Time for an update.

I realized that it's been a long time since I've filled everybody in on our beeswax so here is the latest scoop on our busy life!

Well, today is August 7th, and we're moving on August 30th, Labor Day weekend, (and my birthday! lame!). It's coming up very quickly. We really only have 3 more weeks to get ready and pack up the apartment, because on the 24th, we are taking a trip up to Oregon to visit my grandma and enjoy the beautiful, green, COOL forrestland. It will probably be my birthday vacation. (It makes me wonder if Brett's got any tricks up his sleeve!) I'm really excited for this trip because I haven't been to my grandma's farm in years. She keeps trying to sell it, so I need to hurry up and take Brett up there so I can show him what was such a huge part of my childhood.

We are about 80% sure that we've found our apartment. It will actually be in Marina, which is right next door to Monterey, and it's right on the beach, which is slightly awesome. Our apartment (if we get it) will be just a few blocks from the beach. The cool thing about Monterey Bay is that Monterey and all the other little towns near it are all right on the bay, so wherever you are, you are no more than ten minutes or so from the beach. The lame thing about Monterey Bay is that because everything is so close to the beach, you pay for it in rent. Even little, dumpy places cost a ton of money to rent, probably because of the beach views and access, so we were having a hard time finding a place. One bedroom apartments generally start at $1100, and two-bedrooms (which we need) start at at least $1200 but most are closer to $1400. Hardly any of the places allow pets, and if they do, they charge you a huge pet deposit and pet rent. We were lucky to come across this little apartment complex in Marina where the two-bedrooms are only $1000, AND they allow pets with a smaller pet deposit. They're not the nicest apartments ever, and they're pretty old, but they're clean and appear safe. And again, its RIGHT BY THE BEACH. Hello! So anyway, keep us in your prayers that the two-bedroom will be available for us when we move!

I'm pretty excited to not work two jobs anymore. Well, at least, I think I won't be working two jobs. Hopefully only one job so that I can put more time and energy into my photography business. The plan is that I'll be able to quit my day job sooner than later and be a full-fledged professional photographer. Aaaaah, it will be so nice to have my own business and not have to answer to a boss or clock in anywhere! I can't wait! Until then, I'm thinking about getting a job at a photography store, because, well, that would be perfect for me. I could learn a lot about photography and maybe get a good discount!

We've seen some pictures of the new Islands where Brett will be working, and we've visited the mall where it will be. It's going to be a REALLY nice restaurant, and its in a really nice, higher-class mall. The restaurant will have a different feel to it than the other Islands', which are really casual. This one's going to fit in with the mall. Brett has met all of his co-managers, and they all seem pretty cool.

I am getting so stressed out just thinking about everything we have to do before we move. And I have to be working 2 jobs during the next three weeks. On top of that, I stuidly took on five, that's right FIVE shoots in the last few weeks, which I've not even had time to barely touch. That just goes to show me how time consuming my business will be, so I'm going to have to work hard to make it lucrative enough that I can quit my day job and only do photography. GAAAAHHHH!! I just try not to think about it. But, I am excited for this big change in our life and the new beginnings that it will bring us! Wish us luck!

What a woman!

Happy Birthday to Lissy! She's 23 today, which means that I'll be 23 in 27 days. Check out this woman! I took 407 pictures of her a few days ago, and these are a couple of my favorites. Unfortunately, my photography blog will have to wait a few weeks for a post on her shoot as I have four - count them: 4! - other shoots that I'm working on, plus working two jobs and getting ready to move in less than a month. Ugh. Why can't there be like 50 hours per each day rather than a measley 24? Suck!

Anyway, I quite like Lissy. She's been my best friend since I was 6 years old, and we also happen to be (distant) cousins. We've been through thick and thin together, and have many years to come of more thick and thin. Hopefully, though, it will be thick wallets and thin bodies together from here on out! Hehe... Love you, Lis! I hope Dan and the puppy are treating you right today!