Meet "To Oikos"

A little about our little oikos ("to oikos" meaning "the family" in Greek).

I am a thirtysomething woman born and raised on the West Coast--primarily in California.  I'm the oldest in a very blended family (all told, between step siblings and half-siblings, I am the oldest of 10).  I was a high school teacher (which my mom loved because she said it would give me a lot of time to spend with my future kids) and otherwise worked in education and with educational nonprofits until I switched tracks and went to law school.  I will be graduating in May and then moving back to California to practice corporate law at a large law firm.  Although I am the oldest in my family, I am not the first one to have kids (obviously, since that hasn't yet happened).  My younger sister has three kids (aged almost-12, 5, and 2) and my stepsister has a 2 year old and is pregnant with her second child.  Although it's not like I've been twiddling my thumbs for the last several years, I still get questions all the time about when we're going to have kids.  If they only knew . . . . In any event, when I am not dealing with law school work (ugh) or people (double ugh), I am a voracious consumer of pop culture.  I love reading celebrity gossip and blind item websites and reality TV.  To be honest, the trashier, the better.  No Survivor or American Idol or The Bachelor for me (although I do watch The Amazing Race occasionally and do love Top Chef and Project Runway).  I'm all about the Real Housewives, Jersey Shore (seasons 1-3), and For the Love of Ray J.  Basically, if it's by 51 Minds Entertainment or on VH-1 or Bravo, there's a good chance I'll watch it).

My husband is California born and California bred and when he dies, he'll be California dead.  I don't think he ever wants to live anywhere else aside from California!  I forced him to move to Massachusetts with me when I got into law school and he has suffered through the past nearly-three years with me . . . and most of it, with the exception of the miserable winter of 2010-11, with a smile.  It hasn't been all terrible for him though.  He is getting a master's degree in Computer Science and will hopefully improve his job prospects/position when we return to California.  He's the outdoorsy one of the pair of us, with real, honest-to-God skills.  He's a hunter and fisherman and was actually an Eagle Scout.  He has previously practiced martial arts and is now getting back into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.  He is an avid sports fan, particularly UCLA (both of our alma mater).

We were married after five years of dating and have now been married for 4.5 years and counting.  My husband is Greek-American, which is why there will be Greek words sprinkled throughout.  I'm trying to learn, but I think another vacation to Greece is in order to help with the immersion process!