Slowing down.

Doing Tennessee this week and got our first delicious taste as we were leaving the car rental place.

The nice old man taking our ticket leaned nearly all the way in the car to say hello and offer directions. I had already used my trusty iPhone to find the nearest liquor store but my mom obliged the man and asked for help.

He leaned in with his thick southern accent and said, "Well what are ya'll ladies buyin'?...and if it's whiskey, can I come too?

I felt myself get a little agitated because I wanted to go, but then I realized how nice the chatting was.

So we did. We chatted for a bit and he even told us a great joke.

(I'll paraphrase)

Married couple are getting divorced and are at their lawyer's office. The husband begins to explain some of their problems and the wife cuts him off immediately.

Husband: "SEE! This is the problem, she NEVER listens and she NEVER shuts up."

The lawyer walks straight over to the wife, grabs her and plants an amazing kiss right on her lips.

Lawyer: "See, that's what she needs. About three times a week. Promise it'll work."

Husband: "Perfect. Monday, Wednesday, Friday work for you? We'll be here."

Being an adult.

This girl is heading out of town for awhile and really looking forward to some down time. She also had plans to go out tonight, even though she has a 6am flight.

I think the thought of driving to The Valley got the best of her and she decided to stay home annnnd...get this...pack.

She was officially packed and ready to go exactly EIGHT hours before her flight. This is, most definitely, a first. And it feels amazing.

I'm so proud of this girl.

Local Yocals

Did some local shopping today at a cute little boutique on my street. I knew exactly what I was getting and thought I'd run in and out...5 minutes tops.

Twenty minutes later, I was still there chatting with the store owner and watching her meticulously gift wrap my purchase. We didn't have any big intellectual conversations...mostly about her dog, about babies and about living in Santa Monica...but it was so great.

Waaay better than any purchase I've made from Target. Twice as expensive too, but I guess you pay for the good stuff.

West LA Courthouse

Spending time at traffic court is always fun. And today it was even better.

I was waiting in line to pay a ridiculous amount of money to the government (which really should be cancelled out, considering they still owe me money) and a voice came from behind me:

"Sooo, what'd yooou do?"

I kind of giggled...the question made me feel like a criminal and/or Ferris Bueller's sister.

This guy was sans leather jacket and more of a frat boy than a bad boy...but it was nice to have a little chat while waiting.

Nice to meet you too.

I opened the gate to my apartment tonight and heard something growling. When I looked up there was a Chihuahua of sorts standing at the far end of the courtyard staring at me.

We had a bit of a stand off and then he bolted straight at me. I'm not gonna lie, I had a teeny moment of fear.

But he ran up to me, stopped about a foot away and literally dove on his back and slid into my foot head first...clearly looking for some love. So I scratched his belly for a good 2 minutes.

We're friends now.

The Real Stuff

Spent the day with a friend who laughs quite frequently actually. But I haven't heard that sort of uncontrollable-genuine-can't breath kind of laugh from him in awhile.

It was like music to my ears. Not to mention contagious.

I DID cry

My mom sent me this email this morning and it made me cry.

Was standing in line at the kiosks to check my bags and there was a young girl -- prob 19 or 20 who was telling her boyfriend she had to have $15 to check her bag and she had no cash and no credit card. Had tried to call her mom and she didn't answer.

I gave her $20 bucks and told her if it was my daughter I'd want someone to help. She almost burst into tears and gave me a big hug. She was so sincere and asked how she could pay me back. I told her to do a good deed for someone in need. Boy did that make me feel good.....almost cried myself.

Loser goes first

Spent the evening teaching everyone at the bar how to play shuffle board. Pretty amazing to be there with your brother and your mom, schooling everyone!

70 cents please

Words uttered at the bar tonight after my brother and I ordered two cocktails.

And probably words I won't hear again (unless of course I'm at The Edison on a Thursday night again or in FL drinking 25 cent pitchers of beer).

Some days it's great to be the customer.

Went to buy a printer at Staples today and was a little overwhelmed with all the choices.

I decided to pull out my handy iPhone and do a little research on the spot.

Just as I found the right review website, a nice young man came over to ask if I needed any help. Which doesn't seem that spectacular really, but REAL people who REALLY know their products is hard to come by these days. Most times I know more than the little teenage boys at Best Buy.

So customer service saves the day again! He had great advice and he even insisted on carrying it to the checkout for me.

Please, you first...

Walking home today, I was approaching a crosswalk that has an immediate response when you hit the button. Basically, as soon as you hit it, lights start flashing and you're permitted to walk.

There was an older gentleman standing at the crosswalk reaching for the button and I noticed he hesitated. As soon as he realized I would be crossing too, he THEN leaned forward and pressed the button.

We sort of walked together across the street headed towards a coffee shop. He slowed his step just slightly and let me enter first (holding the door for me) and I got to order my coffee first. We never really made eye contact and his actions felt like second nature as opposed to overly showy.

Man, it's the small things. Totally made my morning.

Yes, thank you.

I haven't been to my Coffee Kiosk in awhile. It's a little drive-thru coffee place right outside my office. I've been frequenting the hot-Spanish-man clad coffee cafe by my house instead.

But this morning, I pulled up to the Kiosk and saw my favorite girl. She glanced over in between espresso-making and writing another order and sort of squinted her eyes at me...."16oz Iced Coffee, a little bit of soy?"

Damn straight.

Being validated at the coffee shop with someone remembering your order is almost like that cute boy in 8th grade smiling at you from across the hall. So short and sweet, but warms the heart all the same.

Sleeping in forever

Not because I had a late night. Not because I was overly tired. But because I could. And because I was dreaming and it was easy to keep diving back in.

As a follow up...

Superman changes in a phone booth. Duh. But my super hero dressing room is my car. Mostly because once I commit to driving to the eastside, I don't intend to drive back home for anything. (I suppose if I was a REAL superhero, I'd just fly.)

So on Sunset Blvd tonight, I was changing in my car and caught the attention of two dudes at an outdoor cafe. I have the art of changing down to a T and most times nothing is revealed. But it was fun to watch the two guys secretly keep peering out of the corner of their eye just in case I messed up.

Wonder Woman

For some reason, my local grocery store has been out of my favorite Vitamin Water. So tonight, I grabbed a new flavor.

Since I usually have the same kind each time, I haven't read the side label in awhile...I'm a sucker for witty packaging.

And this one made me laugh out loud. I actually went to the website to research it, so I could quote it exactly, but can't seem to find it. It was all about being a super hero and at the end mentioned to "not forget some of the advantages of super hero-dom...namely, underoos."

National High Five Day

I was in a pose tonight in yoga with my hands over my head, palms out and my yoga teacher came over and gave me a high five.

I love people who give high fives.

And, we have missed it this year, but be prepared for next year:
http://www.nationalhighfiveday.com/

Perfect Strangers

Went to a little cafe for lunch today and sort of eavesdropped on the people next to me. They were actually sitting at two seperate tables and had clearly just started up a conversation.

One of them was an art professor at Santa Monica College and eats breakfast at the same table every day. The other seemed to be a personal trainer of sorts and was actually just passing time while waiting for his laundry next door. Both men seemed to be 60+.

The conversation started with giving each other tips on working out and slowly morphed into talking about their kids, their lives and even Vietnam. At some point, the professor got up to join the trainer at his table and they continued to chat and trade information. The professor was showing old pictures of himself and sharing stories.

It was very sweet. I love random encounters like that.

Who needs gloves?

Tonight, I decided to spruce up my teeny guerrilla garden in Santa Monica and add some mulch for aesthetics.

I was literally out there with a mini-skirt and a shovel, but I knew if I went home to change, I probably wouldn't make it back.

I had TWO people (in the 5 minutes I was out there) stop in their cars and tell me they were so excited to be witness to some "illegal gardening." I corrected them and said, "We like to call it Guerrilla Gardening."

Both of them shook their head and said something like, "Yea, I've heard of this...its just so cool that I actually got to see it in action."

So cool. So cool.

Challenging position.

So wonderful to be back at yoga after missing a few in a row. However, tonight I encountered a minor challenge.

We were asked to stand in a sort of crouched position similar to a quarterback as he's waiting for the snap. Our hands were on our knees and the teacher asked us to make our stomachs visible so we could see what we were doing. He encouraged us that no one was looking and to not be scared to bare skin.

For some reason I ignored this request and continued trying to make my belly dance with my shirt still covering my stomach.

As my teacher passed by he said, "Some of you still cannot see your belly...just move your shirt!"

Sensing he was yelling at me, I slid my shirt up and moved my chin toward my chest. Only...it was literally impossible for me to see my tummy.

Clearly he's never had to squeeze his boobs into a sports bra and lean over.

In bed before 9pm

How often does that happen?
Heaven.

Big Al

Needed: Festival Food Vendors
Hired : Big Al's BBQ

Every time Al and I spoke on the phone, he'd skip consonants and make up new, sort of southern words. But he always promised his BBQ would be amazing.

I can't personally attest to the amazingness because I didn't have a moment to taste his BBQ. However, the text message I received tonight (long after the event was over) is a testament to how entertaining this vendor was throughout the entire process:

(verbatim)
Hi dis is al with big Al's I was calling 2 make sure u are happy with da food.

From what I could tell, all the guests were very happy with his food. And he also gave ALL of our staff and volunteers FREE lunch.

Thanks Big Al, you rock.

Brick Red

I've been loading in a huge event with lots of details and manual labor and smiling pretty for the client.

And towards the end of the day, I did a last check on some of the Kid's Activities booths. One of which was called the Mural of Dreams. Basically a huge canvas for kids to draw and share their dreams.

I decided the canvas could use an example and took 15 minutes out of my day to color.

Coloring is therapeutic. I realize artists are hip to this. But I forget sometimes.

I got a second wind and was ready for any challenge headed my way.

Semi-permanent

Dear Future Husband,

I know it's weird that I'm writing you letters instead of just chatting over a glass of wine, but it's just easier this way. And, come on....letters?! They're timeless and almost a thing of the past. I'm trying to hold on to that. But you know this....you know me.

Remember that roommate thing? Well, here's another reason roommates are kind of awesome.

As per usual, I got sick right before my big event and there's no option to call in sick. Early mornings, long days, tired feet...suck it up.

And tonight, my roommate walked in the door and said, "I bought us presents. This is going to make you all better."

So we sipped on boiled Coke and Ginger Root. And, sweetheart, I feel better...I do. So I think she could live with us off and on. Ya know, when I need fashion advice and when we get sick.

Deal?

Kisses and kisses,
Rebecca

Go ahead, make my day.

Sort of the same as "sunshine of the day"...I LOVE when people say, "You just made my day." Its rewarding to know that whatever small effort you just made actually changed someone else's day.

It may be an overused phrase, but I try to use it sparingly. Today, one of my vendors made a teeny exception to his company's policy to make my life a little easier. And I got to genuinely, wholeheartedly say, "Wow, thank you. You just made my day."

Cause he did.

Conveyor Conversation

In line at the grocery tonight, the woman behind me starting eying my items on the conveyor belt. I had tortilla chips, cottage cheese and a piece of chocolate.

She looked me up and down and said, "Oh my goodness, are you dipping those chips in the cottage cheese?"

I responded politely, "No. But have you ever tried dipping wheat thins? Yum."

She suddenly got more excited than you would expect over cottage cheese and explained that when she was young she and her friends always dipped Fritos in cottage cheese. And that she thought she had figured out a secret about mixing something salty and greasy with something "good for you". She was thrilled to see that she wasn't the only one.

Break Fast

Breakfast during the week usually consists of me scarfing down a piece of toast or a banana in my car. But today, I took the time to actually sit down and enjoy my breakfast over coffee and conversation.

Its a much better way to start your day.

In the Pines, In the Pines

I can only compare Los Angeles to other cities I've actually spent enough time in to make a judgment, but I feel like I can safely say that LA is full of every type of people and every type of activity. And if you look hard enough, or even if you're just open for whatever comes your way, you'd be amazed at what's out there.

Today was the perfect example. Went to The Natural Stage Project which is a monthly outdoor concert of sorts. They change their location every time (beach, parks, mountains, etc.) and today was in Topanga Canyon. It's a group of friends more than an organized concert and possibly an event you'd classify as "so LA" -- but I prefer "only in LA."

I've got my own, thanks.

I've had a koozie in my bag for awhile now and always forget to use it. The Fourth of July BBQ brought it out this weekend. There's nothing that says you're from the south like having your own koozie.

Errands on your day off are SO much easier.

I washed my car today at the do-it-yourself place and managed to only spend $4.00. I always get so stressed out when the machine starts beeping at you as you're running out of time. Do I rush around the car in a frenzy to finish rinsing or do I put the extra dollar in?!

I've got it down to a science now. But today was a record. Hell ya, 4 bucks.

Rinse and spit.

I was a little nervous to go to the dentist today. Has been awhile since I've had a check up and was waiting for the lecture on the importance of flossing.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised when the hygienist came in to take x-rays. She put those weird white cards in my mouth and asked to me bite down. She stopped for a moment and said, "Wow, nice teeth."

I mean...who else do you want to hear that comment from? Sweet.

Not just Science Fiction

Our local bar always has something interesting on tap and tonight I sipped on Dandelion Ale and thought of Ray Bradbury and one of my favorite books, Dandelion Wine.

(And in searching for a link, discovered you can read the entire book online. Wow.)