Give A Little Bit ~ Day 4

"...and I bet you've had that feeling too - you can't laugh all the time." ~ Hold Back the Rain/Duran Duran

Very acerbic mood today, especially toward the end of the work day. I felt very put-upon with little consideration for my own schedule/to-do list. I felt things were pushed upon me which should not have been then chased down and chastized for not completing said tasks within someone else's time frame. By 5:30 p.m. I was done. And livid.

Not sure what my Give was for today...too caught up in my own discontent to notice.

Ugh.

Give A Little Bit ~ Day 3

She lived next door to me; then moved upstairs to the other end of the building. Now, she lives four or five zip codes away.

She is very smart and very witty (sometimes even witty in a smart sort of way); she always brings the funny ~ whether it's crazy stories of her youth (It's A Small World in her backyard, wheelbarrow and bags of cement are parts of my favorite) or L.A. stories with her friends. Her laugh is contagious and shakes her whole body. She knows rap lyrics like I know pop, which is surprising because she doesn't hear so well (Why'd he call her Asian?).

She listens and advises; gives support, encouragement and guidance. She gives sense to my feelings and notices a lot more than I think she does. She's wise and wants the best for herself and her friends. She's the Chickens to my 'cakes.

She's my BFF and today is her birthday.

Wishing you a day as wonderful as you are. And days full of joy today and everyday.

LYMI!

Give a Little Bit ~ Day 2

Woke up in the middle of the night, my throat was en fuego. I didn't think it would be strep; but I thought it could be strep. Called Kaiser, went in @ 3:30p.
(Weight down by two - yay! Blood pressure up by 8 - boo!)

Doc took a look, said it wasn't strep. "Great! Now I'm embarrassed that I'm here for a cold." He said to treat the symptom, get some rest (read: eat a bunch of cough drops/lozenges and get some rest).

Today's Give: didn't go to work thus saving my employees & co-workers; paid the parking fee for the person(s) behind me at Kaiser Hospital parking lot.

Still feeling crappy. Going back to bed.

Give I

Went to bed with a little tickle in my throat. Woke up with sore throat and chills. And I went to work.

I know, I know - I'm a horrible person!

I left at 11.

So, Day One of Giving ~ by not sticking around the office, I gave my co-workers health.

Huh, that was easy!

Back to bed for me...

blog post with no title

I have a good life. I am blessed in so many ways and thankful in so many more ways.

Lately, however, I've been feeling - for lack of a better term - off. I haven't been able to put my finger on it; haven't been able to fully describe it. Mainly because I just do not know what the heck it is or what the heck is going on.

Last week, I finally said it out loud: I am dissatisfied. OK, great; I'm dissatisfied. Now what? What do I do about it? What will satisfy me? I started writing and journaling again. Writing is such a release for me; and I didn't realize how much I miss those classes with Miss Pamela until I picked up a pen. Journaling is a different thing for me, to me. I don't censor, I don't think. I let whatever may come out come out.

For the past couple of weeks, I have allowed work and things going on at work to affect me. So much so that I've been looking for job opportunities outside of the Company. Yeah, I know. Shocked me, too! A particular line from the Fixx song "Deeper and Deeper" has inexplicably stuck with me - "I see the edge, I look, I fall." It's been on a constant loop in my head since I saw them in Hollywood a few weeks ago. When I think about my job, the loop runs louder and faster. I'm complacent in my role. I'm not chasing a title; I'm chasing change and challenge. I will be interviewing for a couple of positions inside and outside the Company. I see the edge I look I fall...

After coming to terms with my compulsive hoarding, I shifted my focus to cleaning out and clearing out. Somehow, that became too overwhelming; so much so that I actually stopped. I've started with the piles again - magazines here, mail there, random stuff all around. I know this is bigger than me and I can't do it alone. I have to ask for help again. Why is that such a hard thing to do? Well, I gotta get over that - and fast!

Then, I found this: 29-Day Giving Challenge (Thanks to LA Blogger Gal!). I've signed up...and am challenging myself to give somehow, some way every day for 29 days. This will help me with the clearing out - I have purses for @mellerina, shoes for @moneke and clothes to give away. One of the rules states that giving is a ritual of progress, not perfection. I like that. Check it out...challenge yourself to 29 days of giving.

I have really rambled, haven't I? This isn't the blog I had in my head; it's just where I ended up.

running on empty

I should really write things down.

Thursday morning I made a mental note to get gas at lunch or after work. Lunchtime was out - we went to Burrito Express. After work was the plan. Until Chickens IM'd - hey, let's go to Original Thai. OK!

Off to Original Thai, chat chat, eat eat, bye bye, hug hug. In the car, on auto-pilot, I drove home.

CRAP!

Fine. Mental note: get gas in the morning.

Fine.

Woke up late, rushing off to work. I didn't get gas.

Fine.

After work was the plan. Again. Until @illuminato emailed - hey let's do the new brew pub in Hollywood. OK!

Leave work. On Barham when I see the light The Light. What a funny little shape that is! What the...?! I prayed to make it over the hill and coast down to the gas station.

So much for prayer. In that situation at least. Friday night + Hollywood Bowl traffic + plus normal Barham traffic = Rissa running out of gas.

Pulled over into the parking lot of a liquor store. And waited for AAA. 37 minutes later, with half-tank of gas, I cruised into Hollywood to join my TwitterFriends for an impromptu TweetUp at a cool new brew pub.

Today, I am getting two things today - gas and post-it notes for my car.

Regeneration Tour 2008 ~ Los Angeles

What a great show! Holy crap!

I just walked in the door, sat at the comp and logged in to post this blog. I need food and a Vicodin (my knees hurt - I'm old) but I'm writing.

Holy crap! Hold on...must get pill...one moment please...

:::gulp::: Ahhh...there!

OK. Where was I?

Oh yeah - holy crap!

What an *amazing* show. Seriously. Regeneration Tour - Human League, Belinda Carlisle, ABC and Naked Eyes. Originally, Dead or Alive was on the bill; however at the end of June, Pete Burns pulled out due to illness. Boo! Flock of Seagulls was set to pinch-hit. Found out tonight we were 'Flock blocked' and left with only the four bands. Dead or what?! Flock of who?! Didn't need 'em!

Naked Eyes opened with 'Always Something There to Remind Me' - which puzzled me. Uh...biggest U.S. hit and ya open with it? Oh well. The Gentleman of Sophication + Refinement and I stayed outside, drinking margaritas, listening to Naked Eyes.

Richard Blade (whom I love) introduced ABC. I was up on my feet immediately. Martin Fry looked quite dashing in black shirt, pants + a rhinestone-studded blazer and he sounded spectacular! He sang the well-known songs plus one new song (which wasn't so bad), the audience standing for the entire set. Except for the guy next to me. He sat there. And applauded. No worries - I danced and sang enough for both of us. I had hoped to hear "All of My Heart" even though it's a slow song; however, I was stoked when he sang "Tears Are Not Enough" and "When Smokey Sings" - fabulous songs!

Belinda Carlisle was next. She looks great! She sounded better than I expected. She sang three Go-Go's songs. That's all I got. (it's sad how Circle in the Sand is still circling my brain)

The Human League. The stage was set with three mics in front; behind that were three stark white platforms - one with a drum machine, one with a synthesizer, one with a computer; behind that set-up were seven video screens. They opened with 'Mirror Man' - strong! Phil Oakey sounded great; but he was quite A.D.D./manic - he just couldn't stand still, running back and forth across the stage, jumping up and down. In between the songs, however, he would yell something ("Hello Los Angeleez!") then stand still. He was fun to watch. The girls - Susan and Joanna - did a few costume changes and danced throughout the whole set. I went more than a little crazy when they played "Love Action" ~ definitely the highlight! Ooh, "Lebanon" was good too. I think my knees popped out while dancing to that song. I don't care! It was sooooo fun and soooo gooood!

Saw several people from work and met a couple of The GoS+R's friends (Hi Dana!)...saw some a couple of interesting people - 6'6" guy in a bright pink short bob wig wearing (p)leather short-short set (his unshaven legs totally trumped the black lip liner + pink lipstick - 'member that look??) and the Pete Burns look-alike in tiiiight leather pants (the quarter in his pocket was tails) a spider web-looking vest with silver hoop connectors and he was rockin' the tall leather boots! He was fun to watch - at the show alone, dressed like Pete Burns, the dude has no confidence issues.

So, that was the show! I'm sure I glossed over some things and/or left out chunks of events. :::shoulder shrug::: I totally got Regenerated tonight!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

Text messages received overnight from my VP:

"Your Louboutin is officially 'on order.' Mike is checking other stores to see if anyone has it yet."

"Mike thinks the silver will be the better color, but he'll let you decide"

:::doing the happy dance:::

Yippeeeee! I'm getting the clutch! I'm getting the clutch!

the best laid plans...

The plan was simple: get up early, work on the apartment, go into the office for a few hours, drive down to Solana Beach for the English Beat show.

Uh, yeah. Not so much.

Finished with stuff at home, I was ready to head to the bank then the office. However, my car wasn't cooperating - dead battery. Sigh

Call AAA.
Wait 25 minutes.
"Yep, you need new battery."
"OK, fine."
"How will you pay?"
"How much is it?"
"Only $125."
"MasterCard."

Out $125 but the proud owner of a new battery, I drive over to the credit union near the studio. Mind you, this is 2 freeways and several city blocks from my place. Do my banking. Back in car. Car starts quickly; however it stalls.

Hmm.

Start.
Stall.
Start.
Stall.

WHAT THE CRAP?!

Fine. Get AAA back on the phone - "Yeah, not sure what happened; just got new battery less than 30 minutes ago and my car is stalling." Grrr!

About 25 minutes later, another AAA battery truck shows up.

"Blah blah blah, computer something, I'll call a tow truck, blah blah blah, I know a good mechanic."
"Thanks, just take me to the dealership on Lankershim." He was appalled. Visibly.
"The dealership? Why? I hear they rip you off." Yeah, I'll bet you 'hear' that.
"The dealership knows my car. I know them. It's fine."
"You don't have a mechanic?"
I mention the name of a female mechanic who is well-known in the Valley. Again with the visibly appalled thing.
"Well, I know a really good place right there on Cahuenga..."
"The dealership is fine. Thanks." He walks away.

40 minutes later, the tow truck shows up. Right out of the gate he's on me about mechanic versus dealership; full-court press! I walked away.

"The dealership costs an arm and a leg. I know a really good guy..."
"Just take me to the dealership please. Thank you."
"You know they take advantage of women. I had a lady right before you who paid $6,000 for a new engine at the dealership. My guy would only charged $3,000. Dealership charges women more."
"It's a good thing I don't need a new engine."
"Are you su..."
"Look - I may not know a lot about cars, but I do know what I want. I want you to take me to the dealership. Thank you."

It was a long and silent ten minute drive. Until we made the turn into the driveway.

"Here's my card. Find out how much it costs, then call me. My guy will do it for half and I will tow you for free." He must get a good kickback from his guy...

Two hours and $99 later, I got my car. It also cost me frazzled nerves as I talked myself out of the drive down to San Diego for The English Beat show.

Let's see what tomorrow brings...

Come on get happy!

Have to get out of this foul mood...so I started a list of things that make me happy, make me smile:

• remembering summer in our neighborhood ~ kickball in street, hide-and-seek, making up dance & cheer routines to our favorite songs, playing 4-square on the blacktop in the school's playground, blankets on the blacktop on 4th of July watching fireworks off Mt. Rubidoux, Red Rover!, playing jacks poolside with Tina and Michelle Rodriguez, tetherball!, using our Slip n Slide as a 'red carpet' into our pool, running through the sprinklers, the Ice Cream Man!
• the concerts over the weekend ~ seeing my favorite band + my some of my favorite people, singing the Alarm songs out loud, watching Cy Curnin (I have a crush), trying to explain there is no difference between '21' and 'Blackjack' to Antonee, having dinner with Lily who brings Mike Peters over (!), being with my friends and having not a care, good music and good times, up $27 in Vegas - getting a $30 - and leaving Las Vegas down $3
• one of my employees gave me a CD entitled "The Lovely Miss R's Kitchen Sink" - and it is a total hodge-podge of good music
• one of my employees actually called to say 'Thank you' for helping her
• looking at the Christian Louboutin Laminato clutch
• making this list

What thoughts make you happy, bring a smile to your face? Share in the comments :)