Breathing in the city of Lost Angels....

“I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're beautiful. Everybody's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic.”
---- Andy Warhol

Normally, I'm not a weekend travel kind of girl. Work takes me away most Sundays-Thursdays, but because of a weekend event, I set up shop at my Holiday Inn Express and spent the past couple of days in Los Angeles. It's funny that to "normal" people, a weekend in LA would be fun, a getaway. To me, it was just an extra few days away from my beloved apartment.

However, as I've decided to take on a whole new love for work travel, I decided that after my Saturday event, explore LA and experience some things, try a new restaurant and enjoy the sunny day.

Well, ultimately, it was cold and I was tired. I ended up going back to the hotel, watched a couple of Grey's episodes and slept a bit. During my event, I did have the chance to try some of LA's loved Food Trucks, so I at least had that...

I did however grab a late night showing of the new Jane Eyre movie. It had a super limited release this weekend, but it was worth the extra drive in LA traffic. Not being a fan of the classics, I honestly had no idea what the book was about, but this movie totally made me want to go out and read it.

Today has been my redeeming day. Regardless of a loss of an hour, I decided to get up early and hike around Runyon Canyon. The day was absolutely gorgeous. I stopped off at a nearby Borders (I don't even want to mention how incredibly sad I am that they are closing most of their West Coast Stores) grabbed some un-needed Christmas CDs and Movies (hey, they were 75% off). Ordered my almost daily Starbucks, tried their new Cakepops (one word: yum) and was on my merry way.

Now I had heard about Runyon Canyon, but this was my first time hiking it. I have to admit, it's not very wildernessy, in fact, it's pretty darn urban, but I can see why the LAites hang out here on the weekends. It was a pretty steep hike, but had gorgeous views. My favorite view: John Krasinski and his dog. Both were adorable.

Now, I'm grabbing at late Brunch at one of my favorite restaurants: Larchmont Bungalow. I try and grab a meal here whenever I'm in town, it's so delicious.

Living the big girl life....

Well, it's been a good 6 months since I last signed on (seriously, how does time fly so quickly?) It's already March, half of my spring travel is done, the flowers are in bloom, my tv shows are promoting their finales and I'm preparing myself for the end of another school year.

These past few months have been filled with joyful insanity. I applied to graduate school and am crossing fingers for a few acceptance letters. I always tell myself that life works out the way it's supposed to----and I'm hoping its supposed to lead me to a Master's Degree. Work took me to the Final Frontier and I got to spend a few bone chilling days in Alaska with some of my wonderful colleagues. We spent an afternoon in Fairbanks at an International Ice Sculpture contest. I've never been so cold, but it was really cool to see all of these amazing works of frozen art. The mask was by far my favorite.

I had a bit of a housing shake up in late January and in order to avoid homelessness, needed to find a new place pretty darn quickly. I was just about to sign on with a roommate, but decided to take a look at one more place---a one bedroom just a little out of the price range, but doable. It turned out to be the home I've been looking for. These past few bay area years have been good to me in terms of roommates. I've been lucky enough to live with respectful, fun and normal people, but I was always moving into someone else's home. My stuff was never fully unpacked and as nice as it was to not have to worry about kitchen supplies or coffee tables, I never had a sense of "mine"

When I first walked into my new place, it just felt right. I told my Realtor that I wanted it---and I wanted it bad...;) I spent 4 painful days waiting to hear back from the landlord. I was in Subway ordering my sandwich when the call came. I'm pretty sure I screamed. (Lord, I can't even imagine the stress of trying to get a house...)

The place has turned out to be a godsend...Don't get me wrong...it's small. Really small, covered in hardwood floors, a tiny (almost non-existent) kitchen, a pink tiled bathroom and a cute nook with built in shelves. There's a lemon-orange tree in the back yard (I kid you not, it's a hybrid) It could quite possibly be sponsored by IKEA (I am really good at putting their stuff together). I finished decorating today. The building was made in the 1930's, so it has oldtimers charm. All of the doors have antique keyholes. I'd been on the hunt for a set of Skeleton Keys to use as a decorating piece and finally found the perfect pair at an Alameda boutique. As I hung them up, there was a moment of blissed completion. I love just sitting on my couch, reading or watching tv---and knowing I'm the only one who lives there...

And the best part, every time I walk in after a week on the road, I get an incredible sense of happiness.

It's good to be home.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain

Living the Imagined Life

find your eternity in each moment. live deliberately. do what you love. be not simply good; be good for something. simplify, simplify.

I love Henry David Thoreau.

The Summer that Legends Are Made Of...

We're more then halfway through 2010 and I had a feeling when I turned 27, that this year was going to be amazing. After the summer I've had, it's been nothing short of legendary. And I still have a trip to NYC planned for later this week.

As it's been about 6 months since I last posted (my oh my, time flies) I personally can't even remember what I did yesterday, let alone that long ago, but I know I spent a majority of time away from home, I swore off meat (for about 3 weeks) I moved, I saw Wicked twice (and could see it a 3rd, 4th, 5th.....time) I realized that the word "stressed" spelled backwards is "desserts" (the most awesome way to deal with stress), I fell in...and out of love, I bought a new car and named her Jackie O Betty White Chenoweth. (She's a Ford...and therefore American...and those are some mighty awesome American Women) I accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. I pretended to study for the GRE, I made a goal to one day find myself headlining on the Great White Way (haha) I went to Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Kauai and Haiti

I met people who reminded me how important this life is. Who showed me how amazing the human spirit can be. Who taught me that there is so much more to who we are then what we own. Who understood loss, redemption, courage, joy, fear and hope more then I could ever imagine. Who brought me back to the realities of our world, both the good and the bad.

I celebrated with my family at a wedding, I roadtriped around CA visiting Camps and learned that Reno and Fresno have the word NO in them for a reason. I laughed in the sun, I cried in the rain and I got a golden tan along the way.

So much fun should be illegal.

Now, I find myself heading off to the East Coast for a bit of work/playcation. What kind of shenanigans can me and the ladies get into in the big city??

Only time (and a few fruity drinks will tell)...

And as Glinda opens Act 2...I can't help but have "I coudn't be happier....." stuck in my head.

What a Day....

"Why do they call it Rush Hour...if nothing moves" Mork and Mindy

California Traffic. The ultimate Love.Hate relationship. It loves to find me stuck in the middle of it...I hate it with a sincere passion.

This has been an insane month already. And it's only February 1st. Where in the world did January go? Before I know it, 2011 will be here.

I spent a fantastic week in San Diego and am really gearing up for a great semester. I was able to visit a few of my favorite campuses, met some great students and got to catch up with my colleagues. We had a Taco Tuesday at Freds, great turnout. I love tacos...especially $2 tacos.

It was nice seeing friends as well. I went to a great restaurant called "Starlite Lounge" with my friend E. I love having dinner with people who known you long before you really know yourself. Conversation over wine and organic mac and cheese is always a plus.

So all in all, I just feel different from last year. I have a better appreciation and outlook on it all.

Last fall was terrible, horrible, no good and very bad. Too be honest, I know there were a lot of factors, but in the end, I needed a serious Attitude Adjustment (or as my mom would say...time for an AA.) This spring I've given it all away. I'm allowing myself the time to do things I have not done before. I've made a list of places I want to visit in CA, restaurants I want to try, shops I want to go to. It makes the travel so much better when there's more to look forward to. Of course, it's all secondary to my actual job (which definitely comes first).

"I cannot share your grief, because no one could share mine. When one of your children goes out of your life, you think what he might have done with a few more years and you wonder what you are going to do with the rest of yours. Then one day, because there is a world to be lived in, you find yourself a part of it again, trying to accomplish something-something that he did not have time enough to do. And, perhaps, that is the reason for it all." Joe Kennedy

The World Can be a Shining Light when it Wants To.....

$58 Million and counting. That's how much the Hope for Haiti telethon made over the weekend. The Red Cross 90999 text campaign has just surpassed $21 Million.

Apparently that does not include all the single big whig donors (like the Silver Fox) or any corporations.

That's the goodness of millions of normal, every day people around the world, who for one moment gave what they could.

It reminds me of a quote by Mother Teresa: "It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters."

It shows that when we each contribute one little action; One Dollar, One Hour, One Thought, it creates something big. It makes me wonder what else we would be able to accomplish if we took this idea to heart. Made it work in difficult times and in joyous ones.

I had decided early on in the week that I wasn't going to eat out at lunch, save that money and donate it on Friday, I have to admit, it wasn't such a big sacrifice since I worked from home most of the week, but I wanted to be able to give, even a little bit.

I have to admit, it felt good, and I already feel like I've been blessed two times over.

He Had a Dream....

Yesterday was MLK Jr. Day.

In honor of this courageous man and his call to service, I spent the evening at the Ronald McDonald House in SF.

There were five of us altogether and our mission:

To cook dinner for the 10 families that were currently staying at the house.

Yes. You read that correctly. I'm making food.

For other people.

As of right now, the majority of the families have preemie babies at the hospital. Some stay for over 6 months.

I can't even imagine. That is such a long time away from home, such a long time having a child in the hospital.

So, at 6pm we gathered. We had pots in hand, pans greased up, oven heated. Except for the fact that I have very little cooking skills, I feel like the night went well. We made two pots of hearty chili, cornbread, salad and rice krispy treats.

I was in charge of making the cornbread and by golly, I wasn't going to let anything happen to those two pans of goodness.

I was nervous though. I've never made homemade cornbread from scratch.

That's right folks. Scratch.

As soon as we finished, and the spicy aroma was filtering through the house, the families started to arrive. There were a few moms, some dads, sibilings. There was even a new family who had just checked in that night.

It made me wonder what the first night is like.

I pray for those who have to find out and hope that I never do.