I’m feeling love, today, friends.
And so, I shower the people I love. with love.
Mary: Happy Birthday, lady! Happy 25. Happy done with 365. Happy new job where you get paid to do what you love. Happy summer. Happy memorial day. Happy I’m glad you’re alive and we’re friends.
Ellen: I am so proud of you in your new venture. You’re a champion of the world, and I know that getting the opportunity to get paid to write is the start of something big!
Katie: Happy belated b-day, lady. And happy back to the US, been to London, and holy crap! writing mag release is inching closer every second! I miss you every second of every day.
Nikki: Happy almost wedding. I promise to be more organized from here on out ;). Happy race weekend, and happy maybe running in clouds not pouring rain? You are awesome.
Marissa: I was thinking about you last night and sending you love vibes. It was when I was thinking to myself, “Man, I have such successful friends.”
Corelyn: I miss your face. But I have big things planned for GMS. Does that abbreviation work, by the way? I don’t know if it does. Anyways, I am excited. Hug Meg and Mary for me. Twice.
SS: I saw pregnant in heels the other day. It made me want to be rich and pregnant and live in New York. You could be my fabulous (although not uber gay) best friend and we could stroll around bossing people around looking hot. Thoughts? I miss your face and wish, poor and not pregnant, we could hang out more.
Megan, where have you been all my life? Let’s hang out soon. Rebecca, I loved seeing you two nights in a row. Let’s rinse and repeat soon. Melissa, good luck today. Jen, hope you’re feeling so excited as you leave SO SOON for such an adventure! Caitlin, thanks for bringing brie to book club. You rock my socks. Suzanne, welcome to book club and I hope we don’t scare you. Liz, thanks for always understanding that I need you to go with me on my errands because I need a second opinion, always. Courtney, Memorial Day plans worked to our favor, yesssss. Barbra, Fanboy Comics has been stellar lately. You are working so hard, and I hope we can have a girls night soon to celebrate. Traci, Marc Broussard. You, me. So excited. Jessica, can’t wait to see your new place! Cricket, I think you should reconsider joining book club, because we seem to talk about you every book club anyways. I’ll even consider reading another Nora Roberts. C’mon…. Ana, I am excited that you’re not going away this weekend because I’m selfish. There, I said it.
Shower your people with love, guys! Happy Thursday!!
…dance drunken to your hearts beat…
[name that tune]
******Here we go, gliding into another fabulous weekend. Last night, I attempted to communicate with my BFF Lauren, but failed due to forgetfulness and laundry. She is headed to Paul Simon, from what I gather. Who I love more than anything. Luckily, Jeff set our boom box in the bedroom to play music from our iPhones (because he has mad skills like that) so I settled in after folding laundry for an evening of Paul singing to me. Delightful.
Last night Jeff also realized the depth of my Paul love, which apparently had gone silent for the past 4 and a half years. Well, anyways, now he knows, and knows I will love him forever and always, and anyone who disagrees with me on that point can skedaddle out of my purview.
Things are looking up, this weekend, which includes: making red velvet cupcakes tonight with Rebecca, a wine-induced picnic at Malibu’s Saddlerock tomorrow, birthday fun included, a housewarming party that will continue the fun tomorrow night, and a Sunday of relaxing, and maybe a date hike in Malibu. Packed with fun (and sun, finally, finally has returned to LA!) I literally cannot wait for a busy-yet-relaxed weekend in LA.
Here’s a photo from last year’s wine adventure…
That's some water...towards the end of our adventure...
Don't get all crazy, there were like 20 of us. Or...14. So, not unreasonable, we swear!
The lady-friends.
Isn't my bf handsome?
Here’s to another year of fun, and an excellent afternoon to celebrate…
Hello folks! This week is about cleaning up my act, getting back in the swing of life, and unpacking my suitcase for long enough that I actually put it away and have to pull it back out. Some random things to tell you:
1. Last night Jeff and I made mozzarella sticks from scratch. Pictures to come, obviously.
2. There are a lot of birthdays coming up: Mary’s, Katie’s, Brittany’s, Liz’s, Jeff’s…you get the idea. Looks like I have some gifts to find.
3. My dad is graduating this weekend, which is why I went home last weekend in the first place! It was nice to celebrate with him and the rest of my family when I was home, and I am ever so proud of him.
4. When I was home, I went through a lot of my old stuff in an effort to help my parents downsize. Things I got rid of? Middle school notes, high school notes, books from classes, and random bottles of sand…
5. I saw a friend this past weekend I haven’t seen since 1999. We had a lovely breakfast in Chicago and chatted all the live long day (or for two hours, I’m not sure which.) Mary, as always, it was delightful to see you.
6. Also discovered? My CD collection, which means I have new jams on my computer, including but not limited to: TLC (Fanmail), Sheryl Crow (C’mon, C’mon), Linkin Park (Hybrid Theory), and Barenaked Ladies (Stunt.)
Looks like I have some listening to do.
As the week comes down off this Wednesday high, I have the following things to look forward to: laundry to clean, recipes to make, cakes to bake, parties to attend, children to coach. Here’s to the week being half-way done.
For a while now, I’ve owned a headlamp. I keep it in my bedside table. It’s there in case there is an earthquake in the middle of the night, in case the power goes out, in case I need to go to the garage in the dark, or in case I need to pack it for camping.
Last July 4th, we were at the beach and I had my headlamp in my bag. It was getting dark as we packed up, so I said, “Hold on,” and found it, strapped it on, and kept cleaning up. My friend E just laughed, and said, “You just have a headlamp? What do you need a headlamp for?” I declared I used it for camping, for the garage, and for moments just like these.
It was my only source of light when I chaperoned a trip to Ranch Camp. I used it when I road-tripped with Lauren down the California coast. Corelyn and I used the headlamp to paint the chairs for our photo shoot in the garage, in the dark. I brought it on my road trip with Corelyn, and managed to pull it out the last night to direct her out of the driveway with her full car. I cursed myself the day we went to the winery tour and we didn’t have one to look in the huge containers they store the wine in. I used it just the other day to look at Jeff’s finger (which is another story) in our dim living room.
I think everyone should own a headlamp. And you know what? Real Simple magazine, a magazine I adore and trust, agrees with me! In June’s Real Simple, which arrived at my door on Monday, there is mention of having a headlamp on hand (for grilling, mainly, or for whatever!) I laughed when I saw this, about two years after my own falling in love with my headlamp. Jeff got mine for me, and I suggest you ask your boyfriend/girlfriend/best friend for one for your next birthday, too!
