent Elem

 SO, we stay positive and travel on!

All my love,
Emily (and Jill, if she ever gets on here).

Jill: What are you doing?
Emily: Blogging.
Jill: Oh, God.

Cheers!

PS - shout out to Louie, Moses, and Knox <3

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