My Life, As Told Between (Baby Cakes') Naps

I vaguely remember being interesting.  You know, reading stuff and watching shows and occasionally even doing stuff?  It’s dawned on me recently that I can’t remember the last time I sat down and read a quality book (well, I recently finished the first book in a science fiction/fantasy series Roomie sent me from the UK, but that doesn’t count).  Or the last time I read the newspaper.  Or the last time I volunteered for a good cause.  Sad. 

On the other hand, I’m much more informed about celebrity gossip and fashion that I’ve ever been before.  Even sadder.

I promise to become more interesting.  Really.  I mean it this time!

I blame living in LA a bit and work a lot (as always).  Still swamped.  Took my first deposition this week.*  I was thrown a curveball, but it went better than expected overall.**  I think.  In any case, I’m glad I survived! 

* For my non-lawyer friends, taking a deposition means you arrange for a court reporter to be present while you ask a “witness” (anyone who might have information pertaining to the case) questions.  The witness is usually represented by counsel, who is defending the deposition (making objections and whatnot).  The witness is usually affiliated with the other party but can sometimes be an uninterested third party. 

** At least I think the phrase is “thrown a curveball.”  Whatever.  Basically, I was surprised.

I am very, very tired.

I also love unexpectedly getting beautiful flowers personally delivered to my office!  =)

To start, I love this dress (slip?) by Luisa Beccaria.  I have no idea how one would actually get away with wearing it, but it’s absolutely gorgeous.

Also, while I was (very briefly and primarily window) shopping yesterday, a woman behind me exclaimed, “Wow, what a great bag!”  Hoping she was talking to me, I turned around.  Turns out she was a bag designer and loved the bag I was carrying!  She even asked to take a picture of it.  I love random compliments from strangers on my purses.  =) 

As T noted, it could very well have been the highlight of my day… had it not been for the super fantastic birthday dinner I had with some amazing people later that night.  Thanks again all.  And special thanks to the Frog for suggesting and organizing it.  I’ve amassed (stolen?) a fantastic group of friends in LA.  They’re a kind, generous, hilarious, gregarious, witty and wonderful bunch of people.  I love you guys.  Despite the pain that is turning 28, it’s been a really good year and I’m looking forward to the next one. 

And to all my non-LA located friends (who are equally stellar), I missed you and wish you all could have been there.  I love you all too. 

Birthday’s coming up.  I’m feeling old, although I was feeling much better about my age while in Cabo.  I was – wait for it – CARDED at a club in Cabo!  (*Happy dance*)  I was thrilled to be carded, even more so when I realized the legal drinking age in Mexico is 18!  This incident actually fit quite well into the theme of the trip, as everyone who chatted with us was between the ages of 19 and 25.  It was the littlest bit flattering.  =)

Back from Cabo.  Post about trip to follow.  Can’t wait for next year’s! 

The next couple of months will be hellishly busy in the office so postings will probably be short and intermittent.  Keep your fingers crossed that I survive it y’all…

Purchased a neat purple top from Stars & Infinite Darkness, which sells clothing by independent designers.   

I’d surfed the site after seeing a reference to it on b is for bunnyshop, but held off on purchasing anything until recently.  The top arrived in the mail yesterday however and I’m happy to report it’s super cute and very soft.  Can’t wait to wear it! 

Yes, yes, I know – I’m supposed to be saving money…but there was a 15% discount…and I don’t have very many purple tops…and I’m supporting independent designers…and [insert justification here]… 

I’m off to Cabo tomorrow (where I will be sporting said new top) for my Second Annual Memorial Day Cabo Trip with the Wombat, the Frog, and BDP (who is sadly blogless) .  Have a great weekend all!

Went to the Laugh Factory with the Frog this weekend.  She drove because there was the possibility of parallel parking.  As I was getting into her car after the show, I accidently made eye contact with a stranger. 

Stranger:  “You don’t want to get into that car – get into our limo!  All you have to do is riiiiiiide!!” 

Me:  (*Gasp*) [internal monologue]  “Is she talking to me?  Could she mean what I think she means?  But I’m wearing my glasses.  I’m invisible when I wear my glasses!  Should I be offended?  Flattered?  Flustered?” 

I opted for flustered…with maybe a touch of flattered.  =)

Overall, it was a great weekend, despite an emergency coming up Friday afternoon that necessitated me frantically working between bouts of fun. 

Dined at a fantastic Polynesian-esque restaurant.  Best mac and cheese ever.  Rivaled even the scrumptious mac and cheese at Luna Park.  Drank slightly too much at a friend’s party afterwards, which made waking up at 7am the next morning to rush into work etremely painful…but not as painful as it could have been thanks to T, who, I later learned, surreptitiously sipped my drinks all night so I wouldn’t be hungover the next morning!

Braved the (potential, but never realized) rain Sunday morning for a thirteen mile run all by myself, having skipped out on the Saturday morning run to go to work.  Oh, and for anyone interested, Gmaps Pedometer is awesome for figuring out distances and planning runs.

Finally signed up for a MySpace account.  Please won’t you be my friend?  =) 

Since a couple of my blogging friends have posted about summer’s approach, I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon. 

Summers used to mean three months of easy living.  Growing up, it was three months of bugging the parents and being a little bored.  In high school and college, it was three months of easy part time work.  In law school, it was three months of wining and dining by one’s summer firm.  Now, sadly, it’s just another three months. 

On the other hand, I’m finding that working makes me enjoy and anticipate the summer moments that much more, rather than just taking them for granted.  So in the spirit of anticipation, here’s a list of some of the things I want to do this summer…

• Lounge in Cabo. 
• Go on my first summer hike.
• Rent a beach house with my Quad friends.
• Brunch along the marina instead of just running by it, tired and sweaty!
• Have a picnic.
• Run another race.
• Attend many afternoon tea services as fancy hotels.
• Go to an outdoor concert or play.
• Visit Catalina Island.
• Spend another day at Disneyland.
• Go kayaking.
• Vegas anyone? 

I’m taking applications for a social coordinator to arrange all these things if anyone’s interested.  It doesn’t pay anything, but you get to hang out with me!  =)

I haven’t written anything beyond a superficial entry in entirely too long.  The Frog’s frequently thoughtful, reflective posts have inspired me to write one (or at least attempt to).  So this is it – a brief look into the state of my life at the moment.

I can’t believe I graduated from law school almost two years ago and have been living and working in Los Angeles for a year and a half now.  I realized recently that I’m growing comfortable in this city.  It almost feels like home.  I’ve made new friends, reconnected with old ones, made career connections and picked up a hobby.  I have an actual apartment and not a dorm, a savings account comprised of more than student loans, a nice office with a great view.  I feel more settled than I have in years, maybe ever.  That restlessly itch to pack up and move somewhere, anywhere has passed and I can see myself here for a few more years.  Maybe indefinitely.  I’m sad but resigned to seeing my friends from northern California infrequently and my friends on the East Coast virtually not at all.  It’s weird – this sense of complacency.  I never imagined I’d feel it in this foreign city when I was an undergraduate at UCLA.  But I do. 

Yes, LA is still brutal in many respects.  The hard water’s still drying out my hair.  The smog still makes me break out.  The air’s still drying out my eyes.  The traffic still drives me crazy.  I still feel fat here.  But I’m adjusting.  Filter for the shower.  Different cleanser and moisturizer.  Drops for my eyes.  Music for the endless hours spent in my car.  Acceptance that while I will never been super thin, I’m thin enough.

There are definitely things I’d like to change about the state of my life, but I don’t think that lingering feeling will ever really go away.  I don’t think it does for anyone.  On the whole, I’m good.  Things are good.  Thanks for asking.  And for reading.     

(I didn’t mean this to be a smug post about how great my life is.  There’s plenty that’s not great.  I just wanted to take a moment to remind myself that overall, I’m happy.  That overall, I shouldn’t let the not so great things get in the way of that.)

Guy:  [*innocently*]  I think the waitressess have to be anorexic to work here.  They’re all way too thin.

Girl:  Really?  I think they look great.

Guy:  No.  They’re scary thin.  It’s really unattractive.

Girl:  [*accusingly*] You like fat women, don’t you?

Guy:  [*dumbfoundedly*] Huh?

Girl:  You think I’m fat, don’t you?

Guy:  HUH?

Girl:  I don’t want to talk about this anymore.

Guy: ? 

Note to readers:  For the sake of protecting the irrational, I’m leaving out any identifying information.  =)  Let’s just say this is Every Girl.

Sad.  Overslept this morning (full day at Disneyland yesterday) and missed meeting up with my running group.  Had to run 22 miles by myself. 

Realized that while I enjoy my own thoughts, four hours and ten minutes of self-reflection is too much.  Apparently, I’m not that interesting.  Contemplated starting conversation with random runners, but didn’t find one that was running in my direction at my pace who looked like they wanted to chat. 

Due to late start, had to run back through Venice during peak hours, dodging and weaving through people.  Probably rather obnoxiously.  Wish I had a horn to honk at people so they’d stop getting in my way.  Would probably not have helped with the obnoxiousness though.  Apparently self-reflection and crowds make me a little cranky.  Thought about saying “beep beep” as I passed, but didn’t have enough energy to execute.  Plus, not clear people would get reference to Roadrunner.  Also, realized Roadrunner wouldn’t have been passed by grandmothers and moms with strollers (was running rather slowly for last two miles).

Note to self:  Don’t oversleep again.

Interesting list in the New York Times of the best works in American fiction in the last 25 years.  Toni Morrison’s Beloved topped the list. 

I think it’s an excellent choice, although I’m probably not in a position to say since I haven’t read many of the books on the list.  Sad considering the fact that I was an English Lit major and think of myself as a rather avid (or formerly avid) reader.  Unfortunately, reading cases all day has made a major dent in my propensity to read in my spare time.  And has significantly decreased the amount of spare time I have.  

I hate how work is always getting in the way of not working.

I’ve been exhausted and stressed out about work lately, more so than usual.  I was told recently though that “if this is you when you’re ‘miserable,’ I’m not sure I’d be able to stand how perky you’d be when you’re actually happy.” 

Funny, I’ve never really thought of myself as perky per se.  I think I’m much too cynical and my sense of humor has too much of a bite to be “perky,” but, whatever, I’m going to take it as a compliment anyways.  =) 

(Sorry, was that too perky?)

I am completely and utterly incapable of self-restraint when it comes to snacking.  If it’s there, I’ll keep consuming it until it’s not there any longer.  It’s not a super good characteristic when one’s trying to lose weight.  Through the years, I’ve learned to cope with my debilitating weakness.  The best method of coping is simply to not buy the food in the first place.  This is not always possible though as snacks seem to magically leap into my cart while I’m grocery shopping and insist on being taken home.  I am helpless to resist.  (“Whatever you say Mr. Hershey’s!”)

Lately, my method of coping is to simply throw perfectly good snacks away before I can finish them.  (I know, starving children, etc. – I already feel bad about this practice, but I don’t have a choice people.  I don’t have a choice!)  

I had an ephiphany today:  I suffer from a very efficient form of bulimia. 

A co-worker recently showed me pictures of a beautiful but out of her range expensive house she was eyeing.

My response?  “You realize the maintenance costs on that house will be super expensive too, right?  It’s a gorgeous house and all, but at the end of the day, it’s just a house.  Wouldn’t you rather be able to afford groceries?”

She told her fiance, who apparently likes me more and more as he hears stories about me because, “She’s just like a boy!” 

I get this a lot. 

T:  What do you want to do tonight?

Me:  I don’t know.  What do you want to do?

T:  It’s Saturday night.  (*pause*) Maybe we should go out or something…

Me:  (*pause*)  Um, sure.

T:  Any ideas where you want to go?

Me:  I guess we could go out in Hermosa.  I hate going out in LA and all the bars around here are a little more dressed up than I feel like being tonight.

T:  Okay, sounds good.

[An hour later.  Have driven to Hermosa and circled looking for parking for what feels like a million years, but was actually probably 10 minutes.]

Me:  Sorry, I forgot what a pain parking is this late.  (*sigh*)  I really wish we’d just ordered a pizza and stayed in tonight.

T:  Yeah, that would have been perfect.

Me:  Wait – I thought you wanted to go out tonight?

T:  No, I LOVE staying in.  I thought YOU wanted to go out!

Me:  Seriously?  I’d like nothing better than to rent a video and order some pizza.  Wanna head back? 

T:  Oh, thank god.  I was afraid we’d actually have to go out tonight!

Me:  Me too.  Looks like we dodged the bullet on that one.  Well, technically, we’re in the vicinity of the bars.  That’s almost like we went, right?

T:  Um, sure.

It’ll be okay everyone.  Yes, it’s a new look, but not to worry – it’s the same old content.  =)

Hopefully this new page, although not as pretty, is easier to navigate.  I’m still trying to get things organized and sorted (um, ’cause I’m sure my five readers are dying to read my archived posts) so bear with me. 

In looking through some of my old posts though, I’m coming to realize – I’ve gotten hideously, depressingly boring in the last year.  What happened?!  I use to be an interesting person, I swear!  My old posts were actually about stuff, had interesting titles, discussions on current events.  My latest posts are generally just me whining.  And lately, I haven’t even had time to post those.  I’m turning over a new leaf with this new look.  A new and improved me.  Just you wait.  I’m going to be awesome.  =)

Or not.  Don’t forget I’m lazy. 

On the way back from Tahoe this weekend, I visited my parents for the first time in several months. 

Mom:  Wow, you’ve lost a lot of weight Y.  You’re as thin as [your sister] B!

Me:  No way Mom.  B is super thin.

Mom:  Yeah, you’re right.  Well, you’re at least as thin as [your sister] L.

Me:  What are you talking about?  L is even thinner than B.

Mom:  No, you haven’t seen her in a few months.  She’s gained a lot of weight!

Off to Tahoe this weekend with my Quad* friends, where I anticipate spending the entire weekend in the lodge.  I’m a disaster on skis or a snowboard and I’d rather just spare my friends the agony of having to watch me.  Fortunately, another friend of my, either out of pity or a true desire not to ski/snowboard, will be keeping me company.  I’m super paranoid something will come up at work today that will make escape impossible.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Sorry this blog has been monumentally boring recently.  What can I say?  As goes my life, so goes this blog!  I’ll try to think of something (anything!) interesting to write about when I get back.

Oh, and for those of you who were dying of curiousity, I did manage to eat something Friday.  Thank you for asking.  There should certainly be no worries that I’m withering away any time soon.  =)

* Note:  My Quad friends are three of my oldest and best friends.  We go way back (one as early as fifth grade and two from seventh grade).  At one point, struck by a spark of genius (or so I like to believe), we dubbed ourselves The Quad.  Cause there are four of us.  Get it?  Genius I tell you!

Hope you all are doing well.  Have a great weekend!