Where to begin!

Today was a good day in San Diego. Charlie came home from 2 days on the ship tonight, so that was obviously the best part of the day...but aside from that, I did get a lot done too. I spent what felt like forever, searching and researching all the million things I have to do for my California teaching credential (that's what you need to be a teacher here and of course, it's super complicated) and making a list of all of them. One check mark at a time California, you and me. None of them are surprising but it's different now, I am actually here and need to do all of them. Oh National Board scores where are you? I don't want December to be here though(thats when I find out), so I'll deal with not knowing and and enjoy the rest of the summer.

Thats my map. I look at each day (I can zoom). No really, I do. Ha ha. It's part of my daily routine right now because the first few days I was here I felt like I didn't have any sense of direction, but Charlie says "just remember west coast." That really helps! Duh! I am just trying to learn where all the different areas are so when I hear or read about them I have an idea of how far away that is. For now, I'm focusing on Mission Valley (where we are) and Hillcrest (where everything I want to know how to get to is: farmers market, Trader Joe's Whole Foods...the list goes on.) Actually, in just a few days, I feel much better. Except I feel like everyone is like "whoa that car is from Maine." Yes. It. Is. <3

 My first solo driving mission, with Barrett,  (that is the name my car earned on her cross country adventure, it's her color, Barretts Blue and any car that goes from ME to CA deserves a name)  and without Charlie, was to the above mentioned Trader Joe's. We have a Ralph's supermarket about 3 minutes, maybe a mile,  away but I wanted to go to Trader Joe's! So I googled mapped it on my phone and followed the directions. I did get there. But it was so much more complicated than it needed to be. I have since made my own, much more friendly, route. Which just so happens to go by the location of one of the best rated SD farmer's markets! Score! I was so happy when I discovered this. Best part - I already knew how to get there! The Hillcrest Farmer's Market happens every Sunday, from 9-2. And it is awesome! Charlie and I went on a farmers market date this past Sunday. We went early and got great parking and wandered up and down the rows of vendors (so many! 125-140 on any given Sunday.) I saw everything from organic cotton sheet sets to gigantic avocados. I sampled green smoothies (all the rage here too), pecan encrusted cheese, grapes (yum!) and this spicy garlic hummus that was amazing and peaches, delicous peaches. We bought all of our veggies (including micro greens, my fav) and fruit for the week and a loaf of bread by "Charlie's Bakery." We had to. Next time we'll go later in the morning so we are hungry and can get something at one of the many food trucks that were there. Yay! I think the food trucks are so cool. I downloaded an app that tells me where they are each day. I haven't been to any yet, but it's fun anyway.  Here are a few photos from the market.

Next time, I'll get to the trip across the country and I want to share pics from my last week in Maine because it was so great. But for now, I say goodnight.