Valentine's Day

Oh yes...another Valentine's Day.

That dreaded day that rolls around every 14th of February, complete with latex heart balloons, candy hearts that taste like chalk, and couples being all-out vomit-inducing throughout the day. The above is my normal view on Valentine's Day. This viewpoint has led to many-a V-day spent with a magnum bottle of wine and chinese food takeout on my kitchen floor (usually not alone though). My girls usually join me....the ones who aren't off being oh so super cute and cuddly with their significant others. Yikes, the cynic in me is peeking through again....

Anywhooooo this year I have turned a new leaf. I am trying to free myself of drama and let's face it...being depressed on Valentine's Day is just dramatic and over-the-top. Yes, it may be one day where you are MORE aware that you are single, but really? I am quite aware of that fact most everyday of my life. Is that such a bad thing? To realize that maybe I just have not found the right man yet? So I am going to toot my own horn here for a bit...because if you can't at least have that on Valentine's Day, you might as well throw yourself into a trough of Ben and Jerry's and top it off with too many lemon drops to count.

But, before I get to that, I guess I should say that I got some interesting news today about a person who shall remain nameless but meant a great deal to me at one point in my young adult life. Let's just say it was one of those typical situations....girl meets boy, boy and girl like each other, girl is silly in extreme-like, boy crushes girl's heart by saying we want different things etc etc etc. Well, I found out - ironically on Valentine's Day - that said boy has gotten married. Not to the girl who was around when our thing was fizzling, but a new one. Upon hearing the news, my heart was not crushed, my heart could only giggle out of the sheer ridiculousness of the words that had just entered my head. Mr. I Never Want to Get Married, done up and got married. I am no exception to the rule in this situation. This is a typical story that have been uttered by women (men too, I won't leave you out) all over the world for hundreds of years.

So, if I learned anything from this....here is it. I am awesome and he was not the guy for me. Just because it doesn't work out with some guy....so what? He wasn't right....

Hence, my attitude towards Valentine's Day this year. I bought Valentine's for all of my girlfriends (with boyfriends and without) to remind them that they are awesome too and that when I am in my lonely single state, I have them to count on. Plus, my Valentine's were hearts with mustaches....my humor may be a bit distorted but I make myself and I usually make my friends laugh. The ones who get me at least.

Back to tooting my own horn (and this is to toot the horn of all the other girls and guys who are feeling that pang of Valentine's Day right through the heart) suck it up, grab a glass of wine, watch your favorite TV show, read a book, cook yourself a great dinner, go out, do SOMETHING to remind yourself that you are all you ever need. And, if you are lucky enough to find that one person who understands your soul...treasure it.....now, SUIT UP.

As for me....I got myself some Cupcake Red Velvet wine (doesn't is sound elegant), sitting on my balcony in Miami debating what to make for dinner, and thoroughly enjoying this day with a laugh. I hope you are too.

MIA Airport

Today was fantastic! I still had those first-day-of-work jitters, but I think with every new job I've started over the last 2 years, I'm getting better and better at each first day.

I got to the airport early and went to Cafe Versailles to grab a coffee. They cashier judged me because I ordered an "american" coffee instead of the Cubano. How was I to know that the Cuban espresso is like crack and I will probably order it everyday for the rest of my detail? Stop judging me Sir, I'm new in town...

It was a flurry of a morning. I got to sit through 3 hours of SIDA badge training, which consisted of different people coming on to give presentations while the man behind me alternated sounds of snoring and that of a little piglet. I couldn't tell if he was asleep or if he just had serious nasal problems. I got to sit in on the last half of the staff meeting with all the head honchos. Pretty intimidating people - but I've been in the presence of much worse. I was put on the spot and had to give a little speal about who I am and what I do. I'm sure I spoke entirely too fast, as per usual, but I seemed to say the right amount and get people laughing so it couldn' t have been too terrible.

I was amazed at how nice everyone was. They have all known that I have been coming for about 4 months, since we began the planning process. I was truly humbled by how welcoming everyone was and how interested they were in me, my program, and truly making my experience one for the books. I not only lucked out with a great location like Miami, but I lucked out with genuine people who love their jobs and love the people with whom they work. What more can you ask for in a working environment?

Granted, it's only been one day and tomorrow could be completely different.

LIke an Eerie Nightmare...

Have you ever been in a new place and felt like you were in some sort of dream state? Like you were wandering around, hearing new sounds, seeing unfamiliar faces, and you had no idea what you were doing there? That's how I'm feeling right now...

Perhaps its because I know the actual reason I am here is for work and because that hasn't started yet, my mind was not prepared for dealing with the leisurely alternative.

There are times when I have ventured to a new city and not gone through this weird transition phase, but I think that comes from being around a familiar face. Even if it's just a co-worker or somebody you have seen around campus at school. It's amazing what a familiar face can mean to a person.

(By the way, I'm writing this on my balcony at 4pm where the afternoon sun is hitting me oh so perfectly.) I just glanced down and saw this futuristic looking single-pod monorail thing glide by on a rail. Wonder what that is? I'll look into it tomorrow. I'm so used to public transportation in D.C. that it's a little strange knowing I will have to drive everywhere. But I drove everywhere until I moved to D.C. so I'm sure I will adjust in no time.

I didn't get a bay-facing apartment, but i can still see the water to the left of my balcony. I'll have to explore South Beach sometime this week. One of the many things on my to-do list while I'm down here...we'll see how many I actually accomplish.

One of them was writing and I seem to be doing alright on that so far....noticed the sporadic nature of my posts yet? It's a stream of consciousness thing and believe me, it's a lot worse inside my own head.

Alert Alert

The pool is closed indefinitely. Repeat. THE POOL IS CLOSED INDEFINITELY.

How could this be? Even the pool deck is off-limits? Sad Lucy....Guess it's time to go find a good beach....

Welcome to Miami...

Oh if only I had the Will Smith song on my iphone so that I could have listened to that as I drove into the (hopefully) awesome city of Miami. I don't even own that song, and I am actually pretty okay with that.

So, here I am...in Miami. Why am I here? TSA and my leadership development program feel that it is beneficial and crucial for our skill-set to spend 30 days working at an airport. There are 30 people in my program and we have all been sent to different locations. I somehow ended up with Miami. Now, most people would have been jumping for joy but Miami is just not one of those places that I have been itching to spend time in. But, that was my initial reaction when I found out my location last summer....since then, I have embraced my location and tried to make the best of it. Thus far, I had the fabulous luxury of choosing my dates....therefore, it's 30 degrees (average) in D.C. right now....it's about 70 in Miami.....therefore, Lucy chooses to go in February to get some sunshine on my face. I never realized how much of an impact the sun truly had on me until I moved to the east coast. (but hey, this sun issue will have to be addressed in another post).

Back to Miami - here's how my trip has gone so far...My flight was rescheduled to leave at 5pm instead of 1pm, meaning I got to Miami after dark. In my planning stages, I wanted to get to Miami in the afternoon because I just hate getting to new places after dark...it throws me off. American Airlines apparently doesn't care about my feelings though. Finally land around 745pm and gather my two large bags from the baggage claim (insert ridiculous image of that typical girl walking around with giant luggage and having some issues). I got me some muscles though and pushed through. Of course the car rental company I use has a line with about 50 people in it, and all others have 0....bad choice. Got myself an awesome car and GPS on. Start driving...GPS is in kilometers.....pull over....reset GPS....start driving again......make it to my corporate housing apartment no problem.

The apartment building itself is huge, much bigger than I thought it was going to be. My room is on the 13th floor, which I think is awesome...I've always wanted to live on the 13th floor as I like that superstitious feeling. Maybe I can adopt a black cat while I'm here? Only complaint so far...the hallway kinda smells like the chemicals they put in porta-pottys. Ew. Hopefully, today was a cleaning day and the smell only lingers for a short while.

Feeling a little off tonight - I'm always weird when I get to a new location. I'm banking on some sleep and sunshine in the morning to get this Miami trip kicking. More to come so keep checkin in on me!

Scented Lashes

I was in dire need of some new mascara, so I took a little hop and skip over to the mall to visit Sephora. Lately, I've been obsessed with Dior's Extase, which advertises that your lashes will look as good as fake ones....I was skeptical at first but was amazed at how long and non-clumpy my lashes turned out. After using this one over the last couple of months, I decided to try another Dior...Diorshow....see if it would changes things up a bit. And wouldn't you know it....they put perfume in their mascara. Why? you might ask.... Here's what I've come up with... 1) When you are rushing out the door and forget to put on a spritz of perfume...you are covered because your eyelashes will smell pretty 2) When you inadvertantly start crying because of the cold and wind blowing into your eyes while waiting outside for the metro to pull up....people around you will wonder where that floral fragrance is coming from...but you will know, you will know. 3) When that certain someone (for all those who have one, certainly not me) gives you little kisses on your eyelids or possibly an eskimo/butterfly kiss...he won't help but be intoxicated by the aroma coming from your lashes. pretty soon, all-out sniff fest of your eyelids. (forget the makeout sesh) For all of the silly reasons I can think of as to why it is a little ridiculous that mascara be scented...I must admit that when I went to apply it this morning, the scent brought a little smile to my face, put a little kick in my day, and I walked around wondering if anyone could smell my lashes...

Panic of 2011

Spent Sunday feeling like I was getting a sick...tight chest, slight cough, achey Took some Nyquil to squander my insomnia and sickness Woke up at 515, fall back asleep...phew one more hour to sleep Woke up to the ping of my blackberry receiving an email hmmm that's odd, it's very light out for 615am... Check my phone to see what time it is.... YIKES! 815am!!!! I'm late for work! Jump out of bed....get light-headed...realize that I am still feeling sick. Turn in circles for a minute trying to figure out what to do first. Wash face, brush teeth, turn on flat iron to fix my rat's nest normally called hair Email boss, thank goodness I have the sickness as an excuse. Feel the worry inside of me building Get in the car to drive to work....it's cold. 30 degrees out, put on gloves Try to drive fast and feel the pressure mounting... Then bam...I take a breath and realize that stressing will get me nowhere. I turn on some tunes, drive to work, park in the garage that will cost me at least $20 and realize that I'm starting 2011 off in a strange, yet liberating way.

The Piano

I admit that I will never be a concert pianist. Not even close....but this year for Christmas my parents surprised me with an electric keyboard! Now, I know that may sound lame to some of you....but my lovely piano is sitting in storage in Half Moon Bay, where it will remain until either I lug it to wherever I am living, or my parents move back to HMB. That being said, I miss it. When I lived alone for 6 months, I played every night...practicing songs I had memorized or learning new ones. I found it a great challenge to listen to an instrumental movie soundtrack and try to learn it by ear. (Guess when you live alone you reach far for something to pique your interest)! But there was great satisfaction for me in learning even one bar of new music. And now, I get to try for these small accomplishments again. This small window in my crazy life that makes me slow down for as little as 10 minutes, put on some headphones and play just for me. Even if it's just to bust out some chopsticks...chopsticks will maybe lead to sanity.....

Here's to Annie

To my wonderful friend, Annie Leach, who has inspired me with her own words at http://eatyourapple.blogspot.com/ to start up my own dismal blog again. Thank you! You have this incredible ability to write just like a conversation - I read your posts and feel like we are just sitting in our house again, drinking tea and chatting about work, or school, or the many mysteries of life. I only hope I can keep everyone as entertained as you! Love ya! KPKP

New Years Resolution

Seeing as though it's been over a year since I've made a post, one of my New Years 2011 Resolutions is to start it up again - and....not to make it so damn serious.