Manic Monday or Sunday Funday

In the infamous words of the Bangles "It's just another manic Monday I wish it were Sunday
'Cause that's my funday My I don't have to runday It's just another manic Monday ". SOOO this isn't a post about the drollness of Mondays although come on every has to to admit Monday is the shittest day of the week. Instead it's about the feelings we associate with the days of the week.
Most Business weeks start on a Sunday so here we go....

Sunday: Once was a time when you were meant to rest. In some religions that is still a strictly enforced doctrine. However in the modern world it's mostly an excuse for stores to close early when in reality most people have Sunday off so it's a good day to have a store open. It still had the feeling of low key afternoon sipping iced tea or beer reading a paper and laughing. I had Sunday off for the first time in ages and I chanted, read, cleaned, cooked, wrote some blog posts- it was divine!

Monday: I have never in my life ever heard anyone say Monday was their favorite day of the week. Obviously it's the first day back at work for most typical jobs and that usually isn't pleasant unless you work for one of those awesome companies like Pixar.(Side Post: When you join Pixar Animation Studios, you become part of a studio driven by creativity, technical know-how, and a sense of humor to boot. You’ll be working side by side with some of the most brilliant minds in their fields, interspersing your own ideas with theirs to collectively make the best films possible. Taylor Software Engineer "Pixar is not a gloomy cubicle farm like so many companies (seen Office Space?) but a bright, happy place full of well adjusted people"). If you work at Pixar I am seriously jealous!

Tuesday: What can one say about Tuesday?? Well it's not as bad as Monday it's like the 2nd step sister in Cinderella still not good but not at bad as the mean one. You kind of feel like you're getting somewhere but you still feel stuck. BEST DAY TO FLY AND BOOK PLANE TICKETS!

Wednesday: Hump day - I still remember the first time I heard that phrase and it caught me really off guard... There is a sense of accomplishment with a Wednesday the hardest part is over and in a few days it will be the weekend. On a Wednesday night you will probably be doing something relatively fun as a reward for you hard work on M&T.

Thursday: Recently it's taken on the name Thirsty Thursday for those who can't quite wait till the weekend to let go and relax. Your so close to the finish line you can almost taste it! So why not start a little early you only live once and relaxation is a key to a long life.

Friday: WAHOOO you made it! Fridays are awesome who doesn't love them?!?!? Know to be a key going out night you can hang out with friends and probably don't have to get up early :) sweet have fun you deserved Fridays definitely = a feeling of accomplishment and success. An added bonus it is usually pay day so you have money to spend on all you crazy weekend plans double score.

Demetri Martin on WhoSay

Saturday: it's not as relaxing as Sunday because you're usually running around going for hikes, catching a movie, organizing a sock drawer, anything you haven't had the chance to do all week because you were so busy. Don't forget to take a little time out to chill and enjoy the sunshine it's the weekend!

Now these are the time honored ideas that one associates with each day... unless of course you work in retail or a restaurant then all of this means nothing because you rarely have a normal schedule!!
 what's your favorite day of the week? ~S~

Breaking the Replay Cycle

I really think the universe keeps giving us the same test until we choose to NOT repeat our same actions. In a light hearted example about once a month I binged on junk one night out with the girls we shared cheese pizza, loaded nachos, and mozzarella sticks no joke. Of course that made me ridiculously sick. I just watched this crazy "romantic" movie Last Night (another thing I really should not do) and I'll be fine and then become a melting pot of outrageous emotions. Love movies trigger my crazy internal women that is usually sane and rational. Today I invited a friend to lunch slightly announcing where and what time I would be going with the secret intention of making someone else want to go. Turns out she couldn't make it but the new shoe guy did... and he never eats on the terrace. I'm 99.01% super in control of my life and my choices here and that's one of the biggest things I like about being in LA. I do what I want when I want and for the time being that's how I like it. I think I'm starting to break some of these cycles if your not matching the effort I am putting in then I'm not going to feel bad about it. I've actually taken to giving a concentrated burst of attention when I feel inclined then walking away (particularly from guys in the shoe department) it sure as hell beats pouring every ounce of energy into something or someone who does not really care. In the movie the lead Johanna says "In the middle of most nights, when I can't sleep I replay you" and I think so many of us do that. Now I try to think of the one person who will always believe in me and support me- myself. Maybe one day that will include someone else but for now it's easier to just try and break the cycle.

Cute, Professional, Sexy- The Game

I am a silly person and I like to play little games with myself to keep my mind occupied especially when doing mundane tasks like my job. When I first started at the store I played Straight-Single with some other girls. A game I invented where you got points for correctly identify someone who worked at the store who was not only straight but also currently single. One girl got one point once.... Now I play Cute, Sexy, Professional since we have to wear only black or grey we are very limited in our clothing options. I have about 6 pieces I swap round to create different looks depending on my mood and the day. Now combined with makeup, hair, and accessories I create an overall look for the day. So in the morning I pick one of the categories and try to dress in a cute way, a business professional way, or sexy. The point of the game is to look that look so well that someone will comment on it "OMG you look so cute today" "Wow Shannon you look so professional" "Damn girl your looking good"(that's code for sexy). I get a point everyday someone correctly identifies the look I was going for. Clearly no one knows about the game but me. However the game took a drastic turn the day I returned to work after being home. I intentionally dressed ambiguously because I wanted the haircut to speak for itself and let me tell you I was called all three things!!! It's like the haircut became a trump card for the game. Now with the new look I have tried to reestablish the game by seeing how the new hair effects what people say to me. I've mostly gotten young, spunky, and cute ( I always get cute). It just further proves that even wearing the exact same thing with a new hair cut really can make you look different to someone else. One of my favorite coworkers said "Ms Cassidy back from MA looking sweet, sexy, and chic with her new hair and a little more flare." Sometimes you just got change it up a little bit ya know?

10" off for Locks for Love

25 Things a Girl Should Do/Know at 25

25 Things a Girl Should Do/Know at 25

1. Travel somewhere exciting preferably out of the country
2.  Have one really shitty relationship and one that changes your world
3. That each moment could be your last so make the most of it
4. The difference between guys who are worth your time and guys who are not
5. You should have tried sking/snowboarding, roller skating, motorcycling, and something that puts you high in the air parasailing/skydiving/hot air balloon/ bungie jump (note one of these things I have yet to do -good thing i’m not 26 yet)
6. Discover what you actually think about religion and spirituality not just what you were raised to believe
7. Find out what your passion is and take steps to make it happen
8. Start a retirement fund- fuck this one is hard but has to be done
9. On a similar note make a monthly budget....and stick to it
10. Know that you make the decisions for YOUR life no one else does yes not even your mother
11. Have decided that vegetables actually are pretty good and enjoy eating them
12. Be able to tell when your friend is really “okay”
13. Go skinny dipping
14. Find at least one type of exercise that you find tolerable enough to do regularly
15. At least 3 healthy non destructive ways to relax after a day of work
16. Wrap a gift well, tie a tie, and fold something in origami (still need to do one of these too)
17. How to get your own insurance, health care, lease, and bank accounts
18. That being an adult is basically like being a teenager just with more bills and booze
19. Be able to state your favorite movie, band, and book (yes book)
20. Try at least one crazy outrageous food like haggis
21. Know a good girlfriend will be there to support you no matter what even if they live 2,000 miles away
22. Gone on one outing/ excursion/ road trip by yourself and enjoyed it
23. That “sometimes you just have to die a little on the inside in order to be reborn as a stronger and wiser you”
24. Sing Karokee in public and not be ashamed of it
25. Discover who YOU are and what YOU want out of life!!!

Top 5 Things To Make Your Wedding Kickass

We are all sober

1.  Open bar obvi enough said- you want people to dance they need booze.
2.  Photo Booth- Seriously they are so much fun and they bring out the playfulness in everyone. Plus it's nice the guests get a little memento of the fun they had and the couple get a scrapbook for their own memories.
3. An intelligent DJ- A good Dj will take the time to learn everyone's name in the wedding party and the genre of music that will pump up the crowd. Sometimes this means changing and adjusting the set list on the fly aka doing your job and not just hitting play. If people are dancing he/she is a good DJ.
4. Food Selection- It's nice to have a broader selection then chicken or fish especially if you have people who have allergies or food preferences ( aka vegetarian here). Buffets are a fantastic way of letting people choose what and how much of something they want 1/2 a plate of mixed veggies yes please!
5. Something to Sign- Everyone wants to feel a part of your big day so if they can sign a picture, wine bottle, family tree, they feel included in the event guest books are seriously outdated use your creativity to make your wedding unique.

Being Home

They say you can never really come home again and I think to some extent that is true. Of course many things were different and yet so many things were the same. I've been loving surprising people who aren't expecting to see me!!! They first look and don't "notice" then their brain realizes they shouldn't being seeing you and then they freak out. It's so amusing! Especially the ladies at the bank and the teachers at my school. When Jac saw me she froze I could see her trying to process my presence in her speech sessions but it was a little to overwhelming for her. I really wanted to have a nice relaxing fire party but the cards seemed stacked against me with rain. When all the brush (a gallon of gasoline too) was gone it seemed hopeless I started chanting that the one spark would ignite and eventually it became a full fledged fire! Some wine and smores with the girls was the perfect way to relax after my stressful month leading up to coming home. Change has always been hard for me even when I know it's for the best but I think i'm handling it pretty well~S~

Flying Home

I got out of work right on time and was all packed to go. I had an awesome healthy diner with Kish and then it was just waiting the 2 hours till I needed to leave for LAX. I don't know it if was nerves but I felt so sick to my stomach even going as far as to purchase Pepto tablets ( 7 bucks for 30) at the airport for fear of actually having to vomit on the plane. The timing was perfect just enough time to check in, do security, buy water, and breath before boarding. We hadn't even taken off and I was asleep of course then woken up by take off. I was sitting next to a large man but I was so tired I tried not to care. There was a full yellow moon over LA and a orange yellow mist over the city. It was grey but somehow simultaneously eerie and magical looking. More sleep and awoke to see the hint of sunrise, sleep again, and then the full sunrise over Chicago. We landed at 5:35 boarding for the next flight 5:35---FUCK--- me running through 28 gates bridesmaid dress blowing in the wind I created and I basically ran. Made it! Then an entire row to myself and 2 straight hours of sleep. When we were landing I was blown away at how green MA was. A surprise pick up guest was in the car and he went wild on seeing me..Mahalo lol it was hilarious he was trying to jump hug and lick me all at once! It was so nice to see my father!

Almost Home

Maybe it's the fact that "Mac" by gigantic backpack has undertaken all my life changing trips with me that is making me think about how going to MA seems like an epic journey.  I spent the last 2 weeks in various states of frenzy, panic, excitement, and everything in between. I really don't know what to expect so I'm trying really hard not to expect anything! I think i'm nervous because things will be different of course unless nothings changed... I'm more curious if people think that I have changed. I certainly feel older, wiser, and maybe a little more together. The other day I forgot how old I was I literally was like "how old am I?" and I had to do the math is just seemed unimportant or something. I can't wait to see everyone I love and I just want it to be happy besides anything is more enjoyable then 7 days of work right??? Can't sleep too wound up

Public Painting and Men

My Thinking Pose

So Kish invited to me to to this event where a group of artists called Collective Ascetics does an exhibition once a month where everyone paints based on a common theme. Last night it was a tribute to Donna Summers with 2 paintings being created simultaneously. Each artist added in there own little something, their touch, their uniqueness. PT asked Kish and I if we were going to paint. My response was "I feel like painting with someone else's brushes is like using someone else's sex toys...too personal" to which PT replied "It's fine if they're clean." Muahah he got major points for that brilliant answer. He then assured me the brushes belong to the group and not one person- that I was okay with lol After some coaxing eventually we both painted. I added sparkle to the disco ball and Kish added endless summer letters along the bottom. It was super fun considering I haven't picked up a brush since I got here and have been in serious withdrawal mode from creativity and anything artistic. We had some drinks, food, and laughs. The entire time Kish and I were discussing men..in general and specifics. When we got home we continued the talk and began reading passages from the Art of Seduction mostly for laughs but for some interesting "pointers" as well. I've now decided because clearly I've mastered very little in that field that this will be the perfect in flight read on my trip back. Anyways the key to the evening was that you will only be treated as well as you treat yourself. When you let people treat you with anything less then you deserve you inevitably become it. Early that day I brought home a men's catalog from work and there was the hottest most put together "married" man in it I jokingly said this was my dream man. Then after the wine it resulted in this:

The whole thing became even more hilarious to add this "Never Give Up" Buddhist magnet to a random model picture. However as it hangs on our fridge it gives me a little daily reminder to not let anyone treat me in anyway that isn't 100% respectful and what I deserve.... Cheers to Never Giving UP! ~S~

I'm Bringing Sexy Back

          About 2 months ago now a random coworker I don't know very well said "Girl you're losing weight." I was shocked mumbled something "Like maybe a little." When I weighed myself I had lost about 8 pounds. It was just enough of a spark to really jump start me. See I had been chanting recently for the energy/desire to work out. I use to go to the gym with my Mom all the time an nature walks with Arianna so not having someone here made it seem even more tedious. Then one day the thought popped into my head "I want to go for a jog" and I did and it rocked. I'm getting stronger and can run further now since my whole neighborhood is like a giant grid it makes pacing staggering run walk pacing super easy. It's also a insane trip for the senses. There are so many types of flowers that as you run by it smells like some delicious bouquet is being waved in front of you. The slight breeze gives your face a cool rush yet you still feel the warm sun on your skin- I kinda love it. Today J's Mom whose been traveling around the US for the past month proclaimed "Shannon how have you been losing weight?" I was shocked she could tell it had only been a month since she last saw me...maybe it's that women intuition thing. I was delighted not because of loosing because I want to be healthy and live a long life. Speaking of bringing sexy back I thought i'd share something I think is kinda sexy

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Matt Bomer why are you gay??? Or Joe you were just as hot i real life as you are on screen don't you want to dance for me ;) There is almost to much man candy in this ensemble to deal with! Kish gave me this book to read the Art of Seduction and it's rocking my world.... beware MA you may see a whole new me in a few days ~S~

My First California Earthquake!

Before I moved to LA Alex asked me what I was so scared of ??? my answer: "Insurance and Earthquakes." When I was little I was fascinated at the idea of earthquakes because it was something I never had experienced. Last year in MA we actually had an earthquake it was such a bizarre surreal few moments in time for me. I was so confused and of course since I had no previous brain schema for it I had no idea what was happening. Afterwards a few minutes of processing when I realized what it was-I was in complete disbelief an earthquake in Massachusetts? So when I got here of course I was curious what one is actually suppose to do in the case one hits. Is it like the movies where you go in a doorway? do you cover your head? At work we go over various safety protocol in case of emergencies. If there's a fire we are suppose to help the customers exit and then go to CVS.... seriously if there is a REAL fire I doubt customer service is going to be on anybody's mind. So I asked about earthquakes and got a kind of brush off answer. Later alone I pressed on "What would happen if there was a big earthquake?" The reply was "Honestly we'd all die. This whole building will concave inward because of the structure." Great so I work in basically a death trap. It was only a matter of time before an earthquake came and I have to thank the universe I was A- not at work B- it was only so tiny enough to be exciting and only a wee bit scary. So Kish and I are sitting at the table chatting when the whole shakes we both stop and freeze. She says "what's that?" I reply "An earthquake!" "Really???" then the mini after shock hit. I know this phenomenon of mother nature can be devastating and deadly but I was excited- There are so many little things I wanted to expereince here and beleive it or not that was one of them. Now I have the tale of my first and in all likelihood not my last California earthquake ~S~