Back to reality. And, this month's credit card bills.

Back to work. Two weeks ago I was on vacation with my mom in Spain. Funny how that seems so long ago, like a dream. Is my need for a vacation that bad ? I guess so.

I'm back at work, and it's like I never left. Isn't that always how it is ? Hmm. the emails have stacked up and the mail's in a pile and so are the bills and laundry. Yup, definitely back to reality.

Facing the Bills
It's been getting a little out of control, I admit. I need to cut back on spending or else.
10/25/09 $10 LACMA tickets
10/22/09 $105.76 Cable bill
10/20/09 $47.10 Books from Amazon
10/19/09 $248.53 Dinner at The Bazaar at the SLS Beverly Hills. (Granted, I was paying for four people, who gave me the cash.)
10/17/09 $115 Color, cut, and tip at Lauren's Salon (beauty costs money!)
10/17/09 $79.02 Cosmetics from Dermalogica salon (see note above)
10/13/09 $279.57 Dress and belt from BCBG
10/13/09 $452.18 Major service for my car. (Didn't I just take it in for service?!)
10/11/09 $42.90 for gas
10/7/09 $45.57 A pair of boots from Zara

Maybe next year I should take two weeks off. Or a year.

I dare to dream.

Breakfast with a side of COTW!

I order the LaFonda omelette at Jinky';s in SaMo - comes with diced
beef, hearty chunks of meat and avocado with red onions, ranchero
sauce, cheddar cheese, and tomato. Not for the faint of heart- I add
chipotle tapatio sauce to it.
The cafe is busy with saturday morning patrons in this beach town.
I grab a seat alone at the bar; I had wandered in, starved after my
free mini spa facial treatment in the neighborhood. I wonder if I
look slightly mysterious - girl sitting alone in a busy diner. Or
pretentious while clicking away on my Blackberry. Probably
pretentious.

COTW
The guy taking my order is wearing jeans and a yellow t-shirt. He has
dark, short, spiky hair (akin to the crest of a wave) and a light
olive complexion. I decide that he is cute and wonder what ethnicity
he is. Something South American, I think.

The other server checking on me is wearing a white t-shirt and a red
belt with rivets in it. Grommets, rivets, whatever they're called. I
wonder why anyone would buy a red belt, and then I remember that I
have one myself. He has a little something picante about him also.

I realize that the crushing has finally returned. Sigh. I feel
relieved - things may be going back to normal in a few more ways than
I thought. Aren't you glad?

There's something about beauty. /Hay algo sobre belleza.

When beauty surrounds you, you feel beautiful. It is a subtle process, a smooth and careful seduction you do not notice the actions of until you realize that you have been fully enchanted.

Being surrounded by beautiful gardens, parks with ponds filled with paddle-boating locals, people that greet each other with a double-kiss, a square meant for the people of a city to sit and enjoy, grand fountains offering harmonious spaces of peace within a bustling metropolis, a fine array of rose bushes to pair with good conversation with your dear loved ones.

Moments feel richer, more precious yet not rushed, dripping with a sophisticated focus on enjoying life.

I don't feel drunk, but firmly held onto by that moment of warmth before getting a little tipsy on spirits.

Remind me to travel more.
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Sent using Blackberry

HAY ALGO SOBRE BELLEZA.

Cuando la belleza te rodea, te sientes bella. Es un proceso sutil, una seducción y buen cuidado de que no se dan cuenta de las acciones hasta que te das cuenta de que ha sido totalmente encantado.

Estar rodeado de hermosos jardines, los parques con estanques llenos de remo-canotaje locales, las personas que se saludan con un beso doble, una plaza destinada a la población de una ciudad para sentarse y disfrutar, grandes fuentes que ofrece espacios armonioso de paz dentro de un metrópoli llena de vida, una buena selección de los rosales de par con una buena conversación con sus seres queridos queridos.

Momentos se siente más rica, más preciosa aún no se precipitó, goteo con un enfoque sofisticado en disfrutar de la vida.

No me siento borracho, pero mantendrá firme en ese momento de calor antes de conseguir un poco borracho sobre las bebidas espirituosas.

Me recuerdan a viajar más.

Those crazy kids.

I'm at this club in Barcelona and its 2:50am, so just getting hot. There's a guy that I know for sure has gotten in with sneakers, and some of these girls look barely 19, or even younger. The PYTs (girls and guys) are up and about, dancing around, shaking what their mommas gave them. I'm not over there - that's me in the corner, having spotted a pod chair with pillows, I am sitting down. Ooh baby, to sit down. those PYTs can keep dancing. I'm just gonna sit right here. Then there are these dudes that look to be in their late 30s. Yep.

I'm trying to remember the last time I was up this late and then I stop when I realize its because it must be at least 6 months to a year.

I've had half of a rum and coke and I feel like I'm done with alcohol for the night (or the year). Why do vacations have to go by so quickly? Can us Americans catch on to Europe's example 3 or 4 weeks of national holidays? Can that be put into reality? Hmm.

I mean, aren't we in an economic depression ?

Am relieved to find that these crazy kids are listening to the same things circa 2003. They will not be achy tomorrow morning from their night of clubbing. Its different when you have bills to pay. (I'm the one in the plaid dress on the right, looking for a place to sit down.)

I feel kinda old. Time to go home now.

[Photos: www.delisgroup.com]

Pounding the pavement. And, Stuff I Can Fit In My Purse.

Nope, I'm not out on the streets, looking for work.
I'm out on vacation with my mother, walking around the whole city of Madrid and then Barcelona. She is the one wearing socks. With sandals.

She found that she doesn't like taking the metro in Spain thus far. She's not a big fan of steps that lead you deep and far from city streets -seems more of a marathon to her. So after our self and guidebook led tours of Madrid, we opted for the double decker tour buses for the Barcelona leg of the trip. Also - its considerably easier, now that I didn't have to plan so intricately in a city I already knew.

I don't remember the last time I went walking this much. I live in LA, so I'm supposed to be living a sedentary lifestyle in my car, driving.

Stuff I Can Fit Into My Purse
While traveling like a tourist I fit in my leather hobo:
-one travel sized umbrella
-my wallet
-one bottle of water
-one digital camera
-one tin of mints
-one coin purse
-one souvenir belt that my mom bought for 2 euros
-one city map
-one map of the closest grocery stores to our hotel
-one cell phone
-a few pages ripped out of a guidebook
-one pair of earbud headphones
-one bottle of hand sanitizer

How nice it is, to not have to work today. A day off. Forgot what that feels like.

Es como un perfecto cafe con leche, o una bebida que bebes cuando estas en placa reial. Descubriendo algo que te encanta para el primer tiempo. Hace buen tiempo, la ciudad es hermosa, asi, sientes hermosa tambien. Es una cosa para decirle a alguien, es una otra para tu estar alli.

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Sent using Blackberry

That's a big bump.

While walking down a street in the neighborhood of plaza de espana, my mom keeps looking at my face, not talking. We stop to cross the narrow street. I can feel her eyes on me although I'm not looking at her, I know that she's scrutinizing my complexion, spotting the pimple.

"That's a big bump," she remarks.

I pause a moment, trying to veil my irritation. Patience with my parents, or with anyone in my family, does not come easy.

"I know," I say.

We keep walking down the hill in these quiet back streets and eventually make our way to the metro station. I realize that we have taken the longer route from our hotel by accident, but I do not let on that I know this.



We had a squabble of annoyance on day two of our trip, giving it a dose of reality.

I believe I prefer arguing with my mother while navigating the metro stations in Madrid on self-declared holidays. Much more exciting while walking through the beautiful capital than while on the phone from opposite coasts of the US, whilst we engage in our respective toils of work and errands.



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Sent using Blackberry

Jesse Spano

Remember that one Saved By The Bell episode where Jesse OD'd on pills and overslept ? She missed the music video shoot at The Max, so Screech had to fill in for her. Well, I feel like that...so excited! (If you recall, she admitted to Zach that she was scared.)

Why is it that once you become a working stiff, you don't get excited about many things anymore? Especially on a day-to-day basis. Is it because there are few surprises?

Anyway, I'm excited, just like Jesse. Without the drugs.

Note to self: travel more. To places you can get excited about.

No hot madrileno sat next to me. Ah well. Ill just meet them there...

Going on vacation

I am now en route to Madrid. What am I doing? Secretly hoping that a hot guy will sit next to me, of course. Ooh, baby. First vacation in - well, ever. Not counting family trips..