Hello LA

I cannot begin to explain how much I am loving LA. I guess I should start at the beginning...

After rushing to do some last minute laundry in Austin, I made my flight to LA. When I landed my friends picked me up and I got ready in about thirty minutes at my friend's house. I walk outside and there is this huge tour bus in front of the house. This bus is amazing. It has lights, tv screens and they even brought the cutest dog along. I met everyone on the bus and found out they rode this thing from Austin to LA.
After missing the exit a few times, we made it to Supper Club. When we were getting off the bus, we saw Russell Brand leaving and getting into his car right next to us and then literally two seconds after the car drove off, Corey Feldman walks by. Walking inside was crazy. It was like a huge warehouse in white and they had people dressed up in crazy costumes. People were coming out of the ceilings and there were midgets dressed in christmas lights dancing with people in the crowd. It was definitely a sight to see. After this, we all got back into the bus and headed to a smaller place called Voyeur. Walking in, their dancers were all topless and in tutus... It sounds weird but it was actually pretty cool. In the middle of the night they put on a little show on the stage. Throughout the night, we noticed on top of the crowd there was a large net spread across the ceiling with a girl up there. It was just insane... Girls on the ceiling, on the stage, on the bar, in a glass box... and all topless. Of course I was the only one sober but by the end of the night I thought I would let loose a little bit and got on the stage with some of the girls we were with. When they turned the lights on it was time to go and as we were walking out I looked at the guy next to me and it was that Frankie guy from Laguna Beach... Really cute in person actually... We got on the bus and I think 90% of the people on there were wasted and dancing their hearts out. I had a blast.
When we got back to the house my girlfriend Lacy and I ran to claim a bed. We shared the bed with a girl Lorena and as we were falling asleep our friend came in and got in the bed with us because poor homeboy had a girl trailing him all night. She found him and ended up in the bed too... I don't know how that worked.

So that was just Thursday night...
Friday I woke up and hung out with the boys at home. I read for a bit and then my friend's roommate Richard drove me to my friend's dance studio. It was really nice of him since I was going to take a Taxi instead. That saved me a good 20 bucks. So I met up with my friend Jared and he took me to Santa Monica where we had some really great Mexican food. I had just seen him a week or two before in Austin when he was in town for the Salsa Congress but he promised me that on Sunday he would take me out dancing here in LA. (I'm so excited :)) He was nice enough to drive me back to the house where I passed out for a good two hours. When I got up some new girls arrived from Austin and we all got ready for another night out. I was actually contemplating staying in and watching a movie or something but I'm glad I got my butt up and ready.
We drove to the hotel where everyone was staying at (the people from the bus). What was once like 13 people ended up being like 20 or something. There were so many people. We all loaded onto the bus and headed to a small bar/club. At first I wasn't having the best time but I started chatting with the girls who had just come in from Austin and we really bonded. One of the girls was freaking out because she had seen this actor that she knew from "Grey's Anatomy" and she thought he was so cute. Somehow she made friends with his best friend and he came over and hung out with us. She was in heaven! I was able to talk to him about acting since I told him that's what I wanted to come down to LA for. He gave me some good advice even though I think he had a lot to drink.
So the night was over and we all got back onto the bus again. A group of us hung out in the back where the bed was and just chatted and laughed. We hadn't noticed the bus had stopped until someone came up to the back and told us we were back at the hotel... Then someone mentioned Andy Dick was on the bus and we all thought, yeah right... but he was on bus. It was the most random experience. He just came in with two of his really handsome friends and hung out. Then he came up to the suite with us. They were all really cool but still now I can't get over how random that was. I left about an hour afterwards back to the house where I passed out.

It's now Saturday and I have taken all day to relax, watch some football, paint my nails, eat some cereal, chat with the girls about their night with the Grey's Anatomy actor (which will remain nameless unless you want to know), and we even planned a trip to go to Vegas for a weekend with him and his friend. I think tonight should be really good. We're celebrating my friend Jejuan's birthday at Chateau Marmont on Sunset. I cannot wait!! I came to LA for this night specifically so hopefully tonight will live up with more unexpected moments and good memories :)

xoxo

Home Sweet Home

Just got into Austin. I haven't written anything over Thanksgiving break probably because I've been sitting on my ass watching Weeds on Netflix. I'm addicted. Something crazy always happens every episode. And even though I reeeeaaaally want to watch another episode, I need to write a paper for class. This will probably take me all morning but I'm such a pro at procrastinating. I got this. I think I'm even more fueled up to write or do something now since my dad and I got into an argument (what's new). I will kick this paper's ass. Goodnight world

All I Can Say Is...

Wow. I am one lucky girl. I don't want to say anything because I'm afraid I'll jinx a good thing but really... I got lucky.

Smiling From Ear to Beyond

What a great feeling to make someone happy and have them make you happy in return. Now that the nerves and butterflies are gone, I think my waiting might finally be over... Let's hope so. I caught a good one :)

To E

Before I go to bed tonight, I just want to write a little message to someone very special to me.

I love you.
You are beautiful.
Men are pigs.
You are beautiful.
Always take it one second after another because once you know it, a minute has passed.
Don't strive for right or wrong,
All your wrongs will turn into a right.
I love you.
Don't let hurt consume you.
There's a phone next to you with my number in it.
God you're beautiful.
You're light shines through that beautiful smile.
Don't put yourself down.
Because I love you.
God loves you.
The Universe loves you.

If you weren't here in my life, I would have a gaping hole. When you wake up and before you go to bed, think of all the love you have going your way. You truly are a special and wonderful human being. I love you E.

15 Things

15 Things I Hope to Do in the Next 5 Years:

1. Land a role in a movie
2. Dance tango in Argentina
3. Zip-line in Costa Rica
4. Get plans running for a 1950s themed restaurant
5. Visit Australia and see a koala
6. Learn to sew
7. Read more plays
8. Sit and watch the sun set
9. Go scuba diving
10. Enjoy a night at the symphony
11. Go on a hot-air balloon ride
12. Go camping for a week
13. Visit Egypt and see the pyramids
14. Swim with dolphins
15. Go on a road trip through the South

There are probably more things I want to do but for now this is a satisfying list :)

Another Happy Birthday

As my friend pointed out to me today, on this day in 1985 the first Calvin and Hobbes comic strip was published. I remember the first time seeing these strips of comedic genius. I was in Paris with my mom visiting her brother and I was deathly bored. As a small kid, small talk in french and sitting in a house for hours is not really what you want to be doing with your time. I guess my uncle saw the strain in my face and he gave me these books filled with cartoon illustrations of a small boy and his stuffed animal tiger that would somehow come to life. I'm pretty sure I almost finished the entire book before it was time to go. My uncle let me keep that book along with another one he had and I fell in love with the comic strip from that moment on.

As I got older, the books took on a new meaning. Mainly because I was a lot older and could understand the humor of each story. But as a small child or a young adult, these books still give me that warm, fuzzy feeling. Happy Birthday Calvin and Hobbes! And thank you Bill Watterson for letting us into your imaginative world :) Although I have to say, I was always bummed out when my stuffed animals never talked back to me...

Dear Lord

Dear Lord,
This is all I ask in a man:
Available (aka he's not dating anyone)
Lives in the same city as me (for once)

It wouldn't hurt if he could dance salsa...

So why is it the ones I find are either dating someone or they don't live in the same city as me... usually overseas... Is it me? Do I find men that are unavailable because I know nothing will happen? Am I pushing away men? Geez what's wrong with meeeeeeeee?? I'm 23. I've only had one boyfriend and that was in high school. He left me to chase his dreams as a priest... I'm not going to worry about it but it just makes me think... Maybe I really do push men away. I need therapy. Goodnight.

Happy Birthday!

Anyone who knows me really well knows that my favorite movie of all time is the Sound of Music. Before the movie was released in 1965, two musical geniuses named Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II (also known as Rogers and Hammerstein) created the music and lyrics to the Broadway musical which made its first debut on this day in 1959. This musical was the last of the fantastic duo and to this day the music and lyrics touch many people around the world, including me. Anytime I hear "The Sound of Music," "Edelweiss," or "Something Good" I choke up. These songs have a deep, personal meaning for me as for many other people. So I would just like to say, Happy Birthday Sound of Music :) You mean the world to me.

Death of a Legend

Also on this day in 1960, Clark Gable died at the age of 59. His passing came prior to the last film he ever made, "The Misfits" which also starred Marilyn Monroe. Eerily, this was also the last picture Marilyn starred in before her passing. The first time I ever saw Clark Gable was in "It Happened One Night." It is easily one of my most treasured and beloved movies. He always had such an air about him... so handsome and so dapper... ::sigh::



I highly recommend anyone who loves movies to watch this. This one movie is what began my obsession for older, classic films. Many times on television shows or in modern day films you'll see references to this movie. It truly is a classic. Not to mention, Claudette Colbert is beautiful as always :)

A Spectacular Artist

For about two years now, I have been obsessing over this amazing artist: Fabian Perez. His work consists of people, mainly women from what I see. But he always paints them in such a beautiful light that sets a certain mood. The way he makes the clothes cling to bodies makes the women seem so feminine and the way he addresses the light on a man's face along with his cigarette smoke is so appealing. He really celebrates woman and man. Have a look for yourself. Here are some of my favorite paintings:

UK Living

At the moment, I am talking to a friend of mine from the UK. He's in China at the moment working but I told him of my idea of one day living in the UK (once I have money and a life put together securely). I've never seen myself as someone who can just settle in one city. So I started looking at different cities and villages in the UK. One place really caught my eye: Cambridge. Just seeing this one picture made me want to explore this city even more. Of course, my friend who is from the UK told me there are too many bicycles and he suggested that I look at villages in Norfolk, mainly Norfolk Broads. The pictures were beautiful. It looks so remote and quaint. I could see myself in a small cottage there, cooking, drinking wine, reading in a nice bubble bath every night (alone or accompanied), sitting outside and watching the sky change colors, taking a boat ride at sunset. Case in point: once I make money and have settled down the best way I know how, I will buy myself a small vacation home in an area like this in the UK.
The great thing about the UK is they speak english with beautiful accents and it's closer to France, Spain and Italy than anywhere in the US (obviously). After backpacking twice, I have come to love the metro system. It is so easy to pick up your bags and just hop a train to anywhere in Europe. Just thinking about all this gets me so excited! Here are some pictures I found online of Norfolk. There seem to be a lot of boats and windmills:




Someone sign me up please :)

It's a Beautiful Day

Shit. I have not written in forever... So I'll start again :) I would just like to say on this soggy, cloudy afternoon that I cannot stop smiling inside and out. Lately I've been reading a lot about spirituality and happiness and I am doing things that make me feel really good inside. Isn't that our objective in life? To find a pure state of happiness and keep it? Sure we have those moments of grieving or anger but it's up to us to go through it and come back out a happy person... if that's what we want which I'm sure it is.

I used to get to uptight about the most unimportant things... "so and so doesn't like me," "oh God... I look like a beached whale," "I'm coming back to an empty home again," "I have no one who cares about me." These thoughts are so ridiculous looking back at them. Who cares if a guy doesn't like me!? I live in a small city and there are thousands of men all over the world. Maybe my guy isn't in this city so I can be patient! So what if I gain a couple pounds once in awhile... I can work it off dancing salsa with my friends! And even though I'm coming to an empty home, it doesn't mean my life is empty. I do have wonderful friends and parents who love me and they care about me. I should pick up the phone and talk to them. Thoughts can always be turned around but sometimes I guess you have to find that strength to turn them. Not only that, but I have really learned in these last couple months to look around and be grateful. Those "problems" are nothing compared to other people in the world. I have a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, food in the fridge, I can turn up the heat in my apartment when it gets too cold... I am so lucky. My parents are alive and well and I know if something were to happen to me I would have friends to make sure I was doing alright.

Life is beautiful. And on this soggy, cloudy afternoon all I see is sunshine pouring through my windows.

First Day in the City

So it's 12:40am New York time and what a day it's been! I'm going to try and keep it short this time. Promise :)

I woke up around 7am and just stayed in bed for awhile, made a sandwhich and around 8 I finally pounced on Kaitlin to wake up. We got in our bikinis and went to the Jersey Shore to lay out and walk around a bit. When we got there, you had to pay 5 bucks to get a bracelet in order to walk on the beach which was new to me. We stayed in the sun for a good amount of time, enough time for me to get color on my chest and cheeks. It was getting too hot for us so we got up to head back to the boardwalk. As we were packing up the lifeguard started cheering and hollering and everyone was kind of like, what's wrong with this kid? Then he started shouting, "yeah USA!" which then I think everyone realized he was listening to the soccer game because then everyone started cheering.

On the boardwalk were SO many little shops with jersey type shirts and shorts with piercing and tattoo deals. Then there were a bunch of carnival rides and carnival type foods all over the place. It smelled like beach and funnel cake. Yummy.

At the end of the boardwalk we took this lift back to the other side which was so nice and relaxing. We were basically on top of the sand with a nice breeze blowing. When we got off we decided to keep walking and got some free samples of this flavored ice/ice cream.... It was so yummy! It reminded me of those freeze icy pops I used to have as a kid.

We went back to Kaitlin's house to take showers and I got ready to head to New York. Kaitlin drove me to the station and it wasn't as bad as I thought. maybe a 40 minute train ride with one stop. I actually enjoyed it. It made me feel like I was back in Europe again. Once I got in at Penn Station, I met up with Olivia and we went to a small diner close to her apartment (and close to the first Macy's too!). We were able to gossip and laugh and eat amazing grilled cheese sandwiches! Afterwards we only has a little less than an hour till the show we were going to see started. So we walked across the street to the place she was staying at to drop off her Disney bag (she had just come back from some sort of Disney convention for her work where she got free stuff) and I got a tour of her place which was literally the size of a small one bedroom dorm room. Cute non-the-less! I loved the building too.

We took the subway to the New World Stages Theater where we saw Avenue Q. Holy crap, it was such a wonderful show! If the girls in front of us would have stopped talking, laughing and using their cell phones to text it probably would have been much better. I told Olivia at intermission that I should have put a hand gun in my purse so if I told the girl to shush and she gave me attitude, I wouldn't have to say anything. I could just pull the gun out. After a great show, I bought a shirt to remember the show buy which cost me a good 30 bucks... For a shirt with the letter "Q" on it...

Then it was off to the subway to say bye to Olivia and get on my train to meet up with Kaitlin and her boyfriend. Now we're home and I'm exhausted! I'm going to pass out because tomorrow should be another long day :)

HELLO NEW YORK.... Kinda :)

Okay so I'm not exactly in New York city but I am close! Just got in today around 5 and have had a great day so far! I've gotten no sleep at all thanks to yesterday:

I ended up going to a friend's house to drop off a goodbye present. He invited me to go to Agora with a friend of his to play some backgammon. I was already set on going there anyways before he asked so I got there early to start reading a new book, "The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living" (Yeah I'm on this whole new spiritual growth thing), then later played some backgammon when they got there. Agora closed early so we went back to my friend's house, played some pool, guitar band, drank some wine, and listened to music. The night went on into the morning and I realized as the sun was coming up that I hadn't packed anything for a flight that was leaving in seven hours. So I came home, packed, watched a bit of the Mexico-Uruguay soccer match, went to CVS to buy some last minute things, and pulled out some money from the bank. My flight left at 12 and I passed out only to wake up a couple of times as my head was falling all over the place... Worst Sleep Ever!

Anyways so we landed in Newark and I was so exhausted and waited for everyone to get off the plane so I could drag myself up and somehow manage to pull my carryon down from the compartment. A man saw my struggle and helped me haha. So turns out because I waited, I was able to see Adam Brody! I was walking past the security checkpoint area of people coming in and low and behold, there is a guy getting himself situated afer getting his bag from the sensors and he looks very familiar. He probably thought I was a lunatic with dead-beat eyes that would not stop staring at him. I later put two and two together and realized who he was.

Okay yeah yeah blah blah I talk too much. Anyways so Kaitlin picked me up from the airport in her big ass truck and we headed to her house in Jersey. I fell in love. I felt like I stepped into an antique shop where everything was useable. She showed me around and I got to meet her guinnea pig along with her new goldfish. We went to the basement where she showed me some more items they had that were very antique. I died when I saw two 1950s refrigerators. I could go on and on about the items in her house. Tomorrow I'm going to take some pictures because I'm kind of obsessed.

We got out of the house (and outside of her house were a bunch of those lightning bugs, you know the ones that light up. Absolutely beautiful!) and went to eat at this really cute diner. I can't remember the name of it. Kaitlin's sleeping so I'll ask her tomorrow but after that we came back home, looked up movie times and went to this big mall where they had an amc theater. We had some time to spare so we visited the Victoria's Secret store and tried on their new padded bra... This bra was padded from every angle you can imagine. My boobs had taken a life of their own, but it was way too much to handle for me. We went back to the theater and watched Jonah Hex which wasn't really my kind of movie but okay non-the-less. I was entertained for the most part. Megan Fox in that corsette made me feel like I was suffocating... Ridiculous

So now we're back at Kaitlin's and I'm all ready for bed. A little nervous cause she told me a story about a spirit in the home belonging to her grandmother I think, but no worries. I'm so looking forward to tomorrow. We're going to the JERSEY SHORE!! and then I'm off to the city to meet up with Olivia, have some drinks possibly and go see Avenue Q! Hopefully the weather lets up. It's been drizzling all day :(

Finally, time for some shut eye. Goodnight world!

Death: Lessons Learned

Last night, a close friend of mine told me that his friend had passed away. He had a heart attack while playing soccer. Talking to him about it, I found myself thinking more about death. It is such a normal everyday occurrence and it's happening all around us when we don't even realize it. I am so lucky that at this moment, while typing this, I am breathing another breath. As cliché as this sounds, life is precious and it is so short.
I have been reading a book called "Zen and and the Art of Happiness." Before my friend told me about his friend's passing, I had just finished reading something that was eye-opening for me, even though I knew it all along:

"We imagine an endless future stretching out ahead of us and an endless past stretching out behind. We believe that where we exist is the moment we call now, a moment that is a tiny hairline separating the future from the past. In actuality, the reverse is true; all there is and was and ever will be is an endless now. Is it not always now? The wise ones understand this truth: This moment we call now is all that exists" (Prentiss).

In that realization and in reading the rest of the chapter, I gained a more solid awareness that what I do in the present should be celebrated. I know it's not going to happen overnight, but I really want to work on not taking things so seriously and going for what makes me happy. I don't know what is going to happen to me five/ten minutes from now. I could walk into the kitchen and my heart could stop. But right before that moment, I want to make sure that I was in good spirits. Doesn't everyone?
I could go on and on about my thoughts on death and new life. I am constantly growing in my spirituality which makes the thought of death a little bit easier for me. Don't get me wrong, every time I see a picture of my grandfather I get very emotional, but I learn not to dwell on it and to say a prayer for him. He brought me so much happiness and taught me so much when he was alive and I take those experiences to my present day. All good and bad things from my past make today the best day :)


"Seeing through to essential nature is the window of enlightenment." -Hakuun Yasutani Roshi

Eff the Radio

What has happened to music nowadays?? On my way to and from Austin Tuesday and today, I could not find one single good thing on the radio. It almost feels like people are running out of things to say and are talking about useless information that I could give a damn about... Who cares if you're riding solo and have the need to repeat this phrase 3/4 times over and over again to make your chorus. Who cares if shawty is an eenie meenie miney moe lover, let her do her thing. And I'm sorry Katy Perry, as much as this California Gurls song (because it wouldn't be as cool to spell it correctly) is kind of a cute head-bopper, you sound like you have a cold when you're singing it. Blow your nose. Usher, great dancer but how many times do I have to turn on the radio to hear you say "oh my gosh?" I understand, she got it all with a booty and what not but I don't need to hear omg omg omg repetitively.
I will say that that "Airplanes" song has been stuck in my head a couple times but only because I think Hayley Williams has such a beautiful voice. So you can keep repeating over and over how much you could use a wish because you got some pipes on you.

And please... Don't get me started on Ke$ha... The dollar sign is enough...

AND WHY do these Bravo Housewives make songs that somehow get stuck into my head?? This "Money Can't Buy You Class" crap would not get out of my head for the life of me after watching the Real Housewives of New York City. Must admit, such an addicting show that I will never ever stop watching.

What happened to the days where people would land singing contracts because of their ability as great vocalists?? Now it's all about the artist's look/style and how we can make money off of you. Screw that. It doesn't last. A great voice lasts decades (Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday). Maybe I'm just saying this because I love old classic music but it's so much more engaging to my ear. Even house music has great vocalists that put you in some sort of trance. Songs with great lyrics and singers will never get old but hey, everyone has their preferences.

Zen

I'm here at Agora still and enjoying my time with my cappuccino and chewing on ice... Why is ice chewing so addicting?

Ran into a few friends over here. I can't put into words how much I love places like this. You can relax and chat to close friends without having to yell over loud music. I like going to a nice lounge once in awhile but that can get boring after going repetitively. You can't really see or hear the person you're talking to. What's the point in that? And the music nowadays isn't really my cup of tea. Davenport however is a different story. I will never get tired of that place most likely because I loooooove the music and the people. It's a very small, low-key type of place. If you ever want to hear good music with a nice atmosphere, check it out on Wednesday or Sunday nights.

I should get back to being social. Hopefully I can leave early to get some rest for tomorrow morning's game!! Portugal and Ivory-Coast! And then it's off to Austin.

Ciao <3

Just Getting Started!

I'm so excited to be starting this blog. Even if it's for no one else to read, it's something that I have been wanting to do for awhile now since my memory tends to fade. Now I can write down what's on my mind and what's been happening to me and I can always look back to remember!

Heading to my favorite spot in Houston before I go back to Austin tomorrow. Agora is one of the most relaxing places for me to just read, have a good cappuccino and play some backgammon. Not to mention, the guy who works there loves me to bits :) They have a jukebox inside so if you want to hear some nice brazilian music or some Billie Holiday, then punch in some numbers!