We would really like to believe that the country at large – more specifically any part of the country we might come to live – is past living in fear of the Coronavirus. I could go on about how the fear has caused damage rivaling that of the virus itself (and probably will in a…
On the 4th of July, we went to a BBQ with friends and family for the first time in two years. We had a lot of fun getting to catch up and see the fireworks. And as always when people gather together, they ask questions about how you’re doing or what is going on in…
One of the things that we will miss about California, and hope we can find in our new home at least to some degree, is the variety of food we’ve enjoyed having access to. We didn’t realize how special the dining experience can be here until we started looking at some other parts of the…
Trigger warning: this post mentions depression and suicidal ideation. 4 more weeks until I go under the knife for weightloss surgery. 27 days, 15 hours, and approximately 2 minutes. But who’s counting? I feel like I’m writing one of those monologues that start with the record scratch and the narrator says, “Yep, that’s me. I…
When we started looking for new states to live, I would not have originally put Minnesota on our short list. Somehow, when we started looking at places to live outside of California, we found ourselves eschewing neighboring Nevada and Arizona because of their hot, dry climate (and neighboring Oregon because of its political climate). One…
Parenthood is tough. Nobody in the world would disagree with this statement, but what happens when a mom or dad says “I need a break”? If you’re surrounded by rational adults, you’ll receive sympathy, validation, or even an offer from the listener to provide said break. But a lot of times, that’s not the reaction…
I really like Irish & Celtic-inspired music, to the point that I might have a St. Patrick’s Day playlist going on my phone at any given time of the year. On one of these the other day, they played the song “Goodbye Mrs. Durkin,” as sung by the Dubliners. There’s a lot of old Irish…
So many times in this struggle that Mr. Alias and I find ourselves in, it can feel like God has abandoned us. We pray every day, multiple times a day, and yet the message always seems to be “wait.” Wait for the right time to find a better job. After applying, wait for what feels…
Just like this blog, our lives are also a work in progress. I’m not 100% sure how to preface this blog; it’s going to be written by myself and my husband, Mr. Alias. We’re trying to find a lot of things in life: ourselves, our passions, a way to escape California, and how to obtain…