Primetime TV has lost its prime for me

Even if I hadn’t been so busy at UCLA last week, I still think I would’ve missed out on all the amazing Primetime TV that premiered in the evenings this month. I don’t think I could even tell you what night Grey’s Anatomy is on anymore, nor could I even tell you what network it was on… didn’t it switch or something? Actually, I don’t even think I could tell you the weeks’ line-up for TV shows. I’ve become immune to TV. I don’t even know what my favorite shows are anymore because I’ve lost my primetime channels.

On the rare occasion that I do catch the tube, it usually is CNN Headline news, (Anderson Cooper if I’m lucky!) or something on the Discovery Channel. I’ve become partial to Anthony Bourdain and have decided that I might like his life- the traveling and eating aspect that is. If I’m up late, I will refuse to watch Conan O’Brien because I think he’s too weak and cold to replace Leno- he’s just not LA enough. If it’s not wishing for Leno to come back to late night, hopefully its some fun commercial-free movie or a documentary show on the making of St. Paul’s Cathedral or South African penguins. Most recently, it was a documentary on John Muir which I actually stayed awake for- I’m embarrassed to admit that I actually enjoyed it. My guilty pleasure is Showtime’s The Tudors, but most places don’t have Showtime = lame.

What I’d really like to do is fall in love. With a TV show that is. I’ve caught a couple episodes of Glee but am worried that my show choir history is in my recent past and the TV shows love of sparkles and jazz hands may be just too much for me to handle. ER is OVER now, and so I’m left with NBC’s new Trauma series or Grey’s Anatomy, which I’m told is killer so far this season… no pun intended. I guess really, I’d like to fall in love again with TV because the women I work with talk about it all the time. Whether it is The Office, Arrested Development, 30 Rock or Keeping up with the Kardashians (which I will NEVER EVEVR watch) I need something just so I have something to talk about! That, and my cousin is starting to watch more TV then I am and is convinced I live under a rock- not true JJ.

So I’m up for suggestions- what should be my primetime love this season? Give me your input and I’ll see if I can commit….

Someone loves me.

And no... it is not a boy. My mom knew what a tough week I was having and loves me and The Organization so much.

Although, flowers from a boy would be nice too.
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Melting.

UCLA is going great and is very exciting... but this is how I feel. Blah. It is so hot.

New Set of Wheels

Wow. It has been over a week since my last post. Many things have happened, so here’s the Cliff Notes version…

-I suffered through the flu and finally kicked it out of my system
-I adventured in San Francisco with my best friend- from chocolate festivals to tiki bars to the ancient Japanese practice of karaoke to albino crocodiles- I did it all!
-I went home for 2 days for the first time since July 6th

I loved going home- it was so incredibly amazing to sleep in my own bed. I was surprised at myself because quite honestly, I thought I’d manage pretty well being gone for a long time. But once I was a day away from being back in Southern California, I could hardly think about anything except for getting to see my family. I was craving that familiar smell of home (plus the left over smoke from CA wildfires, sort of) and was dying to have a glass of wine- or two.

Most importantly though, I got a new set of wheels while I was home…. And no, I do not mean a car. The next most important thing that I travel with- a new suitcase! It seems that my suitcase from 8th grade graduation had finally met its match during my last tow months of extensive travel. It has been with me on so many wonderful trips, that it was actually really hard to let it go- we’ve spanned the globe together and have gotten beaten up along the way, lost- only once, and filled to the brim, typically with shoes. Duh.

So this new suitcase…. Where do I begin to tell of its top of the line TravelPro fabulousness? I’ll just list it…
-Removable garment bag easily snaps in and out
-Expandable zipper adds 2in of extra space- great for when I want to bring extra shoes
-Sleek black exterior is scratch free and has lots of functional storage pockets
-In-line skate wheels allow the bag to zip along by your side, even in the toughest of environments

Bonus purchase info- it is the #1 choice for pilots and flight attendants AND I got an extra 20% off on my purchase. Someone is looking out for me and I thank them for keeping my shoes and back in mind while I travel.

Really?

It is currently 4:16am. I'm on my way to the airport (SLC). I'm drinking a Diet Dr. Pepper and singing Moulin Rouge with two very kind women who are driving me to the airport. Oh wow.

In 6 hours I'll be having breakfast with Sam and Walter. Money.**

**My apologies for this posts lingo- been awake for 36 hours and slightly delirious.
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Packing, the NEW Olympic Sport

I feel pretty confident in proclaiming myself as the individual who singlehandedly made shopping an Olympic sport. And yes, although the IOC has yet to take my suggestion seriously, I will continue to compete myself and encourage others to compete at the same level as myself- c’mon people, let’s pull outta this recession by showing off our purchasing power and brand new, just for fall, brown suede pumps and black leather boots!*

Anyway, seeing as Salt Lake City was the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, I felt it extremely appropriate to share my Gold Medal Olympic-level shopping skills with the community. On a night off in the downtown area, I perused the shops, admired the new fall lines and, as my dear cousin would say, was drawn to all the sparkling things like a crow. Needless to say, I made a handful of purchases and was equally pleased and exhausted by the end of my run.

Three days have passed since then, and my next Olympic feat was looming in the future…. I had to pack it all in two suitcases! Typically, I travel in my long trouser jeans, a black tank top and my yellow cardigan, along with a pair of high-heeled black sandals. Well today, I went against my better judgment and traveled in a thin dress, black flats and a light cardigan. Therefore, the clunky items I usually travel in were taking up extra space in my luggage today. So with that extra challenge in mind, I had to fit my new purchases in my bag with less space than what I started with. Ready- set- GO!

One hour and 37 minutes later, and a 45-minute extended check-out time approved by the front desk, my bags were both bulging at the seams, but everything was in! I can’t believe that I’m admitting this, but I sort of wish I hadn’t made all of those cute purchases- what was I thinking? Luckily, my handy packing cubes saved the day, and I have a week to get to a post office and ship some of this crap, I mean lovely things, home so I don’t have to pay a large chunk of my life savings to the airline overweight baggage fee.

Best Practice Methodology I SHOULD be using: buy something new, get rid of something old. I have a tough time with goodbyes though, so this is just something I’m gonna have to work up to…. Perhaps I took the Bronze in packing this time around….

*That's for you Ms. Klotzbach.

Smiling at the Light

Today was a marvelous day- a big change from the rest of the week where I had been battling some type of crazy flu and was trying to get off of my “week off” schedule (ie. sleeping in was not an option this week). The women here in Utah excelled in their recruitment process and set the record high for next year’s standards. I’m so proud of them and they worked so hard. It was a true mark of their success this morning when I read their returns.

The rest of the day was spent celebrating and getting to know their newest members. We drove up to the mountains above Salt Lake City and had dinner at a gorgeous house. While the Utah Civil War football game was on (ie. University of UT vs, UT State), I took myself outside to see the view, which was, as per post below, absolutely wonderful. I spent the hour catching up on work calls and absorbing the scenery while lounging on the grass and watching the sunset over the west- they are just so much prettier when you’re actually in the west, by the way. The light is brighter and more vibrant, I swear.

The women joined me outside shortly after sunset and sat in a circle for a special ceremony. It was so rewarding to see the smiles on the faces of the new members in the last light of the day- they were so happy and you could tell how special they really felt. Seeing this reminded me of last January, when I saw the happiest faces walk through the door at MY house, where we were welcoming OUR newest members. A special face in particular came to mind- not sure if it was the sunset, or the cool summer breeze coming over the mountains that made me feel this way, but I was immediately reminded of Milena. I felt like she was sitting there with me, smiling at the new faces in the crowd with me and sharing in the moment. Even though she didn’t know these women like I did, she was proud of them just like I was, and happy to be called their sister. Despite her lost battle, her darling, memorable smile will always be the thing that people remember the most. I also fondly think of her loyalty and kind heart, her ability to make a crowd burst into laughter and her eternal drive to make the most of her life. I wish people would not get caught in the monotonous day to day struggles, and instead thrive on living the life they wanted to live. They too would be happy like Milena was. Like Milena is. They’d probably look like everyone else in the circle looked- joyful, with bright, smiling faces.

Reason # 7 why I love my job

Sunset over Salt Lake. Breathtaking.

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Huzzah! Color is the new black!

Just so you know... I'm slowly moving out of my "wear all black all the time" mantra, and stepping into some brighter shades. As evidenced by my working wardrobe this week, I thought those of you who know I primarily live in a uniform of all black or jeans and a white tee would be proud of my colorful efforts.

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