Mrs. Britty's Jabberwock

2011-11-10T14:53:00.000-08:00

I miss blogging and I miss reading friends' blogs. Live Journal circa 2004-2005 was absolutely entertaining and wonderful. Long winded musings have been replaced with tiny little poops of the mouth. Perfectly fine. I love poops of the mouth. But I truly miss the epic mental spewing of my pals.

Cosas.

2011-09-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've been sick for a week. I'm hoping it magically dissipates by tomorrow evening as I am looking forward to a much needed girls' night with some of favorite women of this universe.

I miss blogging.

I don't hate the new Facebook layout. It's pretty funny how many people are traumatized by it. As a self professed Facebook addict, the changes didn't cause my arteries to explode or anything.

I want to lose my first good chunk of weight before our Thanksgiving Ohio trip. My motivation and follow-through is ridiculous. As in ridiculously horrendous. "What's it gonna take?!" runs through my brain on a daily basis.

I want babies.

How did I miss out on the band Rooney for all these years? Story of my life.

Happy first day of Autumn.

"There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!" -Percy Bysshe Shelley

Quote of the day... of the year.

2011-03-29T08:01:00.001-07:00

“A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure. I don't want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” -Oscar Wilde ♥

Tuesdaze.

2011-03-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

Sideswiped car. Broken cell. A phone consultation that never called. Seriously, it's a good thing I'm a positive person. Today has been the most annoying day in a while and it's not even noon.

On a more positive note (speaking of)...

Hubby's in Alabama this week rehearsing for their Birmingham CD release show on Friday. I'll be flying the red eye + a layover late tomorrow to arrive in 'Bama on Thursday morning and will be enjoying my first taste of the Dirty South through the weekend. I'm not sure what to expect but I'm always up for a good adventure! Lots and lots of adventures planned for this year.

I participated in and completed my first 5K last weekend! I mostly walked it with spurts of jogging but I look forward to continued training so I can jog most of the next one. Plus, I made my best time ever for that distance! I also attended my first hockey game that same day (Kings vs. Canucks) and it was awesome! All the action and testosterone and violence. I kinda loved it. ;) I ended up meeting and hanging out with a lot of new people this past weekend and I must say, it is absolutely refreshing to encounter people who are genuinely kind, funny and humble. Besides the friends I already have (who are amazing), it's sometimes easy to forget (especially living where we live) that those types of qualities exist.

What else?

This year is seriously flying by. As I age another year, I'm needing a major reset / re-focus on my ever-looming health goals. It's not just me anymore who is being affected by my lack of consistent focus & dedication. What's it gonna take?

“Life is either a great adventure or nothing.” -Helen Keller

2011-02-23T12:23:00.001-08:00

My concentration is SHOT this week. My brain is still on vacation. Last weekend, Pauly and I met up with a couple of our favorite Canadians in Vegas. Although the trip was short (left for Vegas on Saturday morning and came home Sunday evening), we had such a wonderful time. I think I’m a vacation addict. This year was supposed to be the year we actually slowed down and it’s turned out to be the complete opposite. I’m always the one to worry about doing too many things, going too many places and spending too much while Pauly always reminds me how lucky we are and to just enjoy our life. I think I came to his realization last weekend while in Vegas. We pay our bills and we’re responsible so why not enjoy as much adventure as we can, while we can? There will be a lot of time later in life to slow down and live a so-called normal day-to-day existence. So for now, life (and especially this year) is our great adventure!

Awesome alert!

2010-08-06T12:32:00.000-07:00

Please check out this photographer:

www.volatilephotography.blogspot.com

She is AMAZING! ♥

"You may delay, but time will not."

2010-07-30T16:16:00.000-07:00

Something clicked in my head at the beginning of this week. Well, really, the Friday before. I've made several shoddy attempts to start a weight loss regimen over the last year only to find myself giving up after a few days. This week feels different. My mind set is different. I've successfully controlled my portions for the past 5 days, consumed the recommended 3 liters of water per day (based on my weight and activity level) and have exercised 4 days this week so far. I know it's only 5 days. And I quite literally have 59 years of the same progress to maintain ahead of me. But this time, I'm feeling determined. I'm battling cravings and winning. I'm looking towards the future and for the first time in perhaps 6 or 7 years, I'm visualizing the end result. I have a future I need to take quite seriously. The months are flying by so vigorously and I've had enough of being stagnant and lazy.

Eyes forward.

time stands still.

2010-07-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

This year is a blur.
July already???

So many plans.
And changes.

I let my past go too fast
No time to pause
If I could slow it all down
Like some captain, whose ship runs aground
I can wait until the tide comes around

31.

2010-05-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

I had quite the fun birthday shindig at The Rainbow last weekend. I love my crazy circle of friends and thank everyone for taking the time to celebrate with me.

This weekend, the hubs and I are heading out to Vegas to meet up with his parents. He surprised me yesterday with one ticket to the New Kids On The Block concert this Friday while we're out there! WEEEEEEE! Best gift and hubby ever.

Four days after our Vegas jaunt, my sis and I will be renting a car and heading up the coast to attend my good friend's baby shower. I absolutely love our little sisterly adventures! We will definitely be visiting our favorite hot spots on the way up; Pea Soup Andersen's and Madonna Inn included.

Mayhaps I will rest next year. :)

♪ Say goodbye to your friends and family... ♪

2010-04-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

My sister and I created a mini adventure last weekend; we flew to Seattle to see one of our favorite bands (The Posies) play a show in their hometown. What an amazing time we had! We left Saturday morning and flew home Sunday night but we were able to squeeze in a ton of activities; breakfast at the Pancake chef, Seattle Art Museum, Pike Place Market, The Posies, Space Needle, Pacific Science Center and a final farewell dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, The Old Spaghetti Factory. I really cherish and appreciate the ability we have to experience these getaways and look forward to many more!

Golden blunders come in pairs.

2010-04-01T14:17:00.001-07:00

Hit a bit of a funk last month; 2 weeks worth. It was almost 100% due to my own idiocy and it finally passed, despite the fact that I was convinced I would stay in such a rut for the rest of my crazy years. Thank God I was wrong.

2010 has felt adventurous so far. And extremely fleeting!

I'm STILL not 100% on track with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Gina and I did resume a decent workout schedule last week, however. I'm still trying to find the motivation for the nourishment overhaul. Not sure what it will take. Hypnosis, maybe? (I'm only half kidding).

Life is grand, though. New thoughts and realizations. Lots and lots of adventures.

It'll be Christmas before we know it. :-)

"Las Vegas: all the amenities of modern society in a habitat unfit to grow a tomato. "

2010-03-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

Leaving for Vegas in 6 hours. I'm bummed Paul can't come with us but looking forward to spending a vacation weekend with some wonderful friends and of course, my awesome sister. I don't think I've ever taken a vacation out of town with friends (unless you count the week-long trip to Switzerland to visit my hubby and his band on tour) and I'm just really looking forward to it.

I've said it half a million times before but when we return, I really need to get serious with my eating / exercise regimen. This year is speeding by so fast and with every month that flies by, I am further and further away from the health I need to maintain for myself as well as our future kidlet. Motivation is a big issue, as well as laziness. All in all, I just need to get off my spoiled ass and kick it into high gear... and pronto!

Have a wonderful weekend. ♥

Ricky Nelson Tribute!

2010-01-29T09:15:00.000-08:00

Goldstar: "I found this event on Goldstar. They have half-price tickets and member reviews of concerts, sports, theater and more.
I'm already a member! http://www.goldstar.com/events/agoura-hills-ca/ricky-nelson-remembered.html?p=F763927EB"

Today's Material Obsession

2010-01-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

Betsey Johnson
	Stretch Skull Cameo Bracelet BR STRETCH SKULL CAMEO

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns." (George Eliot)

2009-09-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

We're all moved out of the apartment and somewhat settled. We'll be taking advantage of this coming weekend to actually get everything in the room set up and ready to be livable. At the moment, we're living room squatters. Haha. But it's working out okay.

Last weekend, I experienced my very first camping trip. We all had a great time and I wouldn't mind participating in a weekend camping getaway once a year or so.

Last week, my friend and I joined Curves. Yesterday, we had our first training session and we're both extremely excited to kick butt at this and really improve our health and image. I'm really loving how Curves works. The machines are situated in a circular training circuit and one 30-minute workout consists of two times around the circuit. The machines are designed to keep your heart rate up and work all your muscles. In addition, we will be assigned Curves key cards that will keep track of our progress on the machines and will determine what resistance and speed we need to maintain to keep progressing. Good stuff. I can't wait to start seeing results from it (along with an improved food plan). So far, so good.

I'm absolutely ecstatic for the approaching Fall weather and holiday season. I also can't wait to attend and partake in a friend's beautiful Colorado wedding in October, our one year anniversary in November and a week-and-a-half Thanksgiving trip to Ohio to spend time with family and friends. I'm just really looking forward to the rest of this year...

xo.

25 Facts About Me.

2009-08-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

1. I listen to classic Christmas music in the summer... the fall... okay, year round. In fact, Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is on right now and I'm pretty sure that most of you find this completely offensive. Hehe.

2. I have a ridiculous want and need to be pregnant right now. It started a few months ago and the desire becomes stronger by the day. I see pregnant women out and about and on the television and I get this strong yearning to be pregnant as well. I guess what they say about a biological clock is true.

3. I seem to enjoy going out less and less as time goes by. I still end up going out to clubs 1-2 per week but I just don't seem to enjoy it as much as I did 4 or 5 years ago. I won't stop going, though even if I don't fully enjoy it. I realize how blessed I am to live so close to a 7-day-a-week rock scene and feel the need to partake in it as much as I can.

4. I love weddings. Bring 'em on.

5. I get stuck on wearing the same piece of clothing for months and it's like wrestling a lion to get me to wear something else.

6. Everyone has OCD features and mine are focused mostly at my desk at work; all papers must be placed in one stack, all pens must be put away in the pen holder and everything must be cleared from my desk and completed by the end of the day. Otherwise, I'm slightly uneasy.

7. I've been to 6-7 New Kids On The Block concerts in the last year and a half. They're like crack to me.

8. I am going to be a stay-at-home mom. We are making the necessary steps now for me to be able to do this in a couple years. I believe the most important job in the world is raising your own children and am thankful everyday that I have a husband who supports that.

9. I am surrounded by an incredible group of women in my life; my mom, my mom-in-law, my sister, my sister-in law and all my amazing friends. I am grateful for each and every one of them every day.

10. I am absolutely in love with Tori & Dean. I can't get enough of "Home Sweet Hollywood". If the show portrays even half of how their relationship and family works, they are pretty darn awesome in my book.

11. I've been employed at my current job since April 22, 2004. I couldn't imagine working anywhere else.

12. I wish I knew how to cook. I'm in awe of people who know how to cook a meal more elaborate than Hamburger Helper. The ability to put together a fine tasting meal seems like a super power to me.

13. I never went to a professional baseball game as a kid but have enjoyed 5 or so Dodger games this year alone. I can't get enough. I ♥ Ramirez, Blake & Loney.

14. My boss has made several comments about my 'weird & eclectic' taste in music, especially when he hears Poison, Art Blakey and New Kids On the Block back to back on my internet radio station. I take it as a badge of honor.

15. I spend way too much money on eating out.

16. One of my favorite weekday evening activities is catching up with my DVR'd tv shows while the hubby is at band practice. It gives me great relaxation and pleasure.

17. Most days, I feel like I'm about 14-years-old. However, I feel like I've grown and matured immensely in some areas over the past 12 months.

18. We'lll be moving out of the valley in 28 days and back into the safe arms of suburbia. I have mixed feelings about this. I adore our valley apartment but I hate how shitty and un-safe the area is. I love living in the comfort of suburbia but will miss the close proximity to the big city. All in all, we're making a mature decision and I will always cherish the memories we created in our first home together.

19. I really really really enjoy visiting Paul's hometown in Ohio. It is one of my favorite vacation spots. No, really.

20. My favorite season is winter. Yes, I realize I'm living in the wrong state. Yes, I realize I wouldn't love the snow as much if I lived in it everyday. But I still love winter and that will never change.

21. After years and years of disagreeing with my father's observations and paranoias about how dangerous life can be and how certain relationships will unfold in my life, I've come to realize that DAD IS ALWAYS RIGHT and ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

22. I prefer to text or IM.

23. I should listen to my gut reactions with most things but I rarely ever do.

24. I would forget my whole life without Facebook's SocialCalendar. Haha. Or I guess I'd use a date book.

25. I've learned SO MUCH about marriage and raising children from radio talk show host, Dr. Laura. To most, she's crazy, mean and way too conservative in such a modern world. But when you really value her basic principles for creating a happy marriage and family life, her conservatism is an actual blessing in a world so consumed with immediate gratification, egoism and self-inflicted drama.

Really?

2009-07-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

I finally caught the crud. I'm usually the first one to go down and this time, I thought I had completely dodged it. But noooo.

No rest for the wicked, though. My bosses are leaving town for the rest of the week so I'm flying solo. The hubs is playing his debut show with his new band tomorrow and I gotta be there (and of course, want to be).

We NEED to start packing, trashing and donating stuff from our apartment SOON since we need to be out of there in a month and a half. I am such a horrendous cleaner/packer/organizer. I look at a whole area instead of small sections of it and I immediately get overwhelmed. It will be interesting...

Moving.

2009-07-09T11:12:00.000-07:00

I just gave notice to our apartment manager and I think I felt his heart breaking. UGH. We were the 'golden children' of this complex, so much so that he insisted we have as many loud parties as we wanted and if anyone complained, he'd take care of them. He'd make me BLT sandwiches on a whim, let Pauly bash on the drums as loud as he wanted and we'd welcome his doggy into our home as if he was our own. I will miss this apartment nestled in a valley I never truly embraced. It was our first home together and the site of numerous unforgettable and insane moments. But alas, money is calling. Debt is needing to be squashed; a savings needs to accumulate at a much more rapid rate. So, we will vacate our home of the past 3.5 years and open the next chapter.

PS -- Please spread the word on our soon-to-be-vacated and fabulous apartment, available September 1st.

* 1 bedroom, 1 bath
* Large living room
* Full dining room
* WASHER & DRYER IN THE APARTMENT (a Godsend)
* Dishwasher included
* Central Air & Heat (recently replaced)
* Water included
* On the quiet side of Burbank Blvd. (balcony faces a suburban-like neighborhood)
* 10 miles from Hollywood

Plan.

2009-06-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

A significant decision has been reached.

We have officially begun to plan for our future.

;-)

The Never-Ending Week.

2009-06-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

This week has been exhausting. Not enough sleep and quite enough things to do for days straight. On Tuesday, my sis and I drove down to Silverlake to see The Lemonheads play. Remember them? They have some great songs but to our surprise & short-lived dismay, the show was a bit of a disaster. Besides the mid-show power blow-out, Evan Dando was either high as a kite or drunk and the rest of the band (minus the bassist) sounded like sh*t. Oh well. Took a few photos with my Lumix digital and still had a pretty great time.

Last night, Paul and I attended a pre-screening for the new Mike Judge (director of Office Space) movie starring Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck and Mila Kunis. The film was mostly mediocre, interspersed with a few comical moments. Oh well. At least it was free.

Tonight, I am accompanying my sister to see former Bauhaus gothic rock vocalist, Peter Murphy. Interesting. Tomorrow, my friend Sun is hosting her first ever Singstar party. I've been hearing about this "competitive music video game series" for the last year and I'm pretty excited to try it out. Besides, an evening with the girls is always a fabulous time. On Saturday, my sis, Teens and I will take Gina willingly hostage and provide her with the birthday gift of a day of shopping followed by a makeover and some fun photos. Sometimes, it's pretty fabulousto be a girl. :D

So, how've you been?

Dinner Wit Ma Girlz.

2009-06-05T10:44:00.001-07:00

Sometimes, there's nothing better than surrounding yourself with wonderful food and an amazing group of women...

Things.

2009-06-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Good morning,

I look/feel like hell. I waited around for my sister to get home from a trip to Silverlake last night and once she arrived, I couldn't get back to sleep. I sound like my dad but I'm not thrilled with her driving the 40 miles from L.A. to T.O. by herself at 2:30 in the morning. That's when the worst crap happens! I worry and my mind races until she walks in the door. So basically, I have COMPLETELY turned into my dad. Haha.

Can you believe it's June already? I cannot. In 6 days, Paul and I will cross our 7 month wedding mark. WHERE THE HECK DID THE TIME GO? As I scan my desk at work, I am still surrounded by multiple bridal magazines, a wedding favor and tear sheet ideas. What a magical time that was...

Hubby's been super busy with work and band stuff lately. This is a wonderful thing but I still miss his silly butt and look forward to some 'quality' time together soon. I am so grateful and blessed that I can spend time with my friends and mostly family during this hectic time 'cause Lord knows I am not a fan of sitting at home by myself. :-)

So, how are you guys doing? xo

* * * * *

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"Those who say the past is not dead can stop and smell the smoke. We are smoke." - BF5

“The rhythm of the weekend, with its birth, its planned gaieties, and its announced end, followed the rhythm of life and was a substitute for it.”

2009-05-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

Busy evening tonight.
Erin and I will be leaving in a bit to run some errands. Then, off to No Ho for Sherry's housewarming/birthday party. Stay for a bit and then run over to West Hollywood to catch Sharon's cover band play the Traci Michaelz Memorial gig, along with a handful of other groups.

Tonight is nothing compared the the entire month of June. Everyone and their mother was born in June apparently so it looks like each weekend and much of the weekdays are packed with get togethers and party greatness. No complaints - each event will be a blast!

Can you believe half the year is over already? Wow. It's been a tornado of sorts but pretty wonderful as well.

A grand adventure is about to begin. -- Winnie the Pooh

2009-05-28T14:36:00.001-07:00

I sparked a silly string of comments and conversations on Facebook by posting that I feel nauseous and flu-y. Everyone and their mother now thinks I'm pregnant. Haha. For the record, I'm most likely not. If I was, however, I wouldn't mind although it's about 2 years earlier than planned.

I must be getting close to being ready though because every time I see a pregnant woman or watch one of those sappy Lifetime shows like "A Baby Story", I long and almost ache to be pregnant (Don't tell my husband! Haha. If he knew that my pregnancy bug was itchin' a few years earlier than we planned, he may hit the floor!) ;-)

I know certain aspects of our lives will change once the baby sprouts. One part of me is slightly hesitant about that. Paul and I are used to coming and going as we please, driving into Hollywood or even San Diego on a whim, throwing racous parties for little or no reason. The other part of me knows that I've partied a lifetime's worth in the last 5 years and soon, that lifestyle won't fuel me as much as it did before. Don't get me wrong. I still want my husband to play in bands, I still want to go to concerts (when possible) and experience life in an adventurous manner. But the change will be evident, welcoming and pretty damn awesome.

Plus, I am surrounded (geographically and not) by a handful of amazing mothers and I can't wait to learn from these incredible women. You know who you are. :)

xo.

Weird week.

2009-05-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a weird week. Nothing too horrendous or traumatizing. Just feeling like crap, exhausted and busy. I slept at my parents' house last night and was woken by my sister this morning with, "Britt! Are you going to get up??". Apparently, my cell phone (also my alarm) had shut itself off in the middle of the night and I had less than 2 minutes to throw some clothes on and run out the door. Fun times.

Our trip to Las Vegas last weekend was interesting, fun, tiring and mostly debaucherous. Perhaps this week's annoyance is due to an extended recovery period? Perhaps the following photo will explain everything...

Haha.

Looking forward to resting this weekend. The rest of this month will be a whirlwind so I'm hoping I can make a final recovery over the next few days and soldier on. :-)

“Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.” - John MacNaughton

2009-05-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

For many years, I've listened to and adopted the ideal that turning thirty was the worst 'thud' of one's life. Once you're thirty, it's all down hill, baby.

Oddly enough, the day I turned thirty, I had a sudden revelation and was promptly told by about three or four others later that evening that your thirties are the the most amazing years of your life. Could it be true?

I had a wonderful and eye-opening conversation with my friend yesterday and she made an excellent point. Basically, the changes you incur between the ages of 20 and 30 are typically monumental, new and exciting. However, the maturity buried within the person you've always been seems to un-burrow itself when you turn thirty. Therefore, your life plans start to become a reality.

I've always known that I wanted kids. But only within the last year did I really begin to turn this idea into an actual plan. Only within the last year did I realize that in two years (hopefully), life will be more than just myself and Paul and if I really want to be a stay-at-home mom, the statement itself is not enough. We need to begin budgeting and saving now for this lifestyle we are both so adamant about.

I feel I've grown and changed immensely even over the past twelve months and it feels amazing. It hurts sometimes but in the grand scheme of things, the pain and pleasure are a welcome mix to a fulfilling and incredible life.

\m/

Time and Tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of thirty. - Robert Frost

2009-04-28T10:15:00.001-07:00

I'm turning thirty (30) in six (6) days. I'm not so much freaked out but slightly tripping out. Life has been insanely wonderful lately and I feel myself simultaneously growing up and remaining child-like. I have an amazing husband, close/incredible families and genuine friends. I guess that's what turning thirty (30) should be about; settling into a part of life where things gel yet time seems to speed ahead at a rapid rate. What they say is true; the older you get, the quicker life seems to pass you by. But I will savor every moment...

Call it what you want (I still call it love)

2009-04-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

My sis and I just scored pit tickets for New Kids concert # 7. This one's in Vegas. We've officially lost it. However, I have to say for the record, we are not half as bad as some of the nutty women we've met at recent shows (excluding you, Jasmin!). We spoke with one 'older' chick who has paid for 5 Star Access to numerous NKOTB events ($500+) and booked a Penthouse Suite for their summer cruise. I may love 'em but not enough to ruin my credit. Haha.

They were such an integral and amazing part of my childhood and it's been incredible re-living the memories and creating new ones. They seriously just suck you in and you never want it to end.

"I was hit by a recurring thought as I looked into the eyes of a girl
in the front row. How will I ever explain to each of you what it means
to be able to do what I do for such an audience? It’s such a blessing.
It pushes me to do more. To want more. To be all the things I think I
can be. And I thought of how I ‘get off’ on meeting people that to me
really ‘get it.’ There is a diverse group of people that we attract
and it mirrors the diversity of this group. And when you find those
moments with people when you are on the same page- whether its a look or a comment or a joke or a story- and you really connect… Well, it’s like sex to me. It’s that good. And it turns me on and it makes me want more." - Joe McIntyre

Doing Something Right.

2009-04-20T11:02:00.001-07:00

I'm absolutely thrilled with all the compliments Paul and I have been receiving lately when it comes to our relationship/marriage. I knew we were doing something right all along but it's just amazing when you hear it, un-prompted from the people around you.

We both lead super busy schedules and we can go several nights without sharing a bed; he's got late night rehearsals and I tend to crash at my parent's house on those nights since my job is much closer to their house than my apartment.

When we do come together, our conversations are lively and our time together is very special. We have many years ahead of us to lead the settled-down-life (namely when we have kidlets). For now, I don't mind that we can easily and healthily live separate as well as together lives without weirdness and jealousy. If you trust your spouse, there's no room for suspicion and clingy-ness. Life is seriously too short for that bull$hit.

Love your life and don't forget what's important!!!! xo.

This is my hippy installment # 2 :)

Joy.

2009-04-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

Over the last two days, I've been hearing/discussing a lot about acknowledging and appreciating the blessings in life. It's such an important practice.

Friends - please remember to do this.

Life becomes difficult, sometimes petty and often hectic.
But so many of us are given the gift of cruising through life in a mostly content space -- sometimes crappy, sometimes incredible. But mostly content.

Tiny moments can fill our hearts with joy and even make the bad things a little lighter.

I know I'm an eternal optimist and I know have it a lot easier than some people.
I know it's easier said than done.

But just take 60 seconds to run a list of people and things in your life that make you smile.
You won't regret it. :-)

Easter weekend.

2009-04-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

The weekend sped by completely too fast.

On Friday, the hubby & I went to a late night showing of Adventureland. It was pretty darn mediocre but the movie was free and the new theater in my parent's town is really neat... except for the ODD wall decor:

Hmmm.

On Saturday, we headed over to The Rainbow Bar & Grill to hang out with our friend Tenn for her birthday. Great people and good times! I keep forgetting how amazing their pizza is; we had mushroom and olive. Mmmm mmm!

On Sunday, Mom, Dad, sis, hubby and I had an awesome Easter brunch at the Hilton at Universal. Oh my buffet! We were there for almost three hours enjoying the feast and each other's company before Mom had to go to work and hubs and I returned home to watch baseball and pass out. Go Dodgers!

04.07.09

2009-04-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

Life's been hectic. What's new?

Last Friday, S and I had a girl night (including her hubs). We chowed on Thai food, engaged in poignant conversations and browsed through photos we took of our adventures circa 2004-2005.

Life was exciting and dangerous and ever-changing back then.
Now, it's still exciting and changing but different.
We're wives and husbands. We're full time career people. We're aging gracefully.
Yet it's the same.
We're spending nights in Hollywood. Nights in town with drinks and silly videos. We're throwing parties and pissing off the neighbors.

So much has changed but so much hasn't.
We're grasping life and love a bit more and day by day.
--Treat with love and respect; receive love and respect

Don't forget to laugh, dream, stumble and soak in every blessed second.

And remember:

Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love. (Rumi)

The weekend.

2009-03-23T09:23:00.001-07:00

Friday -- The hubby and I went to see "I Love You, Man". Hilarious. Jason Segal is absolutely adorable. The director must be a huge Rush fan 'cause they were referenced and featured all over that movie.

Saturday -- Teens took my sis and I to an Intro to Poll Dancing class. It was fun but I don't think I'd return until I get into much better shape. It's two days later and I'm still ridiculously sore. Good workout, though. Sis and I came home from the class and scrambled to get ready so we could head out to Paladino's (valley biker bar) with the hubby and J to catch a Cheap Trick tribute band. Not so good. They had a female singer who had a decent voice but the band itself was just boring as hell.

The other cover bands were pretty shitty too. Had drinks and laughs (thanks Joel!) and left the place around 1:30am (not before taking an awesome spill in front of the bar 'cause I could barely balance on the platform strappy shoes I decided to sport that evening. Good job, Britty!). Headed over to Sunset Blvd. and had my piercer pull out my lip ring. INSTANT relief. He thinks I was allergic.

Sunday -- Felt like crap. Possibly a reaction to the removal? The ridiculous wind? My body reacting to a two hour work out? Whatever it was, I kept it mellow, passed out and even missed Joel's Xanadu party 'cause I was just totally incapacitated. Good times.

And now for a mindless survey...

Hi, my name is:
Britty

Never in my life have I been to:
Abercrombie & Fitch. Pretty gross.

I love to:
stay in nice hotel rooms.

I hate it when:
my cravings get the best of me.

If you're gonna talk smack about me:
I'd rather not know. So you better be smart about it.

The one person who can drive me nuts is:
my man. Hehe.

When I'm nervous:
I rarely show it.

The last song I listened to was:
my husband singing "How Deep Is Your Love" by The Beegees. Heh.

If you were to get married today, your maid of Honor/Best Man would be:
Sharon Robinson & Rick Niedzwiecki.

My hair is:
soft, a bit wavy and in need of some pink.

When I was 5:
I had a head of massive curly hair.

Last Christmas:
we didn't get a chance to visit Cleveland and I missed the snow, family and friends a lot.

I should be:
in bed and passed out but work is too crazy right now.

The happiest recent event was:
our wedding, our honeymoon and lots of little fun moments since then.

My current annoyance is:
feeling like crap & ridiculously sore muscles from last Saturday's 2 hour workout.

I have a hard time understanding:
how you pole dancin' ladies hang upside down by your ankles. Pure insanity!

There's this guy that I know:
who has a bit of superiority complex. Get over yourself.

The thing I want to buy is:
a new bed. Squatting on the floor is fun for a while but I'm kinda over it.

If you visited the place I'm from:
you'd notice a thousand oaks.

Most recent thing I've bought myself:
Coffee. I broke down and had to do it. It's already one of those days.

Most recent thing someone else bought me was:
a Red Bull & Vodka. Thanks sis!

Middle name:
Anne.

In the morning:
I crave Starbucks. Always.

Last night I was:
passed out with a shitty head/body ache.

If I was an animal I'd be:
a snake. And I'd scare the crap outta myself.

Tomorrow I am:
anticipating Thursday.

Tonight I am:
hanging with my man, running errands and watching our "stories".

My Saturday.

2009-03-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Watching bad television... wading through laundry... contemplating the Pole Dancing workout class scheduled for this evening. Oh Teens, what have you gotten us into? :) It's okay, I know we'll have a blast.

I've also made the decision to have my lip ring removed. It hasn't quite healed as it should have and although I love how it looks, I'm just done with the swelling and pain.

Aurvoir.

RIP.

I hope it rains today.

Rule your mind or it will rule you.

2009-03-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

I am on Day 3 of this strict nutrition plan and I'm finally feeling back to normal. The first few days were a tad headachy and grouchy but today feels fine.

I utilize this extremely helpful website called Sparkpeople to keep track of everything I eat and it's working out really well. Just to get an idea of how the website works and what I've been eating, here is yesterday's consumption:

Basically, it's 11 days on a moderate calorie, moderate fat and 20 carbs a day regimine. This will give me a jump start before I begin the Body For Life plan: 6 small meals a day (carb & protein balanced), 6 days a week of exercise and 1 free day free-for-all. I participated in this program about 5 years back and lost over 40 pounds. It's definitely the most healthy of all nutrition/weight loss plans and if you can stick with it, the results are wonderful.

Thanks to everyone for all your support and encouragement. I aim to make you proud.

Well, I've been confused by the startled look in your eyes...

2009-03-16T10:38:00.001-07:00

Today marks Day 1 of a very strict eating plan that Paul and I have devised. We'll be keeping with this one for the next two weeks and then I'm back to Body For Life.

I can do this and I need to.
I spent some time this weekend uploading photos from 2004-2005 and realizing how far I've let myself go.

(2004)

Dear lordy be! So, it's on like Donkey Kong.

A Child With Layers On.

2009-03-12T10:21:00.001-07:00

I'm falling in love with this album.

This will either surprise you or not. My boss has told me more than once that I have the most random and eclectic musical taste that he's ever encountered. I take it as a compliment. If something has amazing melody lines, if it jitters my soul; I'm in love.

* * * * *

It appears I haven't really announced this to many people but I have started playing in another band. This band is so far nameless and included my husband, my best friend and her husband. We've had only three rehearsals so far and I am absolutely astounded with the progress we're making. At this rate, we'll be able to start playing shows in a few months. I wonder what that will be like again...

* * * * *

I will be turning 30 in 1 month and 22 days. It's not like I'm counting. ;-) I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm not necessarily freaked out. However, I'm slightly saddened to bid farewell to my twenties. My life has been such an amazing and unique adventure so far. I know I have so many incredible experiences ahead of me. Although I feel I've grown so much in only the last five years, I also remain the giddy 12-year-old who still gets butterflies in her stomach the day of an exciting concert.

What's next?

I'm playing in a band again (kid). I'm married (adult).
I still enjoy girl nights and sleep overs (kid).
I'm beginning to contemplate having babies (adult).
I wouldn't change anything for a million bucks.

"Growing up is never easy. You hold on to things that were. You wonder what's to come. But that night, I think we knew it was time to let go of what had been and look ahead to what would be. Other days. New days. Days to come. The thing is, we didn't have to hate each other for getting older. We just had to forgive ourselves
...for growing up."
- The Wonder Years

(Part of) My Life in (some) Photos.

2009-03-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

This is a handful of photos I've pulled from my
Photobucket account.

A little peak into my life....

Animal hanging out at the tat shop while Paul fixed up his Animal tattoo.

The hubby washing off his new tat. HOT!

My first and second tattoo.

Jim & Paul at Sharon & Jim's engagement party at Brass Monkey.
Oh lordy.

Oops! Dey fell! New Year's Eve 2007.

Our magical 2004.

Tower of Terror (California Adventures).

Dane Cook and I (January 23, 2007).

Oh silly girls (behind The Cat Club on Sunset).

Don't ask.

Again, don't ask ;-)

My sister and I hanging out on the Winger tour bus.
That's how the Collins sisters roll.

The album cover from one of the records I released.

One of my many birthdays at The Rainbow Bar & Grill.

Self reflection portrait at the BFF's parent's house.
Bobby Boy in the background ;-)

Third Eye Blind at The Canyon Club (May 16, 2007).

My most favorite Betsey Johnson necklace.

We like to Be-Dazzle.

My most favorite meal at one of my most favorite restaurants.
(Linguini with white clam sauce at The Rainbow Bar & Grill)

RIP Daisy.

Just a typical day at Venice Beach.

Butch Walker at The Troubadour. The owner pulled me from the floor and let me stand on the stage to take photos! Too bad I only brought my shitty camera.

Photo shoot with my gorgeous girl, Brillana.

Sharon & Jim, back in the day!!! AWWW!

Live photo shoot of A.i. at The Roxy (September 11, 2007).

Filipino feast for Erin's birthday party.

Good memories. RIP.

My sister and Lemmy from Motorhead at The Rainbow Bar & Grill.

More of my silly photography.

I love trips to Vegas with the fam.

Palazzo.

My favorite restaurant and meal in Vegas.

My bosses spoil me (Work birthday dinner in Malibu).

Some of my favorite movies.

View from Monterrey Bay Aquarium.

The room where Mrs. Winchester died (Winchester Mystery House in San Jose). I love the lighting on this one. Super creepy.

Our first tropical drinks at the sea side bar at our honeymoon resort
(Turtle Bay, Oahu)

...and so life continues on.

Worth it.

2009-03-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

I actually drove a round trip of 46 miles yesterday to pick up deli sandwiches. Haha. The place is called Rinaldi's in El Segundo. Paul happened to stumble upon it while purchasing my 3 year anniversary gift at a nearby jewelry store and he immediately insisted we take the drive to eat there. They seriously put crack in their sandwiches. I gladly made the trip yesterday afternoon to pick up three Godfathers; basically a whole bunch of meat and amazingness. It doesn't hurt that the Main Street of El Segundo is super cute and cozy and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Who knew there was such a cute little town so close to the ugly airport.

And now I'm craving another sandwich...

Well I guess it's a brand new day afterall, ever time we hear the curtain call...

2009-03-03T07:56:00.000-08:00

Last night, my sis and I stood in line for around three hours to take part in an outdoor mini concert for New Kids On The Block on Jimmy Kimmel show. BFF and her co-worker joined us in line and were lucky enough not to be cussed out by the tough-looking girls behind us. The show was a blast, as always, but I think it will take a lot for me to return for another Kimmel taping. Too much waiting, feet aching, knees creaking... haha, I'm too old for this ;-). I can't believe girls were in line for two days just to be up front. Don't get me wrong, I'll probably get in line super early for their Santa Barbara show, especially since we have pit tickets, but at least it's a full performance.

Yes, I'm still 10-years-old and yes, I still screamed with amazement when Donnie thrust his crotch upon us. At least I wasn't the only one.

Post mini-concert, my sis and I took a much desired trip to our favorite local restaurant/bar, The Rainbow Bar & Grill. We enjoyed stuffed mushrooms, pasta, salad and soup. They are one of the only places that serves consistently amazing food. Great for washed-up-rocker-watching, as well.

Band practice this week... girls-only dinner at Home... and a few hundred other things I can't recall.

As my BFF mentioned in one of her current blog posts, it feels like there is barely anytime to relax and recoup, even if there are two whole days of doing nothing. At the same time, life moves at a fast pace and I know I won't be able to do and go as I please once we have the kidlets so I better enjoy this frenzied and exciting life while I have it.

Anyway, I thought I'd put this in a separate post but let's lump this all together, shall we. Last Friday, my sis and I attended a show by the band Sextus (lead singer, Eric Dover was a member of some of my all time favorite bands i.e. Jellyfish & Imperial Drag). I was asked by their manager to snap a few photos for free and I am quite happy with the end result (and even happier that Eric loved them as well):

Oh yes, he is THAT fabulous.

xo.

I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will.

2009-02-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

This week is a bit of a whirlwind. We've decided to postpone band practice this week for a bit of a breather and especially since Sharon has a show with her other band, Cast of Nasties tomorrow night. She needs time to regroup too.

Changes at work are dizzying. We've acquired new business and have secured our current clients through this difficult financial time. I'm definitely grateful that I have a job at all; a job that I adore at that. We will weather the interesting changes right now and just thank god we are pressing forward.

Married life is grand, for all those who keep asking. We are actually going out more than ever and enjoying every moment we have to ourselves as well as with others. Although my mind has been drifting frequently to the idea of having the babies, I am grateful at the moment that we have the freedom to pick up and drive into Hollywood on a whim. In due time...

One of my blog pals, Jeneva posted a blog listing eight things about herself. Although I did this in an extended form last month (twenty things), I thought I'd think of an additional eight, a bit shorter and sweeter.

I've lost almost all interest in breakfast food as of late. I think I'd rather have a plate of lasagna than pancakes in the morning. Unless my mom is making them.
I don't really like water. I drink it because it's good for me but I would prefer a flavored drink almost all of the time.
I could watch Sex & The City re-runs over and over and often do. My husband doesn't get how I can watch the same episode repeatedly without getting sick of it.
I used to be obsessed with George Michael. I was probably entirely too young to be listening to "I Want Your Sex" on a daily basis but nonetheless, I did!
I'm a nail biter. But if I need to, I can stop. I grew my nails out for the wedding with no problem. But then bit them all off shortly after.
I have a fear of heights. I don't have too much of a problem with descending but ascending gives me mild panic attacks. Somehow, despite all this, I have a year pass to Magic Mountain. Go figure.
I am going to see New Kids On The Block three more times in the next month and a half and if they keep coming, I'll keep going. I had an absolute blast at the last three shows we saw in '08.
I could watch ten hours of t.v. in one day if I was sick and laid up. I did that last week, in fact.

In melody divine, My heart it beats to rapturous love, I long to call you mine.

2009-02-18T09:53:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 14th (approximately 4:00am):
Paul returned from a very late night band practice and I was surprised with beautiful roses, a singing card and even better, an envelope singing "Oh oh oh oh! The right stuff!". Ha. He knows me too well.

Slept late and awoke early afternoon to decide our Vaginatine's Day fate. Final decision: San Diego! We quickly booked a hotel and headed out. The traffic was non-existent and the hotel room was GREAT.My man checking out the local tourist spot map.

Relaxing in our hotel room. I LOVE STAYING IN HOTELS!

Self portrait.

Our first V-Day as a hitched couple!

We found an AMC & Red Lobster in the area of the hotel (both covered by wedding gift cards! Woo!) and spent our evening in San Diego at a movie and dinner. Perfection.

Sunday, February 15th:
Slept late and enjoyed our complimentary breakfast. Finally, headed out to the San Diego Zoo! Perfect weekend! The zoo was wonderful. In fact, we ended up purchasing an Annual Pass which also includes admission to the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Riding the Sky Tram -- not too happy about it!
I hate heights, especially in a tiny little wobbly box!

Pauly completely happy about it. Haha.

Spitty face camel.

You Cannot See Us From Your Telescopes.

2009-02-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

I found this old and silly silly band photo from a random Google search today.
I love and miss you guys.

How can you walk away from something and then come towards it? Walk around the world.

2009-02-12T12:10:00.001-08:00

Our first band practice on Tuesday night was fun and very productive! I have a feeling we're gonna create some really great songs and have an amazing time doing it.

My girls and I took a mid-week girl time break and we saw Coraline last night. I adored the 3D graphics and the entire evil undertone. The storyline was a bit wonky but it didn't overshadow the most beautiful colors and visuals.

There are countless amazing live shows coming up and I'm barely keeping up! We have two more New Kids On The Block concerts in the next two months (both General Admission!!!). Next week, my favorite hardcore band FAR will be playing a reunion show in Santa Barbara. Rumor has it that Poison AND Def Leppard will be touring together this summer. In addition, there seems to be countless local shows popping up that are actually worthy of going to like tonight's Glamnation at The Cat Club. I'll be broke by the year's end. ;-)

Starting anew.

2009-02-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

I'm nervous.

Tonight marks the first ever rehearsal of a new musical project and my levels of excitement and trepidation are fairly equal. It has been approximately 4 years since I've played in a band; 6 years since I've fronted and creatively contributed to a band. I'm nervous that I won't remember how and that my desire has changed. I'm nervous that I will disappoint everyone involved. On the other hand, I'm terribly excited to rehash this side of myself. I'm excited to plunge into amazing creativity with some of the closest people in my life.

I've become a creature of ease and habit over the last few years and I know that once we get in the swing of things, I will have an absolute blast with it. Singing and playing guitar have been my M.O. for so many years of my life and I can't seem to escape it and I'm not necessarily sure that I want to.

More flags! More fun!

2009-02-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

My sister, husband, friend and I spent the day at Six Flags Magic Mountain yesterday. The weather was frigid which made for an amazing day of NO lines. We made it on the newest attraction X2 in less than 15 minutes! Insane.

I have a love/hate relationship with roller coasters. I mostly hate them but I subject myself to them 'cause the husband adores them and we all now have season passes. Why do I torture myself so? :)

My husband and sis being silly.

Paul and Justin looking like rock n roll hoodlums with their leather jackets, shades and long(ish) hair. It was hilarious.

My sis temporarily stole Justin's cop glasses 'cause she wanted to look like Lemmy from Motorhead.

My sexy hubby loves his amusement park corn! ;-)

The guys played games and won cheesy prizes. Very manly.

Yup, that's my husband... but that's why I love him! :)

20 Facts About Mrs. Britty.

2009-02-06T11:07:00.000-08:00

* * * I posted this on my Myspace & Facebook about 2 weeks ago and figured I'd post it here too. The idea is to list 20 random facts about yourself and encourage your friends to do the same. So, get going on it! * * *

1. Occasionally, I find it difficult to make eye contact when speaking with someone and I'm not sure why. Perhaps the eyes really are a window into a person's soul and I feel like a peeping Tom if I stare too long.

2. I possess certain characteristics of a shopping addict. I am definitely able to control it but I do acknowledge it could be a problem if I let myself go. I crave the high of purchasing items and I often leave such items packaged and un-used for days and weeks because once they have been integrated into everyday life, they've lost their excitement. I'm trying to break this dangerous mentality. But honestly, I don't think I'll ever lose the desire to shop.

3. I developed an obsession with long-haired rocker guys at the early age of 9. My sister and I would take every opportunity to point out a long-haired guy when we saw one in public.

"LONG-HAIRED!!!", we'd exclaim.

I covered my elementary school binder with all the beautiful long-haired musicians I could rip from the pages of my Metal Edge; Sebastian Bach, Jon Bon Jovi, Trixter, Nelson, etc. Twenty years later, my love has remained. In fact, I often wonder what I would've thought at the age of 9 if I knew that by the age of 29, I'd be married to the hot long-haired drummer of my dreams who treats me better than I even deserve sometimes. I guess silly dreams come true.

4. I began singing and playing guitar in bands when I was around 13-years-old. In fact, the very first band I played in created the fateful and almost magical circumstance of meeting the girl who would become my BFF & partner-in-crime, Mrs. Sharon Robinson. My friend Melanie and I put up an ad for a drummer at the local music store, listing completely random and opposing influences (Poison to Jellyfish) and Sharon responded. We used to practice in her parent's garage and one time, we were interrupted by fervent knocking at the garage door. When we opened it, we were faced with a handful of guys who shockingly exclaimed, "OH MY GOD, THEY'RE GIRLS!".

Since then, I've played in Rog's Pinwheel, Shrinking Violet, The Patience Book and Pinkslip. Shrinking Violet and The Patience Book (www.myspace.com/thepatiencebook) received the most attention and were definitely my favorite and most proud moments as a musician. Both bands were offered minor record deals and ALL bands I've played in have offered many incredible adventures and situations. I quit the last band I played with around 3 years ago and this is the longest I've gone in 16 years without actively playing in a band. Wow. I hope 2009 changes this.

5. I am truly blessed with a fairly non-eventful, minimally dramatic family life. I realize this is rare. My mom is a saint and an angel; my dad is your typical supportive and loving father-type figure. I don't take this for granted. I am made aware of typical family drama and tragedies and I remind myself everyday how lucky I am not to have to deal with that.

6. When Paul I have kids, they will be 1/4 Filipino & 3/4 Caucasian. I hope they have his beautiful eyes and sense of humor. We are often told that our kids will be super cute and if we're lucky enough to be blessed with children, I think they'll be adorable. I've always known I wanted to be a mother. Just over the last year or so, the urge has been building and although we're not 100% ready right now, I look forward to being pregnant in the next 2-3 years. Right now, we are just enjoying the adventures of being newly married.

7. Speaking of pregnancy, I have a deep-seeded, un-justified fear that I won't be able to have children. I have no evidence or indication that this fear is valid. Sometimes, I'm not completely frightened when my period is late because it at least holds the possibility that I could become pregnant. Strange, I know.

8. I used to talk on the phone for hours upon hours, especially in my teens and early twenties. Nowadays, I'd prefer to text or just speak in person. I try to avoid phone conversations at all costs but rest assured it has nothing to do with how much I like you. I love all of you. I just hate the telephone. Unless I'm at work. For some odd reason, I don't mind talking to clients on the phone at work.

9. I've been obsessed with photography since the 9th grade. I have been lucky enough to start & develop a minor photography business over the past 5 years and actually get paid for something I love doing. However, in my mind, I still don't think I'm all that great and am actually surprised when people offer to pay me for my work. I'm even more surprised when I take a great shot and am acknowledged for doing so. I think my lack of confidence would be remedied if I strengthened my technical knowledge. One of these days, I'll get around to doing that.

10. If I haven't seen someone for a long time, I'm convinced they won't remember me when I run into them later. Therefore, I ignore them when I see them, assuming they don't recognize me and then wonder why they don't say Hi. Pretty ridiculous, huh?

11. I would like to model for Torrid. I was actually given a flyer to audition to be a model a couple months ago only to discover that I am too old. Twenty-nine is the new eighty. LOL.

12. My husband and I are both junk food addicts. We both love fast food, ice cream, cookies, soda, etc. On one hand, it's nice not feeling guilty eating this crap around him. On the other hand, our love of said crap can produce a very dangerous rut towards an unhealthy lifestyle. At the very least, we are both aware of the dangers involved and are working to do something about it.

13. Before I traveled outside of California, like many Californians, I thought that the remaining U.S. states contained the true weirdos. To me, an image obsessed and health food consumed society was normal. Palm trees and perfect weather? Normal. Right? I now realize that Californians (bless us all) are the true wackos. That's why I love visiting the Midwest, especially parts of Ohio. There's something about that area that feels so comforting, traditional and almost nostalgic, especially when it's snowing. I feel like I'm in the middle of Thomas Kinkade painting. It's just magical to me.

14. I have a minor OCD characteristic; I like things in piles and I like things to be ordered correctly and pleasantly. I can function fine if this doesn't occur. However, if our apartment is a mess of scattered items and crap, I feel very uncomfortable and ornery. If our apartment is clean and organized, I am happy to come home and I feel I can relax more easily. The same applies to my desk at work. I'm sure my bosses love me for that!

15. Speaking of bosses, I truly have a wonderful job. I've worked with my company since April 2004 and would like to stay here as long as possible. Some of you have asked me what exactly we do. Well... pick up a brand new CD. Ya see that sticker on the front of the shrink wrap that lists featuring songs and info about the album? We print those. In addition, we occasionally print full color band stickers that are sold/passed out at concerts and stores like Hot Topic.

What do I do specifically? I am the middleman between our printing facility and the record labels. Basically, anything that needs to be done to get the sticker made (receive & work out issues with artwork, place the order, deliver price quotes, etc) is included in my job title. I am blessed with two amazing bosses who have entrusted me with running the day-to-day operations of their business and I work closely with an amazing co-worker (Teens) who has become a very dear friend. I am surprised that our business is maintaining so well in such a horrible economy, especially since we are exclusively involved with the music business. Someone must be buying CDs out there! And please, for the sake of my job, KEEP IT UP! ;-)

16. I seem to make new friends every year. Some of them stick, some of them float away and many linger in the background yet possess a special part of my heart. Old band members and friends I've known for years are not necessarily involved in my daily life but I feel are beside me always in this journey. On the occasion that I actually get to see and speak with them, I am truly reminded that they will always be in my life and part of my soul. You know who you are.

17. I believe in ghosts. I truly believe that people who have passed are able to gain access to our living world and show signs of their remaining existence. I wish to never experience this. The mere idea of a spirit showing itself to me is the most frightening thing I can think of.

18. I so wish I was proficient at interior decorating. I seem to have little ability to position photos or objects on a wall properly. It always feels spatially retarded or incomplete. I am never satisfied with how my apartment is decorated but I'm not quite sure what to do about it. I see other people's houses (like Sharon's) and love how everything is positioned and laid out but I can't seem to do the same for my own place. It's annoying.

19. Jellyfish is my favorite band of all time and always will be. Either you've heard of them or you haven't. Either you love them or you don't. According to Wikipedia, "Jellyfish was a power pop band from San Francisco... who influenced many bands who formed shortly after." To me, they represent a magical time in my earlier years, a fresh and incredible view of how to truly enjoy our existence and the core reason for the development of many special friendships in my life. To say that Jellyfish deserves a dedicated title screen in the movie of my life is a grave understatement.

20. I love to travel and I seem to travel a lot. Between fairly often visits to Paul's hometown of Cleveland, multiple stints to Las Vegas, our recent glorious honeymoon to Oahu, international vacations to Switzerland, England and Scotland and mini adventures on a lazy weekend, I am utterly blessed and cursed with the bug and the ability to seek adventure and roam this planet. If I died today, I feel I've done and seen so much. If I live another 50 years, I welcome whatever is left for me to take in.

Thoughts of Thursday, February 5th, 2009.

2009-02-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

I'm eying the Advil pill on my desk and mustering enough courage to pop it. I have no idea why but I can barely swallow a damn Skittle-sized pill without gagging. It's annoying. This looming headache is even more annoying, however so I better just do it.

The sky is hesitating a bit and the rain is minutes from falling. I've been anticipating this weather for days now. I'm not entirely sure why but I have always been enamored with rain, gloom and especially snow. I have been told a million times how lucky I am to have spent my entire life engulfed in Southern California weather. I don't deny it but there's something so nostalgic and heart-warming about my beloved gloom and cold.

This Sunday is our 3 month wedding anniversary (monthiversary??). Haha. Seriously, has 1/4 of a year passed since that amazing day?

I have to say that I LOVE being married. There are so many stereotypes intertwined with the ideals of marriage and unfortunately, most are negative. No, you don't have to stop playing music once you're married. Yes, you can still hang out with your separate friends. No, you don't have to "settle down". It's all about perspective. Don't let these stereotypes fool you. Married life is absolutely awesome if you've chosen the right partner and are secure enough in yourself to REMAIN yourself.

And she has returned.

2009-02-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

I used to blog many moons ago before the overt take-over of Myspace and Facebook. Although a professed addict of both, I miss keeping a separate blog to spew my daily thoughts and adventures. So, here we go again...