A business contact at my former work used to always write “IRL” in his emails. It took me the longest time to figure out that IRL meant “in real life.” He used it in the context of the virtual world vs. the real world, but now I use it to differentiate my vacationing life vs. my regular life. For instance, I awoke super early this morning to catch a plane back to SFO. Goodbye Long Beach, fantasyland of 80+ degree weather, sunshine, palm trees, sandy beaches, blue skies, long walks and gansta bike rides, and entertaining gal time. Hello SF Bay Area. Back to living IRL, know what I’m saying?

Yeah, so my flight got in very early this morning. Because I like to pack a tight schedule, John’s friend’s wife P2, who happened to be in the Bay Area visiting from Annapolis, picked me up for a morning hike around Crystal Springs reservoir. I had forgotten how active this lady is. Shiit, I was thinking we’d go for 90 minutes tops. Nope, 3+ hours later, my FitBit was practically overheating from all the activity I’d done the last several days. Yup, 16k steps. After the hike, we went to Palo Alto for lunch and then stopped by my fav women’s center, Deborah’s Palm… By the time I got home, FitBit had clocked nearly 22k steps, or almost 10 miles. My feet are ridiculously blistery now. No more walking!! Ugh.

I can’t believe tomorrow is Wednesday. I haven’t sent my second email brain dump yet to S at the ranch. Gotta get on it and hopefully, I will be invited back for the second business meeting on Thursday. I may help my friend M with packing tomorrow. She’s moving house this weekend. Goodness, so much is going on with everyone these days. I’m pooped. Time for bed. Btw, this is my 8th consecutive post. NaBloPoMo is killing me. 22 more days to go. Yikes.
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My final day in LGB was another busy one. I actually did a lot of work while P studied. We had originally planned to go kayaking, but I dunno, P seemed pretty intense in her study zone, so I just stayed busy emailing my network contacts and in the afternoon, I drafted another brain dump email for the ranch. On Monday, S had emailed me some things to think about, but I had to organize my ideas. I’ll be back there on Thursday for our next business meeting on horseback. Yay.

After I made some progress on those items, I decided to go for a walk to pick up some items at the store. I ran into C & N just as they were getting home, and C wanted to join me. We ended up walking almost 5 miles (for two hours). It was a great workout, with views of the ocean on the right and very nice fancy houses on the left. And C and I had so much to talk about! I think for both of us, we are the cleaner ones in our relationships, so we shared our excitement about organizing and cleaning. Haha. I was pretty thrilled to find another soul who, like me, has trouble sitting still for movies at home. C also has to get up and buzz around during!! See?

When we returned from our walk, P and I went out again and walked along the water to catch the sunset. We kind of missed it (the sun sets so early now!), but the sky was still beautiful. On the way back, we swung by the Rite Aid, and I bought some hair color, inspired by her hair color (which C did for her on Saturday night). We got back, and she applied the chemicals while I tested her on her nursing school material. My hair came out nicely… pretty subtle, but a dark reddish tint. It’s good enough for me.

Interestingly, on my earlier trip to the drugstore with C, I picked up some generic Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I had been scrubbing P’s tub and bathroom vanity for days, and I just couldn’t get them white, so I figured I would try the eraser. You see, months ago, John came home with the super sponges, and I was so blown away by their effectiveness. Seriously, because of Magic Eraser, I zoomed around the house cleaning doors, walls, cabinets, EVERYTHING. That shit got everything white. Well today, the eraser did NOT disappoint. In fact, P was screaming in disbelief, because she had tried everything: Scrubbing Bubbles, bleach, bathroom cleaner…

It’s pretty funny, because every time I see P, I introduce her to some new food or product. Before, it was Clear Care contact lens cleaner. Then it was the nasal saline rinse. Then a few visits ago, I turned her on to Italian nougat. Then Challah bread. This time, I discovered that tasty bottle of Trader Joe’s reserve pinot noir and that pistachio/chocolate/toffee I mentioned. But by far, the biggest winner was the magic eraser! Yup, gotta stay on top of that product research, I tell ya. New shit’s coming out all the damn time, and I’m always game for finding things to improve my life. That reminds me: Nathalie is always giving me the scoop on haircare new products. When I visited her, I tried her Alterna Smooth shampoo/conditioner and Organics Leave-In conditioner… that stuff made my hair uber soft and amazing. I will need to order on Amazon.

For realz, Southern California is exacerbating my already insatiable addiction to sunshine. Every day I’m here, my mind just continues to be blown away: we are into November, and I am outside frolicking in a tank top and yoga pants. Do you sense my incredulousness? It almost hit fucking 80 degrees this afternoon. This shit is too good to be true!!

Shiit. So what does this mean?? Am I secretly a beach bum then rather than a mountain cowgirl? You know I like to put shit into neat little boxes! Dilemmas, dilemmas. I did look pretty bad ass cruisin’ along on my low riding, matte black bike!

OMG, I am tired. I can barely remember what I did today. This daily blogging thing is tough… I need to stop waiting until the end of the day, when my creative juices are totally sapped!

Let’s see. So today, I combed through a bunch of her magazines. Who knew O Mag was so chock full of coaching content? There was an entire section on finding your passion. I think I’ll try it tomorrow to see if I gain any new nuggets.

I spoke with my parents today. They are still recovering from their Asia travels. Incidentally, my mother told me about how she watched an entire Korean soap opera (I downloaded/installed an Asian movies/soaps app to her iPad)– without having any subtitles and without any Mandarin/English audio. I don’t know how that could have held her interest, but she insists she was able to deduce the subject/storyline (regarding reincarnation) enough to enjoy watching. I know, totally bizarro, right? I also updated them on the job hunt, info interviews… Dad surprised me by saying there was no rush, and that I should just find what I like. Huh? Did he get kidnapped by aliens? Very uncharaceristic.

Btw, I def have to give credit to my buddy G. P is hooked on Meditation Oasis. We do it in the morning, and also for study breaks. Mary Maddux rocks! As for me, still no major breakthroughs, but I enjoy practicing every day. I know one day soon the magic will happen for me.

Oh, I hit the Trader Joe’s this afternoon. I turned P on to some new products to get: they carry challah bread (woot, woot!) and I found some super tasty chocolate almond pistachio bark. Yummy. Also, I discovered a delicious bottle of pinot noir that I’m going to search for at my local store back home: TJ’s Reserve from Williamette, Oregon. Smooth and very drinkable.

In the evening, Coursera released this week’s video lectures for my marketing class. Yup, I watched them all today. I’m hard core like that. I will have to watch them again though and take notes simultaneously. I still haven’t figured out how to do that on the iPad where I watch a video and also have the notes page open. Task to figure out later.

Ok, I’m beat. Tomorrow is more studying, some work for me, and then kayaking by the bridge. Gotta soak up the sun here while I can. Workin’ on that tan baby!

Today was another gorgeous day in paradise. By the time I woke up at 7am, the entire living room was already filled with sunlight. So beautiful and energizing. P was up already studying (her usual mode these days), and we kicked off the morning with fresh juice, yogurt, and fruit. We planned to do yoga on Ocean Beach at 11 (I told you this is the life!), but around 10:30a, her buds C & N called inviting me to breakfast. Haha, yeah I had already eaten breakfast but heck, that didn’t stop me from going out for round 2. I scarfed down an entire egg sandwich. I had a great time catching up with C & N. They are such good listeners. Probably too good even, because I never seem to shut the fuck up after I get started with them.

After we returned from breakfast, P joined us for a bike ride along the water. Yup, the weather could not have been more perfect. I borrowed their neighbor’s bad ass, monster beach cruiser (in matte black, of course), and we were like a fucking gang– the four of us cruising down the bike path. Beach livin’, I tell you: it’s goddamn luxurious.

After the ride, P went to class, so I tagged along with C & N on a trip to South Coast Mall– yup, an uber souped up shopping destination near Irvine. Shiit, we went into the Tiffany’s, and holy crap, I had no idea people actually frequented that store!! The place was packed!! And the salespeople were on it. I must have been approached like 4 times in 15 minutes. Couldn’t they see that I was wearing a cheapie Forever 21 pleather jacket? I can’t be affording their jewelry and baubles?!?! Sheesh!

What else. We scoped out a tattoo parlor near The Camp. I am continuing my tattoo portfolio research. Ugh, this is the second shop I have visited only to be disappointed by the level of detail. At this rate, I’m thinking I’ll have to go to an artist featured on one of the tv shows. Who wants to bother with messy lines and ugly designs? I have no idea how the steps will appear towards my tattoo dreams.

Btw, we had some interesting conversation at dinner tonight. Over a tasty meal at the local Vietnamese pho shop, we talked reproductive ailments and conditions. I suppose the topic was fresh on P’s mind following her 3-hr nursing school lecture. Our poor waiter, I dunno how many times he swung by the table only to hear dinner-inappropriate terms like vagina, douching, discharge, and halitosis being thrown around casually. Guess that’s what happens when you dine with a nursing student, a medical translator, and medical office ops manager. Apparently nothing is off limits with these ladies! Yup. All my friends are fucking hard core. Step off if you can’t handle it!

At the end of September, I visited my old bud N in Wilmington, NC. N and I have been friends since the 7th grade, so we go waaay back, kicking it old school. Both of us went to college in NC, but I hadn’t been to her coastal college town in well over ten years. After her father passed away several years ago, her mom sold the house in MD and also moved south, about 20 minutes away from N.

Certainly, N and I have had our struggles in the 23 years of our friendship, but I have to say, this trip was so good for both of us. For the first time in probably a decade, she seemed happy, and wow, I could see just how much her life and attitude have changed after losing over 100 lbs. I’ve never really struggled with weight issues, but I imagine the paralysis she experienced before was similar to what I had felt when I had severe, disfiguring cystic acne: I never wanted to leave the house; I felt so ugly and undeserving of love and attention. When my skin cleared in my 30s, I felt so liberated: I wanted to try and do everything! N wanted to dress up; she wanted to go out; she wanted to live the life she had always wanted to live. I feel so happy seeing her like this: energetic, curious, optimistic, and open. It’s hard not to be in awe. John kinda explained it like this: so many times, we are told that people don’t change. We can spend our whole damn lives wishing and wanting those we love to improve their situations and circumstances. It is true– they have to be ready for the change, but goddamn, just when you’re ready to give up, to just let them be, to begrudgingly accept the choices they have made for themselves, they really can surprise you and blow your fucking socks off. I have witnessed so many examples of people pulling through for themselves. The human will is so amazingly resilient and fierce!! My friend M. Her mother smoked like two packs a day for decades. Then, she quit one day. Cold turkey. Just decided it was time. Another friend: she was severely depressed. For months, she couldn’t get out of bed. Then one day, she decided to get up and go outside. Maybe the transformation isn’t as black/white as I describe: maybe behind the scenes, there is a slow and gradual progression, but  geez, you just never really know when that one nugget will motivate someone to take the reins and change his/her life for the better. I feel freshly inspired by the incredible strength of people I know.

In other respects, this trip to coastal Carolina was just so nice. We met up with some old acquaintances, visited our old stomping grounds (Bald Head Island), and I met some new faces. A few observations: I have to say, the contrast of being outside of the Silicon Valley bubble is quite noticeable. That flight from Atlanta to Wilmington? It had like no minorities on it. Interestingly, when I got off the plane and waited for N at the airport curbside, a redheaded cub came up to me and said, “Excuse me, but has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?” I know, wth right?? Totally unaccustomed to this kind of attention, I froze and was immediately unable to make eye contact. “Ummmm, uh no, but thank you. That’s very kind of you to say.” Jesus Christ, am I a robot or what? I mean, given the way I responded, you would have NO IDEA that his compliment made my day. 🙂 Although, I’m pretty convinced he was just drawn to me, because I had my “exotic” Asian thing going. Haha. Oh well, I’ll take what I can get!

Omg, my trip also reiterated how undeniably, I really am my father’s daughter. When my parents visited J and me in September, dad fixed everything possible in the house: the air conditioning insert, shelving, yard stuff, etc. Turns out, I had the same compulsions at N’s house. I fixed her broken shower head; I updated her computer and installed new software; I set up a wifi network; I re-mounted the broken alarm transmitter… what can I say, I like to be useful and get shit done.  Shrug.

Other than all the running around and going out, we also spent a good bit of time just catching up. I gleaned some interesting veterinary scoop from N: how to express anal sacs, the location of feline gonads, the affinity some doggies have for pacifier nipples, the process of euthanasia. Yeah, I keep telling myself, I’ll be ready when it’s R&M’s time to go, but shiiit, listening to the wind down process? I’m going to lose my shit. For realz. It just is what it is. Why can’t my puppies live forever. Why??

What else. Oh, N is buds with a bluegrass band in Wilmington. They weren’t playing the week I was in town, so the bassist invited a few of us to his house for their practice session. I haven’t listened much to bluegrass, but it’s a happy style of music, which can be a pleasant change from my usual depressing, melancholic alternative tunes. The musicians play mandolin, banjo, guitar, and bass. I chatted up the banjo player afterwards and peppered him with questions about his finger picks. He probably thought I was weird. Check out their band: Massive Grass. A nice group of guys.

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