birthday LOVE

I had an impromptu birthday celebration on Wednesday night. Three of my girlfriends and I met downtown at Eva's for dinner. (Christina & Shae)

We ordered and shared several different tapas plates while listening to my new favorite local musician, David Williams. A couple of us had been wanting to try this restaurant for awhile and finding out that David plays on Wednesday nights sealed the deal. At least it did for me!

(me - apparently I looked as tired as I felt.)

I was completely surprised by this gift from Christina and Steph. Christina knew this was one of my favorite of Steph's photographs and Steph framed it and even presented it with a bow. Which she kindly retied so that I could take this picture. I want to fill the wall of the entryway with nice photographs. Now I have a starting point.My friend Natali couldn't make it to dinner but she had this work of art waiting for me at the coffee shop. It's "The Hermit" from the tarot. She chose it because I'm a little homebody. Her friend wood burned it and then painted it. The detail she uses is amazing.

What a wonderful birthday! I felt so appreciated and loved.

Saturdays are for junk shopping

Christina picked me up yesterday morning and we went to breakfast at my favorite breakfast restaurant, The Park Cafe. They make the best Huevos Rancheros I have ever eaten. Homemade black beans and the tastiest breakfast potatoes in the state.

Afterward we went junk shopping! We hit a couple of places but abode was the first. This little place is right up the street from me. We are literally on the same street. I could walk there in about 10 minutes or less. It's small but it is packed full of treasures and the owner Mariam is so friendly and welcoming.

I found this polka dot bulletin board there and had to get it. I've been meaning to move my red desk from the living room to the entryway and the new board gave me incentive. I can finally mark at least one decorating task off of my list. Next I'm painting the desk black and then distressing it.

The brothers came over later in the afternoon and worked on my car. I made a scrumptious dinner and salad (sorry Stacey, no pictures of the food). We all ate, drank wine and laughed for the rest of the evening. Good times.

Phew!

Sometimes I feel like 2009 just kicked the tar out of me. I really am not sorry to see it go. I'm tired and I hope to God that my dreams and heart are reborn this year. I'm not the woman that I was before ... that's for sure. Growing is hard but I trust myself more than I ever have and that's important. ♥

A little decadence never hurt anybody

I think of my late grandpa every time I come to this bakery. My grandma use to warm a danish for him in the oven every morning. At least every morning that I was ever there. She would wrap it in tinfoil and stick it in the oven and then call him to the table when it was done. I bought two cheese danishes yesterday and warmed one of them up, just how grandpa liked them, right when I got home.

Caffeine and sugar, mmm...the American way! This morning I was only able to partake in caffeine because I downed the second danish around midnight last night. *sigh* In hindsight I would have only eaten half.

2010 I Like You Already

Wednesday night I met a friend downtown at the library for a poetry reading. This library is one of my favorite places to visit in Salt Lake City. Combine it with poetry and I'm a very happy woman!

We listened to poets who were published in the independent poetry journal, Sugar House Review. It is a semiannual publication of some very talented Utah poets - one of whom I hope to become. I'm definitely going to make an effort to get published this year. I'm excited to learn of another publication highlighting local talent.

Isn't this building impressive? This photo was taken from the east entry of the vestibule. All along the right are shops, including an art gallery and a small deli. On the lefthand side is a coffee shop and the entry into the library which has a total of four levels. Four levels of BOOKS!? That my friends, is a modicum of heaven in my world.

Making a life...

This past year has been so incredibly hard. To feel things that you don't know how to express and have the object of those feelings give up on you and move on is among the most difficult of feelings I have ever had to endure. I had no idea I could cry so much...hurt so much. I hate that I seem to have been cursed with such insecurity, such shyness, especially toward the opposite sex. Fuck... I feel so broken. When will this go away?????????????????????

hokay!

My life has been slightly interrupted the last couple of weeks because my car broke down (shocking!). We thought it was just the battery and my brother replaced it only to have the timing belt go out a few days later, in the middle of a snow storm, while driving home from work one night. Jesus, my car (cleverly named by my brothers because it keeps resurrecting from the dead) was kind enough to wait until I was coming onto the off ramp of the freeway. Right when I was giving myself kudos for not having a panic attack while driving in the storm, on the freeway, in the dark - he died. No warning at all. My cell phone battery also died so I trucked the two miles home, on foot, in the snow storm. The strange part? I kind of enjoyed the walk...

On New Year's Eve, Christina took me to get my car out of impound. Yeah, that whole "You have twenty-four hours to get your car off of the road" all lies. Anyway, after that we hung out and ate pizza and watched movies. She also helped me pick out images for this collage project that I'm working on. I got the idea from my sister. She and her best friend collaged a life size mannequin a couple of years ago. One of my resolutions is to improve my vocabulary. I'm making myself flashcards and they really are helping me retain the information more quickly. I'm such a dork.

This is Pascal the Parrot, aka Little Chicken Man. Another resolution is to spend more time handling him. He's a sweet little guy who I know would be an absolute lover if I held him more. He's currently entertaining me by barking like the neighbor's dog.


And now, the lovely purse that Mumsey made! I really dig tartan and red is among my most favorite colors. It is also huge so I can pretty much put my entire life in there.

Finally there is Gisele .... She's on a diet for the new year. She just doesn't know it yet.

♥

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