I'm Going to Make a Man Out of You

Baking Humble Pie

Tonight I achieved the best parallel parking job of my life with no outside help. For someone that is terrible at parallel parking I was glowing with pride and accomplishment. I followed my grand achievement up by cooking dinner in my oven setting the timer for 25min. only to come back and see that I forgot to actually put the food in the oven. Man, life just builds you up to knock you back down again.

Whale of a Tail

When entering and leaving my gym you have to walk on this second floor walk way that over looks the pool. I always like looking down at the people swimming. I love the way they look suspended underwater. No matter what the persons size or age everyone looks beautiful and graceful underwater. Last night while leaving the gym I saw a group of teenage boys gathered around the glass on the second floor looking down at the pool. I heard them sneaker a little and point. I assumed it was a hot girl that had caught their eye. I wanted to see what they were looking at and what passes for hot these days in the eyes of teenage boys. I peered over the edge and was confronted with a giant white ass of an over weight boy who's swim trunks were around his ankles. Hmmm, I might have finally found one person that did not look beautiful and graceful underwater.

Take Care Now

I went home to visit my parents last weekend. I usually visit them 3 times a year. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and once in the summer. I wish my brother was there at the same time I was, it always makes the visit more fun when he is. My favorite moment this weekend was when I was telling my mom about the Miami show and trying to explain what I do (I still don't think she really understands my job). Anyways, I was talking about the how we have models for the show to show the line on. She was asking about the models and said "I don't suppose you can be over 30 and be a model." I told her that the show models could be over 30 and a good number of them were over 30. I said that most of them take very good care of themselves and looked great. I went on talking about something else for awhile and I could tell she was thinking and she stopped me and said in all honesty "When you say 'take care of themselves' you mean starve themselves right?" I was a little floored that this is what she would interpreter the meaning of 'take care of yourself' to be.

Here and Back Again

I am a tired little monkey. I have to say it was night to be so far away from home and away from the computer for a week. I kept so busy with new things that I didn't have a chance to dwell on all the stuff that has been emotionally bogging me down here at home. Needless to say it is nice to take a break from obsessing :) So lets talk about the trip! I am too tired to re-read this to correct my typos, sorry just go with it ;)

I got to LAX last Wednesday morning for my flight landing me in Miami at around 4:40. I went straight from the airport to the Botanical Gardens were I set up for our meeting in the morning. After that I hopped a ride with another employee who was renting a car to get a ride to dinner. She handed me her GPS and told me to get us there. Oh dear. Anyone who knows me well knows that I spend most my time lost, and that is in places that I know well. Well needless to say we got horribly and hopelessly lost. By the time we got to the Cuba restaurant I was starving having only eaten a bagel that day. Well just my luck, they had no vegetarian options and I had to get creative with my order.

The next morning we had our salesman meeting at the Botanical Garden all day. I was in back with the models helping them change into their outfits. Luckily we got out in enough time that I caught the last hour of sun up on the roof top pool. It was gorgeous and the only time I got to use that pool before it was invaded by the masses. After that we went to the Trina Turk fashion show in the evening followed by dinner in the W hotel. Ooooh, love love love the W hotel, so beautiful. I stayed at the Gansevoort which wasn't as nice but my room was 3 times the size of my apartment so I was a happy camper.

The next morning we showed the line again in the Botanical Garden to two of our bigger accounts, then at 5:30 we racked everything up and wheeled it across the street to the convention center where the main show was starting the next day. I got the models line reading in the dressing room and then left. We were having our company cocktail party at the 3rd floor pool which is outside and right next to the ocean. Around 8:30 I met M at the pool because she can't swim and I was going to give her lessons. Well, unfortunately the pool closed at 9 and they kicked us out. So M and N and myself went to to the beach for some wonderful night swimming. I don't think I will get over how strange a warm ocean is. Totally wonderful but very strange.

The next morning our show started and I was in the back room with the models all day helping dress the girls so the sales people have the visuals while showing their accounts. At 4 I left to do some shopping research and sample buying at the nice outdoor mall in Bal Harbour. We couldn't stay too long because we had a business dinner that evening. When I got back to the hotel in was filled with the most loud ghetto ass crowd you have ever seen which seemed strange compared to the usual crowd that is there. Well apparently the hotel was hosting some event to welcome Lebron James to the city and there was some sort of boot contest at the upstairs pool as well. The crowd was super loud, drunk, and annoying. Girls were getting into fights, the guys would try and corner you in the elevator, and the whole 3rd floor was just ripe with the smell of weed. We met our guest in the very loud lobby and then went to Casa Tua which is possibly the nicest restaurant I have even been to, haha it was too extremes there. The wine was incredible and the portions were so small that I got to eat a starter, meal, and dessert. My dessert was the most wonderful crème brulee with white peaches, mmmm drool After the meal I decided that it was one of my only times I could go out and take some photos of the night life. I walked by myself about a mile or two and then it started raining. I know that Miami rain usually only last a few minutes so I tried to wait it out under an over hanging. I waited and waited but it wasn't letting up. I finally tried to get a taxi but on a surprising rainy Saturday night it was not going to happen. I finally wrapped my stuff in a plastic bag and walked back to the hotel. It was warm out and actually very nice. I didn't mind getting wet I was just worried about my camera. I never really got photos of the night life.

The next day, Sunday, we worked the show all day and into the evening and grabbed a quite bite to eat at a little hole in the wall next to the hotel. I took a beautiful walk on the ocean boardwalk in the evening.

On Monday we worked the show all day and then went out to out traditional design dinner at the Standard. I just love it there! You eat facing the bay and it is just endlessly relaxing. Plus I love hanging out with only the design team. We don't talk numbers or business. Well since it was my last night I had my share of cocktails. I mean I drank cocktails even night while there but the last night I let a bit lose. I went swimming in the hotel pool till they kicked me out so I moved my skinny dipping to the ocean. So much fun!

Tuesday we had a few meetings in the morning, then I had to checkout and catch my plane back. Wish I could have gotten more then an hour of sun but all in all it was a good trip.

I'm back! More later, photos now! :)

South Beach

I'll be off-line for a week. If you need me you can come find me somewhere here :)

Ready sunSet Go

The sun sets on Hollywood tonight. I am totally looking forward to taking my new camera to Miami. Though I will have to read up on night photography since I'm not sure if I will be getting out at all during the day.

Anchors Away

This weekend has pretty much been dedicated to trying to get everything ready before I leave on Wednesday. I worked late on Friday night and by the time I got home I barely had enough energy to take off my work clothes before I just passed out. I missed out on all the Friday night fun. Then I woke up and went in to work on Saturday boo. After that I headed over to Lindsey and David's to hangout BBQ style. I felt like I was pretty low energy and ended up leaving early. I caught up on some Netflix in the evening and crashed early again. Then today I have been desperately trying to clean up my apartment so I don't come home to such a mess. I'm on my 8th load of laundry and I might just call it quits and read for the rest of the evening. Not sure why I'm posting this. Has to be one of the most boring blog posts ever. I just told myself I would blog more. I'm looking forward to my trip. The 2 weeks before market, the week of market, and the week after are always me at my worst I feel. I'm actually thankful I'm not in a relationship right now. This time of year has been a tremendous stress on my relationships in the past. At least if I'm going to act like a sinking ship I don't have any passengers aboard.

Too Tired to Think of Something Clever to Title This

Work is just kicking my ass. I'm making a desperate attempt to get everything ready for our big Miami market next week. I'm so tired and I haven't been able to work out and I feel crappy and fatty. Towards the end of a very stressful day today someone sprayed spray adhesive in the room next to me and I had to work smelling that for the last few hours and got the biggest headache. My one happy thought was that I was getting the last half of the 2nd season of True Blood in the mail today. It is such trashy trashy fun. I just wanted to turn off my brain and take in the entertainment. I get home and my mailbox is empty. Oh the sadness! I thought about reading but my head isn't even thinking straight at all. I think I will see what hulu has to offer. I desperately need to unwind here. I always hate this time of year. Market always puts a damper on my summer.

Weekend Warrior

When ever I leave the city behind I have the overwhelming feeling of change in my heart. Like it is going to save me and change me. I'm not sure I need saving or changing but I'm in love with the idea of both. How a person would dream of a trip to Las Vegas with friends for the weekend could save them I can't really explain. I guess that is just the person I am. It was a good trip and perhaps it did save me from my everyday life.

After work on Friday I drove over to Rick's and him, Gen, and Amanda P set off for the desert at about 7:45. We stopped for food along the way and by the time I checked my phone while entering the hotel room it was 2am. We caught a taxi to old downtown Vegas. I had never seen that part of Vegas before and enjoyed experiencing a different part of the city. It was older and a little less flashy. We met up with Jen, Alex, Byron, and Mwazhuwa. Jen's co-worker Jason was there whom we discovered we're both 2005 Otis grads (he's from graphic design for you fellow Otis graphic design majors that read this). We all just walked around and drank and did some gambling. On our taxi ride back to the hotel I noticed the sky was getting lighter and it was going to be dawn very soon. I can't remember the last time I have seen the sky at 5am. It was a treat I usually miss out on.

The next morning I got up and got on my swim suit and got my book and headed downstairs for the pool. While downstairs I spotted Dan in the lobby and we headed off to the pool. At that point there were no available chairs by the pool but Dan just happens to be a master at the art spotting people leaving and scooping up a spot. Thanks to him within an hour or two I was in a more shaded section with mist. Amanda S came to join us and eventually the rest of my carpool buddies were there as well.

I left the pool around 4pm. I needed some alone time to decompress before what I knew was going to be a very social and exciting evening. At around 7 we finally met up with the rest of our group in the birthday girls room (oh, I forgot to mention this whole trip was planned in celebration of the lovely Jessica's 30th birthday). We all had dinner at a tapas place that was yummy.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel to change and get ready for the evening. We had an excellent time pre-party in Brian and Jessica's room. I will try to post photos later after people hopefully post some on-line. I managed to only take 3 photos with my camera the whole trip, ooops. Well into a state of good cheer we headed off into the night. I think the best way to fully describe the evening can be summed up with a conversation I had with Rick, Gen, and Amanda P at breakfast the next morning. Rick looked like he was thinking hard and then asked "Wait, what did we do last night?" there was silence for awhile because we were all trying to remember. We all agreed that we walked around on the strip and there was gambling and drinking. But the details remain a bit of a mystery. However I have very lovely fragmented memories of a totally fun time. I think we got to the hotel room at around 4:30 am

The next day after checkout we headed for a late brunch which I guess could be called lunch haha I think we finally left Vegas at around 3?? On the car ride back I got a call from Zach that Jessica's car was having some problems and they had pulled over. Unfortunately we were already pass the exit they pulled off on. We were heading to the next exit to turn around and stopped at what looks like it was an old gas station but was now just a market. So we could bring them water and also I really needed a restroom break after the 3 or 4 cups of recovery coffee I had that morning. The market was an old white wooden building with the word "MARKET" painted in big red capital letters on top. There was an old sewing machine out front and some old saddles on display. We were greeted out front by a man that I thought was part of some sort of old prospector costume with overalls and a rat nest of white hair. He was so excited to open the door and welcome us. The store was playing some classic rock and I stood in line with what appeared to be other girls on their way to or out of Vegas. There was this short man that looked like he had spent many years in the desert doing drugs and living out his life as one long party. He had scraggly shoulder length brown hair and resembled a hedgehog. He was managing the line that had formed for the restroom and seemed to be so pleased that he had the attention of so many ladies. I ended up using the men's room because the other ladies in front of me didn't want to. After I went in the man turned to Gen and asked if I was her friend then said "She's cute." Gen smiled and agreed with him and he responded with "Man, why do girls always do that?" Which we are not exactly sure what that meant but he moved on to other topics before remembering his manners and told her she was also cute. At the counter there was a tall skinny sun and drug burn out of a man that quizzed Rick about what the name of the artist was that performs the song that was playing. Actually he had trouble getting out the question and said something like "What what what's the name of this? You know. Like, who does this? Who is this" Rick guessed a bunch of classic rock artist but wasn't getting it right so the man said he would give him a hint. The hint was that is was Homer Simpson's favorite band. He still didn't know so he gave him another hint that it starts with Grand. Rick then guessed Grand Funk Railroad. The guy was happy and said yes and gave Rick a tootie roll and said "That's for knowing good music...it's vanilla." I got to the counter and looked to my right to see another burn out man who winked at me and mouthed something. I smiled and turned away. Apparently he did the same thing to Gen and he was mouthing the word "howdy." I have never seen a group of people who seemed to enjoy their work as much as those men in that shop. I totally want to stop there every time I am coming home from Vegas.

After the shop we got back to Jessica's car and found them talking with a tow truck driver. The car had cooled down and the driver was giving them the okay to head back on the road. We followed behind them and soon Jen's car was also caravaning with us. We ended up all getting back to LA okay. As we got into town all the 4th of July fireworks were going off. It was like LA was welcoming us back. I took what felt like the best shower of my life and fell into a deep and wonderful 12 hour sleep.

Fun and Head Games

Every morning I keep my mind sharp by playing a memory game called "Where did I park my car last night?" I don't have a parking spot at my apartment and the car could be anywhere in a 2 block radius. So while I am still groggy from sleep I picture what I was wearing and what I was thinking about the night before and I picture myself walking to my apartment. As soon as I get the image in my head I know exactly where I parked. For example this morning I had no idea where I found parking last nigh and I remembered going around the block at least once. Then I remembered that I was carrying my new vintage camera bag I just got for my camera. I also remembered that I was rehashing and dissecting a conversation I had on Sunday night. The more I thought about it the more upset I was getting about it. So with this picture in my head I remembered I parked on the street behind me next to the house with Christmas lights. I wonder if my mind will just stop functioning once I move into a place with a parking spot.