Here is an update from 'the OC'. We finally have internet and a second to breath while we avoid rush hour traffic...
We like our apartment, it actually feels roomy for a 1bd 1 bath place. We are just a few blocks from the school, and about 1 mile from downtown Brea and 2 miles from downtown Fullerton. The beach is anywhere from a 20 min to 40 min drive depending on the traffic, we are currently experimenting on the best routes to take and what times of the day to avoid certain highways. I have heard it takes awhile to get this down to an exact science. So far the traffic hasn't been too bad...
The weather has been fantastic. Sarah and I have yet to see one cloud in the sky (will we get sick of this?!?). It is confusing watching the weather, because the news channels list a 5-day forecast with three different columns including 'beach', 'the valleys', and 'downtown'. Sarah and I have figured out Fullerton doesn't fall into any of these categories, and our temp here is a few degrees warmer than 'beach', and a few degrees cooler than 'downtown'. We are preparing for a 3 day 'heat wave' - newscasters are 'warning' of weather hitting the mid to high 80s. I'll take it. My favorite part, it gets down to the 60s every night. It is nice to open the windows and have the cool ocean breeze flow into our apartment at night.
I love walking outside and seeing the palm trees/flowers/crazy gnarled tree-like plants all around. The large park across the street is a great oasis. Elsie loves taking walks/runs over there and harasses the ducks who hang out at the lake. You can easily see 'the hills' from Fullerton with a backdrop of beautiful mountains. Interestingly (and to my disappointment), the mountains are occasionally covered by a blue haze in the sky. I first thought 'SMOG!'. The locals have corrected me that this is called 'June Gloom'. This occurs in the summer when the moisture from the ocean avoids cloud formation and rushes towards the mountains. From there it just hangs out - usually clearing by the evening. 'Smog is yellow' I was told. 'Go to LA to see that.' Excuuuuuuuuse me.
I am sure you have all heard about our adventures driving to southern cal, and to new mexico, and back to cali. On the way back I decided to take a route south of flagstaff through sedona and west of phoenix. If you ever have the chance, DO IT! Never seen such scenery driving through the dessert. Fields of those classic cacti and other dessert plants backed up by rocky dry mountains. Very cool!
So far we have been to L.A., newport beach, huntington beach, etc. Today we ran some errands and stopped at a farm about 3 blocks up from our apartment. We bought fresh strawberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, and avocados. All very cheap and VERY GOOD! We decided to take Elsie to 'Dog Beach' today. It was great! She was very confused by the sand and ocean. HUGE waves were pounding the coast today, and we would throw the ball out into the ocean. Elsie would reluctantly go after the ball and try to beat the next incoming wave. Sometimes she would successfully reach the ball in time and book it back to the beach while glancing behind her in fear when she heard the wave coming (VERY FUNNY). Other times, the wave would win, a five foot wave would swallow her, she would disappear and reemerge with a sand and seaweed covered head. The look on her animated face was priceless.
Thanks for reading! Attached are a few pictures of the courtyard at our apartment, one of the stairs leading to our apartment (we are the one directly at the top of the stairs), and some more pictures of our little wet one at Dog Beach.
Enjoy,
Jared
No comments:
Post a Comment