East Meets West with a Pitstop in the Middle

We left New York on a rainy Friday morning. It was as if New York loved us so much it tried to make our departure as painful as possible JUST SO we wouldn't feel too terribly sad. The last few months in our beloved city we had a blast filled with friends, food, and adventure, including an "earth" shattering day at city hall.

(this is not me)

That Friday morning we loaded the final pieces into the Uhaul at about 4:00 am and headed out. Now, remember, for the last ten years we have not owned a car in New York and before then we were living in Shanghai and Taipei so, all together, we have not really consistently "driven" for at least 13 years.

It was decided that John would drive while I was his wingwoman navigator. This would have worked just fine, except for the minor details like:

1. I'm horrible at reading maps
2. I am not good at impromptu navigating in case one route does not work out
3. I didn't know that rules of a car do not apply to rules of a truck.

Therefore, I navigated away from the entrance of the bridge that was apparently right by our house, then didn't know how to get us back onto that route so that we could cross the bridge and finally I lead us onto a parkway (which apparently is illegal for trucks) all within the first hour. As you can imagine, the first hour of our trip was filled with short shouts followed by long silences. However, the next twelve hours passed by uneventfully where we talked, played trivial pursuit and listened to NPR.

As we approached hours 14-16 we were now tired, hungry, and nearing the edge of U-haul insanity and decided it was best that we spend the last two hours dreaming quietly in our heads. (me of warm sunny LA in two weeks and John probably of the Iowa beating Penn State the following weekend)

In hindsight, and as a mathematical genius (ha). I found this ratio to be quite good for two people about to get wedded. I mean it was a 16 hour drive where we only needed time outs for 3/16 of those hours which meant that if life follows the same rules as long-distance U-haul driving we would have no problems hanging out 85% of our lifetime together with about 15% spent in daydreaming silence! I like the odds of that.

In Chicago, we were busy getting prepared for the wedding and all it's activities. The rehearsal dinner was put on by my MIL and it was absolutely fantastic. Food was delicious, space looked amazing and most of all I was in love. Most brides don't have the luxury of feeling a sense of surprise and awe at their own wedding, because so many of the decisions and details have been so hemmed and hawed that when the moment arrives it is so expected and perfectly executed. I, on the other hand, showed up on Friday to my very own personal fairy tale....unlimited booze, fabulously catered food and music this girl can get down to. So many of the details were unfolded as the night went on and I loved every minute of it.

(Here I am getting down). Day of the wedding it was sunny and high 70's, which is unexpected in Chicago for October. The wedding went off without a hitch and we I even managed to walk up and back down the aisle without tripping or stumbling over the vows. All in all, it was a very very good weekend.

Following our nuptials, we headed back to Des Moines for a few days where we watched Drive starring my leading man number 2 RG:

side bar: definitely watch this movie on the big screen if you can. It's worth it. After a our DSM visit we headed in a car, then bus, then train back to Naperville where we spent a few days with my family hanging out, eating and definitely some drinking happened.

Early Saturday morning we flew out to LA and we've been west coasters ever since. With all that's happened in the last 3 weeks one would think that we would ease right into this west coast easy breezy lifestyle, but even though the sun, the beaches and our new back yard is nice we still very much miss New York City and our little home in Brooklyn every day.

This is a photo of our backyard path that leads to the beach. It definitely makes the transition from Brooklyn to Marina Del Rey a little easier even if there isn't Uncle Louie at Uncle Louie's ice cream saying hi to me every night when I get home from work.

But for now, I will enjoy the weather, get some of those much needed thank you letters written and blog about our lives from the far West Coast.

Welcome, 歡迎, Bienvenue, Willkommen

We recently got married, and although everyone warned us how all-consuming planning a wedding would be we decided to add on top of that a cross country move (from Brooklyn to Los Angeles), starting a new job (and for myself quitting my job) and getting prepared to move abroad (to Taipei Taiwan in January 2012)

This blog is not only to keep all our loved ones informed of the next few years of our lives but to document and navigate this newlyweds adventures throughout the world.

But beyond sharing our lives with you, we hope that this blog will give us the chance to keep up with what is going on in your lives so please comment, put in requests, and most of of all come and visit.