2025 year of Me

Hi world , I must of written this maybe a thousand times in my head over that last three weeks. Where the words land by the end who knows but they will be honest. Saying goodbye to the year that I had was easiest thing to do, for 2024 going through it was a story in its self. And I could write that story but I'm not going to. I can say 2024,I have cried nearly once a week for the whole year that was an experience of 52 weeks. I can also say this year broke me many times in many places but also made me the strongest version by the end of it at the same time. Because I can break a million times over but I can also heal million times over. I noticed by the end of this year a couple of people asked me the same question, " How does one get through the broken ?" and they would ask me without knowing what I was going through that moment. My answer was and still is," Don't be afraid of the breaking whenever you can. Allow yourself to break over and over till your soul ready to heal". There's beauty in breaking and the beauty of healing at the same time. x

At the same time I'm kind of saying a little Hello to 2025 even through I don't know what's in store for this year either. Good or bad it's a new year, new set of everything including life.

Now I got that little part out the way there has been the happiest moments of my year that no one knows about either. The little moments I captured all by myself, no witness, no posting it anywhere. They were just for me. The girl singing on the top of lungs with only audience was the wind and possible any on lookers when I realized I'm at a stop of red lights then I suddenly act like nothing happened . The girl just choose to date her self for the year even on the days she didn't want to, she treated herself for five minutes or a hour .The girl who tries to be herself even if she shouldn't. The girl who would get dressed up and go no where to be and yet perfectly content in company of a Penna vodka for one and three wild Shepard's running in all directions. You probably would notice I been saying girl not woman. (Insert the Britney Spears's song in here ).. If you get the reference you get the reference. Look up the crossroads movie that's the version playing in my head. Because sometimes healing a girls heart makes a strong woman at the end of the day even of it takes time even if it takes longer than one wishes. I like to think I'm a stronger woman through all the things that's not mentioned and things that are small to others but are massive to me. I always been the type the smallest things matter as much as the biggest things in life.

I been thinking about my word for year and I landed on it's a bit odd word of choice. I thought about it for a while, the word is Selfish. Now, now don't take it as a negative choice of word even if by definition it is. I think of it as being selfish with life a little but in good way. Selfish to enjoy life. Selfish in being myself even if way I talk is a long winded story. My closest friends can contest to my long winded story's or statements , I love words. Selfish in every single away that's is good, to be free being selfish. I think that is as honest I can get about it. Or the word could always backfired in the end but this life. What if this where all leads and goes. I think that statement is a perfect beginning and ending when one doesn't know the answer to something beautiful to the question mark about life. Right?

The funny part is I'm kind of looking forward to being that way even if it's once in a lifetime to be, if its for three months,; six months or the whole 365 days or just a few moments even. Or who knows becoming the word will change the whole direction for my life, my world. I may be a little to excited about this word . I think it will be a fitting word to describe the year and one never knows what could happen the year. I think we can all agree with that statement by each New Years Eve. The unexpected I have learned can always lead to good things even through chaos, through sadness; the unexpected can lead to laughter and one wild story in the end it's how you look at. When was the last time you decided to be selfish for a minute or done the unexpected just for the thrill and nothing else. And on one knew about it besides your own little secret with universe.

Now in retro perspective I wrote the beginning of this post on new year eve with a glass of baileys to close out year watching the ball drop and obviously one I didn't post it or even finish it even through in my pretty mind I thought I did. I did enjoy that glass in bed and fell asleep with phone in hand with the open draft, you see as a published post before you.

I will share what my first day into 2025 was unexpected shocker of events on day one! I'm still laughing about it and to be completely honest sometimes you got say out loud, "I guess this how it was suppose to anyway". In the next post maybe that's where I begin.

I wrote this on the last night of 2024 to the fresh morning of 2025 and clearly I have this thing where in my first post of the year now comes out in spring each year. I promise that is never my intention to always post it that late ( these last few years) but hey at least its written and posted, it exists . I guess life always come first in a way and also I tend to sit with things no matter what it is but especially when it comes to this. This little thing is always me for me. One single place in the universe where it feels right and that's all I will say.

And Happy new year to you all!

Just from little old me.

P.s I been writing other posts, more is coming very soon.

Are we in March 2023?

I can say this first day of March 2023 definitely feels like the middle December instead of closer to the spring season. Currently I am in the office hiding away all buddle up in 32 degrees attire from head to toe almost. I have the third blizzard making a mess of outside but I got a hot cup of coffee to my right which was brewed perfectly in my opinion. While I am slipping the hot cup slowly just to enjoy it, I have two out of three big shepherds laying on fluffy beds next to the office, guarding me as usual and yet they are completely lights out instead! What am I going to do with these to two? And Max went into another room to hide away with his toys. Then again if I was them, I would be curl up too sleeping the day away. They are quiet lucky pups in my opinion but don't tell them that.

I thought I would start the introduction to this blog post today on this winterly cozy day before I got distracted working on other blogs post even though you will see the other blogs post before this. Hello All !

It's been exactly nine days after I started this blog post, Let me tell you this time they weren't kidding when the blizzard arrived. There was so much snow that I have a shovel snow for a least three days in row just to make a little dent in making path ways for the dogs. The snow level was almost to my knees at some points and other areas it was practically at my hips. I still had snow until this morning when rain storm decided to melt the rest of the snow. I know mason had lots of zoomies for days after the blizzard, he easily got his cardio in each day. Maverick enjoy it when he could lay in the sun within the snow patches. Max just want to eat as much snow has possible before it goes away. They each have their own personalities when it comes to snow. I did get some fun content during the storm and the aftermath of it all. I haven't gotten around to post it all anywhere yet but of course I will when I have a moment. There's a few quite awesome time lapses I took during the snow, hail and everything else. I can confirm the pack I have knock down a tripod and sent my phone flying when they can, but mainly maverick with his tail . But don't worry the phone was not harmed in the process just sent flying repeatly throughout the day.

On another note I did mention in the nourishment post, I did enter in the winter photo contest locally again in the beginning of the year. And I won't keep you in suspense anymore than I have to. Well the turn out was good, there was quite different artists that took part in the contest. Like I have said previously my only aim is to beat my own work each show. And think the outcome was not too shabby this round. I didn't get best in show but Maybe next time, I will snag that one! My outcome was four out five entered which is pretty good in my opinion. The categories I entered in were People, Black and white, Transportation, animals of course. Each show I start out with rough fifty pictures that I think they are the best then from that fifty, I narrow it down to fifteen to print. Then I sat them to the side for a week before the show, to forget them for awhile for a days. After those few days pass I make a top eight with photo matts possible titles with fitted categories. And some how the day before the window closes to enter them I always end up with six in hand. Then I walk in the gallery on the last day with the six but walk out with one that my intuition told me to wait on. And I like to think it's my process of how I do it each time that make me successful each time. Now that I got that out of the way, on to what you really want to know; what were the photos that won. In order was in the first place was "Gang of Eight " in the animal category which was a group of eight giant Elk watching the hot air balloons flying. And trust me taking that photo particularly was interesting one to get at the time, last year.

We shall see if I get a better one this year. I also had a picture of an flying pelican over the blue ocean waves titled "Low Approach". That was different for me to enter in a contest and definitely hard to get clear shot when those guys fly across the waves. I won first place in transportation with one of my favorite captures from last year! I was secretly hoping that would place at least. It was a capture of a flying airplane in the sky and I titled that "Fly Girl Fly "because it was actually piloted by a female pilot that I saw at Edwards air force show.

Which I left made it in a septic color than printing it in regular color, I think in septic; it grasped the eye to know more about it. And it reminded of a old newspaper photograph.

I won second in the black and white category with birds flying off a cliff on a moody day by the ocean, I titled that one" Cast Ways". I titled that because it kind remined me of the ending of The Count of Monte Cristo. Lastly I had a photo place third in the people category of a parachute jumper flying out a jet and tilted that one, "Coming in Hot". That was also hard to get looking up in that hot sun in July at the base but I will say it was definitely worth looking up.

Looking at the set of photos from that I entered at the end of January. I definitely didn't notice the flying theme or the water elements either until now. I just thought they are all stand out as my best work for the year. And they each said something different to people looking at them in the gallery. Rather than that was the judges or just people looking at them during the show. I hope that I at least inspired one person to create their own beauty .Isn't funny when you reflect on something you did in the past that brings up another theme or meaning being brought in your present moment. And you think , "Oh wow I didn't see that one".

I hope you guys enjoyed this little read and my share of what I accomplished in the previous months. I just have been busy doing some things and living life that I have delayed lot of work but I keep my word; more things will be coming and things will be updated. I have been just a book worm just reading constantly and writing down my notes for the reviews. Currently I am in the world of Stephanie plum's. Lets say I have read three books back to back and I love every single second of it, when I open a novel by Janet Evanovich. I have just been happy in my own world, taking pictures, living life and reading novels. I hope you are happy and living your own little world to the fullest. Till then I will catch you in the next one since I am a little behind as always. X

See you soon !

love always , '

Misread

Can We Say Spring Has Sprung In April?

How are we in April ? Let me repeat, How ? I feel like the days have just blurred by so fast for this year already. Aprils fools' happened and if you are wondering I did do a little prank and that backfired but everything is good.

I know we are all the mist of tax season and around the comer is the deadline. Back to has spring has Sprung part, I know April Showers brings May flowers. I don't know about you but the flowers have bloomed around here and some of the greenery has already gone away. But it's nice seeing the mountains, the rolling hills having green grass then snowy peaks. Its also the end of the poppy season in California at least around here. I have been thinking about last super bloom from 2019 lately. I guess because once you experience a super bloom of not just poppies but everything in full bloom ,nothing else compares. Or maybe I am just a wildflower lover and I just want to surrounded them to the max. Have anyone of you seen a super bloom in your lifetime?

Moving on, I am finishing up my late Caramel Macchiato at two pm, which I might regret it later but it's my after doctor appointment treat and I was due for a cup of coffee. Also good news to share that has absolutely do with this blog post, I found Outlander Wine that I have been looking for since the beginning of the lock down. And yes, I have been on the hunt for it all this time. Which by the way; I don't drink at all, it's what I used to cook with occasionally. So if you want grab yourself a bottle, you can find it in Aldi under ten dollars. Any who, I thought I would share that little bit of information.

Back to the update, I did in fact finish reading: The Last Checkmate by Gabriella Saab when I was back at the beach. To say again its just amazing novel, it's a swirl wind of emotions and definitely a novel that you have to read. I am currently reading : I was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon which is another Historical Fiction and it's absolutely breathtaking novel and started that novel at the same time I finished that last one. I almost don't want the novel to end and yes, I am dragging my feet to finish it for that reason. For example, I tried not read a full hundred of pages in one sitting in the sun. I will share it's one of those novels that makes you feel like you are the fly on the wall watching someone's life in their own words. And if you haven't noticed I haven't published the three other book reviews that I owe you all. It just seems in current life that I haven't had the time to write it up yet but I promise you that it will go up sooner than later. Currently the notes for each novel is sitting right to my keyboard. To add that every novel that I have been picked up lately has just need a hook me novel. And at the same time, I have been taking my time enjoying each authors words to the fullest. I hope you kind understand my point, like that old saying " The don't make them like they used " and I have found those novels that you can read ,over and over again. They are just timeless in shorter words.

Chess game ,anyone ?

And about my trip by the beach it was three days by the ocean , it was a relaxing little treat just to be. We all need a little stay vacation once in a while. I had a giant room with a couch, a chess set for the first night. Having the chess set was fitting at the time because I was reading The last Checkmate and of course I used that same chess set a prop as well. Then had a linder across the street at the cheesecake factory and let me tell you it was yummy one ! Had their eggroll sampler to start and they were delicious, I almost didn't want to share. My favorite ones out of the four choices were the Tex mix eggroll and the avocado eggroll. Then how would fate have it their special of that night was a white wine Salmon, potatoes and broccoli which was so yummy that I completely finished it besides the tiny bit mashed potatoes I had left. The following morning I set foot bright and early had my berry mix cinnamon Belgium waffles with my coffee on the pier. There is something about walking on a semi foggy empty pier, finding a table and watching the boats heading out of the marinas to start their day. Hearing the ocean wake up with the sun is something that everyone should experience. But its definitely one of the coldest times to go the pier so I highly recommend a jacket. Then after that I take the still hot coffee on the hunt to find the peaceful spot the beach to read and sun tan for a bit. Just doing that on the beach is probably one of my favorite thing to do by the beach, never get's old. Then that night had a early kind of the dinner to watch the sun go down. This spot is a little hidden gem that I am about to share and worthy of a stop by to! The place is called Scotty's on the strand in Hermosa beach. It's near the pier, peaceful and free parking to boost but that's not even the best part. They have the best clam chowder, the best fish and chips ever ! I am the best fish and chips expert but out of the fish and chips I had it makes my Top three instantly. If you are ever in that neck of the city ,great service and amazing food plus the view looking at the beach is great to.

White wine salmon

Yummy Fish and chips

Clam Chowder at scotty's

Then spent the rest of the day light hours with another cup coffee and a cruse around the beach. Chasing for the perfect spot to watch the sunset show and it was one of the best sunset's I have seen this year so far. Enjoyed my time near the ocean to the fullest in my opinion and I hope you all have the chance this year to do just that, at some point. To be in the present in the moment and enjoy the world around minus the craziness of reality and the gas prices to add. Lately I have been counting the moment's like this more then working so hard and spending the time with those around the balance out with solitude as well. Life seems long but it's also short in actual time frame. If there is anything I want you take away from this monthly post is to enjoy life to your version your solitude and with those in your circle to the fullest.

To end this not to long monthly blog post that seems I have typed to blog that bum feels numb here and yet it's quick little read altogether. I hope April is good for all of you, the weather is enjoyable. The garners at there are enjoying your time in your garden. And you are enjoying Easter with those you love and color those hard boiled eggs. You know my family will be playing the egg cracking game into a heavy competition but I won't get into those details. And yes the next post should be those Book reviews coming up this month, hopefully I will be all caught up by the end of April.

See you later Misreaders,

As always,

Misread.