I Thought I Was Strange...

Hello all,

So, some exciting news amd updates...after spending a delightful summer in Monterey/Carmel area I thought it would be a pretty nice place to call home for a bit. So, after searching for a job here and there I have landed myself at the cutest little French restaurant in downtown Carmel. The plan is that I will be working there for a bit while the bakery/coffee shop/pizzeria extension is getting ready to open... then ill hop next door with my beret in tow. I've met some great people thusfar, and after two dream-like job offers (the other being half baker half creative developer of sorts...which I will be doing on the side) I joked that finding an apartment would probably be harder than finding a job. huh. not so amusing afterall.

After Paris and New York, a smallish seaside California town would be a piece of cake in the apartment hunting world...right? Huh. (again) Perusing Craigslist got me a bit worried at first since nearly all the posts read something like "Peace. Love. Harmony." or "No visitors and Limited Bathroom Privileges." Still on the excitement high from the new place of work, I didn't let it bother me too much. But after visiting a house that smelled like pee and being greeted by a guy who clenched a forty (a Cobra not to mention) in his hand at 10:30 in the morning I began to worry. Another house welcomed me with the TV blaring so loudly I wouldn't even hear the surfer dude who was trying to rent it to me. Another bid me farewell, not with the commonplace "Have a nice day" but rather "Peace be with you." And these were the ones that made it past the Craigslist screening and phone calls! And when I finally got a second to sit down for a snack, a crazy Aussie started running around (literally...i kid you not) and yelling at me that cell phones give you cancer. Huh. This should be an interesting year to say the least.

But alas, one place was pretty perfection, a nice size house in Seaside... on top of hill with two lovely ladies. They have a deck, compost, and a veggie garden.... even a view of the ocean. The only catch? They are seeing several people who want the place, so I guess they have to like me as much as I like their view. In the meantime, I'm going to try and do something to counteract all the crazy hippie-rageous-ness circling me. Maybe Ill go hunting or something. Just kidding. I think.

The lovely Amanda et moi lunching at La Bicyclette way before the notion of working there popped onto the scene

A Bit Here a BIt There

I'm kicking myself for not taking pictures of the recent happenings... other than my food escapades of course. The past week has been filled with so much gloriousness, I can barely contain myself. First, and arguably the best thus far was my trip to visit an old pal on the farm he has been calling home for the past several months.

I drove out the middle of nowhere, "near Sacramento" (which really isn't all that near anything) after meeting up with the cuzzle et friend for coffee and a coffee shop interview. The further I got from the city, the more beautiful and serene the landscape became, removing all signs of hurried-ness out of scope. I arrived at the farm, welcomed by Greg in the wood shop of course, making one of the multitudes of things that I would just run to the store and buy in my everyday life. He gave me a tour of the garden, the greenhouse, the chicken coup, the river, the kale/ lavender fields which brought me right back to our days in Costa Rica with more or less the same removed feeling from society.... just less bugs. Although he did show me the rattler they caught out in the garden the other day... I guess there is a part of him that must be perpetually surrounded by deadly snakes.

We opened a couple beers, chatted by the river, made dinner, poured some dark and stormies and well, just had a really nice time. The serenity of being disconnected, but in fact more connected that most people, is something I have missed ever since being on the ranch in Costa. We ate at a picnic bench down by the river illuminated by Christmas lights strung high in the trees and a candle powered glass chandelier hanging from the branches as well. We didn't talk about television, because we don't watch too much. We didn't talk about technology, or the grind of a 9 to 5. We weren't unhappy. We ate Americanised ratatouille because we aren't traditional, eggs from the chicken coup (well, that was just me) because they were the most delicious I have tasted, beef from a local farmer, and day old salad. Everything was just perfectly nice. We chatted plus en plus because that was all there was to do, and that was more than enough. Even though I could barely sleep due to the fact of a bat flying in my face for a few hours, I could not have asked for a better day.

In this NY Time's Sunday Magazine, there is an article and photo spread about the new 20-something stage of life and what it will do to America. What a grand thought that maybe a 9 to 5 and a child is not for everyone the second they received that ever so tightlygift wrapped diploma. The expectations of that package almost as compact and neat as the paper. Was this the gift that they intended for us? To raise families without further exploring ourselves first, to sit at computers and talk about computers after 8 hours of typing on them? Not that this is bad or good, but it made me smile that the new 20 somethings are seeking a new life in their twenties, something we cant put a timeline on. While some of the older generations are scared because things are changing, thank god we are changing. It just seems like we can afford to stay the same.

I laughed through the read at times, remembering that Greg, at around 40 with no bills and no permanent residence , fit this new twenty something profile to a tee. I guess the concept of finding oneself is so funny. Who else would I find? Do we ever stop searching? I hope not. I know Greg hasn't . Who knows what the decades ahead will bring for me... whether it will be adventures in foreign countries or simply with the local people in coffee shops. But I hope it will be remnant of my days removed, but more connected than ever.

This is brilliant

This chica's blog is great. A thank you for everyday seemed lame at first, until Leah's wishful thinking about decancerated cigarettes came on the scene.

Im A Lovin...

I love dancers...

and if I was ever to marry, he would surely be the one...
but until then, Ill just do this...

So these images are just a few of my favorite "pins" on my new favorite site. Its worlds better than wasting time on that wierd virtual facebook world. Oh yes, and its called Pinterest. (Looky Here.)

So in short, this site is a virtual space to collect all the images you find around the world wide web that you adore. Well....I adore this site. Its fun and always reminds me how amazing and strong the visual can be. Check it zout.

All smiles here.

Hello all,

Well, I know its been a while (et plus), and there is so much to catch up on.... but, for now I cant seem to focus on anything else except for the things that are making me smile this very moment. Just thought I might share them with you, in hopes that they will make you grin a bit too.

Returning. From Camp, with new friends and experiences in tow along with the affirmation that although I respect children, they just arent my thang.

Going. Hawaii. Maui, that is. With the fam for 10 days. I cant wait to yoga, eat, visually document what I'm eating, and spend time with my favorite people.

Opening. I just received a letter followed by an email from one of my New York friends whose kookiness slash coolness is always missing from my my daily life. She sent a pic from our quick/amazing adventure in Paris. I am apparently a technological idiot, so you will have to bear with me and tilt your head to the left to correctly view this one...

Listening. My new great friend/ ex co-counselor Amanda and I exchanged copious amounts of new music (at least new to each other). I now finally have the full two albums of Mermaid Avenue and another new favorite: Explosions in the Sky.

Baking. Trail Mix Cookies. Favorite Snack in cookie form. Good show, nuts and raisins, good show.

Pinning. Okay I don't looove love love technology. And I definitely would opt for the real life version of mostly anything, but I have recently been loving this site. Il s'appelle Pinterest. Virtual inspiration boards let you take images from all over the world wide web and arrange them for you and your friends to share. Im lovin it.

Awaiting. Baking Ventures. New York pals' / New pals August visits. Colorado cahoots. The adventure forward. So excited... mostly because I have no f-in clue what lies there.

We're Following The Leader.....

Qui? Moi? Oh this should be rather interesting. Today, off I go, to be a camp counselor for 6 weeks in Monterey, CA with a zillion young ladies ready to look up to, you guessed it, me. Buahahahahahahah.....

But seriously, I'm actually really excited to return to the summer camp where I spent the best summers of my childhood. I'm assisting with the B&W photo class, which couldn't be better, and with trips planned to roast marshmallows on the beach and creep around Raging Waters (waterslide park) I couldn't be happier. I'm zippin down today in my new (to me) tiny car.... A MINI!...feeling all European and all as I jerk myself and my passengers every which way during my first week working a clutch. Well, Ill be in and out of here, probably mostly out though, as I'm sure Ill be preoccupied most of the next 6 weeks singing Kumbayah...

A bientot!

Mon Project du mois....

This is what I'm workin with. What a complete mess. Mais, Project Number Une: completed. The transport of my bed to the alcove. Cozy lightness.

Its the end of spring and I haven't done any cleaning yet. So in the spirit of the supposed annual discard pile, I have decided to take it a step further and splash some new color on the walls and refit my room to my twenty something self. Finally taking down my teenage years from my walls, noticing how everything has changed, slowly but dramatically, over the years. Removing the pictures, the things I once thought would make me beyond cool, and throwing out all the junk that hopefully others might treasure, is a cool renewing process.... a building of my own space in my home I've grown in since I can remember. Et plus, lately I cant get enough of projects, creating and being surrounded with things I love. From my garden to my daily outfit, each seems like an opportunity to see and build my visual world. So fun...a couple sources of inspiration/ideas:

My thought behind moving my bed to the alcove = more space. My thought behind more space = room for a teepee. Duh.

This is not my garden. Or my picture. But if I could bring this into my room somehow... i might never leave.

I am in love with these colors and of course the great rustic lighting.

So, I'm not saying I want this bridal party in my room. Or a wedding in my life. But I do love this.

I am beyond elated when I see the soft side come out of the rough and tough. Today it was the grizzly paint store man than cradled his rescued kitten carefully in his arms. The other week it was a gift from a welder friend. Its just so nice to look at something and see beyond its surface beauty. Connecting to the story of these things, to make them livelier than just things, is so great.

A place filled with pillows to read, chat, and potentially tea... even if the closest it gets is just holding an empty teapot. And one thing that hasn't changed from my early teenage years? My fervent desire for a wall covered in chalkboard paint. Don't judge me.

My garden. I love my garden. It is probably the closest thing I will ever had to a child, so yes it is very special to me. Indoor pots with plants from seed and salvaged containers is the abstract plan...Ooo! And glass jars. I love glass jars.

I am oscillating between this bright and vibrant bed dress and a stark white fluffy (unstuffy) bed. I have always wanted a white fluffy bed.

My favorite read as of late. Rustic, whole, beautiful, and made with love. An inspiration for everything.

....and I want to feel like this after I jump on my fluffy white bed (that Ive always wanted).

And then, ladies and gentlemen, I will dance around listening to Bob Boylan talk about all things cool.

Alors, on va voir...