i don't know what's better...surprising someone or being surprised. it's kind of like the whole gift giving or gift receiving conundrum.
today was mike's first day of school. in 33 months, he will have his mba from #5 ranked usc!
graduation seems very far away right now and in the meantime, i've been warned that i should say a temporary "goodbye" to my husband. likewise, he's been warned that he should really get used to thriving off of four hours of sleep a night. see, this whole "work full-time and school at nights" thing is supposed to be very challenging.
while all of these warnings seem very daunting, i can't lie...my bigger concern lately has been that we have to become trojan fans. you see, as a cal bear, i kind of have to hate usc and was none too pleased to hear that their business school is so prestigious and that hobnobbing with alumni is a sure way to ensure future success.
mike arrived home after 12 hours of class tonight to a house full of red and gold balloons, usc bumper stickers and even a trojan koozie! it was my small way of letting him know that i'm ready to set aside my alliance (temporarily, of course) and support him no matter what - even if that means sc tailgates in the fall.
i have no doubt that graduation day will be here before we know it and then it will be back to the good ole' days of:
to california, to california
the hills ring out our cry,
we're out to do or die,
to california, to california
we'll win the game or know the reason why.
and when the game is over, we will buy a case of booze
and we'll drink to california 'til we wobble in our shoes.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Out of office
the last day of work before a vacation is the absolute best. for me, it's usually a really busy day filled with last minute meetings and finalizing reports/budgets/tracking documents but inside, i'm slowing down my mind and getting ready to turn on "vacation mode." so much excitement, rest and relaxation ahead and it doesn't matter if it's a two week break or a three day weekend. it's just so nice to get away from it all.
likewise, the last day of vacation is kind of the worst. knowing that it's all coming to a close and that you don't get to do it again for months is just so sad. it's kind of like the "sunday night funk" when your brain is already creeping back into work mode no matter how hard you try to keep your task list at bay.
still, on this last day of vacation i refused to think about tomorrow. i refused to worry about what happened while i was gone; the drama, the closed business, the discrepancies, the overflowing inbox and meeting requests. instead, i spent one last day with my honey doing nothing special - a trip to best buy, impromptu lunch, lazy walk and afternoon bbq.
it was perfection.
likewise, the last day of vacation is kind of the worst. knowing that it's all coming to a close and that you don't get to do it again for months is just so sad. it's kind of like the "sunday night funk" when your brain is already creeping back into work mode no matter how hard you try to keep your task list at bay.
still, on this last day of vacation i refused to think about tomorrow. i refused to worry about what happened while i was gone; the drama, the closed business, the discrepancies, the overflowing inbox and meeting requests. instead, i spent one last day with my honey doing nothing special - a trip to best buy, impromptu lunch, lazy walk and afternoon bbq.
it was perfection.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Novecento
dinner with friends is always fun. unfortunately, as we get older and calendars become more difficult to plan around, it doesn't happen quite as often which is why it's become a "special occasion" of sorts.
you know you've had a great dinner, one that's really memorable, when you realize on your drive home that you're absolutely starving. when you barely had a moment to lift your fork to your mouth because you were so busy catching up and filling each other in on the latest and greatest in your lives...that's a great night!
never fear, the starvation doesn't have too much time to kick in. there's always the joy of eating leftovers in bed. yummy!
you know you've had a great dinner, one that's really memorable, when you realize on your drive home that you're absolutely starving. when you barely had a moment to lift your fork to your mouth because you were so busy catching up and filling each other in on the latest and greatest in your lives...that's a great night!
never fear, the starvation doesn't have too much time to kick in. there's always the joy of eating leftovers in bed. yummy!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Lazy days
we're so spoiled living in california. when the sun shines 350 out of 365 days of the year, it's easy to take advantage of your lifestyle. my friends and family who live in san francisco, chicago, minnesota, virginia, new york or pretty much anywhere other than southern california will hate me for what i'm about to write so i apologize in advance but i feel the need to be honest here.
yesterday was a perfect day. the sun was shining, the fog rolled out by 930a, with a high of 80, low of 79.5 and big fat white clouds dancing in the sky...you know the kind of day i'm describing. best of all, i still had two more days of vacation in front of me. ah. life is good. so, after a quick trip to the gym in the morning a shower and some oj, guess what i did?
absolutely nothing.
sure, i had lofty plans to go downtown, grab some lunch with mike at a little taco stand we never find time to visit, head to costco, home depot and work on the boxes i never officially "unpacked." yet, when it came down to it, i sat on the couch for a post-shower breather and just never got up. i lounged, i napped and i watched old movies. all...day...long.
i did periodically glance outside at the beautiful weather and wonder if i'd have any regrets about my choice.
a day later and nope, not one.
yesterday was a perfect day. the sun was shining, the fog rolled out by 930a, with a high of 80, low of 79.5 and big fat white clouds dancing in the sky...you know the kind of day i'm describing. best of all, i still had two more days of vacation in front of me. ah. life is good. so, after a quick trip to the gym in the morning a shower and some oj, guess what i did?
absolutely nothing.
sure, i had lofty plans to go downtown, grab some lunch with mike at a little taco stand we never find time to visit, head to costco, home depot and work on the boxes i never officially "unpacked." yet, when it came down to it, i sat on the couch for a post-shower breather and just never got up. i lounged, i napped and i watched old movies. all...day...long.
i did periodically glance outside at the beautiful weather and wonder if i'd have any regrets about my choice.
a day later and nope, not one.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Baggage claim
when i was young, i loved spending time in airports. of course, this was all pre-9/11 when you could actually walk your loved one to their gate to say goodbye or meet them there to welcome them home. i have so many memories of standing in the terminal at john wayne (back when it was a teeny tiny nothing of an airport) with my sister and waving frantically as my parents' plane circled the runway on their return from hawaii or san francisco or some other town i didn't get to visit with them.
now, the excitement of the airport experience has completely faded. between the "heightened security," over-worked and underpaid personnel, inexplicable delays and illustrious passenger who insists on questioning if he really needs to take his laptop out of its case and shoes off his feet...let's just say, it takes everything i've got to remain patient and make it to the lounge for a quick cocktail before boarding.
still, there's something about baggage claim that i love. the anxiety builds as i approach, every time so sure that my luggage will be lost, until that moment when i see my little red suitcase lying patiently on the conveyor belt just waiting for me to pick her up. maybe it's the memory of feeling so protected behind my dad as a strange man nearly knocked me over while struggling to get his bags together when i was little. or the notion that wherever i am, home or vacation, i'm somewhere with some new adventure awaiting me. either way, i experience a sense of relief as i stroll out the automatic doors, little red suitcase trailing and i can't help but smile.
you can't buy that kind of security anywhere.
now, the excitement of the airport experience has completely faded. between the "heightened security," over-worked and underpaid personnel, inexplicable delays and illustrious passenger who insists on questioning if he really needs to take his laptop out of its case and shoes off his feet...let's just say, it takes everything i've got to remain patient and make it to the lounge for a quick cocktail before boarding.
still, there's something about baggage claim that i love. the anxiety builds as i approach, every time so sure that my luggage will be lost, until that moment when i see my little red suitcase lying patiently on the conveyor belt just waiting for me to pick her up. maybe it's the memory of feeling so protected behind my dad as a strange man nearly knocked me over while struggling to get his bags together when i was little. or the notion that wherever i am, home or vacation, i'm somewhere with some new adventure awaiting me. either way, i experience a sense of relief as i stroll out the automatic doors, little red suitcase trailing and i can't help but smile.
you can't buy that kind of security anywhere.
Frommer's? Not for me
There are two types of travelers...those who like to take organized tours and those who don't.
I definitely fall into the latter category.
There's just something about the crowds, the tourists, the lines and the time restictions that really turn me off. I'm more of an "amble aimlessly through a new town, stop for a coffee/glass of wine/bloody mary (depending on the time of day and my state of mind) and observe as the locals live their lives" kind of girl. I love to stray off the beaten path even if that means missing out on some of the "must sees" in the guide books. Every once in a while I regret my choice and feel I've missed something vital. More often than not though, I discover a hidden gem - a great restaurant, secluded beach, fabulous shop or local dive bar with the best ambiance and even better drinks.
This would be a very dangerous way to travel if I married a man who loved formal tours and all-inclusive resorts. Fortunately, Mike is just like me in this sense and while our version of "adventure" isn't for everyone, it certainly works for us.
I definitely fall into the latter category.
There's just something about the crowds, the tourists, the lines and the time restictions that really turn me off. I'm more of an "amble aimlessly through a new town, stop for a coffee/glass of wine/bloody mary (depending on the time of day and my state of mind) and observe as the locals live their lives" kind of girl. I love to stray off the beaten path even if that means missing out on some of the "must sees" in the guide books. Every once in a while I regret my choice and feel I've missed something vital. More often than not though, I discover a hidden gem - a great restaurant, secluded beach, fabulous shop or local dive bar with the best ambiance and even better drinks.
This would be a very dangerous way to travel if I married a man who loved formal tours and all-inclusive resorts. Fortunately, Mike is just like me in this sense and while our version of "adventure" isn't for everyone, it certainly works for us.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Hey Chicago, whaddya say
Every city has it's "thing." Love it or hate it, LA has Hollywood, New York has Wall Street and Chicago has the Cubs.
I've been a Dodger fan my whole life and my loyalty will not falter. Still, there's no way you could love baseball, history or tradition and not fall in love with Chicago on a game day. The crowds, the bars, the W, the singing, cheering and booing! And that's all before you even walk through the gates of Wrigley!
I've been a Dodger fan my whole life and my loyalty will not falter. Still, there's no way you could love baseball, history or tradition and not fall in love with Chicago on a game day. The crowds, the bars, the W, the singing, cheering and booing! And that's all before you even walk through the gates of Wrigley!
Friday, July 24, 2009
A day in the life
Going down memory lane with someone you love is a really special journey. Twice in the past four months, Mike and I have traveled to the towns he lived in for his formative years. We started with Apple Valley, a suburb of Minneapolis, and then ventured to Naperville outside of Chicago.
They're both lovely towns with charming estates, green trees and fenceless yards. Still, the best parts of the tours had to be looking over and seeing the twinkle in his eye as he relived his childhood memories...the fort along the riverbed, antics at the softball field, first job bagging groceries at Byerly's and baseball games on Covington Court.
It's an honor when somebody opens their world to you and an experience I'll always cherish. Only one more trip and we'll complete the journey.
We might be Hong Kong bound!
They're both lovely towns with charming estates, green trees and fenceless yards. Still, the best parts of the tours had to be looking over and seeing the twinkle in his eye as he relived his childhood memories...the fort along the riverbed, antics at the softball field, first job bagging groceries at Byerly's and baseball games on Covington Court.
It's an honor when somebody opens their world to you and an experience I'll always cherish. Only one more trip and we'll complete the journey.
We might be Hong Kong bound!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Reunited and it feels so good
there's really nothing better than seeing an old friend after way too much time apart. from the excitement that builds up as the day gets closer to the way you instantly fall back in step even though it's been days/weeks/months/years since you were last in the same room together.
those are the moments when i'm reminded how lucky i am to have had such "good" friends throughout my entire life. the kind that always highlight your attributes yet are aware of your flaws and love you anyway. the ones that keep your holiday card posted on the refrigerator all the way into july or who without judgement simply remove the photograph of seagulls from above the bed in the guest room because they know your intense fear of birds.
those are the friends that are hard to come by and so vital for survival.
those are the moments when i'm reminded how lucky i am to have had such "good" friends throughout my entire life. the kind that always highlight your attributes yet are aware of your flaws and love you anyway. the ones that keep your holiday card posted on the refrigerator all the way into july or who without judgement simply remove the photograph of seagulls from above the bed in the guest room because they know your intense fear of birds.
those are the friends that are hard to come by and so vital for survival.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The life of a DJ
i typically spend my drive time flipping between npr, kevin and bean or am 790 for dodgers games. on those rare occasions when i'm seeking a little extra controversy i alternate between the conservative and liberal talk shows on 640 and 1110.
then there are the days where i'm all talked out and just need some musical therapy. on those days my favorite thing to do is hit the scan button and wait for something fabulous to come through the speakers. this morning i did just that and sure enough, the first thing i heard was daniel powter's "bad day."
you know how it goes:
you had a bad day, you're taking one down
you sing a sad song just to turn it around
i overcame that brief second of embarrassment and instead turned the volume up loud to sing along and that's when i realized it...for all the "good" music i listen to - eagles, bob marley, beatles, chili peppers, van morrison, donovan frankenreiter, etc. - i do have a secret obsession with cheesy alternative hits! i'm no longer ashamed to admit it, i love mopey ballads from artists like jason mraz, john mayer and damien rice,
the
weepier
the
better
now come on...you know you too have your secret playlist that only comes out when you're driving through traffic by yourself with the windows rolled up tight. next time i'm with you, i dare you to turn on one of your favorites. odds are, i probably know all the words!
then there are the days where i'm all talked out and just need some musical therapy. on those days my favorite thing to do is hit the scan button and wait for something fabulous to come through the speakers. this morning i did just that and sure enough, the first thing i heard was daniel powter's "bad day."
you know how it goes:
you had a bad day, you're taking one down
you sing a sad song just to turn it around
i overcame that brief second of embarrassment and instead turned the volume up loud to sing along and that's when i realized it...for all the "good" music i listen to - eagles, bob marley, beatles, chili peppers, van morrison, donovan frankenreiter, etc. - i do have a secret obsession with cheesy alternative hits! i'm no longer ashamed to admit it, i love mopey ballads from artists like jason mraz, john mayer and damien rice,
the
weepier
the
better
now come on...you know you too have your secret playlist that only comes out when you're driving through traffic by yourself with the windows rolled up tight. next time i'm with you, i dare you to turn on one of your favorites. odds are, i probably know all the words!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Worry wart
there are some things in life that although they need to be done, i still dread doing them. likewise, there are some conversations that need to be had but cause me all sorts of anxiety in the hours leading up to them anyway. i had one of those conversations scheduled for tonight and sure enough, i spent my entire day fretting (for nothing).
the beautiful thing is, the conversation was productive, informative and not the least bit confrontational or uncomfortable. i don't know if it was due to my open mind or the other person's patience. probably a combination of both. still, it went swimmingly and now i feel like a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders!
the beautiful thing is, the conversation was productive, informative and not the least bit confrontational or uncomfortable. i don't know if it was due to my open mind or the other person's patience. probably a combination of both. still, it went swimmingly and now i feel like a huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders!
Monday, July 20, 2009
524 Rosecrans
i love email. i get so excited for any new addition to my inbox. it really doesn't matter if it's my work account or my personal one, i just love receiving email.
when i think about it though, rarely does an email contain anything really personally directed at me. most of the time it's a silly forward, mass invitation for a party/shower/dinner/etc., request or demand to complete some sort of task by a given deadline or...the dreaded spam.
today however, i received a really great email from a friend i haven't spoken to in a while. she invested time and thought into it...you could just tell. this short and sweet yet considerate and encouraging note brought a smile to my face and made me miss the days when she lived only a doorway away. back then, i didn't have to imagine the sound of her voice as i read her words on the computer screen, i got to hear it loud and clear every morning.
those were the days.
when i think about it though, rarely does an email contain anything really personally directed at me. most of the time it's a silly forward, mass invitation for a party/shower/dinner/etc., request or demand to complete some sort of task by a given deadline or...the dreaded spam.
today however, i received a really great email from a friend i haven't spoken to in a while. she invested time and thought into it...you could just tell. this short and sweet yet considerate and encouraging note brought a smile to my face and made me miss the days when she lived only a doorway away. back then, i didn't have to imagine the sound of her voice as i read her words on the computer screen, i got to hear it loud and clear every morning.
those were the days.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Rise and shine
my mom always taught me that the first thought to go through my mind upon waking should be, "thank you, god, for another day." while i very much agree that this should be the case unfortunately, it rarely is.
most of the time, the thoughts range from, "crap, it's already 615a!" to "argh...i wish it was saturday." or "there's so much to do today. how am i going to get to it all!" or my all time favorite, "damn. i overslept. again!"
today was different though.
i really did wake up and say, "thank you, god, for another day." but i didn't stop there. i then commenced to thank god for a lifetime of blessings, for a wonderfully supportive family, adoring and handsome husband and best friend, job i love, friendships that never quit, children (here and abroad) who keep me laughing, a car that gets me to and fro and minimizes pollution at the same time, a beautiful new home, the ocean at my fingertips, food on our table, shoes on my feet, reusable grocery totes, a new washer and dryer.
oh, the list goes on...and on.
most of the time, the thoughts range from, "crap, it's already 615a!" to "argh...i wish it was saturday." or "there's so much to do today. how am i going to get to it all!" or my all time favorite, "damn. i overslept. again!"
today was different though.
i really did wake up and say, "thank you, god, for another day." but i didn't stop there. i then commenced to thank god for a lifetime of blessings, for a wonderfully supportive family, adoring and handsome husband and best friend, job i love, friendships that never quit, children (here and abroad) who keep me laughing, a car that gets me to and fro and minimizes pollution at the same time, a beautiful new home, the ocean at my fingertips, food on our table, shoes on my feet, reusable grocery totes, a new washer and dryer.
oh, the list goes on...and on.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Dale, Dale, Dale
i've had more experience with pinatas in recent years than most adults i know. you see, they make their appearance at the orphanage for nearly every occasion imaginable. the only thing is, with 110 kids vying for a chance at bat, the adults are lucky if they can get a seat in the background to watch the festivities.
tonight, i got to actually hit my very first pinata in years. as i stood there blindfolded, swinging at absolutely nothing, i could hear the chants, "to the right. to the left. colie, right in front of you." chalk it up to the cynical adult in me or the fact my family has made "faking me out" their favorite pastime but i insisted on doing the complete opposite of everything they said.
the result? i beat the crap out of my parents' palm tree.
in the end, the pinata broke, the kids made out like bandits and the grown-ups got a good chuckle. as for me, i couldn't have asked for a better or more fitting 30th birthday celebration if i'd tried!
tonight, i got to actually hit my very first pinata in years. as i stood there blindfolded, swinging at absolutely nothing, i could hear the chants, "to the right. to the left. colie, right in front of you." chalk it up to the cynical adult in me or the fact my family has made "faking me out" their favorite pastime but i insisted on doing the complete opposite of everything they said.
the result? i beat the crap out of my parents' palm tree.
in the end, the pinata broke, the kids made out like bandits and the grown-ups got a good chuckle. as for me, i couldn't have asked for a better or more fitting 30th birthday celebration if i'd tried!
Friday, July 17, 2009
In the summertime when the weather's high
i'm going to admit something i'm not proud of...
i didn't learn to ride a bike until i was nine. yes, 4th grade, 3x3, nearly double-digits, nine-years-old. that's why it's so ironic that my 30th birthday present was a bicycle.
i remember the lesson like it happened yesterday. my dad spent the better part of a weekend running up and down our cul-de-sac holding onto the back of my bike seat. every time he tried to let go, i tipped. sometimes, i'd balance for a split second longer than the last but the spill was inevitable. clearly, i got it at some point, but (and here comes another admission), i've never been a strong bike rider.
still, i love, like seriously love, the pastime so it's only fitting that my husband surprised me with a perfectly purple beach cruiser. we took a cruise around the block tonight and at one point, i couldn't help but observe the irony.
my memories on a bicycle all take place with the two men in my life. one guarded my back to insure i didn't fall and the other leads the way to make sure i don't mistakenly stray into danger. how's that for luck?
i didn't learn to ride a bike until i was nine. yes, 4th grade, 3x3, nearly double-digits, nine-years-old. that's why it's so ironic that my 30th birthday present was a bicycle.
i remember the lesson like it happened yesterday. my dad spent the better part of a weekend running up and down our cul-de-sac holding onto the back of my bike seat. every time he tried to let go, i tipped. sometimes, i'd balance for a split second longer than the last but the spill was inevitable. clearly, i got it at some point, but (and here comes another admission), i've never been a strong bike rider.
still, i love, like seriously love, the pastime so it's only fitting that my husband surprised me with a perfectly purple beach cruiser. we took a cruise around the block tonight and at one point, i couldn't help but observe the irony.
my memories on a bicycle all take place with the two men in my life. one guarded my back to insure i didn't fall and the other leads the way to make sure i don't mistakenly stray into danger. how's that for luck?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Growing up really is hard to do
it was a tough day filled with all sorts of mini disasters - severed electric lines, a kooky neighbor, delayed gift, accident on the 101, the list goes on. i was constantly forced to remind myself that "it could be worse" or as my dad says, "this is all just a pimple on the ass of life."
the day took a turn the minute we walked into dodger stadium. sure the team was shut out for like the second time all season but still...just being in that space allows for instant mood enhancement. usually, it's a combination of dodger dogs, plastic cups filled with miller light, 50,000 people singing "take me out to the ballgame" and "don't stop believin'," the boos, the cheers and the manny chants that brighten my day.
tonight, it was watching cooper "play" baseball and yell "hey, batter, batter, batter" at the top of his lungs that brought a smile to my face. he reminds me of me at that age, in that ballpark, embracing america's pastime with enthusiasm.
oh, and gossiping with his mom helped too.
the day took a turn the minute we walked into dodger stadium. sure the team was shut out for like the second time all season but still...just being in that space allows for instant mood enhancement. usually, it's a combination of dodger dogs, plastic cups filled with miller light, 50,000 people singing "take me out to the ballgame" and "don't stop believin'," the boos, the cheers and the manny chants that brighten my day.
tonight, it was watching cooper "play" baseball and yell "hey, batter, batter, batter" at the top of his lungs that brought a smile to my face. he reminds me of me at that age, in that ballpark, embracing america's pastime with enthusiasm.
oh, and gossiping with his mom helped too.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
So many reasons to be grateful today
breakfast in bed
wide open freeways
a homemade cd
flowers
cupcakes
wine
forever young
phone calls
a good friend
good lunch and
sunshine
emails
text messages
tapas
home improvement
more wine
a chandelier
shrimp tartine
valet parking
french toast
beach cruisers
lots and lots of love
oh my!
wide open freeways
a homemade cd
flowers
cupcakes
wine
forever young
phone calls
a good friend
good lunch and
sunshine
emails
text messages
tapas
home improvement
more wine
a chandelier
shrimp tartine
valet parking
french toast
beach cruisers
lots and lots of love
oh my!
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