Adios, amigo!

We parted with a good friend last month.

A friend that had seen Team Thompson through many adventures, countless movies, laughs, tears, good news, late night snacks, lazy weekends and panic attacks. This friend was also hospitable to strangers and friends alike, and stuck by our side through the five times we've moved in the last five years.

Though strings of insults were thrown its way, particularly around tax-return season or any time we moved, this friend remained a constant in our lives.

You could say this friend has been there through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer.

This friend was our couch.

Our OLD couch, that is.

Old Couchy in San Jose

WE GOT A NEW COUCH!

The crew loading a few of the boxes into Justin's work rig. 

Old Couchy was a truly heavy beast, complete with a hide-a-bed. We have reason to believe it had invisible lead bricks sewn into its cushions. Justin absolutely despised that couch, but, really, only when we had to move it.

I inherited Old Couchy from friends Sarah and Eric when I lived with Tara & Ami in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood. Eric and Justin moved it into my old apartment, destroying only one and a half exit signs and scraping the stairway walls along the way. Upon setting it down, Justin proclaimed, "When you move out, this thing is staying here!"

Luckily Joe was in town when we decided to get the new couch.

Then Justin and I got married a while later and, upon reviewing our finances, decided to move the couch into our new apartment in Lake Forest Park. My dad and bro Joe helped with that move. Upon setting it down in the new place, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

OK, one of the main reasons we got the new couch was because Joe was in town.

Then we learned we were moving to California. Old Couchy stayed in LFP while we lived in my parents' RV in CA while waiting out our LFP lease to be up and trying to save money for a new place in CA. After getting all our ducks in a row and finding an apartment in Mountain View, CA, we reviewed our finances and decided to bring Old Couchy to CA. My bro Joe also helped with that move, both out of the apartment in WA and into our new home in CA. Old Couchy smashed only one finger along the way. Upon setting the couch down in CA, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

It takes a lot of muscle and stamina to move Old Couchy.

From Mountain View we moved to San Jose where our rent was a bit higher. Upon reviewing our finances, we decided to bring Old Couchy with us to the South Bay. We had a crew of friends help with that move, but still, upon setting down the couch, Justin proclaimed, "When we move out, this thing is staying here!"

Not exactly sure what to do with the old while bringing in the new, we moved the beast out on to the porch.

Soon after we got settled into our place in San Jose, we received our tax return. Upon reviewing our finances, we decided to see about getting a new couch. It was also the weekend Justin's brother came to visit. We spent the better part of Saturday testing out new couches....leather couches, microfiber couches, couches with ottomans, couches in the shape of an L.

We came home with new TV instead.

In no time at all, the neighbors expressed interest, and Old Couchy had a new home. 

As you know, we recently moved again...this time back to WA. A professional crew of movers packed up and transported our belongings this time, so while Old Couchy skirted ridicule during this latest move, Justin still looked at the couch with hatred that burns with the heat of a thousand suns. When it came time to arrange the living room, Justin proclaimed, "This is the last time I want to move this couch!"

So he began plotting. Plotting ways to convince me it was time to part with Old Couchy. "We'll have more visitors now so we'll need more places to sit." "See how it dips down in the middle?" "See how it slides so easily on the wood floor?" "Don't you think a darker colored couch with a different fabric would make for easier baby barf clean up?" "You hate this couch, too, don't you? DON'T YOU?!"

The weekend Joe my bro came to town, and after MUCH discussion as to whether or not it was the right time, we went to Coscto and purchased a new couch.

New couch!

We weren't sure what we'd do with Old Couchy, but as Joe and Justin moved the beast out to the porch -- not without much moaning, groaning and calling of names -- the neighbors walked by.

The neighbors are now the proud new owners of Old Couchy.

I'll miss Old Couchy. As I said, it's seen Team Thompson through a lot of adventures, but change is good.
And so is a new place to rest our weary rears.

Oh...hey!

Soo...October turned out to be a busy month!

Here's a recap. There are quite a few photos, but I did include some commentary, of course, as well as a sneak peek at the rest of the month because October isn't over, you know :)

Click the pictures to enlarge.

Sept 30 - Oct. 3: TO CHICAGO TO SEE THE RABES & CHYTERBOKS
Ohhh it was so wonderful to meet baby James. He stole my heart and I miss him. He's already changed so much, based on recent pictures.

Seeing Maggie and Drew as parents of a real, itty bitty human being gives me a feeling that's hard to describe. Glad, proud, excited...what a gift a little life can be. They love that little guy so much...just look at how they gaze at him!

 James is sure to call me each Sunday night, just to check in on Cousaunt Christine.

Little man loves his swing!

 

Alexis, Andrew, Drew, Maggie and me.

We went to the Rabes house for a delicious dinner Saturday night and the whole family was there! Benjamin, Sarah, Hayden and Cooper, Alexis and Andrew, Uncle Lou and Aunt Kathy and of course the Chyterboks. It was so nice to see everyone and get to know Hayden and Cooper a bit more :)

Sunday we went to the pumpkin patch with Andrew & Alexis, and picked out a baby pumpkin for baby James. He loved being outside! Monday I worked from "home" and then caught a late/delayed flight back to CA.

Thank you for hosting me, Chyterboks!

Oct. 8: OUTING TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH IN MORGAN HILL
We went to Spina Farms in Morgan Hill for a day of pumpkin fun with the Bracketts. Eva was so excited when we got there, she didn't know where to start! I rode the train with her too.

After pumpkin selection, we parted ways for naps and the like and reconveined later at our house for carving and dinner. we love hanging out with the Bracketts!

The Bracketts!

So, I enjoy pictures you can put your head in for a picture!

Eva was excited about the train ride around the patch.

Our picks.

 Our carvings!

Oct. 13 - 16: THE EMERSONS CAME TO TOWN
Mom and dad came to visit for the weekend, sort of on a whim. A fantastic whim! I miss seeing the padres :) I picked them up Thursday night. We had dinner out Friday night, went sewing machine shopping Saturday (a surprise for me), watched someone steal a big screen TV from Sears, but also watched the clerk recover the merchandise. We also stopped by the Campbell Oktoberfest and later had dinner at home that night (a Grilled New England Seafood "Bake"), and went to church on Sunday. After church mom and I went to a baby shower for a friend of mine and left the boys at home to watch football. Later that night we took them to the airport :( It was a chill weekend and I loved every minute of it.

Thanks for coming, mom and dad!

My papa and me. 

Oktoberfest fun in Campbell.

 More cut out fun in Campbell! Mom was so excited to be climbing the water tower, she couldn't keep her eyes open!

Justin was so excited to be on the porch, he couldn't keep his eyes open!

This same weekend, our artfully crafted pumpkins gave into the heat and leaked their moldy pumpkin juice all over the front porch. I don't feel we got to fully enjoy them this year. The heat is brutal on pumpkin carvings in California.


Oct. 18: DREW CAME OVER FOR DINNER
Drew (of Drew and Maggie) was in town for work so we had him over for a home-cooked meal. After dinner we went for a ride in the special mobile from Drew's company to check out the police equipment Drew sells and markets. Cameras, license plate recognition, reporting information...it was so neat to check it out and see what it is Drew is responsible for at work!

I don't have a pic...of course...but it happened. You'll just have to believe me.


Oct. 21 - 23: TO SEATTLE FOR AMI'S WEDDING
I flew Friday night to Seattle for Ami's wedding. Ami is Tara's twin. Tara was my freshman and sophomore roommate at WSU. I lived with Ami and Tara in Seattle for roughly 2 years, too! She married Jerrod in the most beautiful ceremony at Pickering Barn in Issaquah. The reception - gorgeous. Not a detail went undone. It was perfect and perfectly Ami.

I stayed with my friend Sarah, my senior year roommate at WSU and one of my BFFs. Sarah and I dressed up as Gold Bond Girls our freshman year at WSU...but that's another story for another time.

Sarah was my date to the wedding because JT couldn't make it; things are too nuts at work for him at the moment. Sarah has two adorable kiddos who I was soooo happy to spend time with over the weekend.

We went to Bob's Corn, Maze and Pumpkin Farm, my third pumpkin patch this season, in a third state. How many people can say that? We had a fun time, although it was a bit muddy and we had to use my Google Maps app to get us out of the corn maze. It worked perfectly!

Go Cougs!

 me, Tara and Sarah at the reception

First dance

Eli and Grace. So stinkin' cute. 

Thanks for letting me stay with you and your family, Sarah!


Oct. 25: I'VE COME DOWN WITH THE FLU
I got a flu shot last Thursday. By 8 p.m. that night I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. Luckily it passed in time for Ami's wedding! However, today I felt icky. Just icky. I came home from work, wrapped up in a blanket, drank tea, ate hot soup, turned on the heating pad, put on a thermal shirt and I was still freezing. The bathroom needed to be within easy access at all times asll well. My temp is also hovering around 100.4. Whee... Freakin' flu shot.


SNEAK PEAK -- what's on tap:

Oct. 28 MY BIRTHDAY

• I'm turning 29.
• I still bite my nails. (Although this week I have been doing much better...I think it's because last weekend I changed a nasty diaper for baby Grace.It was a 9-wiper, folks. Nasty.)
• I still live in California. I think our families and we secretly believed we'd be back in WA before I turned 29, but here we are.
• Some ladies coordinated a girls' night at VBar at Santana Row for my birthday Friday night. It'll be fun and I'm honored someone wanted to do that for me -- there was an evite and everything!
• I've been married for 3 years (btw, what business did I have getting married at 25?)
• I'll be 30 in one year. 
• Justin is already 30 and had no sympathy for a story I told him the other day about a mysterious, involuntary noise that rose from deep within a few months ago when it hit me: 30. Thirty is...wow. I certainly don't feel like I'm old enough to be a responsible adult, but I suppose technically I am. Or at least younger people suppose I should be when they hear "30."
• I've always thought I'd have a kid or two by 30. You know, back when I was in my late teens or early 20s and viewed 30-year-olds as being mature, responsible adults who volunteer at preschool with their own kids. We're looking into what all children may entail -- it's semi-terrifying. 
• I've worked at my job in California the same amount of time I worked at my PR job in Seattle. At the time, 2.5 years seemed like an eternity. This time, I don't know where the last 2.5 years have gone...I suppose that says a good thing or two about where I'm working.
• I already received one of my birthday gifts, but I have yet to use it as I'm waiting for my birthday. It's a sewing machine. Don't be surprised if you get an old jean & shirt quilt from me. I've been saving old jeans and t-shirts for years now. 
• I made a jean & shirt quilt in high school/college; it's now our picnic or camping blanket and it's awesome. I used portions of the pants featuring zippers, buttons and pockets and the like...an idea I got from my cousin Connie who used to make jean & shirt blankets, too. 
• Other plans for my sewing machine include: stitching up the armpit of my Australia shirt...it's had a hole in it for about 5 years so I only wear it to bed. I like to stay classy in bed, so the hole has been cramping my style for about 5 years. I'm also going to fix the hem of my khaki pants...the pants that have secretly had duct tape holding the hem up for about 4 years. This is not a joke. It's a tip I learned from a past co-worker, who will remain anonymous. That's right, I have had duct tape in my khaki pants for 4 years. I'm also going to secretly monogram all of JT's underpants. The sewing machine comes with a wide variety of fonts and monogramming functions. If you'd like your underpants monogrammed, send them over with your choice of thread color and I'll get to work.
• As I former PR pro, I should know better than to use digits for any number under 10. Well, this is my blog, I have the flu and I'll do what I want. Ok, ok. I did feel quite ashamed when I read through that previous paragraph and noticed it was littered with digits. Shame shame. I almost went back and fixed everything, but I'm not going to. Not yet, anyway.

Oct. 29: HEATHER'S AWESOME COSTUME BIRTHDAY PARTY.

• Two words: 30 Rock. 

Nov. 2: MY LEFT ACL AND MY COUSIN TURN 11

• Within seconds of the first game of the soccer season, I was attacked by a ferocious wolf. A Wapato wolf wearing the #10. Ok, she wasn't that ferocious, but in my attempt to get the ball passed to another teammate, we ran into each other in mid air, there was a pop and I fell to the ground. I got back up, but fell to the ground. I did that about three times trying to get to the ball, not understanding why I couldn't stand on my own leg. There was no pain, but the leg wasn't working. I'd severed my ACL and torn my meniscus. 
• I had replacement surgery on Nov. 2, 2000. When I awoke from the surgery in the recovery room, I was surrounded by all my loved ones. Imagine with me, if you will...you're in a groggy state, you crack open your eyes and are pretty sure that through all the post-surgery haze you see all your family members: aunts, uncles, grandmother, cousins. The whole lot. A nurse shoves a pill in your mouth that makes you nauseous. You begin to panic, thinking that they for sure amputated your leg on accident, because why else would everyone you know be in the room? Turns out, little sweetie Laynee Michelle was born that same day in the same hospital! They had come to visit the newborn and thought they'd swing on over to see me in recovery. I'll never forget that.

 There is a lot I could say about this picture. The only thing I will say, though, is it's essential to always have a mini SUV around when you have knee surgery.

 This is beautiful little Laynee -- photo from Joe's wedding this last summer. I can't believe she'll be 11. Hi, Laynee! I miss seeing you!

Nov. 11 - 14: THE THOMPSONS COME TO TOWN
Justin's parents haven't been to California since May 2009 so we're excited to entertain them and show them our new place!

A year of lessons

Justin and I have had quite a year! As of December 29th, we've been in California for a year. We rang in 2009 in the hotel in which we were living down in Morgan Hill. This year we rang in 2010 in our apartment in Mountain View and even took a stroll down to Castro Street for a brew at our favorite pub.

To celebrate the start of 2010 we've put together a list of things we've learned in the last year. We'll probably make additions later, but here's a start:

In 2009, Team Thompson learned:

• There are too many people to go somewhere and be alone. Even on a hike or a mountain biking adventure many miles from civilization. There is always at least one other person who thought that was a great place to get away.
• It's best to check the drain before turning on the disposal. Especially if you love your new silverware. Or measuring spoons.
• The horrible smell that takes over the town of Morgan Hill from time to time is from mushrooms. The smell is so vile it almost knocks you out cold...only if you're an out-of-towner. Residents are are apparently immune...similar to how people in the Yakima Valley don't know what stink you're talkin' about when you say it smells like manure.
• How to take a "navy shower" to conserve hot water.
• We are truly blessed. The Lord works in mysterious ways!
• If Christine pays as much attention to our future children as she does to the deck garden plants, she'll be a wonderful mom.
  
• Justin really doesn't, and probably never will, like squash.
  
• Advise your brother not to reciprocate the "mean face" the woman made at the fact that your moving van was kind of in the way at your new apartment complex. Chances are she's your neighbor...
• Dishwashers are a luxury.
• There are no back ways or short cuts in the Bay Area. Everyone else knows them, too.
• Creepers in California follow me around just as much as the creepers in Washington.
• Camping is different in California.
  
• El Toro Brewery in Morgan Hill makes the best burgers.
  
• Never get on a Sicilian's bad side.
• Lizards like to swim, too.
  
• If you've asked Justin to put something away and later you can't find it, look up high, like on top of the wardrobe or hutch. I don't know why...
• Not everyone is amazed with the fact that Oracle, Yahoo, MSFT, Google, Salesforce, IBM, Adobe, etc., etc., are what we call "the sights" around Silicon Valley. I guess you have to be a former Tech PR nerd or technology junkie to truly appreciate these "sights."
• If you and your partner are both over the age of 70, it's mandatory that you wear matching velor suits to Costco. And don't forget your small dog, either.
• You might live 12 miles from work, but it can take 2 hours to get there. Rain or shine.
• Everyone goes to Half Moon Bay during the weekends in October so you should never go to Half Moon Bay at this time. Even if you leave at the crack of dawn. You'll only get there in time to turn around because it'll be dark by the time you get there.
  
• If the sign says Happy Feet Spa, it doesn't mean this is where you go for a pedicure.
  
• It's not a good idea to go to Walmart in Mountain View past dusk on a Sunday.
• Life is short. Love like there is no tomorrow.
  
• Never ask your wife if a Pamprin will help her feel better. Even if you're 100% sure about some things. She'll never, ever think it's appropriate or funny.
  
• People ride horses down the street in Morgan Hill.
• Keep this in mind next time you look at a sink full of dishes:
  

  Thank God for dirty dishes,

  They have a tale to tell.

  While others may go hungry

  When we are eating well.

  With home, health, happiness,

  I shouldn't want to fuss,

  By the stack of evidence,

  God's been very good to us. (Thanks, Aunt Camille!)
  
• Always hold down the pooper tube with your foot while emptying the black tank in an RV.
• And last but not least...it's best to empty the black tank at night, under a veil of darkness, so if the pooper tube does blast out of the hole and splatters fun all over the lot for the neighboring RV, they won't know where it came from.

Yea for visitors!

Hello, blog friends! We've had some visitors in town throughout the last week - it's been great to see some familiar faces and share laughs. To start off the visitor train was my friend "Jenny from Georgia." You may remember the little piece I posted on her a few months ago. She's a dear friend that I met during the semester I studied abroad in Australia. Jen was on a road trip through California with some friends from grad school and their last stop happened to be San Fran! We met up with her in San Fran on Saturday, which was really convenient because we already had plans to go to a WSU Alumni Pub Crawl in the city!

Justin and John - Go Cougs!

We had a great time at the crawl, and Jen was welcomed as an honorary Coug. I saw a gal I was in the Student Alumni Connection with and we also met up with our newlywed buddies John and Emily O'Brien. We made some new friends, too, including a barkeep who is very passionate about The Killers on his iPod. He even gave us a listen. Now we have ear cooties. We finished the night by eating at Nick's Crispy Tacos which is in a building that transforms into a night club after the sun goes down. They make a mean taco! Oh! And John and I spotted Sherry, a former co-worker, at Nick's who had just finished moving into her new SF apartment that day - she moved here from Seattle about 2 weeks ago. Can you say small world?

Jen came back to Mountain View with us that night and the next day we and I grabbed crepes at The Posh Bagel on Castro (leaving JT at home as we needed some serious girl-catch-up time!). Afterward, we headed south to do some wine tasting and site seeing because Jen mentioned they stopped at a winery -- the very first winery she'd been to -- on the way up that was in the middle of the city...no vineyards to be seen...she was a little disappointed so we helped make up for it by visiting wineries in Morgan Hill and Gilroy.

The "backyard" at Clos LaChance winery in San Martin.

Finally Jen got to be up close and personal with the grapes.

Justin is an aspiring fancy photographer :)

Her stay was too short for my liking, but I'll take it! It's not often that I get to see Jen when we live on complete opposite sides of the country...just about as far away from each other as you can get! Come back soon, Jen!

On Wednesday we met up with cousin Drew (Maggie's husband) who was in town on a business trip. We picked him up at his hotel, which was on top of the steepest hill my little Mazda has ever had to ascend, and then had a yummy dinner at Fior D'Italia over a bottle of vino at in San Francisco. It's hard to catch up on everything in a few short hours, but we most definitely enjoyed our time with Drew! Next time we'll have to make sure Maggie accompanies him on his business trip.

Who's coming next???

The Chyterboks do Mountain View

Team Thompson had a fantastic time with the Chyterboks! The weekend went too fast for my liking, but we crammed in all sorts of fun outings and chill time to hold me over for a while.

Our time together was filled with food, sun, refreshments, bizarre buildings, street fairs, snakes, lizards and hide-a-beds. We dined in on Friday and started on Saturday after brekkie we headed south to hit up the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. The Winchester House is a huge, twisted mansion created by Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Winchester, of the Winchester Rifle company. Long story short, Sarah's husband and child passed on rather early and she sought the comfort of a medium for answers. The medium told her that the cause of their deaths was a result of the angry spirits of the Native Americans who had been shot with a Winchester rifle. The medium then told her she was to move out West, buy an unfinished house, consult with the the spirits and continue building on the house for 24 hours a day for the rest of her life to apease these spirits. And that's just what she did for 38 years.

It's massive and mysterious. Most of the rooms include 13 of something - from hooks to spiderweb shapes - as well as doors that lead to no where and staircases that twist and turn so much that you go up more than 100 steps to rise only 9 feet.

Maggie, me and one of the spirits.
(Just kidding)

The staircase to nowhere.

Looking out over the rooftops.

In the front yard.

After the Winchester House we went down to Morgan Hill to show off our old digs...the Coyote Creek RV Resort! Afterward we went to our old hang out, the El Toro Brew Pub, for an El Toro burger (a Team Thompson fav). Then, all of the sudden, the next thing Maggie and I remember is waking up in a movie theater, duct taped to the seats, with toothpicks propping open our eyes. We were being forced to watch Star Trek! Still not sure how we were talked into that one...

Sunday, we went for an early hike to beat the heat. Here we learned techniques for fending off mountain lions should we encounter one.

No fires, no bikes, no smoking, no camping. BTW...there are mountain lions out here. Have fun!

If you were a mountain lion, you'd be scared.

While there weren't any mountain lions, there were plenty of lizards and snakes to keep the boys entertained.

Last weekend was also Mountain View's Ala Carte & Art days so we went out Sunday evening to enjoy the festival in the 100 degree weather. We we most happy in the shade with some ice cold beer :)

You aren't cool unless you're in the khaki pants and dark shirt club.

We loved having they Chyterboks in town and already look forward to the next time.

On a second guest note, this weekend we get to welcome Justin's parents to Mountain View! They're coming down to visit for the first time and also to celebrate JT's birthday a little early. We're excited to have more guests in town and to spend time with more of our family!!