Crashing California

On the 27th San Diego area had a 'winter storm', which really was quite stormy, pass through the area. Us being the 'newbies' in the area decided we wanted to drive to the ocean again to check out the surf, since it'd be just magnificent ... There are a couple new hazzards to enjoy. Palm leaves are actually like branches that absolutely litter the ground with debris, and when you drive over them it's like you're running over something you shouldn't. and you can't avoid them either! The winds were INSANE on the coast. The paper reported that they haven't seen winds like that in years. They reached gusts of 40mph (which when you are standing in them, on a rocky coast, is very, very, strong) When we move into our new little apt. we will be just minutes from these photos. It's right in our neighborhood =) --------------------------------- On a different note: I am really looking forward to getting into my own space and the reality that we are a...

Well, so ends our first Christmas 'sans' family, or as the Spanish say .. ' con hacia fuera'. (according to the translator on jay's MAC...) We spent Christmas eve with friendly strangers (which pretty much encompasses how we've been living lately anyways.) We were graciously invited over to a pastor's home for finger foods and fellowship with some others our age who attend our host families church. It was a warm, fun time, filled with laughing children and (Jay's highlight) a Ducati (Ferrari Motorcycle) owned by the pastor himself. Jay has lovingly coined him as the 'fastest pastor in California'. Incidentally, motorcycles are great for getting around the more populated areas here, since it's totally legal for them to drive in between the lanes when the rest of traffic is bumper 2 bumper... so now I fear Jay has a motorcycle bug in his brain... Christmas Day was a relaxing drive around the beachie area's near where we'll be living (i...

As we sit on the eve of the most joyous holiday of the year. For me It seems to bring a magnifying glass upon the things of the world that we'd much sooner forget... Not being surrounded by the beauty of the winter wonderland, the close presence of family and friends, sending wonderful wellwishes and bringing cookies to co-workers. The sound of Christmas music echoing down the halls of a decorated mallway, where we hustle amid the other shoppers anxious to get that 'most special' gift for our special someone, and secretly wonder what we will get in return. These things are but a Christmas "what perhaps it should be" memory, and lucidity. Instead, here I sit, thousands of miles (in more than a geographic sense) from my 'percieved' Christmas Spirit -- which really isn't 'Christmas Spirit ' at all. Instead I read about wars, soldiers who aren't coming home, and those who can't come home, for death has separated them from this world and pr...

Yesterday we had Christmas -- for ourselves -- courtesy of the friendly, neighborhood San Diego IKEA store. Being that when we moved down here we got rid of pretty much everything that we owned (selling, giving it away, or giving it to people to store...thank you mum!) we had nothing but duffles full of clothes, and guitars (and computers...) so needless to say, we needed pretty much everything under the sun to make a home again. And let me tell you, it's actually a really neat experience to go into a home furnishing store and actually NEED stuff, (usually you just shop and don't really NEED stuff, or at least I did) Anyways, WE MADE A HAUL -- I am happy to say, we furnished ourselves (minus the 'big' items like bed/couch/desk stuff) for $417.00! Our bill was like, seriously three feet long! But we had so much fun, and bought so many cool things for SUPER cheap. My fav. purchase is a Crazy carpet, apptly named "VORK" in IKEA-SPEAK. Only $12.50 ea. so we got 4 ...

We spent the weekend shopping for furniture at various stores, includeing IKEA (we immediately felt at home, in a strange sort of way) and on Sunday went to see our place again... They have palm trees everywhere, (see first photo) mostly in places where I think they feel like they need to create a certain "Californian Consumer Ambience" Anyways, in an attemp to show what our view looks like, here is a snapshot, still does not do justice to the view Click the photo to enlarge our view (live from our window...)

I have come to a self conclusion today and it only took me three weeks to get here. At a time when I am now removed pretty much completely from family and friends (aside from Jay, who has had to put up with me the last little while quite patiently) I have had to remove myself from home and possessions, self expression (being able to create art) and worship (I've been sick and have lost my voice) I found myself at a place where I felt bare and pretty much emptied of all the things which I 'thought' had held me together, and the only glue I've had to hold the pieces of me which are left is God. It is a strange place, and sad at first, and I've been stuck in the 'feel sorry for myself - pitty party' until this morning. I went for a walk around the area we're staying in and just really cried out and I realized that God is enough, not only that but He wants to be nothing less than completely fullfilling to us. He alone wants to be the provider, sustainer, giv...

Today was indeed a busy day for the Huzils =) I have been sick for the past couple days and was totally bedridden last night at about 7:30 on to this morning, but I'm feeling tads better (with the aid of Halls -- sidebar -- did you know you can't buy Halls in corner stores here, just pharmacy's? And they keep them waaaaay on the top shelf? You can't buy Smarties here either, but that's besides the point) So, anyways, today was Jay's interview with Taylor Guitars up in El Cajon (pronounced ' el cahone') and it went very well. They've already contacted him for a second interview, it's a good job to get us on our feet (not to mention it has full medical benifits as well) and Jay is excited about being able to say he worked for Taylor. His next interview is Thursday at 4pm. Today, we also visited the Point Loma Towers to give the rest of our 'first installment' of the damage deposit -- which means , yes, we've decided to live there -- yay...

Today I am feeling a little homesick -- and actually sick. I seem to have picked up a chest-weird-cough thing, go figure, so my voice super sucks today (I sound like a man) and the last couple days I've just felt tired and drained of all energy. Today we went to the same church as last week and the sermon was pretty good. It's a great church, I wish I could be more 'enthused' about it, but my sick makes me just quietly greatful that we've been able to attend the last two weeks. Next Sunday we'll check out this other church I am really looking forward to, it's the only church that responded to my "hey, we're Canadians moving to California...please read this!" letter. So I'm looking forward to that, I hope that I feel better really soon, usually sick doesn't stay with me to often...but that's besides the point. Yesterday night we celebrated, with our host family (the Hayes) and about 16 other people, Rene's 50th birthday. It was a...

The last couple days have been long and busy for me... -- Inbetween trying to get ourselves approved for renting our little place in Point Loma (which we still don't know if we'll get it or not. this includes alot of driving...ALOT...back and forth, too and fro, but I do believe we're actually getting the hang of the I15 to the 163 to the I8, and back again..) -- trying to keep up with my various work items (LLN and BF and some others too boot) -- and trying, desperately almost, to get out everyday and actually enjoy the sunshine here (even though, yes, I know, it's winter here, seems surreal still). We've met some interesting people in the last week or so (and maybe it's just because my senses are on high alert with the new places/new faces syndrome) but we've met SOOO many very nice people, many different people, with such AMAZING personalities, some 'super californian-surfer' types. Some wonderfully talkative Mexican's, a beautiful African la...

So nothing says Christmas like sparklie palm tree with present decorations at your neighborhood car dealer... oh, wait, what, you say... what about snow? Cold weather? Bitter wind? Hey dude -- we're in San Diego! k sorry, had to gloat alittle.. (sorry mom) Today (Saturday) Jay and I got out and did some Apartment shopping (yay!) having absolutely NO idea where to start, we had checked out some cool stuff on the internet and decided to check it out. Our first stop, Chula Vista, south of the 8, we checked out this little place that looked actually totally quaint from the photos, (but we discovered pretty fast that everything, even dumpie, divey disasters look quaint) we exited Chula Vista after our first stop (when I decided I didn't want to live in little mexicalla with the chachi's and pitbulls, rusty tubs and NO air conditioning) Our next stop was ALOT more favourable, in fact we're debating actually living there, the area is called Point Loma, it's basically a fi...