January 10, 2011
The things that keep me up at night
Well friends, happy 2011! I hope you enjoyed the holiday season wherever you were. I had the privilege of spending it at home in California. Not only did I spend some long overdue time in Bakersfield with my family but was also able to spend some time in Napa Valley and LA. Not a bad life. But it has stirred some questions in me that I have yet to answer…
Spending great time with my family only makes it all the more difficult to say goodbye to them, even after extending my stay several days longer than originally planned. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing living so far from home. Why DC and why politics? Will I regret it years down the road that didn’t spend as much time with them as possible? Am I chasing something that is futile? Where do I even want to be in five years? I don’t know. I just don’t know and that scares me a little. I turn 25 next month, and I feel my quarter life crisis coming on a bit early. Well this is just great.
Bakersfield is a humble place, nothing glamorous and nothing more than a middle class town in the Central Valley. I was born there and spend 18 years of life there. I left over seven years ago and since then haven’t spent more than a few weeks there at a time. When I do come home I tend to look around and think this isn’t the beautiful California most people think of. But then I remind myself that this is where I grew up and I don’t regret that. It may not have the best scenery but there are some really great people there and it is because I grew up there that I turned out the way I did. I wouldn’t change that for the world.
Sometimes I ponder going back to my roots but as quickly as that thought comes it is dismissed again because most jobs center around oil and agriculture. So I keep trekking along in DC the only way I know how. And when these emotions of anxiety and fear come over me I have to remind myself that I need to take one day at a time and rely not on my own strength but He who gives me strength.
Signing off for now.
XOXO,
L
December 9, 2010
Brrrrrr Baby it’s cold outside!
Hello my friends!
It was a chilly 23 degrees when I got into my frost-covered car this morning. It has been FREEZING in DC this past week. Unlike other parts of the country that are being pounded with huge amounts of snow, Washington is just an ice box and a sad grey. Last winter,while it was crazy with all of the blizzards we had, at least it was beautiful and magical (and I got to stay home)!
Before I know it, I will be flying home to California for Christmas! I have almost forgotten what everything looks like since the last time I was there was a year ago this time. Yes, this is the longest stretch I have gone not going ”home.” I am ready to cuddle up on the couch at my parents’ house and just veg. Or maybe I will ride bikes and enjoy the outdoors since it is much warmer at home than here!
Hope your holiday is filled with fun parties, the smell of Christmas and lots of joy!
September 27, 2010
Santa Barbara, here I come!
In just a few short days, less than a week now, I will be in sunny California celebrating my sister’s wedding! I can’t believe that the last time I was in my home state was December of last year. Where has the time gone?! Here are pics of the last time I was in SB.
This year has flown by and I am looking forward to the family reunion and festivities of the weekend. Weddings are so much fun! Because most of the more than 300 guests are from out of town, there are many activities to fill the weekend. From a BBQ on the beach, to bridesmaid brunch in the Biltmore garden, rehearsal and wedding of course, as well as brunch the day after the wedding! Whew!
The ceremony is at the Methodist Church downtown and the reception is at the Biltmore Four Seasons (check out the awesome photos HERE) To top it off, I actually like my bridesmaid dress, which is made by LulaKate. My sister’s wedding dress is to DIE FOR! I can’t what to share pictures with y’all after the wedding, until then, I will remain hush hush as to what it looks like and who the couture designer is!
I can’t wait to share with friends and family in this celebration. I know that the wedding will be beautiful and can’t wait to see how it all comes together. My mom sent me the 8-page detail of events this morning and I have to say I was a bit exhausted just looking at it!
But what am I also looking forward to? Getting off the plane and going straight to In-N-Out for a #2! I miss you California~
December 23, 2009
I may have left the snow behind but…
I have a rant from a disgruntled traveler.
I do not like to use my blog for negativity but I sit here in San Fransisco, a stop that was not originally part of my itinerary on my way back to Bakersfield, California but then again neither was traveling on the 23rd. I was supposed to be at my parents’ house last night. Nonetheless I think we can trace many of the problems back to the storm that happened on the East Coast this past weekend. As I was snowed in from the “Blizzard of 2009,” many people where supposed to be traveling home or to visit family for the Christmas holiday and had planned to leave over the weekend. With almost all flights leaving out of the D.C. area canceled over the weekend this has continued to have a ripple affect on all other travels leaving from the area.
My original flight plan yesterday was to leave out of Reagan Airport at 5:30pm yesterday and arrive in Denver and then connect to Los Angeles, making it to my parents house around 11pm Pacific time.
This ended up being far from the case. I arrived at the airport in DC with plenty of time, knowing there were a lot of people still from the weekend trying to get on flights standby or by being re-routed through a maze of other cities to hopefully make it to their final destination.
Little did I know that weather problems and delays in Chicago would affect my flight. So I waited, hoping that by some miracle the pilots would make up the time in the air to make my flight to LAX. As time passed by my hopes dwindled and it looked like I would be spending the night in Denver. As I learned from the ticket agent in Washington DC that it was best to get out of the DC area, because being put on a standby flight the following day would mean that it was likely I would not make it to California by Christmas.
As I have seen the numerous Facebook status’, posts, tweets of friends in the DC area and beyond traveling this season has been anything but smooth.
I share with you the status of a friend, which reminds me that if anything, my situation could have been a lot worse.
C. Phillips:
“After 38 hours of travel, 4 canceled flights, 4 airports, 2 blizzards, 1 overpriced rental Mercury Grand Marquis, 1 lost bag, 5 hour energy and 11 hours of driving I am finally back on the Ranch for a few days.”
The set backs, delays, long lines, crowds, unhappy travelers surely make the process of traveling annoying but once we get to our destinations it all seems to fade away and be worth it.
I hope you have a wonderful, joyful, relaxing Merry Christmas!
Love and let’s remember the reason for the Season-
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
December 3, 2009
San Fran Over Thanksgiving Break
While I was in California over the break I went up to San Fran for a a couple of days to hang out with my sister and parents and ate some great food and of course some great shopping!
Pacific Heights
My sister and me at my parents' hotel
cute house in Pacific Heights
Fillmore Street Shopping
August 14, 2009
Personal Fav by Thomas Cunningham
I know that I already shared a song with you by Thomas Cunningham, but i wanted to share my personal favorite of his, called Swell. Enjoy! Check out the whole Swell soundtrack, its great! And on a personal note, he is from the central valley of California!
Song of the Day!
Happy Friday Everyone!!
I hope this song helps you get through the day and on into the weekend!
Thomas Cunningham”Good Day”
