And the move begins...

I remember my very first apartment.

It was 1991, I had just moved back to San Luis Obispo from Switzerland and moved in to a 2 bedroom with my friends Betty and Karen. Since I was a college student, mom and dad were paying for my schooling and I wanted to go as cheap as possible. I split a room with a woman--who's name I can't remember--and paid $179/mo. The apartment was straight out of the 70s with puke green carpet and reddish gold linoleum.  Back then, it didn't really matter to me what the place looked like--we kept it clean and I could live like a student. My second place in SLO, a year later, was more into the 80s with gray shag carpet and gray linoleum. For the time, the place was considered THE place to live. It had vaulted ceilings and a loft. I still miss living in that place (speaking of which--I am so looking forward to hanging out with my roomie Tracy from that year who still lives in the area.)

So, its 2012, 20 years later and I've spent the last 2 weeks looking for places in SLO. Unfortunately, it seems that none of the places have graduated past that 70s and 80s look. Since its a captive rental market with students, owners haven't felt the need to make updates. I can't tell you how many places had ovens older than me. I almost took a place in Shell Beach--a larger two bedroom with nice views and lots of light but still in the 80s with its fluorescent lights and linoleum in the kitchen and bathrooms. I wouldn't mind if it all got cleaned really well, but after living in such a beautiful place in Minneapolis where my amenities were new AND contemporary (tile, hardwood, etc) I just felt so let down. I can't believe owners haven't caught on to the growing amount of people and couples my age moving back to the area after experiencing bigger city life. If I was an owner, I would update my place to accommodate these people and charge a bit more instead of cramming students into it who don't care and will trash it with parties. I'm so glad my place in MPLS is rented out to a couple who really cares about the place and I know will take good care of it.

Anyhow, the last place I looked at was a small 1920s Spanish style bright pink bungalow. Not a lot of curb appeal considering the grass is dry due to drought and no trees except for the large Palm in the backyard. But inside, it was a little gem of a place. Dark, hardwood floors, tiled bathroom, windows and a washer dryer. It had so much character and although the storage space is minimal, it would suit me. It has the cutest backyard where I picture several happy hours with the palm tree and fence lit up with white lights. I figure storage won't be a problem thanks to the carport I share with the neighbor and the patio space. This little house fits right into San Luis Obispo's style and I'm glad I found it.

The location is close to downtown and even campus where I will be working with the GRCi to design my book cover and press check the pages. So now, I can't wait to move which will be in three weeks. My job doesn't officially transfer until March 1, but I will be taking two weeks off at the end of Feb to enjoy the experience.

So the next few weeks will be very busy as I try to say goodbye to all my friends up here, throw a CAbi party, attend a Social Distortion concert, attend happy hours and drinks with friends and fit time in to see my special someone. Another plus of moving to SLO is that I will be super close to my two little monkeys in Thousand Oaks.  I can't wait!

January

Well, the start to 2012 didn't go off completely as I expected, but I did ring in the New Year in the best possible way down in SLO. However, losing my cat Piper to a sudden stroke was so completely unexpected that I'm trying to adjust to not seeing her everyday. Losing a pet is like losing a member of the family. RIP Piper.

I wish she was coming with me on my new adventure, but it is not to be.

That leads me to wonder if things really do happen for a reason. What do you think? Do you believe we are on a path carved out by the fates or by some guardian angel sitting on our shoulders or do you think we have complete control over our destinies? I'm somewhere in the middle. While I believe in the free will concept, sometimes I feel like something is leading me a certain way. For instance, I wanted so desperately to move to SLO but couldn't figure out how to do it without quitting my job. Once I got the book deal and started seeing someone there, my manager called me up out of the blue to tell me a new territory was opening up and if I would like to take it. Coincidence? Probably--but wow. All of the sudden, everything in my life was taking me back to SLO as if there was a reason I needed to be there. Strange, but I'm going with it because it makes me happy.

I'm just hoping all the hurdles I jumped in the past 10 years were for a reason--as if I needed to go through it all to be where I'm going. Maybe losing Piper so soon (she was only 8) was for a reason that won't reveal itself to me until later.

There is probably nothing to that theory, but it sure makes it easier to go on without Piper.

I Miss You.

Dear Piper,

I miss you so much.

You haven't been gone a full week and I feel your absence more than any other pet I've had. You were the sweetest, prettiest and snuggliest kitty and I will forever remember how you greeted me whenever I came in the door. I'm so glad I made it home from my weekend away to play with you before you stroked and I will always feel so guilty about how quickly you were whisked away from me at the vet. I got to say goodbye and I hope you knew I was there as you passed, but they wanted to make you comfortable and you were very sedated. I love you so much and I can still feel your soft gray fur and small white paws as if you were now sitting on my lap. Whenever I come home from work, I call your name thinking you will come running from your sleeping spot to say hello and get some love.

You left us way too early but I think you lived a good life. You seemed very happy--especially when you got back to your favorite room at Bob and Jane's. I was so prepared to move you to SLO with me next month and show you my favorite place, but I'll have to go it without you. You truly were my best friend. I hope wherever you are, you are happy. XOXO

Happy Holidays 2012!

Merry Christmas, all!

Wow, what an end to 2011 its been. After being practically a shut in with my neck pain last year, I've been super busy the last couple of months catching up with everything. I think 2012 is going to be my best year yet.

The really good news is I'm getting my novel published in spring. The editing process starts late January and will hopefully be finished by May. I'm so very excited about this and very proud. The working title is "The Reunion" and its a women's fiction novel much in line with Emily Giffin and revolves around thirty something couple who dated in college and now meet up again in San Francisco. Obstacles and drama ensues, but the climax takes place at a reunion in San Luis Obispo. So a reunion of a couple and a real reunion at the end. Get it? The Reunion?

The other good news is that I'm moving back to San Luis Obispo in February. I've been trying to get back to the area for a long time but its always been a hard place to find a job. I am in a good position to get that obstacle out of the way, so back to SLO I go. How much I miss that town. Out of all the places I've lived--SLO has always fit my personality the best and I already feel a part of the community being a Cal Poly grad and selling my jewelry through a couple of the boutiques on Higuera Street. I look forward to celebrating New Years with my good friends who live in town.

I've sold a lot of jewlery this season, but look forward to making more for 2012. I've been on hold with it over the past year because of my neck and limited finances to stock my supplies, but now I have the flexibility to be creative again. My current favorite earrings are these to the left which I call my Studio 54 line. Unfortunately, I sold them so quickly which I guess is good news, but I kind of wanted to keep them. Let's hope I can find the crystals to make another pair because they go with everything.

With all that, I feel like 2012 is going to be a good year. The economy is starting to look better, jobs are becoming available and people just seem generally happier. I don't want to jinx anything of course, but its so hard to contain my giddiness.

I wish you all the best for the New Year.

Reunions

Reunions are the best.

It doesn't matter if its 5 years or 50 years, its still feels special to spend time with those you bonded with at some point in your past. I just spent a weekend at my university, Cal Poly, hanging out with the college radio station KCPR  alumni and former DJs. We had bands, food, booze and it was fabulous. Over the past decade, I've gotten away from the alternative music scene thanks to XM radio and my being able to play my iPod in my car. It was great to chat with peeps who are still immersed in it and now I feel the need to attend Austin's SXSW festival.

We all had a chance to rock a show on the air which I did and it felt wonderful. Played my old tunes from the early 90s like Kitchens of Distinction, Buffalo Tom, Adorable, Concrete Blonde, Jesus and Mary Chain, REM, etc. I mixed in some currents like The Delays, Wintersleep and Embrace. After months of nightmares about dead air and not cuing songs up in time, I cruised through the show like I had done it yesterday.

Networking was plentiful as I might have a great, solid lead to get my book published currently titled, "The Reunion." So maybe fate stepped in at just the right time.

Media Blues

I've decided to take a moratorium from TV News.

Why? Well, isn't it obvious? If it isn't the recession, our debt, the weather, riots, our debt, bad politicking, bad president, bad congress, our debt or a little boy being caged in the basement where he dies from starvation its something else really awful. I find watching the pundits on both sides bring out the worst news in everything. Ever watch Glen Beck? If you do, you feel like the world is ending and Rome is once again burning. Watch Rachel Maddow and you think every republican is a liar and wants to make your life miserable? Really? The one thing I've learned about all of this is that its completely out of my control. Its out of MY control. I can't get us out of debt, I can't change the weather, I can't stop a riot and I certainly cannot save everyone from starvation (although I do send money to the animal shelters. Those darn commercials get me EVERYTIME!).

So my point is that if you watch the news everynight and feel angsty or depressed--take a step back and turn it off. Completely turn it off. Go online and read headlines and sift through the overload of information you're besieged with because it willl make you feel so much better. So what if you only want to read the Living section of a newspaper? At least you'll be educated on pop culture. If reading about our debt and how China owns our asses, brings you down, stop reading it. A lot of the information is bogus anyway.

And this comes from a journlism major.

August

Crazy summer days indeed! Where does the time go? Its already mid August although we here in California get a longer summer than most.

I'm 98% recovered from the surgery. Yay. I go back to work next week after my surgeon releases me--and I can't wait. Although I've enjoyed the past couple weeks as vacation, I look forward to getting back to normal (and going back to full salary!). I miss being in my car and seeing my accounts around the bay area everyday.

I've almost OD'd on baseball. Seriously, I don't think I have missed a Giants game either in person, on tv or listening to it on my MLB app. I think I remember watching the game the night of my surgery...but that's kinda blurry. I attended the game last Tuesday where I met up with my friends Jamie Kaler and Michael Bunin (see My Boys) who were in town shooting a show for DirectTv. They are doing a travel show about baseball stadiums and the cities they reside in. Of course they had to make it up to AT&T park. The best stadium ever (but I'm biased. I like Target Field too, but because its in my old neighborhood.) Anyhow, I got to play tour guide and hang which was a blast. They truly are the nicest guys in Hollywood (and the funniest, too). First time in a year I drank a beer but the greatest part of the night was walking from Market Street to the Stadium without any pain. You don't know how much pain you're living with until its gone!

Now its back to work and working out--need to start building endorphins naturally again after being on pain medication for a year. I have a move coming up this fall which I'm looking forward to and a KCPR reunion that will put me back on the air for the first time in 10 years. Yikes. Not sure I remember how to work the board, but I get to play all my favorite music from college and beyond and see the friends I've been missing so much lately.