Paul Aldrich and Beach

Yesterday I went to church at 6. The sermon and worship were great! Afterwards, King's Harbor was hosting a musical comedian, Paul Aldrich. My friends and I went and the cafe was packed! Paul was a funny guy, performing his many parodies, most memorably "I Kissed a Squirrel and I liked it". I laughed because I've gotten Facebook flair with that saying on it and I had no idea what the reference was! The song is a parody of "I Kissed a Girl and I liked it" for those of you that don't know.

I slept in this morning which felt nice...it made me have very vivid dreams. When I was sufficiently awake, I got dressed and went for a run along Hermosa Beach. I had decided to wear a sleeveless running shirt to give my shoulders some sun, but I didn't realize how windy it was today! I didn't mind the wind so much since I was warm from exercise, and I relished it when the warmth of the sun heated the tops of my shoulders.

While I was on my way back from the breakpoint between Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, I saw a couple trying to take a picture of themselves with the beach in the background. This is very difficult to do--trying to get yourselves and the beach in the picture, so I stopped and volunteered my services. Turns out the couple is originally from France, but live in Cincinatti and just came to get warm for the weekend. After chit-chatting, I said goodbye and wished them a fun rest of the weekend in sunny (yet windy) California!

I really like exercising along the beach. I only wish my feet could handle more of it. I have to remember to use my shoe supports to see if that helps. I would probably run every morning if I didn't have this problem! I have the right shoes, but after about 2 or 2 1/2 miles my feet get numb. Ah well, at least I am not completely incapacitated!

Blessings from Bible Studies

This week was a tough week for me, despite having Monday off. But God provides--I was able to go to my Wednesday bible study which gave me the fellowship I dearly needed. I had a great time discussing how we get into a deeper relationship with the Lord. I learned a lot about my bible study group and felt refreshed.

Thursday was an even harder day at work--a day wraught with a frustration I could not shake. I cut clear boundaries and left for my training session with Mirela and I did much better than expected considering I hadn't been able to see her since January 1st. It was also a good stress relief.

My work day today was much better and I was able to go to my bible study at Bryan Collins and Tim Matson's. We are studying Acts and it is amazing what Paul went through-he was persecuted left and right! I had a wonderful time catching up with everyone, especially Alex and Kimmie, whom I hadn't seen for weeks!

God is good!

Beach and RA

I spent this weekend catching up on my beach time and hanging out with friends.

Saturday I went to Hermosa Beach for a walk/run. I usually park at the Vons about a mile from the beach to warm up (and window shop!) and then I walk/ran along Hermosa, people watching along the way. I love to people watch because I see such a wide variety of people there. Today I saw a woman who was completely tatooed and she had such beautiful skin--I don't know why she'd want to cover it up with tatooes!

I went to work in the nursery at church on Saturday night, but I didn't stay the whole time because it was slow, mainly because it was the women's retreat weekend so most of the women probably took their babies with them. I was really happy to be able to attend the service, especially the worship time at the end (since I missed the beginning).

Sunday I got to sleep in! Boy I needed it, apparently because I didn't wake up until almost 11am both days. I went back to Hermosa for another run and was amazed that it was even hotter today. It must have been 85 at the beach! There was a band playing on the beach near Pier Ave. so I stopped by to check them out. Very raggae/steel drummish sound.

The pinnacle of my people-watching was when I saw a 8 year old kid log-rolling across The Strand in a card board box! I couldn't help but smile as I saw this dare-devil attempt and succeed at this feat! There were hundreds of walkers, joggers, rollerbladers, rollerskaters and bicyclist moving along The Strand, so for him to not have caused an accident was a miracle!

I spent a small fortune in CVS after my exercise (CVS is next to Vons) and then I went home to chill until I was to meet up with Angie and whoever else was going to show up at RA. Angie and I decided to go to this sushi bar on Saturday so we called around and asked our various friends to come. It ended up being me, Angie, Stephanie (my friend) and Sophia (Angie's friend).

Angie and I used to go to RA with our friend, Shelley, a lot of Sundays in the summer. Sunday night at 8pm is their happy hour so everything is 1/2 off. It amazed us how crowded it had become! RA is now the happening place in Torrance.

What's nice is that I still have one more day of my weekend!

A Less-Than-Perfect Perfectionist

Lately I have been struggling with frustration at work. Mainly because I have very high expectations. One of my bosses has commented on the fact that not everyone else is a perfectionist like me. Yeah, yeah. Well, they should be! Of course, I am less-than-perfect, but I strive to be and this is what gets me in trouble!

I need prayer on this, big time! Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Work gets in the way

Well, so far, my resolutions are not going all that well. I have been trying, but my work schedule really gets in the way. This past week I haven't been getting home until about 9:30 or 10pm, so going to bed at 10 is really difficult.

As for walking at lunch, well, I didn't even get up much from my desk the last couple of days since it is so busy at work. I didn't even eat lunch! I was grateful when 2 of my coworkers were going to Jamba Juice and they asked if they could get me something--otherwise I wouldn't have had anything until 9 when I left work.

Improvements:

• I have gotten up in the morning a few times this week...better than nothing.
• I have done some writing this year.
• I haven't gone online much at night (once I had to set up my new iPod...that doesn't count as it was a necessity so that I could enjoy my walks at lunch)
• I have turned down several invitations for lunch so that I am not eating out as much.

Once this crazy work week is behind me, I can concentrate on the other items, although I think I will take a walk at lunch today since it's a bit slow. :-) Haha. Well, sort of.

New Year's Resolutions

Ah, yes, the New Year's Resolution List! I have one in my head constantly...no need for a new year to have one, but I will list it here so that I may have some accountability.

• Go to bed at 10pm every night, even when I'm not tired
• Exercise in the mornings
• Eat out less
• Go for walks at lunch
• Write more
• Don't go online at night (see first resolution).
• Be nice, show you care

That about it! Just a few little things....

Happy New Year

My New Year's Eve was a very interesting one. I worked until 5pm and was pretty tired so I went home and was pretty much resigned to stay home, even though my friend Angie had a couple of options available to do the night when you are expected to do something.

I changed my mind when Darcy called and said that I should come to Angie's. Angie lives in a condo and someone was throwing a party in the rec room. Darcy convinced me, so I picked her up and we went to Angie's.

To say this rec room party was the most awkward place to be is an understatement! Darcy kept saying she felt like she was in a Seinfeld episode or that candid camera would come out any minute. We met Angie's neighbors, Paula and Joe, who were really nice so we sat with them and talked. The music got louder and when we looked up there was a 60-year-old woman, wearing a black angora sweater that had white poofy sleeves with traces of silver in them. She started to cha-cha to the music which caused me to giggle and quickly try to hide it. Another grandma, white and grey greasy hair, with huge round glasses got on the dance floor, with the help of her cane, and started to get her groove on as well. All of our eyes grew wide as we saw this sight.

Angie, determined to make the most of this scene, whooped and hollered and persuaded our table to dance. I was the most reluctant, as this sight was so comical, but I acquiesqued. I felt ridiculous!

After the dance we sat again and I kept telling Angie I wanted to go, but she insisted on staying later. Finally Darcy insisted we leave and I was with her. Darcy and I ended up driving to Lomita to go to the Sanchez house. The Sanchez's are a family that go to my church (Henry is an elder) and they were having prayer and worship for the new year. We got there at 11:58 and rang in the new year in their backyard with the poppers and church friends. We ended up staying until 1:30 about, chatting with Nancy (the wife) and Lynnette Matteson, who I know from the children's musical I helped with a few years ago.

It was an interesting night but it ended well. Happy New Year!