Burbank Update

A few of you were here not to long ago. It was a lot of fun - Disneyland, the Griffith Park Observatory, lots of food, movies, etc. But I sure did wish Mika's family were here too. You can't really call it an IFR without them. So now, I guess they will have to plan a special trip to come visit me. I bought an Annual Passport for Disneyland and I need to use it a LOT (because those things are not cheap) and I am relying on them to visit so I can plan another trip. I also have so many other places to take them that they'd enjoy. So they just really need to plan a trip out here. Look how much fun it can be:

You guys all got that? Mika, Jessie and Luke need to plan a trip to California? So that I can show them a good time?

Just wanted to make that clear. :)

Anyway, things here have been good. Jake didn't start his job yet (still processing his paperwork, background check, fingerprints, blood tests - its quite a process when you get a city or medical center job). But he should be working by early November. *Fingers crossed* He is learning his way around the bus system though, so that's an adventure. It gives him a little more independence. Except when he gets lost and I have to drive to Pacoima to pick him up. Haha. Not the best neighborhood. He's also enjoying his new apartment quite a bit. Just loves having his own space. It must feel good after living out of a suitcase for the last 6 months.

Paul is back working on season 4 of Gene Simmons Family Jewels and is enjoying it for the most part. He got a couple other job offers (from The Bachelorette and Dancing With The Stars) but feels bad leaving now after all the time he's put into this show. Plus its just so easy at this point, he's not quite ready to take on a new challenge. Once this season is over I'm sure he'll be on to something bigger and better. And hopefully closer to home. Today there was a fire in the canyons and it took him over 2 hours to get to work. What a nightmare. Its days like this that we get the itch to move somewhere quiet and remote. That kind of traffic is seriously such a deal-breaker!

I have been spending my days at home with Gadoo. I've been trying to stick to a routine so I don't just sit around all day. And the days are just flying by. It seems that the school photography job hasn't quite panned out. I got paid for the one day that I worked, but haven't been back since. So I'm still looking for other things. And HomeView still gives me a little bit of work. Next week we are doing our first Trade Show, so that should be interesting.

Paul and I also just enrolled in a photography workshop together. We had our first class last night and it was good. It's a little long, but we get assignments every week and it definitely gives us a focus for the week and a reason to practice taking pictures. So I'm really excited about it. I hope to find more classes like that out there, but they can be a little pricey, so we'll see. This week we have to take portraits, so I think Jake will be modeling for me quite a bit since Gadoo is just about useless.

I guess that's all for us. Hope everyone else is great! Have a good night and a pleasant tomorrow. -PB & J & J & G

3 Cheers for Jaakko!

So I think pretty much everyone knows by now, but I just wanted to write a little blurb about how proud I am of our very own Jake Nuge. He has recently not only acquired a new job at a very prestigious company - UCLA Medical Group - but he has also saved up enough money and made enough friends that he was able to put a hefty down payment on a nice apartment here in Burbank with 2 roommates! He will be working as a clerk in the giant medical offices and living with a couple friends named Graham and Jason. He will have to take a shuttle/bus into work, but not having a car will save him some major dough - especially with the way gas prices are now. So that sort of paid off in the long run, I guess!

When he came to stay with us just 5 months ago, I really did not foresee this type of thing happening. Obviously, since the plan was for him to just stay a few weeks. But we kept him busy all summer and as things started slowing down, he made that big decision for himself to just take a chance. And so far it seems to be paying off! I am just tickled (as Jessie would say) that he is taking a stand for his life. And I know since he is taking these first steps, we will all support him in his venture and help him fill in the blanks wherever he needs. So congratulations to my big, little bro. May he continue his journey into adulthood with faith, a little luck and some major fun!

Love,
Jaana

P.S. The picture is from the day of his job interview - sweet, huh?