Okay. Gettin' this...

With family in far away places.

I went out for New Year's Eve Eve..

Who knew! A House of Blues venue ='s badass.

I shook Neil Gaimen's hand and congratulated him on his lamppost!

I made friends at the Dresden Dolls concert with a group of similarly minded ladies. I wish I had taken pictures of them.

Met the girlfriend of the magician that the magician in American Gods is based off of. Met a future science teacher in four inch heels, and an adorable coffeeshop manager named Lauren. Met a bear of a man who watches music and protects the short. Met his short blond girlfriend, who loved it when he glowered at people who were being loud jerks.

I sleep in a big bed and eat leftovers. There are two huge dogs to be friends with. Very lucky.

Southern Cali feels like the Midwest, except looser and sillier. There's sadness here, but there's also an amazing amount of sunshine... beautiful sites.. SUNSHINE. Having weather that won't kill you seems to relax people.

However - - that being said - - being here, and being in AZ - - I'm realizing just how damned lucky I am to know some of the smartest, funniest, most embittered, optimistic, self-deprecating, proud, generous and over all, awesome people in Mpls. Minneapolis - - you're killer smart.

All the people in the world seem to travel between Los Angeles and San Diego at all times. They never stop.

Wandered around Carlsbad with my aunt this afternoon, and talked family. Drank coffee, drank wine, ate tacos, very lucky.

2010 was hard. 2010 was good. 2010 was awesome. 2011 will be even better.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVERYONE! May your 2011 be the best year yet!

Onward.

Christmas...

Anyone else wanna say.. How fucking weird.

- It's strange that the changes experienced in the last five years can somehow outshine or outshadow the changes experienced between ages 19-22. Or even 12-17, at times.

- It's strange to experience Christmas under blue skies and lovely temperatures. I can't stop saying it: "It's so beautiful out".

- It's strange to feel as though you and your mom sometimes come second to friends. And sometimes second to a tablecloth.

- It's strange to accept an apology for said behavior.

- And really truly accept it. And the responsibility of accepting an apology.

- It's strange to not know what to do.

- It's strange that it will all end in 2+ days.

I'm so lucky to be with my mom and my sister. So lucky and blessed to be here together.

Also so strange and lucky to try and figure out holidays as grown ups. With no real reason to be together except that we want to be. Even if we're not sometimes ready to be.

Onward.