Left Coast Envy

This is what it looked like outside of my window today and, tragically, we leave this tomorrow at some ungodly hour in the morning to head back to snowy, icy, COLD Minnesota. Granted, today it was warmer in Chicago (61) than it was here in Phoenix (50)... but the palm trees do make a difference!

I went through a phase when I was younger when you could have guaranteed that by now I'd be living in California. Funny story, I ended up on the wrong coast.

Bubble Toes

Call me spoiled, but I really do love a good mani/pedi. Mostly the pedicure. Something about the heated massage chair, the hot footbath and the scrubs and lotions just set me at ease. So today's pedicure was especially nice. After relaxing in the whirlpool at the Revive Spa, I headed upstairs to the salon for my mani/pedi with Jamie. I know they say that bartenders and cab drivers are the most interesting people to talk to just by virtue of who they've already met and spoken to, but I personally really enjoy talking to pedicurists. They see tons of people come through their salons every day, and they generally either (a) make nice conversation with them (like I did) or (b) read at/ignore them (like the woman sitting next to me did). Jamie and I shared an hour and a half of good conversation -- I told her about me - my studies, past trips, hopeful future trips, a little bit about Judaism, and she told me about herself - her son, her holidays, growing up in Phoenix and her hopeful trips. All in all, a very enjoyable experience. We chatted about a camp reunion that had taken place at the resort over Passover - how half of the people there had met their spouses at camp, and I told her about how common that was - that's one of the underlying hopes of the Jewish camping movement. Not like it's worked for me. I got the boyfriend question/conversation at dinner last night. It was great explaining to them how the population of guys at BU are either (a) gay (b) taken or (c) weird. Really enjoyable, really. About as wonderful as the rain that fell here (the desert, yes) all day and night - which was something else Jamie and I commiserated on during our time together, ending in a hug (and a nice tip, clearly). And now my nails are a nice shade of Serbian Nights. Thanks, OPI. Thanks, Jamie.

Chinese Food on Christmas

Merry Christmas! I really do love the holiday, even if it's not mine... although I was asked once if I was Jewish or Christmas. And despite the fact that nearly everything's closed, it's guaranteed to be a good time.The family and I will venture out to one of Phoenix's fine Chinese restaurants for lunch, see a movie (we're thinking Frost/Nixon), and then make it over to Bailey's for Christmas dinner, ie. dinner with the old Jews who winter in Phoenix and their families. A good time for all, always.

Last year on Christmas my dad sent me this song:

which I promptly listened to, downloaded, and have since learned that it's done by a teacher at my friend's alma mater. Regardless, the email also had a link for me to download this song as a ringtone (I didn't), but it led me to myxertones.com, which I have since used to download countless ringtones because I know a good free thing when I see one. 23 new ringtones later, and it's still an unfortunate obsession. Because of it, Law and Order's dunDUN noise plays for each text message, The Format's "Compromise" plays whenever my roommates call, a song from the musical episode of Buffy alerts me when a few select friends call, and the Flobots' "No Handlebars" for a few others. Tragically, myxertones no longer works with Verizon and I had to actually pay for my newest song, "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga (a current fix). I really do like song/personalized ringtones, though. They add a fun touch to what's probably a less than thrilling phone call. So, if you don't have Verizon, go play on myxertones. And if you do, tragic on the ringtone front - but you can call/text me for free, we're in! And if you do have another site, let me know. Consider it my Christmas present.

West Coast Winter

Well, it will be a decidedly not White Christmas here in Phoenix, and I'm okay with that. I'll take palm trees over snowflakes anyday, so I guess it's a good thing we've been Christmas-ing in Phoenix the past few years. It's nice, really. A week of vacation away from [almost] everything. I'll be honest, I can't quite keep away from the computer or my cell phone, but who really can? It's relaxation, not isolation. And so, as I lay curled up with my laptop on a bed much larger and more comfortable than the one I left at school a few days ago, I've decided a blog might be nice. Alana likes hers well enough, and I do too. I read enough of them, so why not one of my own? My blogging resume is quite strong - the LiveJournal back when you had to be invited to make one, the Xanga, the MySpace journal - they're all probably still around somewhere, floating in the online abyss filled with the daily tidbits I found essential at age 14 that are probably now just slightly embarrassing. I haven't stuck with anything longterm yet (although the LJ did last quite awhile), but maybe this'll be it...

This week started with the trip from hell (two days, Boston - DC - Chicago - Minneapolis, no luggage... and I know I'm not the only one), and now everything's calmed a bit.. but the amount of cars I saw parked in the Desert Ridge lot today say it's not quite as calm for everyone who is still a little crazed getting ready for Christmas, but life on vacation is good. Last night we explored the Luminaria and Chihuly at the Desert Botanical Gardens and tomorrow it'll be Chinese food and a movie - as per usual. I think I'll be sad to see the Christmas season go, I really love the Christmas songs and the decorations, but until then - take a break from last minute shopping and turn a Lifetime Christmas movie... you may lose an hour and a half of your life, but hey - it's vacation!

...And a little Chihuly from last night, just because: