Funny The Way It Is

A lot can happen in one month, never mind a whole year. It's already February, and I was wondering if everyone was feeling as motivated and revived as they did when "The Ball" dropped and you start the New Year's cleanse. This year I did something different. No resolution for me. (What I should really say is, I already have too many left over from the prior years that are still overflowing into this year. Eek)

But there are things I am making a conscience awareness of, a.k.a. my new phrase for "resolution". The last year has taken me to places I never thought I would be both physically and emotionally. To start off, for a little while I was unemployed, then went to live on Martha's Vineyard for the summer, and ended the year driving across the country now living in Los Angeles! If I could go back a year from now, I would never be able to predict where I am at this point in my life. I am constantly reminding myself that life can take you anywhere, as long as you let it, whether or not you have a resolution. And maybe it is not the best year, or week or day, for that matter, that anything can happen.

Which brings me back to my new construct of conscious awareness for 2010 (and the following years). I recently read an article that asked to think about what the word "happy" really means? And it said, "Instead of striving to be fearless and happy, how about brave and appreciative? Appreciative people understand the ups and downs. The goal is to be able to experience intermittent joy." So there it is.

Happy 2010 everyone.

Singin' In The Rain

Well most of you may be experiencing some sort of unpleasant weather. This week in "not so sunny at the moment" LA, it has been raining. Raining a lot. But... I did see this today on my way home. I actually had to pull the car over while I was driving to admire it!

A little love from the sky...how cute.

Finally!

I have officially entered the world of blogging. For a "some-what tech savvy" girl, I obviously felt that it was most necessary. (Also, I seem to find that unemployment is the perfect excuse to start doing the things you didn't have the time to do before).

So, at the start of the new year, here I am. I picked up my comfortable East Coast life, and moved thousands of miles away from my family and friends, to sunny LA (it is raining as I write this post). Did I have a plan? Not really. Did I have a job lined up? Nope. Am I running out of money? Always. But it sure has been an adventure.

For starters, there was the 10 day road trip to move out here. This involved a PT Cruiser, Volvo Wagon, my sister Lianne, lots of mix cd's, The Lincoln Memorial, beef jerky, maps that are not laminated, Graceland, creepy truck drivers, The Grand Canyon, Jim Gaffigan's "King Baby" skit, Vegas, and my father. The days were filled with lots of laughs, tears, gas, phone calls, uncertainty, (did I mention beef jerky), and some of the best memories that I will cherish forever. That's what I call, time well spent.

Best known for Clint Eastwood's breakthrough performance In The Line of Fire

The Cruiser in its finer moments

It sure is Grand

So now, it leaves me here. I am currently living with my sister in the guest house of a Hollywood makeup artist. The employment situation is currently in progress, but I blame it on the "economy" a.k.a. "waiting for a real j-o-b to plop on my lap". I know this is not realistic nor acceptable. (*For any family reading this, see footnote) But for the few months that I have been here/adjusting, I have done some pretty amazing things! (Again, unemployment allows you to do things that you wouldn't have time to do when your employed).

My Top 10 LA things I have done (as of January 17, 2010).

1. Grocery shopping at Ralph's. Yes, referenced in The Big Lebowski.
2. Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Sundays. (When I'm not at Ralph's)
3. The Getty Museum (Irving Penn exhibit).
4. Downtown LA Artwalk. Lots of great local LA art. (Who said LA doesn't have culture?!)
5. Hike Topanga Hills in November and it's still 70 degrees out!
6. Drive through Beverly Hills...."cause that's where I want to Be!"
7. Santa Monica, The Mint. Great musical talent and intimate venue, saw Chris Barron from the Spin Doctors.
8. The Dresden. A Hollywood landmark. Does Swingers, "Staying Alive" ring a bell?
9. Birds. Let's just say Hoola hoops, bird cages, and great company (my fellow East Coast transplants, and a few new friends)
10. Hinano burger, from Hinano bar in Venice. Amazing. Must be really bad for your health.

In case you were wondering if the fun stops there, I have every intention of expanding this list. On that note, that about does it for my introductory post. I hope to keep you all amused and informed. Feel free to join and follow my blog! It will keep me motivated knowing I have an audience.

I'm hungry and I'm going make myself something yummy to eat!

Until next post....




(*I had a job interview for a marketing/event planning position and it looks good. I am being somewhat productive despite what I said.)