More Heaven

This place is totally magical. I could spend hours here. Imagine Disneyland with no lines and less OC-ness. And all the gourmet food you could ever imagine. If you're thinking about throwing a party anytime soon, you've gotta head here first.

Red Velvet Heaven

Breakfast.

Essential Pantry Item No. 1

God it's good to have you back, old friend.

It's Time To Get Away...

Only a Day Away...

To me, the idea of a vacation is a paradoxical concept on so many levels. The word vacation supposed to mean 'a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel'. It should be a frequent thing, right? For health, vitality, and across-the-board well-being of all people. It only makes sense that we would need to take a break from the very things that make us an overworked, overbooked, underpaid, stressed-out, hyper-caffeinated, sleep-deprived, worn, weary working class society.

It seems almost ironic that most people work hard for their vacations. Vacations are something to earn in this society. So people go insane working hard for a break from working hard only to come back to find that insane working state of mind they were in before they left to get rest and start it all over again. Furthermore, many people work under a system of carefully calculated mandated days labeled 'vacation' that are both given AND taken away. So, this little system creates the pressure to take a really restful, amazing vacation when the opportunity is achieved. When really, this build- up creates vacations consisting of trying to get as much done (seeing people, places, things) as possible in a relatively short period of time. Then to return home feeling the opposite of rested... taking days to actually face the usual day-to-day responsibilities and reality fled from in the first place. Hence the expression 'needing a vacation from your vacation'.

However, while the vacation is actually happening, it is usually a really amazing experience. Consecutive hours without thinking about work, alarm clocks, paychecks. Even the feeling of returning home is complex. The wonderful feeling of familiarity of space, friends, surroundings, usual hangouts, normalcy met with the yearning to go straight back to where you were coming from before the ordinary daily dramas get a chance to ensue.

So... I guess it kind of doesn't make sense to go far away to 'get away from it all', just to be glad to get home. And, while we vacate to rest and recoup just to return home to catch up on all the stuff we haven't been doing while we have been in a different place trying to get a whole lot of unrelated other stuff done. Yet, without all this coming and going we would go insane.

I often forget that sometimes just getting out of your element can feel like a complete vacation of sorts. I was reminded of this lesson by a group of dear friends the other day. It's easy to get caught up in the to-do lists and daily expectations that you forget you really don't have to go far. Just hanging out with friends you haven't spent time with in a while can be completely revitalizing. Throw in a little good food, drinks, luxury....you'll feel rested and rejuvenated in a way you thought you could never achieve without cashing in all your vacation days and jet-setting to a far away place.

My Thoughts on Today....

How my day usually goes....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnFvd75CMTc
Love it.

Good Job, Shuffle.

Sometimes, all it takes is a decent shuffle songs sesh for a great run in the morning. I'm so proud of mine today, I am going to share it with you. (You know, incase you need some musical inspiration this morning). Who needs iTunes Celebrity Picks or whatever, seriously.?.

1. Robot Rock- Daft Punk Soulwax Remix

2. Hustler- Simian Mobile Disco

3. Sissyneck- My Man Beck

4. Can't Believe a Single Word- VHS or Beta

5. Afterlife- Tiger Army

6. Time Left for Love- Shout Out Louds

7. Ready for the Floor- Hot Chip

8. Music is My Hot, Hot Sex- CSS

9. Everyone Gets a Star- Albert Hammond, Jr.

10. A-Punk- Vampire Weekend

11. Feel the Love- Cut Copy

12. 4-Minutes- (yes) Madonna & JT

13. Funk de Esfiha- Bonde Do Role

14. Out of the Inside- Alex Gopher

15. Silently- Blonde Redhead

16. Technologic- Daft again

17. Timebomb- Beck again

I will stop there... but it was a good run. Music makes so many things better! Happy Monday. 

Permanent Vacation

I am well aware that many people can not imagine calling Los Angeles their home. I even personally know some of these people. They come to visit, enjoy some royal tourist treatment, and happily return to the place they call home. 

Well, my friends, I happen to be one of those rare people who thoroughly enjoys this place. I packed up my car the moment I graduated college without hesitating for one moment...and I'm still here. It's not only that I enjoy doing the touristy things... (which I do) I love to do the regular things I do daily and watch the tourists want to do them too.  There is something about watching people who are not from (and possibly have never been to) this fair city gather together to do something that we do every day. Or maybe not every day, but often. We know where to park, when to get there, etc. etc. The 'visitors' do not. They get really bad sunburns and then have to remember where to find their car.

However, sometimes it is those very people that make this city fun. For example, if ever I do not have the motivation necessary to complete a really long run, I know exactly where to head. To the strand. 

This paved boardwalk stretches across the beach cities from the South Bay through Venice, Santa Monica and Malibu. It is always a good time for people/tourist watching. Being there will automatically take your mind off of anything else. For hours. I actually forget that I am struggling through my 11th mile because there is never a lack of entertainment. You don't have to look for comedy material.. it is everywhere. So much 'what not to wear' and bad tatoos it's amazing. Just don't get caught here if you're in a hurry or will be in a hurry at some point in the day. 

I really could go on... but my point is that these people are all having a great time. That's what living here is like to me. Sure, there's the 405 and the smog.  But there is a certain feeling I have gotten since I first moved here many years ago. That feeling I can't explain better than to say if you ever get a chance to move to a place where it feels like vacation every day, I highly recommend it. 

 (I started compiling an on-going list of things to love in my City of Angels. I will post it at a later time. But ironically, no where on it is the word tourist). 

So That Explains It....

It's that time of year again. And if I was the type of person to believe in this kind of thing, I would warn you to be very careful. . . until June 19th.

Mercury is appearing to be retrograde, and that means do not go anywhere. Stay inside. Where you are safe. Do not call anyone. Don't use your garbage disposals or computers (too late). Do not get a haircut. Just hide. Just kidding. But really- the general effect of Mercury retrograde is annoyance. And for me--that just may explain it.

Sure, I enjoy reading my horoscope from a semi-reputable publication (?) every now and then... and I've been known to search for what my-birthday-says-about-me in those books. Oh, and as for giving zodiac signs any credibility when determining compatibility of a potential love interest? Guilty. 

So, I guess it's only fitting that until June 19th, I may be a little more conservative. I'm just saying, that as a rule, retrograde planets tend to predict a period of 'seemingly inevitable' or 'fated' events that relate to their sphere of influence. That being said, Mercury has turned retrograde in Gemini.... which means it has a higher possibility of effecting communications, verbal activity, technology, transportation,  appointments.... Just don't sign legal documents. 

No, but really. I guess that Mercury is said to rule thinking and perception, communication, commerce, education, transportation- and to influence all people who work in these areas. This includes writers, commentators, critics, teachers, travelers, etc. Mercury is allegedly all about mental clarity and the power of the mind and such things. So, basically do not make important decisions, and do not listen to the important decisions others are making at this time. 

Even if you're not into believing in the cosmos, and I think that in our society we may just be a little more ego-fixated rather than 'astrologically-fixated'.. you may still find it a little bit interesting that the Bush-Gore election in 2000 took place on the day when Mercury retrograde peaked. In my opinion, if there is such thing as a Classic Mercury Retrograde Presidency, this is it.

Although I find this to be very interesting, amusing, and quite possibly a bit true in my life.. I'm not really sure I completely believe in or abide by all of this. But just in case, I am backing up my computer and going back to bed. 

Hollywood is Burning...

The most exciting news so far today is that the Universal Studios Lot is burning down.  As you could imagine, this is big news in this town. Allegedly, the flames started around 4am... filming was in progress at the time.... and there was a large explosion.  To deliver important updates about this possibly fatal inferno, the news channel turned to the head of public relations for Universal.  Sooo... any injuries? Hmmm.. we still don't know... but what we DO know is that both the theme park and the city walk will be operating under normal business hours today. What about the gigantic plumes of smoke? Oh, don't worry. They will just be 'going around' the flames and soot to ensure all eager tourists will get the typical thrill-seeking experience. This includes all shops, bars, restaurants...and the King Kong attraction (which may actually be part of the fire at the moment). Amazing.