the maze runner

last year, as my friend matt and i road tripped north carolina and virginia, we listened to 'the maze runner' by james dashner.

i had heard about the book at comic-con the prior month, and it seemed to have a huge following.  i knew that it was being turned into a movie and the synopsis was right up my alley, so i thought the road trip would be a great time to try it out.

unfortunately, it was TERRIBLE.  i mean, really, really bad.  maybe it was just the audio book and narrator, but i've heard similar poor reviews from 'readers' since.  i was a little baffled at how this book had developed any following at all, but, from what i've heard since, it seems that it's a less than great introduction to what builds into a great series.  i have my doubts.

nonetheless, it's bad-ness became a bit of a bonding experience and the jokes continue to this day. whrrrr. click. click. click.  (if you've read it, you'll understand)

when the movie's opening day was finally set, matt and i knew we had to go check it out.   i mean, we had already committed 10 miserable hours to the thing, might as well add a couple more.

me, trying to take a pretty photo of a delicious
looking crepe.  matt, trying to mess it up.
this round goes to him.

imagine our surprise when it was pretty good!  in fact we both quite enjoyed it.  the writing was far better suited to a visual portrayal than to words on paper.  seeing what had been described in the book (pretty poorly in some cases) finally made the story and characters interesting.  it was well cast, and there were a few really tense moments (even though i knew what was coming). watching it with matt, my partner in literary pain, was exquisite.

following the movie, we headed to a favorite of matt's - a local mexican place with the most amazing carne asada.  interestingly enough, the meat always reminds me of the best steak-and-cheese sandwich i ever had.  one of these days, i'm just going to buy some meat, take it home, throw it on a sub roll with some mayonnaise and grilled onions and pretend i'm eating trio's again!

we made quick work of dinner so that we still had time for dessert at a mutual favorite, la creperie.  it goes without saying that the chocolate - chocolate- strawberry crepe was divine, and a perfect way to end the evening.

labor day

jami and i met up with newly married friends whitney and shaun for a dodger game.  my FIRST dodger game, and first time in dodger stadium.  i had sort of run-walked around it for the color run last year, but never been in it.  and labor day was a great day to check it off the list.

only complaint was that it was HOT. soooo hot!  but the fact that we were in good company, that the dodgers were playing the nationals, and that the nationals won, totally made up for it!

september is going to be a crazy travel month, so it was a nice way to spend a chill evening with friends.

august

i am woefully behind.  i'll just acknowledge that and move on.

this is what my august looked like:

me finally getting to try cotton candy grapes .  yes. i said cotton candy grapes.  grapes that taste like cotton candy! they are only in season for about two weeks each year, distributed by only one grape grower, in california, and they are hard to find! i’d learned about them last year after they were already out of season, and have been waiting to try them. they were delicious! i still have 4 pounds sitting in my freezer so that i can continue to enjoy them.

this collage is from my work trip to kansas city. melissa, her husband nick, and another colleague, david, went to see the MLS soccer team, sporting kc play dc united.  dc united totally beat them!  and what made it an even better night is that the team was staying in our hotel and we ended up spending a little time with the head coach (the guy in the white shirt in the bottom right photo).  but of course, the highlight is just always getting to see melissa.:)

august also saw my 38^th birthday. yowser!  i am usually traveling on my birthday and was excited to be home this year.  i invited a small group of friends and the donahoo cousins to join me at the iconic (lots of movies have shot here) griffith observatory in los angeles.  they were hosting a public star party so many many local astronomers brought their telescopes to share with the rest of us peons.  i love the observatory and it was a great way to celebrate with some of my favorite people!

people of the con: the hall

unless you've attended comic-con, e3, ces or some similarly outrageously sized convention, you've never seen anything like this.  i don't know where else you happily attempt to wade through a huge sea of bodies, trying not to get run over while you gawk at some of the coolest pop-culture visuals you will ever see.  i don't know where else picking a random aisle to walk down in exhibit hall means you end up filming orlando bloom, lee pace, evangeline lilly, cate blanchett, and benedict cumberbatch. oh how i love san diego comic-con.

people of the con: the walking

of course, i'm referring to THE CON, otherwise known as san diego comic-con, where every year 130,000 badge holders, and probably another 130,000 non-badge holders converge on downtown san diego for 4 1/2 days of pure nerdery.  i thought it would be interesting to try to convey what that feels like through video (which doesn't do it any sort of justice at all).

this particular video was shot beginning from our parking garage exit to the convention center, through the convention center to our friday location, room 6bcf, and then later in the gaslamp, finally returning to the parking garage by way of the hall h line (where all of the biggest panels and overnight campers take place).

weekend fun

i love being home and getting to spend time with my peoples!

this weekend i finally got to see jamie paddle - a hobby/sport to which she has dedicated a great deal of time to over the last year-ish.  i've been hearing about her adventures in canoeing for almost as long as we've been roommates, so with this weekend's race being local, and me being in town, it was the perfect opportunity to cheer her on!

from belmont beach to playa del rey, it was a double-beach day.  i joined my friend and former co-worker, tania, for what is becoming a a bit of a recurring appointment. usually, it's beach time, as i'm attempting to get some color before spending a week at the lake with family (and not wanting to suffer from the long hours spent on the water there), but today i was just along for the ride.  emily had been unable to attend tania's housewarming party so wanted to visit her new place, and invited me to join.  we were quite the office trio before tania left us, so it was nice to get the band back together!

and what is a far more rare occurrence, was the invitation i received from  melissa.  she had asked if i was in town (we both travel A LOT), i told her i was, and she invited me to the orange county fair with her and some cousins.  when her cousins were unable to attend, i suggested we go a bit lower key and get together for brunch.  which lasted for about five hours (a pattern this week!).  we made some plans to meet up on the road this fall, and started talking about a possible italy trip together in 2015.  so, basically, a highly productive brunch! :D

green party

friday night i attended the surprise party for my friend larysa, who, after years and hoops and more years and more hoops, was finally able to get her green card.  party-goers were asked to wear green or red white and blue, and similarly to bring an item of the same colors.  my contribution - a strawberry blueberry fruit tart that seemed to be quite a hit.  sadly, none left to gnosh on later!

jamie and our friend luce were the distraction, inviting her for wedding dress shopping for luce.  nicole and i were supposedly meeting them back at larysa's to join up for dinner.  the ruse was a success and larysa didn't see it coming!

larysa hails from the ukraine and was one of the first people i met when i moved to huntington beach.  in fact, we met at my very first family home evening in the mid-singles ward, just a couple of weeks after i had moved to california.  lucky for me, our friendship has continued to grow in the last 6 1/2 years, and lucky for america, she's now a permanent resident!

food and friends, my two favorite words

we had a very special visitor today.  an old huntington beach friend (who now splits time between utah and north dakota) is in town for a wedding and reached out to jami to see if he could come spend time time in long beach.  a visit from brandon is sure to be a satisfying one, as he gives, literally, the best hugs on the planet.

no, seriously, he's known for his hugs. they are strong and warm and long-lasting.  this is a man who is not afraid that you will get the wrong impression if he hugs you hard and long.  and it's been three years since a brandon-hug, so it was all the more appreciated!

with our special visitor and his special hugs, it seemed some pretty special food was required for our brunch!

we started with grilled fruit skewers,

followed by jami's bacon cheddar quiche,

and finished off with my blueberry cream cheese stuffed french toast.

needless to say, the few hours we spent together today was pretty epic!

the alignment of the stars

like many, i find my horoscope a fun entertaining way to pass the time now and again.  it's usually a drive-by, but i will admit that during the first week of each month, i spend a little more time than usual on one particular astrology site, 'cuz this chic has a pretty good record of 'coincidences'.  some nuggets from july (i promise, this is going somewhere):

If you look at the dates of the series of retrogrades of Venus, Mercury, and Mars so far this year, there was no oasis - those planets dovetailed almost precisely with their onset and direct dates, leaving no rest for the weary. You are a hard worker, and you rarely have problems with concentration, so you likely made progress in spite of the lack of help from the planets, but it took all the energy you had to give to do it. Life is about to become easier from now on.

You tend to overdo your work schedule, and the universe knows it, dear Virgo. July will be your time to unwind, make new friends, and connect with your current, favorite pals again. It's a time to rest, travel to the seashore, have dinners with pals, share stories, catch a new movie, and visit art openings.

You have so much to celebrate, dear Virgo. The start of 2014 will officially begin in July. Say goodbye to the never-ending series of retrograde planets - all that ends now. From now on you will have a more encouraging, productive environment in which to operate. While it is true that Mercury, your ruler, will go retrograde again on October 4 to 26, those three little weeks will pale in comparison to what we have all gone through in the first six months of 2014.

Take some needed rest in July, and see if you can take a vacation sometime in July. You need to unplug and enjoy life. You need to daydream - and don't let anyone tell you that it is a waste of time. This month, it may be the most valuable exercise you do.

there are a number of other apropos insights regarding this month, and even before i read this 'forecast',  the wheels had started turning.  it may or may not be obvious by my inconsistent blog appearances that this year has been incredibly busy.  my travel schedule in the last six months has seemed more intense than usual, and it has taken me longer to recover/settle in/get motivated to do anything but sleep and watch tv when i am home.

in fact, i have been looking forward to july all year!  i'll be making my annual trek to comic-con, followed immediately by my first vacation of the year, where i am overwhelmingly excited to return to one of my most happy places, my grandmother's lake house in new york.  all of my immediate family and much of the extended clan will be making the trek, and i can't wait to get some reading and relaxing done while reconnecting with aunts and uncles and cousins.

but there are other wonderful things happening right now.  the biggest is that i got some news at work in the last week which, if all goes according to plan, means something that i have spent the last two years hoping and praying for is now a reality.  it's not only a game-changer, it's a life-changer.  (i'm happy to share one-on-one, but not so publicly until things are more concrete).  and, since it dropped in from the sky like food rations to a deserted island, it gives me more confidence in the impressions and feelings i've been trying to interpret for some time.

meanwhile... july seems to be unfolding beautifully!

the independence day weekend involved meeting a bunch of new people, watching fireworks at the rose bowl in pasadena, spending a day at the beach with my friend tania, and having a neighbor navajo taco party.  it was the perfect mix of spending time with new friends and old.  and i certainly didn't mind the extra day of sleeping in!

music city: bonus day

melissa and i had an almost full day to do some exploring.  during my national parks research and in looking for daytrips from the city, i happened across a state park called fall creek falls.  it's about two hours outside of nashville and boasts a number of good-sized waterfalls.

the handful of national park sites that would have been doable, were either ones i had already visited, or ones i had no interest in visiting. so, when i posed the idea of this state park to mel, i was happy that she thought it looked as cool as i did.

because i had been busy with work and honky-tonking for most of the trip, i hadn't gotten to spend much time with my bulgarian friend, who was also in town for the conference. we had squeezed in a couple of lunches and some boot shopping (i was so excited to find women's boots in my size that i bought three pair!), but our usual 'last night dinner' had been pre-empted by my grand ole opry visit.  instead, we had a very very early breakfast since melissa and i were getting an early start on the drive.  i was flattered actually, that since his flight wasn't until 2pm, he was willing and wanted to meet up...even though it was 6:30am.  

after stuffing my face, taking a selfie, and saying our goodbyes, i left to pick up melissa at her hotel and we were on our way.  

the two hour drive was uneventful, in the best kind of way.  it was a beautiful day in the mid-60s. the music was good, the conversation was good, and almost exactly two hours later, we arrived at our destination.

we spent the next several hours hiking the park, taking photos, enjoying the quiet (we had the place mostly to ourselves) and the multitude of picturesque waterfalls.  it was truly gorgeous.  and, even though i'm no better a hiker now than i have ever been, the scenery was well worth a little huffing and puffing.

eventually, it was time to return to civilization (aka, the airport), and the return drive was equally as lovely and uneventful.  we made it back to the airport in plenty of time to drop off the rental car, check-in for flights, and make our way through security.  once through, we said our farewells and headed off to our gates.

what was so amazing about this particular trip is that it felt like a vacation.  even despite the fact that we were all working pretty full days, we were able to take full advantage of the sights and each other's company. there was quite literally, never a dull moment! 

music city: antique archaeology and the grand ole opry

 between the country music hall of fame and the bluebird cafe, melissa and i had checked two things off 'the list'.  she visited the ryman without me, which, since i had been before, actually worked out really well.

the last day of the conference was a short one.  earlier in the day, i had taken a cab out to the airport to pick up a rental car for mine and melissa's 'bonus day'.  we had both scheduled late flights home the following day so that we could do some exploring.

so after the exhibit hall closed, melissa, julie, tiffany and i headed out to antique archaeology.  if you are a frequent watcher of the history channel, you won't need an explanation. if not, however, the significance will likely be lost on you.  there is a show called 'american pickers' that follows two guys who travel the country rummaging through barns and sheds, the older and messier the better, in search of unique antiques that they then resell.

a couple of years ago they purchased a second warehouse location (the first is in iowa) in nashville, and i wanted to take a gander.  a lot of the items they 'pick' are ones that i would be interested in, and i was genuinely hoping that i would find something that would fit with my decor.

when we arrived, there was a live band playing, and the place was packed.  it was much smaller (at least the show room) then any of us could have anticipated, and unfortunately, i didn't find anything that would be a good fit.  ultimately, i was glad to have checked it off, but a little disappointed in the experience.

with time still on our hands, we decided to explore the rest of the giant warehouse.  there were a couple of cute boutiques, but when we discovered the distillery/micro-brewery, the girls decided that it looked like a good opportunity to sit down and have a drink.  they tried a couple of different drinks, unique to the venue, and by all accounts, enjoyed the experience.  i, enjoyed the ambiance, and the diet coke i brought with me. :D

we made our way back to the hotel, where we dropped julie so she cold catch a cab and her flight home, and after changing, melissa, tiffany, and myself headed out to the grand ole opry.  melissa and i had purchased tickets before the trip, and tiffany had decided at the last minute that she would like to join us.  there were still tickets available, so she bought a single seat and the three of us made the 20 minute drive.

we hadn't been familiar with any of the bands, but it didn't really matter. we just wanted to experience it.  i didn't know (or had forgotten) that the seats are church-pew style, so from the beginning, it felt different.  i also hadn't realized that every show IS a a radio program, so there is a really unusual format. there is a host for each segment who also performs, then a band who sings two songs.  then the next segment has a new host and a new band.

during the first segment, the band was a male/female duo, who announced that they had just signed with their first label.  in order to celebrate, they said, they had invited a friend to join them in performing one of the songs.  to my great pleasure, their 'friend' turned out to be sam palladio, who plays gunnar on the nashville tv show.  the three of them sang a song that aired on a recent episode, which, it turned out, had been written by the duo.  i was happy to know that the show does actually use local talent, and it was fun to see real nashville and fictional nashville cross paths.

at the end of the evening, the three of us were starving, so we made a stop at cracker barrel for dinner before calling it a night.

music city: the bluebird cafe

adding to the goodness that was march, my one work trip (although it included back to back cities) would have me spending a few days in one of my all-time favorite cities - nashville.  i can't even express how much i love this town.  so much so, that i keep waiting for it to let me down.  that sounds terrible actually.  really i just mean that every time i visit, my expectations are so high, that i've become convinced that actually being there won't be able to meet them.

and i had really high expectations this time.

my friend melissa who hadn't spent a lot of time in the city had asked for a list of must see sights/activities. i do love to build an itinerary, so i began putting it together for her.  the list looked like this:

-antique archaeology
-bluebird cafe
-grand ole opry
-country music hall of fame
-ryman auditorium

of these, i had only ever been to the ryman.  well, technically, i had been to the opry but i'd never seen, and wanted to see, a performance there.  i've checked off a number of other nashvillian activities, but some of these had managed to escape me on previous visits.

in fact, the bluebird cafe has been on my list for years.  in music city, it has long been known as a place for songwriters to come test out their work.  a LOT of really really well known songs (and singers) debuted here, long before the hit the country music charts.  but, fortunately or unfortunately, since the tv show 'nashville' begain airing, prominently featuring the bluebird, it has become difficult to get in. tickets are sold a week in advance for both the 6pm and 9pm shows, and even though i was online at the right time, i wasn't able to get tickets for our desired show.  i was bummed.  so was melissa.

so, come booth set up day, i had a smooth setup and melissa and i were able to visit the country music hall of fame. interesting, but not mind-blowing.

while there, she mentioned having read that the bluebird had seats that they didn't sell in advance for the early show, she asked if i wanted to try it.  i'll admit that i was on the fence.  i was pretty tired from the time zone transition and i didn't want to pay a fortune for a cab, stand in line for hours, and then not be let in.  ultimately though, i decided it was worth a shot.

$25 later, at about 4:30 the cab dropped us off at the strip mall cafe, and there was already a line.  it didn't look too out of control though, so we took the risk.  the early show would start at 6, and at about 5 staff members came out to tell us that there were 20 guaranteed seats, and any others that became available would only be so as a result of no-shows.  we had probably about 50 people in front of us and a handful behind.  it was interesting in that last hour to watch the line change configuration. the people who decided to wait it out, and the people who didn't.  at this point, my stubbornness kicked in and i was pretty determined.  so much so, that if we didn't get in, i was already planning on just sitting down and being the first in line for no-show seats at the 9pm show.

fortunately, it didn't come to that.  after the guaranteed 20 were let in, we probably still had 15-20 people in front of us.  slowly staff members would come outside and escort small groups in.  eventually, melissa and i were at the front of the line.  i couldn't stomach the idea of being the first people to NOT get in so i was relived when we were invited in and sent to a table at the front of the action. ironically, all of the folks both in front and behind us who had decided not to wait it out, would have made it in.  their loss!

rather than a traditional stage set up, the performers were positioned in chairs on the floor in the center of the room - the three of them facing each other.  though the description of the evening said 'in the round', i wasn't sure what that had meant, and i learned that each singer/songwriter would play one of their songs, and then the next person would play one of theirs.  sometimes they would back each other up or pause to tell stories about the origin of the song or about each other.

it was a really unique experience. first of all, it's extremely intimate.  in fact melissa and i could have wasily given one of the singers a shoulder massage, as he was basically sitting at our table (albeit, with his back to us).  secondly, the bluebird is what they call a 'listening room', and it's meant for just that.  though they appreciate a response to their songs,  talking amongst yourselves is discouraged.  the idea is that you go to listen.

we listened. and we really liked what we heard.

it was also unique because the suit-wearing "i'm walking in like i own the place" guy that had breezed by us while we were still in line outside, turned out to be the actual owner of the place, accompanied by a georgia congressman.

at the end of the performance, we waited our turn for the restroom, bought our tee shirts, and took photos with the singers.  my only trepidation had been not being sure how we were going to get back to the hotel.  the cafe is in kind of a strange location, and i was concerned that even if we called a cab and it came that it would take forever to get there.  my fears were put to rest when we walked outside and there was a taxi waiting, hoping to pick up a fare.

it was a perfect excursion, and, after we returned, we headed out to broadway (or honky tonk row) for more live music.  we met up with the other girls from my company and settled in for awhile at the stage. i was in a goofy mood - still on a bit of a high from the bluebird and just sooooo happy to be in nashville, so i had a blast listening to the band, laughing with the new girls, and making a new friend for the evening.

i never get over just how amazing it is that on a wednesday night (on any night) in nashville, every honky tonk will be packed, there will be two or three live bands, and they will be good.  i had an epiphany that night, realizing that nashville, to me, is like vegas is to a lot of people.  i can stay out all night, work all day, and do it over and over again.  i <3 nashville="" p="">

the joy of parking

in an unusual turn of events, i got to be home for most of the month of march. i'm always happy to have time in my own bed, snuggles with the pup, having a life (or trying to) that doesn't include work in every minute of every day.  and it was particularly good to be home this time, because it resulted in securing a guaranteed parking space.

the beauty and wonder of this can only truly be understood by one who has had to live with street parking, and what that means.  ...turning down invitations or leaving events and outings early in order to make sure you have a chance at a spot when you return.  walking blocks in the rain without an umbrella because it's southern california and it's not supposed to rain.  and getting to know the neighbors... or at least their particular brand of "oooooohhhh, mama. you lookin' fine today!" catalls.

turns out we have a neighbor (not of the cat-calling variety) around the corner who we hadn't met before.  it's unfortunate because our meeting was monumental.  turns out, he owns three of the houses in our little neighborhood and had two parking spots available that he would rent to us.  needless to say, we locked that down.

parking and commuting have been my only two complaints since moving to long beach.  there's nothing to be done about the commute (other than find a new job) but it is amazing the power of the parking space.  knowing i can come and go as needed, buy all my groceries in one trip since i don't have to carry it very far. accept any social invitation i like, stay at events as long as i like...it's perfectly wonderful!

mardi gras

my department had a potluck to celebrate mardi gras.  holy smokes was it good.  maybe the best potluck i've ever been a part of.  it unintentionally took on a southern theme with pulled pork sliders, mac and cheese, fried chicken, crack corn (the new name for my cream cheese corn concoction), cole slaw, sausage balls, etc.

i was truly impressed with my co-workers' culinary endeavors, and, as my tastebuds did one happy dance after another, i couldn't help but be grateful for such an awesome, drama-free team.

engineering prints

i can't help but love all of the amazing ideas and solutions on that great reservoir of creativity that we call pinterest!

when i moved into the new place, i had a heck of a time trying to decide what to do with all of the wall space above the head of my bed.  i scoured said reservoir and there were some amazing ideas... a headboard made of open books (turned to personally relevant pages), lots of great vinyl art, string-light cutout confections, maps (i love maps). but even though i loved a LOT of these ideas, and they even seemed to represent me accurately, i simply couldn't decide.

enter pier 1 and their stinkin' good sales!  i happened along some faux window frames for 60% off, and i made the first decision.  i liked that these were imminently changeable.  i could use the lovely panes for just about anything... photos, miniaturized maps, book pages or quotes, etcetera. the flexibility was mind boggling.  so much so, that i put them up on the wall, and they remained empty window frames for about four months.  clearly, i have commitment issues.

then, after arriving home from vegas, and going through my usual unpacking, re-organizing routine, i looked at the empty frames and thought 'hey! those family photos we took at christmas might look pretty good up there!' so i took some measurements, but i knew i wanted one photo per frame (NOT pane) and i wasn't sure exactly how the faces and bodies would line up.  i was hesitant to spend $45 to have the two photos blown up and printed without being sure.

then, the magic happened.  i recalled a post (probably on pinterest) about engineering prints, and i googled. turns out, staples will print these over sized documents for a pittance.  they are black and only (which is exactly what i wanted) and not typically meant for photos, so the quality isn't the same as a photo print would be.  but i was kind of going for a 'shabbier' version anyway.  i placed my order online, was called 15 minutes later to be told i could pick them up, headed to staples where i paid my $4.57 and brought them home.  yes, $4.57 instead of $45, and they are exactly what i wanted.

i did run into some placement issues, but the way it worked out, family members
that are partially 'cut' in one frame are totally visible in the other, and vice versa.  and ultimately, it's exactly the feel i was going for.  now, i'm just trying to figure out what else i can have made into engineering prints!

vegas

i don't know how much more i can say about vegas.  i feel like i've 'been there, done that' so many times that it's getting a little old. but i'll give it a shot.

i had a lot of mixed emotions going into this conference.  a staffing upset just two weeks before my departure had left me and other members of my team scrambling into problem solving mode, and the outcome left us all feeling a little shaken.  so, in addition to my normal 'fear and loathing' i felt a trepidation i've not experienced in a very long time in a professional setting.  and yet, i was really excited to see melissa, katherine, the bulgarian, and my freeman cousins!

so before i set out on the four hour drive, i decided that i had done everything within my power to fix what was broken and i began the process of letting it go.  that process moved much more quickly once i arrived, when i headed directly to the exhibit hall to check-in on things and to deliver my special valentine's goodies.

i have discovered about myself that i am not naturally service oriented.  i am always so appreciative to be the recipient -- in any context, but when i am the 'giver' it is with a very conscious effort.

in the last several months, i feel like i've finally settled into california. i don't know why it took me seven+ years, and it's not in my long term plan to stay here, but since being shaken from my 'routine' of the last five years, i feel more at ease here.  and, as a result, i find that i am becoming a little more...me.  i've cooked more in the last six months than i have in the last 10 years.  i find that i am more aware of others, more naturally inclined to want to do nice things. i feel more creative than i have in a long long time.  and i think being here in long beach gives me the freedom to engage in social activities or to power down when needed without feeling like i 'should' be doing this or that.

all that to say that i have recently had a number of occasions to be reminded how gratifying it can be to

exercise intended thoughtfulness.  in this case, most of my exhibit team had been on the road for nearly four straight weeks with other clients at other shows.  i knew they would all be tired and missing home, so even though i didn't arrive until the 15th, i took the opportunity valentine's day provided to show my appreciation with some 'made in my kitchen' baked goods.  their reactions were, i suspect, of greater benefit to me than my gifts were to them. which was a nice way to kick things off, since it would be a very long few days.

6 days in vegas feels like double that in most other cities, and not in the good way.  just the walk from my room to the exhibit hall is enough to drain me for the rest of the day, but that's just the beginning of the exhaustion.  fortunately, some of my favorite people were in attendance at this conference.  i got to spend my evenings with melissa, katherine (who i introduced to serendipity's famous frozen hot chocolate), emil, and of course, my cousins. they all managed to keep me sane in their own unique ways, and that went a long way to taking edge off my least favorite city.

all in all, the event was a success. more than i would have dared to hope.  and the best part? only one more (very) quick trip to vegas next month before i can write the city off for another year!

valentines

for my colleagues  

individual oreo pudding cakes

for my roommate

self-explanatory :D

for me

mani/pedi & eyelash extensions

it's sunday evening..

...and it's time to start wrapping up a great weekend.

friday night, i joined a group of friends in my old huntington stomping grounds to watch the olympic opening ceremonies.  it's no secret that i love the olympics (favoring winter just a bit over summer), and it was especially enjoyable to experience them with so many other olympic obsessives.

the crowd included my friend kristina who worked at the olympic village during the salt lake games and my ukrainian/russian friend larysa, who provided a lot of helpful and insightful cultural background information.

it also provided an opportunity for me to try a new recipe, and in honor of the olympics, i chose the buffalo chicken crescent ring (representative of the olympic rings), i'd come across on pinterest.  wow! did it turn out yummy! the receipe can be found here and the only change i made was including the cilantro IN the mixture.

saturday morning came way too early as jami and i made an attempt to secure our tickets to this year's comic-con.

as previous attendees we had the opportunity to try our luck during a pre-registration sale.  only a certain number of tickets are made available and all 2013 attendees could participate.

in previous years, our experience has been EXACTLY like this:

(thanks to melissa for tipping me off to this scene, since i don't watch the show)

this year though, they 'randomized' the process and refreshing was a big no-no.  we had to log in early with a special registration code, then hope we would be randomly sorted in a registration 'session' that was high enough to still get tickets for each of our desired event days.

we waited, staring at our computer screens, hoping every two minutes (when they auto-refreshed) that we would be allowed to buy tickets, and that the tickets we wanted would still be available.  after an hour and a half of nervous anticipation, jami finally got in and was able to purchase all of our tickets. YAY!  so relieved that i can rest easy until july when i'll have to play the "big bang game" for nerd hq tickets (still a first come first served scenario).

late nights and early mornings make for an exhausted tara, but after an hour power nap, i headed to the cousins, to meet up with jenny before heading to a nearby karate studio in support of rachel and drew in their belt testing.  rachel, going for her brown belt, and drew going for his black.  it was interesting to watch the testing and i was honored to have been included in what was a great achievement for both of them!

walking dead is back tonight (yay!) and i can't get enough of the olympics, so february is off to a good start!

december

as seems to happen more and more, december just seemed to slip away when i wasn't looking.

it started with the final planning and execution of my last event of the year -- our biannual all employee meeting.  with a few added elements, this was our most 'complicated' employee meeting yet, and, to add insult to injury, i was also tasked with presenting.

those who know me well know that speaking in front of people is my all-time greatest fear. it's a nausea inducing fear that i try to avoid at all costs.  not to mention that there were a thousand moving parts (usually by me) that had to be handled while i was supposed to be on the stage in front of my 500 co-workers.  

the good news is that it all went off without a hitch.  and, i even learned yesterday that in the post-event survey sent to employees, my presentation ranked the highest of the event.  while i'm pleased and grateful for the result, i'm mostly just glad it's over!

fortunately the first couple of weeks weren't all fear and nausea.  my friend vicki invited me to join her at a minor league hockey game, where i had my first 'up against the glass' experience.

and i joined my roommate and another friend in los angeles for las posadas on olvera street.  not only was this my first time using the metro here (i still can't believe there is one), but it was also an interesting educational experience.  the event commemorates the journey of mary and joseph from nazareth to bethlehem, and their search for shelter. there were pinatas, and nativities, and singing. and, there were churros.  i don't know that i would do it again, but it was a new an interesting experience.

only a couple of days after my big work event, i headed to savannah, georgia.  

in november, i received a job offer from a company based there.  the offer was completely unexpected and created a lot a lot of internal conflict.  on one hand, i would really like to be back east, closer to my family.  on the other, i just wasn't sure savannah would be a good fit for me.  

my long weekend there was a bit of a rough one (travel problems, terrible weather), but ultimately it confirmed what i had already begun to feel. the job would have been a good fit, as would most of the people. but the city...is great for being a tourist in, but not to live in. at least not for me.  

the decision was not an easy one, and it occupied the majority of my free-thinking time in november and early december.  but turning it down also made me realize that i'm not ready to leave california just yet.  and there is a certain peace in that.

only a few days after returning from georgia, i was back on the east coast.  only this time, it was to meet my brand new niece and spend the week with my family.  

usually my visits home involve a lot of going and seeing. visiting with old friends, undertaking various activities.  this trip though, we all just kind of hunkered down and spent the week with each other. and it was perfectly lovely.

it nearly kills me to have say goodbye each time, and i still wish i could snuggle in with the new baby, but i was back just before new year's to celebrate in california for the first time.  

despite my reservations, i opted for the big local mid-singles celebration. and, while i have nothing exciting to report, it was an enjoyable evening spent with friends, which is really all i could ask for. 

back at work now i'm trying to get up to full speed preparing for my biggest conference of the year, while managing a nasty sinus infection.  

at this rate i have a feeling that my next post will appear in february and i'll be talking about how quickly january flew by.  seems to just be the way things go these days!