My Girl From The North

Next weekend my friend Dear Abby is coming to South Cali to visit cause I'm on the move.
Abby and I met our last year of college in a class that was less than exciting. From then on we've been friends to the end.




Summer came...I went to South America and so did she. We were both out to do some good in different countries. After I wrapped up my work in Peru and before she started her work in Bolivia we decided to meet up somewhere. The chase began....I took shady buses along dodgy (and life threatening) roads and chased her across the South Continent....from Peru to Bolivia....I just couldn't catch up....


I finally found Dear Abby in Argentina, Puerto Iguazu to be exact. It was a blissful and adventerous reunion. Together we...


admired the beautifull falls and wished we could jump over to Brazil...since we lacked the visa requirements we decided to treat ourselves to fancy Argentine steak dinners, scale cliffs, and zipline through the Argentine forest. We also thought, "Lets go to Uruguay!"


And so we went for some more R & R. There we made a failed attempt to camp and dodged a thunderstorm instead, but we handled it cause ain't no storm gonna rain on our parade...shoot.

We ended our 5 day adventure together as we were on different routes and different schedules.

Dear Abby's my girl....can't wait till next week!

Thanks to Five Things Today

1. The people I work with who inspire me to do good in this world.

2. The windy day that clears out the smog and cleans the L.A air.

3. A sound mind(at the moment).

4. The hot cup of tea I'm drinking and a quiet night.

5. The moments of clarity I've been having lately.

**and for the two beautiful nephews (pictured) I can't wait to see next month!

And the 30 Day Countdown Begins!

Its officially thirty days until I take off to Europe...I think I'm going to pass out with excitement. So glad I have family in Paris I've yet to meet. Places are always much more fun when you know locals, especially if its family. All I want to do is walk and walk and I particularly want to go to Versailles and who knows, maybe we'll head down to Provence for a day. All my mom wants to do is drink coffee and eat desserts...I think we're definately going to the right country for that. So, for the next thirty days I'll be planning what to take, and I think I'll be leaving the good ol' backpack behind this time around. As much as I love it, I'm ready for a chic roller suitcase, plus I don't think my backpack is going to cut stuffing a couple pairs of fall boots and a coat in there.

This next month will definately drag itself out since I feel like I've lost all sense of motivation. All I want to do stay home and daydream about the next couple years of my life. Its going to be an interesting ride....as usual.

Oh well, in the mean time I've rediscovered my enjoyment of drawing and am becoming obsessed with Greek yogurt with honey.Yum!

Not Keeping Still

People drain each other and I've come to realize that I easily pick up what other people are feeling, especially those I care about, and it wears me a little.

I've also realized that, once again, friendships don't always last...and that is just the way it is, and its okay. However, there's still a bit of a grieving process I go through each time it happens. Still, life happens and you move on.

I'm going to London and France and I'm ecstatic about that. I'm SO grateful to be going with my parents because they deserve a trip like this.

I'm moving to New York when I get back from Europe...I think I'll be there a couple of years. I know it's going to be a good move. I need to.

Moving on out....

...to the East Side??? Yup, its semi - official that as of mid November I will be living in New York. I've weighed out all the options and it just makes sense. I'll hopefully be going to graduate school there and I'll have a steady job that I know I'll love. To top it off, I will be living and working with people I'm comfortabe with. Sure, it might be a little cold, and I won't get to wear flip flops in the Winter time but there are always trade-offs with everything that you do and take on. I'm quite excited and I pray that I get into graduate school! So...New York here I come, and I'm certainly ready.

In the mean time, the summer heat has really picked up here in the Southern California. It's sleevless shirts and sandals these days because anything more would be ridiculous and unbearable. I'm not compaining though because all I have to do is sit in front of my fan and sip on some iced coffee - which is my current summer drink fave - to beat any heat exhaustion or listlessness. The summer events i.e bridal showers, baby showers, bachelorette partying, weddings, and trips have all passed. Now I'm just enjoying what's left, and there's still a bit to go thank goodness. A couple more trips north up to my favorite city and maybe a family trip in November and I'll be done with work here and off to New York before I even know it. : )

Post Travelling Blues

Last summer when I got back from my two month trip exploring South America I experienced post travelling blues...blues that I think turned into a bit of depression which I don't know if I ever really recovered from. Now, again, almost a week after my return from my mini trip to Costa Rica I find myself listless, restless, nostalgic, and just sad. There's just something about being on the move that completely satisfies my soul, and although that may sound a bit cheesy, its the truth and a fact. The people I meet and the experiences that occur really touch me.

For instance the cab driver and I discussing social issues and in the end he says, "Millones de personas millón de problemas" and he was the happiest guy in the world I think. Indeed he was.

And I love talking to other people who are on the move! It inspires me. I rafted for the first time, and jumped into a river for the first time. I was also in coffee heaven, I really think I could die on a coffee farm and be perfectly fine. I did a lot of reading, a lot of thinking, and only one drawing. There's beauty in being far far away from what's familiar and feeling completely comfortable and at peace.

Now as I try to "get back into the swing of things" I'm trying a little (just a little) to fight off that feeling of nostalgia...though I actually like relishing in it... just until I get annoyed with myself.

I'm also trying to make my next move and I'm not quite sure in what direction to make it just yet. However, I was told that its okay if I don't know and that as long as I keep moving I'll end up where I'm supposed to be...and that's perfectly fine.

Sunday Mornings

Woke up at the crack of dawn today ( 5:30 a.m!) to beat the summer heat to go hiking. Went to a new trail up in Runyon Canyon. If only every morning drive to L.A was like it was this morning. The hike was gorgeous, the people were few, and the weather was still nice. On the way back we noticed a farmers market and a couple of u-turns and dangerous maneuvers later we were buying my much needed coffee and fresh organic fruits. When I got home I took a four hour nap....tomorrow I pack and its off to Costa Rica for ten days!