lake merritt!

Lizzie and I biked over to Lake Merritt this afternoon to take in the sights. I think Lake Merritt is like the Minnesota of Oakland. I love it.

theatre
(i'm told this is a landmark)

lizzie is so excited to see this landmark

our favorite wig shop (mustaches also available)

lizzie. lake.

rachel (self portrait). lake.

geese. lake.

FAIRY LAND! this place looks so magical. but grown ups aren't allowed to go by themselves.

in other news ...

my car got broken into (again). this time they took my cd player. boo hoo.
but, thankfully, they left my autographed hanson cd (which is totally way more valuable) ...

GO TWINS!

12-2 Twins! BOOYA!
(for the record, we have plans to become a's fans when the twins leave town. we are traitors.)

decked out with mn pride

it's so sunny before the sun goes down
(and then it's surprisingly cold)

i am excited!

lizzie is excited!

we went to the mrs. doubtfire house!

and did other (less cool) things...

jump around

mrs. doubtfire pose

exploratorium

they are bff now

beaching it:

Amelia is here!

(and we decorated)

the apartment!

With stuff in it!

Roomies in the livingroom

Entertainment
Alena and I originally bought this humongous TV with a VCR built in, which we had to carry as a team ... across a busy street (I imagine this was pretty funny to watch). But, when we got home (and hauled it all the way upstairs) we discovered the cable jack had been completely ripped out. So, we carried it back down stairs (again with the funny), into the car, back across the busy street and back to the thrift store. So, basically, we decided to downsize.

Kitchen

the cutest tea kettle of all time

our luxurious bathroom

my room (plus kitchen)

self portrait in my room (also deluxe "closet")

fancy Ikea bedroom furniture

water heater buddy

Tyler, Adam & Steve, Mr. Fantastic (L to R)

a toast (and clue)

a brief and imageless update

We're pretty much settled in at our apartment. We just need to pick up a few odds and ends before our steady stream of visitors begins (hint, hint). So, all is well on the home front.

In other news, I'm temping at Lonely Planet Publications (you know, the travel books) for the rest of the month, while waiting to hear back on a few more permanent things. But for the time being, I'm having fun & paying the rent.

More (hopefully sooner than) later.