heritage mass choir

I headed home after work today. I was walking down the hallway of my apt building and passed by 2 guys. Mind you, I was in my business clothes (straight up slacks, dress shirt and heels). Both of them glanced at me, and as they passed me said, "wow, so many USC students live in this building."

One...I guess I still look like a student in my work clothes.
Two...But, a freak'n USC student?! c'mon!

Downtown LA was not made for walkers (either that or I'm really lazy).

It's so odd, because in Berkeley I would walk a good trek to go almost anywhere. I come to LA, and I drive to get to a location only a couple blocks away. Not to mention, parking sucks. So even though driving is "faster," if you consider the time it takes to find parking...defeats the purpose of driving.

So why drive? It's the norm. And no one likes to stray away from the status quo (oh, and I guess the metro system sucks too). So everyone and their moms drive. Hence, the crappy LA parking and traffic.

My office is technically only 6 blocks away from my apartment. But I drive. 2 of my co-workers live in the same apt. building as I do, and they walk. Everyone gives me a hard time for driving. As if I am some kind of princess that can't even fathom the concept of walking. Little do they know, my feet was my only mode of transportation for the past 4 years.

I miss walking in Berkeley! Who would have thought, I would miss such a simple thing as walking.

awkwarddd

me - hi, can i have a table for four?
waiter - hmm... four? four...adults?
me - uhh... yea. no four kids.
waiter - oh ok, right this way. 
me - i was just kidding. yes, four adults.
waiter - ohhh..
________

me - do i look like a freak'n football player?!!
coworker - no, hell no.
manager (woman) - umm i play football, competitively.
me - ohh, heh heh...coooool.
________

parking attendant - hi
me - hey, parking spot #12
parking attendant - hi
me - hi...
parking attendant - what number?
me - 12...
parking attendant - ok
me - thanks
parking attendant - bye
me - bye
parking attendant - bye
me - ...

I feel like I'm running out of things to write about. I always get the urge to write something on here...but my thoughts are jumbled and there's never a common theme in my head. So for those of you who like well-structured written work...this is definitely not the place to be.

Work is...a bit dull. I just completed one of my projects in the Valley right before the holidays. So now I'm "on the bench" until my next project, which most likely won't be for a while. My co-workers are a lot older than me. Our group is very top heavy, so there are only a handful of folks my age. Actually only 3 my age: 1 is my college buddy, the other my elementary school friend, and the last is one of the few people I met during my interviews. Small world. Although work has been dull, I am so glad I'm a consultant. All projects are different with different clients, different team dynamics, different problems to fix, etc. I still have hope...as long as I can still hope I'll be fine.

I just saw some of my home friends last night. Found out some bad news about people back home having serious illnesses. It's insane. That's all I'm going to say. My professor from Haas just passed away. He was one of the few Haas professors I actually liked...liked so much that I took two of his classes. He was only 59...that's close to my dad's age.

I found this homeless rescue mission on skid row that I am really interested in. I went there this weekend to check it out. It's an awesome program. The volunteer coordinator who was showing me around the mission was actually homeless, and out of jail just 2 years ago. This program turned his life around, actually he said, God turned his life around, using that mission. Its pretty eye opening...to drive only 8 or so blocks away from my apt and witness a sea of homeless people. Its a crazy juxtaposition of lucrative financial institutions and destitute streets of homeless folks. I won't lie, I never really gave homeless people a chance. Never even knew their stories, but assumed they could take care of themselves. Never judge a limp in one's walk, when you haven't seen the tack in their shoe.

I have no idea why, but I want to move to NY right now. I know I have to be patient, but I feel like its now or never. I eventually want to settle in California, so might as well live elsewhere while I'm still young. That's kind of why I accepted my current job...because I thought I'd be traveling. But we're facing tough economic times. "We're in a recession" as my coworker reminds me every time I see her.

Well it's 2009. This is the first year I haven't really made New Year's resolutions. Hmm, I don't know why. I guess the latter part of 2008 has been a very "realistic" year for me. But that doesn't mean I don't have goals...maybe I just have commitment phobia.

Anyhoo, it's way past my bed time. I'm going to pay for this late night xanga writing session at work.