Big Changes

We now live in downtown LA. Terms like culture shock and adventure are understatements. I'm working in a major hospital in the ICU on a travel contract. We're busy exploring the city, catching up on sleep (not... the traffic wakes Josh up at 6:30 every morning. UGH), potty training, meeting new people, and all the other things that come with moving from the mountains to the second largest city in the nation. Wow. What a life experience, and it's only been 3 weeks. I've met people from everywhere... Singapore, Phillipines, Japan, Korea, Columbia, Argentina, Finland, Turkey, France... I can't even remember all the places. It's amazing. We live in a 2-bedroom apartment and since we sold most of our belongings it's not a big deal. Caleb gets to sleep in the second bathroom so he doesn't wake Josh up for his 4 am bottle (which he didn't start demanding until we moved here). But hey, he's only 4 months old so I guess I can't complain. That's the only time he wakes up and then he goes right back to sleep, plus two three-hour naps during the day. So at least one of us is sleeping. Caleb is getting chubby and giggly and is the most calm, adorable baby on the planet. I said the same thing about Josh when he was little. Josh gives me anxiety attacks on a regular basis with his complete lack of fear and his adventurous personality. Oh well, I can't babyproof the world, least of all LA. The kid does not stop running or jumping, which has resulted in many angry ceiling beatings by the tenant who lives beneath us. Oh well. Toddlers will be toddlers. Get some earplugs, dude. A cute college girl just moved in two doors down and she doesn't have a job and is going to babysit for us. I am beyond excited about this! We haven't been on a date (besides the jacuzzi) in three weeks and that's painful for us. I love the friendly, warm nature of most everyone here. There's so much diversity that the general attitude is one of acceptance and sincere interest in others. We've made some cool friends and we spend a lot of time at the pool and jacuzzi. I know this is one long paragraph without many pictures, but I literally haven't even had time to upload my latest batch from my camera yet. I usually want to pass out around 8 pm every day. My job is busy, busy, busy with sick, sick people. Can't say I love labor unions. I think they make nurses lazy. Whatever. I haven't been to Walmart since we moved here, which is a record. The produce here is soooo good. Actually tastes like real food. The other day I bit into a peach and the juices exploded all down my arm. I've had a few strange run-ins with bums. They're really creepy here. Lots of mental illness. I do carry pepper spray in my pocket sometimes. We live in a nicer area of town, right next to the financial district. However, a few blocks in one direction and we're in little Mexico, a few blocks another direction we're in skid row, and a few blocks another direction and we're at the Ritz. Um, yeah. It's a crazy place, LA. Well, I have to work in the morning and I think I'm going to brave the subway again. Here's to growing up, seeing the world, and living a fabulous adventure. I wouldn't have it any other way.