just another SoCal sunset...

i guess life has returned to business as usual in the SD... living by the sun cycle and long walks on the beach. i got back to Cali after the wedding that i was in and felt a little off as my plan landed. i think it was due to missing two people at the same time in the same way but different. being back with all my girlfriends who watched me fall in love with matt and attended our wedding made me miss him by my side. the bride was thoughtful enough to suggest donations to the ABTA  as well as put Matt's picture on a table of loved ones lost at the reception. it was so thoughtful but i avoided that table like that black plaque fearing that i would break into tears upon a single glance. i received many comments of how my friends missed Matt and wished he could be there. being so far removed from my old life and old friends it's easy to let the feeling of lose melt away. on the other hand, i missed my new special someone. he couldn't attend due to the long trip and work obligations. i also wished he could be by my side to meet all my old friends. i also received many comments on how happy i looked and thought it had something to do with him. so it was a full weekend of emotions and of course being so happy for my friend and hoping nothing but a long and loving marriage filled with all good things.

after a few days of wonkiness, i settled back into my SoCal life. i was eager to spend the weekend doing whatever i wanted and enjoying the beautiful beach town where i reside. on Saturday my special someone suggested an afternoon of biking around Coronado (swoon). if you aren't familiar with Coronado, its a beautiful island a short bridge drive across from SD and is filled with everything that you think a vacation town would include. we biked around, enjoyed the sites, and of course dined al fresco with a cocktail or two. sunday, i called the shots and dragged him to Temecula where i belong to a wine club. we enjoyed a tasting outside the vineyards followed by another lunch al fresco. we headed back to the city proper and i closed out the weekend with some chores and some freshly obtained wine with a neighbor.

not to continue on with my brag fest but sometimes i really think i have to pinch myself to know that this life i am living is for real! i mean i go biking around one of americas most visited tourist destinations for fun in the place where i live. sunset walks on the beach are the regular. and i have met someone that likes to enjoy all of these things with me. feeling like a lucky lady these days.

just another sunset... 

biking around Coronado with my Special Someone... Kyle 

me and the beautiful bride 

having a couple of laughs with old friends 

lila is pretty spoiled by daily sunsets too

PS. If I didn't have enough already... I picked up another hobby... photography. Just got my first DSLR and these pics are courtesy of! Still a lot to learn but having fun with it so far! 

namaste

Melissa

Greetings from SD!

Well I made it. I drove the 2000+ miles out to the west coast. It took me about a week with some fun stops in between and I would recommend this drive to anyone. I didn't get too crazy with it and never drove more than 10 hours in a day. I had two main stops; Arkansas and Sedona. I also stopped one night in Amarillo which included a scary motel stay. After the notel motel, I was happy to get on the road and get to Sedona where I upgraded and stayed at a beautiful resort with an infinity pool displaying the beautiful rock formations. 

Sedona wins the prize as the most beautiful place I have ever been in the US and rivals some of the other worldly beauty I have seen. Arriving on Thursday evening and passing through multiple time zones, I just rested by the pool the first night. The next morning I got to try a Kundalini Yoga class at the resort before heading out for a day of hiking. Rounding out the night out at a local winery pretty much makes for a perfect day for me. Lila got to join me on most activities as this is a very dog friendly town. She didn't join me at the winery though, Mama need a night out! I don't know if I entered any of the said vortexes but my mood was certainly elevated and I met some high vibe people. I didn't even touch on the surface of what this town has to offer with many many psychics, hiking trails, and organic food. At only seven hours across the desert from SD, I will be back. 

I woke on Saturday to pull myself from the R&R canyon of Sedona to finish the drive. I had to get to the leasing office by closing time so I significantly limited my hydration and put the pedal to the metal which was difficult with the rolling mountains of the desert and border patrol. I made it by about 5pm and was exhausted. I quickly signed the lease and rushed into the place only to realize I had to bring all my belongings in which wasn't easy with numerous hallways and a parking garage between me and my air mattress. The white walls of the barren apartment hit me hard and I was overwhelmed. Still am but it's getting better each day. How the hell did my life come to this? Arriving to the other side of the country in a small apartment with no one to help me carry all my crap (for those of you in SD I know I could have called you but conversation wasn't an option in this infuriated state). I was in despair. I persevered, blew up the air mattress (thankfully a friend of Matt's got us a luxury one for our wedding), cried, and went to sleep. I knew things would be better in the morning. After two nights, a rest by the pool, and a visit with a BFF from  back in the day, things are looking up again. I imagine after going to Coronado beach today, I will be back in full limitless love of SoCal! 

Dinner at the fancy restaurant in Arkansas (aka the Supper Club)

Lila and I going through Oak Creek

Headstand in Sedona!

Jumping in Sedona!

namaste

Melissa