Ramblings from a Rambler

Life can change in a instant. A few short months ago I was in an empty house sleeping on a air mattress wondering what else life could throw my way to test my strength. Now, I find myself in transition to a new job, moving back to the city where I grew up, in a relationship with someone who makes me happier than I can remember ever being with someone EVER...and still sleeping on an air mattress. At the end of this month I will be starting a new journey and I couldn't be happier or in a better place in life.

Goodbye LA Walk

For the last couple of mornings Ilya and I have decided to document our last days together. Today I bring you....the Starbucks walk.

This is typically the moment where a homeless man tries to make sexy times with me or Ilya or where Ilya yells loudly about the weather.
Oh Starbucks, how I love you. Your venti shaken black iced teas, your venti iced red eyes...my inability to ever order you sweetened for fear I will be judged over the mass quantity of Splenda that I put in you. I can't quit you downtown LA Starbucks....if only there were another Starbucks on this planet...wait what?
Ilya loves her some Starbucks too. She gets a butter croissant - which is important information to note should you ever be asked to bring her something back from a Starbucks run.

HOPE Over 3 Years

Ilya and I's awesome photo shoot for HOPE

At the Bankers Bus Tour with Ana Cabral (she signs all the money in the U.S.)

Serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies (I know I did not chose the title) at the Bankers Bus Tour in Los Angeles

Our early morning safari in South Africa

Rachael, Ilya, John and I with Ambassador Young in South Africa

Famous sculptor, Tina Allen (sitting to my right) who sadly passed recently from complications of a heart attack. Tina has sculpted tremendous bronze scuptures of famous African American leaders.

A picture I took in New Orleans one month after Katrina

The HOPE group after the Silver Rights Breakfast in Atlanta

Reverend Cecil "Chip" Murray's visit to the corporate office

2006 Holiday Christmas Party with Ilya, Rachael, John and Sheila

Woman-ing the registration table in Anacostia

At the Private Bank and Trust board meeting in Chicago

On the rooftop in Washington D.C. with Leslie and Wendy after the Anacostia Economic Summit

Some of the ladies at HOPE

CRA Luncheon Event at the Federal Reserve Bank of LA

John, Rachael and I

The HOPE Banking Center Staff on a community street day in LA

The End of the Road

It is official, last week I accepted a job offer with Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and will soon be moving back to Orange County. I thought this would bring only good feelings but it has put me in a moment of reflection and has made me take a good look at the tremendous amount of things I have to be thankful for that my stay in LA has blessed me with.

What I am thankful about from my LA stay:

1. I was part of something amazing - I worked at a tremendously stressful but nonetheless amazing place while in LA. Operation HOPE has a strong mission, a visionary founder and is changing lives throughout the world. Because I was blessed to be part of Operation HOPE I have been to amazing places and I have witnessed amazing things.

I have been to South Africa and went on a safari. Also while I was there had a chance to sit with former Civil Rights leader, Ambassador Andrew Young and listen as he told me stories about he and Martin Luther King's work during the movement. I have been on the trading floor of Wall Street and was part of the opening bell ceremonies at the NASDAQ. I have sat in President Clinton's foundation office in Harlem. I have met amazing people like famous sculptor, Tina Allen who sadly passed away recently. I have sat with Reverend Cecil "Chip" Murray the Chair of the Tansy School at USC and famed leader in Los Angeles while he talked to me about life and love. I have flown to and explored great cities like New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia. I have salsa danced with the Mayor of Los Angeles in Washington D.C. and I have met many other people who are a celebrity in their own right and doing their part to change the world for the good.

2. Entering the Comedy World - Had I not lived in the Pasadena area I don't know if I would ever of gone to the Ice House and auditioned to be a part of their stand up comedy show line up. One fateful Saturday afternoon almost 2 years ago, I went to the Ice House and joined 100 others as we auditioned to be in the show. I was armed with 3 minutes of funny and a whole lot of ignorance. I was lucky to have made the cut along with 7 others and began the fun and often times intimidating world of stand up. Had I never done stand up I wouldn't have signed up at Second City and started doing improv, something which I have grown to enjoy a tremendous amount.

3. My New Friends - I have made some great friends through my work that I will miss seeing every day but I look forward to making the trek past the orange curtain to visit them. Friends like Ilya, who makes me laugh and gives some of the best advice in the world, even though she prefaces it with, "Now although I have no personal experience in this area here's what I think..." And Rachael who is a great mother, a great listener and an overall amazing person and Emily who is so very fun, smart and great to talk to. She just moved here from SF and I am sad that I haven't had the chance to spend a lot of time with her now that she lives in LA.

4. Relationship Wisdom - Probably the most painful part of moving to Los Angeles was what it brought on the relationship front. For the first time in my life I went on dates with guys I barely knew (in the past I only dated people I worked with or was friends with before hand) which was so depressing. After casually dating a couple of guys I was left thinking, "If this is all that's left then I should just get to it and get my ovaries removed and get busy with adopting cats." Okay maybe a little over-dramatic but it was greatly depressing thinking that the dating pool was only filled with douchebags.

I began two relationships both which ended terribly. One with a guy who lied to me and had a fiancee on the side and the other who seemed like a great catch only to turn out to be an asshole and a coward. But in the end it forced me to face two of my greatest relationship fears; being betrayed and lied to and being left. Facing those two things has really taught me a lot about myself and about what I deserve from the person I am in a relationship with. I am better because of the pain I faced in those relationships and I have stumbled upon a great new relationship chapter that I am looking forward to growing.

I am excited and nervous as I begin to transition back to OC and out of Operation HOPE. But I can say whatever tomorrow brings, I welcome it with open arms.

Me and the Reigning Champion of the "Favorite Person of the Week" Title

and yes, if you are wondering that picture in the background is indeed a picture of Ilya's forehead.