January 2009 Archives

Yesterday I learned that a wonderful friend of mine passed away on Sunday from a heart attack.  Theodore (Ted) Yarbrough was the Fire Marshal in Banning, where I worked for almost 5 years.  To say that we hit it off well is an understatement.  I really loved Ted.  It was hard not to.  The only negative thing about him, in my eyes, was that he was probably "too honest."    I think that Ted was like a modern day Abraham Lincoln.

Since hearing the news of his passing, all I can think of are the fun, interesting times we had working together, joking around and having lunch together on a regular basis.  I had two regular lunch buddies in Banning: Ted and Debbie Franklin. 

The great thing about Ted is that I have so many fun memories that I've been smiling today.  I'm very sad he's gone because I would have loved to have one last lunch with him. 

 

If you hear the term "21+ movie", you'd probably think that it's an "adult" movie.  In this case, it's perfectly harmless.  The Arclight in Hollywood is a great entertainment center with a bookstore, a restaurant and 2 bars.  On certain nights, specific movies are deemed 21+, which means that only people 21 and over can enter and everyone is allowed to take their alcoholic beverages inside.  Last night, Anne Maria and went there but missed the showing of " Benjamin Button."  So we did the second best thing; we went to the bar for a drink then saw "Revolutionary Road."  The movie was great in terms of message, dialogue, and acting.  However, it was a real downer.  During the most crucial sad scene, the alcohol in my stomach starting acting up, probably not digesting well with the tiramisu I had consumed earlier in the evening.  Thank goodness the feeling passed, otherwise the spectators would have had two gruesome scenes to contend with and mine would have come with smell effects.

Wow. Oprah's not the only person who let herself go last year.  I feel like twice the person I used to be.  The major stress related to the County job, leaving that job, Valentin being sick for so long then dying, and then the stress of being unemployed have just hurt me.  I have not been active, which means that I've been eating way too much for the little activity I have engaged in.  Ah, the consequences of my actions... errr... lack of action.

Today I went to look at dressforms so that I could work on my clothing designs.  There were several on sale HALF PRICE.  That's only $100.  I saw a really good one - a Dritz - with adjustable measurements, even the waist and back length.  A while back (just a year ago) I would have just purchased it, knowing that it would correspond to my measurements.  Today, though, I knew that I'd better take my measurements before making the purchase, otherwise I would be very disappointed at home.  I knew that my measurements would be greater than before and that I wouldn't like them.  However, I was extremely shocked by the reality.  Ouch...  So, the dressform was too small.  Too bad. I really need one in order to make my own clothes and the price was right.

Anne Maria and I have already planned to a weight loss seminar given at a holistic clinic in Hollywood next week so the timing couldn't be better.  Although I do agree with what Oprah says, it's all about balance.  Right now, my life is certainly out of balance.  Here's to getting it together in '09...

 

Given the fact that I haven't been able to find work in either government or the fashion industry, I've started thinking about other ways to use my talents.  The other day, while vising my friend Anne Maria, we saw an agency on Sunset Boulevard that places domestic staff, including personal assistants.  I thought that that particular speciality was interesting.  Then Anne Maria told me that I should be a personal assistant, which would probably mean working for someone in the entertainment industry.  I didn't understand how I would be good at it until she explained that they need people who are available for travel, who speak languages, and who are college educated.  Her former boyfriend has a personal assistant who is not exactly an educated or refined type of person.  Then a lightbulb went off in my head and I realized that, indeed, I would probably be very good at that type of undefined job with lots of variety, creativity and travel. 

I called the agency yesterday and was told that they usually don't hire people without prior experience as a personal assistant but that I should send in a resume.  I'm still going to try.  I think I will even write my own classified ad looking for work as an assistant, listing my qualities and qualifications.  I'm sure that someone will see how my experience definitely would prove useful to them.  Anne Maria told me that the personal assistant she knows earns about $80,000 a year and has all expenses paid, such as a car and health insurance.  And she gets to travel with her boss, all expenses paid.  That would definitely interest me.  And I know that there are plenty of assistants who are earning 6 figures easily. 

So now I've got to network, network, network and spread the word about this idea.  I like it.

 

Wow. Another year has passed.  Not since I last wrote but time has been marked.  The Earth has once again completed a full revolution around the sun.  It is quite interesting.  I wanted to celebrate New Year's Eve at the Griffith Park Observatory but I will reserve that event for Lunar New Year.  The Griffith Park Observatory's telescope has always been directed at the moon.  I went there in 2007 with friends, May and Win-Sie, which wasn't long after the Observatory had been completely remodeled and reopened to the public.  I think it was closed for 5 years.  At any rate, it is a wonderful museum and absolutely fantastic to go to in the evening when you can see the moon through the telescope. 

I didn't party on New Year's Eve because the friend I had plans with got really sick and had to cancel.  Last year that happened to me.  I was sick from December 22 - January 2.  Not fun...  So Anne Maria and I have decided to plan a New Year makeup party.  I will have to come up with a plan.

Many people have written their Resolutions that they will fail at again.  It's pretty crazy that our culture pressures everyone to come up with resolutions without helping people to learn how to make realistic goals with a plan of action to successfully carry them out.  I always have goals that I'm working on; therefore, I don't have any new plans.

In case anyone is wondering what I am working on, here are a few of my goals:

1. Secure a steady stream of income.
2. Re-start my MBA program that I had to put on hold in 2008.
3. Conquer my ongoing intestinal problems.   (I believe that these issues are at the root of my weight gain, lethargy and inability to exercise due to pain and discomfort.)
4. Continue to write in my blog, adding photos and audio.
5. Listen to my hypnosis CDs everyday. (They really help!!!)
6. Attract people who are positive influences for me.
7. Maintain friendships and connections that are positive.