Early Morning Thoughts

I started this blog to document my move to a new place and to keep everyone posted on my life in general while I'm so far away. Fortunately, I've been able to find plenty of new ways to communicate with my friends down south and don't feel particularly cut off.

Still, this blog is way fun and so even though I don't really have a lot of newsworthy stuff afoot, I don't plan to give it up any time soon. Talking to people who aren't there is one of my specialties any way!

Gabe and I were in Burbank over the weekend (again) because we went down to see Wicked (again!). My hubby's such a good sport, he's seen it 3 times now and didn't complain hardly at all before we went. Afterwards we both agreed it wasn't the best version we had seen, though.

We went with a couple from Atascadero and I was hoping to get to know them a little better but they didn't even get to the theater til after the lights had gone down, and when went out to post-Wicked dinner, she mostly bonded with her friend from kindergarten she had invited along. So much for that plan.

We went to dinner at LALA's on Melrose. Great food, but disappointing service. After waiting 20 minutes for menus, one of us asked a staff member if we had a waiter. A long moment of silence followed, and "I don't know" was the actual answer we received. Eventually things got straightened out, our food came and all was almost forgiven.

This weekend, I have a big event going on at my house. A very talented massage therapist graces me with her presence once a month, and we decided to throw a spa party. Now, I've got 10 appointments available and exactly ONE got filled. People here are so frustrating. We'll see if any one even actually shows up. Well, besides the one appointment.

Looking back, I see things I could have done differently to coordinate and plan better. But the flyers are out and there's really no turning back.

So when I say "big event" I mean that there's a possibility I might have some people over... or not. Who knows... the way I look at it, it's an opportunity for me to open my doors, be welcoming and hopefully make at least one friend out of this whole shenanigan. Plus! Helllllooooo chocolate fountain!

On a happier note, work is going well and I'm trying to make connections there with the people I work with. Everyone there likes to have fun so it's really never boring. More recently, I've been working past the big morning rush and actually getting to relax for a few minutes at a time, and get to speak to customers a little longer and conversate with my fellow Starbucks partners.

Now I'm off to work!

More Hiking Pics

Gratuitous Gnome Photo: Into the woods we go! On the left is my new friend Marie, then Brandi my hiking buddy and boss, plus Scooter our tour guide.
Here's the actual trail we were on:

Here's some more pictures of this trail and it's surrounding areas. This one is in San Simeon and gee golly wiz is it pretty.



I can't believe I live so close to this beautiful awesomeness. It's almost (what? I said almost!) as good as Disneyland. Minus the soft serve ice cream stands.

All this hiking is a really good workout but unfortunately I keep eating too much to see any results... Soooo it looks like I'm going to be embarking on a new WLJ (weight loss journey... stop retching) through work. I feel like I might be getting a little bored with the whole Weight Watchers thing. Even though I love it and know it works, I am not doing it so much right now and I think it's because the challenge is gone. So I'm switching it up.

I'm going down to LA in a few days again to see Wicked the Musical for, oh, the 4th time. I swear I'm done for a year or so after that! It helps that it's leaving LA pretty soon and I have no plans to visit Broadway. We're going with a friend of Gabe's and his girlfriend so hopefully it will be some kinda fun double date thing. Wish my socially awkward self good luck.

Disneyland!

I was down in Burbank the past 3 days and as usual, I stayed pretty busy.


A couple of weeks ago I locked up a date with the ultra-busy Kate for us to go to Disneyland. Giddy was going to meet us there and everything. I made plans to go down to Burbank on Sunday to be fresh and ready to go Monday morning... And then disaster struck! Kate was going to be forced to work by her evil monster of a boss. I was, like, totally bummed. I decided just to mope down to Burbank on Monday instead.


Then I got a call from Kate on Sunday saying she was magically available to go to Disneyland the next day because she was going to quit her horribly toxic job. An hour after I congratulate her and hang up, I'm packed and waving good-bye to the husband and dog, merrily on my way to L.A.


We had a great time! We did not go on the Matterhorn, as I have enough issues with my neck and back thankyouverymuch, but I did snap this photo of its iconic silhouette. I had to look up how to spell "silhouette" because even the correct spelling looks horribly wrong. Moving on.

Here's a picture of my lovely friend on the Alice in Wonderland ride.

We went on Kate's favorite ride, Heimlichs Chew Chew Train. It goes very slowly, yet only lasts about 45 seconds. When you go through the big animal cracker-box, it smells like animal crackers... and when you go through giant watermelon, it spits watermelon scent on you. Um. Moving on.

Here's the hams, hammin' it up. Giddy, Mr. Giddy and Kate at California Screamin.'

We also went on the new Toy Story Mania and HOLY CRAP it was fun. I'd have taken pictures but I was too busy gettting my heinie kicked by the lovely, gentle Kate. I'll get you next time!

I got a Halloween decoration because I love Halloween. Oh, and Tinkerbell is all right too, I guess. If you're into that sort of thing.



Then after we had fun at Walt's Place, Kate took me down the road to Angel's Stadium where I met my hubby for a Yankee spankin' game of baseball. Final score that day: Angels won 12 to 1. (BTW, the Angels clinched the AL West today. I know you don't care but I'm excited.) We had great seats and there was a bench-clearing brawl that was awesome.

That was my Monday.

On Tuesday, I went shopping! I met a couple of girlfriends for dinner where we gabbed and they showered me with love. Then I went to my old meeting hall and got to sit in on a great women's meeting.

Today I got to wear my wedding dress again (long story), which is good because I LOVE IT. All in all, a very good trip. And now I'm home. YAY home!