Go Padres

Well, I'm going to admit, I've been a bit boring. Gym in the morning to rehab my ankle by cycling or swimming, then job searching, writing articles for the Examiner, cooking, grocery shopping, and cleaning (because when I don't have a schedule I get OCD and have to clean/organize/color coordinate everything to procrastinate). Boring I know, but job hunting is boring and it's hard to go on fun adventures when you need to be looking for a job and not spending money.
But I have had a few adventures. After going to a few "joke" interviews, you know the "we are a marketing company" but really we are a door-to-door direct marketing company and we think you are a dumb star-y eyed college grad and if we tell you, you can make 6 figures you will eat it up, believe it and join us, well that's not me, but, at least it was practice interviewing. I also attended a networking event put on by Linked OC a Linked-In group for professionals in Orange County. That was fun, who says no to free food and meeting people? I met a few good connections and learned that we don't know a whole lot about social media marketing (in a speech by Brian Solis who wrote Engage, a book on social media marketing), especially how to do it to full advantage and how to measure it's success. It was a successful event for me because I learned some great things, met some awesome people, and had some good food.
Now on to the fun.... the weekend was beautiful down here on the coast, since Nick had PE class, a friend and I had a nice lunch outside in Laguna Beach and then spent some time reading and laying out in the sand, very relaxing, and my second real day of summer. Yes I know summer is technically over, but really, to me it's just begun, now that I can enjoy it. Sunday it was down to San Diego for a Padres game with good friends, the Pad's didn't win but it was still fun, especially, heading to Altitude a roof-top bar near Petco Park for some after game drinks and general harassment of Philly fans, hey, if you are in SD and at a SD bar, wearing a SD hat, of course you get to cut the bar line, duh, the bartender is most likely a SD fan and would rather serve fans. That put some Philly's in their place, they may have won, but locals know how to have more fun.

Still job hunting but things are looking up

I joined a gym this week and life has been so much better. It was torture to not be able to be active. Right now I can only spin (slowly), but I enjoy reading the 4th Outlander book (still addicted Marissa) and I can swim. Oh man have I missed swimming, it's been a few years and since I can't get in the ocean yet, swimming is the next best thing. When you grow up swimming every day, it's hard to be out of water for too long, and it had been way too long out of a pool, nice to be back, although it's a bit tough with the ankle at this time, but it will get stronger in time. I am just so glad to be back!

As for the job hunt, well it's going, I have received a few interviews this time, haven't been stoked completely but, at least I am getting interviews, the economy seems to be looking up. I will land that job soon, I feel it. And as requested by a few of you I have started to write professionally on a part time basis, I am the new Newport Beach community examiner (http://www.examiner.com/beach-community-in-anaheim/katie-peters). I will be writing about events, restaurants, companies, shops, beaches, basically anything of interest as it pertains to  Newport Beach. I make money through web traffic, so every time you click on my page, an article I write, or ads, I get some cash, it's not much but it's a start and I am published (for future job references). So please send the site along to anyone you might think interested or anyone with a lot of free time!

As for the beach, the weather has been amazing here, warm and sunny, can't ask for more, that's why I live here, I really don't think I could live in another state, California is just so amazing.

Happy to be Home, but Frustrated with my Ankle

I can't wait to get to the Doctors tomorrow to get my ankle checked out, this hard splint, which looks like a cast, is killing me, in more ways than one. First, I am an active person and it is KILLING me that I can't do anything but hobble to and from the bathroom, the bedroom, living room, and the kitchen; which is a feat (the kitchen) because the crutches keep me from doing anything when I get there. Ugh. If you can't tell this is the first time in my life I have been off my feet, or hurt this badly at all, I have sprained this ankle about 5 times pretty badly before, but never spent more than a day off my feet, and never had crutches, I was tough. I guess 25 has made me soft, or I just messed it up too badly this time. I hope and pray that they can put something smaller on my ankle, preferably something waterproof so I can at least get some exercise in a pool, even though I keep starting out at the ocean and missing it badly, but I can wait for that, just get me into a pool, please. It's hard enough right now trying to keep it dry in a shower. I just need exercise so I pray I get a waterproof something tomorrow and the okay to drive.

Some of you might wonder, why haven't I called or visited, or set up an appointment when I got back? Well it's because it's my right ankle and I can't drive, but that has got to stop even if I have to teach myself to drive with my left foot. I am really learning the value of patience and testing my new happiness frame of mind, that the past 4 months gave me. I lost out on a job (it didn't pay very well anyways, but it was a job in marketing) because I can't drive yet! Ugh, have another interview for a low paying job this week, but maybe some growth later, so I need to learn to drive so at least I can show up and interview. Oh gosh, just my Irish luck. God is teaching me the virtue of patience, and I'm fighting back and not winning.

As for some good things, I have had a few job call backs, and did get some interviews, so that's a plus. Had a wonderful night out at Cafe Alissa on PCH with Nick on Friday, although, I could have killed him because he made me hobble/crutch my way the 3 blocks to the restaurant and back, but I did need the exercise and it felt good to be out even if my arms hated me. Saturday was a blast, I went with a friend to a college friends bbq and baseball/beer pong tournament. Such fun, and there was another college friend there with a broken right leg too! Buddies, we traded war stories, I hope I don't have a boot on a month from now, although I found out driving left footed isn't too hard. Then I had the surprise of my life, I have never had a surprise party, so I was totally surprised when Nick set up an evening bbq/welcome home party for me, when everyone jumped out behind the counter I was shocked! I am so glad to have a great boyfriend and wonderful friends here. It feels good to be home. 

Reconnecting With Friends and Family

I have to apologize for leaving all of you hanging after returning to California from my UK Trip, I’m Sorry, but I was just having too much fun running around Northern California; that was until someone up top decided I needed to slow down, but more about that later. After returning from the UK 13 days ago, I have been on a non-stop ride that took me from the East Bay to San Francisco, back to the Bay, up to Santa Rosa then out to the Valley and down to Lake McClure and finally taking me off path and landing me back in the Valley. I can’t keep still, even being back, I know, but I know the reason why; according to my cousin my family line has a wondering gene, which would explain my prior inability to settle down in a career that trapped me behind a desk, I would however love to stay in Southern California as long as possible, so here’s hoping I find a great job in marketing quickly, but in the meantime I have free time and people that need to be seen.

So here goes my last 13 day experience in case you were wondering; I had a great dinner and night out with a high school friend out in Walnut Creek where we met the chef of Maria Maria and flirted out way to free drinks and off the menu food, followed up by a night of listening to the 80’s cover band the Spasmatics at Dan’s Sports Bar. Next it was off to San Francisco to reunite with half of my college Peach Street girls at Umami Sushi for a night of catching up and reminiscing of the good old college days. Saturday I spent the evening out with another college friend at Blue Agave in Pleasanton for a reunion, as well as some wedding planning, for her, and some needed venting (gotta love the parents, but also need some time to vent, sorry parents, we still love you). On Sunday, it was up to the North Bay for brunch with my cousins, some wine tasting, new house viewing, a bbq and drinks night. It was nice to catch up especially since my cousins up North were the ones who helped me decide on Argentina for learning Spanish and set me up with friends down there. Monday, I got hit with car trouble, just what I need on my limited budget right now, but Dublin Auto did a great job and fixed my converter cap pack or some car talk for a decent price, although it was a slight hitch in the road for me, but you can never plan things perfectly, I have learned that many times.

My unexpected car troubles kept me in the East Bay a bit longer than I wanted to be, but it worked out in the long run, since I was able to meet my AXO big sister for lunch on Tuesday and a much needed catch up that was, and I was blessed to meet my niece for the first time at my stepsisters, and boy is Milly beautiful, I am so glad I got held up with the car issues, because that extra day was worth it. By Wednesday I was heading off to the Valley (the 99 HWY part) to visit my Grandmother and Aunts, I had a nice day hanging out with them but, I wasn’t ready to sit for too long so I headed out the next day to see and stay at another college friends new house just up the road, we again had much to talk about; wedding planning, for her (I’m not there…yet), the new house, the puppy and just reminiscing; then I was off to Lake McClure for a weekend in the sun and water with my little sister from AXO. It was a great trip of tubing, house boating and the Poker Run up until Saturday afternoon when I managed to sprain my ankle (at the time we thought it might be broken), but I didn’t want the weekend to end early so I grabbed a beer and stuck my foot in the ice chest the rest of the weekend. I had to laugh because her 20 year old cousin was so excited to help me because he did the same thing 2 weeks before, however;  I think he just wanted to be near me as he got to grab my butt to carry me around the boat (gotta love boys). We still had a great trip but, Sunday night, instead of heading south to San Luis Obispo or even out to Tahoe (which was still up in the air) and eventually home to So Cal, I was heading back north to my Grandmothers and a trip to Kaiser that ended in a hard splinted right ankle (they were almost positive it wasn’t broken, but wanted to take preventative measures), needless to say I can’t drive and have been stuck up North, boo. I am lucky to have my Grandmother and Aunt here to take care of me, but all I wanted to do was head home to So Cal, and now it’s going to take me longer, plans just never work out perfectly, at least I am forced to slow down and have no excuse not to apply for jobs. Although, applying for jobs all day long gets depressing and all I want to do is swim and surf, do yoga or spin and see my friends and boyfriend. I have been gone for about month and a half this time (looping my UK trip and Nor Cal trip, and 4.5 months in total) and all I want to do is be down south and settled; I am ready for my own place, a closet to hang my clothes (tired of the suitcase), a job (I need something to feel whole again and productive), a workout routine, and my friends…Soon I will get there, I just need to be patient and God is showing me that for sure with my right ankle, he wanted me to slow down for some reason and I just need to be patient.