I learned last night at Julie & Noah's reception, that if I my new job doesn't work out - I may be able to start a new business as the Wedding Dancer!
Apparently I'm good at sparking up the dance floor and getting people out moving and grooving. The funny thing is, I bet there is somebody out there that would actually pay for my services.
Congratulations, Julie & Noah!
Today, Julie & Noah will tie the knot in a traditional Jewish ceremony in Allentown, PA! Mazel Tov!
Yesterday, when we checked into our hotel, we were given this lovely bag of PA goodies from the bride and groom, along with a sweet letter thanking us for traveling so far to join them on their special day. Awwww...
Last night, we joined the couple for a superb dinner at Bolete where they toasted us - their friends and families! It was a really nice touch.
With all these weddings to attend and my own to plan...I'm taking notes. ;-) Obviously, we can't do everything every bride and groom does, but we can steal some of our favorite ideas.
Here are a few pics of the Lemon Tea Sugar Scrub that I made and divided into jars as add-on gifts for our many soon-to-be newlywed friends. In addition to monetary gifts, I thought it'd be nice to have a little something handmade. Each couple got their own card and jar design. I tried to match the couples' color theme where I could (i.e. if I had the supplies in my bins of crafty goods).
First, let me apologize to myself for failing to post yesterday. I set a little reminder e-mail for myself to nudge me everyday at 5pm. Alas, I was not on the computer all night last night. In fact, I felt a bit like I was run over...that pre-flu feeling all heavy and exhausted. I went to bed early and had one of those "Oh no!" moments, but decided my health was more important.
So today I write two posts.
I realize the small pool of people who may (or may not) read my blog already know all this - but let's catch up anyway, shall we?
Well the summer is half way over. Here are some updates and lots of travel pics.
I haven't really been running. Maybe once or twice a month since end of March. I'm working on turning that back around this month. Wish me luck!
Since our Santa Barbara trip, Andy and I:
Ran like horses in the Santa Anita Derby Day 5k on April 5th.
I went horseback riding with my sisters through Griffith Park on a horse named "Mouse" ("Tsst, tsst...Let's go, Mouse, let's go!...WHOA, MOUSE!") April 23rd. (Unfortunately, no pictures.)
Andy & I visited his brother Jeff in Monterey before he ran the Big Sur Marathon. Apparently, I have no photos of the four of us (Andy, me, Jeff and his girl Jane) but please enjoy this very cute photo of Jeff & Jane in Monterey (or Big Sur...one cannot be too sure). April 26th.
I went to an off-site for work in San Diego. April 27th. I took the train back to LA for only $29! That is something Andy & I need to do. Birds can also be found in San Diego.
My good friend Robyn came to visit and we drove up to Santa Ynez and Solvang for some wine tasting. May 24th. Andy very sweetly drove so Robyn and I could get our fill of wine. Lion's Peak was my favorite. And, even though it would be possible, I'm not just saying this because it's named after my favorite animal. Promise. If it helps - Fess Parker was my second favorite. (That probably doesn't help...considering the "Fess" bit, eh? WELL, I know it won't help if I tell you third on my list is Longoria...because you'll just say "that's because Evan Longoria is the #1 hitter for the Tampa Bay Rays" Well, I guess you'll just have to take my word for it - that these are very good wines regardless of the label. Geesh, such a doubter.)
June 14th we went to Hanover, New Hampshire for Andy's college reunion. Beautiful campus. Made me want to get back to the East Coast. There's so much grit and history in the East. 
The very next weekend we took a quick trip to Seattle, WA for Andy's friend's wedding. June 21st. At first I didn't understand where all the grunge came from...but then we strolled around downtown for long enough, you start to see the influence. I'm still not quite sure how it happened - such a gorgeous, mostly rural State. Teenage angst? rebellion, I suppose? I should look that up on Wikipedia. Maybe someone knows the root of Grunge. Kayaking before the rehearsal dinner was recommended.
Finally, over the July 4th weekend, two major events happen. I actually visit my dear friend Kellie, whom I've known sine 2nd grade, at her house in Nevada. AND Andy & I visit Las Vegas for the first time EVER.
July 25th finds us in San Francisco or rather Berkeley for a Stone Temple Pilots concert. Our friend, Nat, decided we should go in style so we all piled in a Limo. Too bad I don't have pictures, since I was afraid to loose my camera at the concert. Here's a picture of the weekend in Cupertino after the STP concert. We didn't sleep much.
As soon as we got back to LA, we went to the Hollywood Bowl to see Gnarls Barkley on July 27th. Another FIRST - Andy and I had never been to the Bowl before. I now see what all the fuss is about. We'll be back.
Then it's back to Vegas with our friends Julie and Noah. This time we stayed on the strip at the MGM Grand and played quite a bit of slots. Next time we go to Vegas we will practice our cards first so we're not so intimidated by the tables. ;)
Finally, to round out the summer, we took a trip to Massachusetts and I spent the weekend with Andy's family at their long time vacation spot in Gurnet Point (near Duxbury Beach). His Mom owns a little house there with no running water, no electricity, no phone and only a sun shower where you bathe in your swimsuit. It was the most beautiful vacation I have taken in a long time. It motivated me to get up and take a walk in the mornings before work. It motivated me to appreciate my surroundings once again - like the gorgeous mountain view from my apartment. I'm learning to take just a little longer with these moments. They don't last forever and they sure do energize me as well as calm me. I guess you could say those moments tend to set me straight. I think I'm becoming more of a morning person because of that trip. Andy stayed a bit longer. I envy him. 
I learned a lot from my travels*. Major take aways are (1) exercise before you travel - run, swim, hike...whatever you do. Burn off some energy so you are more prepared to deal with the unexpected (like delayed planes and lecturing stewardesses) and (2) make the most of it - sleep only when you need it, eat well and don't blink. When I take my own advice, I am rewarded twice - once on vacation and then again when I return home. I view my daily life with new eyes and am allowed a fresh start in my routine.
Summer is winding down and we don't have any more travel plans at the moment - except our drive across country. But that's a couple months and a whole season off. Hopefully I'll write again before then. No promises, though. My hands may be too busy packing and drafting resume after resume. ;)
*this could also read "I learned a lot from Andy."
Andy & I went to Santa Barbara this past weekend to celebrate our three year anniversary. It was a quick, last minute trip and it was absolutely gorgeous!
What we did:
Amongst other things, we ate delicious meals, did our fair share of wine tasting and took a walk on the beach.
What we learned:
Wine tasting and rock tasting do not produce the same satisfying result.
Here is where we stayed:
We also bought Farylrobin shoes; ate at Freebirds; bought a hoodie with bird designs all over; and received Ravenwood wine from a close friend. Needless to say,this anniversary was a soaring success! (cheap pun intended)
and then she stopped.
I ran my first race ever on March 2, 2008. Coogan's 5k in New York. HOORAY!!!!
And then I didn't run for two weeks. Boo. Sadness.
Yes, I said New York. I know, strange that my first ever race would be on the other side of the country in 30 degree weather (21 with wind chill), rather than in Sunny California where I live.
I think this actually may have been to my advantage. Cold air makes you run faster. I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to run 3 straight miles outdoors, with hills (this was in Washington Heights) and freezing temperatures. I thought, "I haven't trained properly. I'll have to stop and stretch half way through." I thought I would give up on the hills. I thought (this was my biggest fear) that I wouldn't be able to breathe properly with all the cold air hitting my wind pipes.
End result? I ran my best time ever. Only slowed once going uphill and quickly realized that was a stupid move as I started to cramp up and almost immediately got back on pace. The weather didn't even bother me all that much. My hands and face were a little cold in the beginning, but that was it. After the first mile, I was warm and toasty. (Well, basically.)
Worst part of Coogan's 5k? I learned that my Nike+ sensor was totally off. I had never calibrated it. So, Nike told me I ran an 8'50"/mile pace. New York Road Runner's, however, told me it was a 9'45"/mile pace. Still, not too bad for my first race ever. Sadly, It will be a loooong time before I ever beat my "best mile" with Nike+, if ever.
I think vacation plus mis-calibrated Nike+ sensor led to lack of gym excursions for two weeks.
I finally got back to the gym this weekend. Calibrated my sensor. And now I know just how slow I am. Heehee.
This is the course:
http://www.nyrr.org/races/2008/pdf/coogans_map.pdf
I was driving to work this morning (Yes, I said "work"...I have a job! Well, at least a temporary job - at Yahoo!) and noting the gray gray sky. To be expected after a night's worth of fireworks, sparklers and who-knows-what giving smoke to the air all over the United States!
I was looking at that smoke-filled sky and thinking that in Florida and New York it always seemed to rain on the 5th of July. I always thought it was the environment's way of cleaning up ... washing the smoke from the sky, the remnants of fireworks and the ash all being washed away.
And I wonder - will it rain today? in oh-so-sunny and dry California? Somehow I think it won't. It kind of saddens me. I rather liked the tradition of Earth cleaning up after hosting a big party. ;-)
Happy 5th of July, everyone! If it's raining in your State - Enjoy it!
For starter's - it's a short month. Which makes it different.
And we all learned in elementary that the things that make us different make us special.
Or as it is in high school = Different is cool.
Also, if you get paid on a monthly basis - in February, you get paid more for each day you worked! (Unfortunately, this also means your landlord just scored off your monthly rent!)
Okay, let's get to the main reason that I love February so much...
IT'S MY BIRTHDAY MONTH!!! Woo-hoo!!! Let's celebrate!
And what better way to celebrate than with friends.
My friend Curtis Z. celebrates his birthday on what else? Valentine's Day! Another great thing about February! It promotes LOVE. And, no, you Negative Nancys out there, you cynics. It doesn't have to be about ROMANTIC LOVE. It can be about the love for your FAMILY, the love for your TEACHERS and MENTORS in life, or the love of your wonderful FRIENDS!
More friends' birthdays this month:
Madison on the 4th
Dave S. on the 15th
Kevin H. on the 21st
Amanda A. on the 22nd
Andrea C. on the 28th
Aunt Connie on the 28th
My friend since 3rd grade, Kellie C. celebrates her birthday on February 22nd. Mine is on the 24th. It has been a long time joke between the two of us that either I'm "too young" to understand or she is "older and therefore wiser" or, now that we are past our teens (when it is cool to be older), I get to make fun of her for how "OLD" she is for two days before she can turn the insults and harassment back around on me. Another reason this two day difference contributes to the greatness of February is that - every February, Kellie & I reconnect. No matter where we are or how far we've traveled, we know that in February we will catch up with one another. In fact, once Kellie dropped her phone in water and couldn't retrieve her old phone numbers. So, she bought a new phone and kept the old one until February - when she knew I would call, and she could up date me with her new information - including new phone number! Ah, February - the glue between friends.
February also marks the birth of my first nephew, Aidan!!! Who just turned four this month! Yippie!
On a national level, February is Black History Month and International Friendship month! Now, go on, if you don't already have one...go and find yourself a friend to celebrate. If s/he's black, you get bonus points!
Groundhog Day (February 2nd)! Who doesn't love a day that sits around waiting for a groundhog's shadow? I mean, that's just pure entertainment! And the movie isn't so bad, either.
For you football fans, February often hosts the SUPER BOWL!
PRESIDENT'S DAY is observed on the third Monday of the month. HOLIDAY! Any month with a nationally observed day off is an exceptional month!
I could go on and on and on.
World Marriage Day - the second Sunday in February.
Lincoln's birthday - February 12th.
George Washington's birthday - February 22nd. (The same as Kevin H. and Kellie C. Boy, I have brilliant friends!)
Susan B. Anthony's birthday - February 12th.
Thomas Edison's - February 11th.
BOY SCOUT DAY is February 8th!!!!
I mean, doesn't get any better than this!! February is FULL of love and kindness and celebration and smart people's birthdays and it's just AWESOME!!! And it flies by in a hurry...so get out there and APPRECIATE IT!
I love you, my friend!
xoxo And I'm in love with February! xoxo
Check it out...my friends Josh and Tamra have entered the Doritos Crash the Superbowl Contest! (You enter a 30 second commercial, the community votes, and if you win - your commercial gets aired during the Superbowl, you win tickets to the game, and you get some moolah!! And if any one deserves all that - it's these two cats - Josh and Tamra!)
Personal investment - I was assistant director on the "Ladies Night" video!!! yahoo!
Here is what Josh & Tamra have to say:
"WE NEED YOUR VOTES!!
PLEASE VOTE and make your COMMENTS on our (TWO) 30 second Commercials!!!TODAY!!!!
There are a couple of steps to registering on the site before you vote. No biggie.
Then Simply: Click the heart under our clip (love it), & make a comment.
VOTE ON OUR 2 COMMERCIALS: go to
1.) http://www.jumpcut.com/view?id=CDF3DB60825711DB8CF8266C9A2E700D&type=
2.) http://www.jumpcut.com/view?id=6392FF22835511DB9CDA5A856F9CC894&type=
p.s.
The quality and sound are compressed on the site for some reason.
So ignore the medium quality of the commercial. The original commercials
are hi-quality.
Thank you!!! WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH!!!
XOXOXOX
Josh & Tamra
JoshAndTamra.com"
So what are you waiting for? GO VOTE!!! (Thanks. It means a lot to me.)
...My sister comes to town!
All I can say is that I'm very excited. Originally we weren't going to see one another for Thanksgiving or Christmas. But my sister is BRILLIANT and was able to schedule a business trip for Monday and fly in a few days before for some Family Fun Time!! She's bringing her son with her, too!!! Which is bonus fun times! My nephew is two and he's adorable and he's started talking but I haven't seen him in person since he really started talking..so I'm excited! (I'll call him "EJ".)
Plus, EJ likes LIONS! I love LIONS! EJ likes to ROAR like a lion! I LOVE EJ!
EJ left me the cutest message on my phone a few months ago. It was simply him roaring like a lion. But, man, is it ever a good solid Roar! I've been trying to figure out how to grab it off my phone and add an audio clip to my blog. I think the first step is to buy a connector cable for my phone to connect to my computer. And since I haven't begun to even look at what kind of cable I will need...I suppose I really haven't been "trying to figure out" anything. But in my head, I have made some noble efforts. In my head, once I get off my butt and teach myself some technology, it is going to be brilliant! Everyone will hear the wondrous EJ's ROOOAAAAR!
Oh, I'm can't wait until they get here!! *jumping up and down in anticipation*
Saturday, I threw a 30th Birthday Party for Andy.
He knew about the party, but did not know that his entire family was coming from Maine & Boston to celebrate! AND that all of his friends would be ROASTING & TOASTING him.
I have been anxious and a little stressed for about a month and half now in the planning process. Most of all, these last couple of weeks, as I began getting sick and could no longer focus on the details when it was MOST crucial!
Amazingly, due to the extraordinary FRIENDS of both Andy and me, and our amazing, talented families...The whole party and especially the Roasting & Toasting went off without a snag! It was just amazing!!! Andy didn't have a clue and was rendered speechless for a good portion of the evening (but totally happy).
And I got about ten offers to host other individual 30th birthday bashes. Maybe I should open a business?
Today is the day of the NYC Marathon.
26.2 miles and I have four friends (that I know of) running today!!
Hip, Hip Robyn! Sean! Erica! and Alison!
Better you than me. Phew! I admire you for taking on this challenge.
The funny thing is, you've already started running and I haven't even taken a shower yet. Woah - talk about commitment. Well, never fear, I will be there in time to cheer you on! And I will bring chapstick and water. Chapstick and water.
Way to go, my friends!
Oi vey! Planning a party is hard work. I'm all distracty and tired and keep back-tracking on things I've already decided on. It's a full time job. I don't have time to be at work! I need to get planning!
It was so much easier when we were in middle school and a party consisted of $1 store prizes and decorations and left-over halloween candy.
Why, Thank You, Blog! Thank you for caring.
Today is my one year anniversary at my job.
Does anybody care? No.
Nobody really cares when someone can hold a job for a year. They care when you can hold a job for twenty-five years! Then, and only then, there will be EXTRA cookies for everyone!
But, you know what? I'm okay with this. Because today my boss and I hosted a meeting, and provided lunch. And there were LOTS of cookies left over.
Since it's my anniversary...I DID NOT REFUSE THOSE COOKIES. I enjoyed them thoroughly.
Congratulations, me.
Thank you, you.
You're welcome, me.
