a beautiful roller coaster...

It's been nine months since I moved to the east bay, it's been a roller coaster with many unexpected and magical twists, turns, downward spirals and upward climbs along the way.

A LOT has happened in the past nine months, so I'll try to be as concise as possible with my update...

The Robinsons...
In May of 2013, I moved out of mine and Tony's house in Santa Rosa. At that point I had Otis with me the majority of the time. We moved into the guest room at Mike, Jenny and Bea (4 years old) Robinson's place in Emeryville, becoming their extended house guests.

Bea and Otis

Otis and Bea

Garden Day...
As of September, 2013 Tony and I started equal shared custody of Otis, this is when Otis started preschool. Otis attends preschool in Santa Rosa, one and a half days while he's with Tony and attends Garden Day in Berkeley, two mornings, while he's with me. He absolutely loves and is thriving in preschool.

Otis' First Day at Garden Day

Otis' class on Halloween

Otis Art

Valentine for Otis' classmates

 The Gregsons...
About the time I moved in with the Robinson's, I reconnected with a friend from my first "rave" family, Kip Gregson. Kip and I became friends in1996 and lost touch in 2001. When we started communicating again in April of last year, he was living in Capitola, about to move in with his sister (Korin) in San Ramon, in preparation for his son to move in with them. Since Kip and I reconnected, I've become close with his sister Korin, fourteen year old son Omar (who now lives with Kip and Korin) and twelve year old daughter Jennah. Otis and I stayed with Kip and Korin for a month after we left the Robinson's place at the end of September. We tend to spend a fair amount of time with the Gregsons, they've extended their arms and hearts to Otis and me in a warm, accepting and loving way.

Otis and Kip - Kite flying at the Berkeley Marina

Kip and Omar - Kite flying

Otis and his Pirate Ship kite

Otis and Kip

Omar, Kip and Otis

Kip and Otis (weekend before Christmas)

Korin (Kip's sister), Jennah (Kip's daughter), Kip and Omar (Kip's son)

Otis and Omar

Omar, Jennah, me and Kip - New Year's Eve

Otis and Oliver (Omar's Christmas present)

Otis, Kip and Jennah

Otis, Kip and Oliver

Otis wearing Kip's pirate mask

Kip wearing his pirate mask and Otis' pirate hat

Korin, Otis and Oliver, before bedtime

The Bergstroms...
Shortly after my relocation to the east bay, Otis and I started going over to Josh, Molly and Diego (2 years old) Bergstrom's place for dinner and play dates for Otis and Diego, as a means of giving me a break from the long stretches of time I had solo with Otis. Through these weekly visits we all created and deepened already existing bonds. At the end of October, Josh and Molly offered to let Otis and me stay with them in the basement space of their house, located at Triple Point, until the next "right" home presents itself to me. Our time with the Bergstroms and at Triple Point has been amazing. I've gone through the motions of moving in. After not being able to put our clothes away for six months, finally putting them away felt incredible. I have an altar set up and am not living out of boxes anymore. Otis and I share a large room, but our stuff is separated into two areas of the room. It's not the most ideal of situations, but staying with the Bergstroms has made me feel safe, comfortable and supported. I am beyond grateful!

Otis, Diego and Molly - Cargocycling

Otis and Diego

Otis and Molly

Diego and Otis on the train at the Oakland Zoo

Otis and Diego in Diego's new play house

Otis and Diego in Diego's Thomas tent

Diego, Josh and me with my birthday cupcake

The Yoches...
In addition to the Bergstrom's place, Otis and I have also been having weekly dinner play dates with Jeremy, Melissa, Noah (6 years old) and Dylan (3 years old) Yoches, since relocating to the east bay. It's a fine time and have wondered why I ever hesitate in driving to their house, life is always so much easier after we arrive there.

Dylan and Otis at the Oakland Zoo

Otis and Dylan in Yoches' backyard

Otis, Noah and Dylan in Yoches' backyard

Otis, Noah and Dylan

Noah, Dylan and Otis

Halloween Trick of Treating

Otis, Jeremy and Dylan

Dylan and Otis in the pantry

Dylan and Otis in Dylan and Noah's room

Family...
Otis and I have visited my parents in Bend, Oregon a couple times in the past nine months and my mom came down to stay with Otis while I went camping in September. We went up to Bend for Thanksgiving, Greg (my brother), Karen (my sister-in-law) and Devon (my 3 year old nephew) came down from Seattle too, it was a very good time. Devon and Otis had a lot of fun together!

Randy and Otis

Otis and Randy

Otis (eating cookie dough) and Mom

Mom and Otis, putting on his new helmet

Otis (riding his new bike) and Mom

Randy and Otis

Otis and Devon

Otis and Devon

Otis and Mom, waiting to see Santa

Santa, Otis and Devon

Mom and Otis

Mom and Otis

Mom and Otis

Friends...
I've reconnected with a large number of bay area friends in the past nine months and have received an abundant amount of support from my vast network of friends. I feel deeply blessed by those in my community for the love and support they've given Otis and me.

Otis and Lacie

Danny and me at Plunge

Yona, Otis, Sabina and Diego at the Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo outing

Kevin, Trevor, Lacy, Maria, Kip, me and Adam - Dancing for my birthday

Kip...
Kip and I spent quite a bit of time together over the summer, but were very tentative about starting a "relationship". Since then it's become quite obvious we are in a relationship. Kip is my man-friend, main squeeze and partner. He's also a humble, compassionate and considerate man with great integrity and a beautiful spirit, who enjoys life and knows how to have a good time. We have an amazing time together on the dance floor...

Kip and me at Plunge

Me and Kip at the Halloween Sunset Boat Party

Me and Kip before his company holiday party

My birthday dessert at Peter Lowell's in Sebastopol, where Trevor made us a fantastic dinner!

Kip and Me at Bass Cabaret's Valentine's Bonnie and Clyde party

Otis...
Otis is three years old, funny, sweet, agile, fearless, loving and so freakin' adorable it's ridiculous. He's also kind of a pain in the butt sometimes, but really what three year old isn't? He sings all the time, is totally obsessed with pirates, especially Jake and the Neverland Pirates and is fond of fighting stances. He climbs everything and doesn't seem to fear much at all.

Selfie

Drawing on the potty

Otis loves snow people

Otis Playing...
Otis is a super active child, given the nickname "The little tornado" at Garden Day.

Otis sleeping...
Cause, man he's cute when he's sleeping!

Me and Otis...
What can I say? We like each other.

Me...
I'm working for a cabinet maker in Emeryville as an office manager/personal assistant, while Otis attends Garden Day. In addition to working for Treasure Island Woodworks, I've started working for the parents of my friend Mikey and for my friend JP, as a professional organizer, on days when Otis is with Tony. I'm finding this work very rewarding and super fun! If you require some organizing assistance in the bay area, maybe I can help you. I'm enjoying my life as a single mom, still doing yoga and dancing whenever possible!!! Just as I have been going through major transitions over the past nine months, so has my hair.

Now with that giant nine-month update out of the way, I'll be updating this blog with shorter updates about my life and times with Otis and on my own. I have business ventures and so much more in the works!

I hope you're all receiving glorious abundance in your lives...

with love and gratitude,
~melon.