Meditation Challenge

Its summertime and I'm in between all kinds of important life decisions. If ever there was a time to learn meditation, now is it. I had been thinking about meditation for some time, but never really "got it." Thanks to a random email from the Deepak Chopra Center, they made me an offer I couldn't resist. The free meditation challenge is 21 consecutive days of using guided meditation. Each day they send me an email with a different technique that I can try out. These meditations are short, like 10-12 mins. I was surprised to realize that after 3 days I was actually feeling a sense of calmness. Call it what you will, but I call it a new addition to my life and routine. Those few minutes of quiet each day feel like a total gift.

I am currently on day 11 and will update after I am through the 21 day challenge.

Field Trip!

On the fifth week of James' graduate program his incoming class was invited to attend a field trip for 4 days in the Sierra Nevada Mountain area. This educational experience included tours and trips to Mono Lake, Yosemite and a ghost town called Bodie. We camped for 4 nights with his class in Lee Vining, just outside of Yosemite. The most amazing thing about this trip was that it brought us back a previously visited location on our big cross-country trip on the motorcycle. This area was the place that was the hardest day on the trip, as we ran from snow and crossed Tioga Pass (a road that is closed most of the year, with no guard rails and a 9,000 ft. drop). Traveling on this route again really made us both feel like we were right where we needed to be in life. We had make it through that difficult journey and now we had the pleasure of experiencing it through an educational and professional capacity.


Mono Lake

The group trip ended on Thursday. We spent the previous day hiking through Tuolumne Meadow in Yosemite where we crossed streams, climbed on top of a granite hill and found cougar prints. We broke up into smaller groups: hiking, discovering and drawing. The utter pristine conditions of this location was spiritual. We ended the day by all of us hiking up Lembert Dome. It was incredibly steep and the white stone looked like snow. We sat there as a group waiting for the moon to come up and soaked up the sites.


Where we crossed the stream.


On top of Lemert Dome

After the 4 nights as a group James and I continued on to spend 3 more nights camping, making this our longest camping trip ever. We continued through Yosemite, crossing through the valley and continuing straight through to a campsite just outside of Yosemite called Summerdale Campground. A wonderful spot with a stream that I jumped into.

The next day we were on the road early and made it to Kings Canyon National Park. We found a great campsite called Crystal Springs and spent the rest of the day seeing: General Grant Tree (the biggest in this park), we took a panoramic drive and hiked to see the vista, and finally made an awesome campsite dinner with veggie sausage, mashed potatoes and rice.


James down in the canyon.

The following day we woke early and drove over to the Boole Tree, which consisted of a few miles on dirt roads and a hard hike uphill until finally you're alone with the big giant. This site is one that most don't get to see because of the difficulty of the hike, but that really just made it that much more awesome. On the hike down we discovered that the trail we were on was also used for cattle, and we encountered a cow that was lost from its herd. After the hike we got back into the car and drove down to the Cedar Grove area, which was in the canyon of these mountains. The views were dramatic and unlike anything I had seen before. The final stop was by Hume Lake and then back to the campsite where we had pizza.


The lone cow.


The Boole Tree and me.

The last day of the trip we woke knowing that were where going to see the biggest tree on Earth. We had saved the best for last and boy was it! The first stop was right to this tree: General Sherman, and its was definitely worth the wait and the mile hike. We had wanted to see this tree 3 years ago on our big cross country trip, but couldn't fit it into the schedule because of the difficult location of the park. Next we drove over to a meadow area and hiked around a while while it lightly rained. There was a whole grove of giants, and we even drove through one. The hike in the meadow was amazing, and we were able to see a bear and a deer within 100 feet of each other. The final stop before we left the park was Moro Rock, which is a round boulder on top of a mountain. There is a trail of mostly stairs that you can hike up to it. Once on top you are higher than anything else in the area. The trek down was a little scary, but the most frightful part was the lightening we saw in the near distance once we were off the rock. The rest of the day we spent driving home, arriving by 6:30pm.


Driving through a tree.


Walking through a tree.


The Bear!


An average tree in the meadow.


Hiking down from Moro Rock


Together on top of Moro Rock

3 Year Anniversary!

This is an image of our second night of camping. This is the bounty of food that our camping neighbors gave us.


This is the wonderful restaurant that we had our anniversary dinner at: "Windows on the Water." An amazing meal, which was referred to us by the local wine tasting store downstairs.


This was our first attempt at kayaking. A ton of fun!

This year our3 year anniversary found us in Los Angeles. Last year we celebrated our anniversary in Boston, and the one before must have been Florida, I imagine. Given our flexible schedule we decided to take about four days--the first 2 for camping, and the next for our favorite spot in Morro Bay, at Bayfront Inn. We spent the first night camping in the Los Padres Forrest. THe following night we had planned to stay at a different camp site in the park, but this required a river crossing on the motorcycle. We attempted it, fell and then decided to head over to Morro Bay early. We spent the second night camping at the state park in Morro Bay. This campsite, though very crowded, ended up being one of the best camping experiences ever! That afternoon we made our way over to our hotel. The Bayfront Inn is a wonderful little hotel that has some great deals, and is right on the water. The first day we went to a small local music festival, the farmers market and walked around the little beach community. Later we kayaked, went to a wine bar and then an awesome dinner. It was a great couple of days that made me feel lucky to have James in my life.

Florida Trip - May 2010

Best Buddies on the Beach



Hollywood Beach Brunch with Lynlee


Mother's Day with Mom



As I mentioned in my last post, I recently visited Florida. With only 1 week to see friends, family and meet James' family for the first time as his fiance, the trip was really packed. I didn't get to see everyone I wanted, but I did get in some much needed lady time, with some of my favorite ladies.

We arrived the day before Mother's Day. Luckily one of my best friends was off that weekend. Lynlee and I spent the whole weekend together, and even got in a sleepover. That sacred lady time was reinvigorating. I also had the chance to see Alison, who I hadn't seen in at least a year. Another highlight was my first pedicure with Lynlee and Tera. Seeing my mom on Mother's Day turned out to be really nice, and I appreciated catching up with her. Some of the last people I saw were Andrea and Sarah. This was a real treat because Andrea is moving to Tallahasse this summer to start Law School.

Visiting James's family is always nice, but this visit was especially important since we are engaged now. We were both wished much happiness, and they have all welcomed me into the family with open arms.

Seeing Grampie was a fun treat. We did our usually, just like I was still living next store, only it was much too abbreviated.

Lastly, I sadly didn't get to see my brother, or my dad for a second time. Unfortunately, time was short and didn't allow the quality time that was needed. Next visit I will surely have to make more time for them. I did however get some much needed lady time, with my favorite ladies. Thanks for a great visit Florida - see you in December!

Looking Back and Moving Forward

Aventura - Miami Townhouse - Lived there 2+ years


James' Family's House - lived there part time


Last Family House for the Crooke's

A few weeks ago James found out that he would be attending school out here, thus we would be staying in Los Angeles for 3-4 more years. This reality was a tough one to swallow, as I really still consider Fort Lauderdale to be my home. The solution to this problem - visit Florida to see the difference and try to remember why I left. I had one week to visit my family, ,friends and see James' family for the first time as his fiance.

One of my goals when I was there to take pictures of the last 2 houses I lived in, as well as my last family house. This process was about preserving those fond times in my life and remembering that those times have past, and that I am creating new memories, as I am now in another stage of my life. The pictures in this post show those different locations. Of chose they are all slightly different then they were when I lived there, but that too is a great reminder that time has pasted.

While in Florida I felt reinvigorated, and inspired about the path that I am on. Leaving Florida was partially about school, but a lot about finding myself and creating my life the way I want to live it. I was reminded of the small scale of Florida when I was there and the limited options. I really enjoy the diversity of where I live.

So while my plans have greatly changed since I have left Florida, especially in terms of school, I am still on a path that is developing, graduate degree or not. I still believe that I will get through graduate school, and find a career path that I feel strongly about, but in the meantime I am loving California and the awesome nature it provides.

Another School Year in the Bag

On May 4th, I completed a year of art school in the graduate program at Otis College of Art & Design. With only one year to go, I feel complete in my educational experience there, and am ready to more on to an education that can create a job for me. This experience has fulfilled my dream of going to art school, and before I drop another 30 grand, I'm ready to explore a more financially sound future. While I still believe that a person can survive, and even make-it as an artist, there is a life-style choice that has to be made and a lot of luck.

While the good-bye has not been finalized, I am at a point of no return mentally. I have lost my faith and trust in the idea that art with be able to sustain me. I suppose I always knew this, but thought I might have a chance at becoming one of those rock star artists. Upon meeting some of those artists types at school, I've decided that that life is not the one I want.

This last school year was good. I had a successful community based project with the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic, a good LA Times Review, meet some amazing people, got to think and talk art a lot, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of LA.

Now, what do I want to do next?

He's Grad School Bound!

During the first week of March James found out that he will be moving on into grad school. He was formally accepted to Cal-Poly Pomona for their Landscape Architecture Program. This is a 3 year program, with the option for a fourth to double major in Urban Planning. He was also accepted to Cunny in NYC, but we've decided to stick it out here in LA, and see what happens. Beside, Cal-Ploy's program is much better.

As James is about to begin his career path, I am floating around in mine. A year through my MFA and I have a terrible feeling about the direction of this path. Everyone that has come lecture through our program is broke, and has been working odd jobs for the last 10 years and making art on the side. If this is the case I don't think I need to waste another year's worth of money to make that happen. Ah, yes the option to teach in a university. Well, there is always that, but apparently that's just as unlikely as anything else.

So while I'm thrilled for James and our life together, and I'm back at the drawing board for my career. Two masters programs down, how many more to go? For the first time I'm considering the most practical of career paths, and am finally ready to make money. For the time being I'm looking for work, and looking for a new direction.