November 2008

I cant wait to indulge like the piggy I am, on stuffing and pie tomorrow. I’m doing what any smart single girl does, eating out with friends. The holidays can be weird when you’re single and have no family close by. I ate with Dena and her family last year too and it was a blast. She included me after I got not-invited from spending it with my crazy boyfriend at that time. He wasn’t divorced yet and just made plans for himself and his son without me. I felt awful. I felt better after I dumped him and his divorce-drama 2 months later.

Tomorrow it’s a buffet, and I know that usually means crappy food, but not this place. It’s kinda fancy and really delicious. If only I had a tupperware purse. We’ll eat as much as we can and swear we’re never eating again. Then 4 hours later I’ll wish I had a snack. Shit. I care about food way too much.

It’s my favorite meal of the year. I will be thankful for all-you-can-eat deliciousness.

I’m hooked on a show about a woman that weighs over 400 pounds. Heard about it from a friend and originally watched thinking hey, I won’t feel so bad about my six pounds I want to lose. But she’s so sweet and lovable, I got sucked in. Her weight is life-threatening so it’s danger and food drama from the start. Sorta like my life.

Ruby lives with friends in Savannah where fried foods reign. They all eat bad and have a hard time saying No. But after the warning from her doctor she seems snapped out of her food haze and ready to get healthy. So she goes from one extreme to the other, now only allowed to eat her pre-made meals and snacks. And that’s gotta suck after all the junk she was hooked on. 

By the end of the show you’re cheering for her as she joins a gym and tries water aerobics. There’s no swimsuit in her size so she makes one from a jumper dress thingy and you can’t help but feel bad for her. When she exercises it’s exhausting, since she’s just so big, but she has an attitude that makes you think she’ll get thin this time. I want to believe her. I want to be her BFF.

Watch it sunday nights on the the style network.

Last night was drinks with a group of girls and I chatted with one, brand new to the city. We couldn’t help but compare the people in LA to other places. I remembered how it felt to be new here and wanted to give her some LA secrets to live by.

But instead I found myself warning her of the hazards of flaky. Mixed in with the “oh we are so damn lucky to live here” and “santa monica is the greatest” was my jaded “don’t take it personal, some people here just can’t be relied on.”

Is it just LA I wondered. Or maybe the people in all big cities are wishy-washy? They get busy and overextend themselves, saying YES to every invite that comes their way. Then make it to some and no-show the others. But guess what, we’re all busy, so get yourself another excuse.

Once I commit to drinks, dinner or whatever, I’m in. Not so for the rest of the city I sorta love. The flakiness makes it hard to strike up friendships and really connect with anyone. I’m lucky to have a few amazing close friends, that feel the same way about keeping our word. And the rest of the city but can just F off!

With all the fires in the hills of LA, living in a densely populated area like mine has its advantages. All weekend the ash was falling like snow and it was best to stay indoors. I got sucked into the continuous news coverage, both tragic and mesmerizing. Except for an essential like going to the 30% off sale at Gap and Banana, I avoided the bad air. No run, walk or hike. Only shop.

But thanks for asking. I’ve already done the last minute wedding at age 20. Then an icky five years later there was the anti-climactic divorce. He cried, mostly over his girlfriend leaving him not me. Turns out she only wanted him when he was off limits. I met her once, she seemed nice. Not at all the slutty-slut I imagined.

What the hell was I thinking? I was practically a baby at that age, no way ready or able to commit to a loving partnership. How can you choose at 20 who you will be, much less who you will want to be with?

My mother wanted to save the dress. It was 30$ and came from Casual Corner, remember those? The name says it all. I went into the marriage casually and then felt cornered. “Hey wanna get married this weekend” was how it all started.

Looking back, I see that getting over that mess means I can survive anything. I left with nothing but my dog and cat and moved back home for a year. A proud moment for any parent. (Thank you Mom!)

The ex and I stayed friends and kept in touch for years, we even took a vacation together after we decided it was really over. Totally weird I know. Then I left Austin and moved here to LA, with no forwarding information. If you happen to know a short guy with an accent, driving an overpriced sports car, don’t tell him where I am.

Oh come on, we all do it. But do we admit to it, shopping for clothes at Target or WalMart? Gasp, I even saw a Kmart commercial yesterday with what might be some cute stuff, that had me thinking hmmm…why is there is no damn Kmart near me. They used to have cool Martha Stewart kitchen crap, but I haven’t been to one in years.

The girls in my office have no shame, and I love that. We’re crazy proud of our bargain finds. A cool Target sweater that was only $15. We uhhhh and ahhhh over it, impressed at how cute it is plus it looks like it came from the Gap. That fab 10$ shirt from Old Navy just got you voted Queen for the day around here.

Resale and thrift store sales are up these days I hear. It feels like recycling, YAY, even if it’s only cause we’re all spending less. Or just finally, living within our means. Suze Orman would be so proud.

Pssssssttt…cutest sweater vest of the season is at WalMart right now for less than 20$.

I’m not really an addict. And I’m no celebrity. But can I PLEASE please be on Celebrity Rehab with Dr Drew? I can make up something. I do eat too many sweets, lately its twizzlers and graham crackers. Oh and I watch too much tv. And my parents got a divorce when I was 7. Surely that’s enough.

He’s a dreamy silver-haired superfox.

That’s right. I just voted two streets up, in my neighbors garage. Last time I voted in the furniture store down the block, and before that in a 6$ per head hair salon. It feels sorta backwards for a big city like LA.

As a kid in Texas I remember my parents voting at a school. I tagged along and felt pretty cool. There were lots of people, signs and all kinds of activity, it was the happenin place. This morning, not so much. 

Waiting on their sidewalk in line felt like I was in a small town, with a very hip community. Who lived inside and where were the refreshments I wondered. And I’m sure it was all on the up and up. Cause after voting, the pretty little ballots were all shoved into a giant tupperware bowl thing.

What happens next, only Oprah knows.