Not Feeling Inspired to Come Up With a Good Title

So the past three weeks I have been very busy and I know it is time for an update.  It is hard to keep up with writing when I am doing so much! So here is the run-down of the past three weeks. 

On Tuesday September 17th I bought a new car! I went from very gratefully driving this manual Ford Escort…

To driving this automatic Honda C-RV

That weekend Friday I was sick and but when Saturday rolled around I was feeling much better.  So I called my friend James and we ended up spontaneously driving downtown and visiting the aquarium, which apparently had more than fish.

On Sundays after church I have had to adjust my family tradition of a big spaghetti dinner with one of going out to eat with a large group at a local restaurant.  It has been great to get to know people and learn about Houston from the very best.  That particular Sunday during lunch I was invited to go on a bike ride that evening and of course I accepted.  So I got a tour of Houston on a leisurely bike ride with a few friends.

I also got into a baking mode that weekend.

The next week I was in Laredo for lease reviews, where basically our team is in the field office and we meet with the field guys to go over our wells and discuss what needs to be done.  All.  Week. Long.  It really wasn’t that bad, but by the end of four days straight of meetings and going out to eat every meal I was ready to be done.  On Friday we drove back to Houston for….Critical Mass!

Critical Mass is a bike ride that they do one Friday a month.  The ride starts and ends at the same place downtown but the route changes each time and only a few people know where it will be.  So basically, you have over a thousand people riding around the streets of Houston (about 20 miles) with lights and music and people cheering and taking pictures and it is really awesome!

Saturday was a chill day and in the evening I went over to a friend’s house for her birthday and we played bingo.  There were a some people from Mexico who were amazed that we Americans had free spaces on our cards.

Sunday after church we ate at a burger place, then we went to a theatre downtown to watch Rush, a movie about racing.  As far as movies go it told a good story, but I don’t think I would watch it again if given the opportunity.  

The following week I went out to Laredo again, this time on my own.  So basically, I got to drive around the Texas ranches in this…

wearing this….

and I got paid to do it.  I love my job.

This is where I get to run when I am in Laredo.

I came back to my apartment on Friday and the pest control people had sprayed so I found a few of these.

On Saturday I went to the Grand Prix IndyCar race with Ruchika.  (My phone died so I don’t have a picture with the car but someone did take one so it is out there, somewhere).

Finally, today after church I went to a Malaysian restaurant with these lovely people and had a wonderful lunch.  I do love the diversity here.        

   Whew, I think that should be all the highlights of the past three weeks. I hope y’all enjoyed the update.       

Goodbye Textbooks Hello Career

Normally this time of year I would be getting settled into my new classes,  probably already be swamped with homework, playing soccer, and generally enjoying my favorite season, fall.  But not this year.  This year there are no more textbooks to buy, no classes to attend, and for the first time in over 10 years, no soccer.  Now I have achieved that high and noble calling that is the whole purpose of schooling.  Now, I have a big-girl job.  So the question is, what have I been doing these past few weeks?  Pause.  On Monday I will have been here a MONTH.  Continue.   

Well, I must say a majority of my time has been spent at work.  Good thing right?  I “wake up” at 5 and leave a little after six.  I get to the office before 6:30 and then I am awake around 7:30.  I work 9 hours a day so with my lunch break I get off about 4:30.

After work I have several options.  One day this week I attended a workout class and plan to do that twice per week.  It is good motivation since I am not training for anything specific right now nor do I have a work-out-buddy.  There are also some running trails behind my apartment that I have utilized several times and thoroughly enjoy.

In addition to some type of exercise there are also a number of life groups I have been visiting.  The Vineyard is the church I have decided to attend here and along with their weekly Sunday services (with worship in English and Spanish!) they have said life groups.  These are small groups of people who meet in homes to worship and pray together.  I must say that with all of the bigness of Houston small groups have been most welcome. 

Note on diversity: there are people from literally all over the world here and it is SO cool. 

What has consumed most of my time the last three weeks has been searching for a car.  Right now I am so very blessed to be borrowing a car from someone from the Vineyard.  However, this cannot last forever and so I have been searching high and low for a reliable, decently priced car. You think with how big Houston is that it would be easy.  Wrong.  I have spent hours on the internet doing research and have test driven over 10 cars on my own as well as gotten the highly esteemed opinion of a most-gracious friend on three of them.  I even practically had a deal until I pulled up an auto-check and found out this sneaky guy was attempting to sell me a salvaged car.  

The good part is I have driven through much of Houston and have a few pictures to share from it:

So, in the moments when I am not working, searching for a car, attending a life group, or working out. I enjoy my apartment and making smoothies and dinner and playing my guitar and reading my bible and praying in the peacefulness of my own space amidst a city that never seems to stop.

  

So yep, that’s what happens when school doesn’t exist.

My New Home

This past week I was out in the field from Tuesday to Friday.  I got to go to one of my own wells and track a plunger and shoot a fluid level the first day, and the next day we went to see all of the different well surface equipment that we use.  It was a good time, but I realized when I pulled in my driveway that I had missed my place, and it was good to be back.  I wouldn’t call it home yet, but it is my space, my get-away, and I really like it.  Saturday I was supposed to go to Dallas but the car I am borrowing started making some strange noises so I decided to put that trip off.  So I took the time to officially finish unpacking and organizing so I thought I would  share some pictures of my new place.