Jam-Packed

My brief time in L.A. could not have been more productive. That's how I like to do it when I'm visiting someplace new.

What I fit in:

- domino Bazaar, where I browsed some home goods, learned how to create two indoor succulent arrangements, and took a plant and organic tote home with me. That organic tote saved my life because my suitcase was already 51 pounds, and we all know it's not getting any lighter after 14 days of travel.
- visiting the beach in Santa Monica at sunset
- walking through the Third Street Promenade, eating a crepe for dinner and a delicious Nutella-filled, white chocolate-covered churro for dessert!
- driving through Hollywood after dark
- a drive to Malibu at sunrise, early brunch on the beach, views from the Pepperdine campus
- church in Bel Air with a friend's friend
- lunch at In-N-Out in Westwood, and an ice cream sandwich at Diddy Riese!, plus a stroll around the UCLA campus
- shopping on Melrose (just missed Scarlett Johannson)
- cupcakes at Sprinkles (peanut butter chocolate chip, red velvet, cinnamon sugar, and chocolate marshmallow)
- a stroll on Rodeo Drive
- a beer and calamari at a local place in Malibu as the sun set out the window behind me, and I made friends with my bartenders
- a fun night in West Hollywood with a new friend
- breakfast outside in Venice and some quiet time on the beach

THE END.

I just arrived in San Francisco, and tonight's dinner, although more expensive than last night's, was delicious and worth it! Scallops, lobster, swordfish, and shrimp sauteed with onions and mushrooms in white wine and garlic on rice, served with penne pasta and vegetables. Followed by vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate sauce. . . followed by a trip to the exercise room!

My view at dinner.
One block from my hotel.

Bye Bye L.A., Hello San Jose

the view from my friends' church in Bel Air

Hollywood Blvd

Malibu, Pacific Coast Hwy

Malibu

Santa Monica, Ocean Ave.

a painful expenditure

Trying hard not to be irritated, as I just spent $35 on so-so salmon and a glass of red wine. My colleagues and I went to dinner, and I was under the impression that I would not be paying. Maybe because one of the gentlemen with us mentioned last week that he would pay for dinners, plural, the nights of our events. He paid last night, but apparently wasn't planning to expense another meal tonight. However, nearly everything on the menu was pricey, so even if I had tried to save money, I would've only saved about $6. Just knowing that I could've had a much better meal for the same price is what bugs me.

alone on the beach

I spent yesterday morning in Venice. A healthy and delicious brunch and a walk on the soft sandy beach. I did not want to leave. Really. I DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE, could've sat there all day doing nothing but breathing in the ocean air. It was so peaceful, so quiet sitting there alone, listening to the huge waves crash against the shore. The weather has been perfect here - just enough breeze and plenty of sun. I'm not sure I've ever enjoyed the ocean as much as I did today. Maybe because I enjoyed it alone. I didn't have to talk to anyone or proclaim how beautiful it was, just delight in God's creation without saying a word.

Today I fly to Silicon Valley. Tomorrow it's up to San Francisco for five days! Then on to Vancouver, BC.

(If you live in the San Fran area, I should be free Wednesday evening to possibly meet up. I'm staying in the Fisherman's Wharf area.)

La La Land

Less than 36 hours in L.A., and I've already fallen in love with the city. It's possible that in another 36 hours I will have fallen out of love, but right now I'm nuts about it. There are a few things I could foresee being an issue if we were to enter into a serious relationship, but I guess this is a just a fling. And what a fun fling it's been so far.

I flew in yesterday, giving me a full 48 hours to discover L.A. before I have to work. I rented a Chevy Equinox (in love with that, too), filled up the tank, and put the GPS to work. Traveling alone certainly has its perks . . for instance, you can do WHATEVER YOU WANT. I'm an extremely social person who likes to share every moment with someone else, but traveling alone doesn't necessarily mean I can't. I get to make friends! And so far, I've made friends on the plane, friends at the beach, friends in line, friends at church, and friends at a bar in Malibu. The one downside to traveling solo is that I have to ask strangers to take ridiculous pictures of me. You know, like pictures of me eating my ice cream and pictures of me at a restaurant, just so I never forget that I ate that or visited that place.

I've just checked into my hotel (after staying with a friend's friend last night), and I'm venturing out to West Hollywood, meeting up with new friends. (My mother won't be able to fall asleep after reading that. She doesn't like me walking outside alone after dark. Ever. Anywhere.)

It feels so good to be in California again.

'Tis the Season

Election season. I'm about to go there. Much more I could say, but I will save it for another day. Aren't you so excited? ;) Either way, I hope you'll still love me. :)

Waiting for a Wedding

My friend recently asked me to be a bridesmaid in her fabulous wedding. I can't believe I have to wait an entire year for this:

“We’re going to have the wedding at sunset with Lake Michigan as the backdrop! So the wedding will be at about 5 ending at about 5:30. Cocktail hour from 5:30 to 7 (but we are going to have to do pictures during that time) with dinner at 7! We haven’t decided the menu yet (of course) but we have decided that we are going to have signature cocktails! So cocktail hour will feature the signature cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the aquarium (which is tunnel with aquarium all around – floor and ceiling). Then on to the all glass roof-top venue for the reception. It’s going to be black-tie so the dinner will be longish and formalish. Dancing will begin around 8 and during that time we are going to have a wine and cheese pairing/tasting and flights of local beer to try (ode to Wisconsin!). Then at 10 we are going to bring out a dessert buffet with 5-8 different mini-desserts. Then at midnight, when the evening is over, everyone is going to leave with homemade cookies and milk for a “midnight snack.” So hopefully it’ll be the foodie event that we have always talked about!”

Anticipation

Guess who's going to be in L.A. for this?! As if my itinerary wasn't packed enough! But I cannot miss this event. I absolutely love this magazine, pour over its pages about ten times before setting it aside. This event looks fantastic.

Oh man, this California trip ain't gonna be cheap. But I've already scored my first good deal. I reserved a mid-size SUV with GPS, two days for only $108 (including tax)!

It's all I can do to not sit here daydreaming about ten days in California, Southern and Northern. Only ten more days before I'm there!

Twelve Weeks 'til Christmas!

I enjoyed my friend's post today:

http://steveandrandel.blogspot.com/2008/10/12-shopping-weeks-left.html

This has been on my mind lately. I don't have children, but I have plenty of people I'd like to buy gifts for. I love buying gifts! And I'd be lying if I said I've never used my credit card at Christmas time. But even if I could afford to, what is necessary? What is too much? There is such a thing as generosity, but there is also such a thing as encouraging materialism and over-indulgence. My family has always kept it very simple at Christmas, and although it hasn't always been easy to watch the majority of my peers rake in the cash and prizes, I've grown to appreciate my parents' way of doing things. Although I'll probably always be tempted to overspend in the name of generosity, I'd like to follow their model of 'giving in moderation'. It's nice to see other families keeping it simple, too.

Days of my Life

Sometimes I stop and just look around at this life I'm able to experience. I'm so thankful for it, every day of it, knowing God has me here for a purpose, and He's equipped me to do His will. I'm surrounded by people (at work specifically) who don't share my world view. At all. And I know it's no mistake. Although I sometimes miss being surrounded by at least a few like-minded people. :)

Today I found myself on the top floor of the S.tate Department building in an Un.der Se.cretary's office having cocktails, looking out at the Lin.coln Memorial, right there, just a couple of blocks away. I watched as three P.residential helicopters came in for a landing right down the street at the Wh.ite House. We toasted to a newly-titled Am.bassador, appointed by the Pr.esident. And this reception was after a ceremony led by Se.cretary Rice giving a Disti.nguished Service award to General P.etraus.

What a cool day.

September Love*

Football season, football season, football season . . oh wait, sorry, there are a few other things, too. Blue Moon, mushrooms on everything, mini corndogs, Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownies, eggs benedict on fried green tomatoes . . Mr. Greengenes, lululemon, season premieres, getting organized, seeing family, and making new friends**.

I could write an entire post on each of these things!

But we all know I won’t.

*I'm stealing Slice of Pink's idea.

**Specifically two guys that actually love Jesus with their whole hearts! My good friend KC and I are having fun watching football and golfing with them.

my weekend

I've been dog-sitting for friends this weekend . . and I hope they never come back. Their home is the perfect distance from the city (4 miles, although if I'm honest, I love being one block away). It's cozy and inviting, and the fridge is perfectly stocked with the best snacks I could imagine. I invited friends over Friday night. We ordered our favorite pizzas and played Wii Golf on the flat screen. Every night I climb into their King size bed with the little shih tzu and sink into the mattress. It's difficult to get up in the morning. Living with three girls, I am loving the time ALONE, no distractions, no getting frustrated with messes that aren't mine. It's been a lovely little retreat.

daydreaming

Whenever I get overwhelmed at work, I start biting my nails down to nothing and daydreaming about another life. Why can't I just be an unemployed homeowner who spends her days baking and decorating? That sounds totally realistic to me!

I'm getting there

Weekend Full of Fun

So the first thing I think when I sit down to write about my weekend is: YUM. It was a delicious, high-calorie weekend. Oh, and I also think *yawn*. So exhausting!

My weekend began a day earlier than usual as I headed out for Thursday night dinner with some girlfriends. We sat on the patio at Sette Bello drinking our favorite wines and eating caprese salad and penne with salmon in vodka and cream sauce. (I also gave in and had a dense chocolate mousse cake with vanilla bean ice cream.) I had every intention of heading home early and hopping in the sack at 10pm, but one fun moment led to another and before I knew it, I was dancing to a live cover band, and it was 1:30am. Oops.

Friday evening was a repeat of dinner and dancing, but with a different group of friends. This time my salmon was covered in bbq sauce and served atop a pile of mashed potatoes with asparagus and corn salsa on the side.

Saturday, despite a high of 70 degrees, was spent on the lake. No football game for my team, so I opted out of game-watching altogether. My comfort on the slalom ski has reached a new high, as I continue to set bigger goals for myself each time I go out. My shoulder is not touching the water yet (let’s be honest, not even close) but I’m pretty impressed with how far I’ve come. After boating, the boys and I stopped by their friend’s block party BBQ. He’d been up since 4am smoking the meat, and it was fantastic! He even got the local newspaper to come by and snap a few pictures – too funny.

Yesterday’s highlight was golfing on a new course! I’m not sure I can go back to my regular course after that! It was a gorgeous afternoon surrounded by ponds, geese honking, and tons of deer roaming onto the course. We had dinner at our favorite sandwich/pizza place (my meal: pita stuffed with chicken, tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and garlic), and I stayed up way too late playing the new Scrabble Beta on facebook. Seriously addicting!

dinner

I went over to Cousin J and K's tonight for yummy asparagus ravioli, spring mix salads with dried cranberries, walnuts, and feta . . and a glass of wine. She sure knows how to throw together a great dinner! I've been a little homesick lately, and it's times like these that I'm even more thankful to have family in town.

flag on the play

In the past couple of weeks, I have had a very surprising revelation about the male species. All this time I have thought that we, women, were the emotional ones who said things we didn't mean, things we thought about later and wanted to take back. But oh no, compared to the last couple of guys I've hung out with, I am practically ALL LOGIC. I think about things before they come out of my mouth, and I don't change my mind THE VERY NEXT DAY.

In the past couple of weeks, I've had someone, from a different Big 12 school, promise to come to every Nebraska game watch this season, and he even said he was looking forward to it - ha!

Then I had a guy offer me his frequent flyer miles AND a football ticket. AND he tried to convince me that he had the most important quality I look for in a guy. And no, that quality is not "likes nice restaurants" or "will buy me a boat", although I would take both of those, too.

Both of these guys said these things and had the audacity to change their minds! How dare they? I mean, I was practically packing my bags already! And I saved a seat for Dude #1 at the Pub. Ugh!

My friend and I decided yesterday that nearly every relationship situation could be summed up in a football penalty. And in these cases, I'm calling a false start!

GBR!

For the past two football seasons, I've thought the Pub was fantastic. How lucky was I to be halfway across the country yet have a Nebraska bar where I could cheer on the *best* team in college football every Saturday? Very fortunate.

But now that I've been back to Lincoln, tailgated pre- and post-game, sat amongst the Sea of Red . . I'm completely discontent. My heart is in Memorial Stadium, but tonight my body will be cheering at the Pub.

GO BIG RED!

Home Sweet Home

This past weekend, I was able to fly home to Nebraska for 48 hours before driving down to Kansas for a three day conference, starting today. It was a very fun two days . . delicious food, game night with family, and a Nebraska football game, of course!It was twenty degrees colder in Nebraska than D.C. on Friday, which meant no water-skiing for this kid. But we did enjoy a nice boat ride around the island.As requested, we grilled out steaks, had sweet corn on the cob, twice baked potatoes, green beans, asparagus, tomatoes, fruit, cinnamon rolls, and my favorite dessert - triple chocolate bundt cake.Farmtown Grandma came and brought a ton of kolaches (Czech pastry). Unfortunately I'm not a fan of fruit-stuffed anything, but everyone else was excited. :)
I invited a few extended family members to join us in a game of Loaded Questions. We had a lot of laughs!I was blessed to have two sets of tickets given to me, the second set much better than the first. My brother-in-law was kind enough to give me some yummy-smelling hand soap in exchange for the other set! :) . . . My cousin Ashley and I had enjoyed Nebraska food favorites, Valentino's pizza and Runza, before the first quarter was even over.

It was a fantastic weekend! And once again, I am feeling a bit homesick.

Holiday!

Here I sit, pants-less in my bed on the morning of Labor Day, because I can. My bedroommate is in Brazil for the next ten days, and you know I like to take full advantage of having the room all to myself, which really only means that I don't have to be modest.

The possibilities for this holiday today seem endless. I have no definite plans as of yet. I only know that KC (a girl friend) and I want to be active and outside this afternoon. Around here, that could mean a lot of things.

I spent yesterday on the boat, trying a new trick on the slalom ski. I'm taking baby steps to being a rockstar on that thing, as I am still overcoming my fear of slicing through the wake at a very fast speed. I tend to hang out on either side of the wake, practicing my rooster tail. These new ski gloves, a birthday present from the boating boys, were fun (and cute) to try out. So much for fingerless gloves since my hands are so small!Skiing on water with just enough ripple on a beautiful 85 degree day after eating a fresh crab cake sandwich while country music blasts from the speakers and fun friends cheer you on . . could anything really be better?

Have a great holiday!