Monday, August 18, 2008
Family History
My aunt Paula has been researching and documenting our family history for as long as I can remember. I am lucky to have so much information about the details of my history and background because of her dedicated efforts to researching information about our family. She just started a new blog. You can see it at http://afropix.blogspot.com/. As you can see, it is most likely her and my grandmother that have given me a passion for photography and writing. I love this new effort to keep us informed and am grateful for the constant dedication she has to journaling. Thanks Paula:)
Friday, August 8, 2008
Meant to be.
Everything in life is happening exactly as it should. I am sure of it. Case in point: The birth of the newest addition to my "Irish family", Liam Christopher, born this evening to Jim and Jo this evening on 8-8-08 LA time but technically on 8-9-08 Irish time. The reason I say this profound statement is at approximately 8:10pm Irish time I was driving in my car on my way to meet my aunt Caroline for dinner after a very busy and productive work day (just as it should be)... thank you God for sanity and productiveness... when I had the thought, "Why haven't I heard about the birth of Liam yet?" It was supposed to happen today... in my head anyway. Needless to say, as I was finishing dinner with Caroline, who was actually in Ireland very shortly after Liam's big brother James birth and had the opportunity to meet him about 3 weeks after he was born, I checked my blackberry to see the wonderful news that Jo had in fact given birth to Liam only 20 minutes after my thought.
I cannot even describe how happy I am that Liam has entered our lives and is now a part of the "Irish experience". Through everything that has happened in the last two years, Liam is proof that through the chaos that comes from picking up one's family and relocating across the world on a bit of "faith" and hope for better things in the future, miracles do happen letting us know that all is right in the world and that things are happening exactly as they should. I cannot wait for Jo and Jim and their family to return to the LA area so that I can continue to see their beautiful children grow into amazing adults. I cannot count my blessings enough that I was able to find a "kindred valley girl" all the way in Dublin, Ireland to help walk me through the experience and I cannot express how grateful I am to have been a part of the raising of their first beautiful child, James and how excited I am to soon get to meet Liam when they return for the next part of their adventure in Los Angeles.
Congratulations to you Jim and Jo and James!!! I am so happy for the newest arrival of your family. Cheers to that. You have so much support on both ends of that Ireland... it's simply meant to be:)
I cannot even describe how happy I am that Liam has entered our lives and is now a part of the "Irish experience". Through everything that has happened in the last two years, Liam is proof that through the chaos that comes from picking up one's family and relocating across the world on a bit of "faith" and hope for better things in the future, miracles do happen letting us know that all is right in the world and that things are happening exactly as they should. I cannot wait for Jo and Jim and their family to return to the LA area so that I can continue to see their beautiful children grow into amazing adults. I cannot count my blessings enough that I was able to find a "kindred valley girl" all the way in Dublin, Ireland to help walk me through the experience and I cannot express how grateful I am to have been a part of the raising of their first beautiful child, James and how excited I am to soon get to meet Liam when they return for the next part of their adventure in Los Angeles.
Congratulations to you Jim and Jo and James!!! I am so happy for the newest arrival of your family. Cheers to that. You have so much support on both ends of that Ireland... it's simply meant to be:)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Shake. Rattle and Roll!
Appropriate title as there was a 5.4 earthquake in Chino today which practically shook me off the couch earlier today as I watched the ship that sits on the mantle of the fireplace practically sail into my head but also appropriate to mark all the changes since being back home in LA. Feeling a bit nostalgic as I read all the old posts about wanting to start my own company, I have very wonderful news to share. After 4 months of intensive work, I have officially launched my new company. Yay... I have put a lot of effort into this and am very excited about what's to come:)
Cheers.
Cheers.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Eat Pray Love
I finished reading Eat, Pray, Love last week. Caroline bought it for me a few weeks ago while we were out at dinner at The Cheesecake Factory in the IE (as in the Inland Empire, not Ireland) and afterwards she walked me over to the bookstore and bought me the book and said "Read it, she's you."
It was quite inspiring for me because as it turns out I am very similar to Elizabeth Gilbert and her viewpoints on life and children and travelling and priorities. She takes a different course than the usual on her path of self-discovery, leaving her home after a painful divorce and travelling to Italy, India and Indonesia on a journey of self-recovery, very similar to my trip to Ireland and I found myself laughing, crying, smiling and relating to so many things that she went through on her journey.
It reminded me that I am not alone, not the only one who wasn't jumping to have children and settle down but instead wanted to travel and explore, not the only one who needed to heal from a lifetime of heartbreak, not the only one who loves and lives her life in her own unique way a bit off the beaten path, not conforming to everything that society says I should be as a woman... and by that I mean being 32 and not being a wife or a mother, with a house and a white picket fence who cooks every meal and cleans after her children and has a very routine life that revolves around these roles in her life.
Not that there is anything wrong with those who choose the role of wife or mother or both in any way shape or form. In fact, I admire those that choose the role of mother and have the discipline to do so even more because of my inability to be that committed to that lifestyle. It's just not been of my greatest desires to do so myself, and I've never felt that "biological time clock" that most women talk about and at this point I don't know if I ever will have that overwhelming desire to be a mother.
Strangely enough, I would love being married as long as I felt I was marrying the "right" person for me, not a perfect person but my perfect companion. I enjoy the idea of the love and companionship and sharing that would come with marriage and maybe then my viewpoint on children would change. But that's not the only thing the book is about, just one of the first of many things I related to while reading... and so all that said, read the book, it's fantastic!
It was quite inspiring for me because as it turns out I am very similar to Elizabeth Gilbert and her viewpoints on life and children and travelling and priorities. She takes a different course than the usual on her path of self-discovery, leaving her home after a painful divorce and travelling to Italy, India and Indonesia on a journey of self-recovery, very similar to my trip to Ireland and I found myself laughing, crying, smiling and relating to so many things that she went through on her journey.
It reminded me that I am not alone, not the only one who wasn't jumping to have children and settle down but instead wanted to travel and explore, not the only one who needed to heal from a lifetime of heartbreak, not the only one who loves and lives her life in her own unique way a bit off the beaten path, not conforming to everything that society says I should be as a woman... and by that I mean being 32 and not being a wife or a mother, with a house and a white picket fence who cooks every meal and cleans after her children and has a very routine life that revolves around these roles in her life.
Not that there is anything wrong with those who choose the role of wife or mother or both in any way shape or form. In fact, I admire those that choose the role of mother and have the discipline to do so even more because of my inability to be that committed to that lifestyle. It's just not been of my greatest desires to do so myself, and I've never felt that "biological time clock" that most women talk about and at this point I don't know if I ever will have that overwhelming desire to be a mother.
Strangely enough, I would love being married as long as I felt I was marrying the "right" person for me, not a perfect person but my perfect companion. I enjoy the idea of the love and companionship and sharing that would come with marriage and maybe then my viewpoint on children would change. But that's not the only thing the book is about, just one of the first of many things I related to while reading... and so all that said, read the book, it's fantastic!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Coachella 2008
Coachella is always worthy of a blog so I thought I would sit down and share my adentures. I wasn't even sure I would be at Coachella this year given that I was still scheduled to be in Ireland until September but given that I am home in LA, I couldn't miss it although all evidence pointed to the contrary until right before hand. Also I haven't really explained how I ended up back in LA but I promise to save that story for a later date... for now COACHELLA!!!
Because I didn't know I would be here, I didn't really make a big attempt to partner in with the Boonville crew on the RV and just assumed it would work out, but by the time I realized I would be able to attend the RV was fully booked. Hmmm, now what? I finally was able to reach Jude regarding the house she has there and that was also already rented... hmmm... maybe this just isn't meant to be. Then Alex who I had planned to go to Coachella with almost backed out... It's not looking good. But at the last minute, Even Steven worked his magic and hooked Alex and I up with Khan who I had met at The Beat Beach party a few weeks before and said that we could stay at his condo for the weekend, which we did not actually finalize until the week of Coachella and of course everything else in the area was already booked. Talk about taking it close to the wire. But everything as it turns out worked out exactly as it was supposed to.
Alex and I left LA for Coachella on Friday morning, had no traffic. Jude hooked me up with tickets for all 3 days and an extra ticket for Sunday and we were packed in Alex's very full with Sleeping bags and airbeds Audi TT and we were off to our adventure with music beating the whole way there.
Khan had rented a condo at the PGA West through VRBO which is the same company that we used in Barcelona (the one that we were broken into by someone with a key) but this was a much better experience. It was a lovely condo on a golf course with a pool and jacuzzi right outside our patio, with a lake surrounding the area. We met what I now refer to as the PGA West Crew including Khan, Sophie, Sara & Marcus and Brian, said our hello's and headed to day one of the festivities.
Coachella really outdid themselves this year with the artwork. There were huge art displays that were apparently from last year's Burning Man and it was simply indescribably amazing. We spent the first part of the day wandering around the grounds checking out the displays and artwork and playing in the water fixtures and then headed to the Sahara tent to see Adam Freeland. Great way to start the festival:) We then saw Goldfrapp and The Verve and a headed back to Sahara to see Fat Boy Slim. Now I normally would have preferred to see Jack Johnson because I know he would have been amazing, but mellow, live. However, I am so glad that Khan headed us back to Fatboy Slim because he took us on an amazing DJ journey that was one of the best live DJ sets I have ever seen, hands down!!! I was literally on Cloud 9 from the experience. Throughout the day, I felt the tension in my shoulders begin to relax as I was around these great people all there to experience a weekend of good music and fun and by the end of the day, I literally felt for the first time since returning back to LA, at HOME. It was phenomenal and euphoric and exhilarating!
We then headed back to the house to reminisce on our favorite things for the day and snack on chips and salsa before heading to bed, and by that I mean passing out in a sleeping bag on the couch, at around 2:30am.
Day two, I met our new Portland friends that were staying in one of the rooms of the condo. Alex and I went to the grocery store and picked up fresh meat and eggs and fruit and champagne and beer and came back to the house and I boiled eggs. Not many know this but I am actually the perfect hard-boiled egg maker;) We had a nice cooked chicken lunch and then headed in the afternoon to the festival and literally ran to the Sahara tent to catch James Zabiela. We ran into the Boonville crew right after that and spent the rest of the day tossing between Saraha and the beer garden. We got to see Boyz Noize, Erol Alkan, Hot Chip, Junkie XL (amazing),M.I.A., Sasha & John Digweed and then headed to Prince at the main stage which I have to admit was a bit disappointing considering how much I LOVE Prince and after three songs I decided to stop torturing the boys and we went back to the RV for an after party which lasted until 4am in the camping area with at least 20 people coming in and out of the party and Rasmus and Even Steven DJ'ing all my favorite songs. It was wonderful.
We had to catch a cab back to the condo so we walked back to the now very empty road and some guy tried to "give us a ride", creepy in a truck, to which I politely declined and then fate stepped in as one of the VIP carts came by, picked us up and drove us to the main road where a real cab pulled up behind him and gave us a ride back to the condo. He was very nice and telling stories about growing up in Indio and gave us his business card if we needed another cab. The condo crew was still partying by the pool so we poured another drink and joined them where we also met a young French Canadian who was there VJing for Sasha & Digweed that night and stayed up until around 6am.
Sunday was a slow day to start so we barbecued the steaks I had marinated on Saturday and ate amazing food during the day and then headed to Coachella around 4pm. We saw Booka Shade and Danny Tenaglia, Sia, Modeselektor and then headed to Roger Waters where he did a 3 hour set including the entire Dark Side of the Moon album and was mindblowingly talented. After that was the wind down so we ran back to Sahara to catch Justice and dance dance danced until the end of the evening, so much fun... but not over yet:) We then ran to the funky drum circle and played there and got food at the yummy Japanese restaurant and had massages and played until the cops came and politely kicked us out at about 2am.
We then headed back to the condo, threw on bathing suits and hit the jacuzzi with champagne until the security guards shut us down for noise at about 4am at which point the party just moved back into the condo, first ours, and then the condo of the French Canadians a few doors down. It was so much fun. I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt over the events of the evening, 6 people were in the bathtub making their own jacuzzi at our condo while the rest of us lounged at the other condo, laughing, listening to music and just having a wonderfully fun and relaxing time. I think we went to bed around 6:30am after the sun was rising and then woke up Monday at around 9:30am from the heat and just chilled and ate and finally left the adventure after cleaning up the mess at around 3pm.
It was one of the best Coachella experiences ever. My favorite music of the weekend was Fatboy Slim, Roger Waters, Junkie XL, Justice and Sia. I left feeling revived and rejuvenated and peaceful and energized all in the same moments. I absolutely love everyone I met while I was there and we are already keeping in touch and I am already excited in anticipation for next year!!!
Cheers,
Ness
Because I didn't know I would be here, I didn't really make a big attempt to partner in with the Boonville crew on the RV and just assumed it would work out, but by the time I realized I would be able to attend the RV was fully booked. Hmmm, now what? I finally was able to reach Jude regarding the house she has there and that was also already rented... hmmm... maybe this just isn't meant to be. Then Alex who I had planned to go to Coachella with almost backed out... It's not looking good. But at the last minute, Even Steven worked his magic and hooked Alex and I up with Khan who I had met at The Beat Beach party a few weeks before and said that we could stay at his condo for the weekend, which we did not actually finalize until the week of Coachella and of course everything else in the area was already booked. Talk about taking it close to the wire. But everything as it turns out worked out exactly as it was supposed to.
Alex and I left LA for Coachella on Friday morning, had no traffic. Jude hooked me up with tickets for all 3 days and an extra ticket for Sunday and we were packed in Alex's very full with Sleeping bags and airbeds Audi TT and we were off to our adventure with music beating the whole way there.
Khan had rented a condo at the PGA West through VRBO which is the same company that we used in Barcelona (the one that we were broken into by someone with a key) but this was a much better experience. It was a lovely condo on a golf course with a pool and jacuzzi right outside our patio, with a lake surrounding the area. We met what I now refer to as the PGA West Crew including Khan, Sophie, Sara & Marcus and Brian, said our hello's and headed to day one of the festivities.
Coachella really outdid themselves this year with the artwork. There were huge art displays that were apparently from last year's Burning Man and it was simply indescribably amazing. We spent the first part of the day wandering around the grounds checking out the displays and artwork and playing in the water fixtures and then headed to the Sahara tent to see Adam Freeland. Great way to start the festival:) We then saw Goldfrapp and The Verve and a headed back to Sahara to see Fat Boy Slim. Now I normally would have preferred to see Jack Johnson because I know he would have been amazing, but mellow, live. However, I am so glad that Khan headed us back to Fatboy Slim because he took us on an amazing DJ journey that was one of the best live DJ sets I have ever seen, hands down!!! I was literally on Cloud 9 from the experience. Throughout the day, I felt the tension in my shoulders begin to relax as I was around these great people all there to experience a weekend of good music and fun and by the end of the day, I literally felt for the first time since returning back to LA, at HOME. It was phenomenal and euphoric and exhilarating!
We then headed back to the house to reminisce on our favorite things for the day and snack on chips and salsa before heading to bed, and by that I mean passing out in a sleeping bag on the couch, at around 2:30am.
Day two, I met our new Portland friends that were staying in one of the rooms of the condo. Alex and I went to the grocery store and picked up fresh meat and eggs and fruit and champagne and beer and came back to the house and I boiled eggs. Not many know this but I am actually the perfect hard-boiled egg maker;) We had a nice cooked chicken lunch and then headed in the afternoon to the festival and literally ran to the Sahara tent to catch James Zabiela. We ran into the Boonville crew right after that and spent the rest of the day tossing between Saraha and the beer garden. We got to see Boyz Noize, Erol Alkan, Hot Chip, Junkie XL (amazing),M.I.A., Sasha & John Digweed and then headed to Prince at the main stage which I have to admit was a bit disappointing considering how much I LOVE Prince and after three songs I decided to stop torturing the boys and we went back to the RV for an after party which lasted until 4am in the camping area with at least 20 people coming in and out of the party and Rasmus and Even Steven DJ'ing all my favorite songs. It was wonderful.
We had to catch a cab back to the condo so we walked back to the now very empty road and some guy tried to "give us a ride", creepy in a truck, to which I politely declined and then fate stepped in as one of the VIP carts came by, picked us up and drove us to the main road where a real cab pulled up behind him and gave us a ride back to the condo. He was very nice and telling stories about growing up in Indio and gave us his business card if we needed another cab. The condo crew was still partying by the pool so we poured another drink and joined them where we also met a young French Canadian who was there VJing for Sasha & Digweed that night and stayed up until around 6am.
Sunday was a slow day to start so we barbecued the steaks I had marinated on Saturday and ate amazing food during the day and then headed to Coachella around 4pm. We saw Booka Shade and Danny Tenaglia, Sia, Modeselektor and then headed to Roger Waters where he did a 3 hour set including the entire Dark Side of the Moon album and was mindblowingly talented. After that was the wind down so we ran back to Sahara to catch Justice and dance dance danced until the end of the evening, so much fun... but not over yet:) We then ran to the funky drum circle and played there and got food at the yummy Japanese restaurant and had massages and played until the cops came and politely kicked us out at about 2am.
We then headed back to the condo, threw on bathing suits and hit the jacuzzi with champagne until the security guards shut us down for noise at about 4am at which point the party just moved back into the condo, first ours, and then the condo of the French Canadians a few doors down. It was so much fun. I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt over the events of the evening, 6 people were in the bathtub making their own jacuzzi at our condo while the rest of us lounged at the other condo, laughing, listening to music and just having a wonderfully fun and relaxing time. I think we went to bed around 6:30am after the sun was rising and then woke up Monday at around 9:30am from the heat and just chilled and ate and finally left the adventure after cleaning up the mess at around 3pm.
It was one of the best Coachella experiences ever. My favorite music of the weekend was Fatboy Slim, Roger Waters, Junkie XL, Justice and Sia. I left feeling revived and rejuvenated and peaceful and energized all in the same moments. I absolutely love everyone I met while I was there and we are already keeping in touch and I am already excited in anticipation for next year!!!
Cheers,
Ness
Monday, March 10, 2008
Home Sweet Home.
Well it's official I am back in LA for good. I am no longer working for Pocket Kings and have relocated back to the states. The experience of relocating back has been surreal to say the least. I never realized that with moving home for such an extended period of time, that my routines and lifestyle would grow to reflect the adjustments to the new culture and now that I am back home, I feel I am somewhere in between what my life used to be and what it is now. It takes a bit of adjustment.
I had a nice going away dinner before leaving Ireland. It was great to have one last night out with my "Ireland family" before returning home. When I was driving to the airport, I found myself humming "Everything's gonna be alright" by Bob Marley. Interesting...
There was so much to do to prepare to move in such a short period of time, that I have found myself overly exhausted since my return. That combined with jet lag has led to what feels like an excessive amount of sleep although it must be necessary because I am still tired and it's been a week.
Other than that I am just adjusting to new routines, job searching, and getting my life back on an LA track... more to come...
I had a nice going away dinner before leaving Ireland. It was great to have one last night out with my "Ireland family" before returning home. When I was driving to the airport, I found myself humming "Everything's gonna be alright" by Bob Marley. Interesting...
There was so much to do to prepare to move in such a short period of time, that I have found myself overly exhausted since my return. That combined with jet lag has led to what feels like an excessive amount of sleep although it must be necessary because I am still tired and it's been a week.
Other than that I am just adjusting to new routines, job searching, and getting my life back on an LA track... more to come...
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