Facetime with my favorite Californian hand puppets!

F: Did you learn anything about yourself on your most recent trip to Thailand?

L:  I already knew this but I was reminded that I can’t really absorb information about a place before I get there.  Guide books and maps mean nothing to me until I’m sitting in the place and can figure out what I want to do from there.

F:  Were there any noteworthy lessons that came up while you were halfway around the world?

L:  There were almost no Thai people in the areas we went (minus people working in tourism and hospitality), only western tourists.  I’m not sure what the lesson is there, specifically, but it’s something I didn’t notice much at first and then thought a lot about once I’d been there longer.

F:  What was your favorite thing we did in Cleveland for Christmas?

L: Ah, seems so long ago!  I really enjoy the dirty Santa gift exchange we’ve starting doing on Christmas Eve.

F:  Do you have any resolutions?

L:  I decided to use the word aspiration instead of resolution this year.  One such aspiration of mine is to read more.

F:  Is it cold there?

L. Oh yeah! Warming up over the weekend though, so that’s something.

L: Do you have anything exciting coming up?

F: I have a busy January with work. People love to cleanse in January. In a way, that is exciting.

L: What’s your favorite outdoor sport?

F: Beach volleyball baby!

L: What’s something you learned over the holiday season?

F: Never underestimate getting enough sleep.

Also, people change. They really do. It is never too late.

L:  If you could be an amazingly talented dancer, singer or musician,
which would you choose?

F: I think Beyonce is such a badass, amazing woman. She is fun, smart, thoughtful, spiritual, sensual and beautiful.

L:  When is the last time you laughed really hard?

F: We played Cards Against Humanity at dinner last night with multiple generations and there were some insanely sick things you had to say out loud. It was hilarious and awkward.

Last week’s New York City snow

F:  What do you do when you feel off-balanced?

L: You mean other than criticize myself :). Usually making some time to focus on my health gets me back on track.

F:  What is your favorite part about the Christmas season?

L: I guess the familiarity of the season is kind of comforting. Coming up with gifts you’re excited to give is pretty awesome, when it happens. Nice lights and decorations can also be gorgeous!

F:  Is there any kind of food you have been craving?

L: I could seriously stand to up my greens intake!

F:  Do you have any big plans for NYE?

L: Beaching in southeast Asia! I’m excited but it’s also a little hard for me to write that without feeling kinda obnoxious.

F:  Are you taking any supplements during the winter?

L: I was taking vitamin D until I was told that there’s something bad about the synthetic capsules. I could start again. I’ve also been taking a daily probiotic. Do you have other recommendations?

L:  What’s your favorite tradition?

F:  What was your favorite part about your LA visit?

L:  Well, this little buddy above was a delightful find during our visit to LACMA!  I also loved the day we spent in Malibu; it’s so gorgeous there.  Overall, I loved being out of the cold and getting to spend some low-key, chill time with our family.

F:  What is your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving?

L:  Pumpkin pie, hands down.

F: Can you share one of your favorite pictures from 2013?

L:  I recently took this picture on my way home from work.  I was shooting the pigeons before the monk came out to feed them and then caught this moment.

F:  Do you like the holiday season? If yes, why? If no, why?

L:  I like it enough.  It’s always nice when it’s happening but I don’t spend all year looking forward to it or anything along those lines.

F. What is your favorite season?

L:  Summer or Spring, if it’s a warm one!

The sunset last night

L:  Have you read anything good lately?

F:  This is your birthday week, what are your plans?!

L:  Well, first off, thank you so much for yesterday’s post – and thank you to everyone who wrote such nice things!!  I feel so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life and I hope that each of you feels as loved as you all made me feel yesterday.  As for plans, Dad was in town over the weekend, I had a wonderful birthday dinner earlier in the week and saw some friends last night.  Mom’s coming into town tonight.  It’s been a pretty fabulous week!

F:  What is your most memorable birthday?

L:  This one, I suppose, because I haven’t yet put it in the past!  Last year’s birthday was pretty cool too.  I woke up in Paris (after having met up with you guys in Turkey!) and flew back to NYC on my birthday.  I didn’t tell anyone I was coming back into town, took the book I was reading at the time (Shantaram) to sit at the bar of one of my favorite restaurants, ate delicious food, drank prosecco and was in bed by about 7 p.m.  It was great!

F:  If you had 3 months off with no housing commitments, etc., where would you go and what would you do?

L:  Three months feels short for the purpose of this question, so I’m going to take a year.  I would spend the first three months in southeast Asia visiting Jo.  Then I would come back and hang out in New York for the next three months (I hope to god these are warm months!).  Then maybe I’d drive cross country and hang out with you guys on the west coast for as long as I wanted before deciding on my next destination.

F:  Do you have any resolutions for your next year?

L:  I want to get more back to yoga & stay focused on prioritizing the things I most value.

F:  Can we see a picture from your birthday?

L:  How about three?

Birthday pumpkin pie topped with pumpkin seeds!

Friends at the end of the night!

Broke out the red boots for a little flare

I am spending the day and night with this guy today. Spending time with him feels like exactly what I need. No one else could do.

(image via here)

three’s company

we never looked quite like this
but the spirit is the same
and often (more so with age)
the we is me
and the spirit is three
that’s how things have come to be

The sunset on my run after work.

L:  What’s your favorite item in your purse?

F: That is a hard question to answer but I would say, currently, it is Tata Harper’s Nutrient Complex. I apply it a couple times a day to my face and it really hydrates my situation. I recommend her line to everyone!

L:  What are your thoughts about vegetarianism these days?

F: I look back on my 10 years of vegetarianism and 3 years of veganism and I feel like I could have done so much better. Vegetarianism is a journey, as anything is. I wouldn’t recommend it to just anyone. If you want to eliminate meat, do your research and make a plan. I still stand by a whole foods diet, whether meat is involved or not.

 

L:  What are some random photos you have on your phone?

I love me some Gilly

 

L:  Have you seen any good movies lately?

F: I watched “The Kids Are All Right“ and it was so good. That movie is done so well. I loved the acting, the naturalness, the awkwardness and the dialogue. I enjoyed every minute.

 

L:  Anything else on your mind?

F: I got 12 hours of sleep last night and I am wondering if its possible to get too much sleep. When I sleep like that, I wake up with a mild headache and today I don’t feel 100%. I feel foggy headed and tired. What’s up with that?

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F:  What was something that inspired you lately?

L:  I heard something about how envy of another person can be an indication to yourself about something you want to cultivate in your own life.  I like this concept.

F: Do you think you could live off the grid for a year? If no, why not, yo?

L:  Hmm, entirely off the grid?!  That question makes me think about the documentary “No Impact Man” about the family that tries to live without making any environmental impact for an entire year.  I guess if I was really motivated to try something that extreme, I could do it.  I think I would be more likely to work towards a better balance in this regard.  I’m definitely addicted to my phone and would benefit from disconnecting a bit.

F: How old do you consider to be old?

L:  Yikes.  I think I started to feel old around 25 and then even more so at 30.  I’m not currently feeling super old but I’m starting to realize it is really is more about your current circumstance and condition.

F: What is one of your favorite words to say and why?

L:  Ohhh, I have so many but it’s really hard to come up with one on the spot.  I like the words array and panoply a lot.  Maybe I’ll start making a list of my favorite words and get back to you on them.