Yea, Yea, Yea, It's Cold!

Well in the last 24 hours I have heard from 3 different people in Texas how cold it is. And for those of you reading this blog that aren't in Texas. It is about 32 degrees (0C) right now and it will be going down to 16 degrees (-8.8C) in Jasper, 29 degrees in Galveston (-1.6C) and 20 degrees (-6.6C) in Houston.

Here in Bloomsburg, PA it is currently 28 degrees (-2.2C) and will go down to 16 degrees (-8.8c) tonight. Tomorrow the high will be 23 degrees (-5C) and the low will be 5 degrees (-15C) tomorrow night.

My friends and loved ones in Texas, I realize that this is not normal weather for the south. And you should realize that it isn't like it is going to stay this way for more than a couple of days. I have heard so much pissing and whining about the cold in Texas, actually more pissing and whining than I heard from my relatives who lost everything in Katrina. Maybe the Katrina victims were too in shock to whine. Only one of my friends in Texas will have her job affected by the weather because she has garage sales and people won't come out when it is too cold. I can understand her whining a little. And trust me, I know.... Ya'll hate the cold! It is a different cold down south cause you have the humidity and the cold feels like it goes to your bones. And that is why I am thankful that none of you in Texas are postal workers or construction workers ;-)

I am soooo thankful that I do not let things that I can't control, like the weather affect my happiness. And I would much rather be in the cold because all you gotta do is put every piece of clothes you own on or get under every blanket in sight and you will be okay. Now if you have every experienced heat, like I have in Los Angeles, 119 degrees (48.3C) there is nothing you can do to get cool. Air conditioners are maxed out and won't even blow cold air. Try cooling off the interior of a car that is 130 degrees (54.4C). Ouch!

I love you guys in Texas and know that you aren't suffering... just whining...lol..lol... Be thankful for the down time. Down we all wish we didn't have soooo much to do? Grab that book you have been wanting to read, watch that movie you have been wanting to watch, surf the Internet with a clear conscious that there isn't anything else you should be doing. And know that this too shall pass... nothing ever stays the same..... and this time next week your weather should be back to normal ;-)

This picture is one that I took when I went to Iceland.

Ciao

It Seems Like Yesterday...

This time last year I was visiting beautiful New Zealand! It was an amazing trip that I will never forget.

Well, it appears that my friends and family are all thinking about me here in a much cooler climate than I have ever lived in. Gifts of scarfs, gloves, pjs, long underwear and down filled robes have arrived! I am truly a lucky girl!

The cold hasn't bothered me yet. Maybe I am more adaptable than one might imagine. Today the high was 42 degrees (5.5C). Tonight it will go down to 24 degrees (-4.4 degrees). Tomorrow the high will be 28 degrees (-2.2C) and for the rest of the week it will not get above freezing, 32 degrees (0C). We might get some snow flurries tomorrow.

I am lucky that I don't really need to get out and drive in the weather. So I can schedule my errands on days that are driving friendly..lol..lol..

I was thinking the other day that most of my vacations have been when the weather is cool. I wore a coat in Spain, London and definitely Iceland.

Lets see... what's going on in Woodland Hills, CA... well, Walt Disney's grandson, Patrick Disney Miller, was arrested, in his Woodland Hills home, on suspicion of illegal gun possession....lol...lol... No really seriously.... sorry about the laughing... it's just so LAish..lol...lol...

Hummm.... Bloomsburg, PA news... well a couple of cars slipped off the road when they hit a patch of ice yesterday.

I don't know about you but I would rather have weather related news any day than some hearing about some Dude hiding guns!

Ciao

Reason, Season and Lifetime

Have you seen that poem? It's great and I am going to post it here for you today.

Some news.... I have been bad this week about blogging... but promise to be better ;-)

Lot's of changes going on... the weather has changed and gotten colder and not much snow so far. It snowed one night but since the sun has come out all of the snow is gone. I went to Wilkes Barre and Williamsport, both are a bit north of here and they must have gotten a lot more snow because people's front lawns are still blanketed with several inches. On Friday the high was 27 degrees (-2.7C). I was out running errands. Yesterday the high was 37 degrees (2.7C) and that seemed a bit warmer to me, instead of just plain cold. I hear it is raining in Woodland Hills, California.

Besides the weather changing.... there have been other changes in my life... "special guy" has gone to North Carolina to be his special self. And the #1 question I have been asked is... "Are you going back to California?" And the answer is, "NO." I did not move to Pennsylvania because of him. I am eternally greatful that we met and he provided the opportunity for me to get to see and know this place.

Check out this beautiful poem. Ciao


Reason, Season and Lifetime


People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need
you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
to provide you with guidance and support,
to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part
or at an inconvenient time,
this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered
and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON,
it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;
those things you must build upon
in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson,
love the person/people (anyway);
and put what you have learned to use in all
other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

~Author Unknown

Ghost Update

Okay so I found out it wasn't the ghost that was messing with my hair conditioner. I was telling my special guy about the event (the hair conditioner on the drain) that lead me to believe, without a shadow of doubt, that their are ghost here.

He began laughing and said that it was him, it fell and he was too lazy to pick it up. Okay, to me, that statement is as out there as it may sound to say that their are ghost here. Him "not picking something up" is just not his style. This is the guy who goes behind me to make sure that all the cabinet drawers are pushed in completely.

And by the way, I have a good excuse for not pushing them in ALL the way. This is an old house and especially the bathroom cabinets that are built in, they are solid wood, heavy, old and sometimes it sticks out about 1/8th of an inch, okay or maybe a 1/2 inch. This kind of stuff doesn't bother me... but does him. Hence our differences... me female.. he male..lol...lol..

The weather is beginning to get cooler. It is 39 degrees (3.8C) right now and it is 7:45am. The high today will be 55 degrees (12.7C). In Woodland Hills, California it is in the high 60's (20C) and it will be going up into the 90's (38.8C).

I took this picture 2 nights ago. Can you see the full moon? This is one block from where I live. The church bells ring on the hour and randomly during the day the church bells play various songs.



Ciao

What Flies in Bloomsburg

This is the first time I have seen a red cardinal up close and personal. I saw blue jays when I lived in Louisiana. I saw hummingbirds in Woodland Hills, California. The cardinals aren't really small birds. They are literally right outside of my front door.

The other thing that I see flying around in the evening are bats. The last time I saw bats flying around was December 25, 2008, on Hayman Island in Australia. Standing on the beach as the sun was setting I saw them. I don't recall ever seeing a bat in Louisiana or California.

On another note.... I am starting to see some headway in the unpacking and getting things organized. Each room is about 87% complete. Within the next 10 days all the unpacking and putting away should be done. Yipppppeeeee!

Ciao

Rolling Blackouts

Living in California offered me an opportunity to experience "rolling blackouts".

They occurred from May 2000 to September 2001. Because California's population increased by 13% during the 1990s, the state did not build any new major power plants during that time. Also because of the heat, people were using more electricity and it put a strain on the grid. You weren't warned when you would be without electricity. You would just be working and all of a sudden the power would go off and it would be off for a few hours. A lot of businesses complained that big equipment could be damaged if the power went off while it was in use. Businesses would just lock their doors and put a sign on the door "closed to rolling blackout". You knew if the street signals weren't working that for sure all the stores would be closed.

Countries such as Africa, Nepal, Pakistan and a few others are use to rolling blackouts. California is the only state in the US that experienced them. That's wild!

The thing that got me to thinking about the rolling blackouts is that I have heard the heat is now in the triple digits in Woodland Hills, where I moved from.

The warmest weather I have experienced here is 90 degrees. Yep, we have humidity but I don't mind. My skin welcomes the moisture. I feel that is much better than drying up to a crisp and blowing away...lol...lol...lol...

I didn't have a picture of a rolling blackout...lol...lol.. and was lucky enough to find this beautiful rose to share with you.

Ciao

I am Moving Again!!!

Friday after posting my intentions of finding a place to live I got in the car and drove to Bloomsburg, which is about 45 minutes from Wilkes-Barre.

I picked up the tiny local newspaper and went to Applebees for lunch. I read through the ads and circled the ones that looked interesting. I called a couple and left messages (never got calls back). I saw this ad: Bloomsburg: Fine brick in-town 2-story. 3 BR, French doors, HdWd, tile, built-ins, 3 porches. All appls. $.

I called and began talking to the lady who owns it. Since Bloomsburg is a University town lots of renters are students. She asked me if I was going to attend the University. I told her probably. She asked me how long I would be attending the University before graduating. I didn't realize that she was trying to figure out if I was a conventional student. I told her I might attend the University until I die and never get a degree in anything, and I was laughing a bit. She... on the other hand... wasn't laughing... she said in a nice polite voice, "So how will you pay the rent?" And that's when I told her that I have a solid 16 year old business and I also told her my age. I could hear a sigh of relief in her voice. We agreed to meet at the property and I walked through it. It is really big and really beautiful. It's 2 blocks off of Main Street. So I can really walk everyplace I need to go.

My lease begins August 1st, however she left me a message yesterday and said that the place was all ready and I could come and pick up the keys any time I wanted and begin moving in.

I am super excited about getting settled for a while. I will resume my property search in the Spring as ultimately I want to own something.

So now the process of moving my business again begins. I really have this dialed in so it isn't really a hassle. Just a matter of putting the time in to do it.

The picture is of a sign I made when I lived in my old apartment in Woodland Hills. My apartment was at the end of a grassy cull-de-sac. Everyone who had a dog would walk them to to that spot to relieve themselves. It looked like a dog toilet outside and every time I would open the door to walk out to check my mail these huge lethargic flies would come into my apartment. I hated it. They were suppose to pick up after their dog and the apartment complex even had poles put up with plastic bags for them to use. One day I just couldn't take it any more and I made my sign. Guess what? My sign worked. It was up for 7 days until someone took it down and immediately after putting it up you could see a difference.

Ciao

I Can't Believe it's Already Friday!

Where did the week go?

I have been busy doing work related stuff this week and looking at homes here and there.

I really feel that I am not finished with my move. I feel like I am 3/4 finished. I am here in Wilkes Barre and feel as if my life is pretty much on hold until the next move. I want to live in Bloomsburg as I want to attend that University and like the feel of the town.

The picture is of a note I use to have in the guest bathroom at my old apartment in Woodland Hills, California. There were these two huge spiders living in the bathroom and my friends would come over and tell me that I had spiders in my bathroom and ask if I wanted them to kill them. The spiders never bothered me, so I didn't want anyone to bother them, hence the note.

Ciao

Last Day in This Apartment

The apartment is empty except for a blanket, 2 pillows, 2 cats, overnight bag and cooler.

Today I ran last minute errands getting little things we'll need for the road trip that will take us through 11 states.

So far everything has been going pretty smoothly, except maybe in the sleep department. This will change the minute I get to Pennsylvania. For that... I am sure of.

Everyone handles "goodbyes" differently. Some of my friends were eager to get together for one last breakfast, lunch or dinner together. Others have gotten wildly angry with me for leaving and hence no need to say goodbye. I actually thought that this was an age thing, because 23 years ago when I moved from New Orleans to Pennsylvania some of my friends got angry with me for leaving. Well, I will tell you... it's not an age thing. And then of course there are people who will avoid you like to plague just so they don't have to say goodbye. This has been a good lesson for me to accept people as they choose to be and not take any of it personally.

I have also tried to do some fun things that I like to do while having all of this moving stuff going on. Like reading, creating my book review videos. Trying to keep some balance in my life. I have learned that in my younger years I would have only done the moving stuff and then pissed and moaned about it the entire time. Now I evaluate what absolutely has to be done today and that is what I do and then spend the rest of the time doing what I enjoy. Then at the end of the day I feel good. I did what needed to be done and had fun.

I posted 2 book review videos this morning of the 2 books I finished on the plane back here. And then I cleaned the apartment for the walk through tomorrow morning.

I am going to spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Tomorrow morning at approximately 9:30am - 10am we will begin our journey to the east coast. 6 hours into our drive we will be in Las Vegas. Too bad we will have the cats with up... or maybe that is a good thing that we have them with us..lol...lol..lol...

The picture of of cleaning stuff..lol...lol...

Ciao

Hummm.... another 4.2 Earthquake

A 4.2 earthquake in Ojai, California a couple of hours ago. Ojai is 58 miles from Woodland Hills.

This isn't very good news. 2 earthquakes in one week over a 4 magnitude... it's something to keep your eye on.

Several weeks before the 1994 Northridge earthquake there were lots of smaller earthquakes that were in the 3 range of magnitude. These could be foreshocks to a bigger one.

You know we are waiting for "The Big One". A group of scientists and engineers, working with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), released an official forecast of California earthquake probability, and the findings were frightful: They suggest a better than 99% chance of an earthquake measuring 6.7 or greater hitting the state sometime in the next 30 years, and a 46% chance of one posting a 7.5. (The Northridge quake, which claimed at least 60 victims and rang up $25 billion in damage, registered a 6.7.)

Today it's still 100 degrees in Woodland Hills. Has been for quite a few days now. The weather man says that we should cool down into the 80's in a few days.

The air quality still sucks. Santa Barbara is still burning and the smoke has made it's way here.

For those of you who don't live here... yea, the sun is shinning.

The picture is of some earthquake information.

Ciao

Earthquakes

Well, I definitely won't miss the earthquakes!!!!

I was sitting here getting ready to open my laptop and write a post about the swine flu and all of a sudden I heard a rumble and my cats sat up in the bed and then I noticed the room was swaying and the cats jumped off of the bed and got under the bed and the swaying continued so I decided "I had better get in the doorway, this could be a foreshock to something bigger." And before I got the doorway it stopped.

I immediately called my sister to tell her I was okay. The last thing I want is her to turn on the television and see that there was a 4.4 magnitude earthquake in Los Angeles. It was actually in Malibu is 24 miles from Woodland Hills.

You know what? I am going to be a much happier person once I move. I plan on being so relaxed and chilled. In one year people won't even recognize the person that I will be. No more worries, that's the ticket.

Well, if you didn't notice someone "anonymous" person has used my blog to post his long ass views on the state of the world and everything in it. He posted the same shit on my last two post. Way to go Dude. Spreading his shit on other peoples blog, I wonder if he is spreading his freakin seed that easily.

The picture is of an earthquake seismograph.

Ciao

I'll Really Miss this When I Move

This is one of the things that spoils people who live in Los Angeles. The ratings the Public Health Department give to eating establishments.

I will only eat a restaurant that has an A outside. If it has a B, it means they aren't that clean ;and a C, means they may have found something dead in the kitchen.

I have eaten at restaurants all over the world. I have only gotten sick from eating at restaurants in the US. My sister lives in Houston and I have gotten sick a couple of time after eating out there.

The only time I ever prayed to die was when I got sick after eating at a food establishment in a mall in West Virginia. That was about 20 years ago and my sister was living there at the time. I have never ever been so sick in my entire life. I just couldn't take anymore and prayed for it all to end even if it meant my life too. My sister saw how horrible it was and while I know she loves me, I think she was praying that my prayer be answered.

It's funny, it's now a shared memory. Something my sister and I pull out from time to time. "Hey remember when I got so sick I prayed to die?" And my sister says, "Yea, that was really really bad."

I will also miss the ethnic restaurants that we have here in Los Angeles. Had I not moved here I would not have gotten to experience all of the different kinds of food in the world. I eat anything. To me, all food is good. There are different variations of good, but hell if I am really hungry, I bet paper will taste good too.

One of my favorites is Ethiopian Food. There's only one Ethiopian restaurant that I know of in Los Angeles and it is on Fairfax. Quite a drive from where I live so I don't go there often.

There's the Greek, Persian, Italian, Moroccan, Argentinian and Cuban restaurants. I love them all and will miss them... a little bit.. but not a lot.

I am actually looking forward to moving to a place where there aren't that many choices of places to eat. It will make it easier for me to have a healthier diet. I am also going to make some lifestyle changes when I move.

I never drank coffee until I went to Europe a few years back. I LOVE the coffee outside of the US. At first I thought it was only European coffee that I loved, however, in December while in New Zealand and Australia I fell in love with their coffee, in particular the "Flat White". So for the last 6 years I have been going to the Israeli Market and getting my coffee. I have looked online and can have it shipped to me if I really want it. However, I have decided to give it up completely and will look forward to my cup of green tea in the morning.

The picture is of the rating at the PF Changs in Woodland Hills, California.

Ciao

I won't miss the Helicopters!

I was awakened last night at 12:07am by an all to familiar sound.... helicopters flying around in circles over where I live. In LA you can hear this sound at any time of the day or night. It's best to make sure that all of your doors and windows are closed and locked. Why? Because those Dudes in the helicopters are lookin' for someone. And that someone may be lookin' for a place to hide. Any open door or window will be a bit inviting to someone on the run. The helicopters stopped shortly after 2am.

I know you are probably wondering what kind of neighborhood I live in. Well, I wonder that too. Remember I live in a place where you don't believe any of what you see and 1/2 of what you hear. I recently discovered that crime in my neighborhood does not get leaked out to the public through the news media.

Woodland Hills is one of the 88 cities in Los Angeles county. It is located in the San Fernando Valley just over the hill (really a mountain) from Los Angeles proper and Beverly Hills. Woodland Hills has been labeled the valley version of Beverly Hills. It's small like Beverly Hills and we have just about everything that Beverly Hills has, i.e. celebrity sightings, Morton's steak restaurant, Ruth Chris' restaurant, Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue, etc. Literally everything you could ever want or need is within a one mile radius of where I live. Within one mile I have Whole Foods, the post office, Home Depot, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, Petco, Pet Smart, Burlington Coat Factory, Walmart, 2 Target stores, Party World, Ross, and these are just a few. Three blocks away are 2 malls.

About 2 months ago, I left my home at 2:00 on a Thursday to run some errands upon arriving at my "guarded" apartment complex I noticed that the streets surrounding my complex were blocked by police cars. All entrances to my complex were blocked. Helicopters were flying over head. No one could get in or out. I called the apartment office and said "Hey I live here. I can't get in. What's going on." And they said ..... "Can't tell you." I was like "What!?!?! I live here!" They said "Sorry. Can't tell ya." I walked up to one of the police men who was standing by his car blocking the street and said "Hey I live here. What's going on?" And he said "Can't tell ya." I called the local news team and said "Hey do you know there is something going on in Woodland Hills at this apartment complex?" And they said "Yes, we know." I said "Well, I live here. What's going on?" And they said "Can't tell ya." For 3 hours no one was allowed inside or outside of the complex. Then after 3 hours the helicopters flew away, the police went on their way and people were allowed back into the complex. I immediately surfed the Internet and channel surfed the television. And I couldn't find anything that mentioned what had occurred where I lived. The funny thing is that just a few miles away in a less desirable part of town if someone suspected something the police and helicopters would be there and it would be on every local news channel live while it is happening.

The sound of helicopters makes me feel uneasy. Why? Because they aren't going to a party and they aren't celebrating anything good. It's all because something negative is occurring. Since moving to California I have heard helicopters circling my neighborhoods at least once a month if not more. A sound I hope I never hear again after moving away.

The picture is of me taken at New Years 1989 shortly after I arrived here in California.

Ciao