Chasing the Sun

  And just like that...It's the summer of 2025.  I've been keeping this "journal" for a few years to record my summer adventures and fun along the way.  Every year, when summertime rolls around, I get those butterflies in my stomach. You know, like you do when you're on an airplane when it takes off for your next vacation. Or just before the curtain comes up, sitting in your seat at a concert before your favorite artists appears from the center of the stage. Or when you're on a boat, out in the middle of the ocean and it dips a certain way that makes you feel like you're flying.  We are officially on the summer schedule at work - 10 hour days (Monday-Thursday), then off on Fridays. So, of course I've gone into planning mode of writing out my "summer bucket lists," thinking of all the things I want to do.  Bake homemade poptarts Take a solo trip Go to the beach, at least once Try new restaurants in town Movie nights (watch JAWS, since it's...

Thursday and Friday were very chill. I read a lot, I took naps, I watched Jane the Virgin, did a lot of nothing. Which is my favorite! I enjoyed the little moments in my backyard — airplanes flying overhead,  Saturday was going to be a good one. My mom and I were going to LA to see Sara Bareilles, who has been one of my favorites for as long as I can remember.  We didn't want to go down there too early, so we left later in the afternoon, had a late lunch/early dinner at Bob's Big Boy. Of course we always finish so much earlier than I think we will, so we went across the street to the Garry Marshall Theatre that was hosting a sale. 

There's been a lot of Netflix watching, pop tart eating, murder documentary watching, re-reading "It Ends with Us" in time to see the movie and lounging on the couch in my pjs. I don't hate it! I've also been doing some creative things on my new laptop which I'm obsessed with.  But, overall this week has been a hard one. Sunday morning, a family friend texted that her dad passed away earlier that morning. It came as a shock because he hadn't been sick and I'd just seen him a couple months before at her wedding. It truly just goes to show you how precious this one life we get is. Monday, Athena and I went to a matinee showing of "It Ends with Us." We'd read the book around the same time and had been anxiously awaiting its arrival in the movie theaters. So, we went on a Monday afternoon, and it was busier than we anticipated. I was especially interested to see it after the chaos and media frenzy with Blake Lively's press tour and the ba...

The week was filled with a couple earthquakes (and aftershocks), puppy snuggles and planning ahead at work. Rory didn't like the earthquakes. (or we freaked her out from our bug-eyed expressions of what the heck is happening)?  Can't say I did either -- I even dropped to the floor in case I needed to duck under our coffee table.    On Friday, I decided to take a quick trip to Fresno to visit one of my friends and former director at work, since it's been a year since I've seen her. I slept in a bit, stopped at Starbucks (of course) and was on the road shortly after 9 a.m. I had my playlist set to the vibes of Noah Kahan, Kelsea Ballerini and other more folksy type as I passed the fields and agriculture around for the next two hours. I always love a good drive, just to think and daydream. It forces me to be away from my phone or doing something just to stay busy.  I met Esra at her apartment, then we went over to Annesso's Pizzeria. It's not your average pizzeria ...