Don’t know why, but I woke up at 7:00am. I never know why I wake up, because I’m such a light sleeper that it could be someone slamming the outer gate closed on their door, or a siren, a bird chirping, or just the guy downstairs hacking (yes, he still does that). Maybe I had a dream and it was finished and I just woke up. I never know. I turned over and tried to go back to sleep, but I really had to go to the bathroom, so I got up and figured I’d go back to sleep right away.
Of course, that didn’t happen. I made some calls and watched TV until it was 9:00am and time to call Eric. After I hung up with Eric I watched TV a little longer and then DID go back to sleep.
When I woke up, it was almost noon! I haven’t done that in a long time, but it felt really good. I worked on the computer and then spoke to Jimmy. He told me to watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which Artie had also talked about. I had started recording them, but only saw one episode, which I really liked. I made my breakfast (cardboard cereal with chocolate soy milk) and watched two episodes in a row while packing during every commercial.
One challenge was creating a MAC VIVA GLAM commercial. I love MAC cosmetics and the VIVA GLAM advertisements are always fierce. Great divas such as Pamela Anderson, Fergie, Christina Aguilera and Blondie have done the ads. Each girl had 10 minutes to film her ad.
The next episode had the girls divided into two groups. They each had to lip sync to a DESTINY’S CHILD song. It’s very entertaining – and you know how I love my reality!
I got a lot of organizing done in the bedroom. I’m going through a lot of clothing, deciding what to take back and what to sell at the garage sale. As I go through drawers I find things I haven’t worn the entire time I’m here in San Diego, so why should I bother bringing them back to NY with me? Really? You know what they always say about cleaning out your closets – if you haven’t worn it in a year – dump it!
This will definitely pare down my closet and make it easier for me to set up when I get back to NY. I’ll have more to sell (or donate) at the garage sale, too.
I worked at a steady pace all day, only stopping for lunch (tuna and mac & cheese) and to occasionally check in on the computer. I knew Elsa was picking me up at around 6:00pm to go to HAIKU for sushi (yum!) and I was really looking forward to it!
I spoke to Eric a few times. I asked him if he wanted me to keep the cookie jars we have – Superman, Gossamer and Bugs Bunny – and he said definitely. I also have a few Boop cookie jars, but I'll never give them up! Eric plans to put shelves up in the kitchen or dining area of our new apartment (wherever that may be!) so we can display all our favorite collectibles. He’s SO excited about it, which makes ME even MORE excited than I already am!!!
I finally got dressed for dinner with Elsa at 5:00pm and she picked me up at 6:00pm. We went to Pacific Beach to HAIKU, my favorite Sushi place in San Diego. We stuffed ourselves and both took home food. We definitely ordered too much, and then because I mentioned it was Elsa’s birthday, they brought us TWO free desserts – a fried green tea ice cream with whipped cream and chocolate sauce (which Eric always loved) and fresh fruit in a martini glass. They’re SO sweet there! I wanted to say goodbye, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I have to go back again before I leave S.D.
We started with a spicy crunchy shrimp roll and a COMA, which is a deep-fried jalapeno with cream cheese and spicy tuna. Then we had a lobster roll with crab meat and a spicy salmon roll, so we had shrimp, tuna, lobster, salmon and crab. All so good!
We did a lot of catching up, since I haven’t seen Elsa in a few weeks. She said things at work are SO slow. She’s in HR and they’re not hiring at ALL, so her work is very slow. She told me of the changes they’re making at the firm, trying to save money, but they haven’t started to lay anyone off yet – and they hope they never will. It’s a great firm, which used to have tons of perks, but now they’re taking away some of the perks. It’s not surprising, because they’re doing everything they can to cut corners without eliminating staff.
She also told me about the changes she and her husband Stephen are making to their backyard. They’ve been working on it for months and I can’t wait to see the final result, because it sounds absolutely fabulous. The great thing about having a house in San Diego is that you get to use your backyard 12 months of the year. There’s really no time that it’s too cold to sit out during the day, and at night if you have a fire pit (which they do) and a heated Jacuzzi (which they do) you can enjoy it at night, too. They’re so lucky!
When I got home I watched LIE TO ME – my favorite new drama – followed by AMERICAN IDOL. I was happy that Jasmine went home. She’s VERY young and really has a great voice, but she’s too green. I felt bad when Jorge went home, because I thought he was so sweet – and very talented – but he was a little too corny and old-fashioned for the American crowd. The good news is, I’m sure he’ll go back to Puerto Rico and be a big star there now. He’s adorable.
Finally, I watched AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL. Cycle 12 is proving to be VERY interesting. In tonight’s episode, the girls got their makeovers, which always produces tears from at least one or two. I’ve never understood why women (and I guess some men) get so freaked out about haircuts. Don’t they know it ALWAYS grows back? A haircut is one of the LEAST permanent changes you can make to yourself!
Did you know that they’re already casting for Cycle 13 and they’re looking for girls 5’-7” and UNDER? The other day, when I was at KOBEY’S, I was looking at belts and there was this little teenaged girl there. I mean she was little. She looked about the same height as me, but she must have weighed 90 pounds – and you could tell it was natural. Her measurements looked like they were 30-20-30. I mean tiny! I told her that ANTM is looking for little girls for cycle 13 and she got SO excited. If I see her on the show next season I’ll scream!
Tomorrow I have a few more details to work out regarding my move, and then in the afternoon I’m driving to the office in Del Ray to pick up wardrobe boxes from one of the girls in HR. I’ll probably get to see all the HR girls, which will be fun. Then, I’m off to my regular Thursday appointment, after which I’ll be meeting Rosemary around the corner at BJ’s for dinner. Rosemary is a good friend and I enjoy her company.
I have been thinking a lot about leaving San Diego. I have made some good friends – Elsa, Rosemary, Tifney, and some friends – Marti (whom I met through Jimmy) and Stacie and the other girls from HR and around the firm, but there’s no one who I have bonded with like my girls in NY. The only girl I’m really sorry to leave is my cousin, Ilene, who has been so good to me while I’ve been on the West Coast. We have so much in common, and have so much fun together. I really wish I could have made more trips to L.A., but it’s always hard to get away.
I’ve thought a lot about how much I love the weather here – and that I do. I was so lucky to get to spend this winter here in San Diego. This really is paradise and I still would recommend it to anyone who hates the cold. San Diego is a great city with so much to offer. I was able to find a great crafting community (the CRAFT MAFIA), fabulous antiquing (OCEAN BEACH), wonderful restaurants (too many to name), great theatre (LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE and SAN DIEGO MUSICAL THEATRE, amongst others), great concerts (COX ARENA, HUMPHREYS and PETCO PARK), fun neighborhoods (SOUTH PARK, PACIFIC BEACH and HILLCREST are three of my favorites) and amazing sightseeing (the zoo, the aquarium, and Coronado Island, just to name a few).
I will come back to San Diego as often as I can, but also look forward to visiting San Francisco (to see our Jimmy) and Los Angeles, to see our cousins and Joe and Miguel. I’m not through with California, by any means, I’m just going back to where my heart really lies – I’m going to Eric.
I know for a fact that if I told Eric I couldn’t come back to New York he would come back here. But I CAN go back to New York, and I think I’ll have a much easier time making it there than he would have making it here. That’s what love and commitment is all about – it’s about doing what’s best for BOTH of you, compromising to stay together, clinging to each other through everything. It has to be mutual. You have to feel that your efforts are being met by the other person -- that they're trying as hard as you.
Eric is really working hard in New York and he’s doing great. I can’t believe that in just four weeks I will be joining him and starting our new life together. I know it won’t be perfect, and that there will be a lot of work ahead of us, and adjusting to all the change won’t be easy, but we will do it – together.