Cooler and Happier

I'm still catching up on my reading...been a busy week and whenever I open my reader's list 150 new entries are waiting for me. I haven't had a chance to read most of them. I try to read from one person only...then catch up on the next...don't want to skip in between and lose track. It's like a book. You don't want to read three different kind of books at once because you might confuse them or really lose track on the way. Don't want that to happen. So, three to six or maybe seven great writers on a day...that should be enough! And I love all your stories, inspiration, and pictures! All of them!!!!

Other than that, life's been ok for most of this week.
I baked a lime pie today. It's still actually in the whole process...I'm waiting and hoping it turns out nice enough for me to bring it to work. Makes me hungry already. Speaking of work. So far it's been good. The mean co-worker is on vacation. Unfortunately she'll return on Wednesday, but I'll be having off that day and the one after...thank you!! So yeah, so far it's been good. We also have a trainee working with us, so it's a challenge to explain to her everything, but a good one. We need the extra help, and so far I think she's doing great.
Oh, and in almost two weeks I'll be in Istanbul! Can't believe how fast the time goes. My dress is ready (yes yes, I'll take a picture of it and post it soon...been way too lazy), and I think I'm still considering buying another dress or maybe even more. Maybe right before the wedding...who knows. We'll see. Though the main reason I'm so happy about this upcoming trip is that I'm going to spend most of my time with my favorite cousin, and my friends. Haven't seen them in two years and two years can be an extremely long time! Moreover, my uncle from Illinois is going to be in town as well. Family reunion so to speak! Can't complain!!! That being said, I'm just looking at my red suitcase...it's waiting to be packed! Once again, a procedure I'm not looking forward to...

Happy Friday...even though it cooled down a lot and seems like as if the sun was captured by all those gray clouds...it's going to be a gorgeous day!!!
credit for photo

How We (Or I) Operate

It feels like as if I'm running while trying to read through all these exciting blog stories and daily inspirations. I'm not, that is for sure. Though I'm reading one, and before I know it I've read over 50 entries and my eyes are read, tired and sore. Time to relax and calm my precious eyes but the urge to read on is stronger...

My (current) favorite blogs I've been catching up on...and I don't really have favorites (they change by the topic and minute!) but still...here they are:

* Must Fine Toes
* A "cheery" disposition
* Living and Loving In L.A.
* Too much to see, the world keeps turnin'
* My Wooden Heart
* Everyday Delights
* Crafting Happiness...My Way
* Wandering DC

Thank you all for being inspiration to me, on a very much needed daily basis! Brings home back to me! ;)

xoxo Happy Thursday!

Change Is Not Always A Good Thing

The world is changing!! We all know that. Hopefully. Sometimes change is good. Sometimes change is not so good. It all depends on how it all started and on how the outcome literally comes out.
The lovely country I live in at this very moment has its ups and downs, like every other place on this earth. Right now, I do believe though that more downs than ups occur. Strange. This country has always been part of this world and its views and whether or not we are aware of it, it sure plays a large role on this planet. Good. Not always. World War II for example...some may deny it but Switzerland played a huge part there...then again, this is a controversial topic so I won't really discuss it right now. Nonetheless, Swiss people get patted on the back and smiled at because most of the people see them as cow hugging-chocolate eating-milk drinking-in wooden houses living-neutral people. They might drink milk and eat chocolate (most of them that is) but the cliched pictures and visions you may have from Heidi movies are long gone. The name neutral got stuck mainly because...well, why??? Because, apparently they were not part of those big world wars? Maybe. Maybe not. And right now, this country doesn't want to join the European Union, so that makes it automatically an island on this continent and again, people assume since the whole place acts (and maybe thinks) differently it must be different as well and therefore be called weird names.
I was born here in this so-called neutral country, so this applies to me as well. Sort of. And today's newspaper headlines pissed me off big time.
That is the real reason behind my writing today...this country's big flaws. I don't want to point out too many negative things because let's all face it, each country has flaws and is not always doing what it's supposed to. Normal. So is this place at the very moment. So is one particular other country as well. I won't be calling them by their names, and well, one country's name is obvious I'm sure. So, apparently the hatred and intolerance between these two countries are so strong the other one wants to break up this tiny "European Island" into three pieces so it will be vanished (!!!!) from world maps. What the hell??? What's wrong here?? What the hell is the other country thinking??? Where are we? Medieval times? Probably. Either way, whatever is about to happen just showed once more how cruel people can be and how intolerant they are, heck, always have been. What happened with us? What happened with everyone?
I don't want to turn this entry into some political thing nor do I want to talk about it. It just pisses me off that no matter what we all do the world is never going to be a better place. Granted, talking and writing about it won't help and won't change things but sometimes (and I know I've already said it so many times) writing helps. I'm just pissed. Actions need to be taken, but who am I talking about it. Can't do much about it. I can just walk around with a pissed-off face trying to smile at every one and leave it as it is. I might do this, well, I have to. Political issues aside, this place has shown me (personally) how its own flaws ruin it and ruin the people living in it. All I'm saying is that whatever is happening at this very moment with this country just literally pisses me off, makes me sick to my very own stomach, and just forces me to write an entry. Ha!

Ok, any negative thoughts aside...today is a rainy day.
Wish I could send some rain over to my beloved California and its wildfires. I know that none of my friends and family members are in any kind of danger so it's all good. It's just still sad!!!!

Let it rain...and let the sun peek through the gray clouds...even for just a tiny bit...maybe...thank you?!

Miss. Love. Want.

No comment! The places, all dearly missed, loved and wanted!!!
All pictures, except for one which is actually my very own, come from flickr.com. Click on the picture and see where it came from.

Happy Wednesday!

P.s. It rained today, cleaned the streets, and cooled down a lot. Wish it could this in other places, too.

New Month, New Energy

"Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions."

Where that quoate comes from is not a secret, and I won't elaborate on it. Up until today the book is pure inspiration to me. I won't travel to Italy just to eat pasta pretty much every day (I can do this here, too), and I definitely won't go to India, though Bali has always been on my mind. I have friends there, so it's just a matter of time, money, and will until I get to that part of the world. But I digress...

It's September!!!! Unbelievable. Hasn't it just been June, or July?! Where did the time go? Though when I look out the window I don't really see anything else but blue sky (yeah!!), and tons of sunshine. Temps are still high and I love it. Feels almost like as if I'm back in L.A. . I'm not, unfortunately. Speaking of which - I had a dream last night and I dreamed about Los Angeles. Weird, I know. Ok, not that weird. I went to the movies yesterday (my sister's keeper) and yes, the story is in L.A. And when I watched some TV last night the main location was in the city, too, so naturally it's quite normal to dream about it. However, it's not the first time and to me a sign that I'm missing life in the big city and in a much warmer part of the world. Despite the fact that I miss the beach like crazy! Either way, I digress again (typical me), September started and not looking at the date I'd guess it's early August or mid-June! NICE.

Quickly coming back to yesterday's movie day. The movie was cute. Some would say sad. Yes, a couple of tears were rolling down my cheeks as well. I read the book about six month ago and loved it. I cried like a baby while reading it. And, when I cry while reading a book the writing is great and the story, too - not to mention the book. So, crying and reading is a very good sign. Touching story, and I really recommend the book. The movie was good too. Normally, reading a book and then watching the movie are two very different things and most of the people are disappointed in the movie. I wasn't. In fact, I liked the ending!!!! I didn't like it in the book, and well, that explains it already. Not the same! If you haven't seen the movie I recommend it though.

Coming back to my little quoate up there...my dream and my emotions have a lot in common. I know that now. I assume I've always known just never really admitted it. My heart melts every time I see the skyline of Los Angeles, look at pictures I took or my friends are sending me, see a movie or even just hear the name. Feels like home to me. And home is greatly missed. So, a new month started and new energy slowly flows towards me...a good sign to continue my search for new adventures. My longing for my own happiness is stronger than I thought and I'm determined to work on that.
I am so a slave to my emotions...