Big G

This year I came up with kind of an interesting (at least in my opinion) resolution.  This happened in February so really it wasn't a resolution so much as a decision to do something.  I decided that it would be a really cool thing to write my Grandma Jean letters at least twice a month.  It's been so fun looking forward to hearing back from her.  Today I composed my 6th letter and am including some pictures for her from our trip there in January.  Although I love living in LA, the distance can be difficult when it comes to family and friends.  Keeping in touch is difficult.  There are time changes that hinder phone calls during hours I'm not working and weekends seem jam-packed with no time for long phone chats.  And getting something in the mail that isn't a bill is exciting! :)  So in my opinion this is a successful endeavor that we've begun.  Having a cool Grammy as a pen pal isn't half bad.  

New Metric and life in music

Good shows are coming up.  This makes Molly happy.  In a year when they've taken away all of my good radio stations (indie 103.1 specifically) I need these shows to get me through!  I'm an assistant...I spend a lot of time in my car and I need music to help deal with traffic in LA.  Indie helped me.  It exposed me to new artists, played old favorites that no one else played, and helped those guys I love who aren't so mainstream to get some airplay.  Sigh.  Pour a little out for a radio station that has now been made into a Spanish station....

This morning we got tickets to see Metric at the Wiltern.  This will be my 3rd Metric show and I'm fired up.  The new album is AMAZING.  So dancy and fun.  I happen to be listening to it currently in my office and boogieing a bit in my chair.  It's ok, I'm not in a room with anyone else...and it's the kind of album that makes you move.  You just can't help it!  

"I wanna leave but the wooooorld won't let me go"

So go grab this album.  It's called Fantasies.  And while you're at it, get their other albums too.  Live It Out is an incredible album.  I typically don't like female vocalists.  I'm not sexist...they just don't usually get to me the same way.  But Metric is one of the few that I am in love with.  

Check it out...and thank me later!~

G is for Gertrude and A is for Arthur

Today is February 26th which is a special day to me for a couple reasons. It is the day that my Grandma Gerty was born in 1908. She would have been 101 this year. Crazy. She is the epitome of the kind of lady I aspire to be. I miss her all the time, but she is in my dreams a lot. I like to think that is a chance for us to catch up a little. :) Love you, Gerty!

And today is my doggie's birthday too. He is 5! Time flies. I remember when I was researching boxers. I honestly don't remember why I decided on that breed. We had Louis the pug and I wanted a bigger dog and got focused on boxers. After looking at ads every day, I finally succumbed and called a guy who posted about his new puppies. I was calling him throughout the day and getting updates... soon he only had one puppy left! I had to wait for KT to get home from work and we drove to the middle of nowhere outside of Atlanta. I was just going to "look." As soon as I saw the adorable brindle boxer puppy I knew he was mine. I couldn't leave without him and I wrote the check then and there (of course, why would I have had my checkbook if I really was...."just looking"? :)). I named him on the way home and the rest is history! I love you, my little furry child!

My animal...

My dog is cute.  This is him pausing on a walk to play.  Doesn't he look like he wants to say something?  

For some reason we were laughing so hard I was crying when we put Cooper's glasses on Arthur.  He just looks so serious and funny!

I mean....really?  Adorable.  Makes him look intelligent.  But then his tongue comes out and the intelligence factor goes right out the window.  Haha.

The big 2-9

If you've never had Katie C's cupcakes then you just don't know how amazing they are. :) As my sister said "these cupcakes could end wars." I'm not big on cake and icing, but these are GOOOOOD!

I feel lucky to have such great people in my life. Took some pics of the table at Genghis Cohen as we celebrated the fact that I'm getting ooooold. Me, my babe, and Katie C post chow-down.

Anne, Rada, and Katie...we've celebrated a lot of birthdays together at this point. Katie obviously has seen me since my very first one and we've mostly had joint parties (not the drugs kind) since we were little seeing as our bdays are only 6 days apart.

Tami and RJ experience Genghis for the first time and really enjoyed our lazy susan centerpiece..as did the rest of us. Very useful for sharing!

This actually happened the weekend before my birthday...KT and I went to Urth Cafe and this is the random number they gave me while I waited for my food...almost like they knew! Creepy coincidence! Just kidding.

I had a very fun birthday weekend. Saw SCB on Friday at Molly Malone's and was able to get a lot of people out that night to celebrate that I hadn't seen in awhile. Plus the boys had a great show. Saturday was v-day and I'm not really into that whole idea. My idea is that you should probably tell the person you love something along those lines more often than once a year. Just seems like kind of a pressured exploited celebration of love to me...so we spent the day watching all of the Lord of the Rings extended edition movies back-to-back with a couple of short breaks to walk the doggie and get snacks at the store. We rallied quite well until 3 am. Made it through all 3 films! That's 13 hours, people. :) Dorky, yes...but a fun and unique day spent with my love.

Sunday we went to brunch and I relaxed during the day (been fighting a sore throat). That night was the dinner and cupcakes extravaganza. Thanks to everyone for all the facebook messages, texts, phone calls...it is fun to feel loved! Although my mom did all the work. Here's to looking forward to 30! It's amazing how life turns out. I feel very very blessed and lucky to be where I am with the people who are apart of my life. 29 years down....we shall see what the future holds!

Blessed and Bewildered

It seems that that is the way life goes.  When there is good, there is also bad.  I guess it is to make us appreciate things a little better.  To me, it already seems like 2009 is zooming by.  Of course January has been quite busy with these short weeks of work (holidays just kept falling on the days right around the weekend making it 4 day weekends...I'm not complaining!). :)  KT and I went to see the pops in Mississippi and had a great time.  I didn't drive for 5 days!!  That NEVER happens.  I drive so much for my job...and it's not just driving, it's LA driving.  Anyone who has done that, knows just how different it is to drive in this town.  Urgh. :)  

We got to go to some old favorites that aren't in LA...chik-fil-A, Mellow Mushroom, etc.  I got to take my time shopping instead of running in a store for my boss and then taking a quick power lap in the other sections perusing for myself.  My fam is hilarious and each trip I come back with some great quotes.  This year the winner was my aunt talking about tattoos...having seen mine and KT's.  She said "the only tattoo I'd ever get is a huge DNR on my chest."  Say this in a very pessimistic monotone voice and picture a tiny woman saying it.  Hilarious.  This is the aunt that called me once and said "open your door and listen....hear that?  It's my life...sucking."  haha  

Here's a pic of me with my other aunt, Betsy...but we call her Mimi.  Everyone does at this point.

I bought Big G a hoodie because it looked like her.  The woman loves pink.  Here she is being "street" with Katie while we played dominos.  

She also liked our new sunglasses and wanted to try them on for a picture.  It was hard to come out of this trip with any pictures.  Aunt doesn't allow it.  Grammy gets mad unless she's being silly and Dad refuses.  Good times.  

I feel like I'm going through a time of transition.  I'm going to be moving March 1st and that's exciting.  I'll be in Los Feliz which is an area that I love.  And there is a backyard for Arthur...he's going to be a happy pup.  It's always fun to make changes at a new place.  I want to paint!  For now though, I want to go home and start my weekend! :)

2008 wrap-up

2008 was an interesting year.  It is funny because I remember hearing my parents say that time flies and I'd look at them like they were crazy and think "but every day of 2nd grade seems like an eternity!"  Funny how your perspective changes as you age.  I honestly can't believe an entire year has passed since we spent New Year's at obrien's in Santa Monica and at the griffin.  But a lot has changed.

2008 was a year of upgrades....

I upgraded my love life.

I upgraded my apartment by moving out of the neighborhood that I just couldn't deal with anymore.

I upgraded my friendship requirements to those who are respectful and appreciative.

And last night I upgraded my phone to one that (fingers crossed) won't freeze, reset, and delete everything all the time like my BB curve did! :)

There are other categories that I look forward to upgrading in the future, but for now I'm pretty happy with those ones.  In just a month and a half I'll be 29....that is awfully close to 30.  And again I say, time flies.

I'm happy for a new year, new possibilities, new fun, new friends...whatever the future holds!

And tomorrow KT and I are going to Jackson, MS to see my dad, grandma, 2 aunts, cousin, and the Colonel.  Can't wait for a few days away with my hilarious sarchotic family!