What a sad day...

I didn't get tickets to Michael Jackson's Funeral.

I couldn't have gone anyways, but just knowing I could have would have been great.

Oh well.

RIP Might King of Pop. RIP.

Que the fireworks, It's July!

And I'm not talking about just America's Birthday.

Nope.

This week marks a year since I left Indiana. It's strange to think that one year has passed. It's even stranger to look back and see all that I've done, all that I've seen, everyone I've met in a mere 365 days.

It (as cliched as it sounds) feels like just yesterday that I hopped on the plane and headed back West.

My goal this summer is to write more. I don't think it's really working.

We're kicking off a fantastic round of camp visits. I got lost in the woods yesterday. Nothing to dramatic, but you know, almost had to use the flairs. I'm heading down South on Monday to visit a few more camps. I'm looking forward to getting back to the LA area----even though I'll be surrounded by trees, not celebs.

Week after that S and I are going to Yosemite for another work week. Road Trip! It'll be a long drive, but maybe we'll see some big trees.

Talk about being one with Nature.

Blue Jean Baby, LA Lady

Wow. So it's been awhile since my last confession.

This has been an amazingly whirlwind of a spring. I feel like I've done so much in such a short amount of time, but I have to be honest. I don't really remember most of it. I know the past few months have included a lot of travel, a little drama, a ton of laughs and even a few tears.

It's been good. Real good.

Let's see. Where to begin.

Well, I just got home from our annual conference. It was a conglomeration of minds. A lot of fun with little sleep. It was good seeing people again. There have been times this past year that I really felt like the biggest decision I had made was turning out to be wrong. Seeing old faces again made me realize that although the decision was hard and it's easy to look back and go "what if" BUT it was the right decision. I can't imagine life outside of CA right now.

My friend S and I hung out one night, attending all the fab parties, hitting up a few clubs (one was on Bones!) LA is starting to grow on me. I loved staying downtown. It was different then Santa Monica and I liked it.

It is what it is....I am what I am

I recently took a Myers Brigg test and here's the descriptive result of my true personality.

Counselors have an exceptionally strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others, and find great personal fulfillment interacting with people, nurturing their personal development, guiding them to realize their human potential. Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries. Counselors are both kind and positive in their handling of others; they are great listeners and seem naturally interested in helping people with their personal problems. Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.

Counselors are scarce, little more than one percent of the population, and can be hard to get to know, since they tend not to share their innermost thoughts or their powerful emotional reactions except with their loved ones. They are highly private people, with an unusually rich, complicated inner life. Friends or colleagues who have known them for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.

Counselors tend to work effectively in organizations. They value staff harmony and make every effort to help an organization run smoothly and pleasantly. They understand and use human systems creatively, and are good at consulting and cooperating with others. As employees or employers, Counselors are concerned with people's feelings and are able to act as a barometer of the feelings within the organization.

Blessed with vivid imaginations, Counselors are often seen as the most poetical of all the types, and in fact they use a lot of poetic imagery in their everyday language. Their great talent for language-both written and spoken-is usually directed toward communicating with people in a personalized way. Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or intentions - good or evil - even before that person is aware of them. Counselors themselves can seldom tell how they came to read others' feelings so keenly. This extreme sensitivity to others could very well be the basis of the Counselor's remarkable ability to experience a whole array of psychic phenomena.

Mohandas Gandhi, Sidney Poitier, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jane Goodall, Emily Bronte, Sir Alec Guiness, Carl Jung, Mary Baker Eddy, Queen Noor are examples of the Counselor Idealist (INFJ).

That's What She Said.

You know, I have a growing list of "Just in Case/Back-Up/Worst Comes to Worst" things to do in my head.

I figure in times such as this, it can't be bad to have a Oh Bother list.

A few of said items include:

*Go to Graduate School. Now this seems like the most realistic. It also seems to be the most expensive. I don't know what the ROI of a Master's Degree is these days, but it's a piece of paper I long to have.

Problem is, I have no concrete idea of what I want to get my degree in. I've thought of everything from education to student affairs to art therapy to international education to intercultural communications to...to....to.

*Travel. The most desirable option, however almost impossible. To travel one must have money and freedom.

Freedom I may have. Money I do not.

*Move to Southern California. I like the Bay area. I do. But I really like San Diego. I feel way more comfortable and at home there. Now, what I would do once my Uhaul arrived...I do not know.

*Become a Disney Cast Member. This could directly link to my move to SoCal. It doesn't look all that bad. I mean you have to deal with a lot of tourists and kids, but you're technically working in the happiest place on Earth. (Although I'll have to ask next time I'm down there, if said employees still consider it so).

I've always wanted to be Belle, but I'm assuming I'm too short. The kids would totally knock me over. I could sell churros or dress up as a pirate.

Just keep me away from the Small World ride and the Teacups----those things make me nauseous.

*Join some sort of colony and hone in on my creative side. I'd have time to paint, write, draw, sing. It sounds fantastic.

Then again, I'd probably have to grow my own vegetables and give up on shaving...so maybe not.

A Day at Starbucks

I'm currently sitting at a wonderful San Diego Starbucks. With views of the city and the water in the distant, who wouldn't want to take a little time to enjoy an overpriced cup of coffee?

I love people watching at Starbucks. There is an older woman---at least in her 70's sitting here, with her new mac and her purple Ipod Shuffle. She's so savvy. I hope to be as savvy one day. She seems to be a regular here, or just really friendly.

There's a little girl of about 4 delicately eating a cup of rainbow frozen yogurt from TCBY while her mom gingerly sips on a White Mocha. The little girls face is covered in various colors. Her mother is ferversly trying to keep those little cheeks clean.

It's not working.

The older woman has just exchanged numbers with a dapper older gentleman in a very nice suit.

Another older woman enters the picture. This woman is giving way to much information to the public. She uses sensodine. She spent a majority of the day in the bathroom. She isn't getting enough to live on from Social Security. She's had a brain aneurysm.

That's a lot of information to learn in 30 seconds.

The little girl just told her mother that she is beautiful. All the time.

She then spilled a majority of her fro-yo down the leg of her mother's pants.

Kids have the best comedic timing.

The musical selections of Starbucks are usually quite good. Today I have to say, very good. It may be because they just played a rendition of Uncle Jesse's song to Rebecca on Full House. The Baristas were talking about it and I of course could confirm.

How random.

Contrary to Popular Belief: The California Myth

“Whatever starts in California unfortunately has an inclination to spread.”
~Jimmy Carter

As a young West Coaster, (Pacific Northwester really,) I must admit, I grew up with certain expectations and ideas of the Californian lifestyle. I remember hearing over and over again, how those pesky Californians and all of their money were invading our land, buying our houses and raising taxes left and right. Now, it may not have been that dramatic, but I do recall a certain rival and distaste for our semi-neighbors to the South.

I'm just glad we had Oregon in between us. Talk about a Switzerland.

There were a few things California had the could make a youngster slightly green with envy.


First of all, Disneyland-Hello?!!? Who would not want to live in the same state that housed the Happiest Place on Earth? Regardless of how big the state actually is (I still have no idea) in my mind, everyone spent their free time hanging out with Mickey and Minnie. At least, they'd totally be crazy not to.

Secondly, Zach Morris lived in California and Zach Morris was the ultimate pretend boyfriend. My walls were covered in Big Bop and Teen Beat photos of the guy. Saturday mornings were spent, not with cartoons-but with the gang of Saved By The Bell. What a better way to start of the weekend then with a Zach Attack. I stuck by those kids through thick and thin----From the days of Mrs. Bliss to both times they graduated from High School, even through the end of the the College Years and a fond farewell at Zach and Kelly's Wedding---To this day, we can relate everything back to Saved by the Bell.

How many songs incorporate all that is perfect about California. Lyrics of left hearts, of beautiful girls, of dreamin'. There is always something to sing about when it comes to California. I don't know a single song about Washington. (Other then Roll on Columbia...)

There are plenty of other things, however I'm sure you get the picture.

***

So, just over seven months here in California and I consider myself an expert. I thought I'd make you aware of the inaccuracies that hinder us Californians:

Contrary to popular belief, It ain't all Los Angeles, San Francisco, or San Diego.

California is massive. It's huge. Before moving here, I'd never really thought of how large it really is. Just looking on the map makes you realize, California could practically eat OR and WA for dinner.

There are entire parts of the state that I didn't know even existed. Mainly North of San Francisco. To be honest, I still have very little idea of what goes on up there. I've even deemed it Oregon II. However, I've managed to come across some great areas, which deserve their own recognition as much more then supposed suburbs of said big cities. I love places like Santa Barbara, Napa, the San Jose area. I'm lucky I have a job that allows me to explore.

Contrary to popular belief, It ain't all 90210.

Let me tell you, I have personal experience on this one. Not every Californian drives a BMW, or a Prius. Not all Californians have pockets full of $100 bills. Not all Californians can afford Prada. There are some incredibly poor people in all of California. It's shocking how prevelant homelessness is in the big cities. There is an unfortunate soul on every corner in San Francisco.

Makes me feel lucky for just having a roof---and a car---regradless of how old.

Those kids on 90210 had no idea how lucky they were---and if they did----I'm sure they wouldn't have gotten in to as much trouble as they did.

Oh the drama.

Contrary to popular belief, It ain't all Palm Trees and Sandy Beaches.

There are some areas of California that don't even have beach access. There are some areas of California that covered in Pine Trees. There are some areas in California that remind me of the drive to Pullman. I moved to San Francisco and couldn't quite understand why the "beach" here looked exactly like the beach in Seattle. A severe lack of sand and an over abundance of rocks. Where were the surfers, the volleyball players, the bathing suits and boogie boards?

Turns out, they're not in Northern California.

Who knew?

Contrary to popular belief, It ain't always Sunny and Warm.

This is a clear lie. I'm in San Diego right now. It's cold and windy. I can't feel my feet. I can almost see my breath at night. I am in a fleece, but I wish I had my peacoat. Even thinking about wearing anything thinner then a parka makes me numb.

Case #2: My first time visiting San Francisco. I nearly froze to death. That's not even being dramatic. It was incredibly windy and cold and cold and windy. Totally threw me for a loop.

Don't get me wrong, California has great weather. Just don't let the chance of Hypothermia catch you off guard.

Lastly, there are two things I didn't think it did in California.

Rain and Snow.

Both of which happen, and apparently, it's a yearly occurrence.

Contrary to popular belief It ain't just one big freeway.

The image I have of crazy California freeways was taken from the movie Clueless---when Claire and Dionne drove on the freeway for the first time. It was dramatic, it was downright scary.
It was totally wrong.

True, traffic can be bad.
True, California drivers are a bit----rushed at times.

Granted the 5, the 8, the 101, the 880 and so on---can be confusing. And you can most definetly end up magically on the wrong freeway, it's really not that bad. And this is coming from a girl who spent a majority of her driving years avoiding "fast roads"

Now...It's like...so as if. Whatever.

Contrary to popular belief, It ain't all Blue.

California has a Republican Governor. Regardless of the fact that he will always be the guy from Kindergarten Cop and those other movies, he's still a guy in the Red. You can't help but love someone who wears "The Govenator" title with such pride.

Take note of the Map to the right. That is how California voted in the first Bush election. Predominately red.

There is this little area called Orange County. Or Southern California. Basically take out the major metropolitan of San Francisco, LA and bits of San Diego. And you have a clear cut red state. I live in Alameda, on the East Bay. Red. Very Red. Oregon II Red. Of course, not many people live in the Red Areas as a whole, so Blue always wins.

Which is good. I like being on the winning team ;)

Contrary to popular belief, It ain't all one big Red Carpet.

California may have it's fill of Fame whores. Those 15 minute seekers who splash the pages of our grocery store guilty pleasures. But, not everyone is all glitz and glam.

I had this image of LA. On every corner there would be a celebrity, just basking in all their glory.

I was wrong. The only famous person I've seen since moving here was the girl that played the middle kid on Roseanne. Sarah Something.

Although I think it would be so much better if we all had Red Carpets to walk on, California may be Celeb filled, but us normal people very rarely get a glimpse.

No matter how hard we try ;)

And just so we're clear, apparently California has a jaded view of the rest of America. See, we all carry around our own little myths:

"California is where you can't run any farther without getting wet." Neil Morgan

Glug, Glug....Wahoo!

"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends." --Maya Angelou


I've made a list of cities I want to visit. Soon. Someday. Hopefully. Call it...a wish.


Washington DC, USA
Boston, MA USA
Austin, TX, USA
Charleston, SC, USA
Miami, FL, USA
Santa Fe, NM, USA
Park City, UT, USA
Savannah, GA, USA
Wasilla, AK, USA

Montreal, Canada
Prince Edward Island, Canada
Quebec, Canada

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cusco, Peru
Blue Hole, Belize
Mexico City, Mexico
Easter Island, Chile
Panama Canal

Hokkaido, Japan
Phuket, Thailand
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Hanoi, Vietnam
Shanghai, China

St. Petersburg, Russia
Mumbai, India
Delhi, India
Dubai, UAE

Dubrovnik, Croatia
Istanbul, Turkey
Budapest, Hungary
Salzburg, Austria
Florence, Italy
Rome, Italy
Athens, Greece
Sparta, Greece
Copenhagen, Denmark
Stockholm, Sweden
Malaga, Spain
Majorca, Spain

Sydney, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Brisbane, Australia
Wellington, New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand

Nairobi, Kenya
Cairo, Egypt
Casablanca, Morocco
Johannesburg, South Africa

Anywhere in Antarctica where penguins and polar bears reside.


Hmmm. That list is much longer then I anticipated it to be.

I've got a lot of travel to do. Better get moving.

To infinity and beyond.


Happy Travels One and All.

Wishin' Hopin' Thinkin'

"We don't wish for the easy stuff. We wish for big things. Things that are ambitious, out of reach. We wish because we need help and we're scared and we know we may be asking too much. We still wish, though, because sometimes they come true." Dr. Meredith Grey


Wishes are a funny thing. I find myself, more often these days, wishing for things that seem so impossible to obtain on my own. (Either that or I'm too lazy to seek them out myself.) I wish I made more money. I wish I could take a vacation. I wish, I wish, I wish.

We give ourselves so many opportunities to wish and hope and dream. We've been Wishing on Stars, Wishing on Birthday candles, Wishing after throwing a penny into a well, and my all time favorite...wishing after blowing the little fluffy things off of dandilions for years.

Now I don't know how many broken/unfulfilled wishes have been put out into the universe, but it never seems to stop us from wishing. It's one of those things that I don't think we'll ever give up.

And that's probably a good thing.

We need a little more daydreaming these days.

2009: So Far, So Good.

It's been a while.

I'm sitting in a cafe in Los Gatos, CA waiting to meet up with a few colleagues for some meetings in the area.

I've had a a few really strange couple of weeks. I must admit, I was happy for January to be over. Between the finishing up of our Cold Call Campaign to a bout of Food Poisoning, I was ready to bid farewell to the first month of 2009.

Thankfully, February and the travel mania that it is, has begun. (Did I say thankfully?)

I started the month off with a bang in beautiful Santa Barbara. I really like it down there. It's such a pretty, albeit touristy town, but one that has a lot going on. That weekend, was the tail end of the SB International Film Festival. I didn't get to see any movies, but it was fun just sort of being in the midst of it. The art museums were all free as well, so I popped in and out a few of those.

It was also Super Bowl Sunday, so a number of the bars and cafes were a buzz with fans, junk food and beer in hand. I, of course, being the big football fan that I am, spent the afternoon in the sun, shopping from store to store.

That rest of that week, I spent a majority of time in Los Angeles.

Now, I must admit, the only view I have of LA is the glossed up, glamed out, Hollywood-esqe city of broken dreams view. I haven't spent much time down there.

But I love it.

Traffic, Paris Hilton and all.

There are some amazing places to eat down there...and you know, a way to my heart is through my stomach. All of my favorite cities have offered me and my palate a wonderful experience. From the beignets at Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans to the Fish Markets of Seattle. LA is no different. I found a few new cafes that were amazing, ate some delicious crepes and experienced a true Vegan meal for the first time.

I had these nachos at RFD and the cheese was made out of cashew nuts. Now, because the cheese isn't really cheese...it seems like there is only a certain window of time you can eat it before it forms back into a nut like consistency. However it was so good. They made the most amazing chai lattes. To top off the meal, we even had ice cream made from rice. It tasted just like regualar ice cream and I didn't have to worry about an upset stomach.

If I could eat there everyday, I would totally go Vegan. However two things would have to happen:
1. I'd have to move to LA
2. I'd have to get a job that could support my RFD daily expenses. That place is expensive.

www.realfood.com



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

1.20.09: Obam-bastic. Hope Over Fear.

The new, beautiful faces of America.

I love it.

What a day to remember.

"In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."

Tag Team...Back again.

I must admit. I miss being on the road. I'm a little bit bored having been in SF for almost a month now (not counting all that holiday travel). We've been office bound, making what feels like endless phone calls. I don't think this job has helped with my Adult ADD. I'm just itching to get back out there, Squealy in hand, banners and all.

I cleaned out my car today, reorganized all the boxes, counted all the pens and filled up the water box. I'm ready to travel...with no travel plans for the next three weeks.

Sad.

I'm actually glad that I've been bitten with this recent revelation though. I've been dwelling in the past for awhile and really wondering if I'd made some right decisions.

Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy my job, I enjoy the city. I like my circumstances. Do I love them all the time? No. Is moving to a new city, meeting new people, learning the ropes of a challenging position a walk in the park all the time...Nope. Somedays I feel more alone then I ever have. Somedays I'm so excited to be waking up in one of America's favorite cities. Somedays I dread commuting. Somedays I can't wait to be waltzing down Market, a little reminiscent of Mary Tyler Moore's own city quest.

But I must say though, I miss last year a little more then I'd care to admit. More then I ever expected to.


But I think Edna said it best, "You can't look back darling. It only distracts from the now."

And I think she's right.

Stop the Presses: Good Movie Alert

Revolutionary Road: Staring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio...A reunion of Titanic proportions. Kathy Bates even has a minor roll in this one.

The movie looks at the idea of the American Dream. The dreams we have in ourselves, the dreams we have in our relationships and the severe inability to fulfill those dreams.

Winslet and DiCaprio are the image of the American Ideal. Beautiful, young, two kids and suburban house. The quintessential existence. But they had dreams of being different, of sticking out. Of being special. Of course, the film is based on the unraveling of their marriage, their lost dreams, their constant dreams of living a life based on challenging stereotypical ideas and the realization that those ideals are becoming one's own.

I have to admit, the movie was not a happy one. It was raw, it made me a bit depressed, but it was more reality put into two hours then I think I've ever experienced.

I swear, if Kate Winslet gets robbed this award season for like the millionth time...


The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett.

This movie is different. It took me a long time to figure out what it reminded me of...but I got it. Big Fish meets Forrest Gump and has a love child.

The idea of time is a constant in this film. The idea we all struggle with of being able to turn back the clock. The idea that we come into this world dependent on others and for the most part, we leave this world the very same way.

It's a beautiful film. The cinematography is amazing, the colors, the images, the pure whimsy of the film is overpoweringly good.

And Brad Pitt...in the prime of his Benjamin Button life...is still hot.

Seriously, how did 2009 happen?

It's crazy how quickly time passes. It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the fact that the entire world made it through Y2K with all our ATM cards and Computers still in tact. Thank god for the abundance of duct tape and plastic window coverings.

But that was an astonishing 9 years ago. As we enter this final year of Single-digit hood, I find myself looking back. This was a weird year. A year that I never dreamed of living...or experiencing.

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you hit a home run...Sometimes that damn ball just hits you right in the face.

I've had a little bit of both this year.

I rang it in (as usual) in Seattle. Gobbling up my sauerkraut and potatoes, the beginning of a year always brings a sense of refreshing newness.

A chance to get it right...again.

This year brought on a lot of changes...just like every year before it. But this one took a toll on me. It was an unsettling year, both private and professionally. One that challenged me, that made me look at the future though unstable glasses. One that made me harder, more critiquing, more scrutinizing.

It was also one that made me laugh uncontrollably, one that pushed me to grow, one that made me realize strengths and weaknesses, in myself, in the world, in other people. It allowed me to see the fear of wrong decisions, the power of making the right ones. The ability to change circumstances, the grief of loss, the loneliness of a crowded room and the joy of unopened adventures.

I expect 2009 to be just as rewarding.


I'm sitting in my favorite Island Starbucks, and it's super busy. But I finally got a table and set my laptop up. I'm here on a mission: To Complete the list of my yearly goals. Usually I just add my goals to the back of a journal I started years ago, but I left that in Seattle. So I had to go all technical and create a word doc.

This list turned out to be two pages of Goal Making Extraviganzia.

We'll see how it goes.

But for now, a virtual toast...Here's to you 2008 and all you're glory. And to 2009, may you be as fruitfully fun.

P.S: It seems that everyone has their own top ten lists---lists of the best, lists of the worst, lists of the yearly lists even.

I made a list of defining moments. In my head. It's a good list...too bad you all aren't in there to experience it.