Smoky The Bear Says...

While the midwest prepares for its fall season with boots and ciders, Los Angeles is preparing for its fall season (otherwise known as fire season).

And as we enjoy our 300+ days of sunshine, we also must deal with water conservation and serious drought, which by summers' end can turn dangerous. I'm not sure how far the news spreads (although I should presume the Angeleno attitude and in that case, I'm sure you've all heard) but Los Angeles is on fire.

Literally.

Time Lapse Test: Station Fire from Eric Spiegelman on Vimeo.

How freaky is this video? It gives that crazy Mayan 2012 prophecy a very eerie feel, don't you think. But all kidding aside, this fire is dangerous! 105,000 acres have already burned, 12 thousand homes are threatened, and two firefighter's lives have been claimed. The air quality index in some parts of the Valley are the worst they've been in years, with levels well over 300 (100 is considered bad). My heart goes out to the families that have been displaced and evacuated, and the 50+ who's homes have gone up in flames.

It makes me very thankful that I live in one of the beach cities, where the ashen sky can only be seen in the distance, and the only disturbance it causes to my daily life is that my radio station doesn't come in because its tower is down.

Wherever you may be, whether your an Angeleno or in the midwest, please keep these families and firefighters in your thoughts and prayers.

Vegetarian Vampires That Sparkle

I've spent the better half of the weekend watching the quintessential chic flicks. You know, the ones with Sandra Bullock as the 'girl next door,' the ones with the cheesy unrealistic romantic leads (these guys just don't exist), and the ones that require multiple tissues.

And for someone who really doesn't believe in the fairy tale 'happily ever after' I haven't been able to pull myself away from the television. I know the ending to every movie I've watched this weekend, either because I've already seen it (multiple times) or its so cliche and transparent that it would be hard not to guess the resolution. Boy and girl fall madly in love and live happily ever after.

Gag.

Except for this weekend, this fantasy world of "I love you's" was just what I needed. Going along with my last post, something weird is going on. I've ooh'ed and aah'ed at all the ridiculous monologues delivered with charm and boyishly good looks.

For the first time in goodness-knows-how-long my sarcasm has taken a backseat and that love-sick girly girl I always knew existed finally emerged. I may not whole-heartedly buy into the Hollywood notion of a love story, but I'm at least willing to give it a chance.

Last week, I finally got the closure that I've needed. I closed a chapter that had been never-ending for over two years. It was much easier than I ever imagined, and it was the first milestone in measuring how far I've come in my personal growth over the last eight months.

Now that I have a stronger sense of who I am and what I want, I have the courage and confidence to stand up for me and everything that encompasses. I realize that I don't have to change who I am to make a guy fall in love with me- all that does is strip me of my own self-worth, and to portray a false image to the one I'm wasting my love on. Because in the end, I need someone who loves me, for me.

So, thank you week-end chick-flick bender, for showing me that not every guy is going to insult my morals, that not every guy is going to ignore my inner beauty to only measure who I am by the number on the scale and the color of my hair, that not every guy is going to disrespect me by putting me down in front of others, that not every guy is going to take his own insecurities out on me.

But- not every guy is going to serenade me with a guitar, bring me flowers for no reason, or recite some prose about how I am the love of his life. However, my faith has been restored that if I let go of all the guys who have not been what I wanted, that the guy I want is out there waiting to be found.

And I'm ready to start the search party. Finally.

And now I'm going to go watch Twilight.

Missing the Midwest

Something weird is going on.

It may be because I've spent the last three afternoons watching the Reds play the Dodgers on television. It may be because one roommate is on holiday in Greece, and the other moved back to her hometown, leaving me with an empty nest. It may be because I spent a week at home gaining closure and clarity with certain aspects of the life I left behind.

But I'm really homesick today.

{via}

Summer (un)officially ends next weekend with the Labor Day Holiday. With that, comes the arrival of fall- my favorite time of year. Fall always marks a season of change and rejuvenation, and as I reflect on the last year, I feel that the changes I began last fall have finally come full circle. Yet, at the same time, I am growing nostalgic for the life I left behind, or rather the image of the life I wanted but could never find.

I don't know what the future holds for me in California, which is unnerving at times. Day-to-day I seem to be making my way just fine, because I am happy. But then there are the days like the ones I've had this weekend, where I miss the times I could spend any summer afternoon on the couch watching my favorite baseball team, or meander up the street to my local bar and know that I would be surrounded by friends and people who knew me best.

I already miss the changing of the seasons, when daylight fades a little earlier, and mornings are crisp and damp with dew. When Fridays are spent at high school football fields, and Sundays spent at Longworth Hall in the sea of orange and black.

Sometimes, I miss the ease of life in the midwest.

So this fall, as I take a look at where I am, how far I've come, and where I want to be, I have a lot to evaluate, and even more to change. And hopefully, in the meantime, Los Angeles gives me a little fall weather to comfort me.

Get Real!

Two weeks ago my roommates and I switched cable carriers, and finally- after eight months- I was able to get cable installed in my room. Which spells T.R.O.U.B.L.E. Otherwise known as ridiculous amounts of time wasted watching reality television.

Without fail, I always get sucked into these shows. They're so pointless that I usually spend the thirty minutes snickering at the dumb things that are being done and/or said.

Alas, I've found two diamonds in the rough, and I'm sort of obsessed with both.

Giuliana & Bill Style Network, Wednesday Nights

They may be the cutest couple. Ever. Sure, they may be in the newlywed phase of their marriage, but I think they have a pretty awesome dynamic. I love that she calls him Rancic, it's endearing- even if it is his last name. They've also managed to restore my hope in modern marriage, which is saying a lot. They both make compromises and sacrifices for the other, and I think that's just swell. Plus their dorky personalities mesh amazingly well. Their interview banters are hilarious.

Another plus, Bill sported a Miami hoody during last week's episode. Way to represent! I also adore Guiliana's assistant, Matt- he's a doll.

Good news, it was picked up for a second season.

Ok, moving on.

Ace of Cakes; Food Network

So I may not know when new episodes actually air, because I've just seen repeats at random times of the day- but I've seen enough to know that I want to be BFF with these people. They speak my language-- sarcasm.

I would also like Geof to be my boyfriend. And bake me cupcakes. I don't know why, exactly, but I have a major crush on him. He is the epitome of my I want a hipster dork boyfriend.

Oh, and these people are amazingly talented. I'm jealous. My attempts at baking look pathetic and make me fat. Epic Fail.

I should probably get a social life. Noted.

Any reality shows you are obsessed with? Why?

The Last Block in Harlem

Below you will find my review for the novel The Last Block in Harlem, which I had previously posted on another blog. I wanted to repost here because the book is gaining steam and attention in its hometown of New York City. Author and publisher Christopher Herz has taken to the streets and is personally selling copies of the book. There is a great article about his efforts, which can be read here. I always find it inspiring to hear when people have left behind conventional success to follow their dreams.
"Inside Central Park there are people dying, men dropping down on one knee to propose, young couples enjoying the simplicity of a passionate kiss, old couples trying to find new paths to walk, single women glancing over the tops of the books they're reading to see if anyone is worth escaping fiction for, joggers trying to tone their bodies enough to look good in a suit come Monday..."

Such is the image of New York City that Christopher Herz vividly paints in his novel The Last Block in Harlem. It is a landscape that I fell in love with four years ago during my first visit to the city, and so eagerly found myself lost within with each turn of the page. From mid-day to midnight subway rides to the everday bustle of a Harlem neighborhood, Herz authentically captures what I can only imagine life in the 'Big Apple' is like, so much so that I felt as if I was reading the book on a stoop of a brownstone rather than on the sandy beaches of the west coast.

The Last Block in Harlem introduces us to a young, male protagonist, whose name is never revealed, at least not that I can remember-- but who I assume has a similar background as the author. Having physically relocated from California, but unable to escape his past misgivings, our protagonist sets out to escape reality by changing the tangible-- the trash that has cluttered his neighborhood.
An act of philanthropy, that begins with a broom and a dust pan, quickly escalates to a neighborhood movement against gentrification. Along the way, Herz introduces us to a handful of characters on the streets of Harlem- from the elderly neighbor Sukal who has an affinity for cats, to the young man known as The Boxer who had fallen from glory only to be resurrected by the movement. These vignettes into the background of each individual infuse life, shape and depth into the plot and novel beyond the narrative voice.
As a twentysomething who is undeniably in the midst of my quarter-life crisis, I found it easy to relate to the protagonist as he struggles to find harmony in his life- whether in overcoming his past, questioning his career, or finding a worthwhile cause to contribute to-- each issue is one which I have faced myself in the past six months. Additionally, as I consider approaching a career in advertising, this novel provided great insight into the corporate structure of the industry, regardless of whether its fictitious in nature or not.
What I found most intriguing was the parallel between the deception of the advertising world and the events that unfold in Harlem. Herz writes, "I didn't mind being tricked because it gave me a comfortable reality." Though it describes his initial attraction to advertising, it is also fittingly foreshadows the rest of the novel.
Herz's writing style and format is very simple and clear cut, which most likely stems from his background as a copywriter, making The Last Block in Harlem a quick read. Nonetheless, it is definitely worthwhile to spend an afternoon and get lost in Harlem with all its unique characters.
For more information, or to purchase your own copy of the novel, please visit www.canalpublishing.com

On Going Home

Andy Warhol once said, "They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." Such words have never resonated with me as much as they did this past week when I was visiting home.

Home. Amazing how four little letters can carry such meaning. I spent the first twenty-four years of my life in a small, midwestern town with conservative ideals- and an endearing love for all things simple. I was raised with morals that I am so grateful to have intact. Yet, something was always missing.

In eight months time, I have found a new place to truly call home. A home where I find myself at peace, and for the first time in twenty-five years, genuinely happy. I now reside in one of the nation's biggest metropolitans, with liberal ideas, and everyone thinking they are going to be the 'next big thing.' Morals? They don't seem to exist here.

Ironic, how upon arriving 'home' I find myself longing for California, yet just mere days later I am struggling to leave my family behind, and my heartstrings are tugged by moments I once considered too mundane.

The truth is that no matter how much things change, some things will always remain the same. It's the comfort of knowing that summer thunderstorms will always pass, mosquitos will always make me their feeding post, that I'll still remember each stretch of road like the back of my hand, and chocolate will never go for want in the Gray household.

This trip home solidified two things for me: one, moving to California was the best thing I could have done for myself and two, nothing means more to me than my family. I've outgrown so many old habits, I've settled my past transgressions, I've found closure in relationships I was holding onto, and I've let go of negativity I once harbored for people who ultimately don't deserve my time or energy. I've become a better person, a better friend, a better daughter, sister, and aunt.

Returning to California I have a stronger resolve than ever to continue on this positivity crusade. If the last eight months have taught me anything, its that life doesn't always come easy. However, the knowledge that this is the path I've chosen to take, and this journey is making me a stronger, more well-rounded person- it's worth all the pitfalls it takes to get to the final destination. I am almost certain that these changes would never have surmounted had I not taken the risk and followed my heart to California. I wouldn't be the person I am today, and now I know that I wouldn't want to be any other person than the one I am today.

Now, more than ever, I can fully appreciate the way it feels when a six-year-old wraps his arms around you with a grin from ear-to-ear, the way every muscle burns during a ten-mile bike ride with my dad, and the deliciousness of every empty calorie consumed while mindlessly watching reality television with my little sister.

These are the small sacrifices I have made in the grand scheme of finding happiness. It's these small, once considered mundane moments, that I know I will reflect on and cherish in my moments of doubt and uncertainty that life will surely deal. And for that reason alone, I would do it a million times over.

Somebody Pinch Me

Life has been busy this past week and a half, and I'm enjoying every second of it. Sure, I may not have slept more than a couple of hours each night- but this is precisely what I was asking for mere months ago (those who followed me at my old blog may recall). By appearances, it seems that my blog has taken the brunt of it- not for lack of inspiration, but for lack of time.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that time will be freeing up anytime soon-tomorrow I will be attending a surprise farewell party for one of my roommates (who is also my closest Cali friend), a company party to attend on Friday, camping this weekend, and flying back to Cincinnati on Sunday(red-eye, eek!) for a week with family and friends.

That being said, I will have a lot to blog about, on top of all the other posts I've yet to write.

In closing, I just want to say that for the first time in two years I feel like I finally have momentum. I'm finally moving forward, albeit one baby step at a time. I am happy. I am hopeful. I am thankful for everything, good and bad, and for every one who has been there through it all.

The best is yet to come. As always, I hope you stay tuned.

xoxo

Bizarre at The Bazaar

I want a be a foodie. But, a foodie I am not.

At least for the time being. See, for the first twenty-some-odd years of my life, my diet consisted of fried foods, plain sandwiches, and chocolate. I think I spent every family vacation alternating between chicken finger baskets and hamburgers.

As I've gotten older, I've gradually introduced new foods into my diet, but still maintaining a rather picky palate. For instance, when dining on sushi, I stick to a spicy tuna roll or salmon sashimi. It was only in the past year and a half that I decided that I wanted to make a concerted effort in becoming more cultural and daring in my food decisions.

The trouble, aside from not knowing how to pronounce the majority of menu items, was not knowing where to begin. Luckily, I have a roommate that is a self-proclaimed foodie, and I'm learning the ropes through her. For those who have ever dined with me, or have tried to get me to try something and I have emphatically refused- you're not going to believe this, but it's true....

I ate caviar. And foie gras. And I loved it. [For those who are like my former self and do not know what these are/ caviar: fish eggs and foie gras: duck liver].

{Philly cheese-steak at The Bazaar}

To my surprise, I was invited to join my new co-workers for a client dinner this past week at The Bazaar in Beverly Hills. The LA Times gave the Bazaar a four-star rating, and I can definitely understand why, as it boasts some of the best flavors to have ever hit my taste buds.

The unique combination of flavors, preparation, and presentation is commonly referred to as molecular gastronomy-which pertains to the mechanisms behind the transformation of ingredients in cooking. Head chef Jose Andres famously defeated Bobby Flay on the Food Network's Iron Chef, and he definitely brings the sizzle in the dishes offered at The Bazaar. World renowned designer Philippe Starck provided a visually stunning atmosphere-- our table in the Rojo Room was lit with bright pink LED lights, and don't even get me started on the bathroom!

If you are interested in trying nontraditional dishes (the foie gras was wrapped in cotton candy), I highly recommend visiting The Bazaar. However, if you are like me and are a foodie-in-training, I suggest visiting with someone who has a refined palate, has visited previously, or just researching on Yelp prior to your visit so you know which dishes are the most popular and the most delightful (I recommend the Philly Cheese-steak/see photo above).

Needless to say, reservations are hard to come by and once you do secure one, prepare to spend a pretty penny (I promise it's worth it, though). Hopefully, I will be returning soon!

In the Land of Cubes

{via}

Today I said goodbye to five months of intermittent unemployment, and hello again to the corporate world. And to be quite honest, I'm glad to be back.
I'm thankful that I will have a steady source of income- no longer effected by whether the sun is out, or the daily special. I'm thankful that the people I 'wait' on are all formally educated and are individuals I can learn from. I'm thankful that my day-to-day responsibilities are not spent making call quotas or dealing with customer complaints. I'm thankful that I have a desk space large enough that I have to physically get up and walk down the hall to actually touch a co-worker.
I missed post-it notes and highlighters and brand new legal pads. I missed having an Outlook calendar to manage and voicemails to check. I missed elevator rides and afternoon coffee breaks. I missed my closet full of dress clothes (although they're a little snug, now).
I am so happy and thankful that my life is returning to normal.
But today, I'm exhausted.