Work is good, the weather is sweet and the body is still soaking up as much sunshine as humanly possible. Living the SoCal lifestyle includes working enough to live the life of partying and being out in the sun. Where do I sign? Oh yeah--that's why I'm already here! I'm quickly learning that my weekends are a matter of burning the candle at both ends until the wick is chard and literally disintegrated. Last weekend I worked Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, rallied in Pacific Beach after hours and stumbled my way though a day of serving barley and hops to football fans all day Sunday. From four days of cranking comes three days of recovering. I mix my Monday through Wednesday with sleep, beach, bike rides and journalism. I recently wrote a short story that will be published in the winter issue of Steamboat magazine! I'm working on turning this specific story about Alpine Initiatives (alpineinitiatives.org--check it out!) into a feature story that will hopefully land in Skiing and perhaps even Outside magazine.

Yesterday a women's conference took place in Long Beach, just up the road from me. It was put on by Governor Schwarzenegger, but run by his amazing wife, Maria. There were over 200 empowering, notable women there. It is a conference that you must either be invited to or get tickets for, and I already plan on making it a goal to attend next year's event. I watched it live online and felt the full-body chills consume me multiple times within the two hours that I caught. They honored women making a difference in the world. Names like Gloria Steinem, Betty Chinn, and Billy Jean King. Bonnie Raitt sang and Bono from U2 spoke at length. I have always wrestled with my thoughts of Bono. I don't like U2's music--which now means nothing to me. I have ALWAYS respected him for both his musical talent and even more so, what he's doing in the world. Watching him speak last night, and hearing his passion come out through his words and ways, was so amazingly contagious. Every day I think about how I want to become an instrument of change in the world, and this conference nudged me that much more. I struggle with the fact that I have been forced to put my life passions on hold until my finances stable back out. I can't really complain for the fact that I am one of the luckiest persons on this planet to still be alive and even have the chance to pursue my life passions in the future.

Encinitas is Heaven

I finally feel like my feet are flattening and my toes are spreading and digging a little deeper into the sand these days. My road bike rides are becoming routine as well as my beach time and now--my job. I'm enjoying making the physical transition from mountain-bike hammerhead to road-bike distance rider. I'm still running in the sand and it feels good on the back. No soreness and a nice change of pace from the bike and the highway. Soon enough, when time and finances allow, I'll get back into yoga which i know will do wonders for my shoulder. It still reminds me on a daily basis that it needs a little more TLC.

I worked my first solo shift at the bar last night and it went well. I made a couple of first-day mistakes, but nothing detrimental. I already saw some familiar faces and felt like this is only the beginning to fitting in working the sports-bar-turn-night-club scene.

The weather continues to be my best friend. I think about the cold smoke threatening the CO mountains. I can only cherish every day that I wake up to sunny skies, warm temperatures and a cool ocean breeze. On average the temperature has recently been in the low 70's with not much humidity. It cools off enough at night to sleep comfortably, although everyone sleeps with a fan to drown out the noise of the train. When you live in SoCal, the goal is to live west of the I-5. Not only do I live west of the 5, I also live west of Pacific Coast Highway. The train runs along the PCH, and to be expected, it makes its presence known every time it comes cruising by. Trust me, there's no complaints coming from this girl. Walking out my front gate, up the street, over a half a block and down to the beach makes it more than worth it!

Every day I meet mellow, genuine people around town. I feel as comfortable and safe as I do in Steamboat. I commute around on my cherished cruiser, and do my errands on my road bike. I'm proud to be the hippie Colorado chick who rides her bike everywhere. I'm smart about where I ride and wear all of my lights and my helmet whenever I'm on the highway. I'm sure I'll quickly become known as the blond on the lime green cruiser with the two pig horns. ;o)

I make my occasional trips south to Solana Beach and home of the original Belly Up music venue. I've already seen two reggae shows there. As most of you know, not much makes me more happy than getting to go jam to some live, kinky reggae!

My first purchase when funds allow will be a new camera. I will be sure to make up for lost time and take a slew of pictures to familiarize you all with my new life and surroundings.

Peace and love to you all!

Brett

Holla D Street Bar and Grill

I HAVE A JOB, I HAVE A JOB, I HAVE A JOB! I heard back from D Street Bar and Grill on Monday, and they offered me a job immediately. Come to find out, this place is very competitive with server shifts, so I feel like I landed at the right place at the right time. I went from my second interview straight to my ... My first day of training was on Tuesday and all went well. It was a slow lunch, so I only learned so much. I can't express how much better I feel now that I finally have a job. I went home and was able to take a deep breath for the first time in what feels like ages. I train again Friday night, Saturday morning and Monday afternoon. By then I should know what my new work schedule will be! I have a feeling that I will get some good work shifts right off the bat. Not a bad time to be jumping on board into a sports bar during football season.

I took the weekend off from life and let loose a little bit. Through a long-distance friend, I've met a mutual friend here in Encinitas along with a great crew of people. We are starting a weekly dinner/bbq and have found our way around the late-night scene quite easily. After a wild weekend of barley-and-hops consumption, I rode my temporarily-adopted cruiser down to Solana Beach where there just so happens to be a Broncos Headquarters bar. Ironically enough it's called Chiefs. Sadly enough, that is just the team that broke a 12-game losing streak to beat us. Bummer. Being around a crowd of Broncos fans clad in jerseys and a plethora of blue and orange made me feel right at home. Even to the point that I got the chills and felt a little giddy inside. On Sundays I can wear a NFL jersey at work, so a new Broncos jersey will be coming in hot soon.

For the first time it rained and even thundered here on Monday morning. What an experience that was! The smell was overwhelming and brought me home to the aroma of rain in the mountains. I have heard from a number of people about how incredible the colors are this fall in Colorado. It seems as those chances just so happen when I am absent. Luckily enough I know I have a handful of friends who appreciate the beauty as much as I do and think of me when relishing in the beauty. Thank you!.. Just as I finished writing this I received a picture message from a friend who had just bike Emerald Mountain. It was looking towards the Steamboat Ski Area and the colors were absolutely majestic! I can't tell you all how much it makes my heart swell when friends let me know they are thinking of me when enjoying the beauty of life. I love you Alli~

Yesterday was hot. As in upper 80s hot. I went thrift-store shopping for cheap, black pants for work. I have realized that once I have the finances I will be able to completely revamp my wardrobe from second-hand stores alone. I now live just south of the O.C. and the women's second-hand clothing stores prove it. Seven, True Religion and Joe's jeans fill the racks for under 30 bucks. Now that's my kind of shopping! I waited for it to cool off and went on a nice beach run. As much as I don't thrive off running, I still somewhat enjoy it and like the sand for the forgiveness of it relative to cement or even dirt. There's nothing quite like running along the water while watching surfers, the setting sun and romping women and men clad in bikinis and board shorts. After all, that's why I moved to the beach!

I stopped by Nytro, the triathlon/bike shop where my new buddy George works. I sat with him and he dialed me on three new road bike routes to venture on. He discussed his upcoming weekend with me. He is partaking in a 508--that's not a typo--mile road-bike race that will take him just around 40 hours to complete. CRAZY. Between traveling to the race, nerves the day and night before, the race, and traveling home, he doesn't sleep for about five days. Not quite sure how the body endures that. I commend athletes like George. Good luck, and most importantly, HAVE FUN! I'm sure that he will quickly become a great friend for me to know. He and his girlfriend live in Huntington Beach, and they have already invited me for a visit. They also invited me to the race. If not for my new excuse, a job, I would go and cover the race. After all, I'm here to expand my journalistic horizons---right?!!!

My goal is to start writing in my blog more often and more freely. I have been urged to write as I think. Because I only know me as me, I don't realize how inspiring my words are for so many. But thanks to a handful of you, I am learning that more and more. Thank you for your honesty. You all extract my gifts to you from within me. After my accident this year, I realized that all I want to do in life is give back. I want to embellish and enhance others' lives with my experiences and what I have to offer. I have been so blessed in life, and I want to help be a blessing for others.

So, cheers to Brett's new style of blogging!

All my love, all the time,

Brett