Birthdays, cocktails, book signings, and a dark knight oh my!

Last month was filled with many surprises, celebrations, loads of fun, and one very big milestone; I turned 29! Ok…maybe 29 isn’t a milestone for most, but for me its extremely important as it memorializes my official last year of my twenties. I am usually thrilled to pieces around time for my birthday, but this one evoked more irrational nervousness than thrills and cheers. Now I don’t know if it was the few gray hairs I found framing my forehead or the crack of my hip one morning as I got out of bed, but the thought of 29 was really giving me the blues, and no matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t shake it. I guess it’s because I know 30 is right around the corner, and whether I like to admit it or not, 30 is scary (please refer to above mentioned irrational nerves). So to prevent me from falling into full-fledged Eeyore, my closest Jane’s and I decided to ring in this birthday right by celebrating the 29^th year of my escape from the womb for an entire week straight.

It started with a book signing of one of my favorite authors, cupcakes, and a Melting pot. I’ve never been to a book signing- despite what my mother may argue- so I was ecstatic to hear that the bestie (Otherwise known as Jane S.) would be escorting me to a short reading and signing of one of my favorite bestselling authors Jennifer Weiner to promote her new book The Next Best Thing, and kick of my week of celebrations. By the by, the cupcakes and treats were flowing by the dozens- WIN!

 I had so much fun; Jennifer was funny, and personable, such a sweetheart, and to my surprise took the time out to speak to me directly and give me some much needed advice regarding writers block and getting published! I left that signing feeling energized, inspired and quite hungry as all the jumping up and down in excitement was quite the work out. By the way, in addition to signing my ENTIRE collection of her novels, check out the swag Jennifer gave me after our little talk as a thank you and keep your head in the game token.

Officially the coolest reader at the beach with my JW beach towl!

Did I mention she also personally commented on a picture I posted of her, the bestie and I at her book signing via Facebook???! Yeah…that happened. Because you know, were best friends now. True story.

After the book signing fun Jane S. decided to take me on a tour of the local hot spots of the area, which lead us to The Melting Pot in Downtown Pasadena. I’d actually never been to The Melting Pot, so the whole experience had me giddy and ultimately hopping around like a kid in a candy store. But really…could you blame me, look at the dessert platter that comes with a luscious pot of dark chocolate/caramel dipping sauce; Yummmmmmm.

Next on the agenda was cocktails and a dinner date I had with another close Jane of mine- Jane C. We went to Newport Beach to dine at one of the most creatively decorated restaurants I’ve ever been to- The Cannery. The food was Ah-Ma-zing, the ambiance was stylish, and the cocktails were divine.

Check out the blown-glass Jelly Fish lamps!

Next up was another book signing with my Cuzzo of another of my favorite authors, Chuck Palahniuk to promote his new book Invisible Monsters Remix . Not only did I have a blast, (oh and Chuck- yep, I call him Chuck now, we’re tight like that-tweeted a picture of me and the cuzzo to commemorate the evening) we all had the opportunity to see this amazing writer in a light usually reserved for only his nearest and dearest. It was so amazing, so ri-don-culously amazing. And there’s video to prove it!

I'm the one in the tan-ish top that almost ninja kicked this woman that was trying to tiger block me (that will make sense after watching).

Next was my date with the hubby and ladybug, the beautiful rolling hills of Malibu, and a Dark Knight (my condolences to all family members of Aurora. My heart aches for all of you). It’s hard to express happiness on a day stricken by tragedy. I tell you, I don’t know about this world sometimes.

The Dark Knight Rises was incredible and was everything (and more) that I expected the epic conclusion of its trilogy to be. Tom Hardy as Bane, was so close to the comic book depiction it was almost scary, and Anne Hathaway (whom I’m convinced I will be friends with one day) was the perfect vision of Catwoman. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend you get off your arse and check it out. YOU WILL LOOOVVEEE it! Best of all, the day of my actual escape from the womb was filled with love, from my two favorite people ever.

I seriously heart these two so much

The fun didn’t stop there, oh no sir, there’s more. The day after my birthday Jane S. and C joined me and the Hubby at one of my favorite spots- The House of Blues Anaheim Downtown Disney-for dinner and 29 celebrations. 

My girls!

We got there at about 8:30ish and had seats outside, so to my utter surprise and delight, when I looked up to see the firework show from Disneyland which is attached to the strip we were on above our heads, my birthday celebrations felt even more special and totally tailored for me (please don’t kill me delusions- a girl can dream if she wants to). It was so much fun, and probably one of the best times I’ve had in a long time; I was even more shocked to receive an unexpected, um...birthday dance (???), from a total stranger to top my night off.

 The entire night we laughed louder than usual, and cheered to our hearts content. I’ve never felt so special. I can’t say the nerves are completely settled about my impending 30’s, but it helps to know that no matter what’s going on in my life, I have the most amazing group friends that I know I can count on to cheer me on, and help keep my irrational Eeyor moments at bay.  True Story.

Yep...we're total G's don't cha know. 

Oh the anticipation!

I’ve been a Batman FAN-atic all my life; I read the comic books, watched weekend re-runs of the vintage (original) Batman series starring Adam West; can I just express how drop it like it’s hot gorgeous Eartha Kitt was as cat woman? This is where I would totally do my best Jim Carey’s The Mask voice…SMOKIN’! 

Yeah...that really wasn't going to suffice without the visual

 I was absolutely addicted to the Saturday Morning Warner Brothers Cartoon series [insert displeasing feeling of dating myself]. I even begged my Aunt and Uncle-BEGGED- to take me and the cuzzo to Six Flags during opening week of both Batman the Ride and The Riddler’s Revenge, which I still to this day, have to ride every time I visit that theme park. Not to mention how many times I watched Tim Burton’s Batman film(s) adaptation, despite the revolving door of leading man role changes of my beloved Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton- you’re still the shizz wiz as Batman…shout out my Dark Knight brother, shout). And let’s not even go there with the adopting of the first, heavily Prince orientated, soundtrack that I played without skipping a beat, each day before and after school.

 Yes, I am a Batman Fan; hardcore, unapologetic, certifiably branded, Batman fan-FRIGGIN-atic. But not even my fan-filled ass was prepared for the three-peat Lollapalooza that is now being called the new generation Batman Trilogy. From the very first scene in Batman Begins, to the performance to end ALL performances in history- Heath Ledger as the Joker- I WAS HOOKED. After The Dark Knight  and the untimely death of an actor that was sure to set Hollywood ablaze with absolutely no limit to his acting potential, I was really nervous about what to expect from the last Batman film of the soon legendary and epic trilogy conclusion.

Alas, they proved my worries merely speculative, and after watching this brief trailer, you’ll understand why… 

Holy frijoles! Does that not look AH-Ma-zing or what! And…It’s coming to theaters the day of my birthday! I’m stoked. STOKED. The anticipation is killing me slowly, but I’m super excited about taking some much needed “me” time, and spending it at my local theater, with my favorite comic book hero.  

Are you planning on taking some much needed you time to head to your local theater this summer? If so, leave me a comment or email me. 

Service dogs and warriors

Do animals (dogs in particular) have the ability to reduce symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? That’s the question, which over the past few years has been floating around newspapesr and magazine publications, and has received worldwide recognition and attention from both local television stations, and larger multi-media sharing sites.

Five years ago, I would have argued my doubt about the ability of animals reducing any symptoms of anxiety; that was, until I saw firsthand just how instrumental the bond between our family dog Xander and my husband has been in successfully minimizing the first signs of an anxiety attack and in some cases, stopping the anxiety attacks my husband often experiences. It was December 2007- the hubby and I were catching a few red tag Christmas sales items at one of our local department stores, when he suddenly began having one of the worst anxiety attacks he had ever experienced to date. The anxiety was so overwhelming, he actually began to sweat, hyperventilate, and lose control of his motor skills before we could make it out the store. Because we didn’t expect to be out very long, we didn’t take any meds that had been prescribed by his doctor to combat anxiety attacks; by the time we made it home, he was in a full-fledged attack, that I honestly thought even meds could not diminish. I didn’t know what to do, or if anything could be done at all, but what I did notice was Xander’s reaction to seeing the hubby in this condition. He immediately nudged the hubby onto his back, and curled up onto his chest pawing at his shoulder until my hubby lay completely flat on the bed. Although I had already managed to get one pill safely into my hubby’s mouth, it was Xander who was able to slowly stop the anxiety attack. Within 45 minutes (I’m aware that seems like a long time to wait for results, but as many of you know even with meds anxiety attacks can last for hours- sometimes even days without resolve) my hubby was able to finally calm down.

I was, and still am convinced that Xander’s quick attention was the reason that anxiety attack didn’t end with a trip to the VA ER. Since that day both my husband and I have been diligently doing research on service dogs, and the benefits of having one specifically for PTSD and TBI. The best description I have heard to date of how beneficial having a service dog in the home of someone suffering from PSTD can be found in a March 2010 article on the homepage of the united states Army: www.army.mil. The article quotes Alicia Miller, an Army veteran and cofounder of Operation Wolfhound:

“Medication works 50 percent of the time. Talk therapy, alone, works 30 percent of the time, and dogs work 84.5 percent of the time. The dogs are proven effective. It’s a much better deal for the veterans because they don’t have to worry about the side effects of medication”

I fully agree with this statement, and couldn’t have said it better myself. Speaking from personal experience, and as I have already addressed in a previous post, side effects of meds can be just as dangerous as the symptoms they are intended to remedy. PTSD is not as easy to cure as prescribing a pill, or speaking to a therapist, and to that, continued attention to the problem itself is needed if there is chance or hope at reducing the effects of the problem itself.

Besides supplying unconditional love, affection, comfort, and support to the Veteran or person in need, just look at all the other useful tricks service dogs can be trained to assist with.

I know I’m extremely thankful for Xander, and I know he is helping my husband fight PTSD. If you are interested in a service dog for your warrior or yourself, talk to your VA Primary Care Physician, and ask for a recommendation letter. They may require an assessment, but if you or your warrior is being treated for PTSD or TBI, you could qualify for a service dog. There are also sites you may be interested in to obtain more information about service animals that I will share below.

                                             Good luck everyone! And as always, take care.

My Hubby and our officially crowned "Service Dog" Xander

www.facebook.com/PetsForWarriors

 http://pets-for-vets.com/

Cupcakes, Veterans and Fun

Today was probably one of the most touching days I’ve had the opportunity to experience in quite some time. My stepdaughter (otherwise known as the Lady Bug), the hubby and I decided to spread some Fourth of July love by way of cupcakes to some of the inpatient Vets at our local VA Hospital. Usually, whenever there is a holiday, we gather together as a family to spend time with Vets that either don’t have access to their loved ones, or are too sick to leave the VA to celebrate on their own. This gives us the opportunity to spread a little joy, give honor to those that are truly deserving, and take time to break away from the day-to-day cycle that is PTSD.

First of all… how cute is this little lady bug? Um… so cute it hurts comes to mind.

 It’s always heartwarming to see the look on the faces of some of the Vets we encounter as we pass through the VA room by room giving away handmade cards, gifts, and treats, but today was by far the most gratifying and poignant experience thus far. Walking in to the breathtaking sound of a local woman playing the keyboard and singing Bridge Over Troubled Water  for a Vet struggling through the holiday, should have been the first indication that today would be different for me; my grandmother (Grammy as we all call her) would sing that song and play her keyboard all the time, and I loved sitting next to her taking in every moment second by second.

From the very first room we entered the Vets that occupied it were thrilled to pieces to know that someone thought enough of them to surprise them with treats and thank you’s. 

Some of the Vets were so excited they reached out to hug the Lady Bug, and joked around with her creating frosting mustaches and cookie crumble freckles.

Even the Nurses and Hospital Security decided to join in and make the day special by sharing their stories with us, and entertaining the Vets with jokes and laughs.

As we entered our last room on our way out we ran into a younger Vet that had been admitted after a serious motorcycle accident. He was having a very difficult time getting through the holiday and really wasn’t up for any celebration when we first walked in, but after just a few minutes of speaking with us he began to open up and thanked us for coming by to visit. 

The Lady Bug, for a moment actually began to cry as we walked out and turned to me to express that the Vet reminded her of her Dad after his motorcycle accident (ironically, they both had the same injuries). She instantly felt connected to the Vet, and asked to go back to his room prior to leaving just to check on him. When we got back to the room and explained to the Vet that the Lady Bug was concerned and wanted to ensure he was ok, he sat up and reached his hands out to her to thank her for being kind, and really began to open up a little to us about why he was having such a difficult time during this holiday. 

What he expressed to us, and seeing how moved he was to see that total strangers could be just as concerned about his well being as a close friend, was all together more memorable than any other visit we’ve made to the VA. We left feeling much more connected to our cause than we had ever been before, and more than that, we left knowing (not hoping) that today, we actually made an impact in someone’s life.

It was amazing. I’m looking forward to our next VA visit. 

O Beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain

For all those who fought

Both past and present

Military and Civilian

No matter what race

Or religious denomination

To keep us safe from harm

To give us all a voice

To shape and mold this country

Into the country it is today

A country I am proud to live in

Today and every day, I thank you.

This song always reminds me of my first baseball game; the hotdogs and pretzels were flowing, the roar of the crowd was insane, the energy and spirit of the game itself was intoxicating, and over the loud speakers a recording of Ray Charles singing America the Beautiful filled my ears. That day, I became a baseball fan. I was 7 years old and even that young, I understood that in that stadium, race, gender, religious belief, even time didn’t matter- we were one, and we together are what makes this country great. This is a belief that I’ve carried with me from my formative years to adulthood, and this belief grows stronger each day as the numbers of my fellow warrior wives who reach out to me to share their stories rises. Even though the belief now carries much more weight and value than it’s original baseball origins, the basic emotions that erupt from that belief are the same. Life isn’t always sunshine and roses here, and America is just as much scary as it is beautiful, but nonetheless it’s our America; that’s a fact to be proud of.

Enjoy your Independence Day everyone!

Here's to Summer

Barbecue stained finger tips, chalk hopscotch outlines perfectly drawn out on sidewalks, the clinking sound of ice jingling in glasses filled to the brim with lemonade sweet tea, racing to the movie theater every weekend to catch the latest summer blockbuster film, impossible contest of who can catch the most fireflies in old mason jars, and homemade slip-n-slides under the family sprinklers. Ah the memories; I can almost hear the ringing bells of the ice cream trucks already.

Today is officially the first day of summer, and even with the thin haze of clouds drifting in from off the ocean and covering the sky around my house in a bit overcast and fog, I can still hear the brisk chirping of the birds outside my bedroom window. I absolutely love summer; I love the warm summer nights, the smell of mouth watering food on the grill at any given time of day, the concept of living the entire summer in a pair of flip flops, and of course the undeniable excitement that usually fills the air around the fourth of July. I don’t know if it’s childhood nostalgia, or just the general association of fun with summer, but something about this time of year just makes me giddy. 

To be fair- pretty much anything I like has the potential of causing a full on giddy fit. But summer has it’s own special giddiness that for lack of better words, owns my ass in a major way. Just the thought of concerts in the park, and 2 day at a time camping trips makes my body fall into serious C.P.A.P; you might know it as “Cabbage Patch Auto Pilot”. For those of you that don’t know what this means, it’s when you get so excited about something so awesome, you immediately do the cabbage patch in celebration. Yeah…don’t judge me. I suffer from Happiness Turrets Syndrome-HTS…true story.

Here’s to all the fun to be had, drinks to be consumed, sunshine to be absorbed, and memories to me made.

I’ve been M.I.A as of late…aka color me absentee

(And by M.I.A, I don’t mean my alter ego has been moonlighting as a pop singer/ wanna be rapper)

However, that would make for one entertaining blog post…[scratches temple in contemplation]

Hello bolggerella’s and bloggerfellas! I know it’s been quite some time since my last post- call it writers block, or just plain lazy, but nonetheless I’m back in action with much more knowledge to impart! And might I add- O.M.G, some of you have been so agitated that I haven’t blogged in so long. To that I say aww [insert tear here], and hooray; I finally have peeps who realize how awesome I am. Totally jk-ing on that one…I’m not that narcissistic.

In an effort to scrape the cobwebs off my poor blog, I figured I’d take a moment to recall the past 3 months of hiatus with a few highlights of just what the bleep I’ve been up to.  In short- the honest truth is, I’ve had quite a bit going on and not enough time in a day to actually focus my thoughts and hammer out an incredibly witty yet effortlessly fabulous blog- true story. But since, judging by some of your emails that I’ve received, and as Ricky Ricardo would say “I’ve got some splaining to do”, I figured I’d settle with a few bullet points to prevent this post from rivaling a Margaret Mitchell novel. Do bullet points work for you? If not, boo- I’m giving ‘em to you anyway.

·         Big time Company bought out my small business organization.  Can we say job security scare? I believe we can. As it turns out there was enough work to go around and no need for the big freak out. But still there was/is a transition process which causes lots of excessive stress, strain, and long hours playing catch up. Which brings me to my next bullet point…

·         Long hours at work, followed by even longer sleepless nights at home while trying to combat the hubby’s recent diagnosis (see bullet # 3), makes this once energetic firecracker a very, very dull (and very irritable) lady. If I had any talent at lying, I would say I’ve been handling my cathartic state well, but alas, I’m not good at lying so I’ll just say this…bitchy ain’t got nothing on me. In fact, I’m finding that sleepless me is quite scary…true story.

·         Up next- new diagnosis. After years of tests, and fighting the VA to get the right diagnosis and help, things finally came together. The hubby was diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)- which was a diagnosis we already knew about, but hey, at least it’s on paper now. It’s sort of a double edge sword; on one hand I’m glad that he was finally diagnosed because it means he is finally getting the treatment and assistance that he needs. On the other hand, its TBI…just saying that sucks beyond comprehension, so one can imagine how living through this incredibly trying time must make us feel emotionally, physically, and mentally. It’s been hard and really taking its toll on both of us lately. The good thing is, we are committed to each other, and as a result, no matter how hard it gets, we work together to get through it. Believe you me, that makes all the difference.  

So enough of the issues I’ve been dealing with, now it’s time to give you some of the positives… by way of pictures.

In the thick of all the not-so-good moments that I’ve been experiencing, I decided it was time for some major changes. Call it a way of injecting some freshness into my veins; some much needed freshness. I’ve been toggling with the idea of chopping off my long tresses for a while now. I’ve had long hair all my life; thick, dark brown, heavily curly, and extremely time-consuming to manage. I love long hair, but I hate the process it entails to take care of and maintain it. Over the past couple of months, I’ve had a hard time fighting with waking up early enough to comb through and style my hair so ponytails have been a major part of my daily hair care. So to celebrate Summer, a couple of weeks ago, I committed to my idea of making a big change and I headed to my stylist and asked for my big chop and lighter, more summertime chic color.

Here's me before...

Here's the new do!

Cute right?!Not sure if you can tell here, but I went from dark brown to medium chestnut. I love it, and I definitely feel like a weight has literally been lifted off my shoulders.

On the way home, I found the most amazing antique nightstand and chair that just screamed my name (I’m a dedicated roadside picker, and hard core garage sale[r]…true story). Since I love allotting myself a Summer project each year, I had to snag them and give them a new home and some much needed TLC. 

My new bedroom chair. So stylish it hurts!

 I love taking something old, and completely refurbishing it to give it a classic, yet modern new look. I’m really excited about it, and think it’s just what I need to keep the creativity flowing, and my mind calm. But now I want to redecorate my entire bedroom, which I know will turn into an entire house re-vamp. That’s just how I roll.

What have all of you been up to? Send me an email or leave me a comment. I would love to get the skinny on all the details I’ve missed.