Ok, ok, I'll blog

Yah yah I know it's been a bit, but I've been outta town ok? So I have decided that I'm going to call my job that I'm taking out in Los Angeles 'the Job'. I don't really want to name the names of the people I'm working for or really say that much about it because out of courtesy to them I don't think its fair to do so. So....with that said, I will talk about the Job, a lot probably, because that's going to be consuming my life starting in May but discretely of course. For those of you who know the history of the Job and know who I'm working for and what I will be starting to do in May you're all set, for those of you who don't you can either ask me or just try to guess what I'm talking about through all of this. So yeah, that's that.

As for my time out in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago, holy man. I cannot even tell you how great it was! And I can honestly tell you I AM GOING TO LOVE MY JOB. I am so pumped for it to start. And it's only about 6 weeks away, whoa! I should be heading out there with Rex by about the second week in May. The Job is flying him out there to help me move in and to make sure that he knows where I'll be and who I'll be working with, etc...basically for him just to feel comfy with what I'll be doing out there. How great right? They are AMAZING people.

After coming home from that extravagant adventure I left not four days later to drive home to Madison for a week with Rex. The road trip, through the night I have to add, was really fun. We had a great time just keeping each other awake, laughing, a lot. We got to surprise my mom and sister too, they thought we were getting in later that night. And what a great welcome we received that night...we got snowed in!!! It's a good thing we were having a few beers at my sister and brother in-law's place and we were able to just crash there to wake up and make a tasty breakfast with my wonderfully amazingly nephew, Owen. I'll put some pics up of him..and hopefully I can finagle putting a video of him up too...the funniest thing I've ever seen.


So yeah, that's my life up until now. Oh yeah, I'm done working at the Cafe. It was a great run, but I need this next month to write a lot of Spanish and just be relaxed about leaving. Besides that I'm getting ready to get back into the swing of things tomorrow. Just finished my lesson plan for the week and I just found out I don't have to do any homework for tomorrow, woo! Hope everyone is doing great, I'd love to hear your stories. :)

I expected everyone to be skinny.

Ok so I really wrote this last night but...I didn't get a chance to post it til tonight, sorry!

It really is funny to think about everyone's misconceptions and crazy ideas about what Los Angeles and Hollywood really are. You imagine it to be like what you see in movies and on TV...and it is, sometimes. Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway is a completely surreal experience. Looking at Sony Studios and thinking about all of the amazingly talented people that have been through there, especially back when it was MGM Studios. But in all reality Los Angeles is just like any other huge, major city...just throw in the Tinseltown flare and there you go.

Honestly though, I have to admit that I thought everyone would be skinny and way too tan out here. I know, it's an awful stereotype of LA people...like everyone in Kentucky marries their cousin, but I admit...I thought it true. And yeah, I'd say that the general population is skinnier than anywhere I've ever lived, disregarding Buenos Aires of course (where the average height and weight of a woman is like 5 feet nothing, 95 pounds). The overall concept of 'health' and 'fitness' is HUGE out here...and I LOVE IT. I don't have to explain what gluten is when I go to a restaurant. I asked a simple question kind of leading up to my gluten-intolerance schpeal at the cutest little organic restaurant called Simple Greens but before I even finished my question the guy goes "Do you have a gluten-allergy?" In my head I'm screaming, "I love you! Thank you for understanding me!" Haha.

Right now I am sitting in a newfound wine bar in Culver City. I had a couple of hours to myself tonight so I hit the Trader Joe's, did some walking/sightseeing, and found this quirky, cute place. I came in originally because they were playing Imogen Heap super loud...it intrigued me. Not many people, let alone restaurants/bars, know about Imogen...she's like this hidden unbelievably talented artist that everyone should know. And after one glass of some Spanish white wine and seome serious people watching I'm ready to start another day in this new, and very surreal, city.

(I started, and finished, that day today, and loved every minute of it!)

Traveling

When you travel there is always that euphoric excited/nervous feeling that goes hand in hand together. Whether it's 90% excited, 10% nervous or vice versa it's a great feeling. When you finally get packed, get in the car, drive to the airport and get checked in, the minutes you have to wait until you can actualoly start your voyage feel like hours ( and sometimes are). Depending on where you are departing from you can kind of gauge how long you'll need before your flight to get checked in, go through security, etc. Well from the Little Rock Nat.'l Aiport you honestly never know. This morning I got to the airport the usual 1-1.5 hours early and it took me no more than 10 minutes to get through it all and sitting down with my soy latte writing this. The last time I cam through, however, it took me almost the full hour to get all of it done. You never can tell.

Well getting back to what I was originally talking about, the euphoric feeling of going somewhere new or somewhere familiar. I feel like that euphoria is put on pause when you're just sitting, waiting for the plane to get here and board. Don't get me wrong I am still completely euphoric about going but that feeling takes a different form for a bit. It's like the calm before the storm. You have no idea what's coming or what's in store, all you know is that it's going to turn your world upside-down...in a good way, of course.