Kicking Leaves

I was riding on the 70 degree wave of the ODD, summer weather we experienced last week but, a walk down to Argo Tea Café this past Monday brought on a nostalgic wipe-out to that surf-ride. Halfway through my walk I found myself crunching and rustling through amber colored leaves that had covered the sidewalks of Briar Place [street] and with each swoosh of my fancy boots released that wet, earthy sent that leaves hold as they begin to disintegrate into the earth. I had forgotten about this wistful childhood memory and with this, a sudden stream of manic epiphanies came.

First, what the heck happened to fall and the ardent display of fall colors? Was I supposed to embark on a Wisconsin or Michigan road-trip to experience the change of events? I’m looking out my 20th floor windows onto the lake and yep, I missed fall. Skeletal trees are starting to adorn Lake Shore Drive and the rest of this urban jungle.

Secondly, I’ve been here two years and I just acknowledged fall? Ms. “live in the moment” “stop and smell the roses” person- me! Did I fall victim to my own unconscious defense mechanism, trying to fight against the negative degree weather soon to come? I did.

Thirdly, why is it nostalgic? Well, it’s nostalgic because, as a child and immature creature of earth, our given grace and wonder of the world we live in lets us capture these evanescent moments. Juvenile breaths in time where you accept what is and entertain it with curiosity and playfulness. Boy, how many times through out the day do we forget to do this? These particular epiphanies are when I admire Will Farrell and his goofy-like character. Wouldn’t date him but I would love to keep him in a box and take him out to play at my leisure. My own Drop Dead Fred! 
 
Lastly, DAMN! I have arrived at my destination but failed to fully take in that fall stroll down to Argo Tea… can my neurotic thoughts please stop “Pumpkin chai latte please…with soy” maybe the added pumpkin flavor will redeem my lack of appreciation to Mother Nature’s wonder (another neurotic thought). After two hours of web surfing on my laptop, consumed by another stream of manic thoughts regarding my single status, I succeeded in clearing my mind upon exiting the café. I enjoyed every single amber-decaying leaf that crossed my path on my way home. With a little Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young melody strumming in my sub-conscious, I gleefully and rather dramatically made it a point to break through the clusters of dead leaves along the way…secretly wishing on a mound to present itself.

From Sea to Shining Sea!

Gee, I have to say I’m embarrassed for not having kept up with my writing. It’s all going by so quickly- life that is. Since my last post I am proud to announce that with a promotion in July came my official title of Agent Concierge. My West coast soul sisters, Maria, Bridget, Heather and Helen, came out to stay with me during the fourth of July weekend to celebrate Heather’s bachelorette followed by a road trip to Traverse City, Michigan where Bridget grew up. We met Bridget’s family and perused through her childhood hangouts and teenage hide-outs. Connecting the many dots that make the woman I hold dear to my heart.

August arrived and went like a flicker. It kicked off with a second round at Lollapalooza and unlimited access to VIP lounges- the ONLY way one should expense oneself over a 3-day musical retreat at Grant Park. The weekend that followed was Chicago’s annual Air & Water show were I started off on a friend’s boat and hopped around a couple of rooftop parties by the afternoon and into the evening, only to find myself on the midnight train out to Woodstock, Illinois because I wanted nothing more then to be with my niece and nephew tucked in bed. The best part of visiting my sister’s family and my Mom is waking up with them!

Weekend after that was a beach-house get-away with 15 close friends and finishing the month back home in San Diego for the wedding of the century. I had the honor of speaking at Keith & Heather’s wedding. My mission was to set the tone for LOVE between two human beings plus those who had come together from all over to celebrate this beautiful relationship. This experience enlightened me so that I plan to be ordained as a wedding minister some day.

September was spent at the beach on LSD (Lake Shore Dr.) as I knew these days were numbered; meditating the wonderful summer spent and mentally preparing for a company merger soon to come in the next couple of weeks. The end of summer in the Midwest sparks a hibernation trend of coupling. This year I found myself contemplating if I should set up a rotation. Not only to find a soul-mate but, more importantly to help put out an old flame that prevents me from letting other trains pull into the station ;-) A couple of blind dates, mutual friend set-ups, and entertainment of past twenty-year old suitors resulted in exasperation that spilled into the early month of October.

Over-worked  from an intense company merger with fruitless dates in between, I decided it would be best to jet far away for a bit but not anywhere nicer in climate than here- so I booked a last minute flight to NYC. A long weekend trip alone in Greenwich Village, So Ho and Tribeca area seemed like the perfect antidote to any drained spirit. I did the touristy things that sat on my “many things to do before I die” list. NY was exactly! what my soul needed to re-juice. I have been waking up before my alarm and excited to start each day- watching the sun rise above the lake’s horizon from NY and later setting behind endless high-rises into the San Diego skyline :-)

My hibernation coupling will designate to Monday nights, sharing them with my dear and oldest friend, Aimee in Wrigleyville. Home cooked meals, great sex stories and prime time TV shows will shelter me from the cold until my next weekend trip to a far away place*

Nuclear Fusion

It’s been about 3 months since my last post and same amount of time since I began a new job at Jameson. Monday through Thursday I’m part of the executive staff- mainly agent relations. Fridays I’m independent and Jameson has given me the opportunity to promote my company within. Acclimating into a corporate environment with an entrepreneurial spirit has been trying at times and repressing of my self-expression, but at the end of the day I really can’t help myself :-)

Anyway, my inspiration for today’s post is a result of S.A.D. Also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder…winter depression. My super powers were depleted by mid January and a long weekend back in Sunny San Diego last month managed to restore my Joie de vivre with vigor and oomf* that lasted for a good 3 weeks… until today. Not only was Ms. Sunshine out all day BUT when I looked outside and realized that it was 5p and still bright, I sprung up from my desk with immense joy and shared it out loud. Summer dresses and strappy heels just dancing in my head!

You see, it took me three years of living in San Diego to finally accept the people. I used to question their sincerity because they seemed way too happy and eager to hug you upon meeting you.  Sweetheart, immerse yourself in 365 days of sunshine, beach, and waves and I’m sure you’ll come across as the most insincere cat on the block. Meeeooow! I constantly hold myself back from squeezing the S.A.D. out of these mid-western folk in hopes that it will knock the S.A.D. out of me! My theory goes back to the basic unit of matter, the Atom. I won’t go into quantum mechanics so here goes my brief translation. An atom is a cloud of negative energy that encapsulates a positively charged center- otherwise known as the nucleus. It's ME in cold, gloomy Chicago! But not just me, it's also the frowning suit sitting next to me on the LaSalle bus reading his Wall Street Journal as well. I started developing an intense desire to hug the attitude out of him but, instead I created the visual in my head in hopes that he would be affected through osmosis. Nuclear fusion baby! Seriously, such a gorgeous creature and a shame that he isn’t smiling.

This brings me to another inspiration… beautiful people! Jameson is nothing but this and our Realtors can be visual muses. One of my favorite quotes is from Michael Rapaport in the 1996 flick, Beautiful Girls in which he’s explaining his fanatic display of super models on his wall. “A beautiful girl can make you dizzy, like you've been drinking Jack and Coke all morning. She can make you feel high; full of the single greatest commodity known to man: promise. Promise of a better day. Promise of a greater hope. Promise of a new tomorrow. This particular aura can be found in the gait of a beautiful girl. In her smile and in her soul.. and the way she makes every rotten little thing about life seem like it's going to be okay…hope dancing in stiletto heals…”

Beautiful men can also quench a S.A.D. girl’s day just the same. His Canali cologne, his emanating confidence and cool stride, his smooth glowing skin, his eloquent speech, or his sensual smile at this morning’s event because he saw my familiar face.