New And Unexpected Things Can Often Surprise Us

Today was really a great day. I tried something that I never would have imagined myself doing, ever! Not that there's anything wrong with it, but well here it is, Bartending School! I know..."What!?!" So random and yet oddly appropriate for where I'm at right now. I have applied to Grad school, but that won't start until the Fall (if I get in), and I have sent out what feels like hundreds upon hundreds of resumes only to be left sadly waiting by the phone praying to get a nibble, an interview, or any acknowledgement whatsoever for that matter.

Because most of my experience lies in the restaurant industry (and non-profit sector as well), and assuming I will get into school, in which case I could not possibly work full-time, I will honestly make the most money and have a more flexible schedule working at a restaurant/bar than an office of sorts. Well I have done my research and the San Francisco School of Bartending is a legitimate, organized, and well-run school. I even got to attend the first class for free today, and I had a great time. The environment was not intimidating in the least, work-spaces were extremely clean, teachers were knowledgable and professional - yes, I am a happy camper!

If you want to work in restaurants, especially if you are in a big city such as SF, it is absolutely essential that your beverage knowledge and know-how is up to par. My previous experiences as a server were great, but I always felt extremely lacking when it came to alcohol and drink knowledge, which really holds you back. This school also does employment workshops, job-placement assistance upon graduation, and you have the opportunity to work behind a real bar before you graduate. AND they teach essential register knowledge that is a must in this industry (POS). All of my fellow aspiring drink-makers were as friendly and nice as can be.

Truly, I never thought about bartending school before. I jumped into this on a whim and am completely stoked to be apart of it. I'm looking forward to class tomorrow! Oh, and I also managed to get in a good jog before class, so no excuses to slack off on exercising this week. It feels so good to get out there in the morning and I encourage everyone to find a way to integrate exercise into your everyday life. It is especially good to do in the mornings otherwise, ehh, as it gets later and later we just don't feel like doing it anymore, which is understandable after a long day. So get out there early and you won't regret it!

Oscar Fever!

All I can say is, I have OSCAR FEVER!!! I'm not sure why, but I am tickled to death about watching the Oscars this year. I don't know if it's because I've managed to watch 8 out of the 10 Best Picture nominees, or because I'm obsessed with the gorgeous dresses - especially Mila Kunis, Scarlett Johansson, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, and especially Hailee Steinfeld from True Grit who I'm absolutely in love with, or the fabulous hosts this year, but WOW I'm excited!

The film industry really shined this past year. Movies are a fantastic way to escape for a couple hours and be blissfully entertained. Sometimes it's all we need to get out of a funk and relax a bit. I love movies! Hope the coming season is a great one.

Not As Active As I Used To Be; It's Time To Get Going!

When I was younger, particularly during middle school and high school I was busier and more active than I have ever been. At that time I was so motivated to try EVERYTHING. I played soccer, softball, basketball, tried out swim team (I really enjoyed the practices but did not have that passion and competitive edge needed to really get into the swim meets, so I only lasted about 3 months), gymnastics, tennis, dance (the one thing I have actually stuck to and can't live without), surfing, even cheerleading (Freshman year only - then I was done); not to mention my involvement at the Temple I went to, which included going to Torah school and Hebrew School, Summer camp, community service, community theatre and dance productions, AP classes, and the most hectic social life I've ever had. I was just so busy! Even though I can't imagine taking on all or even half this amount today, I do miss all the activities, interactions, experiences, and fun that I used to have on a daily basis.

There have been many transitions over the last month, but now I am ready to start incorporating more activities into my every day life. Just because I'm not in high school anymore doesn't mean I can't have fun and try new things. One thing I am going to try is Bikram Yoga. I have been wanting to take a class for a very long time and today I found a deal that couldn't be beat on Trubates.com - $24 for 8 classes, WOW! Normally one class is about $18! So I am very excited to try it out. I think it will help me to feel cleansed and will detoxify my body. I also want to start jogging/walking at least 3 times a week. I've already gone twice this week and am gearing up to go this morning....errr early afternoon, whoops. Although it can be very hard to pry yourself from the comfort of your pajamas, hot coffee, and morning TV (I have been addicted since I was young - used to climb in to bed with my mom and watch Good Morning America together), it always feels great to get outside early. I usually feel a sense of accomplishment when I exercise in the morning, and it sets me up for being more productive, energetic, and happy throughout the day. 

My 25th birthday gift to...myself!

Quarter of a century has come and gone. It's hard to know how to feel about this. On the one hand I am starting to feel the hands of time beginning to prod and poke at me. On the other hand, I think these feelings of being "old" are all in my head and something I need to get over fast if I want to enjoy my life. We can't live each day dreading the next simply because with each passing day we are essentially getting closer to, well, no need to go there but you know what I'm saying. Life is too short to worry about when it's going to end! That I know for sure.

In honor of my birthday and entering a new chapter in life, I decided an appropriate gift to myself would be to get business cards made. Woohoo exciting I know....but someone did ask me if I had a card today and I realized that it wouldn't be a bad idea.

So I'm excited for the future and what's to come, but mostly I want to live life in the present moment and make each day count.