Link Love :: Is this a reset button?

I'm hitting the reset button up in here.  I'm really tired of talking about all of the feelings.  I want to show you the rest of my photos from Napa!  I want to show a few pictures from Vegas....that I managed to take with my iPhone when I was semi-coherent!  I want to talk about books!  I want to recap some wickedly awesome 30x30 activities - and explain where I'm at with all that!  No more time for feelings!

It's been awhile since I shared some internet awesomeness.

First off, I'd like to invite you to a Mermaid Parade.  Oh boy this looks sweet.

When I first started watching this I was stone faced.  And then?  'I only like Pino Grigio!'.  I've now watched it twice....majorly not safe for work!

Let's make these.  They could be so purty.

Funny.  (Also, I love Judge Judy.)

This guy knows what limited space truly is.  That's why we should listen to his suggestions. I drool over everything he posts.

I lust and I mean lust after ash & anchor.  Please tell me this isn't one of the prettiest prints you've ever seen?  (also, while I was writing this I clicked over and they're offering 10 dollars off through tomorrow - Monday the 27th - do it...)

This sounds delicious.

Meet Eddie the Geriatric Sea Otter.  I can't even.

Einstein knew what was up:  I do not mind that you are a girl.

Everyone loves Anthropologie, right?  When I saw this set today I wished I was a bazillionaire.  (I also really enjoy their blog.  They pick themes and then find pretty things that match it.  Stellar.)

Maya Angelou is the best.

Well Nautie Friends, that's a wrap.

I had a completely unproductive weekend.  I bought some wine, I folded some clothes, I lazed around with my kindle.  It was splendid. I hope your weekend was splendid as well.

I'm strangely looking forward to Monday - and on Tuesday my Mom flies in - Yay!

Look for some Napa photos soon!

Don't be such a mermaid...

On Sunday, I stood up in front of all the BiSCuits and cried.  I had no idea why I was standing up to let out all of the feelings.....or why I was crying....until I was up there. Somewhere between going into the ugly cry and starting to talk I knew.

I was lonely.  I wanted to tell everyone how lonely I had been.

Here's how it all began:

I had been following a particular blog for years...eventually I clicked through some of her links...and then I was following other blogs that I lurved.  I mean, really and truly lurved.  These blogs were the icing on my cake.

I'd stumble into my room late at night after cargo ops.  I'd be wound up not able to sleep...knowing I needed to trust the Junior Mate on Watch....and I'd read these blogs until I could take a cat nap....knowing that I'd get at least one call before o'dark thirty and that my alarm would sound well before I was rested.

I learned things important like:  Screaming Nicki Minaj was totally allowed or, who got kicked of The Bachelorette.  I stayed in touch with the world.  What was hip?  What were people listening to on the radio?  What everyone was eating.

As I read these other blogs I learned more about myself.  I was capable, competent, and in Charge of My Reality.  I started calling the shots at work - and in my own life.

Except, somewhere along the way...

I got tired of doing things by myself all the time.

I'm an only child.  I'm programmed to do things solo.  Going to the beach with friends?  Megan's packed her coloring book, crayons and, head phones.  She would like to lie here in silence please...  Between being a lady sailor, being on the go constantly and being naturally comfortable flying solo I was constantly on my own.

Things got a little more complicated when I promoted to Chief Mate.  I hate to say something this cliche but, 'it's lonely at the top'.

People don't really want to hang out with their boss.  Not when they're signing their overtime sheets.  I don't want to have to deal with the ramifications of becoming 'overly friendly'.  When I need someone to go do something I don't want to explain myself - or be in a situation where I feel obligated to explain myself.

Plus, I'm standoffish.

Very.  I really don't mean to be.  But listen, you can only stand so many midnight watches with weirdos...there comes a time where 'polite chit-chat' is no longer in your vocabulary.  I have stood in complete silence other than to issue directions for hours.  Hours.  In awkward silence that I can 100% ignore.  Tell me that doesn't make you slightly jaded?

When I signed up for Bloggers in Sin City it was a whim.  I was in the Middle of the Atlantic and I thought, 'maybe they'll be my friends...'.  Seriously.  That's what I thought.

I was looking for something, and I didn't know what it was.

Now I know.  I now know that out on the interwebz exists a Community.  a Tribe.  a People....like me....or not like me...which makes it even better.  Fuller - Warmer - More.

There were times where I wanted to silently slip away and hope no one noticed.  There were times I was convinced no one would notice.  I was nervous.  Anxious.  Cautious.  I didn't introduce myself to everyone.  I didn't talk to nearly as many people as I wanted to. I could have put myself out there a little more.  Here's the BUT.  Every single person I had the pleasure of chatting with at BiSC blew my mind with their coolness.  They were genuinely good people who want good things for other people.  Sometimes I feel like I live in a dog eat dog world but, at BiSC I could slowly feel my guard get let down.

Thank you all for that.  Big.  HUGE.  Mahalo's.  

I heard people say BiSC has changed their lives.  I think for me it's too soon to know.  What I will say is that BiSC has heightened my awareness.  It's made me realize that a 'more' is there.  I can do more, be more, share more, laugh more, cry more and love more.  I am more of a Mermate than I ever have been before.

The next time loneliness sneaks up on me I'm going to say, 'Don't be such a mermaid!'....then I'm going to tweet some BiSCuits.

I want to remember this moment for the rest of my life...

VEGAS!

....and I'm off! To Bloggers in Sin City.

Words cannot describe my happiness percentage level.

I flew out of the house a hot mess.

I had to turn around right before I got on the freeway and head home because I forgot my make up bag.

My bag weighed 55lbs. I packed nine pairs of shoes. For the weekend.

Sitting at the gate holding a coffee with your name on it....heading to Vegas for the first time....to hang out with bloggers...pretty freakin' cool.

I'm just hoping to make it flirty thirty and not dirty thirty (i.e. keep my drunken sailor debauchery in hand).

Flirty.Thirty.

I had plans for what Thirty would look like on this blog. There would be some sort of this much i know is true post - maybe there would be a photo montage - maybe a letter to myself...that I could read later in life...

None of that seemed like enough.

I.was.really.excited.about.turning.thirty.

I mean, really, really excited.

I think there are quite a few people who worried that I wasn't excited so much as flipped out but, I'm here to set the story straight.

I was ready to not be in my twenties.  Majorly.  Buh-bye.

I remember years ago my Cousin K up in Canada said, 'being in your thirties is awesome...it's like you can finally just be yourself...'.  Amen Sister.

What I knew about turning Thirty was that I was not going to let it slip by unnoticed.  I was going to do something, damnit!

At first I started planning a trip abroad.  It's been awhile since I went abroad as a tourist....who could leisurely sip her coffee at a sidewalk cafe.

Then I decided I was going to Napa.  I had never been.  I like wine.  Like, a lot.

Then I invited my Cousin (she doesn't have a code name but, I love her thiiiis much!!!!!), and the trip just came together.  Girl Cousin's birthday was on the 4th the day after my own so it was a birthday extravaganza.

(I should say, the trip just came together with a little help from my friends....Ari, you get an A+.)

The day before yesterday I wrote about how epic Napa was.  What I should have said was:

Turning Thirty Was Epic.

It was such a lovely day.  Such.

I woke up at The Waterfront Hotel at Jack London Square in Oakland.  It's all kinds of nautical goodness...if you're a Lady Sailor this is a fun place to pass some time.

I woke up really early - I'm sure it had something to do with jet lag - and decided that an early morning photo safari was a must on the first day of my thirtieth year.

Then it was off to breakfast at The Cock-A-Doodle Cafe.  There were crepes and graham cracker french toast.  Delish.

A stroll through a farmers market?  Flowers?  Yes please.

Of course no city tour is complete without admiring some local architecture.  Pictures looking up at buildings....check.

You can't cruise the Bay Area and not check out the Golden Gate Bridge.  amiright or amiright?

I got to visit with a long lost Auntie.  It was amazing.  Silly me hadn't been to her house since I was a kid.  Apparently, I was geographically challenged as a youth because I didn't know she lived in the Bay Area.  I totally thought she lived in SoCal.  I know, right?  Who doesn't know where their Aunties live?!

Said Auntie had a pack of Chihuahuas.  It was awesome.  Can you see George?

After a full afternoon of visiting we got in the car and took off for Napa.  Aaaah.  Deep sigh.  This meant we needed a coffee to go.  Clearly.

First stop Napa?  The Andaz Hotel.  Oooh La La!

[gallery ids="4568,4569,4570"]

Birthday Dinner.  One Word.  Bottega.  It came highly recommended.  It didn't disappoint.  There was a personalized Birthday Greeting....and beet raviolis with fennel.  Just Sayin'.

Want to know how I ended the evening?  Food Porn.  Panna Cotta with winter citrus, micro basil, mint syrup and a wheat cigar stuffed with sweet lemon ricotta.

Happy Flirty Thirty To Me!

Canadians in Space

I had to interrupt previously scheduled posts for this...because it defines awesome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo

This guy is too cool for freakin' school.  Minus the fact that he's a Canadian...or an astronaut...or that he tweets from space....he can sing....totally cool songs....

He's been in space since December - and landed yesterday.

I read somewhere a long time ago that they thought the best way to train astronauts for isolation was to send them to sea.  For real.

I just loved this - I hope you do too.

Nautie Tidbits :: I've recovered sufficiently.

Napa was AWESOME.   I mean really, really, really awesome.  I enjoyed my time there so thoroughly that I didn't want to write about it because it seemed so final.  THE weekend was over.  The  problem was that I couldn't really write about anything else until Napa was wrapped up!  This week is going to be Napa week!

Nautie Books!  I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN.

I finished The Fault In Our Stars.  Le Sigh.  Oh this book got me.  This book deserves to be talked about - and will be soon.  Are any of you Oprah watchers?  Ever heard of the ugly cry?  I'm sure you see where I'm going with this...  Can I unofficially announce our next book selection without the usual fanfare?  I'll just slide it in here to this 'lets take care of outstanding business' post and then, we can all start reading.  May isn't getting any younger.  Join me in reading The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin.  This book was recommended by Historiauntie and looks good.  I have my copy and have just jumped into it.

Bloggers In Sin City!

Not this weekend but next weekend I'm going to Vegas for Bloggers in Sin City.  Holy Crap the excitement level is almost outofcontrol.  I have been spending a lot of time thinking about what to wear and driving around shopping for things to wear.  Napa was all about the wine but I have a feeling Vegas will be all about the clothes....

I've Moved.

I'm in a new apartment.  It's tiny.  Teensy Tiny.  This is good but it has me scrambling.  I've been semi packing...and moving....and re-organizing.  Again - it's good but, no one really loves semi-packing, right?  The new apartment is cozy and sunny with a well thought out kitchen.  It's way more me than the last apartment.  Me Likey.

Paleo....sorta...

Have you ever heard of the Paleo diet?  Well, I've cut quite a few hot ticket items out of my diet.  Mostly because I think it's fun to change things up sometimes and also because, I'm hoping to kick some bad habits.  Stress does some amazing things to your body.  So does lack of exercise.  You get it.

That's It.

Nautie Friends, I just needed some time to recover from my trip to Napa.  I know you understand.  I'm off to meet the movers.  The bed is getting moved in today.  You don't realize how shitty it is living away from your family until you have to hire movers.  Free labor sure is nice (*wink*).  Do you want food posts?  I've been texting everyone I know photos of what I've been eating.  Want in on that action?  Be in touch.