Things I loved to do in CA

There are a few things that I did love doing in California.

I loved going to the Apple store and taking classes, learning different software and things my MacBook can do. Yesterday I took my first Apple class here in PA. The store is smaller. I believe the store in Canoga Park, CA is the largest Apple store (that's in a mall). The drive was one hour to the store. In CA it was only 2 blocks from my home.

I also loved going to the free cooking classes at William Sonoma on Sundays. I would schedule my Apple class an hour before the cooking class and just walk from one immediately to the other. Yesterday, I was excited to find out that the William Sonoma store is only a couple of doors away from the Apple store. So I will be able to schedule my computer classes along with the cooking classes. Yeeeaaaa.

I loved going to the Getty Museum for lunch. Half of the time I did this with friends and the other half of the time I made this trip alone. I always had a great time. It's a really beautiful place and the food was amazing.

For 2 years, 2006 and 2007, every single Friday, religiously, my friend Eric and I, went to Six Flags Magic Mountain. We had it so dialed in. We would wear cargo pants, the ones that come to your knee and have large pockets on the side. I had 2 giant baby pins and would put my cell phone, wallet, etc in the pockets and pin them shut. We would wear flip flops. We noticed these young kids getting on the roller coasters (the ones with the track at the top) and kicking off their shoes. We tried it bare foot and it is a totally different experience. You also have to have the special thingy that holds your sunglasses to your head. I would meet Eric in the parking lot of his office at 9:30 am. Most days he was late. We would arrive at Magic Mountain at 10:30am. Most people show up after noon time so the park was virtually empty from 10:30am to noon. We would ride the roller coasters over and over and over again. Scream is my favorite ride. Batman is also one of my favorite rides. We would leave the park around noonish grab some lunch and I would be sitting at my desk by 1:30pm ready to work. It was the best therapy in the world. The inner child in us got to play like we were 5 again and you get to scream your lungs out to relieve any tension. We had no idea how long our weekly gaunt would be. When year 3 came around both of us had a lot of other things in life to deal with and it wasn't as easy to attend to the routine we had previously stuck to. So we said to each other "It was a great 2 years. So glad we did it."

The other thing that I loved was going to the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara. A friend had taken me there on evening and the energy of the place was amazing. The resort is absolutely breathtaking.... my attraction was more to the energy of the place. I went to Houston to visit my sister and I was telling her about my visit to the Bacara. I asked her, "Sister, what would you think if I went there every week." My sister said, "She thought that was a great idea, especially since it was something I felt drawn to do." So for a year and a half, once a week, I would drive to the Bacara Resort for dinner. I would never go on a Monday as I always seem to have more to do on Monday than any other day of the week. And I wouldn't go on Friday, Saturday or Sunday because that is when everyone else went. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday would be my days. 90% of the time I had the entire bar area to myself. I got to know the staff and they got to know me. I rang in New Year's 2008 at the Bacara. I met a lot of interesting people there and wrote several books there. My friends were all curious about the Bacara and many would say "I would love to come with you." I told my friend who worked there, "Dante, my friends all want to come here." Dante slammed his hands on the bar and said "Batman wouldn't take his girlfriends to the bat cave. This is your sanctuary Dottie. This is where you create." And so... not many of my friends got to experience the Bacara. I only went to the Bacara when I truly wanted to go. If I didn't have the feeling of wanting to go... I didn't go. My sister called me once and asked, "Are you going to the Bacara?" And I responded, "No, I don't feel like it." It took a little time before my sister realized how I am. I love doing things when I feel like doing them. I don't care how long I have been doing it or who I have been doing it with, if I don't feel like doing it I am not going to go along because of the time or the person involved. Because then they wouldn't be with me... the real me.... they would be with a pretend version of me. Pretending is exhausting and not nearly as much fun.

The beautiful picture was taken by my friend, Luci, at the Getty museum on our recent visit there.

Ciao

Just a Few Differences in PA and CA

First, I would like to thank my friends who took the time to comment on my last post "Waves of Christmas". The comments were very interesting and insightful.

There are differences that most might not notice... however, I do.

For example, it takes longer to go in somewhere and get something done, especially if you have to talk to someone. Everyone here has the time to talk to you.

Yesterday, I had to go to the bulk mailing part of the post office and get information on a bulk mailing permit because I send out 1,700 newsletters every quarter for my business. There were two girls working and they asked me why I was mailing my newsletter "first class". I told them that's what I was told my only option was. They opened up my 4 page newsletter and said "You don't have any advertising in it so you can send it parcel post, which will only take about 2 days longer. Do you have any time sensitive information in your newsletter?" My response was, "No." Bottom line I will be saving about $500 a quarter when I mail my newsletters because these girls took the time to show me a better way. It never happened in LA. People rarely take the time like these 2 girls did.

I have a t-shirt that has an advertisement for a "Lost Kitty". It's pretty funny. I have had it for about 10 years and worn it a ton of times. Every time I wear it here people stop me to read my t-shirt. I can be at the grocery store looking at the produce and the person next to me will say "Let me read your shirt. Oh, that's so cute." Like 4 times in one day I will be asked if someone can read my t-shirt. I think in the 10 years that I have had the t-shirt only one stranger in Los Angeles has asked to read my t-shirt. Just different I tell you....just different.

Hey yesterday I got my PA drivers license!!!! Yeaaayyyyy.

I heard the news yesterday that July 1st, the sales tax in Los Angeles will go up again this year... to 9.75%. Like Wow.... just a few months ago it went up to 9.25%. Sales tax is paid on everything in Los Angeles. You do not pay sales tax in Pennsylvania on anything considered a necessity such as food and clothing! Like Wow, what a savings that is!

My sister took this picture of me at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles on her last trip.

Ciao

Welcome to my Blog!

Hey Friends & Family,

My friend, Melita, who passed away this past Monday, taught me the benefits of a blog. Her blog was www.myleftlung.com. The blog helped to keep everyone in the loop and aware of what was going on.

I am probably the last person to jump on the blog wagon. I usually sit back and wait until I really feel the need to do something before I do it. Personally, I got enough on my plate without trying every fad or new thing that comes along.

I am lucky to have friends all over the world and I think that blogging will be easier to share with them. Blogging will not replace people contact... so when I am in your neighborhood I would still like to spend some time, in person, with each and every one of you.

As most of you are aware I am embarking on yet another major life experience. I am moving away from California. I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. I came on vacation to California at the age of 23. I was surprised by the energy level of everyone in California. I couldn't believe it, everyone I met had 2 jobs. Most of the people back home were lucky to have one job. I went back home to New Orleans and announced "In 5 years, I am moving to California!" I got all my ducks in a row and made my plans. At the 5 year mark I announced "I am moving to California!" That was Memorial Day weekend 1986.

Upon arriving to California I knew deep down inside that I only wanted to live here 20 years. I knew 20 years would be enough for me. Don't know how I knew it then. But I did. I never thought about where I would move after California. I have enjoyed truly amazing moments in California and done everything that there is to do here many times. Year 19 I began to feel the "doneness" of living here and I remembered I only wanted to live here 20 years so the feeling of being done and wanting to move on felt natural.

In year 19 I met someone who was hell bent on me staying because he did not want to leave California. I still wanted to leave. I put an offer in on a home in Mississippi. My offer was turned down and weeks later hurricane Katrina blew that house away. I guess it really wasn't time for me to leave here.

I still knew deep down inside it was time for me to move on. Last year I met someone who lives in Northeast Pennsylvania. That meeting has opened me up to a whole new world of possibilities in more ways than one.

I love going to new places and experiencing new things. I believe you must leave the old behind and show up at every new experience as if it were the first. This way you get the "true" experience. For example, if you go into a restaurant and order onion soup and with every bite you compare it to every other onion soup you have ever eaten... I don't know.. that doesn't sound like a great experience to me. So when I go to a new place, I don't compare it to somewhere I have been before. I accept and enjoy it for what it is. For me, it's a cool way to live!

The picture on this post is of the Pacific Ocean taken from the Getty Museum. This is about as clear as you will see and this was taken on one of the 'good' weather days. 90% of the time the "Coastal Eddie" (fog) is the view, not the ocean.

Ciao