More stuff I've done from the 52 things list...

I have been terrible at blogging lately. I guess it is because I have been so busy. I realized that up until this past Saturday, I haven't had a chance to sleep-in for months. So Saturday, I took the opportunity to stay in my PJs til 1, read a trashy novel, work on some artwork, and experiment with mojito making. Now that I'm all refreshed, I think its time to catch up on a bit of blogging. Here is a list of my latest accomplishments from the list of 52 things...seeing as it is September, I really have to get a move on it.

#20/52 Dave Matthew's concert: I've never seen Dave live...and as I was told, while waiting in line to get into the Hollywood Bowl, "Once you see him live, you will love him forever." Well, forever is a long time...but after seeing him live, I have to agree that I do like him move than I did before. And I hope to catch him again in the future.

#21/52 Visit Joshua Tree: Ever since seeing the cover of the U2 album, way back in the day, I've always been curious about Joshua Tree. I wondered what about it was so inspiring to U2 to name and album after it. So one weekend, I headed to the desert to check it out. It is beautiful and hot...so hot that I am positive if you seat out there long enough you will have visions...it is inevitable. Maybe that's why U2 was so inspired by Joshua Tree...but probably not.

#22/52 Willie Nelson Concert: Good ol' Willie Nelson...I felt I had to see this guy before he died. And so I did...caught him playing at the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic. This probably was not his most rowdy concert...but it certainly was a fun time. I suggest catching him if you get a chance.

#23/52 Figure skating medal: I got a medal on a technicality...And by that I mean, I finished a level of figure skating and they gave me a medal upon completion of the class. I didn't really have to do much besides a few crossovers and prove that I could stop while skating backwards...but since I've never earned a medal in anything, I totally believe it counts.

#24/52 Checked out the Tall Ships festival: This was something I did over the past weekend. One of my friends had told me about it last year and her pics from the fest were so cool, that I totally had to go this year. I didn't get a pirate boyfriend out of it, but that was because I realized all the cute pirates probably aren't so cute in normal clothes.

#25/52 Learn to make mojitos: Silly me...this one is super easy, but I had never gotten around to taking the time to actually learn how to make a mojito. Now that i've figured it out, I am planning on doing a mojito station at my next party.

#19/52 Eat at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles

Some of my goals are rather simplistic. In this case, I've been meaning to check out Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles for years...and finally, I found myself with a giant plate of fried chicken and the most delicious waffles ever. My boss thought it was pretty funny that it was one of my life goals, so he even offered to buy me lunch. It was tasty!

18/52: Complete the New York Times Crossword

I've only half-ass completed this one. Because I did a crossword on a Monday and not the Sunday Times Crossword. I'll work up to that over the next few weeks. But in the meantime, I can say that I did in fact complete an entire NY Times Crossword...and in under an hour and a half.

Two more things to knock off my list....

#16/52 Visit Arches National Park: My dad, aunt, uncle and I went on a roadtrip after my brother's wedding. I was pretty stoked because it meant, I could knock a few more things off my list...including finally going to Moab, Utah and visiting Arches and Canyonland National Parks. I had tried to visit them earlier this year, but was thwarted by a blizzard. This time the weather was perfect (not too hot, not too cold...just right) and everyone had a good time...even my 70 year old uncle....he loved the trip so much, he wanted to stop at every national park between Moab and Las Vegas.

#17/52 Visited Canyonland National Park

Seeing a therapist

Over the years, I have joked about it. But, finally I decided it's time to actually schedule an appointment with a psychologist. I figured, I had all of these crazy issues that i needed to work through and that he would give me some potent drugs to get thru my "ADD", "anxiety", and "hypochondria". After a few sessions of meeting with my therapist, it has been determined that I am a completely normal, sane, functioning human being. Therefore not a candidate for heavy doses of drugs to get me thru my "issues." I guess I should be happy to hear that I have been pronounced sane by a medical professional, but at the same time, I'm kind of bummed to hear that I don't have any real issues....not even hypochondria...which it seems is actually something my doctor likes to call "Med school-itis"...which means I have an unnatural interest in Web MD, but it is completely healthy and normal to have this unnatural interest.

Whatever, maybe I should get a second oppinion.

I got propositioned in Vegas!

I went to Vegas last weekend for a girlfriend's 30th birthday party. The weekend was a lot of fun, full of ridiculous events that can only happen in Vegas. Most of those stories will "stay in Vegas". But there is one, that I found too crazy not to mention.

It is 4 AM and I get into an elevator with one of my girlfriends. We are pretty exhausted from a night on the strip. There was this young looking kid that was also in the elevator. If I had to guess, I would have said he was 12, but since we were at a casino he had to be at least 21. Anyhow, the elevator doors close and I hit my floor. The kid doesn't hit a floor, but instead looks at my friend and I and says, "You guys wanna make out or something?"

"What?" I laugh.
"I can do both of you at the same time."
"Are you kidding me? NO!" I say, realizing that he's actually serious.
"Well, we don't have to have sex...just you know, mess around."
"NO!"
"Look I'm really cheap. Totally affordable. So come on."
"What floor are you on?" I ask out of desperation to change the subject...sometimes the elevator just doesn't move fast enough.
He responds with, "Whatever floor you are on."
After a moment of me staring him down, he replies, "12."

At that point the elevator doors open on our floor and my girlfriend and I get out as quickly as possible.

My friend was a bit afraid we were going to get attacked by the guy. Personally, I was just offended that this guy thought I was the type of girl that had to pay to get some.

Wherever the road takes me

This is so ugly...and it really destroys the feng shui of my blog, but nonetheless I am fascinated with myself.

Countries I have been to...
Apparently there are 26 countries which is only 11% of the countries that exist...which means I better get going on my travels.



create your own visited countries map

States I have been to



create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

A couple other things that I accomplished from my list

#7/52: See an NBA Game...I had never gone to a pro basketball game, but had always thought it would be fun. On Easter Sunday, my boss gave me his tix to the Clippers/Sonics game...The seats were great (we had our own waitstaff and VIP Parking) and free, so I have to give the experience 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!!

#8/52: Figure Skating lessons....I'm still working on my lessons. The goal was to learn how to do a jump...which I mastered last week..a simple bunny hop, but a jump nonetheless.

#9/52: VIP Table at a Club...Holy cow this was expensive ($2000 for 4 bottles of alcohol). Talk about dropping some major dough on an evening out. But for my dear friend Phoenix, it was worth it...I mean, she only gets married once, right? Plus, the experience included a personal bouncer and a private bathroom at one of Vegas' hottest clubs.

#10/52: Buy a new Marc Jacobs bag...Yeah, this one is extremely superficial and frivolous...and after #9, it makes me look like I have no real morals. But I love MJ...and even though I already own his Sophia bag...it was time to get a new one...this time I got a purple "schooly" bag....I love it and wear it often.

#11/52: Buy my dream shoes by Marc Jacobs...Really? You didn't know that I am superficial? Well, these purple Mary Janes were totally worth it...I LOVE THESE SHOES!!! And from this point forward, no more superficial fashion purchases on the list.

#12/52: See Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake....It was awesome! So happy I was able to catch it.

#13/52: Learn how to shoot a gun....Well, I went skeet shooting with my friends, hit a few targets, and learned how to shoot a 20 gauge rifle...I guess that will do.

#14/52: Learn how to Curl...I saw this sport in the olympics and wondered, "why is it these guys got a medal?" So I took a weekend workshop in curling and learned that I might actually have what it takes to make the Olympic team for this awesome sport....I'll keep you posted.

#15/52: See a therapist...My parents are in the midst of a rather ugly divorce. My brother is getting married. Everybody is being self-centered. Now is as good a time as any to seek therapy.

the other day...

I spent the afternoon with a boy I had just met. He was blond and happy and scruffy...just like boys I used to date in college. He smelled like pot and cigarette smoke...just like the boys from my filmschool days. He had a way of making me feel charming, funny, and beautiful....just like every boy i fall in love with. And he had 2 beautiful birds tattooed, one on each shoulder blade...just like the Javanese buddah on my desktop, who has scars on each of his shoulder blades.

As we were parting ways, he offered me his number. I just smiled and walked away...just like every other time I am unsure of what I want.