You just can't beat San Diego beaches

Last week, Steve and I went for a walk at Torrey Pines Beach in La Jolla at sunset. We saw some dolphins (which, for the record, I enjoy watching from the shore or petting at Sea World, but not swimming anywhere in a 1/2-mile radius from me when I'm in the ocean). It's amazing that I only live like 15 minutes from these incredible beaches--and so sad that I rarely get to enjoy them.

I've been staying pretty busy with work. I really enjoy my job at Triathlete, and I feel like I'm starting to pick up the lingo. I bet in a month or two, I'd be able to talk traithlon with anyone. Also, I got a short story published on the website yesterday about a former NFL lineman who now races in triathlons for charity. (I'm not sure how long that link will be live, though.)

And in the last month, I've had five stories run in the North County Times. The one I enjoyed most was about a woman who was raised in Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge regime, was forced into slave labor as a child and then her father was beheaded and her grandparents died of starvation. Now she's a doctor in Southern California and just wrote a book. She was so sweet -- she kept emailing me to check on how the story was going, and then told me that I conducted my interview like a professional, experienced writer rather than someone fresh out of college.

Steve and I are both busy with work, but we get to see each other a fair amount, despite being in a semi-long distance relationship (San Diego to east Escondido is quite the drive). Next week is our last week of work before we take a week-long vacation in Brookings, Ore., with my whole family to celebrate my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary. I think it'll be very relaxing.

Welcome to the working world

After driving about 5,000 miles in a month, I moved officially to San Diego and started my life as a working adult. I was already working as a wedding server on the weekends in Fallbrook and freelancing for the North County Times (I've had two stories run so far -- one about a missions fundraiser and one about a new rabbi at a temple in North County.) But my third job as an editorial assistant at Triathlete magazine started two weeks ago. It's my first 9 to 5 office job, and it's in my industry -- such a blessing! The job is actually an internship and only 24 hours a week, but it's actually really nice because there's not so much pressure on me. My editor, Somyr (pronounced Summer), is a great teacher and views this as a learning experience. Plus, they're giving me a few writing assignments, which is more than the last intern got to do. I love that they keep me busy those 24 hours a week, and that they're actually using me, which is different than other internships I've had.

After my first day of work, I hung out with Steve, and he bought a bottle of wine to share (to go with our leftover spaghetti) as a congratulations for finishing my first day of real work. He told me, "There's no turning back. Welcome to the working world."


On the 4th of July, Steve and I hung out in the scorching Escondido weather (I realize it's not that hot compared to Texas, but he's also not using air conditioning). Then we went to a sushi dinner in Del Mar with some friends (sushi on 4th of July felt a little weird and unpatriotic, but it was delicious). I really wanted to see fireworks, even though the rest of the group didn't, so Steve and I headed back to Escondido, parked in a parking lot in downtown, and watched the fireworks from the bed of his truck. We had a warm Mexican blanket and some Starbucks because it had cooled down about 30 degrees since the afternoon. Our friends Chris and Tiff, who live nearby, drove over to watch the Grape Day Park fireworks with us. Then we made a quick getaway and beat all the traffic. That may turn into a tradition.