Summer was incredibly hard for me. I had a few months of working 60+ hours a week during our busy season, then working extra to make up for the time I took off work to go to a friend's out of state wedding. It was a summer of love, but also a summer of confronting a lot of demons, doing a lot of things that scared me. I'd never traveled with a boyfriend before and I was nervous. We were going for a vacation but also to do recon on a city we both thought might be worth moving to. I was wo... read more

I haven't posted in a while. That usually means good things are brewing.

I've been busy. While everyone was hibernating the winter away, waiting for warm weather, I continue my volunteer work at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, teaching kids and more than a few adults about all the neat animals we can find in the waters off the Southland. I also became certified as a Reef Check California Eco Diver, which means I can assist on underwater surveys doing things like fish, invertebrate and... read more

The issues I have been dealing with lately are quite coincidental to the calendar. I have felt both more powerful and more powerless than ever in my life, as I go through the process of actually feeling things. This post is both for my own benefit and the benefit of anyone who feels ashamed, angry, violated, and hurt because of some kind of abuse or incident they have suffered.

The first thing I want to tell you is

IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT.

It's not your fault.

Even if you said ye... read more

I know a lot of people. I get plenty of invitations places, but it's rare I organize my own outings. It's also hard for me come right out and say "From what I can tell, you're an awesome person and I'd like to spend some time with you!" (but I'm working on it!). Jeff is a wonderful companion and loves to do a lot of the same things I do, but I don't want to become too reliant on him for my social life. So tell me, do you like these things? Because if you do, I will keep you in mind the n... read more