Another One Bites the Dust

I've been living in Santa Barbara for a little over five years. I moved down for school and have been lucky enough to stay which I definitely could not have predicted happening. In the last few years of working downtown, I pass numerous businesses numerous times a day. In the last year, I have seen many stores come in and out of the storefronts on State Street. In the last six months, I have seen "store-wide sale" signs fly up, only to see the store closed less than a week later. Last month, Bryan Lee closed after being open for over 15 years (I'm not completely sure how long the store was open). This week, Katwalk (on State & De La Guerra) posted signs for a sale ("up to 60% off") and just two days later, the store was cleaned out, nothing left, not even the hanging racks.

Bryan Lee

It's sad, as the economy stretches on, people have varying view of why/ what/ who/ etc. I'm not here to debate those ideas, just to post experiences of what I've seen. Stores unique to Santa Barbara have closed in abundance, including restaurants, and chains are coming in as replacements.

Borders (where I worked for almost 2 years) closed both in Goleta and downtown Santa Barbara. Not surprising for me as I worked with their 'business plan' first hand and was less than impressed. Barnes & Noble had just one store in Santa Barbara and they too pulled out a couple of months ago. H&M replaced B&N while a Marshall's took the Border's building (over 10,000 square feet of space!). Just what we nee, another discount clothing store. I was excited for H&M, I'd never been in one and heard good things. I have gone in a couple times since they opened and I'm not a fan. It's barely a step up from Forever 21 which is just a bit down the block on State Street. I like Marsha'ls better than Ross but not much. I've stopped purchasing clothing from there, after learning the hard way that sometimes you have to spend a little more money to get something that will last and be quality. Not that everything there is made poorly, but for right now, for me, it's not a good fit. 

There are quite a few boutiques left in Santa Barbara, don't get me wrong, I'm not sure how they make their rent/ bills each month, I am more curious than anything. I know a few people who own some of the unique stores and once bills are paid, they don't make much money each month, if anything. 

I am all for going to local markets (we love the Santa Cruz Market, there is one in Goleta and one downtown) and local coffee shops. I like the French Press, you haven't tried it you should. And yet, don't give me crap for going to Starbucks, I like them too and I'm not going to apologize for it. 

One store that I dont' understand how it stays open is Mon Petite Bijou. There clothes are so high-priced and my first thought is always "these items are going to be drooled and thrown up on and grown out of quickly."  :)

Photos

I love taking photos of flowers and I found these cacti:

I also love unique or cool lights. These were at my cousin's engagement party in nor Cal:

(and I had fun messing with the settings on my camera)

WOD: "Annie"

My life changed when I found Cross Fit. I will always be grateful  for my friend who introduced me to it and for the coaches and friends who continue to cheer me on.

There is something about doing this workout that just gets my brain in competitive mode. I love that there is no running (though I've been doing the elliptical and running more because I am not good at it) and i don't feel like dying. Not that it isn't hard, good grief it is, but man, I want to get better at it!!

By far, the hardest thing for me in Cross Fit is to be last so much. I hate being last.  I've never been that athletic, yes, I've been involved in sports but I readily admit that I was never on the top tier. I've done softball, track, dive team, swim team, and in college I learned about this thing called 'the gym.'

I know that everyone has varying background and athletic histories but it is still hard for me to not expect myself to do as well as other people. Some of the skills in Cross Fit are extremely challenging for me: rope climb, hand stands, hand stand pushups, dips, muscle ups. I love lifting weights. I'm not as excited for running long distances and I don't remember a time where I have ever been.

The "Annie" workout (for time) is:
50 double unders
50 abs
40 double unders
40 abs
30 double unders
30 abs
20 double unders
20 abs
10 double unders
10 abs

I am disappointed in myself, I did not beat my last time today when I did this workout. I need to be able to do 40-50 double unders in a row without stopping: efficiency. I need to also be faster with situps. The hardest thing I have, mainly with the double unders (or running for that matter) is catching my breath, I basically can't, no matter how many puffs of the inhaler I've taken.

I love jumping rope, I always have and it's one of the few things that bring back happy memories from being a kid, especially being a kid in gym class with limited natural athletic talent. I don't mind abs but I definitely want to get more efficient at them. As a flautist, I'm very excited that I've been strengthening my ab muscles and actually learning what it means to 'engage' them. Sheesh, even writing this I feel like a little kids learning skills I apparently never learned. I hope I don't sound like a couple doofus.

As is true to my nation, I am probably being too truthful but I'd rather share in hopes that someone can relate to what I'm saying and provide words of wisdom!

Tattoos

I guess I do not really mind them but I think I honestly just don't get it.

Seeing them on really young kids makes me a little sad. A couple days ago I saw a boy (who couldn't have been more than 15 years old) with a gang tattoo behind his right ear. I think about how much I have changed, how much my circumstances have changed since I was 16 and I cannot imagine wanting the same things on my body. So, no, it is many years later and I have not gotten any. I probably never well, they're just not for me.

But, in the process of trying to understand other people and not judge, I bring these questions to you.
1. What are your thoughts on tattoos?
2. Do you have any? If so, how many?
3. When did you get it/ them?
4. Are there any that you regret?

I've been watching LA Ink, which I actually find quite annoying but I find the reasons why people get tattoos fascinating. Everyone has a different reason, a different image or set of words, and yet it's all the same. For the people who want to remember something special, may I ask, why is a picture on your wall not enough to suffice? If you want to remember a specific day, why is a memory not enough?

Now, if I were to lose a small child or family member who didn't live a long enough life, I could understand being devastated, not knowing how to deal, and wanting to memorialize them on your body. And yet, where does it stop? How many people would have to die to decide that you were no longer going to tattoo them on your body? If you have a large family like mine, which people would you put on your body and which people would you leave off?

I'm a musician and I've seen some pretty cool music tattoos. (and here comes the 'yet'): I do not feel the need to get a picture of a flute tattooed on my chest or arm, which is why, again, they just are not for me. If they make you happy, I think people should get them. I've known many people who've been tattooed in a drunken stupor, only to wake up with snoopy on their thigh or a lightning bolt.

I have one friend who has the most random tattoos and she said she just likes them. So yes, everyone has a different reason, different meanings, some have no meanings at all. I wish more people would save to pay more for a better artist because I feel bad when I cannot tell what something is and I don't want to be rude and ask.

A couple weeks ago, I saw a woman at the Farmer's Market who had a half sleeve and it was a picture of a heart and bacon, with the words "I Love" tattooed above it. Hmmm. I'm not even sure what to say about that.

Right now, I am rambling so I may edit this more later, but for now..... check these out:

2bdd3ddf-79f9-408d-8bc0-4dc87660dd84.jpg
93ebfc37-aff5-453b-bba0-df4fdf90af4b.jpg
42d70644-34f7-4efc-a4dd-417cba14d93c.jpg

Bubbles & Beans

Bubbles & Beans is the name of one of the laundromats in town. Aaron and I have been there a couple times but it is ridiculously over-priced. We go to another place that always has people and I was thinking that the when people are looking for a good laundromat, you should drive by them numerous days a week and see which ones are busy most often. A good sign indeed!

There was a family at the laundromat and the three kids did a good job of entertaining themselves. The little boy could not have been more than 9 years old and he and his mom came up to me and asked what a word on his worksheet meant. The mom had a heavy Spanish accent and I give them kudos for asking. I think that most people in that situation would be too proud to ask for help. The word was "scrub" and I agree that it is a pretty weird word. A little while later the boy came back, this time by himself and said "excuse, me but I don't mean to interrupt you, but do you know what this word means?" It was the word "pasture" which I could definitely understand not knowing. Some words out of context just don't make sense and other words, when you don't hear them used, I can totally understand not knowing the words.

At the end of the night, he was over by us as we left he said goodbye and thank you. So sweet!!

Bums

I know that there are a lot of homeless people in the world and it makes me very sad. I remember when I worked in downtown Seattle (right by the Space Needle), being followed by the homeless guys and it is so uncomfortable! In downtown Santa Barbara, dang, there are so many homeless people!! It's very different now for me because I see these people EVERY day as I live extremely close to my office. I see them in the morning as I go to work, on my breaks, and at night when I go home or walk around with friends. It's sad because I know most homeless people here are mentally handicapped and are/ have been addicted to something. I don't give them money anymore except for the (maybe twice a year) occasion, where I get this pulling feeling from someone and then I do and it's just a dollar.

Viva La Fiesta

Every year, Santa Barbara puts on Viva La Fiesta, a tribute to "Old Spanish Days."
http://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org/new/index.php

There are usually a lot of tourists and foreigners in Santa Barbara but this weekend is crazy. On the Friday of Fiesta, there is always a parade. Locals put their lawn chairs and blankets out to save their spots, and even after 5 years (holy bananas how has that much time gone by!!??) I think it is weird. I cannot imagine that in most towns these items would last long without being stolen. A friend mentioned that to me today and I am glad I'm not the only one who finds this an oddity.

There is a custom with Fiesta that people buy confetti filled eggs and I wish I knew the story behind it. All over State Street (and side streets) there is confetti and parts of egg shell strewn everywhere. I saw the cutest little girl today trying to crack one on her slightly taller brother and she wasn't coordinated enough to do it. She finally stretched as tall as she could, crushed the egg in her hand, and pushed it into his hair. I actually LOL'd.