Absolutely lovin' these guys. I really appreciate their super simple and direct lyrics, sometimes I'm annoyed with too many metaphors and cliches. 'Hey there Delilah' and 'Hate (I really don't like you) are my favs so far.

you know i can see you, right?

I am so over people grooming themselves on public transportation. I understand when you have a 30+ minute commute there's the inclination to take advantage of your time trapped in a tube and take care of some business. Brush up on current events, meditate, catch up on email, daydream, get to the next level of Grand Theft Auto, whatever you can do that's silent and solitary. But clipping your nails, cleaning out your ears, flossing or POPPING PIMPLES...these are things that should be left to the privacy of your own home. I'm an extra freak and believe these things should only take place in the bathroom, but as long as I don't have to see it, carry on. Perhaps I can stop people from doing these things by warning that performing some of these activities in a moving vehicle can be dangerous. If the train or bus comes to an abrupt stop you could snip off the tip of your finger with your clippers, or stab your brain while picking your nose. Is it a city 'anything goes' thing? Is it a California 'laid back' thing? In a few months I'll let you now if Florentines lack public couth as well.

On the loose

Last Sunday we did Bay to Breakers as convicts in orange jumpsuits, complete with a jail cell to protect our kegs. The general consensus was that we all got some sick satisfaction yelling faux threats like "Just you wait til I get out"!, and "You better hope I don't catch you in the shower Bitch"! Of course the tone was completely different for us single cons when we spotted a cute guy. We used, "Wanna be my pen pal"?, "Will you wait for me"?, and my personal favorite, "Hey Honey, wanna join me for a conjugal visit"? We did the Jailhouse Rock with the Elvises, wiggled on rooftops and came out covered in various sticky substances which added to our hooscow authenticity.

You can see our mug shots here.

Yessssssssss!

Saturday night I went to see Mitch Fatel at the Punchline in SF. I'm sure he says it to all the girls, but he told me I had a beautiful smile so of course I'm going to boast. I told him he has the warmest smile I've ever seen and it's true. I don't usually get starstruck but men who make me laugh are my weakness, and he just seems so friendly. Listen to me ramble like I have a high school crush. OhMyGod maybe I should have slipped him a note, "Do you like me? Check box yes or no"!

Monday I was in Walgreens with a friend discussing the differences between Mucus Relief and Mucinex, when I felt something graze my arse. I noticed a woman walking past us out of the corner of my eye and assumed that as she was trying to get by an maybe her purse or something brushed my bum. But when it didn't stop I looked down and saw her 10 year-old son's hand rubbing my fanny! My friend said I had one of those 'deer in headlights' looks on my face, then we both started laughing so hard we were crying. He didn't even seem to notice he was doing it! As we walked out I said, "What's even funnier is getting felt up by a 10 year-old in a drugstore is the most action I've gotten in a loooooooong time"!

KILL FEAR AND DOUBT

This is from a friend of mine in LA.This rings especially true for me now as my move date closes in, and I begin to worry about money, lonliness and logistics rather than riding high on the fact that soon I'll be living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, learning to communicate in a new way, and discovering even more about myself. It will all work out!

A really sweet girl I've been dating for a couple weeks just decided to move to Barcelona (no, it wasn't because of me). She had visited the city before and last weekend just realized it was something she always really wanted to do, so, she's going to do it. Just like that? Yes, just like that.

Many times we come up with all kinds of very reasonable sounding excuses and reasons as to why we shouldn't do certain things we deep-down have always wanted to do. But the truth is, if you really want to do something, "how" is not that important. What's important is to become clear about what you truly, deeply desire in your life and then go after it. All the "hows" will work themselves out, often in ways you could never have planned or imagined. Joseph Campbell said, "Follow your bliss and doors will open where there were no doors before." What's really stopping us from our dreams is ourselves.

The more we stay in our comfort zone, the more fear begins to rule our lives, and the doubts and fears we have grow in power over us. Voices inside our heads (whether from parents, people around us, the media, etc.) tell us all the reasons we can't do what we want to do, can't be who we want to be. But the truth is, those voices are no more valid than the ones that say we can. So, it's up to us to decide what voices we're going to listen to, daily. And you have to be merciless, especially at first. You must kill all fear and doubt. And you also have to cast off their twisted cousin, cynicism. If you hold on to the comfort of cynicism to avoid disappointment and pain, or even worse, to look cool, you're only hurting yourself. So, be careful what voices you listen to, whether on the outside or in your head. Live in the moment daily, and be aware of your thoughts and the stories you're telling yourself. If you change those stories, change those voices, then you will change your life.

I struggle daily with fear and doubt in various areas of my life. But for the last two years I have been changing the stories and voices in my head, and the results have been incredible, not only in the outward manifestation of a different life, but a different level of peace and enjoyment of my life. So, when the idea of doing a solo tour came into my head, just like my friend moving to Barcelona, I just decided to do it. Scheduling it hasn't been effortless, but many doors have opened to make the tour possible. Although there are still some holes in the schedule, I'm more excited than afraid to see how those things will work themselves out. And I keep trying to tip the emotion of fear to excitement instead as I stretch the boundaries of my comfort zone. I just have to keep mercilessly killing fear and doubt, every day. Eventually, I hope their voices will be dim and distant compared to the voices of courage, power and joy. I hope the same for you.

Let Freedom Ring

I love when I'm reminded loud and clear, that when you're true to yourself and make yourself happy, the sweeter life really is!