Interpret that.

I love when dreams feel like real life.  I woke up this morning and it was as if I'd visited an old friend.  For real.

Granted he was wearing this crazy army uniform and there was a human-size rabbit and a compass and I was perpetually lost in an airport.  Buuut, it still felt like I'd given him a real hug.

It also reminded me of a dream I had in 6th grade. My boyfriend had dumped me and it seemed so real that I avoided him for three days because I wasn't sure if it was true or not.  It's crazy what you remember.

The Ha Game

Have you played this game?

The Ha Game

Teams competing lay down side by side on the floor. The first person lays their head back of next person's stomach and that person lays back their on the stomach of the next to him and so on. The first person in line is to laugh one HA. The next person in line is to laugh HA HA (two times). The third person is HA HA HA. And so on. Any person that breaks out into a giggle is out of the game and must get up and the hole is filled in. The last one to giggle, wins.

Been doing some research for Field Day and came across it on some website.  Last time I played it was about 2 years ago with some friends and I'm pretty sure I haven't laughed that hard in ages.  In fact, I think I remember my stomach being sore the next day.

Best game.

Check out those moves

I get up.

I walk.

I fall down.

Meanwhile I keep dancing.

That's been a favorite of mine for quite sometime and tonight I saw that quote in real life.

Spent the evening running around and playing games with kids at Camp Harmony.  It's an amazing week-long camp for homeless kids ranging from 7-10 years old with high school students as their counselors.

Those kids KILLED it on the dance floor.  KILLED. IT.  I watched as they challenged each other in battles, jumped around in circles, did back flips and schooled every single one of the volunteers with their sweet moves.

And they were happy.

I can't even BEGIN to imagine what their lives are like outside of this week-long camp.  But after tonight,  that quote makes even more sense to me and is the reason I live by it.  Dancing is a therapy that is truly priceless.  And those kids get it.  They just get it.

(This also reminds me of a great film, Rize, about people using dance as an alternative to gangs and a way to express emotion.  Here's the trailer.)

Repeat Offense.

I feel like I've mentioned this before, but perhaps it's worth talking about again.

I'm a little sad for kids who have to toy shop at the grocery store now.  I feel like one of the best parts of grocery shopping with my mom was being allowed to hang out in the Toy Isle for a bit.

Remember?  Bouncing the bouncy balls as high as you could to try and make it over to the next isle?  Sussing out the best possible toy option that mom MIGHT buy?

Well, it's tough nowadays.  The toys are all spread out.  Sort of sporadically hanging in various places down EVERY, SINGLE isle.

I was on a mission today for a specific toy and I literally had to walk down every isle to find it.

About halfway through my mission, I started to get a little annoyed.  But then I realized if I was a kid (and who am I kidding really) this would be even MORE fun.  So I embraced it.  And pretended like I was Nancy Drew.

la Pew, Pepe

(First of all, that's how you spell it, people.   Wikipedia says so.)

Spent the evening at the Hollywood Bowl...which is always a winner.  Especially when you have a great crew.  But tonight was extra special.  

Because it was a Gershwin tribute?  

Meh, yes.  

But also because we decided to wait out the crowd a bit and picnic longer than normal.  Our trusty Hollywood Bowl Park Ranger stopped to warn us of not just skunks in general, but 15 skunks specifically.  That would ravage our picnic site.

"Yes, sir.  Thank you, we'll watch out."  Ha. Ha. Ha.

But he was right.  They moved in quickly and didn't seem to be shy.

All of this to say...I love the irony of skunks.  Ya know, the ultimate in B.O. and the anticipation of what could happen.  But, guys...come on...cutest animal ever.  You just want to squeeze them.

Right?

Sooooo, I think that says:
Here's a high five, Jesus.

Rules to Live By

There are things you just do.  Things that when you don't, people look at you funny.

1.  Respect your elders
2.  Replace the toilet paper roll when it's empty

3.  Give up your seat on the bus

4.  Buy lemonade from kid lemonade stands

I've had the opportunity to apply rule number four twice this week.  And it has, by far, been some of the best minutes of my week.

Get thirsty.
Have change on you at all times.
It's the summer.

Southern Accents

I. Am. A. Sucker. For. Them.

Man, oh man.

I don't even know what I'm gonna be yet. Crap.

Usually, seeing holiday candy and decor in the grocery store WAAAY before it's time makes me angry.  Ya know, when it's September and there's already Santa Claus items at Michaels?  But today I saw Candy Corn and orange and black themed [whatever] at Ralph's....and I love it.

Halloween is my favorite holiday.  Hands down.

On hot days like we're having...

...one of my favorite things to do as I'm sweating in my car sans AC, is to watch the car thermometer as I drive over the Sepulveda Pass.

As I leave the Valley at 91 degrees and make it to the very tippy top of the hill, it always goes down 2 degrees.  And then by the Sunset Blvd, 4 more.  I check it every few seconds to watch it quickly decrease until I turn west on the 10 Freeway towards home.

Where it's always 73 degrees.

Yay, home.

Strangers.

I took the train to work today after a super early flight from Vegas and ended up having to wait forever for a northbound train.  Apparently there isn't a huge demand for getting to Newhall at 8am.  I was exhausted and didn't want anyone to bother me.  I propped myself up on the bench and passed out.

I woke up about 10 minutes before the arrival time and the guy next to me said, "Waiting for a train is boring, huh?"  I just smiled and nodded my head.  I felt bad for being relatively anti-social, but I was exhausted.

As the train pulled up, I asked him if he was able to buy a ticket, because when I tried the machine was broken.  He said he already had a ticket and that it allowed him to have one guest.

"If those mean train conductors stop you, you just tell them you're with me."

So nice.  So nice.  And all for a girl who could barely even acknowledge he was there.

Humans are cool.

Tonight, we had a team dinner after our water polo tournament in Vegas.  And after a frustrating weekend, two of my favorite ladies and I had some serious comic relief at our end of the table.

The jokes weren't that funny, but there were tears and cheeks hurting and moments where we couldn't breathe.  It was amazing.

I love that humans are capable and almost programmed for just letting it all go and quite simply, laughing their asses off.  There seems to be a breaking point just after reaching the highest level of anger where you dive directly into delirium.  It makes fighting through the frustration so worth it.

Where everybody knows your name

There are some things to strive for in life.  Like having your local bartender know your name.  Don't call me an alcoholic; it's a fun status to claim.  And it gets you free drinks sometimes.

Tonight, our favorite bartender at The Daily Pint was confronted by a lame-o young man who seemed to think our favorite lady "was the worst, rudest bartender he had ever met."

I call bull shit.

And don't send your wife in to stand up for you either.  That makes you even more lame, mister.

We got to sit at the bar and commiserate with her about how rude people are.  And when I say commiserate, that includes yummy, free shots of tequila.

[If you've been to The Pint and know who I'm talking about...vote for her as best bartender in LA....um, cause she is]

Summer, Summer, Summer Time

In Santa Monica, there is a definite hint as to what time of the year it is.

I was in the grocery store today and the three kids in front of me had multi-colored paper bracelets all the way to their elbows.  They represent entry into the Santa Monica Swim Center right down the street.  Kids collect them and they're sort of bragging rights as to how many times you got to swim this summer.

Makes me smile every time.  And also makes me wish I was collecting those bracelets instead of the very similar "I'm over 21 and went to a bar last night" bracelets.

Lessons From Kids

Man,  it makes my day when someone reaches out to tell me their own sunshine!

This is from a friend on the Westside...

--------------------

We were at Miguel's dad's house for a little party.  Miguel's 9 year-old sister was quite the little hostess -- so polite, not too talkative, not too shy.  After dinner she was trying her best to listen to us talk, but I guess she needed some help, so she went to get her little stuffed hamster.  He has his hands sewn together, and she told us it was because he is praying.  

I asked her what he was praying for.  She thought for a few seconds and as we waited for what we thought would be, "I don't know..."she said, "To be real."

We all said that was the most perfect answer. 
And it made my day. 
--------------------

Seeee. Aprons are totally IN.

Yummm....foot flavored.

We have "Every Flavor Beans" at our office right now and they've been a fun activity.  There is indeed a jelly bean that we all agree tastes like feet and fart combined.  No one could keep it in their mouth long enough to swallow it.

Today, at the witching hour in the afternoon, my boss screams from his office, "Alright, everyone get ready, it's jelly bean time!"

He walked around to each of our desks and made us blindly select a jelly bean.  Then he'd watch with anticipation as we made our first few chews.  Each time, someone got cherry or bubble gum and my boss would sort of slouch and sigh. 

Alas, it was my turn.

And as always, made the boss proud.  Foot flavored for me!

Barefoot and...dirty.

In my recent dinner trend of cheese & crackers, hummus, some random veggie and a bottle of wine...I seem to have forgotten how much I like to cook and to entertain.  Tonight, as I was getting ready for my guests of honor, I realized I had flour all over my shorts.

Aha!  Apron.  Duh.

I grabbed one my mom recently made out of old fabric from my grandmother's trunk and the pocket from one of her old aprons.

Dancing around the kitchen with glee proceeded.

I mean, come on...this is great.

(She seems a little shocked, but I love the build up...)

Best Idea Ever

I paid a little extra to have my car washed while it was parked in an airport parking lot.

Oh. My. Goodness.
So so so worth it.