THE SUN HAS SET!

So as this year comes to a close, I watch the sun set...literally and metaphorically!  As I drove in my car(which is all too often) I watched the beautiful sunset that God painted across the horizon and as my relationship with Luke(the sunshine in my life) fades away, I realize how beautiful love truly is.  God is constantly reminding me that although the sun may fade away, tomorrow brings a brand new sunrise!  I am ever grateful for this reality.  I am reminded time and time again, that we will never know what tomorrow may bring and with this truth that I hold on to, I anticipate an exhilirating 2009!  Only God knows what is next!

CLARITY

So as I sit here and contemplate about our country's recession, I quickly turn my focus on to what really matters in life.  Even though the tv is blaring about the crashing stock market and the newspapers have headlines of despair; I'm constantly reminding myself to not have fear.  I can confidently have a life full of hope and peace of mind because God has all of this under His control!  Don't get me wrong, when you look around and see sadness and destruction, it can be a harsh reality.  So, that is when I must find all of the faith that I can muster and look up!  I completely have to trust that God will make it all work out in the end.  This picture of this amazing rock formation helps me gain clarity...God can make something beautiful even out of rock.  He will always make a way and it just makes perfect sense.  I will always marvel at his incredible beauty!  Times are tough, but God is tougher!

BEING AN "EXTRA!"

So as you know, I work at a salon in West Hollywood, called, Rudys Barbershop.  It happens to be in a really great location on Melrose Avenue.  That being said, alot of people like the vibe of the shop!  Anyways, Burger King decided that they would like to use our salon as a location site for one of their commercials.  The casting director asked me and one of my coworkers to be, "extras."  I reluctantly agreed.  However, once I was informed how much I would be getting paid, I became alot more flexible!lol!  

So, after a long day of pretty much sitting around and eating, and a little bit of being ordered around by the director.  I came to realize what the life of an "extra" consists of.  I must say, it made me feel pretty unproductive and ancy!  But, the best way to look at this experience is, it was probably one of the easiest ways that I've ever made money in a day and being able to hang out with 4 of my favorite coworkers all day long and eat limitless amounts of food, all in all, was a pretty good day!  But, this experience of being an "extra," makes me appreciate my career a whole lot more!

THE SUNSHINE IN MY LIFE!

So little did I know what my "Labor Day Girls Trip" was going to bring into my life!  I had a blast with all the girls that weekend, but, Catalina became a whole new experience when i met this boy.  It was the last night on the island and Muma, Tamara and I walked over to Marlins to retrieve Muma's glasses from this really nice guy, Chris,  that  we had met the night before. Anyways, long story short...Luke and I met that night and have been talking ever since.  And if you can believe this, he talks even more than I do!  We both have an undeniable love for the beach and live to be outdoors.  I really enjoy his zest for life and his honesty is incredibly refreshing.  I can't believe that i'm dating someone younger than me and God continues to teach me to never say never because you just never know!!!

Freakin Hilarious!

JUST FOR FUN!

CATALINA

SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE OUR INFAMOUS "LABOR DAY GIRLS WEEKEND," ON CATALINA ISLAND THIS YEAR!  THIS YEAR OUR GROUP OF GIRLS CONSISTED OF 9 OF US: MUMA, ME, ABBEY, TAMARA, TINE, ROSA, KATIE, JACKIE AND VICKY!  WE ALL LEFT ON THE CATALINA EXPRESS FERRY OUT OF LONG BEACH ON SATURDAY MORNING AND THAT IS WHEN VACATION BEGAN.  WE CHECKED INTO OUR LITTLE COTTAGE BY THE SEA AND THEN WENT FOR LUNCH.  SINCE OUR GROUP IS SO BIG ARE SERVICE IS TYPICALLY SLOW AND POOR!  HOWEVER, WE ARE USUALLY IN GREAT SPIRITS AND HAVE TONS TO TALK ABOUT, SO WE AREN'T TOO AFFECTED.  AFTER WE PUT SOME FOOD IN OUR BELLIES WE DECIDED TO GO HANG OUT ON THE BEACH.  IT WAS A GORGEOUS DAY AND IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN SOME OTHER COUNTRY...WHAT A MAGICAL FEELING IT WAS.  THAT NIGHT AFTER SOME OF US GOT READY(ME NOT INCLUDED) WE WENT TO A MEXICAN RESTAURANT FOR DINNER AND THEN HIT THIS QUIRKY KARAOKE BAR.  WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND SOME OF THE GIRLS WERE REALLY SPENT SO THEY WENT BACK TO OUR PLACE TO SLEEP AND MUMA, TAMARA, ABBEY, ROSA AND I, WENT TO THE LOCAL DIVE BAR CALLED "MARLINS."  WE DANCED AND MET LOTS OF SO CAL PEOPLE.  AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, ROSA, SOMEHOW GOT THE LOCAL DONUT SHOP TO OPEN FOR US.  NEEDLESS TO SAY, OLD FASHIONED GLAZED DONUTS ARE ALWAYS GOOD NO MATTER THE HOUR! LOL!  SO THE NEXT DAY WE WOKE UP AND WENT AND GOT SOME COFFEE AND THEN WENT ON OUR ADVENTURES...THIS INCLUDED EATING, KYAKING, SNORKELING, LAYING OUT, PLAYING GAMES AND MEETING NEW PEOPLE!  IT WAS A GREAT DAY AND WE WENT FULL FORCE.  THE FOLLOWING MORNING MOST OF THE GIRLS WERE GETTING ON THE 10 O' CLOCK FERRY SO IT WAS A WHIRLWIND OF A GREY MORNING.  ROSA AND I WERE THE ONLY ONES WHO STAYED.  THE SUN BROKE THROUGH AND WE WENT OUT AND GOT BREAKFAST.  AFTER WE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE FOR HER LOST FERRY TICKET.  WE THEN WENT AND RENTED BEACH CRUISERS AND RODE AROUND THE ISLAND, IT WAS SO PEACEFUL.  WE STILL HAD A LITTLE TIME LEFT SO WE SAT OUT ON THE BEACH AND EVENTUALLY ENDED UP ON THE FERRY AND IN NO TIME ARRIVED BACK IN LONG BEACH!  EVERY "LABOR DAY GIRLS WEEKEND," IS UNIQUE IN IT'S OWN WAY. FORTUNATELY, THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER!  LOVE YOU GIRLS!  CAN'T WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!!!

THE BEACH

                                                               SOUL SHAKEDOWN
  So anyone who knows me, knows how obsessed i am with the beach!  I have come to realize that few in this world truly have the same depth of love that I have for this beautiful creation.  Most people seem to have some kind of favor for the beach, but, i experience such a deep connection there... it is truly euphoric! Seriously, it's beauty and vastness leaves me with endless feelings of serene peace and overwhelming awe.(These feelings normally vanish as soon as i get on to the freeway!!!)  I know that others have similar experiences when they are in their element, whether that be standing on top of a mountain or fishing on a lake.  But, for me, the ocean can bring such clarity and thankfulness simultaneously, that I have to admit that I am so addicted!  The sunshine gives me light in my darkest days and the warm sand comforts each of my toes.  The birds of the air remind me that I will always have provision and the crashing waves calm my restless mind. The coolness of the water revives my spirit and makes me feel alive; while the salt heals my every wound.  The ocean gives me spiritual healing and solitude and i am forever grateful.  Each beach is unique and mysterious and that is what i cherish the most about them.  But what makes my passion grow, is that i always leave the ocean resilient, and that is the one thing that nothing else in this crazy world can do for me!  God paints different paintings in the sky everyday and the sun rays shimmer on the water like millions of tiny diamonds sparkling.  Kids laughter is in the air and smiles stretch along the coastline.  It's already been said, but, the beach is my "happy place!" Now i just need to find me a surfer!