Have We Forgotten...

Remember when you used to go over to people's houses to catch up? Or if they were far away right a letter, put a stamp on it, and send it off. Sometimes you would enclose pictures. Remember being so excited to get mail hoping you got a post card from a friend who was visiting Disney World? Now we get text messages, twitter updates, or Facebook replies for all these things. There is not full effort in our interactions. When was the last time I sat down and had coffee with a dear friend to find out how things are going with them? I would say at least 6 months.

Today, a good friend of mine and I went to lunch after going by his work for car related stuff (and trust me... if you need any body or collision work done on your car... he is your guy). So, anyway, sitting there having lunch I thought "when have I done this last?". When is the last time I made lunch plans for the sincere desire to connect with a person? Or just to go out and get away from the phone, the computer, the tablet.... (the list goes on) and saw someone face to face.

I think we have gotten so comfortable with technology. I have joked in half seriousness that "Facebook makes me a better friend. I always know people's birthdays". I have like 800 Facebook friends, and I appreciate every single one and the connection I have with them from having gone to elementary school with them or Cal Poly or worked with them in some capacity... to going to church with them or having met them through someone else or we share some common interest. However, a shout out on Facebook is not connecting. Facebook does not allow or give me the real opportunity to invest in the person. That is who I am... a connector.

I love connecting with people and helping other people connect together. I was talking to my friend, Will, today about my long term business idea of networking. Connecting people to others who have services they provide. People that I can give personal testament too. I am blessed with talented people in my life from Photographers, DJ's, Real Estate, Car mechanics, Car Sales, Event Coordinators, to those who have their own businesses from jewelry, make up, clothing stores, baby sitters, nannys,.... you name it. Connecting is what is important and filling needs where we can. We are people who love to connect, even introverted people like to align themselves with others in some capacity.

I am challenging myself.... I have 2 days off of work a week.... and sometimes evenings. I want to use those opportunities to connect. Whether that is with one of the girl's from the youth group, or someone from church, or a friend whom has been going back and forth with me about being busy and we never have time to get coffee or dinner. I don't do fake relationships (I can't fake feelings or put on the fake face), I want genuine around me. I love people (as a whole). Yes, I am confronted with those who test those limits daily, but truly I desire to be around people and connect. To go beyond the surface. Facebook, Twitter.... all surface. When I first got Facebook you had to have a college email account and it was for really connected and networking (much like LinkedIn). Now it is a madhouse where people live lives more through that than away from it. Facebook is a very powerful tool both positive and negative. It can hurt relationships and make you work a lot less to maintain them. Nothing can ever best replace face to face, same room contact.

So challenge yourself-- find that person you have not talked to in a while and invite them to coffee.

"Re"

I have really learned a lot about always moving forward and not going backwards. I can actually say... my boss has told me this over and over (and heaven's forbid.... she is right). This season of life has brought on many challenges as many changes with my family happened that I dove right into and supported everywhere I possibly could. It didn't help I was also in two very hard master's classes with Hope and working a ton.... and still wanting some kind of a social life-- no matter how small it may be.

The prayers for my family are felt and appreciated more than many of you can know! I feel the love and support of many of you as my family goes through transition and how God has blessed me in ways to step in and help where the needs are within. This term, I ended school not in good standings and will be retaking these two troublesome courses in the future. After much prayer, I am going to be taking a break from school for at least summer and most likely Fall so that I can focus on work, and my family, as well as what the future might hold.

With more responsibilities coming, it only seems best to relocate to So. Cal first while I finish school and be closer to my family. NY is still a goal, but it is one I want to accomplish once I am half way done with my student loans being paid off, and not more than tripling my living expenses. I would like to be done with Hope as well. Also, I would like to be closer to my mom. We are a lot closer now than we were even 6 or 7 years ago and I don't want to sacrifice that when I feel I am needed as well.

So this season ahead is time to recooperate, regroup, refocus.... lots of "re", but all good things I believe. I still desire to remain with Verizon because it is a good company to work for and they have afforded me opportunities for things I haven't had before like have my car, live comfortable, and be able to best help my family where and when I can.

Prayers for my family would be appreciated still and for me as God opens doors that I would recognize when and where they are to walk through them. I have felt very discouraged this season, but in this season I have been blessed with the deepening of dear friendships... and also a changed mindset how I approach things. I am not gonna work harder than another person to be friends. I am a give and take kind of person... and if all I am giving is that and there is nothing for me to take from... then it is not a beneficial thing.

I also need to "re"alize that I probably don't need 802 FB friends.... lol.

Wreck Alley Creme Brulee (Courtesy Karl Strauss Recipe)

Wreck Alley Crème Brûlée

Ingredients
2 cups Wreck Alley Imperial Stout
4 cups heavy cream
1 cup granulated sugar
12 egg yolks
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
6 shallow, oven-proof ramekins
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Place stout in pan, bring to a slow boil and reduce to a ¼ cup. Place cream in a non reactive pan. Split vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the cream.  The pod can be used as an additional flavor enhancer by adding it to the cream while heating, remove and discard before whisking. Heat cream and vanilla slowly until steaming.   When cream starts to steam remove from heat.  Do not boil the cream.  While the cream heats through, whisk together egg yolks and sugar with wire whisk until pale in color and sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour about ½ cup of the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture whisking quickly to temper the mixture. In a slow stream, add the remaining hot cream to the egg mixture while continuing to mix with the whisk.  Add the reduced stout to the brûlée mixture and mix well.  Divide the mixture evenly into six ramekins, placed in a deep baking dish.  Fill the baking pan with hot water about half way up the sides of the ramekins and place in a pre-heated oven to cook for 40 minutes or until just set. Check for doneness by gently shaking the ramekins;  the brûlée is finished baking when the edges are set/firm but the middle still jiggles a little. Place the ramekins in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to cool before serving.
Finishing:
Sprinkle the top of each brûlée with a thin layer of granulated sugar.  With a kitchen propane torch (available at most household supply retailers) point the flame onto the sugar and heat until it begins to melt and is deep golden brown color.
Or
Use the broiler setting of your oven to brown the sugar by placing the brûlée about an inch away under the broiler flame/heat source for 20 to 30 seconds. Check frequently to ensure even browning.
For an additional twist on this classic, add your favorite fruit like strawberries, raspberries or banana slices to brûlée. Gently insert fruit pieces by pressing them into the cold brûlée and follow the same finishing instructios above.

Curveball

Life is full of many uncertainties and yet also filled with so many possibilities. I was thinking about a lot of things over the past couple weeks about my real goals and aspirations. My whole life it has been my goal to have a better life than how I grew up both financially and stability wise. Something my mom taught me and showed me the importance of. Growing up I always wanted to work in the entertainment industry in some capacity (well the respectable kind). For a long time, I wanted to go into acting and spent time in both Jr. High and High School in plays (kinda died down in High School because well... I went to not a great high school with a horrible drama program). At the latter end of high school was told I needed to have a fall back plan in case what I wanted to do didn't work out. I was told this by my mom and friends and so I did just that--- went and got my degree from Cal Poly. Even through it I have always had this interest in the industry but after going to a lot of TV tapings growing up and also having even seen movies filmed (my midnight adventure with Matty Barclay watching Jeepers Creepers filmed at Tejon Ranch), I loved that side just as much... the production side.

Fast forward to now.... working at Verizon and making really decent money and still wanting more. I am in Grad School and will finish sometime next year. And my options are two things-- move to LA or move to NY. Both those areas provide the ultimate goal (and will keep me busy trying to get a position that will get me to what I am passionate about). Interning on my days off or working for scraps so I can get the "in". The past few months I have interviewed for positions with Verizon in NY (and didn't get the position), and continued applying for positions with Verizon in Southern California as well as I became torn of being closer to my mom and sister (and even brother sometimes) during what has been big change in my family the past few months. I applied for a position in Northridge with Verizon a couple weeks back and it ended up being filled by someone else in the district. But, last week the recruiter for the district set up an interview for Valencia and their open position. This is not what I was expecting and my excitement level was not totally there. But I realized... I don't have to live in Valencia..

And for those who don't understand my excitement about Valencia (or lack thereof excitement)... I lived in Frazier Park (and hated it) during high school and Valencia feels like some extension of that. But then again... I don't have to live in Valencia either. So, I interviewed and I felt it went well... so not sure what the future holds with that. I know I must do the responsible thing and let the job take me somewhere and not go anywhere without a job in stone and a dependable paycheck. And it puts me in LA, and closer to opportunities to get me to NY or in the industry I want. I have lived on the Central Coast for 10 years almost (in July) and have loved every second of it. I am very blessed... but I also know my opportunities for many things I want in life are limited. I can't do studio work here and the "dating pool" is limited and 30 ain't coming any slower....

So prayers for the outcome are always appreciated.

Interesting Stream of Events

Recently, after moving my mom and sister out of Frazier Park, I thought I was supposed to do more what I am supposed to do rather than what I was wanting to do. Maybe this is why New York has been hard to sort out and the job opportunities are not there with Verizon right now, but more ops outside the company were coming up over anywhere in California. A few job reqs had appeared through Verizon, and I was applying to them but they are not going anywhere.

Yesterday, I shot an email out to the HR Manager that I have been in contact with on and off from NY to check in and express my interest in NY still, and instantly she got back to me again within a day and told me what the prospect is and in May would know where she would be adding positions, and to check back in. It is amazing that I can email other store managers, HR people, and whatnot here in California within the same company and not get a single reply-- but I email NY and get a reply everytime.

I was more excited to get an email from NY HR than I am from anyone in California. And I was reminded that it is all about timing, and maybe Verizon and NY as a pair are not out of the question for me. Now, yes.... but in the future-- no. So, I will continue to push and drive and pursue it.... and have the faith it will pay off in the end-- and hopefully sooner rather than later. LA is a great back up just to go somewhere (I am feeling restless these days), but NY is where my heart is!