Things I've learned living on my own

• Most things aren't quite as fun when you have to do them on your own
• I need people and crave conversation
• Crowds are no longer a fear that keeps me away from them (although at times traffic can be overwhelming when you're running late for work)
• I like to work
• Without the stressful times you can't enjoy the stress free times as much
• Target is my best friend
• Down comforters make me sneeze and should be stuffed in closets so as not to see the light of day
• Dishes pile up in the sink slower when you live on your own
  
• I love fresh cut flowers in my house but I don't know that I'd have the motivation to maintain a garden anytime soon in my life
• Painting my fingernails only stops me from biting them until I pick off the paint (needless to say I repaint them a lot)
• I have an overwhelming addiction to desserts/sugar that if ignored results in the consumption of mass amounts a sugar in a very short amount of time
  
• Dawson's Creek is still as entertaining as it was when I was 13
  
• Food shopping is not as fun without roommates
  
• I love reading books
• My cousins babies are the cutest ever
• Airplanes flying over your head at 6:30 am not only rattle your house but your bed and brain (haha just kidding most of the time I don't notice them that early)
  
• Driving a monster truck is amazingly fun but it sucks to park
• I love when you go shopping and you find that one thing that you can't live without
• Working at Nordstrom makes you forget how expensive some of the clothes in the designer section are when people throw them sloppily back on the hangers
• Personal shoppers sell loads of clothes and anyone can have one for free :)
• Two words (Hanky Pankys) gotta love um
• My grandma is capable of asking me the same question 7 times in less than 2 minutes
• There is nothing better than Mexican food!
• There's almost nothing else as magical as watching the sunset from the cliffs with the pelicans floating up and down the coast
• Although I haven't spent all that much time at the beach it's just the comfort of knowing that it's there that makes all the difference

There are 14 days until my family arrives (yes it's reached a countdown point). I'm finished working...turns out they don't need me anymore. So now I have to spend my time enjoying what time I have left here. But as always....easier said than done.

there's this loneliness springing up from your life like a fountain from a pool

Now that the sale is underway my hours are shorter and my total days left of employment for the Nordstrom empire are 6. Although its been a fun experience full of laughter, sore arms and blistered feet, I'm ready for new adventures. There are so many things I'm looking forward to that I'm losing that live for the moment train of thought. I miss my friends and family. Luckily though things should start to get more interesting now that another chunk of my family is returning from the Mexican seas.
11 books into the Stephanie Plum series (2 more to go)
halfway through Harry Potter :)
Looking forward to so many things but for now I gotta just enjoy today.

Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same

Growing up I never thought I was a people person. I was that girl who had a few good friends but to the masses was a very quiet and shy person. In classes I barely spoke for few of who knows what now a days but then it seemed like the world would end if all eyes were on me. I never wanted the attention and still to this day I don't like a lot of attention. The difference is....today I need people in my life and not just people who pass in and out. I need friends. I need to do things. The problem is while I've become a people person I still remain reserved when it comes to doing things on my own. It's not all because I'm afraid anymore. It's because certain things are not fun when you don't have a friend tagging along with you. I'm forcing myself to take a book to the beach tomorrow and relax in my swim suit in the sun but it won't be as fun as if I had a friend to sit around a chat with. That's another thing...I don't know when I became a chatty person but somewhere along the way I grew into the gene that resides in both my mother and grandmother. I guess it's a good thing. I have about 25 days left and I'm gonna do my best to make the most out of them. I have some friends I still need to meet up with, a trip to catalina with my aunt, some quality time at the beach and some mexican food that I have to eat. Keeping a smile on my face although times get lonely and there are people I dearly miss.
Until we meet again :)

My Parents

Aren't they cute?! I miss you guys like crazy. I'm so glad you are enjoying yourself in good ole Pennsylvania. Can't wait to see you in about a month for the wedding!
Love
Al Pal

Music makes my world go round

I am jumping out of my skin with happiness because I downloaded new music and her name is Sara Bareilles!!! So good! Mom you would love it :) Heavy piano, gorgeous voice with some passion....who doesn't love passion? Love her lyrics.
Can't stop listening to her....makes me happy!
Listen to Gravity & Fairytale
My feet are finally getting used to work.
You know what's a weird thing? riding an elevator in the middle of Nordstrom at 8:30 before the store opens and only half the lights are on.....eerie. The boutique looks good...wish I could say that was my doing but nope didn't really get to do that. Oh well had some other fun. Stressed out the kids shoes guy....his fault not mine.
Anyways tomorrow is another day and after work Gwen and I are going on an adventure to get a table she got offline.

Trying to find that all elusive piece of mind

Today is my day off. I'm enjoying the job but my feet cannot say the same. They needed this break. I spent most of the day cleaning....thoroughly. The dishes are done. The laundry is done and folded and put away. The floors are vacuumed and swept. My sheets are clean. There are some newly cut roses in a vase on my counter and at this little table by my computer. What could be better....well let me tell you. I'm leaving in a short while to go eat dinner at Nati's with Grandma and Ned....mmmm Mexican food how I adore you.
Tomorrow I have to get to Nordys long before it opens to set up the Boutique.....kinda excited.
Otherwise I'm a pretty happy girl. The blisters on my feet are healing nicely and although my fridge is somewhat scarce I can scrounge until my next day off...Thursday.
My feelings are a big blur so I'm trying to stop thinking about them because there's no reason to go there. They vary so often that I lose track and for now that's ok. The only problem is getting you out my head is not always that simple.
Operation distraction now underway :)

Strain this choas turn it into light

How can I explain how wonderful it is to be here? I don't think I can do this feeling justice....but I'll give it a try. Many people I know would not enjoy being around a few old folks like I do. I love their stories. There is so much to learn from those who have the larger portion of their lives in their memories instead of out of their grasp. And believe me... there is always a story when you through my grandma, her boyfriend Ned, and grandma's brother (Uncle Jim to me). The best part is you can see it in their eyes when they talk. They are lost in their memory searching through the pictures in their minds to make sure the story is accurate. Along with the stories and after a few cocktails we discussed beliefs and the idea of a positive attitude. Which was fascinating to me to here since I've come to the realization lately that it's something necessary to my life. I feel I've inherited that trait from my mother and according to my great Uncle Jim it originated from his mother....although he believed she was sometimes naively optimistic, in a way that she didn't want to face the truth and just stated "everything will be alright".
As I sat and watched the generations before me talking about life and threw in my piece every once in awhile...I had one of those moments..... Where all you can do is smile and feel alive. It's in moments like this that I don't understand a lack of spirituality in your life. I don't think I could ever practice a religion but I definitely believe in SOMETHING...what it is I can't say. I consider myself a spiritual person and I have an interest in all religions because I'm fascinated that someone can believe so strongly in something without exposure to any other religion...and I also find it disturbing. Anyways after this experience and a day at the museum last week learning about Tibetan Buddhist art I've decided I need to learn more about this religion but who knows when that will happen.
My feet are blistered all over and sore but I'm back to work and generally I like it...when August rolls around I will be ecstatic. So many things ahead but this month is all about hard work....guess it's about time.
Peace and Love

Walkin down this road alone and i figure all im thinking bout is you

I've been in a weird funk all day that I can't seem to get out of but lets focus on happier times.
These photos are from this last week taken around the San Diego and of my cousins baby Nathan who I get to babysit tomorrow. I love it here I gotta say but when it's time to leave for back east I think I'll be ready to go. Who knows though. So it goes.



Sunset Cliffs

Nathan at the beach

Beach with grandma Holly (my aunt)

Playing the piano at grandmas

Here's where I live...we not exactly I live in a one room apartment behind this house...but that's the truck I'm driving....nice and dirty

Sunset Cliffs