LaLa in LA

Pumpkin Pie

2009-11-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

Well it's been forever since I have had a minute to write and I'm not even sure what I feel like saying but here are some quick words.

I'm heading home - [err, to Pennsylvania - L.A. is now my "home" but you get it]...

I am heading back to Pennsylvania on Sunday morning... I have a 6:30 AM flight and I am getting into Pittsburgh around 6 PM that evening (thanks, layover).

The plan at the moment is to drive straight to my parent's house and have a large family dinner the night I arrive, and I am really looking forward to seeing my parents, my brothers, my aunts and cousins.... (And I am really hoping my step-brother shows up with my nephews because I have only met Ayceton once when I went back in February and I absolutely adore my nephew Brayden). And of course I can't wait to see my little angel Kendle...

So Sunday night should be a lovely evening with the fam, and then Monday morning I am planning on heading into Pittsburgh to spend a few hours at my old office. I absolutely can't wait to see a ton of my old co-workers and friends from CMS... I worked there for seven years and so many of my team members and colleagues really became like my second family.... I am planning on having lunch with my old boss Mike and having a few good laughs roaming from cubicle to cubicle and recounting stories of yesteryear.

Then I am heading to my friend Nicole's house in the suburbs to meet her new son Maxwell and say hello to little Ava, her four-year old (she could even be five years old) daughter and then enjoy some wine and conversation. I absolutely love CoCo; she is one of those amazing, loving, non-judgmental friends that has been there for me through so many things, even though we haven't actually seen each other in almost 2 years, but I can't wait to spend the evening chatting and catching up.
Ummm, then I am shooting back to Washington to spend the next few days with my family.

Through the last few years, (and even the last few weeks) I have realized that even those whom you consider to be close friends will often leave you in the dust, but family will always be there for you. So I plan on spending the rest of the week with them, and squeezing in few hours with Emily at her Casa on Tuesday (I think).

I am also excited because Abigail is loaning me her camcorder so that I can make some home movies and record the fun of the trip, and I also promised to bring back some old family photographs to share. (Oh, I just remembered I want to visit my Grandmother as well and hopefully I can set up the camcorder and film a few of her lovely stories. There is so much about her that I still don't know and I am hoping to get to spend a few hours with her asking her questions about her younger years).

And, aside from all that I will be hitting up some of my favorite haunts back in PA... a few of my favorite restaurants, my favorite stores, maybe get a cheap haircut and take one of those walks up the road that my mom enjoys so much.

So, until then.... I hope everyone is well.

Take care of yourselves, and take care of each other.

And Pittsburgh, I'll see you in 4 days.

Much love,
-LaLa

Haught/Naught

2009-10-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

Second-Hand and Second Guess

2009-10-01T17:58:00.000-07:00

For some reason I have had this capricious memory floating around in my head all day today - a memory that’s been swimming around in my fishbowl of a brain for the last few hours - the memory of the afternoon I told my mother that I was moving to L.A.

It was January of 2008 and I had driven an hour south on Interstate 79 to spend the weekend with my family in my hometown of “Little” Washington. It was a powdery gray afternoon and the weather was slated and hawkish from the twenty degree weather. I was wearing these quilted brown boots wrapped around a pair of skinny jeans, and the salt and snow from the sidewalk had made this ring of dirty, dried-out paste-like residue on my boots. My mother and I - as we always did - had hopped in her bright orange Ford Edge and headed out for a usual Saturday excursion – lunch at Cracker Barrel and stops at some our favorite shops – Gabe’s (my all-time favorite designer discount store), Goodwill (you never know what you’re gonna find), and a few chance second-hand stores.

I had planned on breaking this monumental news to my mom for quite some time and had decided that doing it in-person would be better than doing it over the phone, as I wanted her to take me seriously. I had already made my mind up at this point but had yet to put any of the plans into motion – I was still stuck in a lease in my apartment for another five months, I had not notified my work of my intent to leave, I had no money saved and had not even looked at airfare or the cost of shipping my car, my furniture – anything. But I wanted to tell her my intentions to leave Pennsylvania and I had chosen this otherwise mundane Saturday afternoon to do so.

So, as we were hitting up our last stop on our little shopping trip I distinctly recall climbing out of my mom’s SUV and into the cold, brisk air. I had left my coat in the car because I’m not one to walk around wearing an obnoxious and bulky down feather jacket like the ones that are usually necessary in the Pennsylvania winter. Anyway, as we were walking into the store I remember this garden stone sitting outside of the shop that read something along the lines of “A mother is a guardian who becomes your best friend.” Well we both noticed it and remarked about how charming the sentiment was. (My mother has just lost her mom three months prior and for some reason this little plastic garden stone, inexpensive and cheesy as it was just sort of really hit us). We smiled at each other and remarked, “Awww, that’s so cute,” and we laughed at one another in that sort of tongue-in-cheek manner that my mom and I usually do.

And then... All of a sudden my mind wandered and I sort of stopped, and my Grandmother Svitek immediately came to my mind. I suddenly recalled her death in October and I thought about her life - How she never drove a car in her life. How she never left the tri-state area. How she had never been on an airplane. How she never really got to experience life in the manner in which she should have because she had three daughters and was widowed at thirty. And I remembered how the last thing I had told her before they closed her casket was that I was going to make her proud.

And then, all of a sudden and seemingly out of nowhere I said, “Mom, I’m moving to L.A.”

(She knew I had flown here twice in the previous three months and knew I loved every minute of it), and then…. her immediate reaction was... hearty laughter.

Ahhh yes, the nervous laughter. The same laughter I heard when I told my mom I was going to an out-of-state college because it was where I wanted to go and I didn’t care if it was more expensive, I would make it work. The same laughter I heard when I told her I was going to transfer to a different university half-way through my sophomore year because I was unhappy with my current situation. The same laugh I heard when I told her I was going to get my first apartment instead of living in the dorms because it was what I wanted and again, I would make it work. Yes, that nervous, overprotective laughter of a parent that comes out not because they really, honestly doubt your endeavors but because they want to protect you and guard you from the harm and possibility of failure.

So she continued for a while with the “Yeah rights,” the “How on earth are you going to afford living there? Do you KNOW how expensive it is to live there?” and the “Oh, sure, what are you gonna do, just quit your job?” And I smiled knowingly and just said, “Yep. I’m gonna make it happen. You just watch, mom.”

And somehow, unexpectedly my response quieted her. She continued to pretend to be interested in tacky hummingbird ornaments and over worn clothes, and eventually bought something small (like she always does) just to give the shop owner a sale. And we walked back out to the car, in this awkward, uncomfortable silence and passed that gray garden stone again. And my mom says laughingly, “Yeah, a mother is your best friend until your daughter moves to LA.” And I smiled and it was in that moment that I knew she believed in me. I knew, somehow, behind that sarcastic comment she knew if I was dead-set on this happening, well damn it, it was gonna happen whether she liked it or not.

And of course, it did happen.

And here I am on a random Thursday evening, sitting in my office in Beverly Hills almost two years later writing about this memory that I can’t get out of my head. And I am smiling at this little exchange with my mom and how crazy it is to take myself back to that day and how many unknowns I still had ahead of me - how many roadblocks and obstacles, wrong-turns and speed bumps I would see in the coming months.

But I also sit here with a smile because I know that all of that stuff is in the past and that things just keep getting better.

And overall I'm smiling because I did it.

I DID IT.

And all I can say now is, “Look Ma! No hands!”

Much Love,
-LaLa

Orange

2009-09-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well, Fall is upon us and the change is very apparent in the air today - I think I had my first chill walking to lunch today... (I am usually sweating miserably by the time I walk between my office and Westfield Century City on my lunch hour so this was a welcomed change this afternoon).

I had a nice weekend but the heat was absolutely unbearable at times. I drove to Corona (which is about an hour away from Hollywood) on Saturday for a birthday/pool party and I have to tell you, it's always nice to take a road trip and get out of Hollywood and LA for a while. Unfortunately there was a good bit of traffic on the way down and the trip turned into a two-hour trek, but being in an air-conditioned car with good music and good company made that all a lot more bearable. (I find that singing a good song at the top of your lungs on the freeway always makes me feel better too, but I digress)....
Sunday morning came early but after a stop at CoCo's - (Hello, their food is pretty damn good and they have the most amazing bran muffins I have ever tasted) - we were all prepped and ready for the drive back home [L.A. or bust!]. Sunday was filled with Steelers football at Barney's Beanery in West Hollywood and an evening full of relaxing, bad reality television and catching up on sleep.
So, out of nowhere I decided to check my U.S. Airways Dividend Miles account on Friday and came to the realization that I have enough miles for a flight home and I am sooooo exited! This time of year always makes me miss home since I associate it so much with Halloween, the orange and red leaves of Autumn, Taggart's apple orchard, my mom and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." I am not sure if I am going to make it home in October, (I might wait until November or even December) but actually planning a trip home (instead of deciding literally hours before I depart like the last few times) is already affording me a good bit of organization that will hopefully allow me to see a lot of family and friends on my trip back, not to mention the weather patterns that I miss here in L.A. And my mom is totally stoked - (although I doubt she would use that word) - she has already started planning a giant family dinner at our house.

So, in honor of my exciting trip home and my love of the East Coast Autumn, here are a few images that warm my heart. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

<3
-LaLa

Free Rice

2009-09-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

Click Here To Give Free Rice To The Hungry

This is a fun website to play around with ~~while you're at work~~ and for every answer you get right they donate 10 grains of rice through the U.N. World Food Program to help end hunger!

And check out the fun subjects:

ART
Famous Paintings

CHEMISTRY
Chemical Symbols (Basic)
Chemical Symbols (Full List)

ENGLISH
English Grammar
English Vocabulary

GEOGRAPHY
Identify Countries on the Map
World Capitals

LANGUAGE LEARNING
French
German
Italian
Spanish

MATH
Basic Math (Pre-Algebra)
Multiplication Table

Here is more from their "ABOUT" section on the site:

FreeRice is a non-profit website run by the United Nations World Food Program. Our partner is the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

FreeRice has two goals:

Provide education to everyone for free.
Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
This is made possible by the generosity of the sponsors who advertise on this site.

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your education can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide.

Quote of the Day

2009-09-22T12:24:00.000-07:00

"I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're beautiful. Everybody's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic."
-Andy Warhol

Hocus Pocus

2009-09-21T16:49:00.000-07:00

So I was having somewhat of a rough morning today; I finally stopped procrastinating and decided to get my car fixed last week and have spent approximately 4 nights and a few hundred bucks trying to get the check engine light off. It’s been on for a good year or so and I am really, really sick of seeing its gnarly little orange glow on my otherwise peaceful dashboard.

Well, my mechanic Tony finally got that bastard “Mr. Stop Being So Lazy and Seriously, Check Your Damn Engine Light Already” out of my life for [what I thought was good] on Thursday afternoon, only to have it rear its ugly head again on Saturday afternoon - Driving down the 405 and having a lovely conversation I looked down and I swear that thing winked at me - Surprise! I’m back!

Ugh. So, needless to say my feelings of accomplishment were squashed like a bug on my windshield that day, and although I was able to let go of the annoyance and anxiety it was causing me over the weekend, all that consternation managed to creep its way back into my head this morning.

So, as I arrived at work I signed onto AIM like I always do and started to chat with my dear friend Mel. She was already aware of the car situation and immediately asked how I was feeling. I explained everything to her and told her about my concerns about getting my car insured here in California, and talked to her about a few other personal things going on in my life, the good, the bad and the ugly. I can admit - I was having a pretty shitty morning. I usually try my hardest not to let things get the best of me but sometimes my mind can run wild and I had let fear take over a good portion of my day. Well, like always we talked it out over instant messenger and we spent a good portion of the morning talking about stuff, and then we eventually got on with our respective days in the office.

Well, fast-forward to 4:30 and I’m sitting at work, listening to some ambient music and watching the clock tick-tick-tick away when all of a sudden I see a floral delivery coming around the bend in my office. Now, every girl in my office gets flowers about once a month so I wasn’t surprised until she said, “Adrienne?”and my immediate response was “Nuhhh uhhh?”

Yup, you guessed it. Mel, after spending (yet another) hour or so listening to me rant about my weekend and my problems and my worries decided to send me flowers! I was (and still am) shocked! This is a girl I have barely been able to hang out with (in person) more than 5 times, and all-told have probably only spent a total of 4 hours of face time with. We have even termed our friendship as “pen pals” because we spend so much time talking online as opposed to in “real life.” Whether its Facebook, instant messenger, or email I am guessing that we have spent close to 100 hours sitting on the computer talking about life. In fact I have gone to her for advice over some people I have known for years because she is so keen on people and relationships and just listening and being supportive.

Well, here’s a little photo I snapped of my lovely flowers, and not only are they making me smile but their scent is taking me back to my childhood and the years I spent in my parent’s flower shop. I even went off on a tangent with my co-worker about how amazing it was to go to work with my parents every day and watch cable t.v. with the shop cats Kimba, Hocus and Pocus..... Collecting baseball cards from the hobby shop down the street and falling asleep on the floor when my parents had to work late. I needed these memories today and Mel, I needed you today.

Thank you. You made my day.

Quote of the Day

2009-09-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won. It exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours." - Ayn Rand

It

2009-09-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

Depending on what stage we are in our lives we can sometimes feel like we ought to know more about who we are or how to live. We may even berate ourselves for making the same mistakes, or for just not "getting it," whatever "it" may be. We wonder how our lives would be now if only we had known better. During moments like these it is important to remember that none of us are born with instruction manuals and that learning lessons is a lifelong journey.

Inherent to our being born is that we are here to observe, learn, and grow. Accompanying this is a built-in guarantee that there will be mistakes and misadventures along the way. While it is only natural that we may sometimes become overwhelmed, (especially when the lessons keep coming) it is important to remember that learning to understand yourself and your world is an ongoing and active process where the journey is more important than the destination - every lesson is intended so that you can become more of who you are. And as you grow through this self-discovery you begin to create your own instruction manual. The "how's" and "why's" are yours to discover, and part of the beauty of being alive is that these rules are always changing.

If you feel that you would like to explore what your personal instruction manual may already say, try writing down in order some of the significant events that have happened to you. It is also important to take note of what you learned from each one. When you are done, you may be surprised to discover how much you are always growing, and that every lesson learned always informs the next.

That being said, there is never any need to be hard on yourself or think that you should have it all figured out. We always know as much as we're meant to know at that moment, and growing into our fullness is a process that unfolds in divine timing.

You and your life are beautiful works in progress - discover yourself and embrace your life's lessons and your instruction manual will create itself.

<3

-LaLa

Game Plan

2009-09-14T16:23:00.000-07:00

Coffee Bean, it’s been entirely too long.

As I am sipping on an Apple Tea latte from CB I’m realizing how long it’s actually been since I’ve treated myself to anything from my favorite coffee shop. I used to stop every morning for a large latte and a citrus muffin but in an attempt to shed some extra pounds (and give my wallet a rest) I have pretty much stopped eating carbohydrates and switched over to sugar-free (and carb-free) RockStars for my daily caffeine fix.

As I stepped out of my office for lunch this afternoon I actually felt a chill in the air - the kind of chill that made me think I had better start carrying a jacket around with me. But you have no idea how excited I am about this. Fall is my favorite time of year - all I can think of is Boots! Hats! Scarves! Pumpkins! Space heaters! Halloween!

So, noticing a crisp and pronounced change in the air only made me smile and as I was walking down the Avenue of the Stars back towards my office I took a moment to myself. I stopped in the sunlight, latte in hand and looked up at the blue sky. I stopped and watched the white clouds pass slowly above me. I looked down and observed the orange glow of the sun’s rays making the sidewalk sparkle, and took inventory of the way the trees created beautiful shadows on the pavement. And as I absorbed the moment I instinctively took a long, deep breath and was struck by how incredibly good it felt - It felt like I hadn’t taken a deep breath in all of my life. My lungs felt as though they had never expanded so widely and my nostrils felt as though the cold air passing through them was an old friend they hadn’t seen in years.

And as my smile got even larger and I walked back to work with an immense, toothy grin I realized something else, something even more important. I had this mini epiphany and I realized that all of the things that have been weighing so heavily on my mind lately aren’t worth the mental energy I’ve been expending on them – and that all of the time I have spent feeling bad about myself in the last few months should have been (and needs to be) spent on more proactive, productive and constructive ideas and thought processes.

So, as I mentioned above I have been struggling to lose a few pounds in the last few weeks, and although I still know I’m beautiful and would love to blame it all on L.A. and beauty magazines and their impossible standards of beauty - the fact remains that there are some things about my appearance that I am not happy with as of late.

ANNNND, here's a little back story.

You see, I have been ridiculously thin all of my life and actually tried for years to gain weight. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted and did my best to brush off comments like “You’re so lucky, I hate you for being so skinny.” In fact I remember this time last year I was taking 1,800 calorie mass gainer in an attempt to fill out but it just wouldn’t work.

And then, all of a sudden I packed on 15 pounds in about 4 or 5 months. (So I guess it’s true what they say – be careful what you wish for because I used to say, “Well, you wait until I’m 30, I’m sure it will all catch up with me,” and… well…. It did).

Anyway, I am sure you’re thinking that I am a little crazy for even worrying so much about a few measly pounds but for some reason it has really, really affected me. And I don’t want to be back to 100 or 110 pounds but like I said, I can’t even believe how much this issue has affected me and how much I have allowed my mind to chatter about it.

Well, thankfully I have someone in my life who cares about me a great deal and who makes me feel beautiful and loved on a daily basis, and we had an eye-opening chat about all of this last night. And through my tears and our conversation I was able to realize a lot of things, namely that I am extremely lucky to be who I am, with my own body, my own mind, and my own individual way of interacting with the world. Our conversation made me realize that there is a space that I alone can fill and that in some way this is all just a test – a test to better understand what I deem important in life, a test to take inventory of how I interact with other people, a test of modesty and humility. And I think the reason it felt so amazing to stop and take a deep breath this afternoon was because I have allowed myself to become so absolutely constricted and it has been entirely too long since I stopped and allowed myself feel good.

So all of a sudden I realize the utter insanity of beating myself up and constantly worrying about what other people think of me and well, let’s just say I am done with it all.

I have come to the realization that we all have things we don’t like about ourselves, things we would like to change or improve upon but that it’s all about loving ourselves and appreciating one another - And that there is beauty around us at all times, even on an ordinary Monday afternoon.

So, as I sit here and type this I am preparing a game plan - A game plan which involves accepting compliments and turning negative thoughts into positive ones. It seems so easy with every day annoyances and obstacles and that’s something I have been practicing for years– there’s no reason why I can’t repeat this same method of thinking here.

So, if you have a moment, which I am guessing you do... Take a moment to yourself.

Look around.

Look at how the sun is hitting the walls around you or how the light softly envelops everything around you.

What do you see?

What do you smell?

Or better yet – look in the mirror and take a nice, long deep breath.

Who knows, it might do you wonders too.

Much love,
-LaLa

Haught/Naught

2009-09-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Here are some random phone pictures from my Labor Day weekend which included a crazy amount of love, laughter and tequila. The pictures are mostly of my weekend in San Diego but there are two from the Dodgers game on Saturday, too.

Music and fire pits on the rooftop of the Meridian.

A view of the rooftop pool.

A photo from the sailboat. San Diego is gorgeous.

Matt is adorable.

Abigail.

Ahhh, sailing.

Staz, Gabby and Matt.

The boat again.

Matt and Gabby.

Good memories.

Abigail and POP CORN! at the Dodger's game.

It was a beautiful night for a baseball game.

MOOD MUSIC

2009-09-04T16:23:00.001-07:00

Shyness is nice, and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You'd like to

Shyness is nice, and
Shyness can stop you
From doing all the things in life
You'd like to

So, if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
ASK ME - I WON'T SAY "NO" - HOW COULD I ?

Coyness is nice, and
Coyness can stop you
From saying all the things in
Life you'd like to

So, if there's something you'd like to try
If there's something you'd like to try
ASK ME - I WON'T SAY "NO" - HOW COULD I ?

Spending warm Summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME

Because if it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb
That will bring us together

Nature is a language - can't you read ?
Nature is a language - can't you read ?

SO ... ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME

Because if it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb
That will bring us together

If it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb
Then it's the Bomb
That will bring us together

SO ... ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
ASK ME, ASK ME, ASK ME
Oh, la ...

Haught/Naught

2009-09-04T11:33:00.001-07:00

Thank You, Hollywood

2009-09-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes work gets a bit bromidic and waking up with thoughts of sitting at my desk all day does not make it any easier to get out of bed in the morning. Such was the case at 7 AM this morning as my alarm blared noisily on the bed next to me. I popped out of bed, showered and completed my normal routine of prepping for the day. Driving into Hollywood for the usual drop-off and Starbucks routine (Yes, I have been cheating on Coffee Bean, please don’t tell)- I found myself in the same humdrum mood, driving with a blank and somewhat lifeless expression on my face. I couldn’t find anything interesting on the radio and although I was in fantastic company I just couldn’t seem to break out of this little Thursday morning funk.

And then all of a sudden I looked to my left, and as I blocked the glaring sun from my face I had a realization; I was candidly aware of my surroundings and it just hit me – I was in Hollywood.

Yes, it is true. This is the same Hollywood that I have been in pretty much every day for the last few months. I have driven through it running mundane tasks like heading to the market or driving to the movies. I have eaten brunch there, gone to shows, walked to the metro. But today, well today was different.

Although the Hollywood sign wasn’t visible behind the tall buildings at street level I glanced to the hill that it rests upon and it immediately changed my mood. Suddenly I was filled with this vast appreciation for my life – and I realized something: So many people would kill to have the opportunity just to see Hollywood or to drive through it once, let alone to have the chance to actually live here. So, as I drove up Las Palmas towards Sunset I was caught smiling and Abigail questioned my curious grin. And I just shook my head and laughed and told her how ironic and implausible it can be that someone could let something like a job affect their mood when we have it so good. She replied, “You’re right, Adrienne, life is good.” And I smiled hugely and agreed.

So, I suppose the point of this blog is to remind you that in the midst of your humdrum routine you might want to stop and smell the metaphorical flowers. Sure, I could have used an extra three hours of sleep this morning. Sure, my boss annoys me on a daily basis. Sure, I wish it was 6:30 PM right now so I could be out of work and doing more interesting and exciting things. But sometimes all you really need to do is open your eyes just a bit wider to see a fresh perspective. Take a step back and look around you, turn off your “Auto-Pilot” and ask yourself, “What is beautiful around me? What is beautiful in this very moment? What am I grateful for that I have been taking for granted?

And hopefully... Just maybe that unexpected deadline won’t seem so daunting later this afternoon. Maybe that traffic won’t seem so bad this evening. And maybe... Just maybe that alarm clock won’t sound so loud tomorrow morning.

Much Love,
-LaLa

There's Something In The Air Today

2009-09-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's an overcast morning here in LA today, and I took this picture on my way into work as I was sitting in traffic on Santa Monica Boulevard.

As I looked at the sky above I felt this strange energy surrounding me. I looked to my right and in the grassy knoll I noticed the wind blowing through the trees and the leaves falling softly to the ground, fluttering and whipping around as they danced quietly towards the earth below. I looked closer and saw four black crows pecking at the soft grass beneath them, searching with their iron beaks for sustenance - the gray light emulating curiously off their backs.

I can't explain it - there's something in the air today... It's like the universe is trying to tell me something.

I just can't explain it...

Can you feel it, too?

Serendipity

2009-08-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking a great deal about the people in my life these days, and I have to say that it is so incredibly random how the vast majority of my friends have so indiscriminately popped into (and even out of) my life in the last year or so. When I think of my closest friends I realize that they are no longer a tight group of individuals whom I have known for ten years (as they have been in the past), but rather this deliciously spontaneous group of people who I have met in the most unsystematic and slapdash fashions.

I’ve met them through Facebook, I’ve met them through other friends, I’ve met them through relationships, I’ve met them through ex’s, I’ve met them randomly during a night on the town and yet somehow these people have come to be my closest friends, my confidants, my shoulder to lean on when I’m having a bad day.

This reminds me of a quote:
“One discovers a friend by chance and cannot but feel regret that some 20 or 30 years may have gone by without the least knowledge of them.”

And I suppose all of life is random, and I suppose that’s how we meet everyone in our lives – by sparking up a conversation while in line at the market or waiting for a drink at the bar. Yet I believe that we’re all magnets attracting the people we want and need in our lives and when I stop and acknowledge what an integral part of my life these individuals have become... Well I can do very little but sit back, smile and be incredibly grateful that I was in the right place at the right time.

I love you all.

-LaLa

Shout Out

2009-08-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

Ok, here's a little shout out because I love this girl. She is absolutely batty and she leaves really hilarious voice mails. But even more importantly she is ridiculously talented - I sit at work and listen to her songs over and over again. Check out her myspace page here:

KANDACE FERREL'S MYSPACE

My favorite songs: "Not Enough Booze," "Now That He's With Me," "Come On, Come On" and "Red Light."

<3

-LaLa

2009-08-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

I phoned my mother at work on Tuesday afternoon (as I often do on my lunch break), only to hear the familiar voice of “the other Joanne” on the line. I immediately realized (as I have done 4,000 times before) that I had tried to call my mom at work on her day off. Joanne and I then recited the same dry dialogue we have recited for the last 20 years, which goes something like this:
Joanne: “Good afternoon, Washington Square Flower Shop.”
Adrienne: (Upon hearing a voice not her mother’s):“DOH... its Tuesday, myyyyy bad.”
Joanne: “Little girrrrrl! You know your mother is off today! Give her a call on her cell.”

So as I was shaking my head in utter disbelief at how many times I have made this little blunder before, and as I was about to hang up the call I hear my dad’s voice come on the phone. “Hey, Age,” he says. (Now this can be frightening for a few reasons, but namely because if my father gets on a call with me he’s either mad at me or I owe him money. It’s really no fun, so his grabbing this call immediately made my mind race to recall the last time I had made my car payment. So, no, I was not excited to hear his voice on the other end of the line.
Well, as it turns out my bills were paid on time, but I am sad to say that he had some very terrible and tragic news to report. My sister’s boyfriend had been killed in an automobile accident the previous night and he had just gotten off from a very upsetting call with her.

Evidently her boyfriend had just dropped my sister off at work and as he was returning home the tire on his car blew out. The vehicle flipped, crashed into a drainage ditch and he was ultimately ejected from the vehicle. My heart immediately sank upon hearing the news; I couldn’t imagine the pain and agony that my sister Charity had to be feeling at that very moment. We talked about it for a while and although my dad eventually tried to steer the conversation on to a new topic, I just sat there, sitting in the lobby of my office, staring out the window repeating, “Oh my God, Oh my God, I feel awful, Oh my God.”

Well, I suppose now would be a good time to mention that my sister and I haven’t spoken or seen each other in years. I recall a certain Christmas a few years back when she was in town and she had stopped at my parent’s home for a quick visit, but aside from that I had not seen her in what must’ve been a decade. She currently resides in Florida and although we lived in the same house for seven years as children she moved out at age 14 to live with her biological mother. Now that all sounds simple enough but the conflict, hostility and general sense of bad blood that existed between she and the rest of my family prior to her exodus is an after-school special chock full of dissidence, run-away teens and a $30,000 hospital bill that my mother is still paying off, some 19 years later.

So there’s that.

But, regardless of all this drama, and not to take away from the grimness and severity of the situation, but my point here is simply to stress that I don’t even know Chairty. Even when I saw her that Christmas I recall us sitting on separate couches attempting to make small talk. I couldn’t see her as the big sister who taught me how to ride a bike, or the one who let me borrow her Benetton backpack, or the one who took me behind the pool one foggy night and showed me how to smoke a Marlboro. No, this was a stranger. Someone I didn’t recognize. Someone I didn’t know how to talk to. I didn’t know what questions to ask, what jokes to make.

So, upon hearing this horrible story about her boyfriend (notice that I don’t even know his name?), I was surprised at how much it hit me. I suppose I put myself in her shoes, imagining if someone I was dating was killed in such an unexpected and heartbreaking way. I can’t possibly fathom the amount of pain this was causing her. He was only 29.

So, as the conversation between my father and I continued he finally said, “You should call her, Age.”And for a milli-second my head said, “What? Call her? Charity? Me? Call her? But this is Charity. THE Charity. I can’t possibly call her… what would I say? There’s no way I’m going to call her,” and then one second later my mouth just spit out, “You’re right, Dad, I should.”

So, I asked my dad to send me her number, which he did while we were still on the phone. And then there it was, my long-lost sister Charity Lloyd’s phone number sitting in my inbox. It was a “386” number that looked so foreign sitting there amongst texts from my closest friends. But I stored the number, and thought to myself, “Wow, this is so weird, having Charity’s phone number in my phone, this is almost surreal. Who would have thought?”

Well, after staring at the number a little longer I decided that she probably had entirely too much going on at the moment, or was entirely too emotionally distraught to be confused by a phone call from her little sister, whom she probably hasn’t even thought of in 5 years. I thought, *I’ll give it a few days and perhaps call her later, or maybe I will call her in 2 days or so.* But then I had the feeling that I wouldn’t do it. I knew I wanted to reach out to her, so I decided on a simple text, something along the lines of, “Charity, it’s your sister Adrienne. I am so sorry to hear about your loss and if you want to chat about anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call, this is my cell number. Love you.” SEND.
……
About three minutes later my phone vibrated. It was her. She responded. ONE NEW MESSAGE FROM CHARITY LLOYD. It read, “Adrienne, wow, I will always love you. Thank you so much, it means so much.”

And I’m still sitting there in astonishment that my sister and I are texting – this is our first contact in years. And all of a sudden it hit me that it took this terrible, terrible tragedy to force this communication between us. And I felt so sad about that, and I started to think about all the fun times we’ve missed out on, all the exciting things we didn’t get to share with one another, and it all felt very, very sad.

And then, all of a sudden…. All of a sudden it just felt so normal, so natural. She’s sitting in Florida, and I’m in California and we’re writing each other these heartfelt texts back and forth. And she starts asking me about my life, and what I’m doing for work, who I’m dating... She asks me to send her a picture of me and she sends me a few of her and her son... And she goes on to tell me about her boyfriend, what he was like, some of the hell she had been through in the last 12 hours at the hospital... And this continues back and forth for a while until she tells me she hasn’t slept and needs to try to get some shut eye, if that’s possible. So I again reiterate to her that I am so sorry about her loss and that I want her to please call me if she ever wants to chat about what happened, or about absolutely anything at all. So we exchange niceties again, she thanks me for contacting her and I tell her “Good night, get some rest and take care.”

So here I am the next day, wondering how she is doing. Wondering if she is at his funeral. Wondering how she is handling everything. I sent her another text this morning but have not heard anything back. Was our contact that short-lived? Will she ever respond? Or will we go another ten years without talking?

I guess only time will answer those questions, but one thing is for sure; I am so very glad I let go of the animosity and reached out to let to let her know I was there for her, even if our newfound kinship only lasted one day.

I hope it doesn’t but if there’s anything that this situation has taught me it’s that you never know when it’s your time. It has reminded me to never, ever take anyone for granted. It has reminded me the importance of forgiveness, the importance of patience, and ultimately of love.

Charity, if you’re out there, call me, I would love to hear your voice.

And to the rest of you – I only ask one thing of you. Tell them that you love them.

Much love,
-LaLa

Well Hello, Random Dog!

2009-08-24T15:25:00.001-07:00

Well, I have returned from the land of trees and tents, otherwise known as Angeles Crest - a National forest and popular camping destination about an hour north of LA. We departed Friday night with a carload full of food, blankets and excitement and made it to the camping site slightly after 10 PM, following our obligatory stop for Chipotle and booze. After arriving at Big Pines – which rests at an elevation of 6,500 feet -we slowly drove through the grounds trying to decide where to stop and pitch our tents. After a few minutes we came upon Spot 37 and after a quick once-over we decided that it was just the perfect spot; it rested in what seemed to be a tiny plateau – hidden from the other neighboring camp sites and in front of a small ravine of boulders and a fantastic back-drop of the surrounding mountains. After pitching our tents (ours was way easier than Rick and John’s) we broke out the iPod and the booze and the rest of the evening was filled with impromptu “drinking circles,” (whereupon the four of us stood in a circle and did swigs of Jack Daniel’s while singing one another’s names), spontaneous robot dancing and a general sense of absurdity around the campfire.
Saturday morning handed us a beautiful little surprise in the form of a rain shower, and waking up to the pleasant sound of rain drops hitting the top of our tent made my hang over and headache just a bit more bearable. When I finally moseyed out of our tent at about 8:30 AM it was still sprinkling and Rick had already started the fire and was making us pancakes. As we all ate breakfast around the picnic table we recounted the craziness of the night before and realized that we were short on alcohol, so Abigail and I took the car back down the mountain, one of my favorite memories of the trip. It took us nearly 25 minutes to drive back down and it was a beautifully overcast morning. We passed dozens of mountain bikers and motorcyclists, all of whom were taking advantage of the cool weather to enjoy a lovely Saturday morning ride. After grabbing some more starter logs, another bottle of Jack and a mocha frap we headed back up the hill with the windows down and the music up, taking various photographs on the way back. We arrived back at the campsite and after hearing about John’s near-death experience with a baby rattlesnake we somehow ended up in Rick and John’s tent for a short-lived storytelling session - which ended up turning into an early morning nap session.
The next few hours (thanks to a handful of mushrooms) were a general blur of fun and included climbing trees, taking pictures and an exorbitant amount of laughter – the kind of laughter that makes tears roll down your face every three minutes. I recall a certain stretch of time whereupon Abigail and I were sitting on the picnic bench talking about anything and everything and I can tell you that I haven’t laughed this much in a very, very long time. Some fun memories of this stretch of time include her time-out-from-talking session, my “When Harry Met Sally Water” and me writing “I’m wearing men’s running shorts” in the notebook and us thinking it was the most random and hilarious thing in the history of the entire world. (In fact I think I have permanent laugh lines on my face from this afternoon alone). Saturday night included much of the same… dinner (hot dogs and bratwurst), more booze, some feeble attempts at scary stories, clam chowder and S’mores (“Chowda? I don’t even know her!”), dancing, star-gazing (we caught a few shooting stars) and eventually Abigail brought out her guitar and strummed a few songs while John softly played the harmonica. All-in-all Saturday seemed like the longest day in the world (we played the “Guess What Time It Is” game about four times and were all astonished when it was consistently three hours earlier than we expected it to be), and it was filled to the brim with an astonishing amount of all-around buffoonery and tomfoolery.
Sunday morning was a hot one and as we all awoke at about 8 AM we decided to have a few beers and some PB&J’s and start packing it up for the drive back home. By this time we were all sun burnt and filthy and I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we all just wanted a bed and a shower. So as we each took inventory of our silly weekend in the woods we cleaned up the camp site, folded up our tents and packed up the Chevy. Dirty and tired the four of us climbed back in the car, turned on some good music, rolled down the windows and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery on the drive back to civilization. When we returned to the city we drudgingly unpacked the car, threw our dirty clothes in a pile and I took what seemed like an eighteen hour shower. And, although the spirit of camping was still inside me I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to appreciate all of the amenities that city life affords me by ordering take-out, watching tv and eventually falling asleep for a lovely afternoon nap in my comfy bed.
All-in-all this camping trip made me realize how extremely nice it can be to exit the living, breathing entity that is Los Angeles, and it allowed me to recognize how fantastic it is to shut your cell off for two days. No phone calls, no text messages, no Facebook or Twitter –that alone was fantastic for me. But this trip did even more than that for me; it made me slow down a bit - I can’t remember the last time I sat and appreciated the simple beauty of nature, stared at the moon or counted the stars. So, if you’re having too much of what ails you, I would highly recommend gathering some gear and some fantastic company and heading for the hills. This was definitely a weekend that won’t soon be forgotten.

Much love,

-LaLa

Let Me Borrow That Top

2009-08-21T12:22:00.001-07:00

Mood Music

2009-08-20T16:26:00.001-07:00

Superpoop

2009-08-20T12:14:00.001-07:00

www.superpoop.com

Routine

2009-08-20T11:26:00.001-07:00

By this point I’ve managed to secure a pretty predictable morning routine; I wake sometime between 7:15-7:30 AM, climb out of bed and drag myself to the shower, throw on whatever outfit I can put together out of the ridiculous pile of clothes in my closet and head out to my car. I am sure to leave by 8:20 AM so that I can make it to Coffee Bean by 8:30 AM – (where I grab a large pomegranate-blueberry latte) and head straight down Santa Monica Boulevard to The Avenue of the Stars. I pull into my parking garage, usually with my music still blaring and echoing in the gray and cold underground lot, wave at the happy morning greeter (what a lovely, sincere man he is) and I take the elevator up to the 4th floor, turn on my computer and settle in for my day.

After a few moments on the LA Times and CNN web pages I check the scene on Facebook and then immediately pull up a few of my favorite blogs. While doing this today I realized how ridiculously lovely it is to have the opportunity to read the online musings and meanderings of a few of my favorite people. These are blogs from friends who are peppered all across the country; not only people I see every day or people I talk to every day, but also people I may see once a week, people who know all of my secrets, people who I haven’t seen in ten years and even some people who I don’t know at all. And what is so decidedly delicious about these blogs is just how different all of these individual’s lives and opinions are and how completely different their personal reflections can be. There are ruminations of growing and learning, traveling, love and loss, gardening, crazy weekends of debauchery, children and work… People sharing their creative side, their sense of humor, their hopes for the future.

It’s almost ironic to think about it - sometimes you can spend every day with someone or just feel like you know someone so well, or you have this image in your head of who they are but somehow being allowed into their mind for only a few moments, albeit via an online, electronic web journal... it just seems like sometimes you can tell so much more about a person and how they think, the things that interest them, the things that intrigue them by reading their blogs. I absolutely love spending time reading these, and I love to imagine the person sitting at their computer, at home or at work, at a coffee shop... imagining their surroundings as they write, the sights, sounds and smells that encompass them. I suppose its my little way of feeling that much closer to them, no matter where they are or no matter how often I get the chance to see them.

So, without further ado, here are the blogs I enjoy reading on a daily basis. Enjoy, and please – those of you writing, keep it comin.’

http://www.stephentanner.blogspot.com/
http://abigailfrank.blogspot.com/
http://spiritofthestairwayonfire.blogspot.com/
http://mudbloggininmyfacepants.blogspot.com/
http://insurgency-inc.blogspot.com/

Love, love, love,
-LaLa

Mood Music

2009-08-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

Yea I keep dreaming
But I have it all
Ooh I'm still craving
To have you by my side

I know our love is fading
But soon we will shine

And I can't see today
And I can't see tomorrow
You're burning out of my head
And in my brain its going wrong

And I will live today
And I will live tomorrow
No matter what is said or done
Even if its going wrong

Even if its going wrong
You're burning out my head

I keep searching
Forever in your eyes
I'll be careful
But soon we will shine

And I can't see today
And I can't see tomorrow
You're burning out of my head
And in my brain its going wrong

And I will live today
And I will live tomorrow
No matter what is said or done
Even if its going wrong

Even if its going wrong
You're burning out my head

Even if its going wrong

You're burning out my head
And I can't see today
And I can't see tomorrow

You're burning out my head
And I will live today
And I will live tomorrow
No matter what is said or done
Even if its going wrong

Dream

2009-08-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

Pinkberry has new coconut frozen yogurt. Add some yogurt chips, some neeners and some strawjaberries and VIOLA! You've got a dream in your mouth.

The end.

Welcoming Committee

2009-08-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

OK, that’s it… I am ready for Autumn. Even though there isn’t much of a seasonal change here in LA, I am quite over the summer and the hot afternoons, the sandals and swimsuits, the iced coffees. I want boots! Beanies! Jackets and scarves. A chill in the air. I want hot lattes and hot chocolates… I want darkness at 5 PM, Halloween and space heaters. But now that I think about it, I think most of all I just want change.

These last few months have been the craziest whirlwind, and it’s almost hard to believe that I’ve been in WeHo for six months already. The amount of things I have done and the amount of people I have met is almost astounding. This fact alone solidifies my belief in the idea that certain people come into your life for a reason. And although I am still trying to place it all I have to say - not only was moving to LA one of the best decisions I have ever made, but moving to West Hollywood alone changed my life in ways I never expected. I feel so very “at home” here in WeHo; I have the best group of friends (who although in the grand scheme of things I haven’t known very long), but they are some of the most supportive, energetic, intriguing, intelligent, and magical people I have ever met and I know they would do absolutely anything for me.

Speaking of these people, they are another thing I love about LA. 99% of the people here are transplants – meaning that 99% of us gave up the lives we knew to follow our dreams. We have come from all over the world and landed here in the City of Angels, all of us searching for more - searching for a meaning, searching for answers, searching to find ourselves in this crazy, mad world. And everyone I know here just seems so absolutely hungry for life - we are daydreamers yet achievers. It is just so utterly fantastic to be surrounded by so many creative, artistic and imaginative individuals who have such a zest for life.

I can feel the slight change in the weather already. The cool air and clouds have packed their bags for a six month stay in LA, and I’m on the welcoming committee. I don’t know what Autumn has in store for me, but by the looks of it its shaping up to be on hell of a Fall.

Much Love,
-LaLa

MOOD MUSIC

2009-08-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Me

2009-08-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking a lot about “me” lately.

I’ve been thinking about what it’s like to be me.

I’ve been thinking about what it means to be me.

I’ve been thinking about what its like to know me. What its like to want to know me. Ive been wondering what its like to call me your friend. To love me. To hate me.

I've been thinking a lot about me lately and all I know is that I feel more like “me” than I ever have in my life.

Love,

-LaLa

Mood Music

2009-08-12T17:19:00.001-07:00

The lyrics to this song are mad poetry.

if you walk away I walk away
first tell me which road you will take
I don't want to risk our paths crossing someday
so you walk that way I'll walk this way

and the future hangs over our heads
and it moves with each current event
until it falls all around like a cold steady rain
just stay in when it's lookin' this way

and the moon's laying low in the sky
forcing everything metal to shine
and the sidewalk holds diamonds like a jewelry store case
they argue "walk this way," "no walk this way"

and laura's asleep in my bed
as I'm leaving she wakes up and says
"I dreamed you were carried away on the crest of a wave
baby don't go away, come here"

and there's kids playing guns in the street
and one's pointing his tree branch at me
So I put my hands up I say:
"Enough is enough,
If you walk away I walk away."
(and he shot me dead)

I found a liquid cure
for my landlocked blues
it will pass away
like a slow parade
it's leaving but I don't know how soon

and the world's got me dizzy again
you'd think after 22 years I'd be used to the spin
and it only feels worse when I stay in one place
so I'm always pacing around or walking away
I keep drinking the ink from my pen
and I'm balancing history books up on my head
but it all boils down to one quotable phrase
"If you love something give it away"
A good woman will pick you apart
a box full of suggestions for your possible heart
But you may be offended, and you may be afraid
but don't walk away, don't walk away

We made love on the living room floor
with the noise in the background from a televised war
And in the deafening pleasure I thought I heard someone say
"If we walk away,they’ll walk away"
But greed is a bottomless pit
And our freedom's a joke we're just taking a piss
And the whole world must watch the sad comic display
If you're still free start runnin' away
'cause we're comin' for ya!

I've grown tired of holding this pose
I feel more like a stranger each time I come home
So I'm making a deal with the devils of fame
Sayin' let me walk away, please
You'll be free child once you have died
from the shackles of language and measurable time
And then we can trade places, play musical graves
till then walk away walk away walk away walk away
So I'm up at dawn, putting on my shoes
I just want to make a clean escape
I'm leaving but I don't know where to
I know I'm leaving but I don't know where to

Haught/Naught

2009-08-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

Mood Music

2009-08-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the lyrics :)

Oh well in five years time we could be walking round a zoo
With the sun shining down over me and you
And there’ll be love in the bodies of the elephants too
And I’ll put my hands over your eyes, but you’ll peep through

And there’ll be sun sun sun
All over our bodies
And sun sun sun
All down our necks
And sun sun sun
All over our faces
And sun sun sun

So what the heck

Cos I’ll be laughing at all your silly little jokes
And we’ll be laughing about how we used to smoke
All those stupid little cigarettes
And drink stupid wine
Cos it’s what we needed to have a good time

And it was fun fun fun
When we were drinking
It was fun fun fun
When we were drunk
And it was fun fun fun
When we were laughing
It was fun fun fun
Oh it was fun

Oh well I look at you and say
It’s the happiest that I’ve ever been
And I’ll say I no longer feel I have to be James Dean
And she’ll say
Yah well I feel all pretty happy too
And I’m always pretty happy when I’m just kicking back with you

And it’ll be
Love love love
All through our bodies
And love love love
All through our minds
And it be Love love love
All over her face
And Love love love
All over mine

Although maybe all these moments are just in my head
I’ll be thinking ‘bout them as I’m lying in bed
And all that I believe might never really come true
But in my mind I’m havin’ a pretty good time with you

Oh

Five years time
I might not know you
Five years time
We might not speak
Oh
In five years time
We might not get along
In five years time
You might just prove me wrong

Oh there’ll be love love love
Wherever you go
There’ll be love love love
Wherever you go
There’ll be love love love
Wherever you go
There’ll be love love love
Wherever you go
There’ll be love love love
Wherever you go
There’ll be love love love
Wherever you go
There’ll be love love love

Wherever you go there’ll be love

INSURGENCY, INC.

2009-08-10T12:03:00.000-07:00

INSURGENCY, INC.

Check it.

-LaLa

Mood Music

2009-08-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

Girl Versus Food

2009-08-10T11:46:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I had a superbly fantastic dinner with a few friends in Koreatown, and amongst the fare of live squid, sea squirt and Soju we managed to have one of those magical evenings that none of us wanted to end. The energy at the table was off the charts, and the amount of laughter in that back room was more than I have experienced in some time.
Well, this evening we are moving away from the wriggling squid and on to kangaroo and alligator, which are apparently Vietnamese delicacies. I am not sure how we all decided on this "Bizarre Foods" dinner theme, but I'm thinking its going to be a fun night. Remind me to drink (a lot) first.

<3
-LaLa

Mood Music

2009-08-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

HOT/NOT

2009-08-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day...

2009-07-19T22:28:00.001-07:00

"Relationships are like Rome. Difficult to start out, incredible during the prosperity of the 'Golden Age', and unbearable during the fall. Then, a new kingdom will come along and the whole process will repeat itself until you come across a kingdom like Egypt...that thrives, and continues to flourish. This kingdom will become your best friend, your soulmate, and your love."

Updates...

2009-07-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I just sat here for a few minutes trying to write something of substance but I think my 4 hour nap this afternoon has made my head too clouded for that to happen right now - the words just aren't flowing tonight. So I think I will just write a list of things I want to talk about instead.

My trip home (already two weeks ago)
Lasting friendships
Family
Agape
Gratitude
Relationships and dating
Breaking free from stereotypes
Trust
Balance

I know, none of this stuff really makes sense right now but there are quite a few things on my mind at the moment... And those are just a few of them.

I guess the good news is that I am at a really good place right now and things are going really well - sometimes I feel like I am the luckiest girl alive.

And on a side note, I want to say a special "thank you" to a few special people in my life right now. You know who you are.

Much love,

-LaLa

HOT/NOT

2009-07-06T16:01:00.001-07:00

HI

2009-07-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

Hi, my blog is kind of boring. But I am leaving for Pittsburgh in 7 hours... more when I return. Happy 4th, everyone!

MUCH LOVE,

- LaLa

Superpoop

2009-07-02T10:41:00.001-07:00

HOT/NOT

2009-07-02T10:34:00.000-07:00

HOT/NOT

2009-07-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

Look At This Fucking Hipster

2009-07-01T14:12:00.001-07:00

Best new website.

http://www.latfh.com/

HOT/NOT

2009-06-30T17:52:00.001-07:00

I Hate LA

2009-06-29T22:04:00.001-07:00

This is the funniest video, ever. It is especially funny if you live in LA.

Stuff

2009-06-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and I want to do all of the following:

-movie
-gym
-haircut
-bowling
-dinner
-get a car wash
-tan

There's just not enough time in the day. Whoever created the 40 hour work-week should be shot.

HOT/NOT

2009-06-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Day

2009-06-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”

Michael Jackson

My New Tat

2009-06-24T21:54:00.001-07:00

Everything in the universe is made up of one thing: energy.

Courtesy of Coy @ High Voltage Tattoo/LA Ink.

Decision FAIL

2009-06-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

www.superpoop.com

HOT/NOT

2009-06-24T13:18:00.001-07:00

Word.

2009-06-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

www.superpoop.com

Quote of the Day

2009-06-23T13:23:00.001-07:00

"One out of four people in this country is mentally unbalanced. Think of your three closest friends; if they seem OK, then you're the one." - Ann Landers

HOT/NOT

2009-06-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Secret

2009-06-23T00:33:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I finally bought "The Secret" today. I opted for the DVD instead of the book and all I can say is, "Wow."

WOW.

I have been familiar with the idea and practice of affirmative thought for quite some time but after watching this DVD I have to say, it really does give you a whole new perspective on life, abundance and ability.

ASK. BELIEVE. RECEIVE. It really is that simple.

Be grateful for the wonderful things in your life. Focus intently on the things you want: JOY, LOVE, FREEDOM, HAPPINESS, LAUGHTER, whatever it may be. Visualize the end result.

Empower and share your joy with others and you will get exactly what you want out of life.

The concept is so simple, yet so powerful: The Law of Attraction.

Well, if you haven't seen the DVD or read the book, go buy it, like, now.

Much Love,
-LaLa

Quote of the Day

2009-06-22T17:17:00.001-07:00

"Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you." - Wayne Dyer

Mood Music

2009-06-22T17:12:00.001-07:00

HOT/NOT

2009-06-22T16:41:00.000-07:00

Today's Hososcope

2009-06-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Gemini:

"There's no time like the present to give yourself a little pat on the back. You're not usually prone to that sort of thing, but your friends will be downright insistent that you do some celebrating, so you might as well give in. Of course, they'll also want to be invited along for the ride -- and why not? What fun would a celebration be without a whole pack of fans to provide you with the applause you know you deserve?"

Hmmm, I am always down for some celebrating!

<3
-LaLa

MY HOT/NOT LIST

2009-06-22T00:05:00.000-07:00

Mood Music

2009-06-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

This song makes me dance in my pants. I was jamming-the-eff-out to this shit on SMB today.

Spring Cleaning

2009-06-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

Ladies annnnnd Gentlemen,

Well hello again!

After 5 months of not writing I have decided to come back to my own little space here in the blogosphere, LaLa in LA. (A wee bit of background for the newcomers): You see, this blog started way back in January of 2008 when I decided to move to Los Angeles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and I kept it up for a good year or so writing about my experiences and my adjustments to life in LA. It was fun, we all had a good laugh and I wrote about a bunch of silly nonsense like how terrifying it was to drive on the 405 and how finding a job in LA was such a bitch, yada, yada, yada.

But then I got busy... I moved, I got a job, lost it, got in a relationship, lost it, got a new job, (kept it), I moved again, blah, blah, blah... you get my drift. So, through all this I guess I just sort of lost interest in my poor little blog and I stopped writing all-together in January of 2009.

Anywho, I'm not quite sure what prompted me to erase all of my old posts and start anew... but let's call it Spring Cleaning, shall we?

So, there you go. And so, here I am, in my apartment in West Hollywood, sixteen months into my life here in Los Angeles... Still growing, still evolving, still learning, and still falling madly in love with the city of Angels.

And with that I welcome you to LaLa in LA, and I welcome you to the assiduous and often frenzied mind of one Adrienne Haught.

Buckle up, it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

<3
-LaLa

LaLa in LA

Pumpkin Pie

Haught/Naught

Second-Hand and Second Guess

Orange

Free Rice

Quote of the Day

Hocus Pocus

Quote of the Day

It

Game Plan

Haught/Naught

Labor Day Weekend

MOOD MUSIC

Haught/Naught

Thank You, Hollywood

There's Something In The Air Today

Serendipity

Shout Out

Well Hello, Random Dog!

Let Me Borrow That Top

Mood Music

Superpoop

Routine

Mood Music

Dream

Welcoming Committee

MOOD MUSIC

Me

Mood Music

Haught/Naught

Mood Music

INSURGENCY, INC.

Mood Music

Girl Versus Food

Mood Music

HOT/NOT

Suggested Reading

Quote of the Day...

Updates...

HOT/NOT

HI

Superpoop

HOT/NOT

HOT/NOT

Look At This Fucking Hipster

HOT/NOT

I Hate LA

Stuff

HOT/NOT

Quote of the Day

My New Tat

Decision FAIL

HOT/NOT

Word.

Quote of the Day

HOT/NOT

The Secret

Quote of the Day

Mood Music

HOT/NOT

Today's Hososcope

MY HOT/NOT LIST

Mood Music

Spring Cleaning