It's been one month since you looked at me

As you read the blog title, keep the Barenake Ladies' song in mind, as I do.

A lot of things can change in a month's time, and they have.  An update on the previous neighbor blog, I've gotten a new apartment, and am enjoying it.  It's great being in the South Bay, where my friends are, my family is close, and even my sister lives like five blocks away.  This place is a lot bigger, and the best thing is the storage.  <-Lame I know, but this was a big deal at the last place.

(yes, this is was my rockin' laptop looks like)

School has begun in two senses, both as a teacher and a student.  I started the clear credential program at MSMC in downtown LA a few weeks ago.  It's going to be couple of semesters of fine tuning work and school, but it's the way it has to be.  I must say I have a lot of nice things to say about the school and its community.  It's like the grad school equivalent of where I work.  Speaking of where I work, our first two weeks are now done, and I'm really feeling confident about this school year.  The staff where I work is amazing, and seeing these systems I implemented last year roll the way they are, has made me happy.  Even though my teaching schedule has intensified with the addition of two classes, it's going back to that dine tuning that will help me find some equilibrium with my pseudo free time.

My summer was intense, no joke there.  I taught summer school, had to set up my new apartment, had to upgrade our equipment at work, and dealt with some family things (will go back to that in a little bit).  However, one of the best things was going to Hawaii this summer.  I'd like to think that I was celebrating the anniversary of my last Hawaii trip.  This time around I got to do some island hopping with going to Oahu with friends and being in Kauai with family.  Oahu was amazing, and even though the original intentions of being there changed, it was great seeing so many people I know and get along with all in one resort in Waikiki.  Not sure how that would happen again, and I'm even amazed it happened in the first place.  We had so much fun, have some great stories we brought back with us.

(Pearl Harbor)

(Waikiki)

It was also great going to Kauai where I have family in Lawai.  We had a great time, I got to meet my cousin-niece, and enjoyed relaxing.  We took it pretty mellow, which is just what I needed before I started school.

(At the Kauai Lighthouse with my awesome fam)

(Getting a late night treat)

Unfortunately, when I got back from Hawaii, things with my family took a bad turn. Shortly after my return, my grandmother, Esperanza, passed away. She was my mother's mother and she passed away suddenly. It all happened so quickly one night.  In a two hour span, the calls I got went from her being sick , to being in a hospital, to passing on.  It was dejavu of the worst possible kind.  My mother saw both of her parents go exactly four months apart.  She lost her father on April 14th and her mother on August 14th.  According to many, and I agree, he came to get her.  It took 24 hours after my grandmother's passing to get my mother to Guatemala, and those 24 hours her intense.  We went all over LA running errands for things my mom had to finalize before she left.  When I dropped her off at LAX, all I could think of was "Wow, I was just here doing the same thing." I have to give my mom kudos though, she kept her game face on given the advice she got from our whole family that she needed to hold it together and that she could let go (or explode) once she got to Guatemala. I still cannot imagine what's going on through her head then and now.  Losing a parent is bad enough, losing both, especially while she was still mourning and grieving over one, is something I can't even phantom dealing with.  The consensus amongst the people I know is that my grandfather came to get my grandmother so that they could spend the rest of their days in the next life together.  I'm keeping a special eye on my mom, as they are sure watching over her.

(My grandmother and I at the temple entrance in Esquipulas, Guatemala)

So my summer had its ups and downs, but keeping my head up and looking forward to what September and the time thereafter will bring.

Boarding

Sitting at my airport gate and my flight has been delayed an hour. What a better than any to catch up on my blogging. My excuses this time around for neglecting my blog vary from work keeping me über busy this past month, my sister having had emergency surgery, moving to a new apartment, and now here I am flying to Hawaii.

New apartment. Got a new place, now I'm in the Southbay, insert personal parade.  I'm glad to not be "in India" and it's been nice to have people over. It's way more people that I've had the entire year in DTLA. The building is older, but the apartment is way roomier.  I love things that the last apartment made me appreciate like storage room, laundry facilities, and my own bathroom (yes!).  It's also in a primo location to walk to many places to get errands done like grocery shopping.  Liking it so far, hope this third move in the last three years last.

Sister. She's doing fine now. She had an emergency surgery for her gallbladder.  She wasn't feeling well for a few days, and when she went to see the doctor, they zoomed her into the operating room.  She's been doing well, but just recently her ex, my niece's father, also went under for a heart and blood pressure condition.  That hospital has sure gotten business from my niece's parents.  He's recovering well, he just needs to watch what he does now. Glad my sister is doing better, even went out and got herself a new car the same weekend I moved.

Hawaii. I'm glad I'm meeting up tons of people who are special to me in a place meant for total enjoyment.  Although the original intention of the trip changed, it's still going to be blast.  As soon as the plane I'm on decides to board, I'm hoping on board to fun! Seeing friends in Oahu and then seeing family in Kauai, heck yeah!

Can't wait.