Case of the Mondays

Nothing overly sunny happened today, but I was reminded of a story that I completely forgot about. Thought I'd share.

I went downtown with two friends (of the male variety) and one of them wore a FREE HUGS T-shirt. We here a huge hit at the bar...all the ladies loved him. And he even got hugs from big manly men. We had a few people turn him down, but they'd usually agree to a high five instead.

After the bar, we ran into a homeless man and my friend quickly opened his arms and offered him a hug. The man was not interested and even started to get a little angry with us. I could tell he wasn't dangerous, just seemed a little confused and nervous...so I offered up a hug from me first so he could test the waters...make sure we were OK.

He was still hesitant, but finally agreed. I gave him a good squeeze and he wouldn't let go. He then proceeded to give both of my other friends hugs and explained that he'd been on the street too long and you never know who to trust. We chatted a bit, he thanked us and we were on our way.

I really wasn't sure who made whose night.

Unexpected.

I was on the bike path in Santa Monica today and stopped for a sip of water and a rest. A cute boy in a yellow bathing suit caught my eye as he stopped in the middle of the path and started making a slow down motion with his hands at bikers coming through.

He just stopped in the path and kept doing it. Sadly enough, I was so focused on his broad chest and perfectly placed tattoos, that I didn't see the whole picture. I couldn't understand why he would arbitrarily slow people down.

Then I noticed the two ladies next to him. It was a woman about 60 years old helping another woman about 80 years old cross to the beach. She was moving slow, but she was making it.

His action was so subtle and seemed so natural. After he was sure the women had cleared the path, he went on his way and they didn't even make eye contact.

Cute, local, tall, surprisingly considerate....too bad I didn't say hello.

Aha!

Spent the day in the park today hosting a Field Day for 826LA.

My favorite part about Field Day, Game Night or anything encouraging people to have a little fun is the moment you see the shift in demeanor. People start out a little nervous, apprehensive and sort of "I can't be bothered to run around and look silly".

But there's this aha moment when people suddenly give in and the smile that follows is soooo great.

Rated R

I was driving home in the 100 degree heat tonight and decided my hands were a little dry, so I reached in my glove compartment for some lotion.

I popped open the lid and before I could squeeze, it sort of bursted out at me and then kept a slow steady stream for like 10 seconds. My mind went directly to the gutter and I sat at the stoplight and laughed until my cheeks hurt.

Thibaudet

There is never a better place to laugh than a place you're not supposed to. Those are the times the tears start to run, the snorts escape and you suddenly can't breathe.

As was tonight.

Hollywood Bowl. Classical music. Average crowd age: 64.
Four friends, wine and giggles.

We were THOSE people in the row in front of you that you hate. But someone has to be those people. And we DID appreciate the music, we did. We just had the giggles.

Sorry.

Normally I hate the BH

I was trying to park my car last night and the guy parked in front of me (who had already walked away from his car) started heading back towards me and said, "Do you want me to move up a little so you can fit?"

People, that doesn't happen in LA.

In fact, my roommate had to take the bus to work one day because someone had parked so close to her that she couldn't get out. And my other roommate was scolded by a fellow parallel parker.

So, yay Beverly Hills man in your sexy Landrover. Thanks!

Cheers

Man, I love when my barista knows my order when I walk in.

Makes me feel real special.

All the day you'll have good luck.

Driving home tonight, I reached up to run my fingers through my hair and something literally fell from the sky, bounced off my steering wheel and fell through my legs to the floor.

I immediately checked my back seat because it felt like someone had thrown something at me.

Negative.

So I started feeling around on the floor and low and behold, a penny. I wish there had been a video camera because my eyes got all big, I looked at the penny, I looked up...looked at the penny, looked up. Looked around to see if anyone had witnessed it. Looked up.

Then I realized it didn't matter.
It was heads up.
I win.

Cumulus

Along with thunder, lightning and cheap beer...I miss fluffy clouds from Florida. I spent my drive home from Vegas creating stories in the sky with turtles and poofy chairs and unicorns.

Who knew?

Sometimes inspiration comes from weird places. But mostly places you'd never, EVER expect.

And it rocks your world when it's at 3am in Vegas from a couple who you feel you can only aspire to be someday.

Vegas has beautiful surprises sometimes. Including: jumping up and down like 12-year-olds on the dance floor, embelishing in alone time and finding a married couple who...in my mind...just gets it.

...stays in Barstow

I drove a fur piece today (uh huh, I said that) but it was so worth it when I got to show up at the bar and say " Galaaaaatte" to my favorite Mike in the whole world on his wedding eve.

(that's his last name - Galatte)

Say it with me....Gu-laAAAAaawwt-y. Oh, it's so pretty.

I wish you could see his kicks...

I went to a Zydeco show tonight and about halfway through this little kid just jumped on the stage, guitar in hand, and started jamming. The band didn't even blink...they just kept playing. It was like he was a planned special guest.

Please check out his pajama pants.

Haiku

A beer at sunset
Weekday summer laughter with
crazies walking by

Normally...I hate honkers.

I was riding my bike on Santa Monica Blvd tonight and had a car actually do me a favor...instead of practically run me off the road.

In West LA, SM Blvd has those little side roads that join the main road. There's a yield sign at each of them, but most people just come right out and try to get on the main thoroughfare.

I was riding dead even with a Mercedes SUV on the main road and this car came flying down one of those side roads ready to merge. Mr. Mercedes honked (aggressively I might add) at this guy and pointed at me and then shook his head at the speeding guy.

Thanks for looking out! Most definitely an uncommon gesture.

A gesture.

Went to run an errand today and thought I'd actually run there to get a twofer: exercise and errand in one. I literally ran right up to the door of REI and a guy standing inside pushed the automatic door button for me just as I reached to grab the handle.

When the doors opened he said, "Thought you might be out of strength...so just a little help."

Take advantage while you can.

I stayed in bed long enough today to almost not even see the sunshine. Some would say a waste of the day, but I figure I'm just storing up for all those moments sitting at your desk when you fantasize about being under your covers.

Dirty Dirty Dirty

Today I started my morning with changing the brake pads on my car (with the helpful instruction of a good friend) and ended the afternoon making homemade zucchini bread.

Looking down at my hands covered in flour, I laughed because just a few hours earlier, they were completely covered in black car goodness. And I couldn't help but think of the two people who taught me to get my hands my dirty...my friend Jesse Biltz and my mom.

The View

Tonight we opted to forgo the Hollywood house party and look down on Hollywood instead. A group of us climbed on to the roof at Hollywood and Vine and watched all the sassy Hollywood girls try to avoid the white-pants wearing Hollywood boys.

It's so interesting watching people from a distance when they have no idea you're looking. I feel like it should be similar to watching TV, but its just SOO much better.

On the lookout

Sunshine was hard to find today.
It just was.

Because nothing else was on?

I watched America's Funniest Home Videos tonight...a show I haven't watched since I was a kid. The new host is just as bad, if not worse, than Mr. Saget, but man...the videos are still hilarious.

It reminded me of watching it with my family and it being one of the only shows EVERYONE got a kick out of.

Geez, people running into fences and animals falling off of couches is never going to get old. Thanks, American TV, for a much needed laugh tonight.

Fancy Pants

I had fancy coffee today with Green Tea Pumpkin Seeds as a snack. When I say fancy, I mostly mean expensive.

But the atmosphere with its waterfalls and light soothing music and the EXCEPTIONAL service were well worth it at Funnel Mill in Santa Monica.

Two for the price of one

I came home to TWO Netflix movies waiting for me. I'm only supposed to have one at a time.

Score!

Getting Lost

I was born to get lost. So much so, that if I come to a fork and think I should turn left, I'll turn right knowing I'm probably wrong.

Looks like a couple of my friends got the same gene...we drove about an hour and a half out of way tonight, but it was well worth it.

First of all, we saw part of the Sequoia National Forest we may have never seen AND in an effort to wake up a little and take a quick break, we stopped in the middle to stargaze.

About 5 minutes after we got out of the car, we saw the biggest, longest shooting star I think I've ever seen. Truly breathtaking.

Aspire.

The lake was a little chilly, but as soon as I touch a body of water, I tend to revert to 7-years-old and somehow the cold doesn't matter...I could stay in for days.

This happens to be the one moment when all the kids had fallen off and me and Super In Shape Old Guy were the only ones left on the log.

40 years from now, I will take this picture again. And I'll be the Super In Shape Old Lady.

Just wait.

Tailwinds, Whirlwinds & Headwinds

My vacation has been a whirlwind of changes, layovers gone wrong and missing clothes. But all it takes to get rid of the madness is a few friends, some big ass trees and a kid we met at the lake.

Hume Lake is in the Sequoia National Forest and while still public, is the grounds of a Christian Youth Camp. My friend and I were getting situated in our kayak and almost ready to push off, when the spitting image of Ralphie from A Christmas Story paddled in to the shore.

He looked straight at us, huffing and puffing and said:
"Man, there's a nasty headwind out there. I've been trying to get in for an hour and half; I was stuck out there! And now I'm late for a baptism....I'm in so much trouble."

Which way is his house?

Drivers who wave.

I'm pretty sure I filled out an online dating profile and listed "drivers who wave" in the "Things I Like" category. Which, at the time, meant drivers who wave to say thank you....ya know...when you let them pull in front of you or slow down so they can get in.

But I somehow forgot the even better version of drivers who wave.

In TN, and in most of any "country", drivers wave simply to say hello. There's no agenda behind it, it's simply a friendly gesture.

The River

A glass of wine, a screened-in porch, pouring rain and my journal.

Not much more a girl could ask for.
(ooo, maybe a slice of cheesecake)

Its not important what we said...

(turn down your volume slightly)

Take me to another place from Roly Poly on Vimeo.

What Sundays should be...

Perfect timing

Had to kill a few hours in Nashville waiting for my brother, so thought we'd check out the Honky Tonk strip on Broadway.

After my mom enjoyed her bar special (fried balogna sandwich, PBR and a Moonpie - $5) we headed to stop number two and ran into a guy I used to swim with in high school!

He's actually a Navy Seal and just happened to be in town for the weekend.

So AMAZING to see him and such a surprise!