Ride on the Escalator

I went to the mall today to pick up a present for Brian’s mom, today is her birthday. (All late December birthdays I just heard you sigh in sympathy

I went up to the food court to grab something to drink and on my way back towards the escalator I saw a mom trying to get four kids (ranging in age from 2-8) and a giant two-kid stroller down. She had two choices, the stairs or the escalator. It appears the elevator had broken since she made it up.

Now I will admit that my first thought was how irritating it was that all those kids are blocking the escalator. As I approached I heard the kids say that they wanted to ride the escalator down. Now they each needed to hold a hand. So one mom = 2 hands, four kids = 4 hands needing to be held, clearly not gonna work.

I heard her responding and she was so tired. I can’t imagine being in the mall with four kids that age. Before I knew what was happening I heard something along the lines of – maybe this nice lady will help you down the escalator. In the next breath I had one of the kid’s hand in mine and off we were going down the escalator. It was the 5 year old. She squeezed my hand so tight and was so excited about riding the escalator.

We reached the bottom she looked up at me, gave me a million dollar smile and said, thank you.

What an unexpected joy! Who knew riding the escalator could be so fun.

Filed under: Things I love

2005 In Review

2005 has been quite the year for relationships, education and travel.

Relationships:
Brian and I got back together in March. It was a surprise even to me. We were together for over a year, casually dated for nine months and now have been back together for nine months. Yikes lots of stuff happen in nine months for us – lol – luckily nothing growing but the relationship. We’ve had quite the roller coaster year – for a minute we were going to get engaged, for another minute we were planning a marriage and in another minute we were planning a move to Memphis, now we have no idea what we’re doing.

I divorced my long time roommate and close friend amicably. After five years Joanna and I separated. For the first time in my life I live on my own. I really do like it. It’s nice to come home and know that no one is there. I get to be social when I want to, which is good and bad.

I also need to be more deliberate about being social, making new friends and putting myself out there. I no longer have a built-in activity buddy. It’s been an adjustment. It might still be in orange county but north, where I used to live, is a different world from south, where I live now. I don’t think I will want to live down here forever, it just isn’t my scene. There isn’t enough diversity and believe it or not there are WAY too many chain restaurants and mega superstores. I want little hole in the wall restaurants and eclectic boutiques. I’ll be ready to move soon.

Travel:
I went to TN, a state I’ve never been to before this year, three times – once for work and twice with Brian. He and I have taken a record three trips together. One to Northern California, one to Memphis to take Kayla home and one cross country for him to meet my family. I think I’ve seen my family more this year than most in recent memory as well. We went to both Indiana and Ohio to see them. Either that or it was just that I saw them two months in a row – maybe that was it. I missed them at Christmas – severely.

I also took several trips with Joanna. We finally fulfilled our wish to go to Boston and we took a quick weekend retreat to Big Bear. So much fun.

Education:
After three long years, I’m done. I have finally completed my master’s degree. WHI-HOO!! What am I going to do with it? UH OH??!! That’s a worry for 2006.

Overall, there is much to be grateful for and I know I am truly blessed.

Filed under: About Me

Alfie [2004]

This movie is billed as a romantic comedy but I want to know what part of this film constitutes romantic and comedy.

It’s a remake of the 1966 british film starring Michael Caine as a womanizer who always keeps his options open and never stays too long. Think of Alfie as a Peter Pan wearing Prada and Gucci.

I thought this was going to be a light, funny, sweet movie about a womanizer who finds true love and changes his roguish ways. It’s kind of like that but his path to redemption is not filled with montages set to any love ballads.

It’s much more realistic than that. He manages to chase off or damage anyone who ever loves him. He’s waiting for some kind of perfection and realizes in the end that he is the most flawed of all.

Given Jude Law’s recent behavior he was more of a nature fit for this role than once thought. But he does capture the allure, yet desperation essential for Alfie.

I would recommend it if you’re in a melancoly mood. Otherwise beware.

Filed under: Pop Culture