Friday, December 12, 2008

the reason for the season


the day after i moved to london in november 2004 for a short 6-month work/travel stint, i met a new friend. correction: i met my future wife. i'm not sure at which point during our six months spent as roommates we started referring to each other as "wife" and "wife" but it might have something to do with the fact that i cooked her meals while she ate mushrooms right out of the pan before they had time to grill, or the fact that she is the only reason i made it to work on time everyday because she'd scream my name until i bolted out of bed in a huff, stumbling to the bathroom with my eyes closed. we certainly took good care of each other for the duration of that time, and continue to be partners in crime 4 years later.

we lived on the infamous Kings Road in Chelsea. while surrounded by the poshest of stores (diesel, french connection, jigsaw and molton brown...to name a few), my favorite by far was paperchase. the day before i flew home, i spent about 2 hours in that store to stock up on everything i thought i might need (ok, want) before i could make it back to london. i was devastated to give up the tradition of grabbing a cup of caffe nero's coffee and perusing paperchase for hours on a sunday afternoon.

that is until one day, i wandered in to borders here in orange county and POOF! an ENTIRE section of paperchase goods. an orgasm to the eye. i peed my pants with excitement at the possibilities of owning it all. each and every delicious notecard, pen, ipod case and journal.

let me cut to the "chase" here. for christmas 2004, i bought my wife a 2005 calendar/diary from paperchase. and each year since, i've continued the tradition. there's nothing that quite makes it feel like the year is coming to an end...nothing that gets me in to the holiday spirit... and nothing that takes me back to that magical time spent in london, as the feeling of purchasing two fresh-off-the-press, untouched and uncluttered planners for the upcoming year. one for me, and one for my wife.

yes, i know. some people watch "it's a wonderful life." some people start playing christmas carols in their homes on the first of october. some people drop coins in the salvation army bucket... and some get "wrapped" up in the stress and anxiety that comes with shopping for everyone and their mothers. i delight in the simple pleasures like fed-exing a tiny little package to one of my best friends, and wishing her a good year:

Monday, December 8, 2008

russian down the 5 freeway

imagine my delight when my dear russian friend, jessica - better known as JEEEEEEEEESSS when combined with a running-jump-trample-kind-of-a-hug, informed me early last week of her impromptu decision to travel the length of california on friday for a reunion with some of her southern california friends. this--coming from the girl who refers to mid-california as "somewhere between heaven and hell." simply put, she's a san francisco snob (and i don't blame her).


on saturday morning, nicci and i drove up to los(t) angeles to demonstrate some good ol' southern california hospitality. we picked jessica up and headed straight for Craftacular, a massive shopping bonanza hosted by Bust Magazine. after picking up a few essential items (traveling menorahs made of altoid tins, plastic passport holders, business card holders, fancy notecards and some funky jewelery), we hit up Toast for lunch. by far one of my favorite los angeles restaurants. with some time to spare before the big reunion on saturday night, we completed mission: smoke hookah whenever we're together. after some blackberry hookah, mint tea and then an apple-mint hookah refill, we were on our way to freshen up and hit the down with ucsd's finest alpha epsilon phi alums.


it's a funny feeling walking in to a room full of 10 or so of your closest friends from college. while some things never change, beer bongs are replaced by Makai Kiss martinis, buffalo wings are replaced by ahi tuna and seared scallops, engagement rings are blinding and lawyers, nurses, and engineers discuss careers, significant others and...gasp... the future. although you'd think oceans separated us for the number of times we see each other in any given year, i adore these girls and their ability to make me laugh until i cry. i adore beth's ridiculous faces, barri screaming "tttttttttarrrr," shiri's free lawyer advice, yinds for being yinds, jess for her insight... the list goes on.


the night finished with a visit to a local kareoke bar and a slumber party @ kerri's place in beverly hills.


on sunday, after brunch and a leisurely stroll down beverly and rodeo, i said goodbye to my favorite russian, paid a visit to my favorite south african couple in brentwood, and my favorite boyfriend in hermosa beach. :) it was just one of those weekends i wished would roll in to an entire month. i'm a lucky girl.