OMG

Ever since I started living alone, I've had a pseudo-roommate in one form or another.  First, my broseph was living on my couch for about...six months.  But he moved out a few weeks ago.  And although I have my physical apartment to myself, I have a next door neighbor who has become like a roomie.  I mean, when you think about it, there's only one wall separating us - which is true for real roommates too!  We share keys, and go into each other's spaces when the other isn't home without batting an eyelash.  This is how close we've gotten in such a short time.  It's been amazing!  Not only can I have my own space, but I have someone there when I need to have a wine night and cry while watching the Holiday.  Or when I need a necklace, banana, or boob shirt to wear when I go see the guy who crushed me. 

She's essentially held the roommate place in my life.  Helping keep the transition to living with someone to living by myself much smoother.  BUT she's leaving me.  To move to a place where I'm glad to have a place to crash, but I still can't help that it's going to be SO SAD. 

And now that my like-roommate is going away for-ev-er, I just wanted to give a shoutout to Jenni, because she's really helped me acclimate to life here.  And to say that I honestly believe THIS is going to happen to me when she moves.  (Please read that last link now).

I kid you not, when I was home alone for three days when my roommate in VA was stuck at her sister's during snowpocalypse 2010, I was sliding around the apt wearing only my socks and underpants and seeing how long I could hold a handstand after drinking an entire bottle of wine.  Is sticking garlic up my hoo ha so far away?!  If it's a homeopathic trick, then maybe not.  Oh boy.  I'm not to be trusted when left alone...

When it's hard

Maybe it's because I haven't been writing down things that I'm grateful for on a daily basis, or maybe it's because since I've gotten back from Costa Rica all I want to do is go back, or just because it's no longer November - the month in which we give thanks...but yesterday I noticed that I haven't been taking time to be grateful for what's in my life.  I think that's the first step.  Then, I embraced that feeling.  With good friends and some pink wine, we discussed the trials and tribulations we've gone through recently and not so much.  All of these stories were centered around one thing: relationships.  Whether it was with our mothers, siblings, or the opposite sex, the relationships in our life have such a huge impact.  The thing is - relationships are hard.

Hard to define, hard to maintain, hard to develop, hard to repair, hard to embrace...

And it's an aspect of our lives that we can't usually control.  The truth of the matter is that since relationships involve at least two people, and you can't force the other to feel or do what you want them to.  Instead, we may see what we want to in the other person, whether it be more positive or negative, it's never objective when you're in it.

This is why I love my friends.  Talking about it won't help mend any relationship (or maybe, hopefully, it can if the talks result in actions), but it helps give you a different perspective from a place of truth.

So I didn't really have a point, nor did I decide where exactly I'm going with this...but I guess ultimately what I'm getting as it that this is a huge shoutout to those friends.  It's relationships like this in my life that help mend my heart when it's on the verge of breaking or when I just need someone.  It's these friends who I'm grateful for today.  And tomorrow.  And forever.

As always, Paulo Coelho writes about relationships in such a simple yet profound way. I'll never think of porcupines the same way.. :)

11:11 on 11/11

So last year I remember I posted a blog about how my friend and I had a virtual dance party on 11/11 at 11:11.  It was wonderful.  This year, I thought I missed my chance to experience it.  BUT!  although I missed it this morning - after I realized it after noon time, I crawled into my bed after going to a concert, and opened up my laptop to check email and Google reader, and one of my subscriptions reminds me it's 11/11. "Oooooh shit," I think to myself, "I missed it!!!"  I look at the clock on the top right of my computer, and what time is it?  11:11 p.m.  I made no wish, instead I immediately text my dance partner that I was thinking about her.  Do I believe in wishes?  I don't think so, I think I believe in myself.

Today was a good day.  And I'm grateful for:

1. Finally getting some of the work I'm doing right by myself!
2. Friends stopping by work just to say hi and have a little chat
3. Office IM
4. My brown boots
5. Leggings
6. Small venue concerts (we saw Tyler Hilton tonight...although I didn't really know him, I enjoyed it)
7. Red wine
8. Google Reader
9. Cute Cajon drummers
10. The Veterans who have served our country.  We will only stay America the Free if we actually live in the Land of the Brave.  

Love!!  And sweet dreams.  It's up to us to make our wishes come true.

what a wonderful world...

My oh my!  It's amazing how time can be so relative.  Since I started back up writing on this blog (aka my own personal internet gratitude journal), I'd been writing every day.  I realize that was only for, like, four days, but that's pretty good after a five month sabbatical.  The point that I'm trying to make is that it feels like I haven't written for a while, when I really just missed the weekend.  I was soooo busy living.  So I consider it a great thing.

But please don't think I wasn't thinking about/noticing what I'm grateful to have in my life.  A few that pop up to mind immediately:

1. Sweet ass dolphin cruises - these creatures are so amazingly beautiful!
2. Friends who let me borrow their hoodie, even when I forget it in my car and am really cold on said dolphin cruise
3. Being able to participate in tailgating activities with my boss and her friends before the USC game
4. Being a spectator at said USC game!  
5. Waking up not hungover
6. Planet Earth's vanilla chai latte with almond milk
7. Driving up the coast with someone who's never done it before
8. Stopping on PCH just passed Malibu for some breathtaking views
9. Discovering new music to like through live shows - especially when they're so close to home!
10. Having the means to take a shopping trip to the outlet mall
11. Fresh guacamole
12. Random snipets of conversation with friends I haven't talked to in too long (I'll also be so grateful when our schedules work out so that we can have a longer conversation as well)
13. Work meetings that I really get something out of
14. Productivity in the workplace
15. The spinning class that kicked my ass and will make me sooo sore tomorrow

And there's plenty more where that came from...

Until tomorrow.  Besos!!

Chasing what matters

Oh my gosh - I have such exciting news!!!  Did you know that with Chase bank and an iPhone, you can take a picture of the front and back of a check in order to deposit it into your account?!  This is amaaazing!  Going to the bank is just one of those things that I put off all the time.  Checks go uncashed for months.  I drive by two Chase banks to and from work almost daily, but usually just can't force my hands to turn the wheel into the parking lot.  Anyway, maybe I'm just lazy.  But even so, technology is amazing.

Today, I'm grateful for:

1. Chase banking
2. My new bookshelves!
3. My friends who help me put together the new bookshelves
4. Half days from work (it was just TOO nice out not to take the afternoon off and go lie on the beach for a while)
5. Hipstamatic app on the iPhone - even before I have it fully figured out it takes totally awesome pics!

So you can get an idea of 4 and 5...

Also, this evening, while we were in Dhanurasana (or bow pose), my yoga instructor said the pose was her survival kit to dating in L.A.  - she said it allowed you to keep your physical heart open, while keeping your emotional heart hidden.  I smiled.

90 degree November

Seriously, look at this!

I'm grateful for lots today - what else is new?  I love this!

1. The awesome new cafeteria in our building
2. The feeling I have after a morning run - workout completed before the sun comes up!
3. Working from home in the afternoon
4. Yogurtland trips
5. My new REVERSIBLE yoga pants!
6. Giving myself permission to put down the book I was forcing myself through because I thought I should read it, and pick up the one I actually wanted to read
7. Pandora - have I said that before?  The people who made this are pure geniuses.  Today I listened to the Radiohead station.  LOVE.
8. Friends who let me use their washer and dryer to do free laundry

I'm not going to limit myself to five anymore.  I don't know why I made up that I should in the first place... I'm just going to keep going until something doesn't pop up immediately.

Woop woop!  I should take tomorrow afternoon off and go lie on the beach...stay tuned, I just might.

Two-sday

It is November 2, after all...

So many things to be grateful for today, that I'm making it a TWO for Tuesday!

1. The ability to rock MY vote on election day
2. Desktop support at work
3. Words with Friends game on the iPhone
4. GREAT Song of the Day emails - two days in a row! (Check out Crystal Castles - Not in Love, and Billy Bragg feat. Wilco - California Stars)
5. Sushi
6. Afternoon tea breaks
7. Huffingtonpost.com
8. Seeing friends in unexpected places
9. My favorite work heels
10. Strawberry Chapstick ("I Kissed a Girl" just popped into my head after I wrote that)

And speaking of Huffington Post...You Voted, Now What?!