Happy 2012!!

I had the privilege of ringing in the new year with my dear friends - The Goodwill family who I've known for more than 20 years, in downtown Salt Lake City. We got a beautiful room at the Grand America Hotel and had a lovely time. Our other friends Craig and Lance joined us and we had dinner at a sweet little place near Pioneer Park called Tin Angel. We all laughed and talked late into the night and munched on delicious. local organic food and wonderful wine.

We got back to the hotel in time to watch fireworks being shot off all over the Salt Lake Valley from our 21st floor view. I couldn't imagine a better place to be to celebrate this auspicious beginning.

In the morning we had yummy breakfast in our room while we talked about the year ahead for all of us.

We went over to Craig and Lance's beautiful home for a meal of home made soup and sandwiches while football games played on the tv as background entertainment while we chatted away.

I feel honored to have known these friends for such a long time and to have had so many crazy wonderful adventures with them so far.....trips to the wine country, countless parties that they have thrown, concerts, plays, movies, but mostly fabulous parties throughout the years. We have watched our children grow up together, and now Craig and Lance are raising their own beautiful twins who are 8 years old now. Our shared stories are what we have and they are good ones!

My heart is full of blessings and optimism as I move into a new time on earth. It feels to me like a time of reawakening. A time of taking it to the next level. A rebirth of sorts....evolution. There are things that must be done this year that have never been required before. An awakening is taking place for all of us here. Things are shifting and evolving at a molecular level and beyond. Are we ready? The train is leaving and it's best if we're on it.

Jai Jai 2012!

Devan and Grandma Pete

Kelly, Devan, Pete and Amber - New Years Day 2012

a sunshiny day at the park

Playing at the park with Nana

gorgeous day at the park

Julian is loving being outside

Making cookies with Nana

Happy Holidays!!

I've had a lovely little Christmas here in Utah where the weather is cold and clear. No snow yet. But I sure am having a good time with Julian. I would travel to the ends of the earth for him.

I am being quiet today, nursing a sore throat and reading some chapters from "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle. I'm also setting my intentions for the important year ahead...2012...it's gonna be a big one for sure!

Julian all snuggly warm

Hanging out with Nana

I saw Santa!!

Christmas eve at Craig's

Opening a present

Devan in the kitchen

Devan and Scott

Christmas dinner at Amber's

Christmas dinner

900 miles

I had such a lovely day in Tahoe and evening at Rosanna's parents house in Reno.

Rosanna unexpectedly got sick from consuming too much nutmeg (who knew? But it's a real thing. She found out the hard way when the lid came off the nutmeg jar as she was putting it into warm milk) so she was unable to go hiking with me.

I drove to Tahoe City and went to Fanny Bridge, a museum and the visitors center. They suggested that I spend some time at Sugar Pine State Park, and told me where I could get a yummy sandwich to take with me. I drove down to the park which was only about 10 miles away, along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. The water is the most beautiful rich blue color I have ever seen. It's magical and sparkly. I paid my $8 and went into the park, found a shady spot for my car and set out along the trail. There is a cool old mansion that was built there in the 1800's, some old boathouses with vintage boats in them and the cabin of the very first settler in Tahoe. They have nice trails and interpretive signs. It was so gorgeous. I walked along the shore and there were lots of happy people picnicking, bike riding, hiking and swimming. It was a perfect day. I found some rocks and feathers that I think Julian will like.

I drove up to Reno in the afternoon to Rosanna's. Her parents, Mary and Larry are lovely people and they have a great home with the Truckee River running through the backyard. They were so comfortable to be around and made me feel very welcome. Rosanna was feeling better by the evening and she made a delicious stir fry with fresh veggies and poached eggs over brown rice. Larry opened some nice wine and we sat outside and talked and laughed. Mary made a fresh strawberry pie for dessert and we looked at photos and talked about our travels.

Rosanna's dad had made a great swing in the backyard and a platform that you climb up on, get yourself into the swing and launch yourself out over the river. I was scared to death, but I did it. My heart was in my throat, but I still managed to scream and laugh at the same time as I was flying through the air. It was fantastic. After the swing became still, I sat in it at twilight and watch the bats come out for their dinner of bugs along the river. More magic.  Larry has also built an outdoor bedroom by the river out of a picnic tent and it has a wood floor, a little table with a lamp and is so cozy. They definitely make the very best of their beautiful surroundings.

I slept well and had happy dreams before setting out this morning around 8:30. It was wonderful to see Rosanna again and to meet her darling parents. I drove for 10 hours today, listening to my books on tape and watching the Nevada desert go by. I enjoyed my drive this time. The last time I was on Interstate 80 was when Taylor was in labor with Julian and I was trying to get there as fast as I could, so not all that enjoyable. It was nice to just look around this time and enjoy the contemplative, meditative time as the miles rolled by.

I'm at my mom's tonight, tired and happy. I'm sure I'll sleep well.

Grateful

A friend of mine said today "you have a great life, don't you?". I told her, that yes, I do and I am so, so grateful for it every day.

It's so interesting how life unfolds in such wonderful ways. It all depends on your point of view. Technically, I am homeless and jobless right now, I really don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing, but I have never been happier.

Two years ago I was living in a beautiful house with a view of the San Francisco Bay in one of the most expensive, upscale towns in the United States. I didn't have to work, I traveled a lot, I went out to fancy restaurants, I could buy new clothes anytime I wanted. I had it "all". But I was miserable. My spirit was suffocating. There is absolutely no blame here. I was just in the wrong situation for me.

It was a difficult journey through the middle of my separation and divorce but now that I'm on the other side, finally, everything is alright.

I am very grateful every day for the friends and family that I have, for the place that I get to live, for yoga and my health, for good food and clean water, for my car that runs well and gets me from place to place, for sunshine and blue sky, for rain, for hiking trails, the ocean, for the salad bar at Whole Foods, and for being able to live a very spontaneous and creative life.

I bought a bumper sticker last weekend at a festival that says "Something Wonderful is About to Happen". And I believe it.

Loving Life

Things are going great since I've been back in California. I feel alive, energized, renewed and happy.

I have been housesitting since I returned and it's working out very well. Things keep opening up for me and looks like I may have housesitting jobs through August and perhaps beyond. I love the fact that I am saving so much money, especially since I have no income right now. I feel comfortable living out of a suitcase and keeping my life fluid and open to whatever may come. I have been doing it now for 8 months and it feels just fine.

Each day brings new adventures, new people and new experiences into my life. I thank the universe daily. And I thank my dear friends who let me stay in their guest rooms and on their couches when I need to.

I have been busy volunteering for various organizations, attending fundraising events, doing lots of yoga, getting in touch with past business contacts and taking advantage of all the great things that the Bay area has to offer. There is so much art, classes, festivals, new places to explore and live music, that it's impossible to take it all in. I love it. I look forward to each and every day.

Bookclub

I have been part of a wonderful bookclub for the last three years. My friend Christy came up with the idea and it has been a great thing in both of our lives. Women have come and gone but a core group has been there for quite a while.

This is no ordinary bookclub. We are a group of interesting, funny, smart women who care so much about each other. We are always watching out for each other and we have each others backs.

We met last night and it was so great to see everyone again after two months away. We just finished reading City of Joy which of course meant so much to me after spending time in india and with the author, Domenique Lapierre. Everyone was very moved and touched by this book, me included. I had seen the movie a few times but the book is so much richer and such a great story of people's love and strength in times of such intense adversity. It blows mind when I think of what people in india go through on a daily basis just to survive. Domenique is a very gifted writer and I'm so glad that this book came into our lives.

We haven't chosen our next book but will in the next few days. Whoever hosts the meeting usually gives some suggestions and we all decide what we're in the mood for next. It's always a good, lively discussion no matter what we read and we always have a very fun time together. But we are out of control on the food we bring. There is always WAY too much of it. Always delicious but always lots of leftovers. I was wishing last night that we could send it all to the people in India who have none...

Austin Texas

I went to Austin last weekend with my friends Amber and Trieste. It was the SXSW Film Festival and Trieste's daughter, Trieste Kelly Dunn was in a film that premiered there.

I had never been to Austin before and was excited to be there. It was much as I had heard and imagined with would be: a very cool town with lots of great music and great food. Everyone seemed to be very kicked back and relaxed and there were lots of people in their 30's running around. Many of the young girls were wearing very short dresses and the highest hooker heels I've ever seen. It was like a contest to see who could wear the least clothing and get the most altitude on their shoes. I guess if I had the body and the balance, I would take advantage of it too. But they will learn later on how very important comfort is :)

We stayed at a friend of a friend's house outside of Austin. They were out of town and let us use their place which was pretty incredible. It had a nice pool and hot tub, a movie theatre, exercise room, many bedrooms and lots and lots of space. It was very kind of them to let us stay there.

It was so much fun to be with my friends again. We used to travel a lot together and haven't done it for many years. We stayed up late, drank a lot and laughed a whole lot. It was great and I'm happy to have such dear friends in my life. And I am so proud of Kelly. She is a wonderful actress and has worked really hard to get some great roles. It's great to see her progress. I'm sure there is nothing but great things to come for her. She'll be at the San Francisco International Film Festival next with this current film, Cold Weather.

an idea

I have been asked to go on a trip to Asia from October 14 to the beginning of November.I plan to blog my adventures for my friends and family to follow along...