The Light at the End of the Tunnel!

I just wanted to announce that I started my very last course in my Master's Program this week!  Words cannot describe how excited (and anxious) I am to be so close to finishing!  the time has flown by and I have enjoyed this program so very much.

Tomorrow morning I have an interview for a possible internship opportunity.  It is with an organization that focuses on adults with mental illnesses.  They focus on the homeless, including veterans.  It is a program that focuses on these individuals' strengths and help them realize their value and self worth to hopefully help them get back into the world.  One of the examples they use is turning a person who is too afraid to go in and order ice cream into the ice cream parlor's manager.  I loved this analogy and really want to help contribute to the program.  It's going to be rough working full time and working at least 16 hours a week fulfilling my practicum for the program, but I know it will be rewarding and help me put my education to work.

So, until December 11, I hereby resign from having a social life!  And then I will put it on hold at the end of the year while I study for my week long exit exam!  Eek!  I can't believe I almost have my Master's!  I feel so accomplished and know this new path I am taking will be quite the adventure!

I think I'm obsessed.

Here are some more shots from La Jolla Cove. Enjoy! And yes, I am going back again next weekend, third third time in a row!

La Jolla Cove.

La Jolla Cove is a protected marine sanctuary where divers from all over the world come to explore its beauty. I previously posted on our Easter dive there this year and how amazing it was encountering 3 different species of sharks. Well this past weekend, I made it 4 species....

Dover from San Diego Scuba Dive (check out his Facebook page here), after being impressed by mine and Marisa's gill-like breathing (we were underwater for over an hour), suggested we come back in late July-early August to experience the abundance of Leopard Sharks. He told us the secret place to go, also recommending not to pay for a snorkeling or kayaking tour, and it's been on my mind ever since.

This past weekend it happened. I decided it was time to greet these Leopard Sharks and invited my roommate to come along. We made the trek down to San Diego and after waiting for what seemed like a half an hour, finally found a parking spot. We made out way to the lifeguard station and I spoke with one of the dudes about the best spot to find sharks. He basically told us you just have to look and you will find them because they are everywhere! And so were the stingrays (yay)!

My roommate and I swam out a bit and I slowly began to teach her how to snorkel. We saw one shark, but only it's shadow on our way out. I got super excited! After she finally started getting comfortable and we were out for quite a while, my lips completely purple as the water was only 64 degrees and we only had our swimsuits on, we decided it was time to go in. I was pretty bummed having not seen any sharks but the shadow, but I thought it best to not get hypothermia.

We made our way in and that's when I overheard two young boys exclaim, "Look at all the sharks!" in very nervous voices. So what did I do? Well take a guess! Yup! I swam right to those boys! Man, I am so glad I did! The Leopard Sharks were literally everywhere! It was amazing! There were hundreds of them and I was in the middle of it all with my iPhone Watershot housing! I was so excited I didn't care how cold I was! Unfortunately, I didn't get the best pictures or video footage because I was just amazed, but you get the idea. Plus, the sharks loved being in the break of the waves.

I will be going back this weekend and can hopefully capture better pictures!  But for now, enjoy! (By the way, I think this is shark species #12 that I've swam with! I'm checking them off one by one!)

Shark tails.

Poor girl had a hook in her mouth. :(

Watch for the Shovelnose Guitarfish! Oh, it's better of you don't make the video fullscreen.

Diving La Jolla Cove

Easter morning came very early this year.  Marisa came to visit from Hawaii and we decided to to attempt another cold dive here in Southern California.  She was staying with her auntie and cousin in Carlsbad, so we decided to check out a shore dive at La Jolla Cove.  I have only ever gone to Catalina to dive and was impressed the first time.  After all, once you dive through the kelp forest and see the vibrant orange of the Garibaldi, there's not much more excitement.  At least in my 4 dives experienced off Catalina.

I had a lot of anxiety before this dive and I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it was because I wasn't spending Easter with my family.  It was the first Easter each of us had spent separated from other family members.  Or perhaps it was because I was not looking forward to diving in the 55 degree water.  But, we woke up early and drove down to La Jolla to meet our guide, Dover.  He gave us the dive briefing and we geared up then climbed down the 50 something step staircase.

We got in the water, which Dover had informed us that the conditions had not been this good in at least three months!  Perfect diving conditions!  We swam on the surface to the buoy that was 250 yards out.  As we were swimming, masks in the water, we spotted a couple of Horn Sharks!  Maybe this was going to be a good dive!  We had heard about the different sharks that had been spotted the past few days and this was a brilliant way to start the dive!

We descended and our dive really began.  It turned out to be one of our top five favorite dives EVER!  This includes all of Hawaii, Costa Rica, and even The Great Barrier Reef dives!  We saw three different types of sharks we had never seen before, including the Horn Sharks, Soupfin Sharks (or School Sharks), and the amazing Sevengill Shark!  It was a dive meant for spotting sharks and we had great success as we kept encountering them!  It was just amazing!

When we finally surfaced due to how cold we were getting, Dover was just impressed as could be.  He asked us how much air we had left in our tanks.  1300 PSI left.  He then asked us if we knew how long we were down for.  61 minutes!  He told us he has never dove with anyone with such good water times and that we compare and are even better than dive instructors!  He told us we could come back anytime, and although we do not need to dive with him, he would dive with us anytime!  He then told us we could dive with him for free!  Haha!  We went back up to the park where Dover bragged about us to the other divers he knew.  Just brilliant!  Not a bad way to start Easter Sunday! :)

(La Jolla Cove with Sea Lions and Pelicans.)

(Marisa going through some kelp.)

(Self portrait going through some kelp.)

(Garibaldi)

(Dover loved the lobsters.  He pointed out almost every one he could find!)

(Sevengill Shark.)

(I love this picture of the Sevengill.)

(Check out that tail of the Sevengill!  Just amazing!)

Introducing....

Baby Pierson Danger Young, born March 2, 2013 and weighing in at 8.5 lbs., 21 inches.  Pierson is the maiden name of my brother in law, Adam.

Ashely and Adam are very happy with the arrival of their sweet Baby P.  Traci, Gina and I were able to take a road tirp up north to Reno where they are currently living.  We decided to make it this weekend since Kate did not have daycare available the weekend of March 15th.  It was pretty amazing because my dad decided to come out the same weekend (my mom was already there prepping Ashley and supporting her as she always does).  When we were about an hour and a half from Reno, we got a call from my brother, VJ.  He told us he was flying in the following morning to be with all of us!  It was such a lovely surprise!  Meanwhile, Tiffer was totally bummed she couldn't make it, but we took lots of pictures where I was holding a brush as her substitute.  Haha!

Yesterday Pierson turned a month old.  Crazy how it's already been one month!  But not as crazy as my baby sister having a baby!

(Road Trip! Me, Gi, and Traci)

(Sweet Baby P.)

(Meeting Auntie Hollie, the favorite auntie!)

(Sibling reunion without Tiffer.  Me, VJ, Ash, Traci, and Gi.)

(The lovely parents.  Always happy to be in the same area as them!)

2013, A Bittersweet Beginning

I know, I know.  It's been WAY too long!  What have I possibly been doing that is taking up so much of my time that I have none to blog and update the world about my amazing life??  Well, plenty actually!  But before I get into all of that, let me tell you about the biggest change in my life that threw me so fast I had no time to react!  In fact, I think I'm still in shock.

It was mid-December when I got the news: my parents would be moving to Kansas City, Missouri.  What?  Say that again!  Yup, Kansas City, Missouri.  I know!  I was so taken aback I had no time to react.  Not only would my anchor here in Southern California be relocating across the country, but they would be doing it in one month!  And so, early to mid-January, I helped my parents pack up what we could to start a new life in what I found out is considered the midwest.  I went over there everyday to make sure I could spend as much time as possible and now?  Well, it's just strange that they're not at their house.  Thank heavens for all of the amazing ways we can communicate with each other!

And so my family is spreading across the nation (and possibly the seas) as well as growing.  I have another niece and nephew on the way and am so excited to meet them!  Ashley is already 1cm and is doing everything she can to give birth to little Pierson.  Traci is getting the scoop from Ashley so she will know what to expect when she gives birth to little Gracie while they are currently moving to Corona.

And so, I have been busy, mostly with family.  The other part of my life that takes up a majority of it (aside from work) is my Masters Program.  I will be graduating in the spring and am so excited for what lies ahead!

 

Lakes, Buffalos, Sumo Suits and More.

Last month we had our Benincosa family reunion.  Unfortunately, due to miscommunication, my immediate family (sans VJ and his family) ended up making it a week later than the rest of the families. We tried to abide by what was originally planned and even got to meet up with a lot of family!  It was so great visiting Utah and seeing everyone!

The visiting quarters on Hill Air Force Base.

Pop and I went for a quick Safeway run for salads for the potluck we enjoyed with Seanie's family.

Nixie meets Great Gramma Bruderer's puppy.

Tiffer suited up and got ready to Sumo fight!  Nixie and Kate did NOT like the fighting and cried every time it started.

Nixie keeping cool with some ice.

Utah really is a beautiful place.

We found out about the new addition coming to Ash and Adam's family March 2013!

Jady put a lot of thought into what her next drawing would be as the rest of us took a family quiz at Gramma's about the Aunties and Uncles.

Devon and Adam bonded via facial hair.

Ash and I sandwiching that sweet, sweet gramma of ours.

I'm tempted to chop my hair off like Bobbi's!  It is so cute!

We discovered a rad water park on base that was perfect for our hot days!  Jady is professional model here, haha!

Poor white girl trying to get some color at the water park.

The two 1 year olds, Nixie and Kate, battled it out for their favorite auntie's attention!

Jady and I enjoying the sun at the water park whilst modeling.

Antelope Island.  My dad grew up and lived here for years and years and never got to visit.  We made it mandatory and it was gorgeous!  It reminded me of New Zealand, actually!

At the ranch on Antelope Island where cousins Zane and Jady became instant besties.

Bestie cousins Phaidra and Traci (and brand new baby Millie).

Buffalo!  Ok, actually it's a Bison unless you want to be super technical, it's an American Buffalo.

Pine Valley Lake.  The perfect day for a "beach" day!  Mom, Pop and Kate with protective shading.

My view of the lake.

I love reuniting with my stylist because I can get my hair cut!

Reunion with Bobbi and Brandon (from Hawaii) and their kids.

Ash met a new friend in Park City!  Not sure what this intense conversation was about.

We saw a baby moose!  This was my first ever live moose siting!  

Kate loves doing "camera face".

The Salt Lake Temple at Temple Square.