Category: regular

Confession: I haven’t worked out in a week. Confession: I’m not upset about it. Confession: I didn’t want to buy Christmas gifts. Confession: I finally did. Confession: I am so over this week. Confession: I really am. 

Thanks to baby Jesus it’s finally Friday! This week has been insane at work, and I was ready for it to be done on Wednesday. I’m pretty burnt out on the Harmon’s moving situation. I’ve spent hours upon hours at his house the past few days dealing with appointments for installations. Over it. 

I might be a little grumpy pants because I miss Manfriend. He’s been working in Lancaster all week, and the week before that he was in Joshua Tree. I did get to visit with him on Tuesday night, but it wasn’t long enough, and the drive was yucky. I’m putting away my grumpy pants now, at least until he starts his new show…on a Tuesday – Saturday schedule. I don’t wanna talk about it. Ok, fine. I am so happy he’s working, and staying busy…but don’t production companies know it’s not ok to screw up MY life with YOUR schedule?! Rant concluded. I’ll live. Now, who wants to entertain me on Saturdays? 

As I’ve confessed I didn’t want to buy Christmas gifts. I really, really love Christmas. But, I love it for reasons other than gifts and Christmas shopping. I love spending time with my family at Christmas, that is the best part about the holidays. I love the extra time off work, it’s so nice to have a fews days of silence from my iPhone beeping to let me know I have emails. 

I feel like every year people become more insane about shopping and giving gifts for Christmas. I truly think it brings out the worst in people. Seriously. Go to Target, or the mall, or Best Buy and take a look around. People are nuts. Grumpy. Fighting over parking spots. Upset about the long lines. I’m so over it. There is so much more in life. 

I am so anti-Christmas shopping that I do my shopping online. It’s the only way people. Seriously. Convert with me. You can get great deals and compair prices…it’s all about Brad’s Deals. I’m done with my Christmas shopping rant now. 

In conclusion I wanted to share something I read on another blog this morning, it helps put things in perspective. And it made my remove my grumpy pants. I’m totally pants-less now you guys. And it’s cold here in LA – that’s a big deal. 

Written by a 90 year old woman, Regina Brett.  

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.  It is the most requested column I’ve ever written.  My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:”

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone for everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of whom God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come..

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44 Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Today’s lunch was from Benitos Taco Shop. I like to think that I’m on the quest in life to find the best fish taco in the world. Lemme tell ya, Benitos is currently holding the #2 spot. Second to my friend, Terrie Koch’s homemade fish taco amazingness. You can’t beat Terrie’s Tacos, so that’s my benchmark. 

I ate one whole taco, before a took a photo:

It had the perfect breaded cod, the most amazing tangy dressing, the exact right amount of salsa mexicana, and cabbage. All encased in a soft corn tortilla. 

This taco gets a 4/5 score. -.5 for being cold, not the taco’s fault, it had to travel a long way to me, and -.5 for being a chain restaurant taco. There’s only 2 locations – but the more homemade the better for me :)

Next time you want a fish taco – this is the taco you want. 

It’s been a few days since my last blog…I’ve been a tad bit busy. 

Thursday and Friday the Harmon was moving houses. And, yours truly was supervising. Wednesday night brought the worst winds LA has seen in a long time. There were trees down on the freeways, landing on homes, and all over the streets. I didn’t sleep much the night before phase one of the move, the wind was gnarly and LOUD. On Thursday morning the moving company was to arrive at 7:00am – they arrived at 8:30am…not totally their fault. They got lost, and a house fire (resulting from a fallen tree and a power-line) at the end of the street had the fire department blocking the road. No power at the house, and a very long day occurred. 

Friday and phase two of the move went smoothly, and everyone was happy. Even Harmon’s beloved cat:

Saturday Manfriend had perhaps one of the longest work days ever. 23 hours. Straight. On a 6th day. Can you say “golden time?” 

He made it home on Saturday at 12:30pm just as I was returning from breakfast. He seemed rather upbeat, whereas I would have been grumpy dumpy and not a happy panda. Gotta love that guy. We spent the remainder of the day doing laundry and errands. 

And then…we had a DATE NIGHT! It’s a rare thing for us to have a date night, just us. We spend a lot of our off time doing errands together, but that’s work – not so much play. We’ve been overdue for some “us” time. So, to celebrate Manfriend’s insane workweek (and hopefully, paycheck) we went for sushi at our favorite place, Chiba. 

Everyone has their own idea of where the best sushi in town is, and Chiba is off the charts for us. We love it. It’s in the ghetto, let’s be honest here. But, it’s worth the trip and the PITA parking (Pain In The Ass). There’s a valet available, so that makes it’s easier. 

We like to sit at the sushi bar, and talk to the sushi chef’s. I highly recommend this. It makes all the difference for our sushi experience. 

Some photos, excuse the grain from my iPhone:

Manfriend and I like to ask the sushi chef what his favorite fish is, or what might be the best of the day. We also like to have them make their favorites for us, and pair them with other things we like. The above photos were examples of this, and amazing – not to mention works of art. It’s a great way to try new things, and I think the chefs enjoy making personal favorites – other than just the standard crunchy roll. 

After an amazing dinner we made it the perfect date night and were asleep by 9:00pm. Win!

Sunday we had plans for a long bike ride. We left my house and headed down the Chandler bike path, cut through the neighborhoods, down Riverside Drive and onto the River Trail Bike Path. 

It’s a great ride, and really flat. Perfect for an easy 18 miles. 

We stopped for brunch at The Village Bakery and Cafe. This is one of my favorite brunch places, and it’s a great stop on the bike path. 

I had a large latte:

And the Herbed Goat Cheese Scramble:

I ate every last bite! Everything is homemade….and the strawberry jelly is so amazing. You pretty much want to roll around in its strawberry amazingness. I’m totally serious. 

It was a great weekend, full of good food, and lots of fun. 

Happy Monday!