Every Sunday, I recap the prior week and recognize the beautiful things
in my life, or the "strawberries" as I like to call them, because
strawberries are my favorite fruit.
Mon, Jan. 19 - Since I had to leave for Phoenix that night, Kinsey and I wanted to go exploring and see some sights before coming home. So we hopped into her car, got some coffee and headed to Queen Anne to see Kinsey's new apartment. The new place she will living soon is just around the corner from the most BEAUTIFUL view of Seattle - you can see the Space Needle, the coast, the buildings. It's absolutely breathtaking. After that, we walked over to the Seattle Center and saw the sites around the Space Needle. The weather was sunny and beautiful and we had so much fun just wandering around.
Kinsey wanted to show me a really cool spot, so we drove around. She couldn't find the spot she was looking for, but we found a different neighborhood that was stunningly beautiful by mistake! We found a beautiful view of Lake Washington and drove around enjoying the beautiful weather.
After exploring, we got lunch at a Cajun restaurant that a very cute stranger recommended we try. The food was so delicious! We were so stuffed with scrumptious food and didn't want to leave, especially for the airport.
Strawberries: Exploring Seattle with Kinsey, getting lost, and enjoying a delicious meal with a friend.
Tues, Jan. 20 - I returned to work after being gone on vacation for 3 days. As soon as I got to work, I plugged in my headphones and began studying new music I had discovered over the weekend. I discovered some artists on Sub Pop that I was unfamiliar with, as well as listening to KEXP for new artists to discover.
After work, Freddie and I went to my house for our weekly Underground Alt meeting. After being on vacation and not getting any work done, it was time for us to catch up on emails and writing proposals to send off.
After getting work done, Freddie stayed for dinner with my family. We all did our gratefuls like normal and ate pizza and squash spaghetti. Whenever Freddie comes over, it's like he's part of the family: my parents get along well with him, my step brothers adore him, and Madeline warms up to him more and more each time.
Strawberries: Discover new favorite tunes, being productive, and having your best friend feel like family.
Wed, Jan. 21 - Nothing happened, really.
Thurs, Jan. 22 - I woke up feeling depressed, so I forced myself to get outta bed and head to work. I didn't wanna deal with the day ahead of me, and I had some things bothering me. But I had to remind myself that I actually had reasons to get outta bed. I had a job to go to and tasks to accomplish. Some depressed people don't even have that, so I was blessed to have a reason to leave the house.
After a busy day at work, I headed over to Pub Rock to begin filming a band called Saint Motel for an Underground Alt session. While the session was somewhat stressful, by the time we got rolling it was so much fun. We had a talented crew of four camera operators and two sound operators and a steady flow of performance takes.
By the time the shoot was over, I was so tired that I went straight home and went to bed. I fell asleep pretty quickly and had a full night's sleep, which is rare lately.
Strawberries: Having a reason to get outta bed, working with talented musicians and crew, and getting a full night's rest.
Fri, Jan. 23 - While getting ready for work, Jaelene asked me if I could watch Madeline while she ran Jackson to school, so I headed downstairs to finish my makeup and as Madeline looked up to notice I was the only one there, she waved excitedly with a big "HIIIII" following. I love how excited she gets to see people and her cute little "HIIIII".
When I got to work, the internet wasn't working, and didn't kick back in until 3:30. That entire time, the only thing I could get done was year-end paperwork, since it didn't require the internet. I had been working on that project all week, but haven't been able to finish because of all my other tasks. Fortunately, I was able to get so much done and finish the project today.
When I got home, I cooked a pizza for dinner and began eating. My parents put on Little Mermaid for Madeline to watch, and when she noticed I was eating pizza, she came over and asked me to feed her. I put her in the high chair and cut up some pieces of pizza for her to munch on...and she fell in LOVE with pizza! It was funny how much she was eating.
Strawberries: Alone time with Madeline, finishing a drawn-out project, and introducing Madeline to pizza.
Sat, Jan. 24 - Since my car failed emissions, I decided to spend the morning fixing all the issues my car had. I got my tire fixed, replaced the gas cap, and added some oil. All for under thirty dollars, too!
After fixing my car, I grabbed lunch at Culinary Dropout in Tempe and listened to my friends in Vinyl Station play some tunes. A little girl was dancing during their set and her mom and I talked while the girl danced.
When I got home from running errands, I played with Madeline and she was in such a good mood! We ran around the house and played with her toys and watched Yo Gabba Gabba! she does this new thing now where if she wants you to walk with her or play with her, she will grab your hand and pull you, which then pulls at my heart strings. She's so much fun to have around.
Strawberries: Taking care of my car, watching children get into my friends' music, and having a sister who wants to play with you.
Sun, Jan. 25 - I slept in until one in the afternoon, and then got up and met Freddie for an interview that we had with the ASU State Press. It was our first interview as Underground Alt, and one where someone inquired to us. It was interesting being on the other side of the paper.
Later in the evening, I met with my friend Jason and we had nachos and played trivia. Jason is one of my friends from CAPSLOCK MONDAY, and has joined me to shows and many Capslock meetups. It's always a pleasure hanging out with Jason...and we even ended up winning trivia!
After trivia, some more friends from CAPSLOCK joined us, like Derek and Spike and Freddie. We went into the Ballroom to enjoy the musical muses of Future Loves Past, a local band who is close friends with the Capslock crew. Derek and I managed to step away and talk about the music scene and what I've been up to lately. He gave me a really positive talk about how he admires my passion and drive and loves watching my journey through this weird thing I play a part in. It was refreshing to know someone cares.
Strawberries: Getting press for my project, winning trivia with friends, and getting meaningful compliments from a friend.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Strawberry Sundays: Playtime and Seattle
Every Sunday, I recap the prior week and recognize the beautiful things
in my life, or the "strawberries" as I like to call them, because
strawberries are my favorite fruit.
Mon, Jan. 12 - I left work early to go see my therapist. I hadn't seen her in over a month, so we had a lot of catching up to do. We worked on tapping into a more happy and relaxed state of mind when my depression kicks in, and talked about my new medication. I love meeting with my therapist, and I can't wait to see her again in a few weeks.
After therapy, I had to pick up Freddie from the car dealership because he turned his car in to get repaired. I drove him to his parents' house to pick up the spare car he'll be using while his is in the shop, and we went to grab some dinner.
After dinner, I headed home and watched a film with my dad, Jaelene, and Colten. We watched "The Interview" and all of us laughed so much, sometimes I thought one of us was crying! I'm glad we could get together to have some family time.
Strawberries: Seeking therapy to get better, helping a friend when he needs assistance, and spending time with the family during our busy schedules.
Tues, Jan. 13 - After work I headed to Normal Diner to get some work done. When I got there, business started to pick up. After I sat down and set up my laptop, I researched events around the diner: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was playing across the street. The whole restaurant filled up immediately with old folks dressed for church, needing dinner before the show. Unfortunately, the diner previously hadn't seen much business, so only two servers were staffed with one cook, a hostess, and a manager. I've been in this situation before: understaffed and overwhelmed, trying to please everyone, trying to remember drink refills and modifications and splitting checks. I sat and watched as customers grew upset, some even furiously waking out. I felt so bads for the servers as I saw them running around, completely unprepared for the storm. And just as quickly as they rushed in, they all seemed to leave around the same time. When my check came, my server apologized for not being around. I explained that he had no need to apologize, that I've been a server and have been in that exact same situation and knew how stressful those times were. Being in the financial state I'm in now, I was able to leave a generous tip of $20 for him. Why? Because I figured his other tables didn't tip him what he deserved.
Strawberries: After having gone through the storm, I am able to sympathize with those that are currently going through it and be able to make someone's day.
Wed, Jan. 14 - I hadn't started packing for my Seattle trip yet, mostly because I don't have any luggage big enough for the weekend. So I headed to Freddie's house after work so I could pick up a large bag to use for my trip that he so generously is letting me borrow.
After I left Freddie's, I sat in traffic for about an hour as I headed home. While sitting in traffic, I listened to KEXP, a radio station based in Seattle. Most of the songs they played I had never heard before and really liked, so I started a playlist of those jams. It definitely made sitting in traffic a lot easier.
I had to stop by my uncle's house to pick up some dishes and glassware that my grandma used to own. They are really pretty, and my uncle is working on cleaning out his garage, so he gave me the whole tote of dishes. We caught up briefly before I headed home with new kitchenware
Strawberries: Friends who let me borrow items I am missing, traffic jams and jams to dance to in traffic, and owning family items I can use in my next place (hopefully of my own).
Thurs, Jan. 15 - I've been listening to KEXP a lot lately, so on my way home I listened to the station while being stuck in traffic again. This time, I texted in to request a song, and the DJ played it! I know it's such a not-a-big-deal kind of thing, but since I don't live in Seattle and this station plays all the new and obscure music, I didn't know if they'd think my song choice was too mainstream.
I got home and went straight to work on preparing for my Seattle trip. As I began packing and listening to rainy day jams, it started to sync in that I was going to be leaving soon to my favorite city.
After packing and eating dinner, Madeline started to wake up from her nap...at 9:30! My dad got her out of bed and we both played with her. She was in such a good mood. Lately, we've been teaching her how to approach the dogs in our house. She aggressively pats them, and we always say "No, be nice to doggie." So, last night I grabbed her hand and pet the dog with her hand and said "See? Nice!" Now, anytime she approaches the dog, she grabs my hand and pets the dog. It was so cute!
Strawberries: Radio stations who play your jams, packing for a much-anticipated trip, and teaching your baby sister how to be nice to animals.
Fri, Jan. 16 - The day started with Freddie telling me he was stuck on the freeway with no gas, so Jaelene and I packed up the car with my luggage, gas tank, and Madeline to save Freddie and then drop me off at work. We found Freddie on the 101 near the Thomas exit and loaded his car up with gas from the tank we filled up.
My workday was pretty mellow up until the last hour. I was busy with confirming some new shows, updating a press release, setting up a social media campaign, all while having Seattle on my mind. I ended up staying until 5:30 finishing up work for the weekend while Freddie waited for me. After work, we headed out to dinner at Cornish Pasty before heading to the airport.
After I landed in Seattle, Kinsey picked me up and it felt so good to be with her. She took me to the restaurant she works at and we got some drinks before heading home to unwind from the day.
Strawberries: Helping friends when they run out of gas on the freeway, having a job that keeps me busy and motivated, and being in my favorite city with my best friend.
Sat, Jan. 17 - Kinsey and I woke up and got brunch at a restaurant in Capitol Hill. We spent the whole day roaming around the city. We went record store shopping and went to a really cool bookstore and I found one of my favorite books. We even went on this gorgeous drive through Madrona and listened to some chill music to accompany the drive.
After roaming through Capitol Hill for the afternoon, we headed back to her home to get ready for the evening. We headed over to her friend Molly's house to pre-game the night of drinking and listen to records. Because it was raining pretty heavily, we called an Uber to drive us to the bar down the street.
After drinking at the Neighbor Lady, we headed to Moe Bar which is connected to Nuemos and Barboza, a music venue. I met more of Kinsey's friends and her man and we all drank and laughed. I sent drunk texts and enjoyed the company of great people.
Strawberries: Exploring Seattle with Kinsey, Uber to drive us around in the rain, and getting drunk with some great friends.
Sun, Jan. 18 - We slept in and after enjoying some much needed relaxation in bed, Kinsey and I headed out to lunch in Madison Park. While we were eating, the Seahawks/Packers game had just ended and all of Seattle was celebrating that they were going to the Super Bowl AGAIN. It was a great time to be in the city
After Kinsey went to work, I wandered through Capitol Hill alone. I got coffee at Stumptown while I blogged briefly, then I walked down the street to grab some dinner at a very cool diner where they served poutine. It felt refreshing to get out on my own.
After dinner, I walked over to Chop Suey to enjoy one of their last shows. While I was there, I met so many cool people and enjoyed some authentic local Seattle sounds. Kinsey joined me after she got off work and we experienced TacocaT together before heading home.
Strawberries: Seahawks going to the Super Bowl, coffee and dinner in solitude, and experiencing a local show in another city.
Mon, Jan. 12 - I left work early to go see my therapist. I hadn't seen her in over a month, so we had a lot of catching up to do. We worked on tapping into a more happy and relaxed state of mind when my depression kicks in, and talked about my new medication. I love meeting with my therapist, and I can't wait to see her again in a few weeks.
After therapy, I had to pick up Freddie from the car dealership because he turned his car in to get repaired. I drove him to his parents' house to pick up the spare car he'll be using while his is in the shop, and we went to grab some dinner.
After dinner, I headed home and watched a film with my dad, Jaelene, and Colten. We watched "The Interview" and all of us laughed so much, sometimes I thought one of us was crying! I'm glad we could get together to have some family time.
Strawberries: Seeking therapy to get better, helping a friend when he needs assistance, and spending time with the family during our busy schedules.
Tues, Jan. 13 - After work I headed to Normal Diner to get some work done. When I got there, business started to pick up. After I sat down and set up my laptop, I researched events around the diner: Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was playing across the street. The whole restaurant filled up immediately with old folks dressed for church, needing dinner before the show. Unfortunately, the diner previously hadn't seen much business, so only two servers were staffed with one cook, a hostess, and a manager. I've been in this situation before: understaffed and overwhelmed, trying to please everyone, trying to remember drink refills and modifications and splitting checks. I sat and watched as customers grew upset, some even furiously waking out. I felt so bads for the servers as I saw them running around, completely unprepared for the storm. And just as quickly as they rushed in, they all seemed to leave around the same time. When my check came, my server apologized for not being around. I explained that he had no need to apologize, that I've been a server and have been in that exact same situation and knew how stressful those times were. Being in the financial state I'm in now, I was able to leave a generous tip of $20 for him. Why? Because I figured his other tables didn't tip him what he deserved.
Strawberries: After having gone through the storm, I am able to sympathize with those that are currently going through it and be able to make someone's day.
Wed, Jan. 14 - I hadn't started packing for my Seattle trip yet, mostly because I don't have any luggage big enough for the weekend. So I headed to Freddie's house after work so I could pick up a large bag to use for my trip that he so generously is letting me borrow.
After I left Freddie's, I sat in traffic for about an hour as I headed home. While sitting in traffic, I listened to KEXP, a radio station based in Seattle. Most of the songs they played I had never heard before and really liked, so I started a playlist of those jams. It definitely made sitting in traffic a lot easier.
I had to stop by my uncle's house to pick up some dishes and glassware that my grandma used to own. They are really pretty, and my uncle is working on cleaning out his garage, so he gave me the whole tote of dishes. We caught up briefly before I headed home with new kitchenware
Strawberries: Friends who let me borrow items I am missing, traffic jams and jams to dance to in traffic, and owning family items I can use in my next place (hopefully of my own).
Thurs, Jan. 15 - I've been listening to KEXP a lot lately, so on my way home I listened to the station while being stuck in traffic again. This time, I texted in to request a song, and the DJ played it! I know it's such a not-a-big-deal kind of thing, but since I don't live in Seattle and this station plays all the new and obscure music, I didn't know if they'd think my song choice was too mainstream.
I got home and went straight to work on preparing for my Seattle trip. As I began packing and listening to rainy day jams, it started to sync in that I was going to be leaving soon to my favorite city.
After packing and eating dinner, Madeline started to wake up from her nap...at 9:30! My dad got her out of bed and we both played with her. She was in such a good mood. Lately, we've been teaching her how to approach the dogs in our house. She aggressively pats them, and we always say "No, be nice to doggie." So, last night I grabbed her hand and pet the dog with her hand and said "See? Nice!" Now, anytime she approaches the dog, she grabs my hand and pets the dog. It was so cute!
Strawberries: Radio stations who play your jams, packing for a much-anticipated trip, and teaching your baby sister how to be nice to animals.
Fri, Jan. 16 - The day started with Freddie telling me he was stuck on the freeway with no gas, so Jaelene and I packed up the car with my luggage, gas tank, and Madeline to save Freddie and then drop me off at work. We found Freddie on the 101 near the Thomas exit and loaded his car up with gas from the tank we filled up.
My workday was pretty mellow up until the last hour. I was busy with confirming some new shows, updating a press release, setting up a social media campaign, all while having Seattle on my mind. I ended up staying until 5:30 finishing up work for the weekend while Freddie waited for me. After work, we headed out to dinner at Cornish Pasty before heading to the airport.
After I landed in Seattle, Kinsey picked me up and it felt so good to be with her. She took me to the restaurant she works at and we got some drinks before heading home to unwind from the day.
Strawberries: Helping friends when they run out of gas on the freeway, having a job that keeps me busy and motivated, and being in my favorite city with my best friend.
Sat, Jan. 17 - Kinsey and I woke up and got brunch at a restaurant in Capitol Hill. We spent the whole day roaming around the city. We went record store shopping and went to a really cool bookstore and I found one of my favorite books. We even went on this gorgeous drive through Madrona and listened to some chill music to accompany the drive.
After roaming through Capitol Hill for the afternoon, we headed back to her home to get ready for the evening. We headed over to her friend Molly's house to pre-game the night of drinking and listen to records. Because it was raining pretty heavily, we called an Uber to drive us to the bar down the street.
After drinking at the Neighbor Lady, we headed to Moe Bar which is connected to Nuemos and Barboza, a music venue. I met more of Kinsey's friends and her man and we all drank and laughed. I sent drunk texts and enjoyed the company of great people.
Strawberries: Exploring Seattle with Kinsey, Uber to drive us around in the rain, and getting drunk with some great friends.
Sun, Jan. 18 - We slept in and after enjoying some much needed relaxation in bed, Kinsey and I headed out to lunch in Madison Park. While we were eating, the Seahawks/Packers game had just ended and all of Seattle was celebrating that they were going to the Super Bowl AGAIN. It was a great time to be in the city
After Kinsey went to work, I wandered through Capitol Hill alone. I got coffee at Stumptown while I blogged briefly, then I walked down the street to grab some dinner at a very cool diner where they served poutine. It felt refreshing to get out on my own.
After dinner, I walked over to Chop Suey to enjoy one of their last shows. While I was there, I met so many cool people and enjoyed some authentic local Seattle sounds. Kinsey joined me after she got off work and we experienced TacocaT together before heading home.
Strawberries: Seahawks going to the Super Bowl, coffee and dinner in solitude, and experiencing a local show in another city.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Strawberry Sundays: Musical Friends and Getting Work Done
Every Sunday, I recap the prior week and recognize the beautiful things in my life, or the "strawberries" as I like to call them, because strawberries are my favorite fruit.
Mon, Jan. 5 - After two weeks of holiday break, I returned to work. Even though I was getting too used to sleeping in and not having an agenda, it was time for me to get back into the swing of work. I love my job, and my job treats me well, and I'm thankful to begin another year with this company.
Freddie and I run a video-based music blog called Underground Alt, and for 2015 we proposed to publish a new video every Monday. For our first Monday, we released a video of local acoustic duo Vinyl Station covering a song from local rockers Snake! Snake! Snakes! and the outpour of support for this video was abundant!
After work, I headed to Crescent Ballroom to work on Underground Alt work with Freddie. While we were there, acoustic singer-songwriters were playing in the lounge, and we enjoyed soulful tunes from Brian Chartrand. He even gave us his album for free.
Strawberries: I have a job that I love, I am working on a project with my best friend, and the music scene in Phoenix never ceases to surprise me.
Tues, Jan. 6 - After work, I went to Crescent Ballroom (again) to see my friends in Speak Easy play music. This was their first show with my friend, Ryan, added on bass. They played such a great show and they make me more proud with every performance.
At the show, Blake, the lead member of Speak Easy and dear friend of mine, asked me to act as band manager for them. I was ecstatic! As their manager, I help book them shows and maintain a social media presence, as well as help put their album together once they're finished recording.
After the show was finished, Freddie and I went back to his home to work on more Underground Alt. As the hours dragged on, we got sleepy and he let me stay the night so I wouldn't have to make the long drive home on such low energy.
Strawberries: Friends who make beautiful music, bands that put their trust in me for their future success, and friends who let me sleep in their home when I'm too weary to sleep in my own.
Wednesday and Thursday were uneventful
Fri, Jan. 9 - After work I went to Normal Diner to work on Underground Alt stuff. I wrote up so many proposals and updated the calendar. I felt so productive making so many plans for the future.
After the diner, I headed to Phoenix to see my friend's show. On the way there, I noticed my friends in Bogan Via recorded my favorite mash-up cover: "Hallelulaj / Crown of Love". This song made me weep in the audience when they played it live last month, so I'm very happy to see they recorded it.
Just like Tuesday, I saw my friends Speak Easy live, but this time at Last Exit Live. They played a great set, and I got to talk with them afterwards.
Strawberries: Being productive, having my favorite recorded by friends, and seeing my friends perform live twice in one week.
Sat, Jan. 10 - I started my day with my dad making me homemade French toast. I love having breakfast at home, because it's made with love...and I don't have to change out of my PJ's.
After taking a nap, I came downstairs and took my sister outside to walk around the back patio. Jaelene and my dad were out back and Madeline was running around and giggling. Now that she's walking she wants to explore everything!
I needed to get out of the house, so I packed up my laptop and headed to Normal Diner to work on some writing. I've been drafting a short story, so I worked on that until Freddie joined me and we switched gears to work on Underground Alt projects.
Strawberries: Homemade French toast, playing with my sister, and escaping to a diner to work on personal projects.
Sun, Jan 11 - After spending most of the weekend in bed, I crawled out of bed and noticed on the baby monitor that Madeline was sitting up in her crib and was attempting - and succeeding - to take off her sleeper onesie. I went upstairs and got her out of bed and noticed both of my parents were outside cleaning my step-brother's Jeep. I put Madeline's shoes on her and we took her outside. She was screaming with excitement, and laughing and trying to run. She loves being outside and exploring the new world now that she can walk.
After that, I went to the nail salon with Jaelene. She rewarded me for quitting my nail-biting habit with a manicure. After 24 years of constant nail-biting, it feels like such a relief to not have to look at my bloody fingers.
I met some friends at Cornish Pasty for lunch and to play Cards Against Humanity. The group of people I met with were four guys who are members of the CAPSLOCK MONDAY group on Facebook, which is a group that posts only in Capslock, mostly on Mondays, but always about shitty situations in our lives. The group has really brought me out of my shell and made me realize that sometimes my life isn't so bad.
Strawberries: Seeing the world through a one-year-old's eyes, freshly-manicured fingernails, and CAPSLOCK MONDAY hangouts.
Mon, Jan. 5 - After two weeks of holiday break, I returned to work. Even though I was getting too used to sleeping in and not having an agenda, it was time for me to get back into the swing of work. I love my job, and my job treats me well, and I'm thankful to begin another year with this company.
Freddie and I run a video-based music blog called Underground Alt, and for 2015 we proposed to publish a new video every Monday. For our first Monday, we released a video of local acoustic duo Vinyl Station covering a song from local rockers Snake! Snake! Snakes! and the outpour of support for this video was abundant!
After work, I headed to Crescent Ballroom to work on Underground Alt work with Freddie. While we were there, acoustic singer-songwriters were playing in the lounge, and we enjoyed soulful tunes from Brian Chartrand. He even gave us his album for free.
Strawberries: I have a job that I love, I am working on a project with my best friend, and the music scene in Phoenix never ceases to surprise me.
Tues, Jan. 6 - After work, I went to Crescent Ballroom (again) to see my friends in Speak Easy play music. This was their first show with my friend, Ryan, added on bass. They played such a great show and they make me more proud with every performance.
At the show, Blake, the lead member of Speak Easy and dear friend of mine, asked me to act as band manager for them. I was ecstatic! As their manager, I help book them shows and maintain a social media presence, as well as help put their album together once they're finished recording.
After the show was finished, Freddie and I went back to his home to work on more Underground Alt. As the hours dragged on, we got sleepy and he let me stay the night so I wouldn't have to make the long drive home on such low energy.
Strawberries: Friends who make beautiful music, bands that put their trust in me for their future success, and friends who let me sleep in their home when I'm too weary to sleep in my own.
Wednesday and Thursday were uneventful
Fri, Jan. 9 - After work I went to Normal Diner to work on Underground Alt stuff. I wrote up so many proposals and updated the calendar. I felt so productive making so many plans for the future.
After the diner, I headed to Phoenix to see my friend's show. On the way there, I noticed my friends in Bogan Via recorded my favorite mash-up cover: "Hallelulaj / Crown of Love". This song made me weep in the audience when they played it live last month, so I'm very happy to see they recorded it.
Just like Tuesday, I saw my friends Speak Easy live, but this time at Last Exit Live. They played a great set, and I got to talk with them afterwards.
Strawberries: Being productive, having my favorite recorded by friends, and seeing my friends perform live twice in one week.
Sat, Jan. 10 - I started my day with my dad making me homemade French toast. I love having breakfast at home, because it's made with love...and I don't have to change out of my PJ's.
After taking a nap, I came downstairs and took my sister outside to walk around the back patio. Jaelene and my dad were out back and Madeline was running around and giggling. Now that she's walking she wants to explore everything!
I needed to get out of the house, so I packed up my laptop and headed to Normal Diner to work on some writing. I've been drafting a short story, so I worked on that until Freddie joined me and we switched gears to work on Underground Alt projects.
Strawberries: Homemade French toast, playing with my sister, and escaping to a diner to work on personal projects.
Sun, Jan 11 - After spending most of the weekend in bed, I crawled out of bed and noticed on the baby monitor that Madeline was sitting up in her crib and was attempting - and succeeding - to take off her sleeper onesie. I went upstairs and got her out of bed and noticed both of my parents were outside cleaning my step-brother's Jeep. I put Madeline's shoes on her and we took her outside. She was screaming with excitement, and laughing and trying to run. She loves being outside and exploring the new world now that she can walk.
After that, I went to the nail salon with Jaelene. She rewarded me for quitting my nail-biting habit with a manicure. After 24 years of constant nail-biting, it feels like such a relief to not have to look at my bloody fingers.
I met some friends at Cornish Pasty for lunch and to play Cards Against Humanity. The group of people I met with were four guys who are members of the CAPSLOCK MONDAY group on Facebook, which is a group that posts only in Capslock, mostly on Mondays, but always about shitty situations in our lives. The group has really brought me out of my shell and made me realize that sometimes my life isn't so bad.
Strawberries: Seeing the world through a one-year-old's eyes, freshly-manicured fingernails, and CAPSLOCK MONDAY hangouts.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Strawberry Sundays: Road Trips & Helping Friends
Every Sunday, I recap the prior week and recognize the beautiful things in my life, or the "strawberries" as I like to call them, because strawberries are my favorite fruit.Mon, Dec. 29 - After a weekend of celebrating birthdays, accomplishments, and going to concerts, it was time for me to jump back into the work grind. I headed over to Normal Diner and plugged in my laptop and headphones. After ordering lunch, I worked away for about five hours and got so much done!
I met up with my friend Ryan to talk over drinks and cigarettes (his, not mine). I've known Ryan for a couple years now, but it wasn't until this year that we really bonded and I helped him find a band they he loves playing in. We both have had a tough year, so we got together to exchange stories and advice.
Strawberries: Focusing on work in a friendly environment, meeting up with old friends, and meeting new friends.
Tues, Dec. 30 - After sleeping in until 1:30pm (whoa!) I took care of a sick Freddie by stopping by the store to stock up on soup, tea, Gatorade, tissues, and then bought myself a pizza to enjoy while Freddie was blowing his nose and chugging soup.
After taking care of him, I headed home and wrote up some blog posts and prepared for the festivities that lie ahead of me in the next few days!
Strawberries: Sleeping in, taking care of friends who need your care, and packing for an exciting trip.Wed, Dec. 31 - I packed up my car with my overnight bag, sleeping bad, pillow, Beatles blanket, portable record player, some records, and all my warm jackets and met up with Freddie to pick up our friends Noah and Autumn and head to Payson for the New Year! Freddie's family has a cabin in Payson, so a big group of friends were going to celebrate the New Year there.
On our way up, the highway was closed for plowing, so we had to stop on the side, but we eventually got back on the road and beat the snowstorm and made it to the cabin. It was freezing cold!
Our friends Gabe, Sarah, Zach, Taylor and her brother Michael and his wife Jackalyn joined us later, and we enjoyed lasagna and salad dinner and shared our resolutions for the New Years and drank delicious wine. After dinner, we played in the snow and waited for our friends Jon and Matt to arrive. They showed up at 11:30, just in time to ring in the New Year at midnight!Strawberries: Road trips with friends, playing in the snow, and ringing in the New Year with some of your favorite people.
Thurs, Jan. 1 - After eating a delicious breakfast prepared by Freddie's family, our friends Austin and Danie joined us in Payson and we bundled up and headed out to go sledding. We spent a couple hours on the hill going down in pairs, going off ramps, racing, going down slides, and swinging on the playground. It was like all us twenty-somethings became ten-years-old again.
After sledding, we all met with Freddie's parents and enjoyed a very delicious lunch. It was just the thing we needed after working our bodies sore for about two hours in the cold. When lunch was over and we went back to the cabin, I laid down for a nap and ended up sleeping for three hours! A nap was definitely needed.After the nap, we played video games, ate pizza, and played Cards Against Humanity while we spun some records. Most of us were anti-alcohol from the night before, so we filled our bodies with water and soda and exhaled laughter and warmth for each other.
Strawberries: Sledding, delicious food, and playing games with people who understand your weird sense of humor.
Fri, Jan. 2 - I didn't get very much sleep the night before, so I ended up staying in bed and sleeping until around noon. While I was sleeping, all of our friends had left, so just Freddie and Noah and myself were left with Freddie's parents. We went to lunch with them at a country club and enjoyed another delicious meal.
When we got back to the cabin, we loaded up the car and headed home. On our way home, Freddie stopped along the side of the road to snap some photos of the mountainside. We listened to Fleet Foxes and I sang harmony at the top of my lungs. We got back into the valley and dropped Noah off at his home and then Freddie and I went back to his home. He worked on editing photos, I worked on blogging, and we got dinner at Paradise Bakery.Strawberries: Sleeping in, singing along to Fleet Foxes, and watching your friend do something he loves.
Sat, Jan. 3 - Freddie and I got brunch at Butterfield's. I know I've been raving about food this post, but I've seriously been enjoying some delicious food so far this year and Butterfield's didn't disappoint. We talked about ideas for our business and discussed ways that we could make those ideas happen.
After brunch, we headed back to his place so I could help him clean. Freddie has a LOT of stuff, so we went through and decided what to keep and what to get rid of. We throw out expired food, old clothes he was never gonna wear again, and cleaned around the house.
After cleaning up Freddie's place, I headed out to hang out with my friend Mario. Mario is in a band that I am helping out with shows, so it was cool to hang out with him and talk music, life, and what it's like to be eighteen for him and twenty-four for me.
Strawberries: Brunch with your best friend, helping a friend de-clutter their home, and visiting a new friend.
Sun, Jan. 4 - After a hectic week of not really being home, I spent the day mostly in my room. I did laundry, so all my clothes were clean and folded away. I organized my records, cleaned up my desk, and put away all my Christmas and birthday things that were lying around.One thing I noticed today is how long my nails have grown. I have been biting my nails for twenty-four years and I resolved to stop biting this year. Since taking anti-depressants recently, I haven't felt the urge to bite. It is such a relief to look at my fingers and actually SEE fingernails!
Strawberries: Having a place to call home, tidying up to prepare for the busy week, and kicking an old habit.
Strawberry Sundays: Birthdays & Concerts
Every Sunday, I recap the prior week and recognize the beautiful things in my life, or the "strawberries" as I like to call them, because strawberries are my favorite fruit. For the first "Strawberry Sunday" I am starting three days ago to my birthday.Fri, Dec. 26 - I had lunch with my grandmother, shopped at Urban Outfitters and Zia Records, visited my friend Jared at Handlebar, and then came home to prepare for my party.
When I got home, I found that my parents had gone ALL OUT on my birthday! They decorated the house with streamers and balloons, made a photo slideshow on the TV, made me a cookie cake, and my dad made homemade beer for the party. It was so sweet to know that they devoted so much time and care to make sure I felt special on my birthday.
A bunch of my friends came. We played Cards Against Humanity, drank drinks, listened to music, and stated our gratefuls. I got perfume from Mia, a Paul McCartney DVD from Ryan, a cassette tape bottle opener from Nate, some music from Jason and Ted and Gabe, some beautiful printed photos from Freddie, a drawn picture from Michelle, and a portable record player from my dad.Strawberries: Parents who make you feel special, friends who let you know just how much they care about you, and celebrating turning 24 with some of my favorite people.
Sat, Dec. 27 - I started my evening by dining at the new Culinary Dropout in Tempe alone. Sometimes I enjoy dining alone so I can catch up on social media and emails without worrying about devoting attention to another person. This time was nice, because my server was actually someone I knew, so it made the experience more enjoyable.After dinner, I headed to The Duce for my friend Ryan's graduation party. I've known Ryan since my second semester of college when we studied audio recording together. Now five years later, our friendship has grown (mostly over music) and it's so great to see him graduating college with his degree in journalism. He's worked really hard and to see this achievement warmed my heart.
After his party, I headed to Scottsdale to see my friends Jared & the Mill play opening night at a new venue called Livewire. The boys have been on tour for most of the year, so whenever they play in town I always try to go see them.Strawberries: Dinners alone, celebrating a friend's achievement, and enjoying music made by my friends.
Sun, Dec. 28 - Today was my baby sister's first birthday. It's been such a blessing being able to watch Madeline grow up over the past year. She has brought so much joy to my life, especially now that I live in her home. Her first birthday party was filled with love and warmth and everyone who came radiated love for her.After her party, I headed out to Crescent Ballroom to play trivia with Freddie, and then we enjoyed the music of Courtney Marie Andrews, a lady whose music I have loved since high school. She's another musician I try to see every time she's in town now that she lives in Seattle.
Strawberries: Celebrating my sister's first birthday, being able to watch her grow over the past year, and listening to Courtney perform live another time.
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