California

I had the best time...

I walked here every day....the Long Beach Convention Center.

I explored a good part of downtown my first day so I became familiar with how things were laid out and made notes of places I wanted to eat later. 

I went to classes and the exhibit hall.  I scored a ton of free swag.



I learned about "June Gloom" - what every morning looked like.



I watched the gloom change to beautiful weather every afternoon.

I ate a ton of food.  (This was a small donut shop not even on Google maps.)

I networked.

I was utterly fascinated with the interpreters.  This one interpreted/danced the last day at the banquet.  This was "Billie Jean".  AWESOME.

I celebrated my last night with some people at a piano bar.  Fun.

But I'm very glad to be back.  Can't wait to go get Atticus.  Have big plans for next weekend too....excited!

"I want to think again of dangerous and noble things.  I want to be light and frolicsome.  I want to be improbable,  beautiful, and afraid of nothing as though I had wings."

~ Mary Oliver

Nerves

I don't think I mentioned this yet, but my work is sending me to California for a week-long conference.  Its a long story how I got picked.  But either way...I GOT PICKED! 

Here's the link to the place I'm going if you want to look at it.

Oh yes, I'm leaving this moning.  I'm full of nerves.  New place, new things, etc.  My anxiety is overwhelming me.  I'm looking forward to going, but I have to get there first. 

Took Atticus to the kennel yesterday.  Its been a long 12 hours without him underfoot - even thought I was sleeping for half of that. 

Its good that I'm going - its a wonderful opportunity.  And I know by my overwhelming anxiety that I have been in my comfort zone for too long.  Gotta knock myself out of it.

It doesn't help that I'm on the brink of something else, personal life wise.  I have to put that on hold for a week, and when I come back, hope that its still there.  Maybe that will be the answer I've been looking for regarding this.  I just worry what the answer is going to be.

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
~ Anaïs Nin

Comic relief

Cause its been awhile since you've seen a funny face in the mirror shot....

Mwahahahaha.  I'm sporting a do-it-yourself face treatment.  Cinnamon, nutmeg, and honey.  If you do it yourself (here's the link), just be careful.  Its runny.

"All of a sudden we've become experts on John Adams." ~ my mom

Another one bites the dust

compliments of Atticus

"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity."
~ Edgar Allan Poe

Another plate of awesomeness

Rhubarb Shortcakes...veganized.  Dessert tonight.  Yum.

I like people too much or not at all. ~ Sylvia Plath

Converting trash

Oh, today...

This world of ours is chock full of magic, wonder, kittens, and assholes.  Unfortunately, I seem to encounter assholes a lot more frequently than the first three.  But the problem with being a jerk in return is that you are thereby increasing the world asshole population.  You can instead be gracious and walk away with the upperhand.
Don't yell back at them.  Don't swear.  Don't call names.  Calmly stand your ground, secure in the knowledge that eventually you will emerge triumphant.  Why?  Because you are one dignified-ass person, and dignity always wins out in the end.
~ Kelly Williams Brown