Inspiration

A random message on the ground

While in San Francisco (doing the "bootleg" version of the 1/2 marathon, as you may recall from an earlier post), I came across this sign on the ground during our walk to Coit Tower.

It is a nice message, albeit a bit random and vague, given that it is just lying on the ground, but I snapped a shot anyway, because the general sentiment was a positive one.

Sometimes it is just nice to see/hear/receive a little positive reinforcement every now and again, so enjoy!

Be Well

I received a nice bit of philosophy from an unlikely source - a parking valet - while out the other night.

My car rolled up to the curb of the restaurant I had attended for a work function/dinner. I stepped around to the driver side to hand over my claim ticket and valet tip, and as the valet and I exchanged pleasantries, he sent me off with an unexpected, "be well."

it kind of took me by surprise (at least I was listening and it registered!), so I just said, "thanks, you too." and hopped in the car. Props to the valet driver for saying something that really stuck with me. I have no idea if that is something that he always says to people, or if it was my own special little message, but it struck me as a very authentic and caring thing to say.

That or he knows something about the food at El Cholo that I don't!

The Routine

Trying to get back into the routine of things after having a full week of vacation. A bit of a slow start this morning, as I intended to run first, but got caught up in my book (really the kindle, but the end result of reading is the same!), then decided to check some Facebook stats, see what blogging activity has gone on, and took a peek at the number of emails that await for review tomorrow (it is still loading, so I shudder to think about what that number is going to net out to) and get a plan going for the day.

It is always interesting to me to realize just how much I pack into a "normal" week and what my routine really looks like some days. You might say crazy, I prefer "full". At any rate, the full day is about to commence and when the sun sets, I will have run a 10K, gone food shopping, shopped at Target, done the laundry, cooked 3 of the dinners for next week, vacuumed and walked the dogs (the evening walk only; I missed the am walk at the beach).

Glad to be back in the routine!

I Mind the Gap

While traveling from Flushing back into NYC the other day, I noticed that there was a sign painted on the ground every 50 feet or so, warning passengers to "Watch the Gap". I have to tell you, that's just not right.

Anyone who has been to London and had the opportunity to take the Underground (aka "The Tube") knows that the proper phrase is, "Mind the Gap".

I just had to share this...I know that Kris and Elizabeth will have the same response that I did!!

Red Sky at Night

There is a fire burning up north and while it is (thankfully) not putting any homes at risk, it is burning its fair share of brush. The result for those of us south is a spectacular sunset show each night.

I noticed how orange the sun was yesterday as Holly and I were returning from the movies (500 Days of Summer, an entertaining and somewhat different approach to telling a story and one that doesn't take the easy-out ending route either), so as soon as we were in the house I grabbed my camera and trotted out to the back yard to see if I could catch the orange glow before it dipped too low on the horizon.

I caught most of it and certainly plenty of the glow that went along with it, pretty cool in my book!

Happy (part I)

A friend sent me this sign. I think that it is cute and of course I must share with Elizabeth, who is the collector of all fun and silly signs.

Hard not to smile and take on the day with this perspective!

New Moon Rising

I seem to recently have gone through some transformation that leaves me (in my opinion) far more observant than I have been for a long while. The most recent evidence of this was last night... a very full moon event.

It isn't as if I haven't seen the moon - tons of times. It isn't as if I haven't seen my fair share of full, bright moons. Even with all of that knowledge in my head, I was enamored with the moon last night to the point that I tripped over a planter while walking the dogs with David because I was craning my neck to see the moon rising low over the houses.

Perhaps a heightened sense of observation is my way of responding to being insanely klutzy!

Zen

In addition to doing work on the front yard, David also worked on the patio area and really spruced things up.  The evening of graduation was unfortunately a bit too cool to really enjoy the fruits of his labor, but we will enjoy the space as we sit out there throughout the summer.

One of the elements that were added was a fountain; actually, TWO fountains.  The first was one that we have had for quite some time and often requires some amount of repair to either the pump, a tube or a leaking joint.  David spends a ton of time on it every season.  I have suggested that we replace it once or twice, but he seems determined to make it work, which he does (at least for a week or two),

The second fountain, as pictured here is now outside my office, so I can open the window and enjoy the zen sounds of water splashing. It is very nice and relaxing and I rather enjoyed it for the 15-minutes or so until David asked me if I thought that the shape of the fountain looked like a toilet.

Now I have to go to the bathroom!

Gaud-like

This is not intended to be disrespectful or blasphemous (you know that this is going to be a good entry if I have to lead off with a disclaimer), but there is a point (in my humble opinion) in which ornate crosses the line and becomes too much.

We were recently witness to just such a display a few weeks ago while visiting an unnamed church in an unnamed city for an unnamed service (I am observing anonymity rules to risk insult or injury to those involved!).

Elizabeth was my partner in crime, and as we were sitting in the pew facing forward, I leaned over to her and whispered, "I'm not sure how I feel about all of that bling on the cross up there, especially the turquoise wood strips that jut out from the sparkle-gold background.". Elizabeth agreed, we giggled a bit and the service carried on.

After a few minutes, the lighting changed, dimming the sanctuary overheads...then a spotlight --- a red spotlight --- came on over the cross. A bit much for me, so I shared with Elizabeth my opinion, "That is a little more gaud...and I am talking G-A-U-D then I like to see in church."

I am thankful to report that we were neither kicked out, stoned or struck down for the snickering that ensued. Funny is funny and we should rejoice!

Where's Schnoogie?

This is just us being goofy.

Holly and I trekked over to "The Lakes" for some CPK a week or two ago (David is not a big fan of what he calls "The pricey pizza and fancy salad") because David was not going to be home for dinner. It was a nice evening and we were just strolling along, enjoying the scenery.

The roses are really starting to burst with color, so I cracked out the Blackberry for a photo. While I was lining it up, you-know-who thought that she would be funny and pop her head in...as if I wasn't going to notice it.

We then spent a good 5 minutes trying to line up a shot so that it looked like Holly was floating amongst the roses. We couldn't get that look without having her actually getting into the midst of the bushes (an idea that we nixed for both the impracticality and potential pain involved), so we just settled for this silly pose.

We cracked up not only ourselves, but the people sitting outside of Ben & Jerry's watching us.

How do you title this?

This one is for my friend Elizabeth, lover of the crazy signs. Here is a sign that I came across today (on the internet, not in real life)...what could have possibly been going on that someone spent the time and energy to produce this?

I really don't think that I have anything else to say about that!

On the Road

I spent Saturday on the road...or at least it seemed that way.  I had a Board Meeting in Ventura, which is about 1/2 way to Santa Barbara, so I decided that I should just go the rest of the way and make a visit to our Santa Barbara store.  An excellent idea and one that was shared by many, many others at about noon.  

It isn't a fun thing to be sitting in traffic, hungry and without any lunch options on the horizon at 12:30pm.  I fiddled with the radio, drank some water, looked out at the water and then ahead to the cars that were snaking their way along the coast with me.

Here's hoping that the streets and beach of Santa Barbara are as inviting as I imagine them to be in my head!

Springtime in Los Angeles

I was walking to the bus on Friday, traveling through a little LA neighborhood that is tucked right off of Wilshire Blvd.  Although a light jacket was required, I realized that the temperature was MUCH more temperate than what I was in earlier this week.  I also realized that everything is in bloom right now, and it is pretty striking.

I am sure that anyone looking out their window was wondering what the heck I was doing, pointing my Blackberry at various plants.  I enjoy the flower close-up.  When we took an Alaskan cruise a couple of years ago, one of our stops was Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada.  I think that it was raining, but all 3 of use were out there, cruising the rose garden, taking photos.  If I recall, there was something in the neighborhood of 200 photos just from that excursion.

I really enjoy the flowers...thus, I really enjoy the spring!

The Sweet Smells of Spring

I would describe my olfactory senses as very strong, as I can pick up a scent pretty quickly and find that different smells trigger reactions in my psyche quickly (like the skunk issue!!).

One of the things that I really appreciate about spring is how good it smells outside as things start to bloom.  I was walking around the block at the office the other evening (a little fresh air and exercise are always good for the soul), and I had something good to smell for the entire walk.

Jasmine, orange blossom, roses; I was out at the perfect time, when traffic had died down, most people were inside cooking dinner (sauteed onions, fried chicken and tacos), but it was still light outside.

It makes me feel sorry for my friends that are still getting snow at this time of the year!

Interesting Fascination

Back from France for about a week now, life has been chugging along at a regular pace and we have all been immersing ourselves back into an established routine. No more cappuccinos and pain au chocolate for the Schnoogs, no more vin chaud for David and no more goat cheese on toast for yours truly. Don't mistake the wistful food recollections for sadness; we are all happy to be home and reunited with the pups and sleeping in our own beds again, and of course, we will always have Paris!

The commute routine is alive and well, with plenty of different experiences and sights to see. I realized as I was walking along Wilshire this morning that I enjoy working (not living!) in an urban area; there is always so much going on and so much is always in flux.

I have been watching some of the different billboards and advertising methods of late, this week it has been a building near Fairfax and Wilshire transform from a "Valkyrie" ad to a Caffeine-Free Pepsi board. This particular location has been catching my eye for a couple of reasons:

1. The only time that Tom Cruise will ever look tall to me is when he is splayed up the side of a 20-story building
2. The process to "wrap" and "unwrap" (if that is the phrase used) the building appears to be a slow and tedious one, creating a few days of old and new ads up on the building
3. I am really easily fascinated by new things

I have been using the word fascinating in my vocabulary lately; I credit my good friend Elizabeth for that one, who utters the declaration often. I also think fondly of another good friend, Barb, when fascinated by something always says, "that is very interesting to me." I enjoy the particular speech patterns and habits of my friends; they are simultaneously fascinating AND interesting to me!

When I cracked out the camera to capture this shot, I found myself wishing that I had taken the picture yesterday when 1/2 of the building was Pepsi and the other 1/2 was giant Tom Cruise. Take my word for it, fascinating is a kind word for that view!

I'm a Sucker for Rainbows

Being a girl and a product of the 80's, rainbows and unicorns were BIG in my life. I'm talking overkill, including the obligatory white t-shirt with a rainbow across the front, stretching from arm to arm. The ultimate of course was the mirror shaped like a unicorn with a rainbow mane - you can't find those anymore!

For some reason this information came rushing into my head today as I was driving home from the last day of my store training in Burbank (another shout out to Jason, Katie and the VERY fun team there!). We had a good couple of inches of rain over an 18 hour period or so, with more dark clouds looming and an occasional flash of lightning. The commute was pretty tough in the morning and was shaping up to be much of the same in the late afternoon. As the traffic speed suddenly started to pick up (hooray!), I noticed an INTENSELY bright rainbow off to the right. Sun was on the left, dark clouds were behind the rainbow and the whole scene was truly breathtaking.

I can't deny that I was tempted to try and capture the brilliance of the colors using my Blackberry phone - but between the rain,traffic speed and awkward angle through the window (not to mention the safety implications!), I decided that I would have to let this rainbow shine brightly in my memory only.

Of course, I could set out on a quest for a new mirror, complete with rainbow-maned unicorn!

Stoop and Scoop

So I am doing my in-store training at the Burbank Pinkberry (shout out to my friends Jason, Katie and the whole team), and am afforded a 30-minute meal period each day, which I typically spend walking and exploring the area. Today I ventured further south than in my previous jaunts and discovered a little residential area that had the sign you see here posted every 25-feet or so.

My friend Elizabeth LOVES her some of the quirky signs, so I know that she will appreciate this one and I must admit that the 'stoop and scoop' phrase to educate dog owners on their responsibilities is a new one on me...and it entertains me greatly.

Time to get back to work, I don't want to get marked as tardy returning from my meal period!

Organize tasks...check!

There are days where my list is my life. I get a lot of grief for being so task-oriented, but like it or not, it is indeed part of my charm (or so I like to believe). I tend to think of the list as the thing that helps to keep me organized, focused and productive - who wouldn't want to be all of those things??

Take my current list. It has 24 items on it, all of which I intend to have completed by Sunday. I started creating the list yesterday, sorted it by day and priority and then added to it as I thought of more things. I completed 3 items yesterday so they are now checked off (but still showing so that I can map my progress!) David is amused by my lists and often takes to writing ridiculous things on the bottom, such as, "solve the global economy crisis". He is a funny one.

Of course, if it is on my list, I will start working on it!

Family Friendly?

So here I am in Denver visiting my good friend Allison and her daughter Deanna (age 3 and pictured here). We wanted to go to a kid-friendly place for dinner, so it seemed that Casa Bonita was just the place. In business since 1974, it boasts cliff divers, various shows, mariachis and an arcade PLUS an all-you-can-eat mexican plate meal. What more could we want?

The place clearly sees a lot of traffic and activity. Set up like a Vegas buffet, the wait to order, get food and be seated can queue for up to a good 30 minutes or so. A little cheesey, but hey, it's family entertainment. And then we got a view of the food.

I'll post the photos for shock/entertainment value when I am back home, but consider this scenario....plates of food passed through a tiny cut-out window, sitting under heat lamps. Fresh? Hmmm. Then we saw the fajita meat on the grill, crammed around a saute pan loaded with onions and peppers. Is that food safety certified? Not likely. Rather than run and head for the hills, we continued, blindly believing that all will be well.

I'll spare you my fine readers any further food visuals beyond the cheese enchiladas with nacho cheese sauce and know that the evening has ended with both Allison and I sipping ginger ale in hopes of quelling the stomach pains.

Let's get to the entertainment. First, there was a creepy giant gorilla (girl-illa as Deanna says it) that beat on his chest and snuck up on and scared people. Then there was the show with a sheriff and outlaw that ended with the outlaw being shot multiple times and then falling off the cliff into the water. My personal favorite of course was the damsel in distress being chased by some Tarzan-type until she was rescued by the sheriff who shot Tarzan, who then fell off the cliff and into the water.

What is this place and who dreamt up the entertainment? And how is this in any way related to a Mexican-themed restaurant??? I remain truly baffled and while Allison and I joked about the number of years of therapy required for any child who visits for dinner (we estimate 5), there is a sad truth that this place can't possibly contribute in a positive way to the youth of Denver.

The final straw - as if the overall experience wasn't enough - came in the arcade. There was some sort of 'Turkey Hunter' game right next to the little kiddie rides with exploding guts and frighteningly realistic graphics. That did it, we were out of there.

We are going to be taking the safe route...like the park...with Deanna tomorrow!

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The Secret Life of Mees

I seem to be having a creativity block. That is the only valid excuse that I can think of for the title of today's blog. It is supposed to be a twist on the book-now-movie The Secret Life of Bees but somehow doesn't translate as well. There is not a whole lot of secret to my life if it is all out here on the blog, but I liked the book and the movie, and it at least got me moving in the direction of a post, so there you go. I have also been craving honey of late, but I suppose that is a different issue.

My Mom and I saw the movie together on Tuesday while I was visiting in Hemet - it is always nice to have an excuse to have some soda and popcorn in the middle of the day - and it is interesting to me how civil rights even today remain something that aren't a given for everyone. I could probably wax on poetically for quite some time on how wrong I feel it is to deny any person their fundamental rights as a citizen, so suffice it to say that I am indeed the product of a very liberal upbringing and in that I have zero appetite for ANY group of people being oppressed or denied privileges afforded to any other US citizen.

With that said, I rather enjoyed beating my Mom at her own odd humor game. We were talking about how things were back in the 60's and early 70's when I was a kid and she commented that my grandparents were not very enthused about the fact that my mom and dad took my younger brother and I to rallies and demonstrations. She said that she could understand now why they didn't like it because she would have been uncomfortable if I ever took Holly to such an event. With razor-like timing (naturally!), I said, "She did OK at that NRA gun-rights rally I took her to when she was 3." Dead silence. I got her good!!!

Neither I nor Holly have ever attended an NRA rally by the way...not even in my most secret of lives!