Two weeks ago I boarded my flight in Shanghai, to see what life on this side of the globe has to offer. So far, I've been catching up on the sunshine. I did manage to find a job in Venice which unfortunately turned awry, but I'm recommited to finding exactly what makes sense for me, so all isn't lost. I arrived here, cranky as can be, convinced that la la land would never measure up, and feeling out of my element. Things are warming up though, and with the company of an amazing old friend, I'm starting to like this place just fine. In a couple of weeks we're headed out of here to visit New York, where we'll pick up my car and head back west for a cross country adventure that's hopefully chock-full-of all the magnificent oddities that gleam throughout this glorious country. I miss Shanghai, but more importantly, I miss my friends there. Whenever I'm asked about Shanghai, I inevitably mention the terrific friends that I made there, and how I was pretty unhappy in that city until I started sharing time with incredible people.
I have a couple of friends here already. Erin, Yvonne, and Russell. I've known Erin since high school, Yvonne, since college, and Russell since that fateful night on Ludlow several years ago. I look forward re-introducing ourselves to each other, and feeling out all the wonderful, nostalgic places that we can recall together. There's so much to say about this little relocation, but instead, I'm going to give it a little time. My emotions bubble, and for the time being, my words, just can't come together.
Yvonne's apartment is near Westwood, which is where the UCLA campus is. There is an amazing ice cream store called Diddy Riese in this area, which usually has a line up of at least 10 people waiting outside for their $1.25 piece of sunshine. These cookies are out of control delicious. We've been eating half each of this little amazing sugar cookie with cookie dough icecream sandwiched between.
I'm really here.
One day last week I managed to find my way onto the beautiful UCLA campus to have a look around, read my book, and pretend to be a student again.
We went to the pharmacy to buy Tylenol PM so I could try to manage my jet lag, but we decided to try a few things out instead.
Here we both look incredible in classic fashion frames.
If you need sun protection, try a visor.
Halloween. Halloween. Halloween.
I've been back twice in the last year and a half, but somehow, these things seemed amazing this time around. Yvonne especially likes to use the Umberto Giannini hair products for one reason or another. There are countless decisions to make at the pharmacy, because there is a vast array of every product imaginable. Every single one...well except maybe skin whitening serum.
Unrelenting decision making.
The variety of gas, constipation, excessive poopification, and itchy butt products will excite even the most uninterested consumer.
Yvonne, bundled up, chatting with her mother.
I've been to more soccer games in the last two weeks then I have been in my entire life. It's great.
After another ice cream sandwich, we hunted around Westwood for a wireless internet connection because I was going on internet starvation. Without any public connection to be found anywhere in this city, we just sat at the side gate to UCLA listening to Notorious BIG.
I can roll with the body builder's now. Ask Yvonne.
Venice. I would love to have one of those houses.
Pastey City Girl Vs. Brown Outdoors Girl.
I've spent most of my time on the beach so far.
Venice street fair.
Pretty Colors somewhere in Venice.
Yvonne and I parked really far away from the street fair because it was soo hard to find an available spot, which gave me the opportunity to have a look around town and check out some of the most amazing houses that I've ever seen. This little guy isn't so little actually, but he's really close to the beach, and I just love him.
Santa Monica, where there are tons of lovers. Actually, Venice is crammed with lovers too. Old lovers, young lovers, and even teenage lovers, all hanging out on the beach, sharing the awesome sunshine, and the yummy ocean...Mmm..the beach. She saves me. All the anxiety I feel melts when I hit the beach. I lived on the beach with my mom, and my grandmother was always baking in the sun, so I feel so good when I spend time there. Whether I'm east coast or west coat...the beach is totally my refuge. Life is so hard darlings, I simply must go to the beach. =)
I'm not kidding about spending most of my time on the beach. Another afternoon, I went to Venice, and watched someone do a little Qi Gong, then I practiced some handstands and decided to write in the sand. Linda is in Thailand with her boyfriend right now, and I hope she feels amazing.
Once I started writing, I wanted to say hi to everyone, but my arm started to get tired, and I ended up with these few.
I hope you enjoy the lovin.
Matt told me she was the most beautiful bride that he's ever seen, and the wedding was "pure class". I heard it snowed in Aspen on your big day, but my immediate reaction was, how beautiful. Congrats happy couple!
For my grandfather, who also loves the beach. When I was a little girl I remember him clamming, and eating things right there on the beach. Maybe he was tricking me and had a pocket full of raisins that he was eating instead, but I really remember him plucking muscles off the beach and just cracking them open to eat right then and there.
Tennis Yvonne. Soon there will be Climbing Yvonne too.
I thought this was a cute advertisement at a body shop in Culver City.
(plus mmmmmm.)
Yvonne after a gallery opening, where I had a lot of wine and a tremendous amount of cheese while she had orange juice with tonic and quite possibly an entire salmon.
The girl had a little wine. Now she's going to rap for you.
Soccer Erin. We drove out to the boonies to visit Erin who is my great great friend from High School. Our friendship pretty much took off at the prom where we were both completely miserable. I think her date was dancing with someone else, or drunk, and I was caked in so much make-up and fake tan, that we just sat there in the lobby, looking pathetic together, not then realising that we'd met our perfect match. She's a genius now, in Vet school kicking ass. I'm so proud of her because she really lives in the middle of nowhere...happier then heck, because all she does is study, oh and play soccer.
Ernie, Erin, and Kristin. Also, Erin offered me a tomato. It was from her backyard and the most amazing tomato that I can remember eating. This weekend I tried to buy some tomatoes with Yvonne at a Santa Monica farmers market, that don't even come close to comparing to Erin's magnificent tomato.
A little Chinese Flava.
Sunday Breakfast in Santa Monica. My goodness, this is what food is. I'm happier then hell to find outrageous cafes, and this one, called Rose Cafe...makes my heart sing. The bread pudding is for Mikey. I bet this pudding, is the kind that we've been trying to find since that Valentines dinner a hundred years ago in NY. Fondue? Fondue nothing, but the bread pudding was totally worth it.
Soccer Yvonne, Game Deux.
I met someone who wants to teach me!!!
Like Yoga?
Wooohooo!
So great, really. I can't wait to go again. It was so great, but a little choppy, so I got beat up on my way out each time. Antonio is my teacher, and he's amazingly patient. He held the board for me, told me when to get on, when to paddle, and when to GRAB THE RAILS! It was so great...so so great.
MMm. Beautiful.
Mikey says, " You should hold your own board ", but I think if Mike was teaching me, he'd hold the board too.
"I have something really important to ask you- Can you take our picture?"
la la land. Part One.
thats it.