The true test of my abilities is in packing the whole damn place by myself. At first I was a bit intimidated by how much 'stuff' I've collected for one person, but as I started to delve in I realized that it's a little therapeutic. I'm tackling a task that reflects how far I've come. I've been in and out of longterm relationships in the past where I didn't have a lot of say in creating the environment I wanted. Okay, I can be too accommodating at times and just let the men in my life take over. When I moved into my cozy little dump I inherited from a friend, I immediately took it upon myself to re-create myself and my environment. Eight months later and three shades of red walls staring back at me, I realized this is just the beginning of my new life as an independent woman with a full-time writing career! Of course, it's going to be unstable and a bit chaotic, even stressful. I'm fine with that. I'm looking forward to the challenges of reaching the goals I've set for myself. 
I rented movies and laid in bed most of the morning. My first pick was the Jane Austen Book Club. Who doesn't love Jane Austen? I've been wanting to see it in the theatres and by the time I was free to go, it was out on DVD. I can say I really enjoyed the movie. Perfect movie for someone who was wallowing in bed with a box of kleenex. Why not cry while I'm at it? That's what these movies are for and I haven't cried in a long time...I could sit up and write the whole synopsis to the movie, but the message I got was: 1. Follow your heart and it will lead you to where you need to be 2. Make wise decisions because if you react without trying you're only going to f*%$ it up even more 3. Everyone deserves a second chance if they've seen their errors and want to improve upon their character 4. Live life and love with passion even if it's fleeting, the memories are lifelong... and the final point? Jane Austen was brilliant! Enough said. 
Here's me with my hairdresser Danelle. Isn't she a doll?! And she reads romances! I'm going to have her hooked on my stuff!!!!
Many moons ago I used to go to the top hair salons and stylists to get the right cut. Needless to say I often had my silky locks butchered by the overly creative, shear-happy stylists. I've had hairdo's ranging from the Jennifer Aniston, Selma Blair, to the Meg Ryan...yes, I've had a lot of hairstyles! Two years ago I had spent a small fortune to get my hair cut, colored and dyed by Reese Witherspoon's hairstylist. Granted I looked pretty foxy but after a few weeks it was time to go back in and maintain the style. One day I happened to pass a really cool salon tucked away in Studio City. For goodness sakes, it was a barbershop of all things! Not just any barbershop...Floyd's Barbershop had a Harley Davidson edge to it. What did I have to lose, I walked in and took one look around and loved it instantaneously. The walls were covered with posters of music albums ranging from Guns 'n Roses, Metallica, Joss Stone, to Maroon 5. The individual stylist boxes looked like mechanic's boxes and the vibe was so awesome I couldn't wait to see what the stylist could do. Of course, I figured if they butchered my hair I'd let it grow out and try again. I'm a rebel that way. :) Well, not only was the cut CHEAP, the stylists were awesome! Over time I discovered the stylists have at one time or another worked for top salons across the country and they all somehow ended up in this rugged ultra-hip shop. I've changed out 2 stylists since going there, but Danelle has been the one to keep. She gave me my first Posh/Rihanna hairdo and I couldn't believe I let her cut off all my hair for this experimentation! The results were amazing! I can't tell you how often I'm stopped in the street, in stores, or restaurants by women who ask about my hair. Okay, these days I'm growing it for Locks of Love but I do still need to get trims to get my hair to grow 10 inches before donating. I told Danelle I'd give her a plug since I'm outta LA. It's going to be sad to leave my favorite hairstylist but she knows I'll be back in LA and when I do visit, you bet I'll stop in for a cut!
Claude Monet's Femme à l'ombrelle tournée vers la gauche
Years ago while living in Paris I stood in line for two hours for the Louvre. Needless to say it was all in vain as there had been some sort of technical issues and they shut the museum down for the day. Bloody hell! I wasn't going to live in Paris and not have the opportunity to see what the Louvre was all about. I got in line again soon after for about an hour and a half and when I finally made it in I was so overwhelmed by the people and chaos I felt literally sick. You see, I'm a bit claustrophobic. Like a trooper, I trudged through room after room of paintings and sculptures. My senses were overloaded and I can honestly say I did not have an enjoyable museum experience. 
Alas, I left the crowd to wander aimlessly through the museum. I must have walked a long while before the blur and haze of paintings became a series of George Seurat's pointillism paintings. My heart stopped. I had replicated his works once in high school art class and in my haste to go home I had not properly protected the piece and the rain washed out months of my hard labor :( Oh, I never lived that down! Back to my story, I was speechless by the art before me and wanted to soak in as much of the artworks in this section. I turned and felt suddenly faint. Towering before me was the most gorgeous Monet painting I had ever seen. It literally took my breath away and brought tears to my eyes. This enormous impressionistic painting spoke to me and I felt transported in. The pale blues, greens, yellows sucked me right into a bygone era and I did not know what possessed me. I had to touch it, I had to feel the closeness from the master of paintings...and before I knew it I had caressed a piece of history. I had done the most wrong thing any artist could have ever done, I had tainted a masterpiece yet I could never regret the energy I felt. The seduction and powers of something so real and magical. So preserved and now a part of me. Surely I could have gotten arrested, but for some rare reason, perhaps it was with the assistance of the Mona Lisa and her crowd that saved me, but I was not arrested. I was not thrown out or banned from the museum. I, was now one with a piece of history....
Last November I spent a glorious week on the Big Island, Kona...it was an incredible trip of R&R and non-stop drinking. What's not to love about it? I must have taken a thousand pictures but these are only going to be a few that I thought would give you a taste of what I experienced.
My first adventure I had the incredible opportunity to go ATV riding. Not only was it exhilarating, it was kickass pressing down on the accelerator and almost tumbling off the side of the path into a ditch. I almost did a couple of times, but it was so much fun that time just flew by.
On my way to Hilo and the way cool helicopter trip, I stopped off at the top of the mountain. Didn't want to miss the golden opportunity. The picture turned out amazing as it looked like an airbrushed backdrop. 
Look at me, I'm trying to board the helicopter and I got the front seat!
Don't I look cute with the earphones on? When you're flying above the volcanoes it could be hard on the ears and the earphones make it easier for the pilot to communicate while giving you a brief tour in the air.
The Lost City was gorgeous! I can't begin to describe the preserved tikkas, hut constructions, games, etc. that belonged on the island. Hawaii is so rich in its story that I was enamored by the whole experience. I definitely had developed a few stories in my head just from the trip.
I couldn't help singing Yellow Submarine. Fortunately, everyone was spared I didn't open my mouth or they'd surely jump ship.
My publisher's daughter had a baby not long ago and she's gorgeous! I can't tell you how long it's been since I've held a squirmy cutie in my arms but it brought back memories of days long past when I was the designated diaper changer for all my siblings children. Let me tell you, I don't know how I got that duty but looking back now it was a real joy. 
I guess my path hasn't led me to motherhood yet, but I won't lie, I think that's the greatest gift...the knowledge that a person can produce such perfect beauty. Sure, there are days where I think about the future and if I'll ever have a family and child, but when it comes down to it. I'm a big advocate for adoption. Whether I conceive or not, I'd adopt. Whether I re-marry, if ever, I would still adopt. Every child deserves this kind of love regardless if they're biological and it's a shame that so many children slip through the system, never having a chance to know what a family is all about.
Isn't she an angel? I can't help loving the new baby smell. There's that maternal emotion that wells up inside and all you do is long to one day know what it would be like to have this creation of your own....
