The Move to California, Part III: Road Trip Across the U.S.A...again

For those of you who don't know already, I graduated! You can read about the ceremonies here.

After graduation, Matt and I still needed to drive my car from New Jersey to California. 

Depending on your personality, this could either sound like a wonderful opportunity or a total bummer. I felt like it was a wonderful opportunity. 

Matt and I had already driven across America with a giant moving truck (while towing his Jeep), so I was sure that this trip was going to be MUCH easier in comparison. And, thankfully, it was.

Rather than go through all of the details of our trip, I thought I would post some of my favorite photos from our travels. 

Ohio

Making our one and only stop in Ohio. After years of waiting, I finally got to try Skyline Chili!

You know it. 

Aw yeah. 129 percent pure awesome-ness.

Illinois 

 

Adorable display of settlers traveling by wagon at the Museum of the Grand Prairie. 

The dairy cow was my favorite. 

 

A nearby garden. 

With beautiful lotus flowers. 

A covered bridge. Obviously.

A dude rocking overalls on a motorcycle.

Missouri

Our first view of the St. Louis Arch. 

A wise command. Also, drink CocaCola!

Matt taking a pause while exploring the slightly disturbing City Museum. 

Matt and Drew sampling the famous St. Louis pizza. We were not impressed. Sorry, St. Louis.

 An avian friend of whom I took far too many photos. 

 A stunning wall of windows at the Washington University of St. Louis.

The best pecan pie I have ever eaten. It was chocolate pecan. I know we ordered other things but this dessert is what made the strongest impression. If you are visiting St. Louis, I command highly recommend that you go to Winslow's Home.

Listening to the incredible Kim Massie perform. Amazingly talented lady.

Kansas

 Stopping for lunch at an idyllic barbeque restaurant. 

  Although I felt like I was in an Alison Krauss music video, we discovered that THREE cars were broken into while we were eating our meal. Appearances can be deceiving...

Colorado

Visiting wonderful friends in Denver. 

Matt and Isaac having fun.  

Catching glimpses of buffalo as we drove through the state.

Utah 

A picture says a thousand words.

 If you look hard, you can see a tiny speck of black clothing...that is Matt in the distance!

 Being up early enough to see the sunrise. 

Small town Main Street. 

The staggering beauty and strangeness of Bryce Canyon. 

The cutest tourist I saw the entire trip. 

All in all, it was a wonderful trip. I think the talented Mr. Guthrie can articulate what I feel after driving across the US for the second time: 

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California, to the New York Island;

From the redwood forest, to the gulf stream waters: 

This land was made for you and me. 

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,

I saw above me that endless skyway:

I saw below me that golden valley:

This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps

To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;

And all around me a voice was sounding:

This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,

And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,

As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:

This land was made for you and me.

The Move to California, Part II: Moving In

Although I felt as though Matt and I had accomplished something of epic proportions by trekking across the country with all of our possessions in tow (go here if you want to read about it), and believed that we had earned the right to celebrate our achievement by lounging around in pajamas until noon for a few days, this is not how moving works. Alas. 


Fortunately for us, we had some help. Look at these muscle men!

My dad, brother, good friend David, and Matt did all of the heavy lifting. Between the four guys, the unloading went quickly and smoothly. Thanks so much, you guys! Meanwhile, my mom and I supervised. :)




Once we got everything into the apartment, we realized how much work was ahead of us, in terms of unpacking and setting up our apartment. This is what we saw:

 Entry

Kitchen

Living Room

Dining area

Guest bedroom

Our bedroom

As you can tell, these are the "before" pictures of the apartment. I will be posting the "during" and "after" photos within the next few days. 


Can you stand the suspense?! 

New apartment!

So, again, I must apologize for the long absence. School, work, commuting, moving, and planning to move across the country really cut into one's free time. 


Anyway, let's just skip the preamble and cut right to the chase. Although we are going to continue looking (in the event that we discover a rent-free townhouse), Matt and I think that we have found our new apartment! Thanks to my parents- they were the boots-on-the-ground reason we were able to find a place at all. Thanks so much for your help, guys!


Although I won't feel like it is completely ours until I cross the threshold, I wanted to post photos so that everyone (who am I kidding? So that Matt's mom and my grandparents) could see what will very likely be our new digs.


So here it is...

Our apartment is the on the second floor, right behind the palm branches (just follow the graceful arm gestures of our lovely realtor).


Next, the pool:

And the koi pond!

Moving inside- the (tiny) dining area....

The kitchen...

The bathroom (or, as the French say, la salle de bain)...

The shower...

And one of the two bedrooms (you're seeing a reflection in the sliding doors):

Also, while it is not included in the photos, there is a large living room with two big windows- yay for natural light!


Although it is not quite as glamorous as, say, Versailles, or the Taj Mahal, I think Matt and I will be quite happy here. And, with our extra bedroom, we can't wait to have visitors. 


Because who doesn't want to visit southern California?!