my REAR VIEW mirror…It blows my mind out, as the Tornado no longer says, Ive been in OAKLAND for six weeks.
It feels as though it’s the perfect time to look backward (fleetingly! ephemerally!!) take stock and see how well I did (or didnt do) with those lies I told myself back in Austin.
I give you my OAKtown musings. (Too long. Too rambling. You’ll have that.)
one.small.example.I freakin love the PEOPLE diversity. I’d thought Austin was diverse. Everyone informed me Id adore the diversity in Oakland & I noticed it the moment we stepped off the plane. Our Jew-By-Choice, tattooed/Born-A-Jew, & Jewtemalan trio is quite the boring family in our new town….and I love it!
we are sooooo dull.I love the people. From the moment we deplaned & the child was presented with this to last week when we were both invited on a spontaneous play date— the people in Oakland are friendly and welcoming.Oakland is me. For myriad reasons. All crystallized in the fact there’s very little emphasis on the trappings of the vessel. No need to be fancy. Fantastic if you choose to always look amazeatastic. The vibe is completely (all together now) those who mind dont matter and those who matter dont mind.
Im myself…and thats ok!Im finding my Cheers. I joined a gym. Less for the exercise experience (Im still PLAYout at home mcgee) and *all* for the stop working, get out of the house & see other people! factor. The other morning (brace yourselves) a member remembered my name. Small victories, People. Small victories.
l’chaim!We’ve found our tribe. Oakland doesnt BAT the proverbial EYELASH at the fact we’re a motley crew of none-too-religious Jews. We’re spiritual. They’re accepting. We’ve found our tribe.
how misfits celebrate SabbathThere are many members of my other tribe(s) here, too. (throws up GLUTEN FREE gang-sign) Ren Man was perplexed by my excitement at discovering the below in a movie theater concession stand (given the fact Im still not eating processed). For me it was yet another sign how inclusive my new home is.
GF at a movie theater?!Ive gots an office! There is a Starbucks close by. We all know Id not be one to write at a Starbucks. Not my spirit. Ive found my coffeeCHEERS and it has free wi-fi.
misfit office. no.cal.branchMy yammerings of LOVE *aside*—-Ive been whining.
Complaining.
LAMENTING.
There are two things about my new town I cannot (yet) seem to let go:
the cold and the smoosh.
The former I *think* Ive gotten the hang of dressing properly for.
The latter Im confident I’ll grow accustomed to (Texas = spacious. Who knew I adored it so?).
I shall learn to navigate the smooshed-situation or trade in my vehicle for a….an…uh something which is coming soon and I cannot divulge yet. (<—-foreshadowing!!)
Narrow streets. Big car.The chill Ive embraced.
Ive learned the fact Ive surrendered flipflops & tank tops does not mean Im not myself.
we’ve bundled
Im still myself.
Id forgotten how I LOVE TIGHTS!
we create our *own* color
now it’s NEVER too hot for this under clothes!
I bring my own blue skiesStill, more days than not, youll find me wearing this under my layers.:
Im here for the proverbial LONG HAUL as evidenced by the fact I have tattoo plans.
This.
Next year.
On my ONE-YEAR-OAKtown-resident-’iversary (just the oak tree):
Hanging out with Cooper
Biking with Claire
Playing with Mae-Moo
Helping potty train the Luca Duke
Sliding and swinging with Luca and Claire. 
I still love to slide down a big old metal slide. I'm also teaching Claire to swing. You know how many muscles it takes to swing? Pull back with your arms, stretch your legs out going up and back going down, repeat for 10 minutes. Takes some calf and ab strength, I tell you what. We found an old school slide the other day. The metal kind with steep stairs and hardly any guide rail. The three of us climbed up the stairs and slid down without falling on our butts at least 20 times. I had to bribe them with bubbles (“Let’s go blow bubbles at Grammy’s!!”) to get them to stop. 
I hope this finds you enjoying your spring, too. I wish you the joy of a slide and a good swing. I’ll be in touch soon. Promise :) 
Debbie will challenge you to burn the maximum calories and reshape your body using Slim Training (expecially for your thighs, arms and buttocks!). Make sure you have first completed the first two phases of the "Slim in 6" program.
On the heels of the bestselling success of his low-calorie Now Eat This! cookbook, Rocco Dispirito expands his brand with a weight-loss program guaranteed to produce maximum results with minimum effort.