It's been a while...

"Be of good cheer. Do not think of today’s failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost." -Helen Keller

It's been a while since I wrote anything. There's been lots of fun stuff... camping at Leo Corillo with Jojo, Melissa and the dogs, movie nights ( Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Harry Potter), fun dates, parents arriving from Spain, 25-person Thanksgiving dinner replete with three turkeys and a ham (we actually finished the turkeys!), 20+ person Birthday dinner party for my dad, hikes, yoga classes, productive sessions with Katie and Nicole regarding the mental hospital remodel project, couple nights at the Good Luck Bar, karaoke at the Bitter Redhead, and so much more.

I'll try to write more often so that you can get a wee bit more detail in the future. The Cliff's Notes version is that my past couple weeks have been very fun and life is grand.


Melissa and I trying to get the dogs into the cold ocean. Conclusion: Marley is not a natural water dog.

Weekend Update

I didn't write about my date with S. on Saturday It ended up being really fun. We met at Daddy's Lounge . It was a great spot -- dark, comfy couches. We met at 8:30. When I got there I was the first patron in the bar. The bartender was reading Harry Potter. We started chatting about Harry Potter and S. soon came to join us. We talked a little bit more about the series with him and then he and I went to sit down. We had a great time and decided that there would be no better way to continue the night than to go bowling. We headed to my neighborhood bowling alley. It's a place that I definitely need to frequent more often. My bowling needs some work! I did manage to beat him by a smidge my second game, but my first and third games were pretty dreadful and I couldn't get a strike to save my life. Oh well, luckily the alley is just a block away and I have many opportunities to practice and improve.

On Sunday morning I went to the tea and to the Botanical Gardens with Ilyse, Kelli and Jill (pictures and description below). Later that evening I had book club at Kerry's in Hermosa Beach. I brought some of my Hip Girlz jewelry and made some sales. It was really a fun weekend.

The LIFT Ladies

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Originally uploaded by jillelizabethdavis.

In the gardens.

Dessert Garden

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Originally uploaded by jillelizabethdavis.

A beautiful picture from my favorite garden. I love these colors!

At the Huntington Gardens

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Originally uploaded by jillelizabethdavis.

This is a good picture that Jill took at the Huntington Gardens on Sunday. I *again* didn't have my camera! It was the most beautiful and perfect day. We had high tea and then walked around the grounds and the museum. I couldn't have picked a better way to spend a Sunday.

Latest

"Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval. When man is happy, he is in harmony with himself and his environment." -- Oscar Wilde

The past couple nights were really fun. Thursday we had our benefit concert for Help Argentina . We got yummy argentine empanadas from Empanada's Place, drank lots of wine, and raised some money for a great cause.

Last night I went to a fundraiser for a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles. In the silent auction, I ended up getting an original piece of art work from a really cool pop artist Nelson de la Nuez. It's an awesome piece -- called "American Pie." Afterwards I went to pick up M. and we met up with some law school friends of mine. My friend Karen was visiting from New York. We went to the Kibitz Room. There was some interesting live music happening, but it made it practically impossible to hear anyone.

I have a date with S. tonight. I'm going to take a nap before it.

On Getting Past the Waves and Rough Water

I've learned that when you're trying to swim past the waves and make it past the surf and to calmer waters, dive under the wave. No matter how big the wave is, under the wave the water is calm and smooth. To swim through, you take a breath, dive down, grab some sand and count three to five seconds. The rough waters will break several feet above you and after it's moved on you just come back up. I was taught not to try to battle the waves (too tiring and too futile)... dive down, calmy count, and rise effortlessly to the top.

My New Man, Jorge Drexler

Jorge y yo -- en azul

On Wednesday night, Sean, Clint, my date J. and I went to see Jorge Drexler, an amazing singer from Uruguay who won the Academy Award last year for best original song. Jorge Drexler has a very Paul Simon quality about his voice and his music. He's wonderful and was great in concert. We were also lucky because he was playing in a relatively small venue -- the El Rey Theater. The El Rey is a great venue -- old Hollywood ambiance with great art deco detailing. It was Jorge Drexler's first concert ever in LA, and we were blessed with a small and itimate venue. After the concert we managed to go up and meet him. J. bought a CD and had it autographed. I took a picture with this sexy man. I have a total schoolgirl crush on him, and couldn't believe I was actually meeting this man who's voice I've been addicted to since I first heard him in Argentina. I was so excited when he game me two besos on the cheek (upon meeting and upon saying goodbye). He also gave me a warm hug and rested his head ever so gently on mine when we took this picture. Ahhhh! I nearly skipped out of the theater. I was on a high.

The picture is surprizingly blue. I did a VERY unusual thing for me and forgot my digital camera. Luckily J. had his camera phone. It really caught the blue light shining from the stage and Jorge and I came out looking like smurfs. For whatever reason, this makes me love the picture that much more.

Quote of the Day

"So I want to stress the importance of the wish. The real magical element is the wish, and if we don't know the wish then we stumble about and we accept entrapment because we don't really know what we are going towards" - Anais Nin

Oh happy day

I am so happy today. So, I decided that I needed to start dating again in LA. I'm on the rampage. Date tonight with R., date tomorrow with J2, and date on Saturday with J1. I'm also organizing a happy hour tonight at the Golden Gopher with friends from the old firm. Should be a blast.

This morning I woke up and went for a run with Katie (who's staying with me off and on until she finds a new place to live) and with Marley (amazing dog to go on a run with). I hadn't been running for months because my knees had been bothering me. This morning's run was amazing though. It felt so good to move my legs like that. Mmmm, I definitely need to start running again.

I also am reading an AMAZING book -- Ask and It is Given. I was reading it aloud to Katie last night and this morning. It's transformative. I'm on a high from the insights I've gained from it. I highly recommend it!

Another Saturday evening

"The night cometh when no man can work."
Sheldon Jackson

Craig was in town this weekend from New York. I was at work, but was convinced to meet up with him for happy hour. We went to get drinks at the Avalon. I'd never been there before... such a sweet spot. I definitely need to return there, preferably when I'm not driving. There were some yummy looking drinks on the cocktail menu.

Afterwards I went to Nicole's to have dinner with her and Katie. We talked about the UCLA Hospital renovation -- this is becoming a much bigger job than I'd originally anticipated. When we toured around the facility on Friday I was nearly pale. This project went from being a one-room visitor's center remodel to a 36 office remodel. I'm going from raising a few thousand to maybe a few million dollars. We have the money, it's just in other people's pockets right now.

After dinner I went to meet up with J. I didn't feel like driving, so he came to pick me up and we went to check out one of my local bars. We went to the Little Bar , which is really just such a great spot. It's completely unpretentious (a very much appreciated thing in LA) and it's cozy. I had a soju tonic and cuddled in a booth with J. It was a fun second date.

Halloween was fun. I was Little Bo Peep (I wore a costume that had originally been made for a dog). It was short! I was busting out of my costume from all sides. It was fun though. Friday night I went to Jill's Halloween wine tasting (that night I wore the more demure version of my costume). On Saturday night I went to Jim's b-day/halloween bash, then to an after party. Good times were had both nights. Word to the wise though, have a designated driver that doesn't drink more than you. ;)

This past week I went to SF for a work recruiting trip. It was great. I stayed in the Palace and got to go to fancy dinners at night and talk to the law students. I really enjoyed myself. I also met a cute boy in SF so that was fun too. Why do I keep meeting cuties in different cities? I desire an LA-based one. :)

In San Francisco

"Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, 'You owe me.' Look what happens with a love like that; it lights the whole sky." - Hafiz

I'm in San Francisco right now -- work boondoggle. I love my life. I truly do. I have more to write about Halloween and this trip, but will do so when I'm back in LA. Hope all is well, y'all.

Muuuuaaaaah!