Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

As in the Bob Dylan song. Later covered by Peter, Paul & Mary. In my case, only the title, not the lyrics. For the first time in my life...or at least in the past five years...I am not second guessing my life. It's a beautiful thing.

So much has been going on I can't even process it all in my head let alone write it all down. Aside from all the shenanigans...my mom just visited for an entire week. I figured that'd be plenty and it would be time for her to leave this morning. When in reality, I was way sad and I will miss her stuff laying all over my room. She basically lived my life with me over the past week, partied at bars till 2a, went to see my friend's sketch comedy show (you will soon be seeing her on SNL), dinner and drinks at my other friend's singer/songwriter show (coming to a record label near you), did all the LA touristy stuff, went to Malibu, dominated a bowling match with the gang, introduced her to this guy's killer burgers off the grill...and they kept on inviting her back for more. I am so lucky to have such a cool mom.

At any rate, back to the title. I am, ever so cautiously, high on life right now. It's once in a blue moon that stars align in my life the way they are now. I'm tip-toeing along, breathing it all in, giving myself daily reminders not to analyze, to not think twice. Drowning out the skeptic. I know it won't last forever...but you better believe I'm going to enjoy every moment while it's here.

Most importantly, I'm learning to trust. Because someone is teaching me how. All over again.

The craziest part is that it's working.

Quote of the Day

Last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.

~ T.S. Eliot

Californication

It's sucked me in for a bit here. Between the new job (which is going freakin' amazing, by the way), the booming nightlife that I can't stay away from and my mom's visit, I suppose you could call this a blogging sabbatical. There might be a boy, too. Just sayin'. Getting back on the organizational track soon and the wireless at the apartment has suddenly started working again. Don't give up on me yet.

The only thing that sucks is that I have so many fabulous stories to tell and no time to tell them in...it's one serendipity after another. I am madly in love. With California.

Quote of the Day

There's a new blog out there entitled Silent Characters. Brand spankin' new. And I think Nik D. is doing just fine. She actually quoted some lines from my fave show, Grey's Anatomy, and they matched so closely with what I've been thinking that I thought I'd share them with you.

Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant. That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beat the hell out of never trying.

Heck yes. Now, go rock on with yo bad self. It's Friday!!

The Best Monday Ever

As if things couldn't get any better.

After temping around at various companies to get me by, I've now decided to join the working class for good. At the company of my choice. At a record label (to remain unnamed so none of the psycho readers stalk me). Doing "visual A&R".

Heck yes.

They're not kidding when they say patience is a virtue.

You see, dreams really can come true. You just have to listen to your heart and never give up. No matter what.

The Best Sunday Ever

So after a cozy night in on Saturday night (I know...crazy, right?) (It was only because I lived too far to go to this little shindig) watching Say Anything and eating popcorn with one of my new favorite people, I had the best Sunday ever.

I woke up with a smile plastered across my face. Maybe it's the sunshine, I don't know. But I just can't help myself. I got ready jamming out to iTunes (my favorite thing) and then the cool and crazy pretty girl Abby picked me up and we rolled down to Manhattan Beach. Neither one of us had been, so it was a fun adventure. And only thirty minutes away!! It was fabulous and beautiful and just what I needed. We kicked it around town, the pier, photographed the sunset, then had the best cheeseburger ever at this sports bar right off the water. And to top it all off, they had Stella. Heck yes. No better time could be had.

And so it continued. On our way back to Hollywood, we called on the another pretty girl (also my partner in crime for making faces at the camera) Melissa for drinks at The Burgundy Room, which just got even cooler in my book. In honor of Elvis's birthday, they had it all done up in Hawaii decor. We got leis and listened to Elvis the entire time. In punk rocker land. It was bad ass.

So THEN...we headed up to the treehouse (Melissa's KILLER house up in the hills with the best view ever) where I got to see a little more of one of my new favorite people and the fun times (and great music!) continued until the wee hours. Again.

This, my fine friends, is what a true Sunday should consist of.

My Fives

So it turns out that I am bored enough at work and have enough of a writer's block that I'm going to cave and do the lame "five this, five that" game. Not that my friends are lame for doing it (wink-wink, nudge-nudge), but when a girl is living the busy LA lifestyle in the offices of Steven Spielburg, there's no time for shenanigans.

At any rate, here we go...

Five jobs you've had in your life: record store chick, radio promotions intern, A&R biotch, marketing guru and fashion consultant.

Five movies you could watch over and over: High Fidelity, Almost Famous, Ghostbusters, Titanic, The Notebook (in no particular order)

Five places you've lived: Livonia, MI; Novi, MI; Franklin, TN; Brentwood, TN; Los Angeles, CA

Five TV shows you love to watch: I don't love anything TV, but I enjoy Grey's Anatomy, Sex and the City, I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeanie, and Roseanne.

Five places you've been on vacation: Los Angeles, CA; Destin, FL; New Orleans, LA; The Outer Banks, NC; Chicago, IL

Five websites you visit daily: MySpace, She Said What?!?, Hotmail, Being Brilliant, and (insert name here)

Five of your favorite foods: chila quiles, pizza, cashews, filet, hummus

Five places you'd rather be: the lotto prize distribution office, on the beach, in my car driving to someplace pretty I've never been, on my private jet, in his arms

Five albums you can't live without: (oh jeez) The Beatles, Help!; Tom Petty, Greatest Hits; Fleetwood Mac, Rumours; Van Morrison, Moondance; The Clash, London Calling
Runners up: The Beatles, Revolver; Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand; Le Tigre, This Island; Tori Amos, Tales of A Librarian; AC/DC, Back In Black

And there we have it. My fives. Now we can all go on with our day.

Re: One Year Anniversary

So it's been one whole year now since the birth of She Said What?!? I'd have to say it was a Pretty Good Year, in the words of one of my greats, Tori Amos.

Who knew that one day I would actually know a little bit of html? A little bit of design? A little bit of blog? A little bit of Roboto? See folks, it's not just all fun and games, it's also an educational experience.

Without SSW, there would be no I'm About to Be Brilliant, no (insert name here), no Concrete Seconds, no Yeah, Whatever, no Just Venti, and maybe even no A Chef's Lament. (Note: Clicking on the links provided will show you who the troopers who stuck with it are.)

Without SSW, I would have never met some of the awesome people that I have. I would've never had the sheer pleasure of attending actual blogger parties.

You probably note the slight sarcasm here, only because I can't help myself. Also, it helps take away from the cheesiness of my sincerity. I'm serious, guys. I'm glad I did this. And I'm glad I got the chance to meet and get to know so many of you before I made the trek to the West Coast. Irony? I think not.

At any rate, the offices of SSW have been a bit crazy over the past few months due to technical difficulties, financial issues, and social distractions. Once things finish wrapping over these next few weeks of the New Year, things should get cookin' and back to normal.

So on behalf of the SSW staff, I appreciate all of you five who read the site, yet check it often so it looks like I have more readers than I do. Thank you for your continued support!

Best,

The Staff at She Said What?!?
Hollywood, California