Can't Converse, I'm Reading a Book

I've realized that reading and getting immersed in the characters and stories of an entertaining book is an acceptable reason to avoid unpleasant interactions (introvert or not). 😁LOL! So, go ahead, indulge in a good self-care book! Here are some contemporary romance selections I recommend if you're looking for ideas. Mature audiences only.

The Leftover Club by Ginger Voight: This story follows the dramatic journey of Veronica Lawless. It goes back & forth from her childhood years, to her middle-school years, to high school, to young adult, to all the way to her full grown adult life. Throughout it all, Dylan is a constant. I’m not sure if that’s necessarily a good thing or a bad thing, but as the story progresses the reader gets insights on what she’s thinking & feeling, & one can’t help but just hold on for the rough ride. There are moments that make you cringe & moments that you feel angry for Veronica. It was an emotional roller coaster & I enjoyed it very much. 

 

 

Goody Two Shoes by Janet Elizabeth Henderson: Super cute story about an American performer and a Scottish spunky community leader. Josh is tired of the single life and is ready to settle down and have a family.  But he doesn’t believe in romance so he gets his best friend/manager to set him up in an arranged marriage.  Josh ends up choosing Caroline to be “the one”.  He finds her amusing and attractive, wants to protect her & is looking forward to marrying her and starting their life.  But he doesn’t love her, love her.  I found myself giggling during this story.  There are some super fun characters I wish I could actually hang out with.  And as Filipinos often say, I felt “kilig” (tingles) in some moments. 

 

 

 

Gabe: Alvarez Security Agency by Maryann Jordan: I was moved several times during moments of this story.  Not sure if it’s hormones (LOL!) but I actually shed some tears. Gabe and Jennifer have a beautiful love story. Jennifer is one of those characters that garners inspiration and respect—kind, caring & giving. And Gabe, who’s made mistakes in his past but is amazing as well, falls super hard for her without even really knowing who she is. There are many lovable characters surrounding them as well as unscrupulous ones and danger along the way.  Be ready to get all emotional in all the right ways with this one. 

 

 

I honestly don't know if this quote is relatable, but I just love the advice to just read to kids.

Book & coffee.  Need.  LOL!

💓

   

'The Sandman' is a Dream

I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit that before watching this show I knew of  Tom Sturridge mainly because he's often associated with Rob Pattinson (I'm still a full fledged Edward Cullen fan) as they are best friends.
 

However, his portrayal of Morpheus in the Netflix fantasy series "The Sandman" has converted me into a fan of him as an actor.  Without giving away any spoilers, his divine character goes through a traumatic situation that evolves his motivations and forces him to examine his purpose. Because of the nature of the character, Tom portrays him on the stoic side, hardly showing much emotion. However, the feelings are there, deep but also on the surface (I know that contradicts, but that's how complicated the character is). He mainly displays emotions through his eyes and his deep voice is both soothing and menacing--whichever is appropriate in the situation. He is undoubtedly the star and in my opinion, no one steals the show from him. 

That's not to say that the rest of the cast isn't brilliant and perfectly selected. Boyd Holbrook is intense as 'The Corinthian' and showed both his charming and sinister side. Kirby Howell-Baptiste portrayed 'Death' not only with purpose and meaning but also with a tenderness I've never seen before for this iconic character. And the list goes on and on....talented actors uniquely portraying divergent manifestations of repeatedly depicted characters. I was all-in. 

 Also, big kudos to the creators, writers, set designers and all the crew members...everyone involved in making this show entertaining in multiple ways.  

If you enjoy fantasy-type shows, don't have issues with watching dark themes on film and are looking for something to watch on Netflix, I recommend this one: The Sandman.

 

My Happy Place of Home

**Not my quote & credit to unknown artist**

In recent years, I've embraced the notion of being a homebody. 

I feel like the word itself garners a negative reaction--like whoever is perceived as being a homebody is dull, anti-social, lacking in stimulation, without inspiration, etc... and with these viewpoints, I once instinctively rejected that label for myself. I mean, who wants to be considered in such a gloomy, disinterested viewpoint?  

But over the years, I have come to the realization that it's not about how others perceive me, but about how I truly feel when I'm in the comfort of my own home--space-- alone and/or with the people that make me feel the most secure physically and emotionally--my solid family unit. "Home", for me, is also not just a physical place, but a state of being with myself and with the ones I love and feel the most comfortable with. Even when traveling and experiencing adventures, it can still feel like "home" if I feel those warmth of emotions.

I'm not an unfriendly, withdrawn person. I've had many acquaintances and friendships stay steady throughout the years as well as come and go in my life, sometimes naturally, sometimes intentionally. I enjoy stimulating and interesting conversations, being out and about, appreciating and actively participating in what life has to offer.  I appreciate all types of interactions (maybe not right away sometimes, but definitely with some introspection) that help me continually learn the value of who I am and what makes me a flawed yet worthy human. 

I feel like societal pressures, mainly manifested through social media, show that being surrounded by a ton of friends, partying and constantly jetsetting is what is standard and anything less is weird or boring. How would a simple, joyful, peaceful life doing the things that spark interest, surrounded by only a select few that truly matter look like on Social Media? Probably not "influencer" desirable. Would the "homebody" life ever be glamorized?  LOL!!  I think not. But when you're comfortable with yourself, all that superficial stuff doesn't matter.  As the saying goes: when you know, you know.

I've found that it's hard to find compatible people that collectively share personality traits, interests, values, ideologies, priorities, loyalties with and also find people that hold no judgements or expectations. The idea of truly, authentically connecting with people is actually harder than it actually seems because you can know a lot of people, be surrounded by a ton of people, even call them "friends" but it could all be on the surface or a shallow connection. That's why I often use the word "acquaintance" because just knowing someone doesn't automatically mean you're friends. I mean, I've witnessed so many "friends" talk about each other behind their backs and say some awful things about each other. There's a saying out there about how if a person can say bad things about others to you, they can also highly possibly (highly probably) say bad things about you too. I can attest to that saying first hand as I've heard many an unkind word said by people about people they are seemingly close to. I don't have room in my life for those kinds of immature, toxic behaviors anymore. Trust (knowing someone will not say mean-spirited things about you behind your back) and loyalty (which is not about controlling what your friends do, but knowing that they understand and support who and what you stand for) are non-negotiable when it comes to considering someone a real friend.

Fortunately, I do have a handful of people that I am blessed to have a genuine solid connection with and I'm wholeheartedly filled with gratitude and love with that small solid core. And no, not every interaction has to be posted on social media. 😄 I've made a commitment to not accept being in toxic friendships and limit toxic interactions if I can't cut certain people off completely. It's not about being anti-social, but about purposely and intentionally choosing what only brings me joy. It's about choosing to be surrounded by kindness, by people who make me laugh, and people that don't disturb my sensibilities. Will I always be able to avoid people I don't want to be around? Most likely not. But I'm certainly aware of their affect on my peace and my intentions will always be to avoid or limit.

More and more, I crave the simplicity of peace and the absence of toxic people, toxic situations, and unnecessary drama in my life. I feel like I've had my fair share of that existence in the past. And I've had to examine whether or not my energy unwittingly opened up these interactions and situations (I have to hold myself accountable too). Again, if I learned anything valuable from a person or situation--even if it's a realization of the kind of person I don't want to be--I don't regret any of it. 

So, yes, I'm a homebody--a person who adores the comfort of home in all its interpretations, my hobbies and interests that stimulate and excite me readily available, and the non-toxic humans I freely and fervently choose to keep company with that bring peace, joy and love to my soul. My happy place of home. 😙

 

Tips From Our Experience of Summer at The Sequoias

Make no mistake about going to The Sequoias in the summer; it is very hot.  Even at high elevation, it will fluctuate between the high 80's-100's degrees. 

Be sure you have water--preferably from a reusable bottle--and if you find a way to make and keep it ice cold, you will appreciate it once you start exploring the different areas of the National Park. Bring snacks if you feel so inclined or just eat a filling, nourishing breakfast before you start your day.

Wear comfortable shoes and breathable clothes made for warm to hot weather. 

Bring and apply good and effective sunscreen. Sunglasses 😎 or a good sun hat are great accessories to also have. 

If you love taking pictures, definitely take a camera because there are many scenic photo spots: majestic trees, rivers, massive rocks, canyons and ravines. 

 

Hiking is plentiful with varying degrees of length and difficulty. Definitely do your research so you can find the ones that suit your fitness level. Here's an example of an article guide with some suggestions on hiking trails:

Hiking Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

There are many more hikes that exist at the National Park that isn't covered in this article so if you don't find one to your liking, keep looking around for others that you may find more desirable. 

If you are, in any way, prone to motion sickness, you MUST do yourself a favor and get some kind of relief for that.  We chose a  CVS medication comparable to Dramamine (found right next to it on the shelf). The roads are incredibly winding up and down the mountain. As someone that has experienced severe symptoms of motion sickness and am aware of my triggers, I KNOW that if I didn't prepare for it, I would have been sick the whole vacation time. But I found a way--a wonderous tiny pill-- that works for me. If you suffer the same issues, I hope you find yours. 😉

There is a relatively low entrance fee to the park that is valid for one week.  There are also different kinds of passes that offer discounts especially if you plan on visiting more National Parks throughout the year. Make sure you research and check out which passes may work best for you. 

The Parks are teeming with trees and plant-life. Without preparation, the experience can be harsh with the heat and the challenges of the terrain whether driving or walking. But overall, it is incredibly beautiful and the sights, sounds and vibes are meant to bring anyone seeking it, serenity and peace. We certainly found those moments.

 

The Anxiety of the Passing Lane

We have many joyful memories involving road trips our family has taken over the years. I cherish and love spending time with The Huz and the Boys. It's the summer, so we were off again to new adventures. 

We found ourselves on a two-lane CA-Highway that required us to turn on our headlights so that oncoming cars could see us if they wanted to pass or if we passed them using their opposite (to us) lane. When following a super slow vehicle, it feels absolutely necessary to make this move. But for me, a self described no-shame scaredy cat, I was filled with adrenaline when we had to go for it and go on the opposite lane to pass a slow vehicle. The Huz was always careful and made sure to follow the rules of the road, only passing on the broken lines and making sure he didn't see any oncoming vehicles. It can get super tricky because the road curves and visibility can be impeded. I think on the way there and back, he only used the passing method a total of 3 times. He never made any particularly crazy moves even when he had to pass multiple slow vehicles. I have great faith in the Huz' driving ability and that is never in question.

But yes, I was filled with much anxiety about the whole process. I wish they had a proper passing lane every once in a while instead of the idea of going on the opposite direction. But also, it has been like this forever, I'm sure, & because most drivers are careful, I'm sure there aren't any more accidents than there would be on any normal freeway. So, it works. I know this.Was I still nervous? Absolutely!

I clutched my St. Christopher Medal to cope and closed my eyes the very few times I felt I needed to. It's just like everything else we need to deal with--just gotta find your coping method and power through it. I've always been a big worry-wart and I find that it seems to be getting worse as I get older. So, it's something I want to work on. And now, reflecting on our experience with this particular road that many people travel every day, I'm even more aware of the difference between being scared and being careful so that the fear is unnecessary.  That's the difference I need to work on.  Sending light & love out into the Universe! 😘

 

The Tallest, Fastest, & Longest Dive Roller Coaster in California

 The "Emperor" in Sea World San Diego is their newest thrill coaster offering and according to USA Today was one of "the most anticipated rides of 2022". Since it's been a couple of years since the guys, my favorite roller coaster fans, have ridden one, I thought I'd document their experience and find out if this rates high among their favorites. 

They were able to ride it several times since they chose it as their "rope drop" coaster and the crowds hadn't arrived yet. Loose articles and clothing are not permitted on the ride--that includes hats, scarves, glasses, keys, etc.  The Huz witnessed a guy lose his ear pods just (maybe roughly) taking it out of his pocket and inadvertently landing on the tracks. His look of horror and disbelief sums it all up.  Be mindful and careful of your personal belongings. Also, I've witnessed people's hats, scarves and even cell phones fly off during a sharp coaster turn, so bear that in mind as well. There are ride restrictions: you must be no shorter than 52" and no taller than 78".

The"Emperor" itself was rated by the guys (on a consensus) with a 7 out of 10 (10 being best--The Hulk at Islands of Adventure in Florida is the only coaster they have ever rated at the coveted 10). The ride is fast and smooth and they loved the take-off and drop. The exhilarating screams from riders right before that drop was enjoyable to hear. Unfortunately, the ride is too short. Before you can even enjoy it and get your adrenaline really pumping, the ride is over. 😑

**The boys actually liked another coaster called the "Electric Eel" better, although the First-Born did complain of a slight feeling of motion sickness (which went away fairly quickly for him but if you're prone to that I feel like you should be warned). 

Wishing big greetings to all thrill seekers! ☮ Remember to wear sunscreen and stay hydrated.