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

Back from my all too short trip home to SJ.  The office closed early on Friday so I was able to get home by 3:30.  Little Sis had come over earlier in the day and was hanging out with T.  We spent Friday night hanging out, wrapping presents, and not doing much of anything.  

Little Sis and I drove to SJ Saturday morning.  Arrived home around 3pm.  The Parents were glad to see us, although they persisted in asking why T didn’t come with us.  Apparently, the fact that he wanted to spend Christmas with his own family wasn’t good enough.  They reluctantly accepted that he wouldn’t be making a surprise visit – but only on the condition that he visit during Lunar New Year in February.  Presumably they want me there too.

Went for a 7 mile run Sunday morning.  I had meant to do 14 miles but slept in too late.  As is, I still scrambled afterwards to meet up with 3/4ths of the Quad for our annual Christmas gift exchange.  We had lunch at J’s beautiful townhouse (see picture below), decorated cookies, exchanged gifts and caught up on each other’s lives.  (T had noted that my gifts for my Quad friends seemed rather impersonal.  I pointed out that after some 15+ years of friendship and gift-giving, one runs out of personal gift ideas.) 

Did dinner at home with the family, including Little Sis and Littlest Sis’s boyfriends.  I think the Parents were thrilled that their nest was full again.  I should make it a point to visit more often.

Went for the remainder of my 14 mile run Monday morning, dodging ominous looking clouds and praying it wouldn’t rain all the while.  Realized again how great the weather was in LA.  Finished just in time to indulge in the feast Little Sis’s boyfriend prepared for the family (he’s studying to be a chef and the meal was his Christmas gift).  Left for LA Monday night full and happy.   

I’m back! Cruise was great. Gained a zillion pounds. T has taken to “affectionately” calling me Butterball. Yup, that’s right. Butterball. He came up with it on Thanksgiving and justifies it by saying, “But everyone loves a Butterball!” Sigh. My life is sad.

Still settling into my new apartment and new job. With all the traveling and transitions, I feel like I haven’t seen many of you guys in forever though! Let’s do something. Email me!

Sorry, gotta get back to work. No time to write and no internet at home still. More detailed updates to come though. Promise.

Friday was my last day at my old job…although I have a standing offer to come back, so it may not be the last I see of my old firm.  It was a happy sad day.  We had a little office party to mark my departure.  I absolutely love the people at that office.

T and I have been on the road for this week.  We went up to visit my parents in San Jose.  T was a hit.  Then we headed to Fresno to spend some time with his mom, whom I’d already met, and hung out with some of his old high school friends.  I was a hit.  =)  In the meanwhile, Roomie supervised the move to our new place in Marina Del Rey.  We’re heading back to LA tomorrow to spend a few days with R and her boyfriend, who are visiting Roomie and I from DC.  During this time, I need to unpack, drop by my new office to fill in some paperwork (since I had volunteered to do so in order to “hit the ground running” when I actually start in a week and a half), and help T move his stuff in.  Then it’s off to the Caribbeans on Sunday for a 5 night cruise.  I get back the day before I start work.  Emails and post updates will probably be sporadic until I settle down and get my internet all hooked up, but feel free to call and check in occationally! 

Happy Holidays all and hope to see everyone soon!

Dear BDP and Crew,

Happy birthday BDP!  Very excited to see everyone in Vegas this weekend.  Don’t worry, I’ve been mentally preparing myself all week to actually stay out late this weekend.  =)

As you know, I can only deal with the loud music (kids these days!), drunk people (ouch, that’s my toe you stepped on!), and crowds (hey, watch my drink!) for so long before succumbing to the lure of my bed and a good night’s sleep.  I promise to suck it up and be fun this weekend though.  It helps that, with five of us in the room, my chances of actually having a bed to sleep in are slim.  

Signed,

Y. the Wet Blanket

You can usually spot the tourists in San Francisco because they’re the only ones wearing shorts and a t-shirt, tricked into thinking summers in SF are actually warm.  They’re not.  Generally.  This weekend was perfect however, courtesy of the heat wave and global warming.  Unfortunately, I only packed sweaters and jeans, hoping to blend in with the SF regulars.  Despite melting in my clothes, it was a great weekend. 

Stayed at the Hilton, in their newly renovated tower.  (Nice) 

Spent quality time with friends and loved ones.  (Yay!)

Walked the City.  (Hot) 

Took a harbor tour.  (Fun) 

Danced at the Holy Cow. (Drunk)

Ate dim sum.  (Yum)   

Saw a movie in the Metreon to escape from the heat.*  (Eh) 

Had dinner at Cityscape at the top of the Hilton.  (Breathtaking) 

* Saw Pirates of the Caribbean.  Didn’t much care for it.  Thought it was grossly offensive in its portrayal of the natives and others.  Realize I’m probably being somewhat of a killjoy.  I’m usually very good at ignoring offensiveness in movies, but this was too much even for me!

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.  =)

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!

Did you know that when you repeat the same word over and over, it starts to sound funny?  No?  Well, my highly educated friends and I came to this startling revelation while lounging pool-side at the Villa La Estancia in Cabo San Lucas this weekend.  (I think I may have come to this same realization when I was six, but had forgotten it in the intervening years.)  That speaks to the level of sophistication on this trip. 

Despite getting off on a bad foot (thanks to those of you who put up with my whining when I had to spend most of Friday moping at the airport because of an overbooked flight), this was one of the best trips I’ve taken in a long time.  I know I love my friends, but I forget how much I love spending time with them.  We had moments of surprising intellectual depth (really, “grill” is a hilarious word!) and shocking stupidity (just because the mansion is isolated on top of a hill, we don’t know anyone, and we have no means of leaving should things go horribly, horribly wrong doesn’t mean we shouldn’t stay for awhile and enjoy the, ahem, view).   

We lounged by the pool during the day, talking, sunbathing, and reading (well, not so much with the reading).  Donning our mantles of mirth, we dubbed each other Babydolls and Giggles.  We were perpetually ready for a round of water aerobics (ready?) and a round of drinks (caipirinha anyone?).  We were pleasantly surprised by the people we met and the sights we saw.  

And, as the sun slipped behind the horizon each day, we slipped into our going-out alter egos each night.  We giggled at the Marlin, were chatted up at Squid Roe, and made meaningful connections at Clara Vista.  We dined on quesadillas, nachos, and more quesadillas.  We feasted on soup and swam in an ocean of tequila and beer.  I spent parts of the trip in agony – curled up in bed convinced I was going to die, swearing I was never going to drink again, and wondering why no one cared – and left Cabo a little charred (I’ve apparently turned into a vampire after spending the last eight months in the office devoid of daylight) and very much exhausted, but with wonderful memories and a renewed appreciation for fantastic friends, both old and new.  Same time, same place next year?  =)

I’m back, still exhausted but in love with Chicago. Michigan Street is a shopper’s paradise; Moonstruck has the best mint infused hot chocolate I’ve ever ever tasted; the aquarium is fun (I want a dolphin); Millennium Park is beautiful even in winter; midwesterners are as friendly as they’re reputed to be; Chicago deep dish pizza is the best food on earth; and, while it’s a mystery to me how they accomplish this, there’s an amazing view of the city skyline from any apartment in the city. If anyone wants to run away to Chicago with me, drop me a line. As soon as I thaw out (unfortunately, it’s heartbreakingly cold there), I can repack my bags. In the meanwhile, I’ll be burrowing in the office for the next few days.
Completely miscellaneous and unrelated tidbit: For those of you who haven’t already read it, this article about Gen Y associates is kind of interesting. Apparently wanting both a good salary and a decent quality of life is too much to ask for.

As always, I loved being home and regressing back to an infantile stage where all of my conceivable needs are handled by others (although this may arguably also be the case in LA since my nifty roommate handles pretty much everything around the apartment, as well as doing the occasional post office run for me while I’m at work).  Nothing new to report, simply a good weekend spending time with people I care about.  I hope you all had the same.

Oh, one thing.  Having seen several newly svelte friends recently, I’m inspired to really get back on my diet and start my running again (even if this does entail getting up at 6am)!  So, contrary to this page’s tag line, I’m giving up both chocolates and martinis for awhile.  At least until my toes are once again visible.  So the next time we meet up, I may be a little more grumpy and a lot more tired, but hopefully I’ll also be thinner. =)  Expect to see daily details of my diet and exercise regime in the following months.  Yes, the fun just never ends on this blog. 

Going home!  Yay!  For someone well into their twenties, verging on their late twenties in fact, I still get ridiculously excited about going home during my breaks.  Anyways, I’m off to the airport.  Happy holidays everyone!